SWDnovel Chapter 23 Cabinet Coup, Empress Dowager Interference in Politics!
Chapter 23 Cabinet Coup, Empress Dowager Interference in Politics!
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
As the horn sounded for the start of court, thousands of officials, both civil and military, bowed deeply to Zhu Houzhao.
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The saying goes, "Hold large meetings to handle small matters, and hold small meetings to handle big matters."
Zhu Houzhao had no interest in these grand court assemblies; most of them were just formalities.
"If you have something to report, do so now; if not, the court may adjourn!"
Just when Zhu Houzhao thought today was just another insignificant matter, Liu Yu, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, stepped out of the queue.
"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report!"
Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Yu and nodded slightly: "Granted."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Liu Yu's opening remarks were like a bombshell!
"Your Majesty, Liu Zhai, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, Liu Yu, an imperial censor, along with twenty-one supervising secretaries from the six ministries and thirteen circuit censors, have impeached the local eunuchs who have been oppressing the people, bullying the local populace, and monopolizing markets, thus inciting public outrage!"
"Your Majesty, please recall the eunuchs stationed in various regions and punish them severely to serve as a warning to others. If this is left unchecked, it may lead to a popular uprising, Your Majesty!"
When Zhu Houzhao heard that so many high-ranking officials were involved, along with the impeachment of eunuchs stationed in various regions, his eyes narrowed and his face immediately darkened.
The garrison eunuch was sent out by him, and these high-ranking officials, along with those who impeached the garrison eunuch, are practically slapping him in the face!
Moreover, Zhu Houzhao knew all too well what these eunuchs had done.
They genuinely recovered so much tax arrears for Zhu Houzhao. Without these eunuchs guarding the treasury, Zhu Houzhao's national treasury would probably be so empty that rats could run around in it.
It's absolutely impossible for him to recall those garrison eunuchs!
Zhu Houzhao spoke calmly: "You impeached the eunuch in charge of the garrison for oppressing the people, but where is the evidence?"
Liu Yu's expression was serious: "The entire Zhao family of Ganzhou, all 132 members, were silenced by the garrison eunuch. Isn't such a heinous act sufficient evidence?!"
Zhu Houzhao shook his head: "Those who refuse to pay the outstanding taxes will have their entire family executed. This is an order personally given by me. The eunuchs in charge are merely following orders."
"If anyone wants to impeach someone, impeach me!"
"I'd like to see if you have the guts to impeach me!"
In the past, they not only had the audacity to impeach the emperor, but also the courage to do so.
But times have changed, and they know clearly that the current emperor is not the same as before.
If you want to impeach His Majesty, you should first consider whether your neck is harder or the executioner's blade of the Imperial Guard is harder.
Liu Yu's face was grim, but he didn't know what to say.
While the entire court was stammering and acting like women, Grand Secretary Liu Jian stood up with a resolute expression, fearless of death.
"Your Majesty, I have a secret edict that I wish to announce to you!"
After Liu Jian finished speaking, he didn't wait for Zhu Houzhao's permission at all and directly took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his pocket.
"The late Emperor's Last Edict!"
As Liu Jian uttered these six words, all the civil and military officials present immediately knelt down, shouting, "Long live the Emperor!"
"Liu Jian, Xie Qian, Li Dongyang, you are my trusted ministers. The Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent, but he is young and playful. You must constantly guide him."
"It is hoped that after the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will be close to the Grand Secretaries and civil officials, dismiss the eunuchs guarding various regions, be filial to the Empress Dowager, treat his relatives kindly, and be compassionate and benevolent..."
Liu Jian read Zhu Youcheng's last edict aloud, and it sounded incredibly pleasing to the ears of the civil and military officials.
Yes, that's how it should be!
Only an emperor who is close to civil officials, treats his relatives well, dismisses eunuchs, and is obedient and honest is a good emperor!
However, Zhu Houzhao's face grew increasingly dark as the late emperor's edict was announced.
"So be it!"
"The Emperor is wise!"
After reading the imperial edict, Liu Jian suddenly knelt before Zhu Houzhao and loudly proclaimed, "Your humble servant is incompetent and has failed the late Emperor's trust. I request to retire!"
The next moment, Xie Qian followed suit: "Your Majesty, I also request to retire!"
These two pieces of news exploded in the court like a muffled thunderclap, immediately startling the high-ranking officials, who looked astonished and began whispering among themselves.
There are only three Grand Secretaries in the cabinet. Apart from Li Dongyang, who is on sick leave, the Grand Secretary and the Second Grand Secretary have both requested to retire!
This is a blatant attempt to force Zhu Houzhao to abdicate!
Zhu Houzhao's face turned completely dark. He stared coldly at Liu Jian, already harboring murderous intent.
"What's the reason?"
"Your Majesty, before the late Emperor passed away, he entrusted Your Majesty to us three old ministers."
"The will clearly states in black and white that Your Majesty should be filial to the Empress Dowager, be close to the Grand Secretariat, and dismiss the garrison eunuchs in various regions."
"The late emperor's body is barely cold, and the ink on his will is still wet, yet Your Majesty insists on acting arbitrarily, disobeying the late emperor's will, and thus inciting public outrage!"
"Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to teach you, and I have no face to continue assisting you!"
"Your Majesty, please grant me permission to retire and return to my hometown!"
Xie Qian also knelt and kowtowed, his expression resolute: "Your Majesty, please, in consideration of my decades of service to the Ming Dynasty, allow me to leave!"
Faced with the cabinet's threat to resign, Zhu Houzhao was furious, but he remained calm.
"Why didn't your cabinet produce this edict when I ascended the throne? Why did you have to wait until now?"
"Was this imperial edict left by your late emperor, or did your cabinet create it yourselves?!"
"this……"
Liu Jian's expression changed immediately, and the next moment, a sudden female voice rang out in Fengtianmen Square.
"It was I who instructed the cabinet to bring out this imperial edict!"
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a palanquin appear beneath Fengtian Gate.
Liu Jian was the first to react, and immediately kowtowed to the palanquin, saying, "Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"
With Liu Jian taking the lead, all the civil and military officials in the court immediately followed suit and kowtowed to the imperial sedan chair.
"Long live the Empress Dowager!"
Throughout the entire hall, only Zhu Houzhao sat motionless on the dragon throne.
But his hands were clenched tightly together, suppressing the anger in his heart.
Empress Dowager Zhang suddenly appeared in the imperial court—what's going on here?!
Is she ruling from behind the curtain?!
His mother is really getting more and more outrageous!
Empress Dowager Zhang did not get out of the sedan chair; she remained inside and spoke calmly and casually.
"I know that, in principle, the inner palace should not interfere in the affairs of the court."
"But I must explain this matter clearly to Grand Secretary Liu."
"This imperial edict is indeed the one left by the late emperor. When the late emperor was on his deathbed, he dictated his last words, which were recorded by Grand Secretary Liu. This edict bears the official seal of this palace."
"If Your Majesty could always heed the teachings of the Grand Secretaries, and like the late Emperor, accept wise counsel, be close to the Grand Secretaries, and stay away from the eunuchs, then this edict would never have appeared."
"But His Majesty has become increasingly senile lately, suspicious of his cabinet ministers and close to eunuchs, which has aroused public resentment!"
"Even I, a mere woman, know that if Your Majesty continues to act so willfully, the country will cease to exist, and we will be ashamed before our ancestors and the nation."
"I truly do not wish for Your Majesty to make another mistake, which is why I instructed Grand Secretary Liu to produce this imperial edict and advise Your Majesty!"
"We hope Your Majesty will heed the late Emperor's last edict and become a wise and benevolent ruler!"