After all, Liu E failed to kill the imperial censor with a cane, nor could she kill the officials who came out to accompany the censor to death.
It's not that she couldn't do it, but that the officials stopped her from doing it.
Ding Wei even shouted in the audience, "Is the Queen Mother going to commit suicide in Shilin?"
Liu E, who was furious with shame, was woken up by Ding Wei's words.
She realized how stupid it was for her to kill the imperial censor with a cane.
If she kills the imperial censor with a stick today, someone will stop the court tomorrow.
In the future, her reputation among the people will also become bad.
The word "demon queen" will definitely fall on her head.
Maybe there will be a grass-headed king among the people who will rebel and become king under the banner of killing her.
After all, it was not that difficult to rebel in the Song Dynasty.
If a dozen people occupy a hilltop, they can raise a flag to rebel and make themselves a king.
Liu E clenched her fists tightly, trying hard to control the anger in her heart, and gritted her teeth and said, "The Ai family has lost its composure..."
Liu E finally gave in.
For a person who is used to being strong, it is unprecedented for her to be able to say this.
But the imperial censor and other officials had no intention of letting her go.
The imperial censor took a step forward, went to the imperial steps, and shouted loudly: "The queen mother will either kill the old minister, or ask to be removed from the post. Only one of the old minister and the queen mother can stay in Chuigong Hall."
The other officials followed the footsteps of the imperial censor, walked to the imperial steps, and said loudly: "I also mean the same thing."
Liu E was furious, but there was no expression on her face at all. She sat on the seat without saying a word.
She doesn't know how to speak, and she can't speak.
She just spoke softly, but not only did she not get the tolerance of the imperial censors and officials, but she even got more threatened by them.
If she showed any signs of weakness, the imperial censor and those officials would just push her nose and face, forcing her to go even further.
Liu E didn't speak.
The Chui Gong Hall suddenly fell into a deadlock.
Ding said that Cao Lili and others wanted to defend Liu E, but in the face of the fierce and fearless attitude of the imperial censors and officials, they could only avoid their sharp edges.
The imperial censors and officials would be intimidated when facing Kou Zhun.
Because no matter how they embarrassed Kou Zhun, if word spread among the people, it would be said that officials were fighting among themselves, and they would not gain a good reputation.
But when facing the royal family, the Queen Mother, and the officials, they will not be afraid.
Not only will he not be timid, but he will also be ready to be generous and generous at any time.
As long as they are executed when facing the royal family, facing Liu E, and facing the remonstrance of the officials, then after the incident spreads, they will immediately become famous and become famous in history.
This is what they, the public officials, want.
Liu E, the imperial censor and the officials were like a bullfight, breathing heavily and glaring at each other.
It was so quiet in Chui Gong Hall that you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was waiting for Liu E to speak.
But Liu E refused to speak even to death.
"Da da da……"
Suddenly, the sound of horse hoofbeats sounded outside the hall.
All the officials in the Chui Gong Hall headed outside the hall at the same time.
Kou Zhun frowned and shouted: "Who dares to ride in the palace? Are you tired of living?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier carrying a small flag, wearing armor and holding a sword, with three waistbands hanging on his waist, rode his horse to the front of the palace.
Under the watchful eyes of the officials, he jumped off his horse, trotted into the palace, and said urgently: "Urgent news from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Huainan, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, nearly six states, have fallen into a food shortage. Many people are involved.
Up to a million.”
The soldier took off a sealed mailbox from his back and raised his hands to his chest.
The civil and military officials of the entire court were shocked when they heard this.
Food shortages are not terrible; what is terrible is food shortages with wide implications.
A food shortage involving millions of people would be a huge disaster. If it is not handled properly, someone will definitely take the opportunity to cause trouble and rebel.
"Bring it over quickly!"
Kou Zhun realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately asked the eunuch to get the mailbox.
But Li Di didn't care to wait for the eunuch to walk in front of the soldier with small steps. He took the lead, ran to the soldier, grabbed the mailbox from his hand, and took the mailbox to Kou Zhun.
After Li Di took the mailbox from the soldier, the soldier tilted his head and fainted on the ground.
In order to promptly report the disaster in Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the imperial court, he had not rested for several days and nights.
Now that the mailbox was handed over to the court, he relaxed and naturally fainted.
The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were not surprised by this.
Soldiers who usually deliver urgent documents often end up in this situation when they arrive at the court.
In order not to delay the court's political affairs, most of them worked hard on their way.
Xiang Minzhong waved his hands to the guards outside the palace and said, "Help him go down to rest and let the imperial doctor give him a good diagnosis and treatment."
The guards outside the palace entered the palace and carried the soldiers carrying the message out of the Chui Gong Palace.
