When Liu Che arrived at the East Palace, he just happened to see Guantao's carriage leaving.
"Why did Princess Tai Chang enter the palace at this time?" Liu Che asked Wang Dao: "Go and check for me..."
When Wang Dao heard this, his neck shrank and a chill ran down his spine.
This kind of thing was very common in the past.
Her Royal Highness Princess Taichang, let alone enter the palace before dawn.
She has twelve hours a day and can enter the palace at any time.
On the road from Guantao Mansion to the East Palace, no one dared to check or block Princess Taichang's driving.
This matter is not only an open secret, but also a fact that even ordinary people know.
However, as a eunuch, Wang Dao knew very well that he must not think too much.
People who think too much will die very early.
The late Emperor Zhang De thought too much.
Therefore, he bowed slightly and accepted the order: "No, I will send someone to check immediately..."
From Guantao Mansion to Changle Palace, you have to pass two Northern Army camps and six checkpoints along the way.
There is no doubt that these camp captains will soon be in bad luck.
After all, according to the law, it is a serious crime to enter or leave the palace without permission from the emperor or the queen mother after the curfew.
And people who let such unscrupulous people enter and leave the palace without permission.
It can range from losing one's official position to losing one's life.
Liu Che closed his eyes slightly. He felt better than ever before.
The carriage slowly drove into the palace wall of Changle Palace.
At this moment, it was already dawn, the east was white, and the sky was gradually getting brighter.
Changle Palace also woke up from its deep sleep, and hundreds of eunuchs and maids began to clean inside and outside the palace.
When many people saw the emperor's car arriving, they didn't know why and looked at it with curious eyes.
In fact, right now, except for a few officials and nobles, the whole world still doesn't know what happened last night.
Even in the history books thousands of years from now, I am afraid that what happened last night will be kept secret.
Even, it will only be glimpsed in certain corners and personal biographies.
Just like the sound of candle shadows and axes in the history of the Song Dynasty, you can know that such a thing may have happened, but you can never confirm whether it existed.
After getting off the car near the Hall of Yongshou, Liu Che followed the same steps as before, stepped off the cart, and then, surrounded by his attendants, entered the main hall. Immediately, many eunuchs and maids in the hall knelt down to greet him: "Your Majesty, live forever...
"
Liu Che, on the other hand, went straight forward, came to the palace, raised his head and looked at the Empress Dowager Dou and Empress Dowager Bo who were sitting at the top. He bowed slightly and said calmly: "My son, I pay homage to the Emperor's grandmother, Queen Mother, respectfully."
Greetings to the Imperial Grandmother and Queen Mother!"
"The emperor is here..." Queen Mother Dou heard the sound and immediately said: "Hurry up and sit next to Aijia..."
When Liu Che sat down, Mrs. Dou took Liu Che's hand and asked, "Has the Ancestral Temple been properly dealt with?"
While talking, Mrs. Dou also blamed herself: "Pinglu Marquis and Hong Marquis are the Ai family who can't deal with them..."
Liu Che raised his head slightly, as if he had just woken up and didn't know anything: "Ancestral Temple? What happened to Ancestral Temple? I don't know!"
He turned around and asked Wang Dao beside him: "Wang Dao, what happened in the Ancestral Temple? Why didn't anyone report it to me?"
"Report to your Majesty..." Wang Dao was also startled, but fortunately, he had been in the palace for so long and had already seen the storm. He was just stunned for a moment and then immediately reacted. He tried his best to calm down and pretended
Surprised, he said, "I don't know what happened in the Ancestral Temple. How about I go and ask?"
"Why don't you go quickly?" Liu Che glared at him and said with a smile.
The people at the head, Dou and Bo, were stunned for a moment.
They are not stupid, of course they understand that this is the emperor deliberately whitewashing the peace.
Even, there is still a warm current surging in Mr. Dou's heart.
"The emperor is really filial. He actually takes on such a big thing for the sake of his family..." Mrs. Dou thought in her heart.
Empress Dowager Dou had heard of the story from the previous dynasty, referring to a deer as a horse.
In today's world, it is true that only the emperor can make something 'never happen'.
Such an action really touched Mr. Dou.
I feel like I'm really lucky.
If a son is filial, his grandson will also be filial.
I have no regrets in this life!
However, Liu Che lowered his head and said in a deep voice: "I have some bad news to inform the Imperial Grandmother and Queen Mother: Pinglu Houli and Honghoufu both passed away yesterday! The Prince of Li said, and the Prince of Fu ascended the throne. They have to wait because they have been sad.
