White-robed Minister

Chapter 100 0098 [Each Displays Their Unique Abilities]

Zhao Shu began to take charge of government affairs in late autumn of last year.

Every other day, the senior officials of the two offices would first report on government affairs to the emperor, and then go to the East Palace to report again to the Empress Dowager. They would also request the Empress Dowager to use the imperial seal.

The day after Han Qi seized the imperial seal, Empress Dowager Cao waited in the East Palace.

But the ministers did not come to see her for a long time.

"Your Majesty, Chancellor Han has gone to the Emperor's residence again!" Ren Shouzhong rushed over to report to Empress Dowager Cao.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the empress dowager who ruled from behind a screen could also be addressed as "Your Majesty".

Both the Empress and princes can be addressed as "Your Highness".

"He went again?"

Empress Dowager Cao asked in surprise, "How many times have you gone today?"

Ren Shouzhong said, "At least five or six times. Each time, I walked slowly, as if afraid that I wouldn't see enough people. Twice, I even went around the imperial palace, telling everyone I met that I wanted to ask the emperor to decide on political matters."

Empress Dowager Cao fell silent upon hearing this; she knew, of course, what Han Qi was planning.

But this is pushing them too hard!

After waiting for a while, just as Empress Dowager Cao was about to return to her palace, the two high-ranking officials finally arrived at the East Hall together.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," Han Qi said as soon as he entered.

Empress Dowager Cao asked impatiently, "What's there to be happy about?"

Han Qi said excitedly, "Today, I submitted more than ten matters of state for Your Majesty's decision. Your Majesty handled them all appropriately, and swiftly and effectively. Is this not a blessing for the nation? Is this not a blessing for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?"

Empress Dowager Cao could only say, "The Emperor's wisdom is truly a blessing to the nation."

Therefore, Han Qi and the senior officials began to report on political affairs and explain the emperor's handling of these matters.

Empress Dowager Cao had no choice but to bite the bullet and praise the emperor for handling the situation well.

After the report was finished, the senior officials took their leave, leaving only Han Qi behind.

Han Qi said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has now recovered and is able to handle state affairs. There is nothing to worry about for the Song Dynasty. This old minister is plagued by illness and requests to retire and return to his hometown."

These words were completely unexpected by Empress Dowager Cao.

Once Han Qi retires, public opinion will inevitably surge, and the court officials will accuse the Empress Dowager of forcing the prime minister out. At that point, Empress Dowager Cao will have no choice but to return power to the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Cao quickly tried to persuade him to stay: "How can you leave, Prime Minister? I should be living in the inner palace, but I am here every day to listen to government affairs. It is truly out of necessity. I cannot govern the Song Dynasty well by myself. I still need Prime Minister Han's assistance."

Han Qi said, "Even virtuous women like Empress Ma and Empress Deng of the Eastern Han Dynasty couldn't resist the temptation of power. Now, the Empress Dowager is able to immediately return power to the Emperor; she is truly more virtuous than Empress Ma and Empress Deng!"

Empress Dowager Cao was completely bewildered.

When did I say I was going to return power to the government?

Weren't we just discussing your resignation and retirement?

Before the Empress Dowager could speak, Han Qi pressed on, saying, "In the past two months, many officials from the Censorate have requested that the Empress Dowager return power to the Emperor. Now that the Empress Dowager has agreed, please inform us of the date when the curtain will be drawn back, so that the officials from the Censorate will be aware of the situation."

"When did I say I wanted to return power to the government?"

Empress Dowager Cao finally lost her temper and abruptly stood up, preparing to leave.

Han Qi immediately rebuked the servants of the Imperial Guard: "The Empress Dowager has already agreed to remove the curtain, what are you waiting for?"

The servants of the Imperial Guard were taken aback, and under Han Qi's intimidation, they subconsciously pulled back the curtain.

Empress Dowager Cao had already walked behind the screen when she heard the commotion and quickly returned to stop them, shouting, "No—!"

Wow!

The curtain that had been drawn back from the empress dowager's seat of power was removed.

Empress Dowager Cao had not yet stepped out from behind the screen; only the hem of her dress was visible at this moment.

