Chapter 422
(Thanks to all readers for their support in October, much appreciated.)
There are quite a few members of the Wang family, most of whom are honest and dutiful village farmers. They are not used to wearing fancy clothes and speak vulgarly. Slow to reveal the true nature.
Empress Dowager Cining is not disgusted. The so-called vulgarity is actually simplicity, which is the hometown dialect. She is still a little impressed. It sounds very kind, but she also understands that she can't find anyone in her family who can be used, so she can only cultivate the next generation. , After a few years, the Wang family may be able to flourish and become an aristocratic family.
After thinking about it, she sent someone to write a letter to her eldest brother, naming a brother-in-law who had read books to read to him and explain.
The eunuch returned quickly and brought the original words of the elder brother Wang: "Yuan Daguan'er did say about the engagement, I think I am a peasant and can't afford to be high, so I didn't agree at that time, only said 'we will discuss it when the child is still young'. , I really don't know that this matter will cause trouble. Now that the queen mother said it, I understand that I will not interact with the big and small officials in the future. The queen mother has given so many good things, and I can live it in a few lifetimes. Sad, looking forward to seeing the Queen Mother again."
Empress Dowager Cining nodded, this answer was not appropriate, but it was more in line with her wishes.
After finishing the family affairs, the Empress Dowager Cining went to Guanghua Pavilion, where the Prime Minister Shen Mingzhi and the Minister of Personnel Feng Ju had been waiting for a while.
"Why is Yuan Jiuding so arrogant?"
Empress Dowager Ci Ning's questioning made the two ministers stunned. They looked at each other, and Shen Mingzhi said, "Excuse the ignorance of the minister, what did Lord Yuan do to anger the Empress Dowager?"
"The imperial court sent Yuan Jiuding to Donghai Kingdom to find out the truth and escort my family to Beijing, but he asked for a marriage in private and wanted to marry the Wang family. Doesn't he know how to avoid suspicion?"
Marriages between ministers and foreign relatives are not uncommon, but there is an unwritten rule that they cannot be carried out in private, not to mention the children of each family, even parents do not have the right to designate lifelong, but to report to the palace, the emperor and the empress dowager decide, Make more suggestions and hope to marry a certain family.
Yuan Jiuding begged for marriage in private, which was a taboo.
Shen Mingzhi's brows were slightly wrinkled and he was silent, Feng Ju had no choice but to say, "Is this true?"
"Although the Wang family hasn't read much, but they are honest, Master Feng won't think they lie?"
Feng Ju hurriedly bowed and saluted, "I dare not. In this way, Lord Yuan did not do it properly."
Empress Dowager Cining's anger remained on her face, "According to the rules, how should we deal with this kind of thing?"
Shen Mingzhi still bowed his head and said nothing. Since he became prime minister, he began to imitate Yin Wuxian, pretending to be confused and contemplative.
Feng Ju glanced at the prime minister and replied, "You can pass the imperial decree and admonish it."
"Just admonishing?" Empress Dowager Cining was really surprised.
"According to the rules, unless Master Yuan used the pretext of asking for a parent to ask for an official from the Wang family, if this is the case, he can be charged with making a foreign relative."
In that case, the Wang family would be implicated. Of course, the Empress Dowager Ci Ning would not do this. After thinking about it, she reluctantly said, "Okay, I have the two adults to draw up an admonition, which should be stricter."
The admonitions were written quickly, mainly by Feng Ju, while Shen Mingzhi was just on the sidelines.
The admonition was tepid, and the series of questions seemed to be asking Yuan Jiuding to verify the facts. The Empress Dowager Cining was furious and ordered to be rewritten. This time, she asked Shen Mingzhi to write, and Feng Ju made suggestions.
The second rhetoric was severe enough. Yuan Jiuding's behavior not only violated etiquette, but was also suspected of bullying the Wang family and the queen mother.