Unfortunately, I just passed away... I have ordered Taichang and Dahonglu to attend to the funeral of the two clan elders and their brothers, and give them beautiful posthumous titles..."
"With the death of our two uncles Pinglu and Honghou, Prince Yuan's heirs are no longer alive..." Liu Che looked at Dou and asked for instructions: "How to deal with the state of Chu, please let the imperial grandmother make an idea!"
This is Liu Che's last test.
And it's poison smeared with honey.
Naturally, Ms. Dou did not know or understand this. She sighed slightly and said: "I am an old man, and my wish for the rest of my life is to stay in the palace and pray for Taizong and the late emperor. The emperor can make his own decisions about the affairs of the world!"
She stroked Liu Che's cheek kindly and said: "The Ai family said back then that the emperor was very similar to Emperor Taizong. Now, they are even more similar. It's like they were carved from the same mold. The Han family and the country and the country,
Leave it to the emperor!"
Her words also reminded Liu Che of his memory.
It seems that my royal grandmother did say such a thing back then.
Liu Che remembered that it was next to the tiger enclosure in Shanglin Garden.
That meeting was of great help to him at that time.
It can even be said that it paved the way for him to lead to the crown prince palace. Without the recognition and consent of the Eastern Palace, the crown prince of the Han Dynasty would not have been canonized.
"Maybe I've gone too far..." Liu Che also felt a little guilty in his heart. Of course, he understood better that in the political arena, only the winner has the right to feel guilty and sympathize.
Just like on the battlefield.
Where do losers get the qualifications for guilt and sympathy?
So this emotion only flashed through his heart.
"The Imperial Grandmother is serious..." Liu Che made a polite refusal: "The world and the country still need the Imperial Grandmother..."
But he could only speak to one side when he was interrupted by Mr. Dou: "The Ai family is old and blind. They really don't have the energy to deal with the affairs of Chu State, Zhao State, and the government affairs, the emperor and the palace.
, Don’t come to ask for instructions from the Aijia from now on! The Aijia, have decided to take refuge in the west wing of the Yongshou Hall from today on, devote themselves to purity, and pray for the late emperor, Taizong and the emperor..."
"The intention of mourning the family has been decided!" Mrs. Dou said to Liu Che seriously: "Both the emperor and the queen mother should stop trying to persuade me!"
She held up the dove stick in her hand and ordered: "This is the order of the Ai family. The emperor will obey immediately..."
Therefore, Liu Che had no choice but to bow his head and say: "No!"
"My grandson is following Yi's decree!"
………………………………
After leaving Yongshou Hall, Liu Che immediately ordered Wang Dao beside him: "Order the Yulin Guards to set up a camp at the point where the East Palace communicates with the outside world, and station a team of Yulin Guards to protect the Empress Dowager Qingxiu. Anyone who dares to
Any interruption to the Queen Mother’s Qing Dynasty will be regarded as disrespectful!”
"No!" Wang Dao immediately accepted the order.
This is certainly not house arrest.
The Empress Dowager can still enter and exit the East Palace as she pleases and play around.
However, all people entering the East Palace from outside will be restricted.
In normal times, Guantao, the King of Liang, and even the old and lonely ministers of the late emperor and Taizong could come in and out normally without any hindrance as long as they had legal procedures.
But at a critical moment, this place becomes a black hole.
Liu Che's move was obviously just in case!
"Since the Empress Dowager is no longer willing to manage the government..." Liu Che then ordered: "There is no need to report all matters in the Young Mansion to the East Palace. Lantai will make the decision immediately!"
This means that once the power is in hand, orders will be issued.
For a long time, Shaofu Yamen has been under the triple leadership.
The emperor, the Eastern Palace and the empress could all intervene and even handle the appointment and dismissal of officials in the Shaofu.
Just like now, among the six prime ministers of the Shaofu, only two were appointed by Liu Che.
Among the remaining four people, some were appointed by the Empress Dowager, some were appointed by the Empress Dowager, and even (Guantao) was appointed by the Empress.
Liu Che will not tolerate this situation any longer.
Shaofu, the abyss of the country.
It's not the private ATM of his Dou family, Chen family or even Liu family.
Although Liu Che could not block the tentacles extended by the relatives and nobles of the clan in the Shaofu for the time being.
But they must not be allowed to continue to be unscrupulous.
Targeted anti-corruption cannot be used in Shaofu.
Because, the situation of Shaofu is complicated and the structure is bloated.
Relying solely on manpower, even if it is the power of the emperor, it will take ten or eight years to figure it out.
In this case……
"Then put up another plaque!"
Just like in later generations, if the Ministry of Railways cannot be defeated, a railway company will be established.
