Chapter 1167: Chapter 932 Truth 11_2
Although the Empress Dowager knew the Ji Family’s two brothers were loyally devoted, she still felt fear!
The Emperor bestowed too much power upon their brothers.
However, fortunately, the Princess returned, and she stepped in, gaining a Sword of Imperial Authority, granting her the same power as Ji Youzhi to act first and report later!
The Empress Dowager spoke well of the Emperor in front of Chang Rongshun and the Princess!
She hoped that one day, as today, the Emperor, his two brothers, and sister would join forces to catch corrupt officials and deal with traitors!
"Grandma! You still haven’t explained how Uncle discerned the truth!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but laugh, "Do you truly not know?"
Xiaosuisui shook his head, "I don’t know!"
"You insist that I speak plainly to you!"
Xiaosuisui nodded.
"Yes!"
The Empress Dowager conceded to her, having to continue speaking.
"Li Xu, though older, entered officialdom late, participating in the Imperial Examination at thirty, which was nine years ago..."
"It’s actually ten years ago now,"
Nanny Xiao reminded her from the side!
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, "That’s right, ten years ago, ten years ago, Li Xu partook in the Imperial Examination for the first time, and that was shortly after your Emperor’s adoptive father ascended the throne, giving it great importance. Li Xu was the Champion Scholar personally appointed and endorsed by him after the ascension.
He was eager to cultivate trusted figures within the court at a young age, and Li Xu proved to be very valuable.
He was never sent out, first serving three years as the Secretary in Zhongshu Province, later appointed as the Governor of Shuntian Prefecture, and then three years ago became a Deputy Minister, aiming to become Chancellor in place of Lin Yushu.
Lin Yushu is getting old, and will have to step down sooner or later!"
Xiaosuisui’s mouth opened, her mind a muddled mess, yet she took a long while to finally understand.
"So what Uncle said was that given Li Xu’s abilities, if he couldn’t do it, it was purely because his official position didn’t allow it, preventing him from being involved in crucial court appointments.
The ones with that capability are indeed the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, only they can maneuver people into desired positions!"
Seeing her sudden understanding, the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction.
"So you’ve finally understood?"
"I understand now, it’s surprising that court affairs have so many twists and turns. I thought it was simply the officials with bigger ranks controlling those with smaller ones.
I never realized being an official requires strategizing, and that just reading well isn’t enough!"
The Empress Dowager’s lips curled up.
Outside, Xie Pan’Er’s voice inquired with a palace maid.
"I just returned after delivering a late-night meal to the Emperor and the Princess. Has the Empress Dowager retired for the night?"
"Empress..."
"Pan’Er is here, come in!"
The palace maid’s voice was directly interrupted by the Dowager.
Xie Pan’Er entered, prepared to perform the formalities.
"No need for formalities! Quickly tell whether the Emperor and Princess Lianchun ate your noodles?
Did they mention resting without reviewing?"
Xie Pan’Er shook her head.
"When I arrived, the Emperor was furious, saying how the court’s Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, leaders of the civilian officials, were unexpectedly significant pests, disregarding the court’s foundations, accepting bribes, securing positions for people, buying and selling offices!
They all deserved death, so I dared not intrude, waiting outside for quite a while."
"What? The Emperor said this in such a manner, then how did the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor react?
Did they defend themselves?"
Xie Pan’Er continued to shake her head, "Chancellor Song said nothing, allowing the Emperor to reprimand him.
Minister Lin, on the other hand, replied with several words!"
The Empress Dowager covered her mouth with a handkerchief upon hearing this, her breath growing slightly rapid.
"What did Minister Lin say in response?"
Nanny Xiao grew anxious, promptly asking.
"Minister Lin stated that staffing in the court naturally involves consultation among colleagues in the Zhongshu Province! They all acted in accordance with regulations!
The Emperor merely speculated based on a bribery case with Liu Yuheng, involving a Zhongshu Province official, causing undue alarm!"
The Empress Dowager grew impatient upon hearing, "And then what? What did the Emperor say?"
That was Minister Lin, who had served in the court for a lifetime, the leader of the realm’s civilian ministers. The Emperor was too hasty; without evidence, how could he confront them so early?
Now what is to be done; if Minister Lin really intends anything, who will work for Great Han?
"Don’t worry, listen to Miss Pan’Er first."
"Yes, yes, yes! Tell us! What happened next?
What did the Emperor say?"
Xie Pan’Er continued to shake her head,
"Does the Emperor have no means to counter Lin Yushu?"
"It’s not that the Emperor couldn’t counter Minister Lin, but rather, Master Ji surprisingly had someone retrieve documents from a year ago to the present, specifically singling out those by Minister Lin and Chancellor Song. Upon examining them carefully!