Hearing the sound of the curtain being pulled back, she forcibly stopped in her tracks, standing there trembling with anger, before turning away without a word.

Just like seizing the imperial seal, forcing the Empress Dowager to relinquish power was done through simple and unpretentious methods.

Of course, matters of national importance cannot be treated so lightly.

The Empress Dowager also needed to issue a written edict announcing the return of power to the Empress Dowager.

But Han Qi had already made the die hard; the imperial seal was gone, the curtain had been drawn, and the Empress Dowager would surely issue an edict. If she didn't want to maintain her dignity, Han Qi would make sure she did.

Ren Shouzhong followed Empress Dowager Cao out of the East Palace.

The Empress Dowager was furious.

Ren Shouzhong's emotion was fear.

He nearly starved Zhao Shu to death in the palace. He even used the opportunity of mourning Zhao Shu's father to extort money from the Prince of Pu's residence. He also tried to persuade Emperor Renzong and Empress Dowager Cao to establish a separate imperial clan.

Now that the Empress Dowager has lost power and the new emperor is about to assume power, what should he do about this enemy of the new emperor?

Don't panic, don't panic, there must be a way.

Ren Shouzhong's mind raced: The Empress Dowager had stepped down from her regency, but had not yet formally returned power to the Empress Dowager. Therefore, her orders remained effective in certain departments.

I've got an idea!

The following day, Empress Dowager Cao was perhaps still sulking, and delayed issuing a written edict to relinquish power.

The emperor and his ministers paid no heed to these concerns and continued with their duties as if the Empress Dowager had relinquished power. The high-ranking officials of both the central government and the imperial court no longer consulted the Empress Dowager, but instead directly discussed state affairs with the emperor.

Once Empress Dowager Cao's anger subsides, she can issue an imperial edict to complete the procedure.

This gave Ren Shouzhong an opportunity, and he hurriedly ran to see Empress Gao Taotao.

Gao Taotao was made empress as early as when Zhao Shu ascended the throne, but the investiture ceremony has not been held to this day.

No money to hold it —

The emperor's life was not easy, and the empress's situation was naturally not much better; her orders could not even leave her own courtyard.

Ren Shouzhong, his face beaming with a fawning smile, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you on your ascension to the throne. Your Majesty is the mother of the nation, but there are still many aspects of the palace etiquette you are not yet familiar with. I have served three emperors and am willing to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty."

Gao Taotao didn't reply, but frowned and sized up Ren Shouzhong.

Ren Shouzhong bent his waist even lower, almost like a dog.

Gao Taotao said, "Ren Duzhi is very thoughtful."

Ren Shouzhong immediately changed his self-reference from "Your Majesty, I am your subject" to "Your servant": "Your Majesty has been in power for a year, yet not a single treasure from the Imperial Treasury has been sent to Your Majesty's palace. Even Your Majesty's jewelry is still from the Emperor's former residence when he was still a prince. How can it be worthy of the Empress's status? Whenever I think of this, I cannot help but shed tears, feeling sorry for Your Majesty."

Gao Taotao already understood that this eunuch had come to switch jobs.

While she felt contempt, she also felt a surge of pleasure. Furthermore, something called the lust for power seemed to fly in from afar and take hold of her.

Ren Shouzhong said, "The Fengchen Treasury is a treasure left by the late Emperor, containing tens of thousands of gold and pearls, originally intended for the Emperor and Empress. The Empress Dowager is advanced in years and has long resided in the deep palace, so she has no use for these treasures. Why doesn't Your Majesty take some to decorate the palace? Firstly, it would demonstrate Your Majesty's nobility, and secondly, it would let everyone know that Your Majesty is the true master of this palace."

Gao Taotao sneered, "This is the emperor's private treasury! How dare you!"

Ren Shouzhong, however, said, "Since the Empress Dowager has already agreed to return power to the Emperor, she has been delaying issuing the imperial edict and is still holding onto the Fengchen Treasury. By taking away the treasures from the Fengchen Treasury, Your Majesty can not only demonstrate your status but also help the Emperor to assume personal rule sooner. Without the Fengchen Treasury, what will the Empress Dowager rely on? She will surely issue the edict to return power to the Emperor sooner."

