The King of Song raised his head and glanced at Wang Chong, a ripple of emotion in his eyes.
"You have a good feeling. We sent people to Jiangnan to investigate, and they found that He Qingrong's mother wasn't seriously ill. She just caught a cold, and the villagers bewitched her, coupled with her longing for her son, resulted in her being seriously ill."
At this point, Wang Chong finally frowned. This matter was far more complicated than he had imagined. He Qingrong's mother missed her son, so He Qingrong was completely capable of taking a leave of absence to visit his family, whether it was for two months or longer. It was clear that someone with ulterior motives had used this matter.
Gulp!
As they were speaking, the carriage came to a stop. It had finally arrived at the Gate of Supreme Harmony, and up ahead was the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Wang Chong and The King of Song returned, their expressions solemn as they disembarked from the carriage.
"Let's go in first! When the time comes, we'll act according to the circumstances. No matter what, we have to get the other officials to take charge of the irrigation works. At the same time, we have He Qingrong go back to visit his family! "
The King of Song said.
Wang Chong grunted and nodded. The King of Song had said exactly what he had been thinking, and the two of them were of the same mind.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony soared into the clouds, and the pair walked up a long stairway made of white jade into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
All the officials had gathered in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"Buzz!"
When Wang Chong and The King of Song walked into the hall together, the entire hall buzzed with chatter, countless gazes focusing on the red-robed Wang Chong.
"It's him!"
"Something's probably going to happen today!"
… …
All eyes were filled with apprehension as they stared at the chilling Wang Chong. Although Wang Chong had been a general, the disbandment of the prefectural armies and Zhang Chaoshu had shown everyone just how formidable he was. Although it had been a long time since he had attended court, Wang Chong still wielded enormous influence in the Imperial Court.
"King of Foreign Lands!"
When they saw Wang Chong, Beacon General Jiang Yunrang and the other generals all looked over with joy.
"Yes."
Wang Chong nodded and greeted everyone. He quickly shifted his gaze and looked in another direction.
At first glance, Wang Chong quickly noticed the Prince of Qi by the coiling dragon pillar. The Prince of Qi had his arms crossed. When Wang Chong looked over, the Prince of Qi also looked over. In that instant, the corners of King Qi's mouth curled up as he sneered, a faint trace of complacency appearing in his eyes.
At that moment, a hint of worry flitted across Wang Chong's brow. However, before Wang Chong could make things difficult for him, Prince Qi had already turned his head. Facing the ceiling of the hall, he closed his eyes, appearing indifferent and disinclined to pay any attention to Wang Chong.
"Hmph!"
Wang Chong ignored him and turned his gaze elsewhere. The civil and military officials in the hall had not changed. Now that The King of Song had obtained the power to assist the government, he had already overruled many of the decisions made against the generals and civil officials under him.
But perhaps it was just his imagination, but when he looked at those unfamiliar officials that the Confucian Sect had placed in the Imperial Court, although they were still expressionless, Wang Chong sensed that they were a little different from before.
As his gaze continued to move, Wang Chong once more saw a familiar figure seated on a large sandalwood chair in the upper right corner of the hall.
Ever since Wang Chong had rebuked him in the court debate and almost caused him to faint from anger, the Grand Preceptor had not appeared in court for a very long time. But now, the Grand Preceptor once more appeared in court. He sat on the large wooden armchair, his back to Wang Chong. He was motionless, his eyes closed as if he was taking a nap. It was clear that he had no intention of paying any attention to Wang Chong.
"Buzz!"
The sight of the Grand Preceptor's back caused Wang Chong's brow to rise. The Grand Preceptor cared a great deal about his face, and after being rebuked by Wang Chong in court, the Grand Preceptor had lost all his face. Thus, he had not appeared in court for a very long time. Unless there was a special matter, this sort of person would never appear and become an official of the same court as Wang Chong.
Is it because of He Qingrong?
Wang Chong quietly said to himself. But deep inside, Wang Chong had a feeling that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.
Suppressing the unease in his heart, Wang Chong's gaze swept over Bright Minister He Qingrong and Prime Minister Li Linfu, and he immediately heard a shrill voice at his ear.
"The First Prince has arrived!"
Pa, with the crack of the whip, all the civil and military officials immediately fell silent. Under the gazes of the crowd, the Eldest Imperial Prince Li Ying strode out from the side of the Great Hall, escorted by several silk-robed eunuchs and Golden Guards.
"Paying respects to the First Prince!"
Upon seeing the First Prince, everyone bowed and paid their respects. The First Prince lifted his robes and sat down on the throne that represented the Sacred Emperor at the top of the hall.
His gaze was disdainful and his aura was vigorous. Perhaps it was because he had sat on the dragon throne and was managing the court in the Sage Emperor's place, but the First Prince was gradually beginning to exude the aura of an Emperor that only a person of the Sage Emperor could have! His gaze swept over the court like lightning, pausing on Wang Chong for a moment before quickly withdrawing.
"Ministers, if you have something to report, make a memorial. If not, dismiss!"
A shrill voice resounded through the hall. At the First Prince's side, replacing Eunuch Gao Lishi's seat, was a white-haired, white-bearded eunuch. His body was thin, and his five fingers were like hooks. Although he gave off no aura, his eyes exuded a sharp light, exuding an unfathomable aura. He was clearly a top-class expert of the Imperial Palace.