The Empress Dowager Ci Ning was finally satisfied, "Send it out early tomorrow so that everyone can see it and set an example. Lord Feng, please retire first."
Feng Ju resigned, and the Empress Dowager Cining asked Shen Mingzhi, "Isn't the Ministry of Personnel in charge of officials in the world? Why is the means so weak?"
Shen Mingzhi said with a smile: "The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the evaluation of officials and promotions, demotions and transfers. The minister has misbehaved and should be impeached by the Censor."
The Empress Dowager Ci Ning snorted, "It would have been better if we made it clear earlier? The Censor's Office hasn't appointed the left and right Censors, right?"
Shen Mingzhi's expression is correct, "Your Majesty asked the ministers and others to recommend candidates for the censor a few days ago."
"Who does Lord Shen recommend?"
"This matter is not decided by the minister alone. The Qinzheng Hall will discuss it together, and there are conventions left by the court for reference. To say that the person most qualified to take over as the censor should be Feng Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel."
"It's him again." Empress Dowager Cining's face sank, and then she returned to normal. "The appointment of officials is a matter of the imperial court. I shouldn't ask more questions. Lord Shen, don't take offense."
"The empress dowager is serious. Before your majesty is in charge, the empress dowager can completely guide the government according to the rules."
"Your Majesty will be able to govern soon." Empress Dowager Cining emphasized, after thinking for a while, she asked, "Is Mr. Feng the only candidate?"
"No, there are two more. If you want to appoint the left and right censors at the same time, you need to recommend two or three more for Your Majesty to decide."
Empress Dowager Cining nodded, "After you have drawn up the list, show it to me."
"Yes, Queen Mother."
The Empress Dowager Cining was obviously interfering in politics. Prime Minister Shen Mingzhi did not raise any objections, but was careful to cater to them. What he saw was another thing: Your Majesty might really not be sober, otherwise, the Empress Dowager would not care so much about the appointment and removal of officials.
Empress Dowager Ci Ning winked, and most of the waiters in the house left, leaving only one personal maid.
"Lord Shen, what do you think of Han Chou?"
Shen Mingzhi was slightly startled, "Han Zongzheng... What did the queen mother hear?"
"That's not true, it's just...Sir Shen is the prime minister of the dynasty, the head of all officials, so he won't favor someone, right?"
Shen Mingzhi immediately replied: "The minister recommends Han Zongzheng, and only looks at his position, not the person. The establishment of the reserve must be attended by Zong Zhengqing, which has nothing to do with Han Chou, and the minister has no intention of being partial."
"I understand, that's why I have to ask Lord Shen for help."
"The queen mother, please say that assisting the queen mother is the duty of the ministers."
"Han Chou recommended Dai Wang as the crown prince. He is a little too enthusiastic. I'm afraid there is a deal behind the scenes. I hope the prime minister can find out about this. Whether Han Chou and Dai Wang are in private contact."
"The queen mother, please rest assured, the minister will investigate with all his heart, and there will be a conclusion within three days."
"There are prime ministers who work hard, the royal family is unfortunate, and disasters happen again and again. I and Cishun Palace are both women and Taoist families. It is difficult to go out of the palace.
"The emperor's kindness is mighty. When this minister repays his kindness, I only hope that His Majesty will recover soon, and all the ministers will rejoice."
The prime minister left, and Empress Dowager Cining ordered someone to call Rong Huamin.
Rong Huamin was waiting downstairs, always on call.
Empress Dowager Cining hated the eunuch's betrayal and deceit, but she kept calm on the surface, "I'll give you a task, send someone to watch the Prime Minister, if the Prime Minister and Han Zongzheng meet in private, let me know immediately."
"Yes, the Queen Mother." Rong Huamin didn't ask much.
When Empress Dowager Cining returned to the palace, it was already dark. She glanced at the emperor, instructed the imperial doctor a few words, and went back to her bedroom to rest. She wanted to expose Shen Mingzhi's true face as soon as possible, so that the emperor could return to normal.
