Chapter 302: Chapter 302

In Jingyang Palace, Empress Dowager Zheng leaned against a thick pillow, half-sitting and half-lying down.

Jiang Shaohua sat by the bedside, patiently and carefully attending to Empress Dowager Zheng as she drank her medicine.

The sorrow of losing her son in old age was fully evident on Empress Dowager Zheng’s aged and dim face. In just a few days, Empress Dowager Zheng seemed to have aged a dozen years, with deep wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes and on her forehead.

However, time is a good medicine that can endure all pain. Jiang Shaohua knew clearly that this weak and exhausted old woman would soon recover and continue her power struggle with Prime Minister Wang.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager," Mr. Zhao stepped forward quietly to report, "After General Wei entered the Jinluan Palace, he knelt long without rising, requesting severe punishment from the Crown Prince."

Empress Dowager Zheng drank the last bitter mouthful of the medicinal soup, her eyes flashing with boundless anger: "This Wei Changfeng deserves to be cut into pieces."

Jiang Shaohua frowned slightly and immediately asked the key question: "Did General Wei admit all his faults and mention Prime Minister Wang?"

Mr. Zhao shook his head: "No."

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flickered, and he turned to whisper to Empress Dowager Zheng: "It seems that Prime Minister Wang has privately hinted to General Wei to take all the blame."

In this way, Prime Minister Wang would naturally not be implicated.

Empress Dowager Zheng clearly understood this too, her eyes clouded with gloom, and she coldly snorted: "He indeed has a good plan; he is bullying the widow and the orphan."

With Emperor Taikang’s death, the Crown Prince and Empress Dowager Zheng indeed counted as the orphan and the widow.

Jiang Shaohua did not seize the opportunity to sow discord. Empress Dowager Zheng’s apprehension toward Prime Minister Wang left no need for her to say anything.

After a while, Mr. Zhao came again with a message: "Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince has ordered General Wei to be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice Prison."

General Wei could hardly escape death; it only remained to be seen how he would die and whether it would implicate his entire clan. Such a major case had to go through formal inquiry by the Ministry of Justice and required court discussions to officially decide on sentencing and punishment.

Empress Dowager Zheng slightly nodded, her eyes cold: "When the Crown Prince arrives, I want to personally inquire about it."

The Crown Prince was indeed too young. A sixteen-year-old youth, not regarded as particularly talented, struggled with academics perhaps clever at best. If he slowly studied for ten or eight years, he might grasp political affairs. The current Crown Prince, Jiang Song, clearly lacked the ability and vision to independently handle state affairs. He could not suppress the multitude of courtiers.

Rationally, he knew he must rely on Prime Minister Wang. Emotionally, he was more reliant on Empress Dowager Zheng.

Jiang Shaohua’s mind flashed a series of thoughts and casually agreed: "The Crown Prince is still young and somewhat unfamiliar with the country’s major affairs; the Lady should plan more for him."

This statement was very agreeable.

Empress Dowager Zheng’s brow relaxed: "I think so too. I am the Crown Prince’s grandmother and naturally devoted to him. It’s hateful what those people like Prime Minister Wang say behind my back, accusing me of usurping the main rooster’s duty at dawn. Indeed hateful and vexing."

Jiang Shaohua shared the indignation: "The Lady has been married into the Imperial Family for decades, unequivocally the matriarch of the Jiang Family, working hard for her children and grandchildren. It’s a justified matter. The Lady need not heed such gossip."

Empress Dowager Zheng also smiled: "You, girl, know how to speak well, each word hits the heart of my concerns."

"I also understand your thoughts. You are a dutiful child, committed to safeguarding your grandfather’s legacy. Don’t worry, with me backing you, no one can harm you."

Jiang Shaohua, touched, had tears in her eyes and tightly grasped Empress Dowager Zheng’s hand: "Thank you, Aunt-Grandmother."

An hour later, the Crown Prince arrived with a grave expression. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝕟𝕖𝕥

Jiang Shaohua rose to take her leave, but Empress Dowager Zheng said: "I want to discuss with the Crown Prince how to handle General Wei. You aren’t an outsider; you’re present in court regularly, so stay and listen."

Empress Dowager Zheng’s means of winning over people were methodical.

Jiang Shaohua showed a face of gratitude, yet didn’t immediately agree but looked to the Crown Prince, waiting for his tacit approval.

The Crown Prince, feeling gloomy and irritated, nodded slightly with a dark face: "Grand Empress Dowager is right, it’s no harm for Cousin Shaohua to listen."

Jiang Shaohua acquiesced meekly.

Subsequently, Empress Dowager Zheng softly instructed the Crown Prince on how to deal with General Wei and how to take advantage to suppress Prime Minister Wang’s faction. The Crown Prince listened intently, nodding from time to time.

Jiang Shaohua remained silent, simply listening quietly.

The methods were nothing new, creating a public opinion storm, secretly instructing the Imperial Censor to submit reports for impeachment, then the Crown Prince personally showing magnanimity...

All three present understood that Prime Minister Wang couldn’t fall at this time and must not. For the Crown Prince to smoothly ascend the throne, to gradually familiarize himself with managing state affairs, he couldn’t do without Prime Minister Wang. But the Crown Prince wouldn’t allow Prime Minister Wang to trample over him.

Servants should stick to their duties.

General Wei was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice Prison, and Minister Dai of the Ministry of Justice personally questioned the case.

Minister Dai always followed Prime Minister Wang’s lead. The courtiers believed Minister Dai would find a way to protect or reduce General Wei’s punishment. Surprisingly, the memorandum presented to the imperial desk was precise and sharp. The Ministry of Justice listed ten major crimes against General Wei, enough to wipe out his clan nine times over.

Jiang Shaohua was inwardly amused and privately advised the Crown Prince: "Prime Minister Wang wants to push all the blame onto General Wei, sacrificing a pawn to save the queen and extricating himself from this quagmire."

The Crown Prince’s eyes flashed with coldness: "Wei Changfeng indeed deserves death. However, his crimes don’t warrant the extermination of his clan. Behead Wei Changfeng, exile the Wei Family to the border."

General Wei hadn’t rebelled nor committed unforgivable sins, only blamed for incompetence, losing troops, and the defeat at Pingzhou. Wiping out the clan was too much. Handling it this way was much more balanced.

This was also a signal to Prime Minister Wang that the matter ends here.

Presently, the court prioritized the Pingzhou war and needed to prepare for the new emperor’s enthronement ceremony. It couldn’t endure more chaos and upheaval.

The Crown Prince personally wrote approvals on the memorandums sent by the Ministry of Justice.

Minister Dai breathed a sigh of relief, Prime Minister Wang also relaxed. Duke An, who had been on tenterhooks, also secretly exhaled.

General Du’s death led to the defeat at Pingzhou. Prime Minister Wang had been having people trace the cause of General Du’s death. Duke An considered his actions to be hidden, but in this world, there were no true secrets. Whatever was done would leave hidden traces.

If the truth were discovered, the one imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice Prison waiting for execution would be Duke An himself.

Fortunately, Prime Minister Wang’s people didn’t find anything. Fortunately, Prime Minister Wang was anxious to clear himself and pushed General Wei out as the scapegoat. Fortunately, fortunately!

With tacit agreements all around, the case of General Wei proceeded very smoothly.

During this period, the courtiers jointly submitted the third memorandum, impressively requesting the Crown Prince ascend to the throne. The Crown Prince finally relented. The courtiers were overjoyed.