Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 741 - 612: Shrewd and Calculating Li Qianzhi_1

Chapter 741: Chapter 612: Shrewd and Calculating Li Qianzhi_1

"Golden decree, jade diploma?"

The Jingtai Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Minister Gao, are you doubting that this grandchild of mine does not carry the imperial bloodline?"

Upon hearing these words, Gao Gu simply lowered himself into a bow with a calm expression, "This servant would not dare. It’s just that Prince Duanhe passed away three months ago, and yet suddenly an unexpected child is here. I am merely a bit suspicious. I am worried about the possibility of some attempting deceit, trying to confuse the imperial lineage."

The Jingtai Emperor issued a cold laugh. Without saying anything more, he simply waved his arm, commanding Qian Long, the chief butler of the Sili Bureau, to take out the golden decree and the jade diploma, and present them to the lineup of officials for them to inspect one by one.

Upon inspection, Li Xuan found that the child’s name was Yu Youlong.

The characters of the Jingtai Emperor’s generation were prefixed by ’You’, which is quite an uncommon character.

This was established by the Great Ancestor of the Jin Dynasty, which meant that the common people need not avoid it in their writing or naming, thus saving much trouble.

The meaning of ’Long’ implies high and steep, like the phrase ’towering mountains’, which is a pretty good implication. However, using a mountain to suppress a dragon, isn’t that a bad sign for the imperial family?

Li Xuan was filled with doubts. Why would the Jingtai Emperor give this child such a name?

However, the aura of this golden decree and jade diploma clearly resonated with the child in Yu Hongchang’s arms.

It was indeed proof that this child was the descendant of the Yu family.

At this moment, Li Xuan had a sudden realization. Probably, this little baby was the Jingtai Emperor’s tool to suppress Prince Xiang today.

Even if he fails to depose Prince Xiang today, the Jingtai Emperor has ways to deal with the officials’ demands.

These court officials are worried about the lack of an heir, aren’t they? So, he will give them one.

Crown Prince Yu Jianji is unconscious and unable to take the throne, so Yu Youlong, who was nurtured by Yu Jianji’s side, becomes the leading candidate to ascend the throne.

After Gao Gu had a look at the golden decree and jade diploma, he was at a loss for words for a time.

The adoption of this child by the emperor as the heir to the Crown Prince serves as a terrible piece of news for the Empress Dowager, the Zhengtong Emperor, Prince Yi, and even the whole Prince Yi Party.

It means that the chance for Zhengtong Emperor and Prince Yi to succeed the throne might be cut off once again.

However, the adoption of the imperial grandchild by the emperor is a justified act, and the outer court has no right to intervene.

After Qian Long circled around the hall, took back the golden decree and jade diploma, and returned to the emperor’s side, the Jingtai Emperor opened his mouth again, "Recently, due to the vacant position of the crown prince, the court and the common folk have been in turmoil, with disputes breaking out frequently. This even caused a natural disaster and the comet to strike the Purple Palace, and also harbored the ill-intentions of the ambitious Prince Xiang to create disturbances.

I can’t help but worry about this. The absence of a crown prince is indeed the root of the turbulence in the court and among the common folk. Therefore, today, I will establish my grandson, Yu Youlong, as the imperial grandson and appoint the Grand Secretary, Chen Xun, as Shaoshi, the Minister of War Yu Jie as Shaofu, and Marquis of Guanjun Li Xuan as Shaobao."

Yu Hongchang looked at the Jingtai Emperor in surprise when she heard this.

There was no such thing in her father’s plan.

Then, Yu Hongchang realized that this must have been an impulse decision by the Jingtai emperor.

At this moment, almost two-fifths of the court officials are kneeling in front of the inner Jinshui Bridge as a punishment for supporting Prince Xiang.

The ones left in this hall are either supporters of the Emperor, or hostages under the Golden Knife case of the Empress Dowager and the wings of the Prince Yi Party, or some who do not lean on either side. This is indeed the moment when the resistance is at its lowest.

Li Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly. Shaoshi, Shaofu, and Shaobao, collectively known as the Three Orphans, are the deputies of the Three Lords.

In ancient times, their positions were lower than the lords, but higher than the ministers. In addition to assisting the Emperor, managing the Yin and Yang, and governing the nation, they are also palace officials who tutor the Crown Prince, and their positions are extremely important.

By modern times, the positions of the Three Lords and Three Orphans had already become honorary titles for court officials.

It is clear that the Emperor wishes to rely on the power of him and Chen Xun, and Yu Jie, to aid and protect the Imperial grandson.

