The palace was in chaos.
On this day, the two most common phrases in Jingguo and even the entire Sheng Yuan Continent were forcing the emperor to abdicate and purging the emperor's subordinates.
Almost everyone thought that if the Jingguo royal family did not agree to this, the officials of Mizhou and Xiangzhou would do something even more drastic.
No one would believe that those officials would resign. If the royal family really dared to agree to their resignation, Xiangzhou and Mizhou would dare to declare their independence the next day.
In the palace of Jingguo.
The Minister of Rites, Sheng Boyuan, sat opposite the Empress Dowager through a thin curtain.
Sheng Boyuan was tall, with a broad face and a straight nose. He was already seventy years old, but he did not look old. Instead, he looked very strong.
Since the previous Minister of Rites, Mao Enzheng, retired, Sheng Boyuan had been in charge of the Ministry of Rites. This person was swift and decisive and was quite brave. Last year, he entered the Hanlin Academy and finally became the Minister.
At this moment, the new Minister, who was respected by the officials of the Ministry of Rites, had a helpless look in his eyes.
"Minister Sheng … In this court, only you are the most reliable person." The Empress Dowager's sad voice came from behind the curtain.
Sheng Boyuan sighed softly and did not speak for a long time.
The main force of the royal family was the military. In the court, before the fall of the Left Prime Minister, the royal family had the help of Kang Ha-chuan and Cao Dean. Therefore, even if they were at a disadvantage, they could still stabilize the situation.
But now, Cao Dean had actually sided with Fang Yun, and Kang Ha-chuan was hesitant. It was equivalent to losing 70% of the power of the royalists.
Among the first and second-rank officials in the court, most of them leaned towards the royal family. But only Sheng Boyuan, who was in charge of the Ministry of Rites, was a true descendant of the royal family.
As for the other ministers or ministers, they either had a deep relationship with Cao Dean and Kang Ha-chuan, or they came from aristocratic families. Their backgrounds were not as pure as Sheng Boyuan's.
For example, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Supreme Court were related to the Notre-Dame. As legalists, they usually tried everything to weaken the royal power. It was impossible for them to stand firmly on the side of the royal family at this time.
Even when the Left Prime Minister was at the peak of his power, he still had to seek the approval of the Punishment Hall before appointing the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Supreme Court.
As for the militarists, they would not hesitate to charge and break through the enemy lines. Now that the struggle for power was involved, they had no place to show their skills. Moreover, Fang Yun had completely conquered the militarists through the battles of Ning 'an and Borderline Mountain. The imperial family no longer trusted the military as much as before.
"Empress Dowager, this old subject's literary skills are not good enough to govern the country, nor is his martial arts skills enough to expand the borders. However, in order to repay the previous Emperor's kindness, this old subject will not hesitate to sacrifice his life! Fang Yun and I are irreconcilable! "Sheng Boyuan glared angrily, drawing a clear line between him and Fang Yun.
The Empress Dowager nodded gently and revealed a gratified expression. She said, "Back then, the late Emperor often praised Minister Sheng as a trusted aide and a pillar of the human race. Unfortunately, you are too upright and not as good at wielding power as Mount Liu or as tactful as Cao Dean. Thus, you were unable to become the Prime Minister. I wonder if it is appropriate for me to ask Kang Ha-chuan to be the Left Prime Minister? "
Sheng Boyuan said, "This plan is a stroke of genius. I admire it very much. As long as Mr. He Chuan is willing to be the Left Prime Minister, Fang Yun's path of monopolizing power will be cut off. If Fang Yun really wants to enter the imperial court again, it will be difficult for him to stir up trouble if he fights with Cao Dean or becomes the new Minister. "
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "I think so too. However, a day has passed and the Minister of Justice has not replied to me. I'm afraid Mr. He Chuan is still hesitating. What do you think about Mr. Jianmei? "
Sheng Boyuan hurriedly said, "Absolutely not! Mr. He Chuan is generous and benevolent. Even if he knows that he is blocking Fang Yun, he can only accept the position in front of the imperial edict. However, Li Wenying is different. He is decisive and unyielding. If he thinks that he is being used as a shield, he will definitely leave on the spot. "
"Then, do you want Cao Dean to be the Left Prime Minister?"