"Your Highness, this subject has a memorial!"
In the main hall, an official stepped forward and began the daily agenda.
The Holy Emperor had retired into the depths of the palace, leaving the First Prince to manage the affairs of the state. Other than the change in person, there was not much difference. The affairs of the court were complicated and involved the various provinces and counties. This was not Wang Chong's forte, so after listening for a while, Wang Chong quickly closed his eyes and waited.
The Grand Preceptor, King Qi, and Li Linfu were all present in today's court session. Wang Chong was well aware that the other court discussions were just appetizers. The crux of the matter was the Bright Minister, He Qingrong.
This court session would decide whether he would stay or not.
The court discussions were resolved one after another, and after some time, a voice suddenly resounded through the hall.
"Your Highness, this subject has a memorial! The Jiangnan floods have been inexorably dealt with. Not long ago, a resolution was passed to invest three million taels of gold in digging new canals and irrigation works. This lowly subject proposes that the Imperial Court consider the petition of the people and send the Bright Minister to Jiangnan to preside over the situation! "
Following this voice, a figure stepped out from the ranks of the court and spoke to the First Prince in a loud voice.
"Buzz!"
Wang Chong had been watching from the sidelines with his eyes closed, but when he heard this voice, he opened his eyes.
Zhou Taiqin!
A cold light flashed through Wang Chong's eyes. He immediately recognized this person as Grand Chamberlain Zhou Taiqin, who had tried his best to dissuade the Imperial Court from sending troops at the Battle of Talas.
"He's here!"
Wang Chong was startled. After waiting for so long, the court session was finally about to begin.
"Your Highness, this subject agrees! Lord He is a native of Jiangnan and is extremely familiar with the geography there. Sending Lord He will definitely be able to adapt to the local conditions and get twice the result with half the effort. This will also greatly shorten the construction period and avoid many unnecessary problems! "
Immediately after Zhou Taiqin, another old official stepped forward and said.
"Correct! Lord He's mother is gravely ill, and filial piety is the most important of all virtues. Sending Lord He to preside over the irrigation works will not only fulfill his filial piety, but it will also benefit the country and the people. This is truly killing two birds with one stone. I trust that Lord He will not object. "
Yet another official spoke up. With three people speaking up, the other officials began to voice their support.
"Your Highness, this subject objects! Lord He is a Bright Minister, a second-rank official. Moreover, he has been in the Imperial Court for many years and is extremely familiar with the various affairs of the Imperial Court and the operations of the empire. Digging canals and constructing irrigation works will naturally benefit the country and the people, but this matter can only be handled by the officials of the Ministry of Works. There is no need for Lord He to personally go. There are big and small matters, and there are small and large materials. A great material is used for a great purpose, and a small material is used for a small purpose. Moreover, Lord He is not an official of the Ministry of Works. "
Not far from King Song, the Assistant Minister of War, Cao Qianzong, suddenly stepped out of the ranks.
"Your Highness, this subject agrees with Lord Cao in opposing this matter! The civil and military officials all have their own positions and duties. This is the foundation upon which the Imperial Court can normally handle various matters. If the construction of water conservancy required the use of second-class officials, then if other places also needed to build water conservancy, flood control, or drought prevention, would they need to use second-class, second-class, or even first-class officials? If everything is handled this way, then wouldn't the Imperial Court be empty and all matters remain undecided? This lowly subject firmly opposes this matter. "
With Cao Qianzong taking the lead, another official from The King of Song's faction stepped forward.
"He Qingrong came from the Ministry of Works and knows everything about irrigation works. How can anyone else be like him? Moreover, filial piety is the most important of all virtues. If one doesn't even visit one's mother when she is seriously ill, they are not worthy of being a son. What right do they have to stand in the Imperial Court and set an example for all the officials? "
At this moment, the crimson-robed Minister of Rites, Pei Cunyi, suddenly stepped forward.
Wang Chong coldly watched on, a cold light flashing through his eyes. Pei Cunyi was the Minister of Rites, as well as King Qi's subordinate. For King Qi to have him step forward at a time like this, it was clear that he was determined to succeed. King Qi, the Grand Preceptor, Li Linfu, and the First Prince — if even the position of Minister of Honor was replaced, then The King of Song's faction would truly be weak and powerless, finding it difficult to contend against King Qi's faction.
More importantly, if they lost the assistance of a second-rank official like He Qingrong, King Qi's faction would have much more influence in the Imperial Court, allowing them to easily pass many matters. Moreover …
Wang Chong recalled the information that The King of Song's spy had obtained from King Qi. It was clear that He Qingrong's matter was only the beginning. Once He Qingrong's position fell into the hands of King Qi and the Confucian Sect, even more people would be replaced. The Confucian Sect definitely had more tricks up its sleeve, which was why Wang Chong had personally come to court today.
"Your Highness!"
At this moment, a loud and vigorous voice resounded through the hall. At the end of the line, Wang Chong raised his robe and walked forward.
"This lowly subject proposes that King Qi personally oversee the irrigation works in Jiangnan."
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