Li Di took the mailbox to Kou Zhun. Kou Zhun checked the paint on the mailbox. After confirming that no one had touched it, he slowly opened the paint and took out the documents inside.
After Kou Zhun carefully read the contents of the document, his old face was covered with frost and his expression was terrifyingly gloomy.
He didn't say a word and handed the document to Li Di casually.
After Li Di read it, he looked horrified.
Seeing this, Xiang Minzhong and Ding Wei hurriedly approached Li Di and stretched their heads to read the document.
After Xiang Minzhong read the document at a glance, he exclaimed: "Is it so serious?"
The document mentioned that in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Huainan, nearly eight states were experiencing food shortages, and the price of food in the eight states soared, far exceeding the price of food in Bianjing City several times.
The people couldn't afford food, so they were eating tree roots, chewing tree bark, and eating Guanyin soil to satisfy their hunger.
What's more, they change their children and eat them.
In the land of Huainan, some people used the banner of food shortage to rebel. In just seven days, they gathered more than 10,000 people and robbed large households in Huainan and other places.
The document was in the hands of Xiang Min, and after Ding Wei and Ding Wei read it, it was quickly passed on to the officials.
The officials did not care about etiquette and gathered together to watch the documents.
After a while, the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty learned about the food shortage in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Huainan and other places.
The document finally fell into the hands of Wang Zeng. Wang Zeng held the document and said in a deep voice: "I have received reports about the food shortage in Huainan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang before, but it was not serious at the time. I checked Huainan this year,
The annual harvest of Jiangsu and Zhejiang generations found that there was no shortage of harvest in Huainan and Jiangsu and Zhejiang generations this year, so I thought that some unscrupulous businessmen took the opportunity to hoard some grain and grass and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make profits.
Now it seems that the old minister was wrong.
The old minister is guilty, please ask the officials to punish him."
Kou Zhun looked gloomy and waved his hands and said: "This matter has nothing to do with you. There have always been signs before food shortages, either natural disasters or man-made disasters. But this time in Huainan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are experiencing food shortages, but there are no signs. If you don't check for a while, you won't be able to
excusable.
Besides, the farming affairs are not under your control, so you don’t have to take responsibility for it.”
Xiang Minzhong frowned and said in a deep voice: "Food shortages have always been caused by natural disasters or man-made disasters. In Huainan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there was obviously no shortage of harvests, but food shortages occurred for no reason. There must be a reason behind it, and we need to investigate carefully."
Kou Zhun nodded slowly and said: "You and Wang Zeng will be responsible for investigating this matter. Once it is found that there is someone behind the scenes, they will be killed without mercy."
Ding Wei took advantage of this opportunity to help Liu E out of the siege.
He shouted at the imperial censors and officials who were standing under the imperial steps: "Why don't you retreat? Now is not the time for you to fool around."
The imperial censor raised his neck and snorted: "What nonsense? Why have we ever been nonsense? First there were frost disasters in Sichuan and Sichuan, and then there was a food shortage in Huainan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang for no reason. There must be evildoers in the court who are causing harm to the country, and God will
Disasters struck one after another.
If the evildoers are not vindicated, it will be difficult for the country and the people to be at peace."
The evildoer in the censor's mouth refers directly to Liu E.
Liu E was so angry that she was trembling, but she couldn't speak.
Ding Wei said angrily: "National affairs are important!"
The imperial censor said disdainfully: "Does it mean that evildoers causing harm to the country are not considered national affairs?"
Ding Wei shook his sleeves angrily and stepped aside.
Liu E gritted her teeth, stared at Kou Zhun, and said in a deep voice: "Does the Grand Master intend to embarrass the Ai family?"
Kou Zhun frowned and his eyes fell on the imperial censor and the others, "What do you want?"
The imperial censor cupped his hands and said loudly: "Please ask the Queen Mother to remove herself from the throne."
Kou Zhun nodded slowly, looked at Liu E and said, "What does the Queen Mother want?"
Liu E said coldly: "The post of the Ai family was appointed by the late emperor. How can you just go there if you want to?"
Kou Zhun frowned and said nothing.
Liu E continued: "The reason why the late emperor allowed the Ai family to succeed in the throne, and to allow the Ai family to take charge of the state affairs, was to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the young officials to bully our orphans and widowed mothers.
Now that the late emperor's body is still cold, you are persecuting the Aijia like this. Are you worthy of the late emperor?
If the Ai family is forced by you today, please remove the post.
If you are dissatisfied with the officials tomorrow, will you use the same method to force them to abdicate the throne?
Therefore, you may call the Ai family monster or queen.
The Aijia will not retreat even a step."
When the civil and military officials in the court heard this, their expressions all changed.
The faces of the imperial censor and the others also became very ugly.
They didn't expect that Liu E would use Zhao Zhen as a shield.