Yet at this moment, the hall was still filled with the exclamations of court officials.

Gao Gu and Xiao Ci instinctively furrowed their brows. The Jingtai Emperor adopting Yu Youlong as his chosen son is acceptable, but at this moment, establishing him as the imperial grandson has touched their bottom line.

They were unwilling to see this scene but had no intention of charging into the battlefield themselves again.

In this hall, there will always be officials who are brave enough to defy death.

At this moment, a lower officer stood up, "Your Majesty, I believe it is a bit too early to establish a crown prince! The imperial grandson has just been born not too long ago. His character is not yet clear, and his potential is not yet known. Furthermore, there is an old saying that the country’s prosperity relies on a long-reigning ruler, which may not be a blessing for the country."

The Jingtai Emperor immediately shot him a cold glare, his eyes burning with anger, "The choice of the crown prince is something that I can decide with a single word. How could a mere Jishizhong like you have any say in this? Besides, what do you mean by ’the country’s prosperity relies on a long-reigning ruler’? Do you think that I can’t even live past fifteen years, and can’t wait until he grows up? Have him taken out of the hall and sent to Zhao Prison for questioning, accusing him of the crime of cursing the monarch."

But after the man was escorted out of the court, another person stood up, "Your Majesty, Prince Duanhe is the great-grandson of Ren Emperor’s second son, Prince Zheng Yu Zhanyong, and is not a legitimate child. According to the rituals, he is already out of your ’third degree of kinship’.

Among the royal family, the bloodline of the sons of Zhengtong Emperor is the closest to you. If Your Majesty wishes to adopt an heir or grandson, you can choose from Zhengtong Emperor’s children, no need to seek elsewhere."

After listening, the Jingtai Emperor asked with a cold smile, "What kind of reasoning is that? Numerous instances of common folk choosing an heir from distant relatives are known, and now that it’s my turn, it’s not allowed? Do I absolutely have to choose from my brother’s sons? You are a Jishizhong of the Ministry of Rites, I ask you, is there such a rule in the etiquette?"

The official of Ministry of Rites was at a loss for words and could only clasp his fist in a salute, "Although the rules of etiquette have no such restrictions, it’s hard to make the royal family of the Great Jin Dynasty accept this. Your Majesty, if you forcefully establish a distant branch of the royal family as the heir, I fear there will be endless troubles in the future."

At this time, someone else stepped forward, "Your Majesty, do you still remember your promise to the Queen Mother when you ascended the throne? You said that you would pass the throne to Prince Yi in the future. Are you going to break your word now?"

Emperor Jingtai remained expressionless, a smirk playing about his lips.

As Li Xuan was about to refute, he noticed a burly figure among the military ministers stepping forward, "When did Your Majesty break a promise? It was Prince Yi who behaved dishonorably and resigned from the position of the Crown Prince, what does this have to do with Your Majesty?"

It was Liang Heng, his beard bristling in anger, eyes bulging, glaring at the courtiers below the hall, "When His Majesty didn’t appoint a Crown Prince, you were crying and shouting. Now that the Crown Prince has been established, you are still complaining. What do you really want?

Whoever the Crown Prince is, that is His Majesty’s business. How can it be criticized by you, the ministers? Who dares to question it? If anyone dares to speak out of turn, I, Liang, will immediately cut off his head!"

Li Xuan looked over, a hint of surprise emerging in his heart.

Emperor Jingtai seemed pleased, "Lord Wuqing spoke very well and deeply resonated with me. I intend to reinstate him as the deputy commander of the Jingying, in charge of the ten regiments."

He knew that for the past few months, Liang Heng had been on duty outside Chengtian Gate every day from the beginning of the Hour of Mao until late night. Even if he was ridiculed, he would not get annoyed or show any signs of arrogance like before.

Liang Heng’s stance today was particularly satisfying to him.

However, Emperor Jingtai was not yet sure about Liang Heng’s sincerity in repentance, so he didn’t directly restore him to his original position but demoted him by one rank to serve as the deputy commander of Jingying.

About the ’ten regiments’, they were actually the main force of Jingying built by Shaofu Yu Jie, who selected elites from the original five army camps, Sanqian Camp and Shenji Camp of Jingying.

However, as the person who established the ’ten regiments’, Yu Jie had a high reputation in these regiments and could form a ’balance of power’.

