mtlumby2d Chapter 377 The Great Hall Shows Its Power
Chapter 377 The Great Hall Shows Its Power
"Okay, you can handle this matter."
With Yan Yu's words, the heavy burden on Shen Tianjiao's heart finally fell to the ground.
In fact, Shen Tianjiao has never felt at peace since Qiu Tong and Zuo Beichen left.
It's not that she doesn't trust Qiu Tong and Zuo Beichen's abilities, she is worried that the jackals, tigers and leopards along the way will cause Qiu Tong and Zuo Beichen to encounter something unexpected because they covet their money and horses.
Now that she has Yan Yu, she can finally put her mind at ease.
"When you return to the Northern Frontier, you must be careful and never underestimate the enemy. Only by being careful can you be safe and sound."
Shen Tianjiao cherishes the relationship between her and Yan Yu that she lost and regained. She doesn't want to lose it and is even more afraid of losing it again.
"I understand." Yan Yu's mood was actually the same as Shen Tianjiao's. In the past, he could charge into battle fearlessly without fear of death, but now he needs to think twice before doing anything.
"Master, it's settled." The person who came in this time was Chunchao, who had just been sent out by Shen Tianjiao to do something.
"Okay, let's go. The stage is set up and it's time for the show to begin."
After a short rest, Shen Tianjiao has recovered her spirit and is now ready to fight with high morale.
When Yan Yu followed Shen Tianjiao, he silently took out a soft mask from his arms and put it on his face.
He is now a military general sent out to the capital, and he cannot return to the capital without an imperial edict. His return this time was originally secret, and he could not even let others know his itinerary, let alone let others see his true face.
If his true face was seen by others, not only would he be held accountable, but Shen Tianjiao would also inevitably be impeached by the censor.
When Shen Tianjiao's sedan chair arrived at Zhenghe Hall, all the civil and military officials except Wang Yunzhi were present.
Shen Tianjiao was still sitting behind the curtain, looking coldly at the court officials outside.
After a long while, she finally spoke: "I suddenly called you all here today. I think you all know what happened."
"Today, Zhang Ping, Marquis of Yunyang, came to the harem with the golden medal of immunity from death bestowed by Emperor Taizu. He said that because of my meddling in government affairs, a natural disaster had struck Shangjing City."
"Since Zhang Ping has come to the palace to cause trouble, whether he is causing trouble in the harem or in the front court, this is a matter of state."
"So I invite you all to come together and listen to what Zhang Ping has to say, so that we can discuss how to convict him."
As soon as Shen Tianjiao said this, the court officials knew that today not only Yunyang Marquis Zhang Ping, but the entire Yunyang Marquis Mansion would be in danger.
However, no one can be blamed for what happened today. If anyone is to blame, it is only Zhang Ping himself. Relying on the golden medal of immunity from death in his hand, he usually acts arrogantly in Shangjing, but today he even dared to run to the palace to make trouble.
Now, among all the noble families in the capital, everyone knows that the Queen is not someone they can afford to offend, but Zhang Ping is so blind that he insists on pulling the tiger's beard. Who will die if he doesn't do that?
However, among these court officials, there were also those who followed Li Chaohui with Zhang Ping. Others could ignore Zhang Ping, but they could not stay out of it after all.
They had to defend Zhang Ping in front of Shen Tianjiao. Otherwise, without Zhang Ping as a shield, wouldn't they be in trouble soon?
Looking at the court officials whispering to each other below, Shen Tianjiao ordered, "Come here, bring Zhang Ping and his accomplices up here."
At Shen Tianjiao's command, someone immediately brought up Zhang Ping and the people with him.
But before Shen Tianjiao could speak again, a eunuch came running in hurriedly from outside.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the eunuchs. Normally, eunuchs were not qualified to come and go in Zhenghe Hall. The fact that they could come here and walk in such a hurry meant that something big must have happened.
"Your Majesty, the City Patrol discovered a drunk and troublesome person in a tavern during their routine inspection today."
"He claimed to be the personal servant of Marquis Yunyang, and his name was Pan Si."
"The City Patrol conducted a routine interrogation of him. He, he,..."
The eunuch lowered his head and dared not say anything more.
