Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 153 Crown Prince Zhao Ceying!
A 75-year-old man is seriously ill!
In this era, when an elderly person falls seriously ill, it almost always means that there is no cure.

Jiang Zhao let out a long sigh.

Given the background of the Jiang family in Huaizuo, they certainly wouldn't lack some highly skilled doctors for treatment.

The reason he sent such an urgent letter is simply that his grandfather is terminally ill and he needs to go to Huaizuo to care for him.

Firstly, going down to the left bank of the Huai River could avoid being labeled as "unfilial".

If the grandfather is seriously ill, the grandson must rush back to take care of him; otherwise, he would be considered unfilial.

If political enemies seize on this, they might face impeachment.

Secondly, my grandfather was nearing the end of his life, and I wanted to see him one last time before he passed away, to avoid any regrets.

"Ugh!"

Jiang Zhao shook his head, a kind of unspeakable worry in his heart.

However, he was not particularly grieving.

Since retiring from his official post, my grandfather has enjoyed nearly ten years of family bliss.

Seventy-five years old is a very long life in this era.

The long-lived man was already somewhat prepared for his passing, so it wasn't particularly unexpected.

At seventy-five years old, even if he passed away, it could be considered a peaceful death.

"Put on your official robes," Jiang Zhao sighed.

Sheng Hualan nodded silently.

As night fell, the palace lanterns floated in the mist.

Royal study room.

In the main seat, Emperor Zhao Zhen held a vermilion brush, annotating memorials, coughing occasionally, which made his face turn red.

Besides Zhao Zhen, there was another person, about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, holding a well-written memorial, reading it with a furrowed brow.

This was Zhao Ceying, who was serving the medicine.

Recently, several younger members of the imperial family who entered the palace to study have been assigned to various tasks by Emperor Zhao Zhen.

Some people know about the Imperial Clan Court, while others study history books diligently and occasionally tell history to the emperor.

One of Zhao Ceying's tasks was to enter the palace and serve medicine.

Just then, an official holding a whisk entered and announced, "Your Majesty, Minister Jiang, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, requests an audience."

"Jiang Qing?"

Zhao Zhen looked up, somewhat surprised.

Are we going to the palace to pay our respects now?
"Go."

Zhao Zhen did not rush to summon him, but instead looked at his "good grandson" who was holding a memorial.

Several eunuchs who were standing by pushed open the door of a side room. Zhao Ceying bowed silently and quietly withdrew.

The side room of the Imperial Study can be regarded as a "side hall".

However, compared to the side hall, the side rooms are much smaller and are often used for temporary rest, temporary office work, or storage of books, calligraphy and paintings, and the Four Treasures of the Study.

The door to the side room closed, and Zhao Zhen waved his hand: "Let him in."

Less than ten breaths later, Jiang Zhao entered.

"Your humble servant Jiang Zhao greets Your Majesty."

Jiang Zhao's eyes were slightly red as he bowed.

Zhao Zhen was taken aback, then waved his hand and said, "Please take a seat."

Jiang Zhao looked sorrowful as he slowly sat down.

"You have come to the palace specifically to report something?" Zhao Zhen asked slowly.

From Jiang Zhao's sorrow, he had already guessed the possible situation.

Jiang Zhao rose and said with grief, "My grandfather, who is over seventy years old, suddenly fell seriously ill, and his condition worsened day by day. As a member of the court, I should have been loyal to my duties, but I cannot bear to part with my father and cannot attend to his medicine."

I humbly beg Your Majesty to have mercy on my selfish desires and grant me permission to resign my post and temporarily return to my hometown to care for my ailing father. This is truly a time of torn between loyalty to the emperor and filial piety; I only beg Your Majesty to grant my wish, for I am driven by a foolish filial devotion!

After speaking, she silently shed tears and bowed deeply.

really!

However, is he to be dismissed and attend to his ailing wife?
Zhao Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly, not asking too many questions, and readily agreed: "Filial piety and brotherly love are the foundation of one's character. Your filial piety pleases me greatly. Order the Imperial Hospital to allocate one hundred coins for fine medicine and bestow some decoction. If your return date needs to be extended, please report it to me as always."

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Jiang Zhao bowed deeply.

