I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 223 Choice
Inside the Turkic palace, the Turkic Queen Dowager, upon receiving the news, took it lightly, assuming that Consort Dolan was disheartened by the loss of her son and her inability to avenge him, and could only escape into a monastery to avoid the tragedy. She looked down on her greatly.

Tang Zhao, however, reacted quite differently upon receiving the message, smacking his lips and asking, "What is her Daoist name?"

Wu Shiyi said, "Taizhen Jushi."

Tang Zhao:. . . .

Recalling the tragic love affair between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Consort Yang, Tang Zhao instructed, "Make sure to have someone keep a close eye on Consort Duolan, and report her every move immediately!"

This is because the pain of losing a child has spurred them to unleash their ultimate move!
The Duke of Wei, far away in Luoyang, was unaware that his beloved had already given herself to another. At that moment, he was attending a state banquet to bid farewell to the Turkic delegation that would be returning the next day.

After finally enduring the state banquet and as the ministers left one by one, the Duke of Wei was summoned to the imperial study.

"You've worked hard for me over the past year," Emperor Sheng'an said, his face unusually rosy with joy at the Turks' pleas for peace. "I've been unwell, and I'm so grateful to have such a loyal minister like you to share my burdens."

Duke Wei hurriedly stood up and declined, "Your Majesty is blessed by Heaven and will surely be healthy. I am merely fulfilling my duty as a subject and do not deserve such praise from Your Majesty."

"Sit down. We, as ruler and subject, are merely exchanging idle words," Emperor Sheng'an personally pressed the man into a chair, then sat back on his dragon throne. "Now that the Turks are seeking peace, Tibet is no threat. Dayu will have at least ten years of peace. Even if I were to go see the late emperor right now, I would be willing."

The Duke of Wei disagreed, saying, "Your Majesty, how can you say such a thing?"

"Long live the emperor? Since ancient times, which emperor has ever truly lived to be ten thousand years old? It's just to make me happy." Emperor Sheng'an knew very well that there was no elixir of immortality in this world. He took the pills concocted by the imperial advisor only because he couldn't let go of the throne and power that he had finally obtained.

"As the saying goes, 'He who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present.' Now that the external threats have been quelled, my only concern is the integrity of the court," Emperor Sheng'an coughed twice. "The locust plague in Qin Prefecture has resulted in the prefect of Qin Prefecture, Mu Liang, being held accountable. I have already ordered his execution. Grand Secretary Mu has submitted a letter requesting to resign. My dear minister, do you think I should agree to Grand Secretary Mu's resignation?"

The Duke of Wei knelt down and said, "Whether or not a court official is employed should be decided solely by Your Majesty. How dare this humble subject offer any opinion?"

"You can make decisions on everything? If you can really make decisions on everything, why do you need to establish a cabinet?" Emperor Sheng'an called out to him, "Don't kneel down so easily. Just tell me what you're thinking."

Duke Wei stood up and pondered for a long time before saying, "I believe that although Grand Secretary Mu has not been good at educating his son, it is not a major mistake. If we agree to Grand Secretary Mu's resignation because of this, the entire court will probably be filled with fear."

Among the court officials, there are too many who are heroes in their fathers but cowards in their sons, and countless others who have caused trouble. If they are implicated and punished because of this, most of the court will be left vacant.

“What you say makes sense,” Emperor Sheng’an said, taking a sip of tea to soothe his dry throat. “Then we will do as you say and not allow Grand Secretary Mu to resign, but we cannot let him off easily either.”

"By imperial decree, Grand Secretary Mu has failed in his duty to educate his son. He is hereby punished with three years' salary and demoted to a lower position. The cabinet is ordered to re-elect a new Grand Secretary."

"Yes," Zhou Dajian hurried off to deliver the decree.

As Emperor Sheng'an flipped through the memorials, he said, "You've worked hard today, my dear minister. Go back and rest early."

"Your subject takes his leave!" The Duke of Wei left the Imperial Study and returned to the Duke of Wei's residence before curfew, heading straight to Shou'an Hall.