"If there's anything you can't say, say it!"
Shen Tianjiao's voice came from behind the curtain. Although the volume was not loud, it revealed a terrifying aura of majesty.
"Yes." The eunuch prostrated himself on the ground and said, "According to Pan Si, a great plague is about to break out in the capital."
As soon as the eunuch's words came out, they immediately caused an uproar in the hall. The court officials, who had just dared to discuss in low voices, now started to shout loudly.
"Silence! No loud noises are allowed in the hall!" The eunuch standing next to Shen Tianjiao saw the court officials in the hall making such loud noises and immediately spoke out to stop them.
The hall quickly fell silent, and only Shen Tianjiao could be heard asking, "Shangjing City is about to suffer a plague. How did a mere servant like him know about this? Could it be that he has special abilities and can predict future events?"
"To answer the Queen, this man has no special abilities. He is just a servant, a servant who only knows how to flatter and lead a life of drunkenness and debauchery."
"He dares to speak so arrogantly because the plague that is about to come is not a natural disaster but a man-made disaster."
"And this isn't a plague. It's a poisonous powder someone has planted. Once someone inhales this poisonous powder, they'll develop symptoms similar to the plague. Not only is it contagious, but they'll also have a persistent high fever and eventually burn to death."
"And the person who did this was his master and the master behind his master."
"In order to frame you, the Empress, they colluded with the people of Nanchu, taking advantage of their proficiency in poison. They spread this poison powder throughout Shangjing City, endangering our Yunli kingdom."
"I beg the Queen to see clearly and bring those evildoers to justice. Don't let them do whatever they want on my land of Yunli and commit such heinous crimes."
After the eunuch finished speaking this time, the entire Zhenghe Hall was silent as if no one was there.
These court officials knew very well that if what the eunuch said was true, then the person who did this must be Li Chaohui.
This woman's ambition is so strong that she will never give up until she sits on the throne.
However, if she wants to realize her ambition, many people will have to sacrifice their lives. From this perspective, the Queen is more suitable to govern Yunli than her because she is good at winning over the world.
It was at this moment that some court officials who were still wavering and wondering where to stand abandoned Li Chaohui and joined Shen Tianjiao's camp.
"Empress, I am wronged. I am truly wronged. Please forgive me."
Zhang Ping, who had been frightened by the eunuch's words, finally reacted after being reminded by his accomplice and began to speak up for himself.
"Humph! Unjust? I'd like to ask you, how have you been wronged?"
Shen Tianjiao's aura was fully released at this time. She completely forgot about the injury on her foot. She stood up, lifted the curtain and walked outside.
"I'm asking you if Pan Si is a servant in your house?"
"Since he is a servant in your house, if these things are not true, how did he know them and spread them around?"
"Zhang Ping, even if you're stupid, at least be smart, okay? If you didn't handle this personally, how did these people around you know about it?"
"Don't think I know nothing. You and Li Zhaohui have been colluding for a long time, intending to join her in the rebellion. This should be the beginning of your first step, right?"
Shen Tianjiao no longer hid it. Li Chaohui was a taboo in the court. Originally, Shen Tianjiao was unwilling to mention her until she was completely settled with the authorities.
But what Li Chaohui did this time was really too much. Her secret communication with foreigners has endangered Yun Li's safety. Shen Tianjiao doesn't want to fight with her behind her back anymore. Shen Tianjiao wants to formally declare war on her face to face!
"This woman is truly a completely deranged lunatic! In order to escape Anguo Temple that day, she even ordered people to burn it down, resulting in the tragic deaths of hundreds of civilians."
"The Emperor, mindful of the many years of hardship she endured in Anguo Temple, did not pursue her guilt further and instead appeased and compensated the people."
"But a wolf is a wolf after all. Her bloodthirsty and vicious nature can never be changed."
"She has now dared to do such a despicable and vicious thing for the throne. If I continue to let her do as she pleases, I'm afraid the Yunli Kingdom will really be destroyed."
"If anyone dares to plead for her or say a word in front of me today, don't blame me for dismissing him from office on the spot, confiscating his property, and exiling his entire family to Lingnan. His descendants will never be allowed to serve in the imperial court."
