met free Chapter 853 Prime Minister? I wouldn't even be a dog!
Chapter 853 Prime Minister? I wouldn't even be a dog!
Zhu Biao was now not only sweating profusely on his forehead, but his back was also drenched in sweat.
Can my brother-in-law do what he said?
can.
It's not difficult at all.
What if it were another official?
There might not be absolutely no chance.
That's why my father went to great lengths to recruit a guard for the Eastern Palace from Ningyang County.
Li Shanchang frowned deeply, remained silent for a long while, and then let out a long sigh before saying, "So, they knew there were seven more imperial examinations, which is why there have been so many people participating in the provincial examinations in the past two years?"
"So that's why they couldn't wait to fabricate rumors that the Prince Consort was seeking fame and fortune, or even that his achievements were so great that they threatened the emperor's position, all in order to get rid of such a roadblock as the Prince Consort?"
"So, they will continue to test the waters, devising more, more covert, and more secure methods to do so, and perhaps even more audacious things?"
Yang Shaofeng glanced at Zhu Biao and sneered, "It's that simple. Your Highness is, after all, the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. How could the Eastern Palace possibly have only one Crown Princess?"
"If Your Highness does not hold a selection of concubines, then spread rumors that the Chang family's daughter is jealous and clings to the emperor's favor."
"If His Highness holds a selection of candidates, then take this opportunity to slip someone into the pool."
"If pillow talk works, great; if not, at least there are plenty of other opportunities."
Yang Shaofeng didn't say directly what kind of opportunity it was, but Zhu Biao and Li Shanchang had already thought of the possible situation that might arise next.
They poisoned Lady Chang, installed a concubine as emperor, cultivated a crown prince who was close to them, and then killed Zhu Biao as well.
Zhu Biao still felt that something was wrong.
According to the Ming Dynasty's rule of primogeniture, even if he himself died, he would still have four younger brothers.
If anything goes wrong, the second, third, fourth, and fifth sons can step in.
Even if they don't step in, are they really going to just stand by and watch their nephew be manipulated like a puppet?
When they were enfeoffed, it was agreed that they would not go to the frontier to enjoy themselves, but to shoulder the heavy responsibility of expanding the territory of the Ming Dynasty and keeping an eye on the capital.
So, they will also be targeted by those people?
The thought of the Chang family's daughter and her foolish younger brothers brought a murderous glint to Zhu Biao's face.
"Let's see if they have the guts and the ability!"
Zhu Biao grinned menacingly and said, "Brother-in-law, don't worry. If we hadn't known beforehand, it would have been fine, but now that we're on guard, those people's plans will definitely not succeed."
At this point, Zhu Biao solemnly bowed to Yang Shaofeng and said, "Thank you for your guidance, brother-in-law. If it weren't for your advice, I'm afraid I might have really fallen into their trap."
As soon as Zhu Biao finished speaking, Li Shanchang became anxious.
No, you black sesame dumpling, why do you only care about your own affairs and not about whether I live or die?
I'm curious what methods they have to kill me!
While inwardly cursing, Li Shanchang looked expectantly at Yang Shaofeng and asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, if you wish to get rid of me, what good methods do you have?"
Yang Shaofeng smiled and directly uttered three words of criticism.
"Sima Yi".
The simplest way to get rid of Li Shanchang is these three words.
The name Sima Yi seems to carry a curse; anyone associated with these three words almost always meets a bad end.
The first person associated with these three characters was Sima Yu, the eldest grandson of Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan. Sima Yan even openly praised Sima Yu as "like Emperor Xuan," comparing him to Sima Yi, who laid the foundation for the dynasty.
Then, Sima Yu was killed by his successor, Jia Nanfeng.
The second is Tan Daoji from the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. Emperor Zhongzong of the Southern Song Dynasty, Liu Yilong, who initiated the Yuanjia era of prosperity, once said to his ministers: "How can we be sure that Tan Daoji won't become like Sima Zhongda?"
Then, under Liu Yilong's deception, Tan Daoji went to Jiankang and was captured.
The third one is quite famous; he is Li Xiaojiu's uncle, Changsun Wuji.
After Li Erfeng died, Li Xiaojiu ascended to the throne. Prime Minister Xu Jingzong submitted a memorial stating, "Changsun Wuji is a treacherous villain of our time, and he is in the same boat as Wang Mang and Sima Yi."
Then, Changsun Wuji was forced to hang himself.
The fourth was Wu Sansi, Wu Zetian's nephew.
After the Shenlong Coup, Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian, who was famous in the martial arts world, was restored to the throne. Wu Sansi, who had been working hard to restore the Tang Dynasty, was given an important position. However, because he was involved in the struggle between Empress Wei and Crown Prince Li Chongjun, Li Chongjun sent people to spread rumors that "Wu Sansi is treacherous and disrupts the country, just like Sima Yi".
Then, Wu Sansi was killed by Li Chongjun during the Jinglong Coup.
Next, it's your turn, Li Shanchang.
It is said in the martial arts world that the arrow shot by Sima Yi grazed Li Jing's scalp and struck Li Shanchang right between the eyebrows.
In fact, if Li Jing had died a few days later, he would probably have been associated with those three words.
Furthermore, there was Yan Song, who also died because of this "three".
Li Shanchang was completely stunned.
Who?
I?
Li Shanchang, Sima Yi?
Damn it!
You surnamed Yang, you're a real scoundrel!
How the hell am I supposed to explain this to you?
Are you saying I'm not Sima Yi?
Li Shanchang looked directly at Zhu Biao with pleading eyes, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, your subject, your subject..."
Zhu Biao glared at Yang Shaofeng, then helped Li Shanchang up and advised, "Prime Minister Li, don't mind your brother-in-law, he did it on purpose."
Li Shanchang pondered, "I know Yang Dianfeng did it on purpose, he was deliberately retaliating against me for plotting against him."
The problem is that I have no way of proving it!
Unless I die first as a sign of respect, and the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince give their final verdict on my deathbed.
So, I have no choice but to die?
Yang Shaofeng chuckled and said, "Actually, under normal circumstances, these three words are indeed quite disgusting, and even if Prime Minister Li wanted to refute them, he would have no way to argue back."
"But things are different now."
"Our Ming Dynasty didn't have a prime minister at all."
"There is only one Grand Secretary."
Li Shanchang immediately relaxed.
To put it bluntly, it's not so much that the name Sima Yi could kill, but rather that the struggle between imperial power and the power of the prime minister could kill.
Now, the Secretariat of the Ming Dynasty has been reorganized into the Grand Secretariat, and the Chancellor has become the Grand Secretary. Not only has his power been restricted, but more importantly, the Grand Secretariat has become a coordinating and advisory body, directly avoiding the struggle between imperial power and the power of the Chancellor.
As long as the cabinet isn't foolish enough to try and compete with the emperor for imperial power, the emperor won't be foolish enough to target the cabinet.
Thinking of this, Li Shanchang couldn't help but sigh softly again.
Although Yang the Madman is a despicable scoundrel, he genuinely saved my life.
This favor must be remembered.
It's just that Yang the Madman is a bit too young.
If Yang the Madman were any more mature and composed, I would dare to abdicate and hand over the throne to a more capable person.
Grand Secretary?
Not even a dog!