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

"We beg Your Majesty's mercy and to rescind the decree!"

In an instant, people knelt down and pleaded for mercy.

"We beg Your Majesty's mercy and to rescind the decree!"

"We beg Your Majesty's mercy and to rescind the decree!"

Those who bowed their heads and pleaded for mercy formed a large and imposing force.

Before long, there were already sixty or seventy people.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying glanced at the scene and his expression showed understanding.

At a glance, those kneeling and pleading for mercy were almost all people who "opposed the abolition of the empress."

The reason for this is, of course, the concern about being "convicted".

The matter of rewards and punishments has always been related to "first reward" and "first punishment".

The first reward is better, which means that the remaining rewards are also better.

A heavy initial penalty means that subsequent penalties will also be heavy.

Now, the matter of deposing the empress has even involved removing her from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, which is undoubtedly of paramount importance.

How could this not cause fear?

Zhao Ceying glanced at it indifferently.

Coincidentally, this time the punishment was indeed quite severe.

On the contrary, those who once stood up to oppose the abolition of the empress, regardless of whether they have jumped to the ranks of those who support it, will all be demoted!

"You have no joke!"

With that, Zhao Ceying waved his hand dismissively.

"The court session is over—"

Chapter 223 It's all over, my father doesn't deserve to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!

The empress was immoral, and the empress's position was changed.

Unable to bear it any longer, Lady Wang was removed from the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The world was shaken.

The Duke's Mansion of Qi.

Main hall.

"Heng'er, why won't you listen to advice?"

The Duke of Qi looked anxious and paced back and forth, saying, "Grand Secretary Jiang is magnanimous and made an exception for you this time, but that doesn't mean the Emperor recognizes you and will make an exception for you this time!"

A month passed, and Qi Heng's official position remained unchanged, which undoubtedly demonstrated Jiang Ge Lao's magnanimity.

But all of this is predicated on the fact that Grand Secretary Jiang knows Qi Heng!

The emperor may not recognize Qi Heng, much less make an exception for him and spare him this time.

Qi Heng remained unfazed: "Speaking frankly and impartially is the duty of any official."

The Duke of Qi looked at his son with worry and sighed silently.

Such a large-scale controversy could easily lead to the demotion of dozens of people if handled carelessly.

Why are you still rushing in like an idiot?

Qi Heng shook his head and remained silent.

If he doesn't go, he wouldn't be Qi Heng!

The main hall of the Prince's Mansion.

Wang Shiping, head bowed, picked up a memorial tablet and, like a walking corpse, went straight inside.

"this--"

Old Mrs. Wang's expression changed drastically upon seeing this, and she pointed and said, "Isn't this your father's memorial tablet enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

The Imperial Ancestral Temple, the royal ancestral temple, was used for the emperor's daily sacrifices, and its sacrificial activities were subject to strict hierarchical restrictions and etiquette norms.

Generally speaking, only the emperor could visit the memorial tablets enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

However, in special circumstances, the emperor would grant his sons and wives permission to enter the temple to observe ceremonies or offer sacrifices.

Therefore, Old Mrs. Wang had indeed seen her husband Wang You's memorial tablet.

All the memorial tablets specially made for the palace have corresponding specifications, which can give people a sense of "solemnity" at a glance.

Grandma Wang immediately recognized the memorial tablet that her eldest son was holding.

That must be a memorial tablet enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!

Upon hearing this, Madam Lü's expression changed drastically, and she covered her mouth, not daring to utter a sound.

"The mother urged her son to oppose the abolition of the empress, and he submitted several high-profile memorials to the emperor."

Wang Shiping sighed dejectedly: "Who would have thought that today, Grand Secretary Jiang would submit a memorial to depose the Empress. The remaining five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet echoed his sentiments, thus finalizing the decision. The Emperor ordered the Empress to be deposed and demoted."

"I submitted several high-profile memorials, and the Emperor probably got angry. So he simply ordered that my father's eligibility to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple be removed."

"This—" Old Mrs. Wang was stunned and exclaimed, "How could this be?"

"This is worthy of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!"

"In a century-long reign, there have only been nine emperors. And the number of 'immunity tokens' is far more than nine!"

"How could they move out so easily?" Old Mrs. Wang cried out, unwilling to accept the fact.

"Ugh!"

Even a pardon can one day be denied.

Wang Shiping sighed deeply, looked at his elderly mother, and truly didn't know what to say.

After a few moments of silence, Wang Shiping glanced at the memorial tablet in his hand and said dejectedly, "My mother was a master strategist who orchestrated everything."

"Mother, please keep this memorial tablet in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

He was supposed to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, but he was moved out of the temple.