The Shou'an Hall was brightly lit. After reciting Buddhist scriptures and taking a bath, the old lady of the Duke of Wei was having her hair combed by her maid.

“Mother!” Duke Wei bowed. “My son has arrived. Have you had your meal?” the old lady of Duke Wei asked with concern. “The small kitchen has been keeping green porridge warm. Would you like a bowl?”

Although the banquet was filled with dishes, no one dared to eat to their heart's content. Furthermore, Emperor Sheng'an had kept him in the imperial study for a meeting, and the Duke of Wei was already hungry. "Thank you for your concern, Mother."

"What else can I do besides worry about you all?" The old lady of the Duke of Wei had porridge and snacks brought in, and also served her son's favorite pre-rain Longjing tea, before sending everyone away. Only after her son had almost finished eating did she ask, "What does His Majesty want with you?"

The Duke of Wei recounted the events at the Imperial Study from beginning to end.

"It seems His Majesty is still hesitating between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei," sighed the old lady of the Duke of Wei. If His Majesty had firmly chosen the Crown Prince, he would have agreed to Grand Secretary Mu's resignation, instead of making a big show of it and then letting it go so easily.

"Would Mother like to send something over to Tang Wan?"

Duke Wei shook his head. The greatest taboo in the merit of following the emperor is wavering. Tang Wan's marriage into the Prince of Wei's mansion was something His Majesty required her to do. The Duke of Wei's mansion is too busy severing ties with her to take the initiative to contact her again.

"Mother, let Madam An go to the Crown Prince's residence to see Ming'er tomorrow. It has been more than a year since Ming'er had her miscarriage, but she is still not pregnant," the Duke of Wei instructed. "Have Madam An bring more tonics and money, as a reminder to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess that Ming'er has the support of the Duke of Wei's family."

"Mother understands," the old lady of the Duke of Wei nodded. Since her son had firmly chosen the Crown Prince, she would naturally help him handle matters within the inner quarters. "As for Tang Zhao..."

Although she was in the inner quarters, she knew very well that Tang Zhao was greatly favored by Prince Xuan and Gu Ci. If Prince Xuan's mansion supported him, then the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne would be a sure thing.

"Mother, don't even think about it. You and I misjudged her before. That girl is not easy to control," the Duke of Wei said with a gloomy face. She doesn't even respect him, her father, so how could she help her half-sister?

"One prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer?" In Tang Zhao's heart, he probably wished that the entire Wei State Duke's mansion would suffer!
The old lady of the Duke of Wei chanted a Buddhist prayer, "I will make the arrangements tomorrow."

"Thank you for your trouble, Mother," said the Duke of Wei after finishing his porridge, turning to rest in the front yard.

After waiting all night in the backyard, Madam An was left empty-handed. The next day, she came to Shou'an Hall to pay her respects with a haggard and resentful expression. When the old lady of the Duke of Wei saw Madam An's appearance, she was furious, but she had to hold back because she was mindful of what her son had asked her to do. She said, "I have someone prepare some tonics and medicines. Take them to the Crown Prince's residence and see Ming'er."

Lady An was overjoyed and readily agreed. After finishing breakfast, she boarded a carriage and went to the Crown Prince's residence.

Tang Ming had not seen her family since her miscarriage, and now that she had seen her mother, she couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Madam An was heartbroken and held her daughter in her arms for a long time to comfort her. She also conveyed the words of the old lady of the Duke of Wei to her daughter.

Tang Ming was smarter than Madam An and immediately saw through the old lady of the Duke of Wei's intentions, thus invigorating his body and spirit, which had been damaged by the miscarriage.

"Please tell Father and Grandmother that I will take good care of my health and bear children for the Crown Prince as soon as possible."

Mrs. An was heartbroken and tried to persuade her daughter for a long time, but to no avail. So she had no choice but to help her find a doctor and medicine.

The old lady of the Duke of Wei smiled with relief upon receiving the message brought back by Lady An.