Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5074 Resignation in the Palace
The ministers looked at the two people arguing with each other and found the situation somewhat unexpected.

The Minister of the Central Secretariat is honest and upright, so he should not agree with your majesty's move to promote concubines above their ranks; although Liu Xiangdao is the Imperial Censor, he has always been regarded as your majesty's "henchman", so he should be on the same front with your majesty and give his full support...

Now the situation has completely reversed, which is really eye-catching.

Liu Li accused foreign officials of interfering in the harem, saying that whether to promote a concubine was a family affair of His Majesty and His Majesty could decide on its own; Liu Xiangdao accused the royal family of having no private affairs and that even if a concubine was promoted, she should follow the rules and not jump the level, otherwise it would break the rules and cause endless troubles, and even affect public opinion in the court and the country.

They were all well-read scholars with profound learning. They argued with each other in the court, citing classics and speaking eloquently. For a while, they were evenly matched and it was difficult to tell who was better.

Li Chengqian, who was sitting on the throne, had an extremely grim look on his face, because of Liu Xiangdao's "betrayal", the situation was showing signs of getting out of control.

Restraining his anger, he patted the table in front of him, and the two people who were arguing immediately shut up, bowed, and took a step back.

Li Chengqian pointed at Fang Jun and asked, "What does the Duke of Yue have to say about this?"

Fang Jun stood up, stepped out of the line, and bowed to the ground.

He straightened up and said slowly, "Your Majesty, I think this is absolutely not feasible."

The court became increasingly silent.

Li Chengqian's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly, "Tell me about it."

"Here!"

Fang Jun agreed, but did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask, if you confer the title of Zhaoyi to Concubine Shen today, then if Concubine Shen gives birth to a child tomorrow, will you confer the title of Concubine Shen?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a swarm of flies seemed to fly into the hall where one could hear a pin drop. A buzzing sound suddenly appeared. The ministers stared at each other, whispering and discussing among themselves.

People in the court and the public had various reasons for opposing the promotion of Zhaoyi, but there was only one reason for agreeing with it - only by keeping the Eastern Palace unstable could they seek benefits by taking advantage of the situation.

Today, the East Palace team is stable and outsiders cannot get involved at all. They are all firmly controlled by Fang Jun and his party. It can be imagined that when the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, these ministers in the palace will definitely be used. How can outsiders not be jealous?
Since the Eastern Palace can't get involved, wouldn't everyone have a chance if we change the crown prince?
As for Liu Li, he was just speculating...

Everyone can realize that His Majesty's purpose in promoting Concubine Shen is to promote her to the position of concubine after the birth of a prince in the future, or even go a step further and directly confer the title of noble concubine on her, competing with the queen and gaining a higher status for the unborn prince.

How should Your Majesty respond to Fang Jun’s questions?

Li Chengqian had a gloomy face, and the veins on his temples were twisted and distorted like earthworms, but he was a little far away from the ministers and the light in the hall was a little dim, so no one saw him.

But Wang De, who was sitting behind the throne, saw it all clearly and was terrified, worrying about Fang Jun.

When a common man gets angry, blood splatters five steps away; when the emperor gets angry, blood flows like a river...

Although Fang Jun would not be killed and could not be killed, the emperor's wrath was not so easy to withstand.

Facing Fang Jun's aggressive and unyielding gaze, Li Chengqian suppressed his anger, gritted his teeth, and said slowly: "Who can know what will happen in the future? But if Concubine Shen really gave birth to a prince, it would be a great contribution to the country, and it would be natural for her to be promoted again. Besides, whether it's Concubine Shen or Concubine Zhaoyi, they are all my wives and concubines. Don't I have the final say in my family affairs?"

Fang Jun smiled, his white teeth gleaming coldly under the candlelight on both sides of the hall: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, holding the sun and the moon in your hands, and rich in the world. Your Majesty is the world, and the world is Your Majesty, so there is no private matter in the royal family!"

After a pause, he continued, "If Your Majesty wants to reward Concubine Shen for giving birth to a prince, that's fine, but now she's just pregnant, and you think she's made contributions to the country and should be promoted. If she gives birth to a prince in the future, it will be even more of a contribution to the country, and she should be promoted... How can one thing be counted as two contributions?"

Li Chengqian has always known that Fang Jun looks honest but is actually very eloquent. Thinking back to the time when he was attacked and impeached by all the civil and military officials in the court, he was still able to engage in a debate and fight against the crowd alone. How could he be his opponent?