Zhang Youcai came to ask to see him. He came to see Empress Dowager Ci Ning every night to report on Concubine Tong's situation. Actually, there was nothing to say. He could finish it in a few words. Today he wants to say a few more words.
Zhang Youcai knelt on the ground, "There is one thing, even if the queen mother wants to kill me, I have to say it."
Empress Dowager Cining was taken aback, "What's so serious?"
Zhang Youcai took a deep breath, "The queen mother has summoned Han Chou many times, do you want to reuse him?"
Empress Dowager Cining's face darkened, "Eunuchs are not allowed to do politics, you don't understand the rules?"
Zhang Youcai kowtowed, "How dare I do politics? But Han Chou has been implicated a lot in the assassination..."
"I've heard this too much, do you have any evidence?"
Zhang Youcai shook his head with a look of urgency. He didn't know the emperor's real situation, and thought the situation was urgent, "Even if Han Chou has nothing to do with the assassination, he is a corrupt official, a big corrupt official, and the ministers in the court and the middle do not support him."
Mrs. Cining asked Zhang Youcai in detail, "How do you know that the ministers in the DPRK and China do not support him?"
Zhang Youcai walked forward on his knees and took out a roll of paper from his arms, "I have committed a serious crime, please punish the Queen Mother."
Empress Dowager Cining took the paper, opened it and glanced at it, she was greatly surprised. This was a memorial for impeaching Han Chou. The words were fierce, and she pointed out that Han Chou was a "big beetle in the imperial court". There are many co-signers behind, most of them are scholars from Guozijian, Hanlin Academy, and some people from Yushitai, whose official positions are not high, and the six ministers and the prime minister are not among them.
Empress Dowager Ci Ning sighed, put away the memorial, and didn't read it carefully, "You are a good boy, I will not punish you, but you have to be careful, don't meddle in your own business, your duty is to serve Concubine Tong, keep the prince, and affairs of the court. , I have my own ideas."
Zhang Youcai heard a glimmer of hope, kowtowed, thanked him, and left.
Empress Dowager Cining had been sleeping relatively late these days, so Rong Huamin was summoned as soon as he arrived.
"The people I sent monitored until midnight. The prime minister didn't go out, and Han Zongzheng didn't come to visit. I can't guarantee that the two adults did not communicate privately, but in the current situation, they are indeed performing their respective duties."
Empress Dowager Cining nodded, "Thank you for your hard work."
"I don't have to work hard for the Queen Mother."
"You should rest too."
"The queen mother hasn't rested yet, how dare people who are servants dare to slack off?" Rong Huamin hadn't heard the meaning of the queen mother's words.
"Admiral Rong, have I ever treated you badly?"
Rong Huamin was startled and raised his head, "The Queen Mother is as gracious to me as a mountain, how can there be any mistreatment?"
"That's because others treat you better. Tell me, how long have you been in collusion with Han Chou?"
Rong Huamin was even more surprised, "You're wronged, Empress Dowager, I and Han Zongzheng... do know each other, but he is Henan Yin, and he is an important official of the clan. Many people in the palace are familiar with him..."
"Well, then make a list for me."
Rong Huamin hurriedly defended: "It's just acquaintance, no other contacts."
"Rong Huamin, when you serve me, you are considered to be doing your best, and I will give you a chance to confess. If you don't want to, it doesn't matter. The people from the Sword and Halberd Camp are outside. Go and explain to them."
When Rong Huamin came to see Cai Xinghai, he thought that the Cishun Palace was strengthening its defense, but he didn't expect it was prepared for himself, and collapsed to the ground all of a sudden, "The Queen Mother, spare your life..."
It was getting dark, and the Empress Dowager Cining came to visit the emperor again, screened the imperial doctor and the guards back, walked to the bed, and said, "Your Majesty can get up, you can do whatever you want with the prime minister."