Just as Jiang Zhao was about to turn and leave, Zhao Zhen spoke up and asked, "Six years ago, when I was reading the Book of Han, I came across the stories of Emperor Zhao of Han and Emperor Cheng of Han. I was worried that members of the imperial clan would rise to power and posthumously honor their biological fathers without regard for the late emperors. I was concerned and asked for your opinion. Do you still remember?" Zhao Zhen looked on with reminiscence and glanced at the side room without making it obvious.

"Your subject replied: Perhaps the Crown Prince could be adopted by His Highness the Prince of Wei. In this way, the Holy Grandson's ascension to the throne would alleviate our worries," Jiang Zhao answered.

"Ah."

Zhao Zhen nodded and slowly asked, "That's why five members of the imperial clan went to the border for training. You are serving as the Grand Master of the Palace, instructing these members of the imperial clan, so you must know them well. In your opinion, who is suitable to be the heir apparent?"

In the side room, a young man in his late twenties was breathing rapidly.

"I am unaware." Jiang Zhao had no intention of interfering in the selection of an heir.

From the moment he proposed the secret succession law, he had already rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor.

Whoever ascends the throne will be grateful to him.

Moreover, his teacher was Han Zhang.

Both master and disciple were destined to serve the emperor.

Influencing the establishment of an heir apparent from a macro perspective is undoubtedly a very good thing.

However, if you go down to the smallest details and focus on a specific person, the risk becomes too high and the return isn't great.

"Never mind." Zhao Zhen was not surprised and waved his hand. "Go then."

Jiang Zhao bowed respectfully and strode out.

After a while, the person disappeared without a trace.

Zhao Zhen looked outside and closed his eyes slightly.

If two emperors, one focused on recuperation and the other on expanding the territory, achieving unification, it would surely be a new "Reign of Wen and Jing," worthy of being praised for generations and recorded extensively in history books.

To expand territory and achieve unification, one must pay attention to the right timing and the right people.

Among them, Jiang Zhao, Gu Tingye, Wang Shao, and a group of officials from Xihe Road, a group of ministers whose age was not much different from that of "Good Grandson", were all popular.

The most outstanding person was Jiang Zhao, who was capable of governing the country and fighting in politics, and also capable of expanding the territory with his military prowess. He was the "family heirloom" that Jiang Zhao had chosen.

A family heirloom that can achieve unification!
If a family heirloom is to be passed down through generations, it must be valued by each successive head of the family.

Now, a few words of conversation have revealed the origin of the throne to the "good grandson," thus solidifying the family heirloom.

"Cough cough!"

"Cough-cough-"

After coughing for more than ten breaths, Zhao Zhen let out a long sigh.

As an elderly monarch without children, he no longer cared about anything except being recorded in history and leaving a lasting name for himself.

Everything is for the sake of a timeless tale!

The door to the side room slowly opened.

Zhao Ceying lowered her head slightly and walked out slowly.

“Originally, I intended to have him impeached and demoted to a remote border region to govern a local area.”

"In this way, if Ying'er promotes him again after ascending the throne, it will be a favor. The two of them, ruler and subject, can work together to expand the territory and establish an everlasting dynasty."

"Now, his voluntary resignation to care for his ailing wife will have a similar effect."

Zhao Zhen patted his chest and said slowly.

He felt that he might not survive the year!
The calm words sent a shiver down Zhao Ceying's spine.

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Ceying knelt down without realizing it.

There was nothing more to it than the Emperor saying, "Ying'er has ascended the throne."

Given the claim that "the grandson was adopted by the King of Wei, and the holy grandson ascended the throne," doesn't this imply that he was the one who was adopted?
Is he, Zhao Ceying, the crown prince?

hiss~!

Zhao Ceying trembled slightly, her face flushed.

He, a member of the imperial clan with the bloodline of the founding emperor, actually had the opportunity to rule the world.

Even though they had some suspicions in their hearts, the fact that the emperor himself admitted it was ultimately very different.

"Of all the holy grandsons, you are the most virtuous in martial arts and have the potential to expand the territory."

"I have my heart set on you."

Zhao Zhen helped his grandson up and said slowly, "Once the senior ministers of the cabinet take power, your age and prestige are too far behind theirs, and you may not be able to deal with them."

"Jiang Zhao is a man of upright character, truly a loyal, capable, and virtuous minister. If you employ him well, he will become a wise prime minister for all time!"

"And you, are the greatest emperor of all time!"

(End of this chapter)