Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

From behind the pearl curtain, Empress Dowager Shi's voice echoed, calm and composed, yet carrying an undeniable majesty: "My dear ministers, do you have anything to report?"

Before he finished speaking, Right Prime Minister Shi Jinchao stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a steady and clear voice, instantly attracting everyone's attention: "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Taifu, please speak." The voice behind the bead curtain remained steady.

Shi Jinchao stood up, pulled out a thick stack of memorials from his sleeve, and held them high in his hands. His expression was extremely solemn, even with a hint of pain at being misunderstood:

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the system of 'Vagrant Prince Assessment' was originally established by the late Emperor to rectify the administration of officials, inspect the localities, and ensure the smooth implementation of the imperial decrees. It is a matter of great responsibility to the country!" He spoke in a resounding tone, setting the tone of righteousness for the topic.

Then, the conversation suddenly changed, becoming sad and indignant:

"However, now that this law has been implemented, it seems to have distorted its meaning! It has turned into an endless stream of attacks and struggles between certain vassal princes and the imperial court! What's worse," he suddenly raised his voice, his eyes sweeping across several important figures of the Left Prime Minister's faction in the hall, finally resting on Zhao Mingcheng for a moment, with a strong accusation, "some vassal princes have actually slandered me, an old minister, in their memorials... and are plotting a rebellion!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar! The word "treason" was like a spark thrown into boiling oil! The officials gasped and looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock and horror. Shi Jinchao thrust the stack of memorials in his hand forward heavily, as if holding a thousand-pound boulder:

"The Empress Dowager is wise! Your Majesty is wise! Such nonsense is the biggest joke in the world! I am an old minister with a utmost loyalty, which is commendable to heaven and earth! These... are the memorials written by the princes from all over the country to impeach me, slander and frame me! Please have a look at them, Empress Dowager and Your Majesty!" In his speech, he was extremely humble, and regarded himself as a loyal minister who had been victimized, but every word he said pushed the princes to the opposite side of "resisting the court" and "framing loyal and good people."

Just as the atmosphere in the hall reached its peak of solemnity, a chuckle, tinged with obvious mockery, rang out. Left Prime Minister Zhao Mingcheng, stroking his beard, leisurely took a half-step forward, a half-smile plastered on his face as he squinted at Shi Jinchao. "Haha... that's a really accurate accusation!" He deliberately dragged out his words, then his tone suddenly sharpened. "From what you're saying, Grand Tutor Shi... it seems those princes who defend the region and protect the imperial family aren't dissatisfied with the assessments, but... are harboring rebellious intentions?" His words, like adding fuel to the fire, directly highlighted and amplified Shi Jinchao's implicit meaning, equating "vassal princes' dissatisfaction with the assessments" with "vassal princes' rebellious intentions"!

"Prime Minister Zhao is wrong!" Shi Jinchao's face darkened and he was about to refute.

However, how could the officials of Zhao Mingcheng's faction miss this opportunity? An imperial censor dressed in a deep crimson robe immediately stepped out and pointed his finger at Shi Jinchao in a loud voice:

"Grandmaster Shi! If the court's inappropriate actions, the forced implementation of the so-called 'assessment', exacerbate conflicts, and ultimately lead to chaos and war everywhere... then you, Grandmaster... will have truly made an **unprecedented contribution** to this country!"

How could Shi Jinchao and his party sit idly by? A minister of the Ministry of Revenue, dressed in a scarlet robe, immediately stepped forward and spoke in an urgent and forceful voice:

"Report to the Empress Dowager! Your Majesty! What the Left Prime Minister and Censor Zhang said is alarmist and a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater!" He turned towards the pearl curtain and said in an earnest tone, "Weakening the feudal lords and strengthening the central government is the will of the late emperor and the only way to consolidate the foundation of the country! Now the feudal lords are getting too powerful and difficult to get rid of. They pretend to obey the orders of the court but secretly disobey them. If the court does nothing and just condones and accommodates them, it will only encourage their arrogance! If this continues, it will become a serious concern, and the situation will be truly out of control! The proposal to weaken the feudal lords is imminent!" He spoke fiercely, regarded the feudal lords as the biggest threat, and insisted that they must be tough.