Even though Wang Shiping was used to obeying his elderly mother, he couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied.

As he spoke, the memorial tablet in the ancestral temple was passed over, and Wang Shiping staggered as he turned around and walked out step by step.

Grandma Wang held the memorial tablet, stunned.

How could this be?

Why was she deposed all of a sudden?

The "remote control" went wrong, causing an irreparable catastrophe. After looking around a few times, Old Mrs. Wang was at a loss.

For a moment, I didn't know what to do.

Jiying Lane, Sheng Mansion.

Shou'an Hall.

Old Madam Sheng, Sheng Hong, Wang Ruofu, Sheng Changbai, and Hai Shi all gathered together.

"what?!"

Wang Ruofu was shocked, almost jumping to her feet, her face filled with disbelief: "My father has been removed from the Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

Sheng Hong stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "How could I, your husband, speak falsehoods?"

"The Empress's deposition involved such a huge amount of people?" Old Madam Sheng put her hands on her legs, her face showing surprise.

The Empress's removal from office is a foregone conclusion and was expected.

Is the Imperial Ancestral Temple removable?

This was completely unexpected.

In terms of the severity of the punishment alone, it can be described as extremely harsh.

This move is absolutely unprecedented in the history of a nation spanning a century!

“I tried to persuade my uncle once,” Sheng Hong stroked his beard and shook his head. “However, my uncle simply wouldn’t listen and repeatedly and publicly opposed the abolition of the empress.”

"Whenever a memorial was submitted, it was always said that he was the eldest son of Wang Youzhi, who was a meritorious official who was loyal and capable in the administration of state affairs, served as the Chancellor of the Secretariat and the Chancellery, was a Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall, was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Tutor, was given the posthumous name Wenjian, and was entitled to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Sheng Hong sighed helplessly and spread his hands, saying, "Well, that's why we've been targeted!"

Grandma Sheng nodded.

If that's the case, then we can only blame Wang Shiping and Old Lady Wang for courting death.

"Oh my God!"

Wang Ruofu wiped her face and wept uncontrollably.

Throughout her life, she had only two things she often talked about that she was proud of.

My father deserves to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!

My son-in-law holds a high-ranking position!

The phrase "to be honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple" was recited for nearly thirty or forty years, while "to be ranked among the high officials" was recited for a mere hundred days.

Originally, I wanted to recite one type of text each day, alternating between them.

Who would have thought that my elderly father would be removed from the Imperial Ancestral Temple!

"Don't worry."

Sheng Hong knew his wife's favorite saying, so he comforted her, "Zhao'er is only thirty years old, and she has already risen to a high position. In the future, it is only natural that she will become the prime minister and be honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Even if someone else held a very high position, they might not necessarily be entitled to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

After all, a dynasty lasting a hundred years only has nine rulers.

On average, during an emperor's decades-long reign, only three of his ministers were qualified to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

But the son-in-law Jiang Zhao is different.

A century-long reign, the first to expand the nation's territory!

Such achievements and political accomplishments almost certainly warranted his enshrinement in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

You can't say "My father is worthy of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple," but you can say "My son-in-law holds a high position in the government"—it's the same thing!

With just one sentence, Wang Ruofu's sobs subsided.

"I," Wang Ruofu, glanced at her husband and cried, "I'm crying because my father was removed from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, not because I'm worried about having nothing to show off."

As she spoke, she continued to cry.

However, the crying did weaken considerably.

Hei Shi stroked her slightly protruding belly and couldn't help but sigh, "That's someone who deserves to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!"

"Who would have thought that it would be moved out so suddenly?"

The Hai family has produced officials for generations, with five generations serving as members of the Hanlin Academy, making them a first-rate and distinguished family.

However, in terms of reputation, it is only comparable to the Wang family.

Being honored with a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple signifies that at least one member of the clan had entered the Grand Secretariat, marking a period of unparalleled glory.

In terms of longevity, the Wang family may not be as enduring as the Hai family.

But when it comes to the spread of reputation, "being honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple" sounds much better.

“This is a problem with the clan rules,” Sheng Changbai said seriously. “If the clan rules are not strict, the younger generation will be useless and will tarnish the reputation of our ancestors.”

“Yes! That’s right!” Sheng Hong clapped his hands and echoed, “In this respect, we should learn from the Hai family and Zhao’er’s Jiang family.”

The Hai family prospered for a century.

The Jiang family, a prominent clan that has been wealthy for generations, is a prime example of enduring prosperity.

"You flatter me, Father-in-law." Madam Hai raised her sleeve and smiled faintly.