After saying these words, Emperor Jingtai immediately stood up, "My decision about the imperial grandson is final. Anyone who dares to discuss this matter will be dismissed and exiled to the border immediately. The Decree Room should also draft the decree as soon as possible and announce it to the world. I’m tired, the morning court meeting ends here."

Then he ignored the buzzing court officials and directly walked out of the Yizheng Hall.

※※※※

After the court was dismissed, Li Xuan looked at Liang Heng with deep meaning, sizing up this former Great General. "Lord Wuqing’s words today really demonstrate an impressive attitude."

"Not at all, compared to your exposure of Prince Xiang’s true colors and your merit in solving this treasonous plot, my words are insignificant. Besides, these court officials are really out of line, they have the audacity to bully the Emperor."

At this time, Liang Heng’s face was flushed with elation. Even seeing his adopted father ’Li Xuan’, didn’t dampen his spirits, he freely addressed him as ’father’.

He thought the strategy provided by the Iron-faced Man was correct. At this moment, only by firmly standing on the Emperor’s side could he regain his position in the shortest possible time.

As suggested by the Iron-faced Man, Liang Heng’s top priority now was to regain real power as quickly as possible. Otherwise, no matter what kind of ideas he had, he would have no way to implement them.

Liang Heng was also silently relieved. Since the incident at the WanYue House, he had kept his distance from Prince Xiang.

Especially in the two months after his dismissal from office and his nephew Liang Biao was demoted and exiled to Yunnan, Liang Heng was resentful that Prince Xiang did not do more to help, so he listened to the Iron-faced Man and completely cut off contact with Prince Xiang’s mansion. Otherwise, he might have been implicated this time and become part of the treasonous Prince Xiang party.

Li Xuan gazed at him and chuckled softly, "I hope that General Liang’s words today are sincere."

However, he was more vigilant at heart. Liang Heng, who had regained his military power, was extremely dangerous in his eyes.

Just as Li Xuan was about to say something more, he noticed Gao Gu, Shang Hong, and others walking towards him.

"Marquis of Guanjun!" Gao Gu held a jade scepter and saluted Li Xuan, "Since Prince Xiang is involved in the Golden Knife Case, it is clear that the queen mother and the True Emperor are innocent in this case. Can this case be closed now?"

He was unable to prevent Emperor Jingtai from establishing the Imperial Grandson. He could only resign himself to second best and first get the Queen Mother and Emperor to be extracted from the Golden Knife Case and regain their freedom. This would allow the many court officials involved with the Queen Mother and the Emperor to quickly remove the ropes tied around their necks.

However, Li Xuan just shook his head slightly, "Why would you say this, Lord Zhu? I did say that Prince Xiang was involved in the Golden Knife Case, but I didn’t say that he was the mastermind."

"Marquis Guanjun, your words are strange." said Minister of Revenue Xiao Ci, frowning and looking at Li Xuan with cold eyes, "Prince Xiang was the mastermind who plotted against two Crown Princes. This Golden Knife Case was obviously framed by Prince Xiang to usurp the throne. This case is simple and clear, what else is there to investigate?"

Li Xuan shook his head, "These are just Xaio Shangshu’s conjectures. So far, there is no direct evidence that Prince Xiang was the mastermind of the Golden Knife Case."

"But so far, there is also no solid evidence proving that the queen mother and the emperor are involved in the case."

This was the left Shilang of the Ministry of War, Shang Hong, he said earnestly, "The Emperor cannot keep the Ciqing Palace sealed forever. Otherwise, there will inevitably be a name of unfilial piety in the history books in the future. Marquis Guanjun can continue investigating the case, but there must be a time limit."

Li Xuan immediately looked at Shang Hong and thought to himself that trouble was brewing.

In fact, the current situation was also within his expectation.

As Prince Xiang fell, the balance of power in the court was disrupted, and naturally the situation of the Golden Knife Case would change. It would be difficult to stall the case any longer.

But then Li Xuan smiled, "Although the Ciqing Palace is sealed, everything about the Queen Mother’s living and usage remain the same. The Emperor still respects the queen mother very much, he will visit her every morning and evening whenever he has free time. How can this be considered unfilial? On the contrary, not clarifying the Golden Knife Case and making people think that the queen mother is dull and unkind is a big issue."

He then considered, "How about this, I’ve been investigating the Fei Yuan poisoning case and the Crown Prince’s sudden illness case for over a year, why don’t we take a year as the deadline? If I can’t find anything after a year, I will personally ask His Majesty for an order to lift the siege from the Ciqing Palace."

At this time, Gao Gu, Xiao Ci, and the others on the opposite side, all had the urge to curse.