A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 269 Dragon and Tiger
The sky was clear and the sun was dazzlingly white. The thick snow covering the roof ridges, walls, and ground of the Weiyang Palace reflected the sunlight, making it so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

From the steps of Xuan Shi Hall to the gate leading to the palace courtyard opposite the main hall, the snow on the middle path had long been swept clean, and a blood-red carpet was laid on it, making it feel solid and comfortable to walk on.

"Grand Minister of Works." Jiang Bo stood outside the palace gate, smiling as he descended the stone steps to greet him.

Zhang Tangben's eyes were glazed by the sunlight and snow, and his mind was heavy. Only after hearing this did he realize that they had arrived at their destination.

"Has Your Majesty risen?"

"Sleepless."

"Did anyone come to see me last night?"

"Have."

"Is it the former Prime Minister?"

"..."

"When did you take your leave?"

"I have not yet taken my leave," Jiang Bo replied.

Zhang Tang paused for a moment, then said, "I have important matters to report to the Emperor. Please have the Imperial Attendant present them to me."

“By order of His Majesty, the Grand Minister of Works may enter the palace without prior notice.” Jiang Bo stepped aside.

……

Four large basins of sandalwood were burning in the main hall, and two incense burners were added, also burning sandalwood. Except for one window which was open, all the others were closed.

The hall was filled with fragrance and warm as spring.

Zhang Tang served two generations of Han emperors and had never seen anyone enjoy such favor.

And it's not hard to guess who can enjoy such favors; there is only one person in the whole world who can sit in the palace and sleep by the hearth.

The throne was not on the throne, but the door leading to the warm chamber was open, indicating that the emperor was still resting there.

Although he was mentally prepared, Zhang Tang was still intimidated when he saw the old prime minister sitting in the palace with his eyes closed, looking like a tiger coiled on a mountain.

They dared not take a step forward, nor even make a sound, and simply waited.

The pavilion houses a dragon, the palace a tiger.

Suppressing humanity.

Perhaps sensing a wolfish aura, Gongsun Hong slowly woke up, turned to his side, looked at Zhang Tang, and asked in a flat tone, lacking his usual gentleness, "Finished?"

The oppressive aura that made it impossible to look up vanished instantly. Zhang Tang walked step by step toward Gongsun Hong, not sitting down on the embroidered stool belonging to the Three Dukes, but standing there solemnly, and said: "Princess Dou, Marquis of Tangyi, Princess Pingyang, and Marquis of Pingyang have all been arrested and brought to justice, and handed over to the relevant officials for punishment. The Marquis of Tangyi's residence was confiscated by Yan Yi, the Minister of Grain, and the Marquis of Pingyang's residence was confiscated by Zhao Yu, the Minister of the Imperial Treasury. All the people and property have been handed over to the court."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Hong immediately sensed the resentment in the air, and his expression grew increasingly cold.

What does "subject to the imperial court" mean?

"Whether the confiscation of two marquis's residences is carried out by the Embroidered-Robe Envoy, the Minister of Grain Administration, or the Minister of the Treasury, what difference does it make to the Grand Minister of Works?"

"Or rather, in the Grand Minister's mind, do the Embroidered-Robe Envoys not belong to the court?"

Asked three times in a row.

Gongsun Hong's questions grew increasingly ruthless, each one aimed at taking Zhang Tang's life.

Zhang Tang stared at Gongsun Hong in disbelief, unable to comprehend that those murderous words would come from the mouth of his former mentor.

Teacher, you want to kill him?
At this moment, Gongsun Hong was exceptionally vigorous, and his eyesight was no longer blurry. He stared intently at Zhang Tang and said sternly, "Grand Minister of Works, please answer!"

Zhang Tang's fighting spirit suddenly soared. The old prime minister wanted to kill him, but wouldn't allow anyone to kill whom? "Old prime minister, the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of the Treasury are the outer court offices represented by the prime minister's office. The Embroidered Robe Commissioner is the inner court office represented by the Imperial Library. Princess Dou and Princess Pingyang were handed over to the Imperial Clan Court by the Embroidered Robe Commissioner. Marquis Tangyi and Marquis Pingyang were handed over to the Court of Justice by the Embroidered Robe Commissioner. The money was taken by the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of the Treasury, and the people were taken away by the Imperial Clan Court and the Court of Justice. What's wrong with me saying that they should all be under the control of the court?" The Three Dukes of the Han Dynasty.

