Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 83 Troubled Times
The punishments and rewards were over, and even the civil servants who had been on the side of the King of Qin were rewarded with salaries to varying degrees. The only thing that was not mentioned at the court meeting was the death of King Kang.

After clearing his throat, the King of Qin continued, "Your Majesty has ordered me to properly handle the affairs of King Kang. Considering that King Kang has no children, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Bureau will be fully responsible for handling his funeral and burying him in a good place outside the capital. As for the people in the palace, I have just said it. Although I have been on the battlefield for a long time, it was only to defend my country, not to kill, and I don't like killing."

"The people in the palace will not be implicated and will be allowed to go out and live."

"Your Highness is kind."

The King of Qin came on stage in a very strong manner, and no civil servants had any objections. After the event, the court was adjourned and military and political affairs would be discussed another day.

The military officers had their own thoughts, all of them knowing that there would be many opportunities to make meritorious contributions in the future, and that a new star was rising in the army.

……

"Left Prime Minister, please stay."

As soon as he walked out of Xuanwu Gate and onto Zhuque Street, An Jingzhong was surrounded by a group of civil servants who prevented him from getting into the sedan chair.

Glancing around, An Jingzhong frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

An imperial censor said, "Left Prime Minister, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin has just entered the Eastern Palace, and he is giving us officials a head start. Although Yue Ling has worked hard and made great contributions, he is not entitled to the title of a military officer or the assignment of a civil servant. This, this is against the rules..."

Another person beside him echoed, "The Secretariat is in charge of government affairs, the Privy Council is in charge of military affairs, and the only thing missing from the Qin Prince's drastic additions is the Metropolitan Censorate. Is your Highness clinging to power too tightly?"

"Yes yes yes..."

An Jingzhong looked at this group of censors, officials, civil and military officials who were concerned about the country and the people, and sighed, "Why didn't you stand up and speak in the palace just now? Now you are getting excited about me. If you hold your breath, go back and write memorials. What's the point of blocking me here?"

Someone clapped his hands and said anxiously, "Aren't you the head of all officials? Zuo Xiang, please think of a solution."

An Jingzhong said again: "Think of a solution? What solution? You said it so easily. Can you make His Royal Highness Prince Kang alive, or can you make the emperor recover? The prince's prestige has long been enough to enter the East Palace. It's just a few official titles. What else is there to say? The prince also promoted a vice minister to the Privy Council as a deputy envoy. Why don't you say that the prince has planted someone?"

"The current situation is turbulent, so there must be extraordinary measures. If you want to speak, then work hard to gain a good reputation, and I will burn incense for you next Qingming Festival. If you don't want to speak, then do your job honestly and don't cause trouble in the court."

After saying this, An Jingzhong pushed the crowd aside and got into the sedan chair without looking back.

"Left Prime Minister, this..."

The ministers were completely confused and didn't know what to do.

After a while, everyone came to their senses and started whispering again.

"Is the Left Prime Minister still the same Left Prime Minister who dared to speak out and argued with His Majesty in the court until his face turned red?"

"The left prime minister has achieved great success and fame, but he no longer has the edge he once had..."

"..."

……

Hall of Supreme Harmony,
All the officials left, but the King of Qin did not get up from his chair for a long time.

After taking the handkerchief and spitting out the fishy and sweet blood, he sighed and put it back into his arms.

At the right time, the great eunuch Dai Quan came back and approached the King of Qin. He bowed and said, "The ministers have all dispersed, but some of the censors have been talking a little louder, and most of them are dissatisfied with Yue Ling's entry into the court."

The King of Qin sneered and shook his head.

"You also saw it last night. Is Yue Ling's ability not worthy of being an official in the court?"

Dai Quan said, "He is more than qualified to be a general, but I don't know how he treats people. Can he get along with those civil servants who talk too much. Their reputation is their golden signboard. Your Highness has belittled this signboard, so they will certainly make trouble." King Qin said, "Of course I don't belittle the reputation, but I want to fight the northern barbarians in the battlefield, even around the capital. How can I do it without using Yue Ling, who I trust? In the war, can they use their pens to repel the enemy, or can they use their mouths to scold the northern barbarians back to the grassland? Those who talk about justice lightly will betray in the battlefield. It's good enough that they no longer collude with the northern barbarians."

"Now, we are managing the Western Regions in the west, and there are Japanese pirates invading the border in the southeast. It is not easy to move Yin Taihe to the capital. In Liaodong, there are Jianzhou Jurchens and Northern Barbarians, which are mutually supportive. It is really a troubled time right now."

The King of Qin sighed and asked, "How is Father doing?"

Dai Quan also lowered his head and sighed, "It's not optimistic. It's still the problem of the golden elixir. Long-term use will lead to addiction. It's not a poison and it has a certain effect on treating diseases. At the moment, the Imperial Hospital examined him again. After drinking the medicine, he fell asleep."

The King of Qin slowly stood up, holding the table, and said to Dai Quan, "Let's go to Kunning Palace to see our mother."

Seeing that the King of Qin's steps were a little unsteady, Dai Quan asked with concern: "Your Highness has not slept all night, why don't you go to the palace to rest? The East Palace has been tidied up, and the Crown Princess has also been brought into the palace."

King Qin shook his head and continued walking forward.

After leaving the palace gate and walking in the corridor of the palace garden, the King of Qin stopped again and asked, "Xia Shouzhong has gone to Yue Ling, right?"

Dai Quan replied, "Yes, I left soon after the court session."

The King of Qin nodded slightly and said, "Okay, you go and take care of my father, and I will go to visit my mother alone."

He walked slowly all the way to Kunning Palace. The King of Qin had not eaten since taking the medicine last night. He felt his stomach churning and had no appetite.

When they reached the palace gate, the King of Qin first asked the palace maid to go in and report, and then he followed the palace maid in.

Empress Sun was lying sick on the bed again. This scene was so familiar that it had happened not long ago.

Nothing had changed, even the medicine on the table had not changed, it was still on the table.

The maid trembled when she saw the King of Qin, and the King of Qin whispered, "Leave."

"Yes."

The palace maids seemed to be pardoned and hurried out of the room, leaving only the mother and son in the palace.

Empress Sun was really sick this time. She looked at Prince Qin with a dull look in her eyes.

He coughed lightly and asked, "Why are you here?"

The King of Qin remained silent for a long time. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "My brother tried to kill me several times, so I had no choice but to fight back."

Two tear marks fell from Empress Sun's cheeks. She was a little emotional and panted heavily, "Mother knows, mother knows everything. Mother only regrets that she didn't persuade you to reconcile earlier, until not long ago..."

Tears welled up on Empress Sun's face, and she choked up and said, "How did Dalang become like this? He was obviously very well-behaved and sensible."

"Your father, the emperor, reviews memorials all day and until late at night. How can that seat be so easy to get? Why are you fighting for it?"

With a long sigh, Empress Sun was disheartened. "Let's go. You have already got what you wanted. I, an old woman, will not be a burden to you. Maybe one day I will be one step ahead of Your Majesty."

The warm sun shone through the wooden window onto Empress Sun's face, reflecting the wrinkles on her face.

Overnight, it seemed as if all his energy had been drained away, and his eyes were lifeless.

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(End of this chapter)