eurekapd Chapter 11: Make being a prime minister a high-risk job!
Chapter 11: Make being a prime minister a high-risk job!
Make the prime minister a high-risk profession, preferably a nine-family package, so that no one dares to think about it, and then it will be natural to introduce the cabinet system!
This is what Gu Jingzhi thought.
When Song Yu threatened him, he resisted simply because he didn't want to suffer that humiliation.
In addition, the most important point is that in the feudal era, it seemed that no emperor could refuse the cabinet system, right?
After all, the conflict between imperial power and prime ministerial power has always been the most intense. Looking at Song Yu's actions, one can more or less know that her prime minister father is probably not clean. Even if he is clean, he would have been dragged down by the people around him long ago.
Once it happens, troubles will increase and the conflict between the power of the prime minister and the power of the emperor will become more and more serious.
Although Emperor Xia, a founding monarch with great talent and strategy, seemed to have some shortcomings in governing the country, he did not have any major problems in other aspects.
After the emperor and his ministers finished their conversation, before Gu Jingzhi had time to take his leave, a eunuch came to report.
"Your Majesty! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is requesting an audience outside the palace!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Di's face, which had been slightly smiling, suddenly faded. He said impatiently, "Why is he coming here at this time?"
"..."
Gu Jingzhi felt that the atmosphere was not right, it seemed...
His Majesty, the Emperor, doesn't seem to be very fond of his eldest son! Is this another curse that the founding prince will not have a good end? It's best for a mere official like me to stay out of these royal affairs.
He bowed to Emperor Xia and said, "Your Majesty has important matters to attend to. I beg Your Majesty's permission to leave!"
"Yeah! Go ahead!"
Emperor Xia waved his hand. The prince came to see him now, and the matter between the emperor and his subjects, and between father and son, was indeed not suitable for Gu Jingzhi to hear.
With the emperor's permission, Gu Jingzhi retreated cautiously.
Not long after, Gu Jingzhi left the imperial study and met the Crown Prince. Before he could greet him, the Crown Prince smiled and said, "I guess this must be the new number one scholar!"
Although it was a question, the tone was very affirmative.
Gu Jingzhi bowed to the Crown Prince and said, "Your Highness, I, Gu Jingzhi, greet you!"
"You are the new top scholar, a pillar of our Great Xia. There is no need to be so formal!"
"Your Highness! Etiquette cannot be abolished!"
Gu Jingzhi looked at the founding prince with a smile. He looked about thirty years old and had an elegant look, completely different from the domineering Emperor Xia.
The Crown Prince smiled and said, "I am in a hurry to see my father today, so I won't talk to you any more. I will discuss this with you in detail another day when I have the chance!"
"In that case, I will respectfully send His Royal Highness the Crown Prince off!"
The prince nodded and walked towards the imperial study.
Seeing this, Gu Jingzhi also followed the eunuch obediently and left the palace soon.
According to convention, newly-appointed scholars are entitled to a month's home leave. As the saying goes, if one does not return to one's hometown when one is rich and powerful, it is like walking in fine clothes at night!
However, Gu Jingzhi did not have such worries. Now that he had fallen out with the Gu family, he had no relatives to visit. It seemed that there was nothing else for him to do except return to his own little nest.
……
It’s the Song family.
Ever since Song Pu saw Emperor Xia's actions during the palace examination, he has been wary of Gu Jingzhi.
As the prime minister of the current dynasty, he naturally would not ignore what Emperor Xia was interested in. He originally planned to go to the Ministry of Rites to review Gu Jingzhi's essay after the palace examination. He also wanted to see what kind of essay it was that could make Emperor Xia stand there for half a day.
But when they arrived at the Ministry of Rites, they learned that the emperor had already issued an edict that no one dared to reveal any information about the palace examination.
With the Imperial Guard, an institution feared by all officials in the court, no matter how powerful the prime minister is, they can't go against the emperor, right?
Based on this, Song Pu became more attentive to Gu Jingzhi.
Just as Gu Jingzhi walked out of the palace gate, the palace's legal advisor came hurriedly to report.
After listening to this, Song Pu asked uncertainly, "Are you saying that Gu Jingzhi was left alone in the imperial study for questioning?"
"Yes, Lord Prime Minister!"
The master said, "According to information from the palace, His Majesty summoned him alone, without any eunuchs to serve him. He left the palace about an hour later!"
"One hour..."
Song Pu held a chess piece in his hand, his hand hovering above the chessboard. After a while, he put the chess piece back into the chess box.
"We must investigate what Gu Jingzhi wrote during the palace examination that day."
"But... Lord Prime Minister, none of us know about that essay. It seems the only ones who know about it are the chief examiner Wei Xuan and the current emperor! Now the exam paper has been submitted to His Majesty!"
The lawyer was a little embarrassed.
Wei Xuan has always been known for his integrity and strictness, and has always been at odds with Song Pu. It is impossible to get any information from him!
As for the Imperial Palace...
If you don't want to be targeted by the Inner Guard, it's better not to touch it.
The lawyer was in a dilemma. A man who looked to be in his early twenties standing behind Song Pu had a fierce look in his eyes.
"Grandfather, even Mr. Wu finds this matter difficult to handle. In my opinion, it would be better to kill Gu Jingzhi!"
"Nonsense!"
Song Pu slammed the table and scolded, "You're in the capital, a strategic location, right under the Emperor's feet. You're trying to kill yourself by assassinating an official appointed by the imperial court? Furthermore, Gu Jingzhi was only left alone by His Majesty for an hour before something happened. Do you think the inner guards are there to do nothing?"
"Do you believe that if you take someone out today, I will have to go to the prison to see you tomorrow?"
"..."
Song Qibai was scolded, but he seemed a little unconvinced: "Isn't it just a bastard who is left unattended? Grandfather, you are the head of all officials, why worry about an ant?"
"what do you know?"
Song Pu snorted coldly, "Do you think Gu Jingzhi is as simple as he seems? Even your aunt suffered at his hands! I warn you, you must not act rashly without my permission!"
"understood!"
Although he was not convinced, Song Qi also knew his grandfather's temper and now was not the time to be competitive.
Seeing him like this, Song Pu said unhappily, "Go back and read more if you have nothing to do."
Upon hearing this, Song Qi decided not to stay here. His grandfather would scold him whenever he found something wrong, leaving him no freedom at all.
After Song Qi left, Master Wu comforted him, "Prime Minister, the young master is still young. When he becomes enlightened in the future, he will surely become a dragon among men!"
"Humph!"
Song Pu snorted coldly: "That depends on whether he has the luck!"
His grandson was not good at studying, but liked to wield swords and spears. Whenever he had free time, he would run to the Ning Hou Mansion. As a result, he became as stupid as Gu Xiu.
For this reason, Song Pu was really troubled.
He had two sons and two daughters, but for some reason, in his son's generation, he had only one child, and the rest were all girls.
Therefore, Song Pu's expectations for Song Qi are really high!
But after observing Song Qi over the years, he became more and more disappointed.
Now he is the prime minister and seems to be in great glory, but the person sitting in the palace is becoming more and more dissatisfied with him and the family behind him.
He is now over sixty years old. How many more years can he stay in the court?
If he dies and there is no one to take his place, the prosperity of the Song family will probably be destroyed.