"Imminent? Humph!" A purple-robed, fierce-looking general from the Left Prime Minister's faction could no longer contain himself. He strode out of the ranks and spoke in a voice as resounding as a bell, with the typical bluntness of a general:

"Minister Wang, that's easy to say! If the vassal kings are pushed to the limit, they'll rise up in rebellion! What can the court do to resist? Last year, Hebei suffered a severe drought, leaving thousands of miles of land barren and refugees everywhere. Disasters continue! The barbarians in the northern border are ambitious and are preparing their troops, watching with eager eyes! Once rebellion breaks out in the vassal states, foreign invaders will surely take advantage of the opportunity to invade! May I ask Minister Wang, Grand Tutor Shi," he glanced at Prime Minister Shi and his followers, "will you go to the front lines to defend against the enemy? Or will you go to the disaster areas to provide relief and comfort the refugees? And who will resist these internal and external troubles?!"

The general's question was like a heavy hammer hitting a drum, instantly detonating the entire court!

"Yes! Hebei Province is in ruins, and there's not enough money and food for disaster relief. How can we support the war to reduce the feudal lords?"

"Although the prince has overstepped the bounds of propriety, he is still of royal blood. How can we use force lightly? We should prioritize appeasement!"

"Appease? If we continue to appease them, will the vassal kings still have the imperial court in their eyes? Taxes are not paid, soldiers are recruited on their own, what's the difference between them and a country within a country?"

"Reducing the power of the feudal lords must be done gradually! If you act too hastily, there will be backlash! Does Grand Tutor Shi want to follow the example of Chao Cuo? (Chao Cuo was killed for triggering the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms due to the reduction of the power of the feudal lords)"

"Hmph! I think some people are afraid of the power of the vassal kings and are willing to speak up for them, disregarding the laws of the imperial court!"

Civil officials and military commanders, each arguing with their own views, cite classic texts and attack each other. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, previously solemn and dignified, instantly transformed into a raucous marketplace! Purple and crimson robes mingled, spit flew, faces flushed. Those who supported the reduction of the feudal system spoke passionately, lamenting the drawbacks of the feudal system; those who opposed it, worried, spoke of internal and external troubles and the dangers of the country. Both sides engaged in a fierce exchange of words, each refusing to yield, the voices rising higher and higher. Atop the nine golden steps, the young emperor, startled by the sudden and heated exchange, blanched in the face and instinctively shrank back toward the pearl curtain. Behind the curtain, Empress Dowager Shi remained seated, silent, her expression unnoticed.

After a while.

Empress Dowager Shi's voice was filled with inquiry as she turned her attention to Zhao Mingcheng, who had been silent for a moment. "Central Commander, I would like to hear your opinion."

Zhao Mingcheng stepped forward and bowed, his posture respectful, yet his tone carried undeniable weight. "Your Majesty, I have always believed that the reduction of the feudal lords was premature. The obstacles involved are complex and intertwined, and even a single move could affect the entire system." He paused, glanced up at Shi Jinchao, and added slowly, "If I were to speak frankly... I'm afraid I would be unfair and draw criticism."

"That's all right!" The voice behind the pearl curtain said firmly, "The Central Command is the pillar of the country, so feel free to speak! Your Majesty and I will make the decision."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager." Zhao Mingcheng straightened his back, his eyes sweeping across the courtiers in the hall. His voice was steady and clear: "This old minister believes that although the princes of the Celestial Empire each control important cities, their power is still insufficient to shake the foundation of the central government. The real hidden danger of the court lies not outside the barriers, but within the people! If this disaster is not eliminated, it will be like an ant hole under the dam. Over time, it will accumulate and may lead to the danger of the dam collapsing!"

His words were like a thunderbolt, instantly overshadowing the previous argument about reducing the power of the feudal lords. The hall was once again filled with an irrepressible murmur of discussion, and the officials looked at each other in confusion, wondering what the old prime minister was up to.

Shi Jinchao frowned and immediately asked, his voice filled with caution: "What does the Central Command mean by this? What are the hidden dangers among the people?"