Although it is just a change of vest, once the nature changes, things will be easier to handle.
The independent kingdom of the Ministry of Railways collapsed.
It's the same now.
Just remove those departments and institutions that are full of problems and malpractices from the Shaofu.
Without the protection and cover of the young master, they will be exposed to the sun.
And the darkness exposed to the sun, will it still be dark?
Even if it doesn't work...
I don’t know how much money it would cost to disband this department, put up a new plaque, and change its name!
…………………………………………
On the following day, the entire city of Chang'an was in a state of shock and suspicion.
Countless gossips and gossip spread all over the world.
After all, there was too much noise and movement last night.
Even the transportation between the arsenal and Qili was blocked, a large number of troops set up barracks on the streets, and many traces were left on the road.
This can't help but make the gossip gangsters open their minds and make all kinds of speculations.
There are even rumors that a certain person had evil intentions and attempted a coup, but fortunately, he was punished by the loyal and brave armies of the North and the South.
As for who this so-and-so is?
Countless people lay down their guns.
Even Liang Wang Liu Wu, who was far away in Suiyang, unfortunately took the blame.
As for the option that someone can succeed in a coup, it does not exist.
The loyal and brave northern and southern armies and the Yulin Guards and Tiger Guards who protect the emperor are enough to crush any conspiracy.
Even so, there was a time of panic among the public.
Some people who have a strong sense of crisis have even started to stock up on food and water at home.
Fortunately, by the afternoon, most of the guesses and ideas had been falsified.
Notices from the government were also posted under the dew cloth in every village.
"The emperor dreamed of a landslide in the southeast at night. When he woke up, he was shocked to hear that Pinglu Houli, Honghoufu and his son had all passed away... He couldn't help but feel sad in his heart, so he visited the Ancestral Temple at night to accuse his ancestors..."
This official statement quickly gained the trust of many people.
Of course, veteran gossipers still sensed something was wrong.
However, Xuanda Si and Xiu Yiwei, subordinates of the Shaofu, tried their best to spread such remarks everywhere and instill this 'fact' into the minds of the people.
In addition, in the afternoon, Liu Che publicly took his brothers on a hunting trip to Shanglinyuan, which eliminated the people's suspicions about mutiny and coup.
Since the emperor is fine, everyone can naturally rest assured.
For the people of Chang'an City, it would be fine as long as Weiyang Palace is not in danger.
Others will die without doing their job.
Besides, can the government still lie?
Therefore, the so-called legend that the emperor dreamed of a landslide in the southeast at night and woke up to find King Yuan without a queen gradually became popular among the people and solved many people's confusion.
In the absence of evidence or other supporting evidence, even the most suspicious gossips obediently kept their mouths shut.
Feel free to gossip about other things.
But in such a sensitive matter, if you are not careful, you will be invited to tea by the Tingwei, or even be exiled for three thousand miles.
The gossips are not stupid, so naturally they will not get into trouble with this.
Of course, privately, deep down in their hearts, many people know that there is something evil going on here!
After another two or three days of this, the public opinion and discussion in Chang'an finally calmed down.
No one even cares about the so-called 'coup' or 'mutiny' a few days ago.
Because, a bigger news happened.
When Jin Wuzhi was in Qufu, he sentenced three hundred scholar-bureaucrats, landlords and bureaucrats to death in one day!
Although the local county guards of the Han family have been killing people like chickens over the years, they will chop up the local powerful and nobles who they don't like.
However, in the Qilu area, when he held the capital of Jinwu, he had successively surrendered four princes and kings, eleven with two thousand dan, thirty-five with one thousand dan, and more than a thousand famous scholars, officials, landlords and bureaucrats, who had "dead more than deservedly".
Except for the four princes and kings and the hundreds of people killed last winter.
The remaining people are not dead yet.
He was just sentenced to death.
Because it is spring now, it will be summer soon, and it is not the season for execution.
According to Han law, criminals can only be executed in winter (of course, this refers to general crimes, serious crimes and serious crimes, which can be executed directly).
Moreover, according to the order issued by Liu Che last year, the death penalty in all places must be personally approved and reviewed by him, the emperor.
This gave those Qilu landlords and scholar-bureaucrats a glimmer of hope.
As a result, hundreds of Qilu people wearing mourning clothes suddenly appeared on the streets of Chang'an City, kneeling at every step and shouting "Unjust".
Their arrival immediately stole the focus and attention of the entire Chang'an.
I no longer thought about 'What happened a few nights ago?'
The Gossip Party members were even more interested in watching Qi Lu’s team complaining about their grievances. (To be continued.)
