What a lucky world!

Chapter 262 Death of He Qiong!

Bingwei, June of the fifth year of Chiyang.

The Minister of Rites Wang Guangmei petitioned the emperor to promote the Empress Dowager's biological father, Duke of Enguo Chen Huilu, to the rank of Prince Cheng, with an additional fief of 3,200 households, and to promote his eldest son Chen Wei to the rank of General Wuwei, second rank, with an additional fief of 800 households. The emperor agreed.

……

Cining Palace.

The palace servants were busy packing up, each one walking as fast as a rocket and sweating profusely.

In the warm room, Emperor Chiyang glanced at the busy palace servants and said, "Mother, why bother with so much trouble? If there's anything you need on the way, just issue an order and let the local officials handle it."

Empress Dowager Chen touched Emperor Chiyang's face and said, "How can officials behave in a good way? If I ask for a sip of tea, they will destroy the tea growers in an entire village once the decree is issued. If I ask for a bite of fruit, they will prevent a mountain of fruit from sprouting the next year."

"When the time comes, they will all make a fortune by using my name, while I and the Emperor will bear the blame."

"It would be better if I took some trouble and prepared everything. I can avoid getting in trouble with the local officials along the way."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chiyang chuckled and said, "It is still the Queen Mother who cares about the people."

Empress Dowager Chen shook her head and held Emperor Chiyang's hand. "I have only studied the Book of Women since I was a child. I don't understand the meaning of the common people, family and country. But I know that I must accumulate virtue for you, the Emperor."

"The less the people complain, the more comfortable you will be. The more peace and stability the world has, the longer you will live."

"I dare not not consider it..."

The Chiyang Emperor's nose felt sore when he heard this, and he threw himself into the Queen Mother's arms: "Mother..."

Empress Dowager Chen patted Emperor Chiyang's back gently, soothing him for a moment before saying, "Well, you're already the emperor ruling the country, and you're still clinging to your mother's arms. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by others?"

"Who dares!" Emperor Chiyang sat up straight, "No matter how old the child is, he is still my mother's child."

Empress Dowager Chen smiled, rubbed the back of Emperor Chiyang's hand, and said, "I will be away for about a month. You should consult with the court officials whenever you encounter any problems."

"I've also heard that some people have begun to attack the reform and use the officials promoted by Zhang Taiyue as an excuse."

"Don't worry, just leave them all here."

"I really can't do anything about it, so I'll pick some unimportant people and deal with them."

"When my son grows up a little, and the Dragon and Tiger Carrying Pill is refined, he will be able to stand on equal footing with the founding ancestors and refine the universe again."

Emperor Chiyang hesitated for a moment and did not reveal his plan to invite Zhang Taiyue back.

He knew that in his mother's heart, every hair of his was extremely important, so she would not allow him to take any risks.

However, as the Queen Mother said, she had only read the "Instructions for Women" since she was a child, and only had her father, husband, and son in her heart. She did not understand the world and righteousness, so the dangers of the previous dynasty were beyond her true comprehension.

Well, after her mother returns from visiting her parents, everything will be settled and she won't be able to say anything.

Thinking of this, Emperor Chiyang nodded and said, "Take care of yourself, Queen Mother. Please give my regards to my uncle and cousins. Please also tell them to hone their skills. I will rely on them in the future."

Empress Dowager Chen was even happier when she heard this and nodded. "This time when I return to visit my family, I will also give them some advice. Your uncle is now a master and can be of use. I will have him return with me when the time comes."

"That's great!" Emperor Chiyang said with a smile, "Then when Mother Queen returns, we can discuss what position to assign to Uncle."

Empress Dowager Chen patted Emperor Chiyang's head and said with a smile, "What position do you want? A nominal position to always be by your side and protect you will be enough."

……

One dynasty played nine times in the sky, and eight thousand on Chaozhou Road in the evening.

He Qiong made the final stroke on the case file concluded today and stamped it with his official seal of the county magistrate.

Two months ago, he was still a noble censor, a fifth-rank official in the capital. However, due to the collapse of the Zhelong Formation, he wrote a letter to impeach the Prime Minister Zhang Taiyue, and was demoted three thousand miles away by Zhang Taiyue. He came to Qingyuan County and served as a seventh-rank county magistrate.

Regret?
He Qiong will never regret it.

Because he is Zhang Taiyue's man!
That memorial was written at the instruction of Zhang Taiyue.

When the emperor was about to take power, the Zhelong Formation collapsed and the imperial power was unstable. Only Zhang Taiyue stepped forward to withstand such great pressure and take responsibility for the emperor's misfortune.

He regarded the overwhelming power as nothing but smoke. In the world of ancient and modern times, apart from Zhuge Liang in the Three Kingdoms period, which other minister had such courage!

He Qiong was proud of following such a great man.