Sheng Boyuan shook his head and said, "Cao Dean is tactful and shrewd. As a great scholar, he is not afraid of the royal family. However, he is afraid of Fang Yun's deep background as a Notre-Dame. He would rather die than fight with Fang Yun. If he has the courage to fight with Fang Yun, why would he let Mount Liu become the Prime Minister? If you let him be the Left Prime Minister, he will definitely recommend Fang Yun. At that time, stealing … would not be beautiful. "
Sheng Boyuan only said the word "stealing" halfway before he hurriedly changed his words. He almost went for wool and came home shorn.
The Empress Dowager seemed to have heard nothing and said, "In your opinion, who can be the Prime Minister?"
Sheng Boyuan lowered his head and pondered. After a long time, he shook his head and said, "Unless the Holy Families are willing to intervene in this matter against Fang Yun, there is no one in the imperial court."
"Then Mount Liu …"
"No!" Sheng Boyuan loudly interrupted the Empress Dowager and then apologized. "Please forgive me for being anxious."
"Just say it." The Empress Dowager's voice was very unnatural.
Sheng Boyuan said, "Now, the officials in the imperial court are fattening from the Liu Clique. If Mount Liu rises, you will be the enemy of all the officials. There will be no room for negotiation."
The Empress Dowager laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "I am also desperate. Yes, I would rather let Fang Yun be the Left Prime Minister than let Mount Liu rise. Then … if I insist on abolishing the position of Left Prime Minister, what will happen? "
Although Sheng Boyuan was an upright person, he was not stupid. Naturally, he did not believe that the Empress Dowager would really use Mount Liu. She was probably just testing him.
Sheng Boyuan sighed softly and said, "If you don't want to see the Emperor's subordinates and Gyeongo divided, you can't abolish the position of Left Prime Minister."
"Eliminate the Emperor's subordinates? Do you think that the aristocratic families in Jingguo don't exist? "The Empress Dowager suddenly raised her voice.
Sheng Boyuan said helplessly, "It's fine if the aristocratic families don't interfere. If they do, Fang Yun will definitely become the Left Prime Minister."
The Empress Dowager fell into silence.
Sheng Boyuan's meaning was very clear. In the eyes of the aristocratic families, how could a declining royal family compare to Fang Yun? Fang Yun could casually take out some divine objects and the aristocratic families would help him. At that time, not only would the royal family lose face, but they would also be forced into a desperate situation.
"What do the civil and military officials say?"
Sheng Boyuan thought for a few breaths and said, "Those small officials are all fence-sitters. Most of them think that the position of Left Prime Minister belongs to Fang Yun. Some even said that he risked his life in the Sacred Burial Valley for the human race and came back injured. If the human race doesn't even give him the position of Left Prime Minister, it will make the meritorious officials bitterly disappointed."
"Then the people … forget it, let's not ask."
The Empress Dowager was silent for a long time.
Sheng Boyuan knew the ultimate purpose of the Empress Dowager's call, so he said, "I will go to the Wen Prime Minister's residence and use all means to persuade him to take over the position of Left Prime Minister. If he doesn't, I will hit my head on a pillar … "
"Empress Dowager, it's not good …" A hurried voice came from outside and interrupted Sheng Boyuan.
Sheng Boyuan looked outside and saw a eunuch from the palace rushing in. He looked flustered, but then he came to his senses and hurriedly said, "I have been rude. Please punish me, Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager snorted and said, "It's fine. What is it?"
The eunuch said, "The Notre-Dame's special envoy has gone to the Jiang Mansion. He said that he wants Kang Ha-chuan to take over the position of Elder of the Ceremonial Hall."
Bang!
The Empress Dowager slammed the table beside her. The teacup shook and tea splashed everywhere. The eunuch was so scared that he knelt on the ground.
"What a good Fang Xusheng …" The Empress Dowager squeezed out a sentence from between her teeth.
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