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

"Not a single day without interruption," Zhao Ceying said solemnly.

When a new emperor ascends the throne, one wrong step leads to another.

It's better to endure the injustice for a while than to make a mistake.

Therefore, during the seventeen days since his ascension to the throne, Zhao Ceying had never been disrespectful in any way.

Jiang Zhao let out a long breath: "In my opinion, this matter can be handled by flattering someone to their death."

"Praise for killing?"

"How to say?"

……

Fushou Palace.

The Empress Dowager leaned against a rosewood armchair, her eyes slightly closed, with two young palace maids holding fans beside her.

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Lu requests an audience," a eunuch in plain clothes announced.

"The Duke of Lu?"

The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows slightly, then waved her hand and said, "The most eloquent one has arrived. Let him in."

Less than ten breaths later, Jiang Zhao entered, bowed, and said, "Your humble servant Jiang Zhao greets the Empress Dowager."

"No gift."

The Empress Dowager nodded: "Please take a seat."

Jiang Zhao sat down with a slight hesitation on his face.

"What brings the Duke of Lu to this audience?" The Empress Dowager glanced at him and asked slowly.

"I dare to ask, why did the Empress Dowager instruct someone to submit a memorial requesting to rule from behind the curtain?" Jiang Zhao asked.

Ok?

The Empress Dowager was taken aback.

So reckless and direct?

"When did I ever say that?" the Empress Dowager denied.

In a Confucian society, even emperors had to decline the throne three times before ascending the throne, so she certainly couldn't accept it.

Jiang Zhao nodded and breathed a sigh of relief: "Since the Empress Dowager has no such intention, then this humble subject is at ease."

"Your humble servant takes his leave." Jiang Zhao bowed and withdrew.

They came in a hurry and left in a hurry.

The Empress Dowager glanced at it, utterly puzzled.

He only said two words and then left?

Just then, Zhao Ceying, beaming with joy, stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Grandson Zhao Ceying greets Imperial Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

It really was the new emperor who sent the Duke of Lu as an envoy!

"Please sit down," the Empress Dowager waved her hand.

Zhao Ceying sat down respectfully and greeted him attentively.

In a corner of the palace, a court attendant was recording events with a pen in hand.

[The Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a falling out, and Duke Jiang Zhao of Lu went to mediate. The Emperor listened attentively at the door and saw Duke Jiang Zhao question the Empress Dowager, "Do you intend to rule from behind a curtain?" The Empress Dowager replied, "No." Afterwards, Duke Jiang Zhao left, and the Emperor was pleased, entering the palace to inquire after her well-being.]

……

Chapter 170 "If you want to abolish something, you must first establish it."

Jiang Mansion.

Tea is brewed on the rocks, and the sound of the stream enters the cup.

On the banks of the stream, about ten feet away, there was a stove about a foot long, with a tea kettle on it. Boiling water was being poured out, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

A few steps away, there was a pavilion with fruits, pastries, and tea on a stone table. Han Jiayan and Wang Shao sat facing each other, playing chess, while Sheng Changbai watched and sipped his tea.

Jiang Zhao walked slowly, one hand behind his back and the other holding a scroll, observing quietly.

"Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Minister of Rites, and Grand Master of the Palace."

Wang Shao clicked his tongue: "My teeth are sore."

"What's sour about it?"

Jiang Zhao clapped his hands while holding the scroll, then shook his head and said, "Except for the position of Minister of Rites, all other positions are honorary titles."

The three official positions are: the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor, one of the "Three Junior Tutors" of the Crown Prince, which has always been an honorary position. Even if someone were to actually teach the Crown Prince, it would not be the "Three Junior Tutors" at all. The rank is second grade.

The Minister of Rites was in charge of etiquette, sacrifices, the imperial examinations, and diplomacy, and held the rank of second grade.

Of the six ministries in the Ministry of Personnel (尚书省), namely Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works (吏部、户部、礼部、兵部、刑部、工部), the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue held the highest real power. The Ministry of Personnel was in charge of personnel and administration, controlling the official titles of officials; the Ministry of Revenue was in charge of finance, controlling the purse strings.

Apart from these two, the real power in the remaining four has changed slightly according to political needs and the changing times.

In terms of real power, the Ministry of Rites was often ranked fourth or fifth.

Of course, in terms of status, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites were the "top three ministries".

During the heyday of the imperial examinations, the Ministry of Rites, which controlled the examinations, held a very high position.

When it comes to entering the cabinet, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites are considered the most prestigious.

One is in charge of personnel matters and can place former officials in positions of authority.

One of them was in charge of the imperial examinations and could select disciples.

Ultimately, everything we do must be people-oriented.

The title of Grand Master of the Palace (金紫光禄大夫) was a purely honorary position, ranking as a second-grade official.

"The Crown Prince's Junior Tutor, this honorary position is no ordinary one!"

Wang Shao countered, "This is a symbol of the emperor's emphasis on trust, which can only be obtained by high-ranking officials. Most of the time, it is held concurrently by the Grand Secretary. Upon retirement, they are then promoted to the positions of Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Protector."