Gao Taotao was tempted.

It would not only help her husband assume power sooner, but also let people know who the true ruler of the harem was, and she would also gain countless gold and silver treasures.

Furthermore, with Ren Shouzhong joining her side, Gao Taotao was able to quickly take control of the harem!

As for the feud between her husband and Ren Shouzhong, it can be completely resolved.

"Go and do it," Gao Taotao said.

Ren Shouzhong immediately went to the Fengchen Treasury. Taking advantage of the fact that the Empress Dowager had not yet returned power to the Empress in writing, he falsely conveyed Empress Dowager Cao's oral decree to open the treasury and moved all the valuables inside to the Empress.

They directly moved 70-80% of the emperor's private treasury treasures!

That evening, Gao Taotao even took credit for the incident, feeling that she had done her husband a great favor.

Zhao Shu was so angry that he almost lost his temper on the spot.

His anger stemmed not from the treasures, nor from the Empress's unauthorized actions, but from the fact that the Empress had accepted Ren Shouzhong's allegiance.

That was his enemy!

But Zhao Shu forced back his anger.

He has been through so much over the years, and only his wife has always been there for him, comforting him and encouraging him. Now that his father has passed away and his eldest and second sons have married, Gao Taotao is the only one he can talk to.

If he falls out with Gao Taotao, he will truly be all alone.

Zhao Shu stared intently at Gao Taotao, gritting his teeth as he said, "This kind of thing must not happen again!"

That damned eunuch Ren Shouzhong actually turned misfortune into good fortune and was able to continue to lead the palace attendants.

Empress Dowager Cao was furious. Not only were the ministers pressuring her to speak, but even the eunuchs had betrayed her.

Disheartened, Empress Dowager Cao finally issued an edict, completely handing over power to the emperor.

Several days later, at the Imperial Censorate.

Sima Guang was furious: "Not only was that eunuch not severely punished, but he was even promoted! What he did deserves to die ten times over! If it weren't for his instigation, the Empress Dowager would have returned power to the Empress Dowager long ago, and none of this would have happened!"

Lu Hui advised, "The Emperor has only recently assumed power, and the inner palace is still unstable. It's not advisable to act now. Let's wait until the situation stabilizes before launching a joint attack and taking that eunuch's head!"

"I can endure it for another two months at most," Sima Guang said.

Lü Hui said, "Alright, two months it will be."

Zhao Xu, who lived in the Prince of Ying's mansion, was unaware of the many intricacies within the palace.

All he knew was that his father had finally taken power, everything in the Song Dynasty was getting back on track, and the country was improving day by day.

Yesterday, he went to the palace to pay his respects to his parents. Both his father and mother looked very well, and his mother, Gao Taotao, even gave him two precious treasures.

Zhao Xu felt an unprecedented joy and happiness.

He wanted to share this joy with others, but his younger brothers were still too young, and they needed to ask permission before visiting each other. Aside from asking about politics and academic matters, he didn't have much to say to his teachers.

Zhao Xu, recalling his pen pal, picked up his pen and wrote: "I've heard that Your Majesty has assumed personal rule and is extremely wise. Reforms are sure to follow, and the Song Dynasty will undoubtedly become prosperous and powerful. How delightful!"

As he was writing, Zhao Xu burned the letter, as it was not suitable for communicating with a pen pal.

He thought for a while and rewrote: My family recently had a joyous occasion, which made me understand even more why, among the Three Cardinal Guides and Eight Virtues, one must first regulate one's family before governing the state and bringing peace to the world. I deeply agree with Mr. Xu's proposed Three Cardinal Guides and Eight Virtues. However, while the *Book of Rites: Correct Interpretation* explains the other items, it doesn't explain how to investigate things and acquire knowledge. Mr. Xu, how do you investigate things and acquire knowledge?

After finishing the letter, Zhao Xu handed it to Zhang Anji: "Take this to Xu Lai tomorrow."

(I've noticed that some readers still don't understand the difference between Zhao Shu and Zhao Xu. Zhao Shu was the emperor, and Zhao Xu was a prince. Xu Lai is currently corresponding with the prince.)