Pri Minister Wang remained silent, staring intently at his son.
Wang Jin’s expression changed unpredictably, his eyes revealing struggle and pain. After a long ti, he whispered: "We must save him, that’s certain. It’s not hard to save Big Brother’s life, but continuing to serve as Governor of Jiangnan is absolutely impossible."
Pri Minister Wang’s expression softened slightly: "At least you still have so sense of brotherhood. You haven’t been completely blinded by power."
The human heart is indeed peculiar. Pri Minister Wang, selfish and greedy, would do anything for power and dominance, yet when it ca to his own sons, he wished for deep fraternal bonds and mutual support.
Wang Jin, a secretary, was constantly torn between loyalty and filial piety, always in pain and struggle, known only to himself.
Seeing his father’s approving look, Wang Jin didn’t know how to feel. After a mont of silence, he asked: "Father, what do you plan to do?"
Once the anger subsided, Pri Minister Wang cald down: "According to court rules, officials jointly impeached should co to the Capital City to et the Emperor and defend themselves."
"I’ll write to your brother imdiately, telling him to plead guilty honestly, and not to stir up any more trouble. At most, he’ll lose his position and pay so silver to save his life and settle down for a few years. Later, he can seek reinstatent, just like Zuo Feng, a treasured sword temporarily sheathed, always with a chance to return."
"You don’t need to handle this, nor speak on behalf of your brother before the Emperor. Let the Zheng family revel in their mont for a while."
Detecting an odd tone, Wang Jin raised his head: "Father, how do you plan to counterattack?"
Pri Minister Wang sneered repeatedly: "The Zheng family, relying on the Grand Empress Dowager, has been jumping around the court. Now growing bolder, even reaching into our territory. If I don’t show them sothing, they might truly believe the world belongs to the Zheng Family."
"The Wang Family has your incompetent elder brother! Does the Zheng family have no useless descendants? Is the palace truly clean? Just wait and see!"
These few short sentences revealed a fierce and bloody struggle.
Wang Jin listened with a pounding heart, wanting to say sothing, but upon seeing his father’s icy and dark expression, he swallowed it back silently.
...
The next day, Pri Minister Wang personally submitted a morial, acknowledging his failure in teaching his son, and requesting to resign from his position as Pri Minister.
Emperor Taihe firmly refused, comforting Pri Minister Wang with kind words.
Pri Minister Wang wept tearfully, perford a grand rite of kneeling before the ministers, and returned to the Prince Mansion, shutting himself away.
Minister Zhang, Minister Zhou, Minister Dai, and others took turns visiting the Prince Mansion to console him, but were all t with closed doors. Emperor Taihe dispatched Eunuch Ge to comfort Pri Minister Wang, and he was the only one admitted for an audience.
After returning to the palace, Eunuch Ge reported: "Your Majesty, Pri Minister Wang is overwheld with guilt over his eldest son’s corruption, and fell ill upon returning ho. When I saw Pri Minister Wang, he looked extrely haggard and weak, barely able to speak."
"Pri Minister Wang asked to convey to Your Majesty that he feels old and dim-witted, a failure as a parent, and now deeply ill. He asks Your Majesty to select another capable minister to be Pri Minister."
Emperor Taihe frowned: "A Pri Minister of the state cannot be replaced so easily. Governor Wang’s embezzlent and bribery cannot be unpunished by . However, it will not implicate the Wang family; there’s no need for Pri Minister Wang to bla himself excessively."
"Go to the Prince Mansion now, and convey my words to Pri Minister Wang. Let him rest and recover, and return to court as soon as possible."
Eunuch Ge dutifully ran back and forth. After no more than two hours, he returned to report: "Your Majesty, Pri Minister Wang is grateful for Your Majesty’s imnse grace, saying he will definitely recover and serve well to repay Your Majesty’s kindness."
Only then did Emperor Taihe finally breathe a sigh of relief.
This sigh, however, ca too early.
Pri Minister Wang’s illness dragged on for more than half a month without improvent.
With state affairs piled high, Emperor Taihe spent every night reviewing morials until late at night. Every docunt required his personal judgnt, both major and minor matters needed his decision. Normally, only significant morials would be presented at court, lesser affairs usually handled by Pri Minister Wang, never needing to reach court.
It was at tis like this that the importance of Pri Minister Wang beca apparent.
With Pri Minister Wang ill, Emperor Taihe’s workload more than tripled, feeling incredibly overwheld. Several secretaries accompanied the Emperor every day, frequently discussing state affairs.
Li Boyuan, bold and carefree, lacked ticulousness. Jiang Yi got a headache just seeing the morials, mostly serving tea, presenting food and preparing the night al.
Wang Jin and Zheng Chen both had their perspectives, but their political views differed, leading to constant argunts. Sotis instead of relieving the Emperor’s burdens, they increased his worries.
"Wang She Ren, you need not attend to any longer." Emperor Taihe, unable to bear it, finally spoke to Wang Jin: "Return ho to care for your father; return to court when he recovers."
Wang Jin respectfully replied: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness on behalf of my father. However, my father has long instructed to serve diligently and relieve Your Majesty’s burdens. My father isn’t in serious trouble, rely aged, troubled, and weak, needing ti to recuperate."
How long would this recovery take?
A Pri Minister of the state, feigning illness to shirk responsibilities. Isn’t this forcing him, the Emperor, to concede and pardon Wang Yi, who has already been escorted to the Capital City?
Emperor Taihe, filled with frustration, couldn’t express a word. Thus, he felt even more stifled.
Zheng Chen suggested privately: "Your Majesty, Pri Minister Wang is rely pretending to be ill, trying to compel Your Majesty. You must hold firm and not lightly pardon Wang Yi!"
"Wang Yi is guilty of massive embezzlent and bribery, with conclusive evidence. Your Majesty can deal with him justly, severing one of Pri Minister Wang’s legs. Even if he returns to court, he will lack confidence to dominate the court again."
Emperor Taihe glanced at Zheng Chen: "You speak so easily. If I severely deal with Wang Yi, leaving Pri Minister Wang humiliated, what if the Pri Minister insists on resigning to retire? Who could replace him in court?"
Despite his confidence, Zheng Chen dared not utter the words "I can replace him."
The Da Liang Chancellor is the head of all officials, requiring proficiency in governance, familiarity with forty states and three hundred counties, and strong support from subordinate officials and disciples to secure the position and maintain court stability.
Currently, his age and credentials were significant disadvantages. The Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction officials recognize the Grand Empress Dowager and Duke An, not the seventeen-year-old Zheng Sheren.
"Among the Six Ministers, we can promote a civil servant to replace Pri Minister Wang." Zheng Chen whispered: "Ministers Zhang, Dai, and Zhou are in league with Pri Minister Wang, we can choose between Minister Ji and Minister Li."
Minister Ji is the father of the late Empress Ji, Minister Li is Consort Li’s biological father.
One is the Emperor’s titular grandfather, the other his bloodline maternal grandfather. No matter who becos Pri Minister, it’s beneficial to Emperor Taihe.
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