Listen, when the national policy was formulated, it was said that "the world does not belong to one family or one surname, but to all people in the world", and now it is said that "the emperor is the world, and the royal family has no private affairs". He can say both positive and negative words, and whatever he says is reasonable.

Double standard dog!
So he didn't bother with Fang Jun about these trivial matters, and said in a deep voice: "I was appointed by heaven to rule the empire, but I have never been lazy for a moment. I work hard day and night, and I vow to pass on the beautiful mountains and rivers conquered by Emperor Taizong for thousands of years with you, my beloved ministers, and make this glorious era last forever, so that all the people in the world can get something for their labor, have a place to rely on when they are old, and have a place to take care of their children! In the harem, there have been no beauties for a long time. How many emperors in the past dynasties are as diligent and self-disciplined as me?"

The ministers fell silent.

In terms of personal morality, Li Chengqian was indeed rare. Although he held supreme power in the world, he did not indulge in wine, sex and pleasure. Instead, he worked hard and diligently on government affairs. This alone was enough to crush many emperors.

Impeccable.

Li Chengqian's emotions were fully brewing. He slammed the table hard, his eyes gleaming with anger and his face livid. "Now, I am just promoting a pregnant concubine to Zhaoyi, and you ministers are so angry, as if I have done something unforgivable! In your eyes, do you still regard me as the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, as your sovereign?!"

These words are full of accusations and heart-wrenching words!

As the king of a country, he was forced to such a point by his subjects, enduring anger and humiliation, and feeling extremely grief-stricken. How many emperors in history have suffered such bullying?

"Your Majesty, please calm down!"

All the civil and military officials in the hall confessed their crimes, stood up from their seats and knelt on the ground.

However, there was still one person standing out in the hall.

Li Chengqian glared at Fang Jun.

You really won't give me any face or back down even a step?!
Fang Jun bowed and saluted to the ground: "Your Majesty, please promise that no matter whether Concubine Shen gives birth to a prince in the future, she will only be promoted to Zhaoyi. Otherwise, I cannot obey your order!"

The officials were in an uproar.

How many powerful ministers in ancient times could bully the emperor and oppress the imperial power like this? !

How audacious!

Is it true that his political career and life are so tied to the East Palace?
On the throne, Li Chengqian's face turned from blue to red, he was filled with rage and anger, his hands were tightly grasping the corners of the table, his knuckles were white and veins were bulging, he wished he could draw out a sword and jump off the throne, to kill this beast in the Tai Chi Hall!

"Captain, be careful! Do you know what you are doing?!"

Liu Li hurried forward.

Fang Jun ignored him and looked directly at Li Chengqian behind the throne: "There is no two suns in the sky, no two masters in a country, and the same is true for the harem and the East Palace. The succession of the clan and the laws of the ancestors have been passed down for thousands of years for their own reasons. How can they be changed or abolished at will? Your Majesty is now the ruler of the world and speaks the law of heaven, but have you forgotten the evil of the turmoil in the throne and the shaking of the country's foundation in the past?"

Li Chengqian said in a cold tone: "I have never said anything about changing the crown prince, nor have I ever thought of doing so. The commander's words are slanderous."

Fang Jun knelt on the ground, took off the fu hat on his head and put it aside, bowing his head and saying, "If so, I am indeed a humble minister who judges others with my own heart, and I cannot avoid the blame. However, Your Majesty, please remember what I said today, and do not let the foundation of the country be shaken, and the country be in turmoil, causing the vitality of the empire to be damaged by this inner palace power struggle."

After saying this, he bowed his head again and said, "I, your humble servant, would like to resign from my official position and retire."

The ministers looked at each other in disbelief.

With Fang Jun's current power, status, and qualifications, even if he pressed Your Majesty aggressively in this Taiji Hall, Your Majesty would be furious but unable to do anything about him. After all, Fang Jun's starting point was to prepare for a rainy day and protect the East Palace, which was politically correct.

No matter what, Li Chengqian did not dare to admit that he had the intention of changing the crown prince.

However, Fang Jun expressed his loyalty by resigning from his post, thus saving Li Chengqian's face...

He is the Shangshu Pushe, the pinnacle of officialdom and power!

I don't know how many officials have spent their entire lives without ever being able to become a prime minister...

Are you really going to quit just like that? !

Or retreat to advance?

Everyone's eyes turned to Li Chengqian, waiting for the emperor's judgment.