Forcing officials to abdicate the throne, no one would dare to accept such a big hat.
The imperial censor said bravely: "The old minister and others are loyal to the official family and have absolutely no second thoughts."
Kou Zhun frowned and said in a deep voice: "The Queen Mother's words are serious. As ministers of the Song Dynasty, I and others should do their best to be loyal to the official family."
Liu E said angrily: "What you are doing today, are you being loyal to the official family?"
Kou Zhun reminded in a deep voice: "What the Queen Mother said is too serious, and the veteran minister and others cannot bear it. If the Queen Mother feels that the veteran minister and others have disloyal intentions, just point it out, and the veteran minister and others will definitely take off their official uniforms and take off their clothes."
Official hat, put on the seal and leave."
Kou Zhun's words fell to the ground, and all the civil and military officials in the court said in unison: "I second my opinion."
"Plop~"
Liu E slumped down on the seat, her face pale.
Liu E wanted to point at Kou Zhun, Li Di, and everyone who was against her, and shout loudly.
You are all disobedient people.
But she didn't dare.
What if she really shouted that?
All the civil and military officials in the dynasty would walk away.
By that time, let alone depriving herself of a lower position, even if she went to each door one by one to beg people to come back, she might not be able to invite back all the civil and military officials in the court.
A good minister chooses his master and serves him.
Not all officials can be like Li Di. Even if they are deeply disappointed with Zhao Heng and have made up their mind to leave, they can still reappear in the court when the court needs him.
Xixia and Liao Kingdoms have always been thirsty for talents in these officials in the Song Dynasty.
In recent years, they were extremely disappointed with the Song Dynasty, and many officials rebelled against the Song Dynasty.
Liu E finally gave in.
After the officials almost forced her into the palace, she gave in.
She is not a man, nor is she an official, so she cannot show the domineering power that an emperor can show.
There is no way to make all the officials surrender willingly to her feet.
Naturally, there is no way to deal with all the officials harshly.
"The Ai family will not eliminate the post. The Ai family will keep the post and protect the official family. The rest will follow you."
After Liu E said these words, she seemed to have lost all her strength. She waved her hand to Guo Huai, and with Guo Huai's support, she left Chui Gong Hall dejectedly.
All the officials were left looking at each other, not knowing how to respond.
Xiang Minzhong, Ding Wei, Li Di, Wang Qinruo and other important ministers all immediately focused their attention on Kou Zhun.
Among the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty, Kou Zhun was the only one who was qualified to take action against Liu E.
The imperial censor immediately raised his hands to Kou Zhun and said: "How to deal with the Queen Mother, please let the Grand Master decide."
The power to deal with Liu E fell into the hands of Kou Zhun, but Kou Zhun had a hard time making a decision.
If the punishment is severe, others will definitely talk behind his back, saying that Kou Zhun has second thoughts.
The treatment was too light, and the officials refused to agree.
Kou Zhun was also in a dilemma.
Kou Ji wanted to interrupt, but found that everyone in the civil and military court was looking at Kou Zhun. It was a bit inappropriate for him to interrupt now.
Seeing the corner of Kou Zhun's mouth twitching anxiously, Kou Ji rolled his eyes and landed on Zhao Zhen, who was sitting blankly on the dragon chair as a melon-eater.
For a moment, he had an idea.
Immediately, he reached out, touched his head, and patted his shoulder.
Zhao Zhen was naturally attracted by Kou Ji's strange behavior.
He saw Kou Ji touching his head and patting his shoulders again, with a confused look on his face.
Chen Lin also saw Kou Ji's strange behavior.
Chen Lin lowered her head and thought for a moment before understanding Kou Ji's intention.
The first time Kou Ji patted Zhao Zhen on the head and the first time on Zhao Zhen's shoulder were both in the same place.
Chen Lin came close to Zhao Zhen and whispered three words.
Zhao Zhen blurted out, "Zi Shi Tang?!"
Kou Zhun's eyes suddenly lit up.
He cupped his hands towards Zhao Zhen and said loudly: "What the officials say makes sense, and the old ministers obey the orders."
Later, with Zhao Zhen looking confused, Kou Zhun faced all the officials and said loudly: "The matter of the Empress Dowager has been decided by the officials. The officials ordered the Empress Dowager Liu E to withdraw from the Chui Gong Hall and take charge of the affairs.
From now on, Zishitang will exercise the power of regent of state affairs."
Kou Zhun was reminded by Zhao Zhen and thought of this method to deal with Liu E, and then he announced it to all officials with the help of Zhao Zhen.
Although this move did not depose Liu E from his post, it did not even reduce the power in Liu E's hands.
But for Liu E, it was like returning to before liberation overnight.
Back when Zhao Heng was still alive, back when Zhao Heng was sick in bed.