Chapter 1443: Settling Scores After the Harvest
Chapter 1443: Chapter 1443: Settling Scores After the Harvest
The Emperor finally attended court.
The officials saw Emperor Chu, who had noticeably lost weight while sitting on the dragon throne, and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. These days, there had been constant speculation, undercurrents in the court, endless disputes, and inevitable anxiety. Especially when they saw other officials jumping up and down to choose sides, they became even more panicked.
Choosing sides is a technical skill, akin to investing. Once a bet is placed, it relies on fate. If bet wrongly, the risk must be borne alone, so it requires caution and prudence.
Now seeing the Emperor well, no rush to place bets; that simply couldn’t be better.
Yet as soon as the Emperor attended court, several policy decrees were issued in succession, concerning national policy and livelihood, even concerning officials’ careers. The personnel shifts, whether obvious promotions or hidden demotions, were astonishing.
Several princes turned pale but dared not utter a word.
Those people, most were their own, now being shifted, previous deployments disrupted, and what use is a promotion to a position without real power?
Father Emperor is warning them, no, is settling scores after the autumn!
No doubt those days he watched with cold eyes as they jumped around, now finally stepping in to rectify.
This is the heart of an Emperor.
Of course, amidst obvious promotions and hidden demotions, there were genuine promotions, all given to the Emperor’s closest confidants. Among them, Qi Zhen, the third son of Duke Ying, was promoted to the Commander of the Jiangnan Town Supervision Office, a hereditary position.
Prince Zhou almost cried at the time; originally, this position was held by the Wen Family, but now it’s Qi Zhen.
Qi Zhen is indeed from Duke Ying Mansion, but he has another identity; he is the son-in-law of Prime Minister Song.
This cunning old fox Prime Minister Song is certainly retaliating for his earlier rashness and disrespect, quite ruthless.
Prince Zhou shot a fierce glance at Song Zhiyuan.
Song Zhiyuan smiled faintly and nodded.
A surprise, isn’t it? A delight, isn’t it?
Duke Ying was also somewhat surprised and delighted. He had long known Song Zhiyuan was securing a position for his third son, but initially planned for the position of Deputy Envoy for Comforting Office, unexpectedly upgraded.
A hereditary Fourth Rank military officer, as long as the third son isn’t foolish, works steadfastly, no need to worry about his future or his son’s future.
Duke Ying smiled broadly, stroked his beard, feeling truly glad about the marriage connection.
With this official rank, any slight animosity he had towards Song Zhiyuan for the Emperor’s matter and any dissatisfaction about his daughter-in-law lingering at her parents’ house immediately vanished.
He would have to let Madam prepare a few carts of supplements to send to the Song Family.
Today’s morning court session was longer than usual. After the court ended, officials hypocritically congratulated each other—congratulate for what? Congratulate you on your promotion!
What nonsense, give you a position with only a nominal title, see if you’ll be happy?
Scholars exchanged barbs, while military officials boldly patted each other’s shoulders, saying, "Let’s go, have a drink."
In Yangxin Hall, several princes donned the guise of filial sons, awkwardly seeking to serve Emperor Chu with medicine.
Contagion? Fear nothing, as long as Father Emperor sees and remembers me, contagion is not a concern; there’s medicine anyway.
"The Emperor has decreed that the princes should return, do their own duties, and palace attendants will handle the medicine serving," Eunuch Zhou said with a smile, sending Prince Xiao and a few others away.
Prince Xiao’s smile faltered, yet dared not act recklessly, and politely asked Eunuch Zhou to convey his wishes for Emperor Chu to take care of his health.
They were about to leave but saw the fifth and sixth princes surrounded by palace attendants approaching; some attendants even carried food boxes. Seeing their elder brothers, they immediately stepped forward to salute and announce their purpose, naturally to be filial sons.
Prince Xiao was saying that Father Emperor’s health was unwell and resting, but Eunuch Zhou smiled and said Emperor Chu summoned the two young princes to enter the hall to meet the imperial visage.