Shen Tianjiao's words were so domineering that they directly blocked Li Chaohui's way in the court and silenced her supporters.
He will no longer come out to find excuses to exonerate Li Zhaohui and affect Shen Tianjiao's progress in dealing with Li Zhaohui.
None of the court officials present were fools. Even Li Chaohui's supporters knew that it was useless to plead for Li Chaohui at this time.
It will only bring them bad luck and make them suffer. The best choice now is to shut up and say nothing.
Seeing that all the court officials were silent, Shen Tianjiao asked, "Where is the Jingjiwei Patrol Officer?"
"I, Pei Jian, the patrol officer of the capital, am here."
Pei Jian, the nominated patrol commander of the Capital Guard, immediately stepped out and stood up, waiting for Shen Tianjiao's order.
"I order you to bring your men and detain Li Zhaohui in her residence immediately. No one is allowed to enter or leave."
"Also, order the patrol battalion to cooperate with you. Close all the city gates and hunt down those people from Nanchu. Don't let any of them go."
"Your Majesty, Pei Jian obeys your orders!"
After receiving the order, Pei Jian turned around and went out to do his job without waiting for Shen Tianjiao's further instructions.
"Minister of Revenue Mingsu, I order you to personally lead your men to the Imperial Medical Bureau to assist them in identifying the civilians who have been poisoned in Shangjing City and isolate them until the Imperial Medical Bureau can produce the antidote."
"Also, close all shops in the capital, prohibit private gatherings, and have everyone stay home quietly until the Imperial Medical Bureau distributes the antidote."
"Minister, Mingsu accepts your order."
The matter was of great importance, and Mingsu, the Minister of Revenue who had always been polite and law-abiding, did not care about etiquette. He received the order and turned to leave.
Before Shen Tianjiao could arrange the next things, suddenly the court judge Lu Yan stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
Shen Tianjiao looked up at Lu Yan. She knew that Lu Yan was Wang Yunzhi's man and was promoted by Wang Yunzhi.
I just don't know what important matters Lord Lu has to report at this time.
"Go ahead."
"Your Majesty, I have something very important to report to you."
"The Prime Minister was recently accompanying his wife to the Huguo Temple to fulfill a vow when they were attacked by bandits. Both he and his wife were seriously injured."
"Last night the Prime Minister sent someone to tell me that the origins of those who attacked him have been investigated."
"In addition to Li Zhaohui's people, there are also people from the Su family."
"I have reported this matter to Her Majesty the Queen today. Please make the decision on how to handle it."
After hearing Lu Yan's words, the court officials suddenly realized. No wonder they always felt that something was missing in the Zhenghe Hall today. Now they realized that it was because Prime Minister Wang was not there.
It is true that I haven't seen Prime Minister Wang for several days. I only knew that he had taken leave to recuperate at home, but I didn't expect that he was attacked and injured, and the people who injured him were Li Chaohui and the Su family.
Isn't Prime Minister Wang Li Zhaohui's man? Why would Li Zhaohui send someone to attack him? When did these two people break up?
The court officials were filled with doubts and murmured in their hearts that what happened today was really too brain-straining, and that the melon they had eaten was a little too big to digest.
"Oh, there is such a thing?" Shen Tianjiao frowned. "In that case, Lord Lu should start investigating this matter."
Shen Tianjiao understood that Wang Yunzhi must have known in advance about the changes in Shangjing, so he deliberately arranged for Lu Yan to tell everyone in the court about his assassination at this time.
Wang Yunzhi did this to show that he no longer had any relationship with Li Chaohui, and also to tell the court officials whose camp he was on now.
When the court officials do their work, they should also carefully consider what they should do next.
"Yes, your servant Lu Yan will obey your orders."
Lu Yan stood up and left. This had never happened before in the court. Three ministers were ordered to go on missions at the same time.
It seems that Yun Li’s court is really going to change.
At this time, none of the ministers spoke, and everyone lowered their heads, thinking about their own things.
Seeing that the court officials were all keeping their heads down and keeping silent, Shen Tianjiao knew that what had just happened had given them a great shock. However, it was also a good thing, as it was a good opportunity for them to think carefully about their future path.