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

Zhao Ceying frowned and shook his head.

The Empress Dowager!

This seniority is too high!

As the new emperor who was adopted by the King of Wei, he adhered to the principle of "filial piety" and had to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager every day without fail, for fear of being impeached and accused of "forgetting his roots".

A single greeting takes at least half an hour, which is simply torture.

The occasional reprimands from the Empress Dowager only added to the frustration.

Who would have thought that the emperor would actually get a scolding?

The difficulty lies in the fact that he dares not express any dissatisfaction.

The Empress Dowager and the members of the Zhao family of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs both held significant political importance and had to be handled with utmost care.

Otherwise, the seeds of disaster will be sown, and future generations will not be able to secure their thrones.

Besides the advice to "rule from behind the curtain," the problem of the imperial guards was even more distressing.

The secret designation of an heir meant that the emperor had no solid foundation.

In contrast, the Empress Dowager was the daughter of a military family. Her grandfather was Cao Bin, a famous general who helped found the country, and her father, brother, and nephew all had considerable influence.

Many of his relatives and friends were even members of the Imperial Guard.

Many of the minor officers among the Imperial Guards were people affiliated with the Empress Dowager.

How could this not cause concern?

Even after ascending the throne, Zhao Ceying felt constantly monitored and insecure.

I feel completely insecure!

"Ugh!"

With a soft sigh, Zhao Ceying picked up a new memorial.

Sighing is one thing, but life goes on.

"Retire?"

After just one glance, Zhao Ceying couldn't help but nod.

He picked up the pen and wrote the following instructions:

[Approved! One hundred acres of fertile land granted.]

Minister of Rites Sun Yi, [unintelligible]

No one knows for sure whether the illness is truly serious.

In any case, there must have been an intention to make room for the Duke of Lu to hold an official position.

As the vermilion brush touched the paper, Zhao Ceying stood up, gazed into the distance, and sighed deeply.

Jiang Qing, why haven't you arrived in the capital yet?

Chapter 169 A Conversation Between the Ruler and His Minister!

March seventeenth.

Bian River.

"slower."

"Remember to tie the rope."

With a few long shouts from the sailors, the large ship, over ten feet long, gradually came to rest on the shore.

A gentle breeze blows, and the hem of her clothes flutters.

Jiang Zhao stood at the bow of the boat, gazing into the distance with a look of deep nostalgia.

Bianjing!

About 15 minutes later, the large ship anchored.

Sheng Hualan, Sheng Shulan, and their three sons, Jiang Huaijin, Jiang Heng, and Jiang Xun, stood on the deck one after another.

"Let's go," Jiang Zhao called out, patting his sleeves.

Step by step, slowly climbing.

Finally, they made it ashore steadily.

Funing Hall.

In a small side room, Zhao Ceying held a vermilion brush and silently wrote instructions.

"Your Majesty, Lord Jiang requests an audience," the newly appointed Grand Eunuch Tong announced.

Zhao Ceying was startled and quickly asked, "Where?"

"We're just outside the palace, waiting for His Majesty's summons," replied the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

"it is good!"

"My Zhuge Liang has already entered the capital!"

Zhao Ceying nodded repeatedly and decisively put down his pen.

Patting his plain clothes, Zhao Ceying stood up and strode out.

Outside the Funing Palace, Jiang Zhao, dressed in plain clothes and wearing a plain-colored horn belt, stood respectfully with his hands at his sides.

"Zichuan."

With a shout, Zhao Ceying strode forward, his face beaming with joy.

Jiang Zhao was taken aback and quickly bowed, saying, "Your humble servant Jiang Zhao greets Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities." Zhao Ceying held Jiang Zhao's hand tightly, his face showing indescribable excitement.

This is truly the minister he entrusted with the care of his son!

"Come on, let's go inside and have a chat." Zhao Ceying pulled Xianchen along, his heart surging with emotion, wishing he could sleep next to him.

Jiang Zhao nodded and followed suit.

Upon entering the side room, Jiang Zhao glanced around briefly.

In this small area, more than ten eunuchs were on high alert.

Does the new emperor seem to lack a sense of security?

"Zichuan, this is too much for me!"

The two took their seats one after the other, and Zhao Ceying sighed deeply, his face filled with regret.

"Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, how could you possibly have any difficulties?" Jiang Zhao asked, looking puzzled.

"It's difficult!"

Zhao Ceying pulled out several memorials from the corner of the wooden table and passed them over, sighing, "I am a member of the Taizu clan, born in a poor and remote place. If it weren't for You Zichuan's memorial on the secret establishment of an heir, I would have had no hope of entering the capital in my entire life. If it weren't for You Zichuan's remarks about 'a good grandson of the emperor,' I would have had no hope of becoming the heir."

"Having gone through countless hardships, I ascended the throne as a member of the founding emperor's clan, which should have been a great achievement. But I have no foundation of support, what can I do!"

In short, you are my benefactor, and I am your benefactor.

You must help me!

Jiang Zhao held the memorial in his hand and glanced at it briefly.

Almost all of them were memorials from members of the imperial clan in the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, hoping that the new emperor would allow the empress dowager to rule from behind the curtain and stabilize the court.