Jiang Zhao stood with his hands behind his back and did not deny it.

The secret establishment of an heir apparent, the "good grandson's" advice, the training in Xihe, and the instruction in the palace.

It can be said that he was not only a minister who followed the emperor, but also a former superior and a former teacher of the new emperor.

If someone has such an experience and still can't gain the emperor's trust, then how suspicious must that emperor be?

"The Empress Dowager has become connected with the lineage of Emperor Taizong."

“The Empress Dowager holds the reins of justice and has a reputation for virtue. The Taizong lineage is good at stirring up trouble and is not easy to deal with!” Sheng Changbai stroked his beard and shook his head gently.

“Difficult.” Wang Shao placed a piece and interjected, “When it comes to political struggles, any third-rank official could easily suppress the Empress Dowager. But if she refuses to reconcile, then it’s meaningless.”

"The key is to get the Empress Dowager to step down willingly," Han Jiayan nodded in agreement.

Several people had come up with some ideas on how to deal with the Empress Dowager.

However, putting it into practice would be extremely difficult.

The Empress Dowager was the late Emperor's Empress, and she served as the mother of the nation for thirty years. The virtue and reputation she accumulated were immense.

The new emperor ascended the throne, inheriting the empire of the previous emperor.

Its legitimacy largely stemmed from the secret method of designating an heir, but a small part also came from the approval of the Empress Dowager.

After all, the late emperor died without an heir, and the Empress Dowager, to a certain extent, represented the late emperor's will.

If the Empress Dowager were to publicly disagree, even if it didn't affect the new emperor's throne, it would inevitably cause controversy.

Most importantly, the eldest empress has always been virtuous and kind.

Could it be that we really intend to embarrass the Empress Dowager?

“But how could the Empress Dowager, who has ruled the world for thirty years, willingly step down?” Sheng Changbai frowned and pondered, “Moreover, there are also the Zhao family members from the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs pushing her to step down.”

Whether the Empress Dowager actually intended to rule from behind the curtain from the very beginning is unclear to everyone.

However, it is certain that, with the encouragement of the Zhao family members of the Imperial Clan Court, even if the Empress Dowager did not have the intention of ruling from behind the curtain, she gradually developed the idea of ​​doing so.

After all, the previous Empress Dowager Zhangxian was a ready-made example.

The Empress Dowager even served the ailing Empress Dowager Zhangxian!

As for the power disparity between the Empress Dowager and the new emperor?

If we disregard the regents, the new emperor actually has little power.

Sometimes, once people's hearts are blinded by desires, they truly won't turn back until they hit a brick wall.

"Not urgent."

Jiang Zhao shook his head, gently interrupting.

"If you want to abolish something, you must first establish it."

Several people were startled.

"A scheme to kill with praise?"

Wang Shao looked doubtful: "Your Majesty, how else could you possibly use such flattery to your detriment?"

Jiang Zhao seemed to have a deeper meaning, and slowly said, "The Empress Dowager is a person who cares about her reputation."

"If you have any sense of shame, you'll be praised to death!"

"Moreover, the Empress Dowager is the Empress Dowager, and the Taizong lineage is the Taizong lineage."

"How so?" Wang Shao asked, somewhat curious.

"Divide and transform."

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "To deal with the Empress Dowager, we should use the methods of palace intrigue, focusing on preserving face and making peace; to deal with Emperor Taizong's lineage, we should first engage in political struggle, and then in palace intrigue."

Jiang Zhao took a deep breath and looked up at the sky: "What His Majesty wants is the submission of the Taizong lineage."

"Political struggles eliminated some of Emperor Taizong's descendants, while others were promoted."

"In this way, those newly selected descendants of Emperor Taizong will naturally be grateful for the new emperor's kindness."

"The Imperial Clan Court doesn't have any real power."

Jiang Zhao shook his head: "What's wrong with leaving some for Emperor Taizong's lineage?"

"As for the Empress Dowager, she is held in high esteem. Anyone with a sense of shame would never rule from behind the curtain."

Several people fell into deep thought.

March 21st.

The sun rises in the east, and the first rays of dawn appear.

All the civil and military officials were dressed in plain clothes and lined up in an orderly manner.

Throughout history, there has been a custom of suspending court proceedings during periods of national mourning.

The regulations on rites varied from dynasty to dynasty.

When Emperor Taizu passed away, Emperor Taizong announced a five-day suspension of court proceedings and a period of mourning during which he would not attend to state affairs.

Subsequently, Emperor Zhenzong passed away, and court was suspended for seven days.

This time, the late emperor passed away, and court was suspended for seven days.

Therefore, starting from March 7th, all officials were required to attend court to govern.

The difference is that as long as the emperor has not yet been buried, it is considered a national mourning period. No music is played during court sessions, and all officials must wear mourning clothes.

Perhaps due to the national mourning period, there was less conversation on the train compared to previous years.

Even if there were, they would only be barely audible sounds, and only those with special privileges.

On the left, Jiang Zhao, dressed in a plain robe with a black horn belt at his waist, stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, holding a scepter.

The young Grand Secretary has arrived in the capital!