Chancellor, Grand Commandant, and Imperial Censor.

According to Your Majesty's inner and outer court system, they all belong to the outer court officials.

However, the duties of the Embroidered Robe Envoy were to supervise the subjects of the realm on behalf of the monarch and be accountable only to the monarch. According to the court system, it belonged to the inner court. However, the Embroidered Robe Envoy was established by Zhang Tang under orders, and the system he created was placed under the Lantai (Imperial Archives). This formed a very strange court system. The Censor-in-Chief, who was in charge of the Lantai, had both the outer court represented by the Censor-in-Chief and the inner court represented by the Embroidered Robe Envoy under his command.

The Nine Ministers' Office was undoubtedly an outer court office under the Prime Minister's Office. In this operation, the Embroidered-Robe Envoy was the one who charged into battle, while the officials who benefited were the Directorate of Grain Administration, the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, the Court of Justice, and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. To say that they all belonged to the imperial court would be both wrong and right.

"Then, Grand Minister of Works, are you and your Embroidered Robe Envoy still subjects of the Emperor?" Gongsun Hong drew his sword.

It's about to start bleeding!

Zhang Tang was taken aback by Gongsun Hong's words, but he quickly recovered and tried to lower his voice, but it was still almost a shout: "Old Prime Minister, the Embroidered-Robe Envoy is the Embroidered-Robe Envoy of the Great Han, not 'my' Embroidered-Robe Envoy. I am the subject of the Supreme Ruler, and the Embroidered-Robe Envoy is even more so the subject of the Supreme Ruler. If we were not the subject of the Supreme Ruler, then the Embroidered-Robe Envoy would not have handed over the people and money last night."

“In that case, please, Grand Minister of Works, hand over the silver seal of the Embroidered Robe Envoy,” Gongsun Hong replied.

"why?"

"This is an order."

"Whose order?"

"What if it's the Prime Minister's residence?"

"Even though we are both high-ranking officials, the Prime Minister's office can't give me orders!"

"What if it's a sovereign?"

"..."

Zhang Tang was stunned for a moment, then became even angrier, "I don't believe it!"

Jiang Bo arrived before Zhang Tang carrying an imperial edict, followed by two eunuchs who carried two trays, clearly intended to hold the embroidered official's silver seal and blue ribbon.

"A meritorious official seizing power? What kind of logic is that?"

Zhang Tang's voice was filled with grief and indignation, "The Embroidered-Robe Envoy has just made a great contribution, and now the old Prime Minister intends to treat those meritorious officials?"

"Aren't you the ruler's subjects?"

“Then the Emperor must treat us like national heroes!” Zhang Tang no longer cared that this was the imperial palace; his words were full of talk about being treated like national heroes.

Speak your mind.

Why did Gongsun Hong always receive far better treatment than him? Why could Gongsun Hong sit on the hot bench while he was always on the cold bench?
The titles of Qilin Pavilion, Marquis, Grand Tutor, those who do not have to bow when entering the court, and those who are praised and worshipped without being named... and so on.

After he finished speaking, Gongsun Hong did not reply. Zhang Tang's face turned ashen and he was covered in sweat. The hall fell silent in an instant.

Finally, a sound came from the warm pavilion. Gongsun Hong stood up from the embroidered stool, faced the source of the sound, and bowed respectfully. Zhang Tang knelt down directly.

Liu Ju walked straight toward the throne in the center of the hall, but when he reached it, he did not sit down. Instead, he rested one hand on the throne and looked indifferently at the person kneeling on the ground.

"Zhang Tang".

"Your subject is here," Zhang Tang replied hastily.

"I have ordered the Grand Master of the Imperial Household to paint your portrait in the Qilin Pavilion, and I have also ordered the Prime Minister's Office to designate you as the Marquis of Guobao. At the same time, I have promoted you to the rank of Junior Tutor and Embroidered Robe Envoy. You can keep your position, and your salary and food from the court will remain the same. You have worked hard. The Han Dynasty should thank you, and I should also thank you."

“Your Majesty…” Zhang Tang was extremely terrified.

“From now on, except for court assemblies and grand ceremonies, you and I, as ruler and subject, need not meet again.”

(End of this chapter)