"Both natural and man-made disasters are hidden dangers," Zhao Mingcheng replied calmly. "Natural disasters are unpredictable and beyond human control. Man-made disasters, however, can be prevented, controlled, and cured!" A gleam flashed in his eyes, and from the sleeves of his wide purple robe, he solemnly pulled out a plainly bound memorial. "This old minister has here a memorial from Gaoyang County, Yunzhou, Hedong Province. The description of 'man-made disasters' it describes is shocking and directly points to the foundation of the country! Your Majesty and the Queen Mother, please take a look!"

Before he finished speaking, the prepared attendants of the Palace Front Office sprang into action. Copies of the pre-transcribed memorials were quickly presented to the young emperor and Empress Dowager Shi behind the pearl curtain. More copies were respectfully distributed to every high-ranking official in the palace.

Empress Dowager Shi unfolded the memorial in her hand, glanced at the first few lines, frowned slightly, and said softly, "It's quite long." There was a barely perceptible solemnity in her tone.

Zhao Mingcheng immediately chimed in, his voice filled with admiration, as if he had discovered a gem in the rough. "Your Majesty, astutely discernible! This memorial, titled 'Chen Shi Shu,' was painstakingly written by Gaoyang County Magistrate Zhang Qi (Zhang Jingwei)! Even this veteran, upon first reading it, was astounded! The clarity of its structure, the depth of its analysis, and the sheer volume of its supporting evidence are truly rare! To make it easier to read, our colleagues in the Ministry of Personnel used large swathes of vermilion to highlight its essence!"

"Zhang Qi?" The voice behind the beaded curtain was tinged with doubt. "This name... sounds familiar."

At this moment, the young emperor Li Yan, who had been trying hard to remain seated, suddenly brightened up when he heard the words "Zhang Qi" and "Gao Yang"! He could no longer suppress his excitement and suddenly jumped up from the large dragon throne. His small body trembled slightly with excitement. He pointed in the direction of Zhao Mingcheng and blurted out in his clear childish voice:

"Is it Zhang Qi from 'Drunkenly Capturing the Tiger General'? Is it Zhang Jingwei?! Is it the Zhang Qi who single-handedly broke into the tiger's den and captured Han Ye alive?!" The little emperor's face was full of admiration and yearning, as if he had heard the name of his idol.

"Your Majesty!" Queen Mother Shi's voice, slightly reproachful but still commanding, came from behind the pearl curtain. "Behave yourself!"

The little emperor was irritated by the voice, as if he was poured with a basin of cold water. His face fell, he stuck out his tongue, and quickly sat back on the dragon throne, but his big eyes were still staring brightly at Zhao Mingcheng and the memorial.

Zhao Mingcheng chuckled inwardly, but maintained a respectful expression. "Your Majesty is absolutely right. It's that Zhang Jingwei." He then turned to the pearl curtain, his tone turning grave and passionate. "This memorial, 'Chen Shi Shu,' is written with blood and tears, exposing our dynasty's inadequate control of 'Wu Shi San'! This stone poison has become a thorn in the flesh, spreading like a scourge! Local authorities have repeatedly banned it, but what is the root cause? This memorial provides a penetrating analysis! The harm is far more severe than war. I, an old minister, beg Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager with tears in my eyes to issue an imperial decree, sweeping the hole with thunder and lightning, and saving the people of the world from the sea of ​​suffering caused by stone poison!"

Even as Zhao Mingcheng was making his impassioned speech, the ministers in the hall, who had received copies of the memorial, were already eagerly flipping through it. Shi Jinchao's eyes darted across the memorial. Initially, he seemed unimpressed, but the more he read, the more serious his expression grew, his brow furrowed ever tighter, and the fingers holding the memorial even trembled slightly. When he read the detailed descriptions of the source of stone medicine, the punishment of stone dealers, government oversight, and management, a chill instantly crept up his spine, giving him goosebumps! He jerked his head up, his face filled with disbelief and shock: "This...this...this memorial is so interconnected and penetrating...Brilliant! Truly brilliant! This...this really came from the hands of a mere county magistrate?!" His voice was distorted with shock.

However, someone within Shi Jinchao's group immediately grasped crucial information! An imperial censor stepped forward, his voice sharply pointed at Zhang Jingwei himself: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I have a suspicion! As far as I know, this chess piece is the son of the criminal merchant Zhang Lian! His father's crimes are so grievous, I'm sure you colleagues still remember them clearly! How could the son of such a criminal be allowed to ascend to the throne and hold an official position? This is a serious oversight by the Ministry of Personnel! I implore Your Majesty to immediately issue an order severely punishing the Ministry of Personnel for their dereliction of duty! And to dismiss this chess piece and investigate!"