"What does the Empress Dowager mean?" Jiang Zhao asked.

"Keep silent." Zhao Ceying sighed.

Sometimes, not speaking is an attitude.

"In other words, when the Taizu lineage came to power, the Taizong lineage was worried and took the initiative to petition the Empress Dowager to rule from behind the curtain and continue the influence of the late emperor's political situation?" Jiang Zhao said knowingly.

Zhao Ceying nodded silently.

"And what about the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet?"

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "The matter of the Empress Dowager ruling from behind the curtain must be supported by important ministers. If the Grand Secretaries do not speak up, with the influence of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, no matter how much trouble they cause, the Empress Dowager will not be able to rule from behind the curtain."

The practice of ruling from behind the curtain is essentially the result of a power struggle among several groups.

In the original storyline, the Cao family possessed the imperial seal, and their ministers held high positions of power, while the new emperor remained unknown.

All three have something to ask for.

The new emperor had no power base upon his ascension to the throne. In order to prevent the powerful ministers and high-ranking officials from becoming unchecked, he naturally hoped that the Empress Dowager would rule from behind the curtain and support him.

The chief ministers and high-ranking officials did not know the new emperor, and there was no relationship between the emperor and his subjects. Naturally, they hoped that someone could act as a buffer.

The Cao family was highly respected and possessed the imperial seal.

Thus, the three parties reached a consensus, and Cao Shi began to rule from behind the curtain.

As for Cao's later refusal to relinquish power, that's another matter entirely.

Things are very different now.

The secret succession plan involved the prime ministers and high-ranking officials who were entrusted with the care of the new emperor, indicating that the emperor and his ministers had already established contact.

In contrast, the Cao family did not even possess the imperial seal, so how could they rule from behind the curtain?

Even if Emperor Taizong's close relatives and the Empress Dowager joined forces, could they possibly turn the world upside down?

"The six Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet have all promised me that they will never allow the Empress Dowager to rule from behind the curtain."

Zhao Ceying sighed and explained, "Among the Grand Secretaries, Grand Chancellor Han is the head of all officials. His main task is to maintain stability in the court and he has no intention of interfering in the palace struggles."

Grand Secretaries Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang, both of impulsive natures, intended to escalate the palace intrigue into a political struggle within the court, but I stopped them in time. The remaining three Grand Secretaries each went to the palace to advise the Empress Dowager once, but to little avail.

Jiang Zhao raised his eyebrows, understanding what he meant.

Since it was not a case of entrusting the young emperor to a regent, the actions of the regent ministers were naturally different.

Among civil officials, the six trusted ministers who entrusted the young emperor with important responsibilities formed a check and balance to a certain extent.

Among them, Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang intended to take advantage of the situation to engage in speculation, and all their actions were aimed at showing loyalty to the new emperor, hoping to turn the palace struggle into a political struggle in the court.

Once political struggles erupt, the two men resolutely stand on the emperor's side, thus becoming "loyal ministers."

Different types of rulers have different ways of surviving.

The remaining three Grand Secretaries, unfamiliar with the new emperor's political style, mainly adopted a wait-and-see approach, hoping to understand the new emperor's character through his handling of the Empress Dowager and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs.

Of course, the senior cabinet members must have reached a certain tacit understanding.

The Empress Dowager was destined not to rule from behind the curtain, so the new emperor's position was considered secure.

"Fortunately, His Majesty stopped the two Grand Secretaries, Zeng Gongliang and Ouyang Xiu."

Jiang Zhao nodded in agreement: "It's best to resolve palace disputes through reconciliation. If they escalate into conflicts in the imperial court, it could lead to a major conflict and sow the seeds of future trouble."

"The late emperor bestowed upon us the foundation of the empire and appointed a descendant of the founding emperor as the new ruler, which can be described as having great courage. The Empress Dowager has always been known for her 'virtuous character.' If the Empress Dowager were to suffer a blow or even lose face immediately after the late emperor's passing, it would inevitably cause controversy."

With the death of the late emperor, the Empress Dowager was the one who inherited his influence and held the status of an elder.

Even if a real conflict were to break out, the court officials would not stand idly by and watch the Empress Dowager suffer such an embarrassing defeat.

If a real fight breaks out, it will result in heavy losses for both sides, with the enemy suffering a thousand casualties and themselves suffering eight hundred.

The approaches taken by Zeng Gongliang and Ouyang Xiu are not advisable.

If palace intrigue were to transform into court intrigue, the implications would be entirely different.

"That's what I thought too." Zhao Ceying picked up a few memorials: "But the Empress Dowager remains silent and occasionally even scolds me, which makes me feel annoyed."

"Jiang Qing, only you can assist me!" Zhao Ceying looked over with an eager expression.

To resolve the issue of the Empress Dowager, basically only a few trusted ministers who had been entrusted with the care of the young emperor could intervene.

Unfortunately, when it came to court intrigues, apart from the two Grand Secretaries Zeng Gongliang and Ouyang Xiu, the rest of them mostly remained on the sidelines.

The Empress Dowager was not afraid of his few lukewarm words of advice, and they did not solve any problems.

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Recently, has Your Majesty been frequently inquiring about the Empress Dowager's well-being?"