After I died, the scumbag prince cried down the city wall

Chapter 141 Overstepping authority?

After properly arranging the rest of the soldiers, Cui Min led Zhang Wen and Cui Rong, and the group marched into the palace in a mighty procession.

Eunuchs holding palace lanterns led them through long corridors and finally arrived at the solemn and dignified Lizheng Hall.

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager had been sitting on the dragon throne for a long time. Their dragon robes and phoenix crowns looked even more noble under the candlelight. The three of them bowed in haste and said in unison, "Long live the Emperor, and long live the Empress Dowager."

The emperor looked at Zhang Wen with a gentle gaze, unable to hide his joy in his words: "I am very pleased to see the frequent reports of victory from the border. Deputy General Xu, you have kept Bian Tang peaceful for me. You are truly a pillar of the country and have lived up to my expectations."

"General Cui has a keen eye for talent and recommended you to lead the army. It is true that heroes emerge from the common people." The emperor's words were full of affirmation for General Cui, and he also gave high praise to Zhang Wen's bravery.

Zhang Wen answered modestly, his voice was soft but firm: "How can I be so worthy of your praise? I am willing to serve the country. This time, I not only repelled the enemy, but also captured the son of the enemy chief. The border tribes will come to Beijing to apologize soon. Everything depends on your majesty's wisdom."

The emperor nodded with satisfaction, a satisfied smile on his face: "The troubles on the border have troubled our dynasty for many years. Today we finally have a good opportunity to balance them. Deputy General Xu's contribution is indelible!"

The Queen Mother stood by with a smile on her face, and her words were full of praise: "It is a blessing for the people to have loyal ministers and generals like you guarding Bian Tang."

However, the emperor's eyes suddenly became sharp, and his words were a bit cold: "Deputy General Xu must be exhausted after the long journey. Go back to the mansion and rest first. I will send someone to pick you up and bring you and the soldiers to the palace in the evening to celebrate your great achievements."

"Withdraw." Following the emperor's order, Cui Rongrong and Cui Min exchanged a complicated look, and the three of them bowed and left together, saying in unison: "As ordered."

After leaving the Lizheng Palace, Cui Min's face looked particularly heavy. Zhang Wen saw this and asked in a low voice with a bit of uneasiness in his tone: "General, the emperor seems to be dissatisfied. Is there anything wrong with my presence in the court?"

Cui Min shook his head and explained in a low voice: "It's not your fault. I have my own opinion on this matter. You can go home and rest. I will arrange for the guards to escort you."

Although Zhang Wen was new to officialdom and did not understand the mysteries involved, he tactfully stopped asking questions and just nodded silently, thinking to himself that since it was none of his business, he would not interfere.

The three of them walked out of the palace gate and looked at Zhang Wen's back gradually disappearing into the distance surrounded by guards. Only then did Cui Min and Cui Rong get on the carriage.

Inside the car, Cui Min's tone was heavy, as if he was carrying a heavy burden: "The Emperor and the Queen Mother jointly control the government. On the surface, it seems calm, but in fact, there are undercurrents. If this situation continues, I am worried that something unexpected may happen within the court..."

Cui Rong smiled gently, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere: "I understand my father's worries, but if there was really going to be chaos, how could it have dragged on until today? Although the Queen Mother holds power, she has always taken it as her responsibility to assist the Emperor. The problem is that the Emperor does not want power to fall into others' hands, but also desires fame, which is why he is dissatisfied with the Queen Mother's frequent interference. I remember when we were at the border, the Emperor was eager for success and almost gave the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of us."

Cui Min remained silent. That past event was like a scar that still hurt.

At that time, although they defeated the enemy many times, they were actually in danger on all sides. The emperor's willful behavior almost cost the soldiers their lives.

Cui Rongrong continued, "If the Queen Mother had not become disheartened and chosen to become a Buddhist, who could have stopped the Emperor's impulse?"

She knew very well that her father was worried about the possible consequences of the power struggle between the Emperor and the Queen Mother, but the Queen Mother was not an unwise person and would never easily cause civil strife and damage her own foundation.

After all, only when the imperial court is stable can the empress dowager's position be secure.

In addition, she noticed that the emperor had not been in good spirits recently, which made her even more worried.

She decided to remind Fangfei to pay attention to the Queen Mother's food safety to prevent Song Yanyi and others from taking extreme measures out of desperation.

As the night deepened, the lights in the Linde Hall were bright, the music was melodious, and the emperor's praise for Zhang Wen and the soldiers was endless.

The eunuchs carried boxes of gold, silver and treasures into the hall. The soldiers were amazed and moved.

The emperor smiled and said, "The end of the year is approaching. You have won a victory for me. I am very happy. If you have any wishes, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to satisfy them."

Faced with the emperor's generosity, although everyone did not dare to make excessive demands, most of them expressed their desire for wealth and promotion. The emperor agreed one by one, and the scene was lively.

Cui Rongrong sat in a position where she could overlook the entire hall. She keenly captured the different expressions of Song Yanyi and Song Yanchen. Both of them seemed to be looking for opportunities to show themselves in front of the emperor.

She calmly instructed Wen Yinyang to let Song Yanchen restrain his edge, and Song Yanchen could only endure it. In contrast, Song Yanyi seemed to be waiting for an opportunity to act.

Cui Rong was secretly worried. When she saw Song Yanyi winking at someone while the guards were pouring wine, her guess became clearer.

At this moment, Song Yanyi stood up, walked slowly to the center of the hall, and bowed respectfully: "Father, I have also prepared a small gift for the soldiers to show my gratitude..."

The emperor was drunk, his eyes sparkling with joy. He opened his red lips with great interest and asked, "Yier, what kind of gift have you prepared for the warriors of Daxia? Let me hear your wonderful ideas."

Song Yanyi answered sincerely in a calm but firm tone, "After much thought, I know that although gold and silver treasures can highlight the glory of soldiers, they often find it difficult to find a place to settle down in the prosperous capital. Therefore, I took the initiative to use my own private wealth to purchase stable properties for those heroes who have made great military achievements. I hope they can serve you more loyally and without distractions."

Upon hearing this, Song Yanchen's face darkened slightly, he clenched his teeth, and there was a bit of dissatisfaction in his voice: "Your Highness is really generous, and your sympathy for the soldiers is commendable, but the matter of rewards should always be decided by my father himself. Your Highness made the decision on his own, are you trying to overstep your authority?"

The emperor's smile gradually faded, his eyes became cold, and he looked directly at Song Yanyi, waiting for him to give a reasonable explanation.

Real estate in the capital, even the most humble small courtyard house, is not something that ordinary people can easily purchase, let alone relying on occasional rewards from the palace.

Song Yanyi was not in a hurry, his face was calm, and he spoke slowly: "I know that my father is happy after the victory, but I also understand that the years of war have made the national treasury increasingly tight. Therefore, I have been planning privately, hoping to use my own savings to help my father solve his problems and reduce the pressure on the national treasury."

"I know that this action was inappropriate, and I am willing to accept the punishment from my father!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his body and fell to his knees with a plop.