This accusation was like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, striking directly at the vital point! The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense again, and everyone's eyes were cast on the Minister of Personnel and the person behind the pearl curtain.

"Minister of Personnel!" Empress Dowager Shi's voice suddenly turned cold behind the pearl curtain, carrying an unquestionable majesty, "Is this true?!"

Cold sweat instantly broke out on the Minister of Personnel's forehead. He hurriedly stepped out of the line, speechless for a moment: "Uh... this... Your Majesty, please allow me to report..." He was obviously not fully aware of Zhang Qi's background.

At this moment, Li Mu, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel (Li Can's father), stepped forward quickly, holding a file in his hand, his voice clear and steady: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother! Here is the Ministry of Personnel's file! After immediate verification by this humble official, Zhang Qi is indeed the son of Zhang Lian. However, when Zhang Lian was convicted, Zhang Qi had already married into the Huangfu family of Yunzhou! According to our dynasty's "Household Law" and "Ministry of Personnel Selection Rules", the crime does not extend to married sons, let alone those who marry into another family! Zhang Qi was recommended as a "filial and honest" by the Yunzhou prefect as the son-in-law of the Huangfu family. His identity, resume, and performance are all spotless and in compliance with the law! His entry into officialdom is based on the law and does not hinder the system! The Ministry of Personnel acts in accordance with the law, so how can there be any negligence?!" Li Mu's words were clear and well-organized, with citations from classics and a resounding voice, which instantly refuted the censor's accusations.

Shi Jinchao looked at the armor in Li Mu's hand, then glanced at Zhao Mingcheng's calm expression, and instantly understood. He took a deep breath, quickly weighed the pros and cons, and immediately put on an expression of deep understanding and concern for the country and the people. He said loudly:

"Since Zhang Qi's identity is indeed beyond doubt, the matters discussed in this memorial to the emperor regarding stone medicine concern the country and the people's livelihood and cannot be delayed any longer! I, Shi Jinchao, second the request of the Central Government!" He turned to the pearl curtain and spoke earnestly, "Firstly, if this memorial is implemented, we can thoroughly investigate the harm caused by stone medicine, cleanse the filth, and relieve the suffering of the people! Secondly, if the proposal in the memorial is followed and stone medicine is brought under national unified control and monopoly, it will not only cut off the source of private refining, but also bring a considerable amount of income to the national treasury! Thirdly, this move will not hinder the proper use of stone medicine in the hands of good doctors to save lives! It is truly a good plan that kills three birds with one stone! I earnestly ask the Queen Mother and Your Majesty to make a wise decision!"

Shi Jinchao's words not only went with the flow, but also cleverly pointed out the huge benefits brought by "state monopoly" and catered to the possible thoughts of the empress dowager.

There was a moment's silence behind the beaded curtain. It was clear that Empress Dowager Shi was also rapidly weighing the pros and cons. Finally, the majestic voice sounded again, with a decisive tone:

"Yes. What the Central Commander and the Grand Tutor said is very much in line with my wishes. The implementation of this memorial will indeed benefit the country and the people." Her voice sank, with an unquestionable tone of decree:

"Central Command!"

"I'm here!" Zhao Mingcheng bowed and replied.

"Draft an imperial edict immediately! Issue an imperial decree to the entire nation, fully implementing the policy outlined in the 'Chen Shi Shu'! Strictly investigate the illegal refining of stone medicines, and severely punish those who sell stone powder! Establish a 'Medicine and Stone Supervisory Office' to oversee the mining, control, official operation, and medicinal use of stone medicines! Directly under the Central Government! We must eradicate this cancer at its root!"

"Your Majesty—I obey!" Zhao Mingcheng's resonant voice echoed through the hall, carrying with it a subtle hint of triumph. The court storm sparked by Chen Shi's memorial finally came to a close with thunderous force. At the center of the storm—Zhang Jingwei, far away in Gaoyang, Yunzhou—was unaware of the turbulent waves his name and his memorial had unleashed in the heart of the empire.