Even if, he needs to cooperate with Zhang Taiyue and stand against him in front of the world.

Moreover, Zhang Taiyue also told him that letting him be the county magistrate was to cultivate his ability to handle miscellaneous affairs, so that he would have a place to realize his ambitions in the future.

It's a pity that I won't be able to see the Prime Minister for a few years. "Sir, have some tea!" A young man offered a cup of tea and handed it to He Qiong.

He Qiong took the teacup and glanced at the young man unconsciously. Suddenly he thought of something and felt amused.

This young man, named Fu Jia, was originally a top student at the Imperial College and was very knowledgeable. According to the Imperial College's chief academic officer, if he took part in this year's special examination, his name would definitely be on the list of successful candidates.

But this child is a stubborn person, with the clarity that is unique to Taixue students.

After hearing that he was demoted for impeaching Zhang Taiyue, he actually came to follow him, saying that he admired his courage to not fear the powerful...

So he gave up his studies at the Imperial College and followed me to Qingtian County to work as a clerk.

I wonder what his expression would be if he knew that I was just acting with Zhang Taiyue.

However, He Qiong currently has no intention of telling Fu Jia the truth.

This child is well-educated and has good character. It is said that he is also very popular in the Imperial College and may become a great man in the future.

But at present he is still sharp and can easily hurt others and himself. It is a good opportunity for him to stay by my side and hone himself for a while. Once he has become more capable, I will recommend him to my friends in the court and help him on the road to success.

This is how Zhang Taiyue trained himself back then.

Now, it is his turn to train Fu Jia.

"Send this to the document library." Fu Jia handed the file in his hand to Fu Jia. Fu Jia took the file and walked out of the hall. He ran into a guard in a flying fish uniform walking in.

"Flying Fish Clothes?" Fu Jia was from the Imperial Academy, so he naturally recognized the costume. It was not just something worn by the Jinyiwei, but also something worn by the embroidered-clothes messengers in the Jinyiwei who could walk around in the palace.

"Could it be that the imperial court wants to reinstate my husband?" Fu Jia thought to himself, but then shook his head. "No, if he wants to reinstate his official position, the eunuchs in the palace should come with the imperial edict."

"Forget it, I'll just ask my husband and find out later."

Fu Jia thought so and walked towards the document library.

……

In the main hall, He Qiong was also greatly surprised when he saw the embroidered envoy coming in. He quickly stood up and saluted: "Greetings, Your Excellency."

"Sir He, there is a letter from His Majesty." The envoy in embroidered clothes took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to He Qiong.

He Qiong was stunned. A letter from His Majesty?

He didn't dare to think too much, so he quickly took the letter, opened it and read it carefully, and was stunned.

The content of the letter was very simple. It said that His Majesty knew about his relationship with Zhang Taiyue, but now the emperor wanted to summon Zhang Taiyue back, but the first problem was He Qiong's memorial.

Therefore, He Qiong had to submit a memorial, admitting that he was loyal to the emperor and fabricated stories to slander Zhang Taiyue.

Of course, the letter also promised that when Zhang Taiyue returned, he would be reinstated to his post on the pretext that Zhang Taiyue had demonstrated his magnanimity as a prime minister, and would be reused in the future.

"Can the Prime Minister come back?" He Qiong looked at the letter with burning eyes.

He believed that since His Majesty had given him the order, he must have a comprehensive plan.

"Your Majesty asks, Lord He, do you understand?" asked the embroidered messenger.

"I understand." He Qiong said.

The embroidered messenger nodded, reached out to take the letter back, took out a fire starter from his sleeve, and burned the letter to ashes.

"Your Majesty is waiting for Mr. He's memorial." After the envoy in embroidered clothes said this, he turned around and left the main hall.

Looking at the back of the envoy in embroidered clothes, He Qiong sat down, picked up the pen and was about to write a memorial when he suddenly laughed.

"Your Majesty is still young..."

"The Prime Minister has returned. Such a huge event, how can a small person like me, like me, be able to accomplish it with just empty talk?"

"When you see blood..."

"The Prime Minister protected the people of the world. He Qiong's mere body deserved a good death..."

With his thoughts clear, He Qiong picked up the pen and began to write the memorial.

……

He Qiong, the former Imperial Censor and magistrate of Qingtian County, has submitted a memorial to the imperial court, stating that his previous report that Prime Minister Zhang Taiyue, possessing immense power, favoritism, and coveting imperial authority, leading to the collapse of the Dragon Formation, was a pure false accusation, stemming from his own poor judgment of people and his belief in local rumors. Having served in Qingtian County for a month, and having witnessed the various measures of the new law benefiting the nation and its people, I now realize my grave error. I am writing this memorial to correct this error. I will correct it with my own order, and I urge all officials to take heed.

On that day, He Qiong hanged himself in the government office!
(End of this chapter)