HCB Chapter 351 The Queen Mother's Question
Chapter 351 The Queen Mother's Question
The Queen Mother looked at the people in the banquet hall, smiled and waved her hand.
"Please take a seat, gentlemen. Today is the prince's celebration banquet. I was delayed by something and am late! I hope you can forgive me."
"Your Majesty, we are terrified."
Everyone was terrified.
The Queen Mother raised her voice and asked Emperor Kun,
"Emperor, tonight is the celebration banquet for the crown prince. Although I am old, I am not deaf, am I?"
"You heard me right, Queen Mother."
Emperor Kun replied with a smile. In public, both mother and son addressed each other as the emperor and the queen mother.
The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction, looked at everyone, and said slowly,
"Oh? I didn't even know when the Crown Prince's celebration banquet turned into an impeachment banquet against the Crown Prince?
Besides, what was the big deal? The royal family's little family affair was magnified and turned into a national event.
I want to ask you, my dear ministers, did the prince kill people or set fire to the country? Or did he bring disaster to the country and the people? How could you let the ministers take this opportunity to condemn him?"
*
When the Queen Mother said this, she looked at the people in the hall who were in perfect silence and she laughed.
Then he said word by word,
"You two are silent. Does that mean I am acquiescing that none of you are guilty? Since the prince is not an unforgivable person, and tonight is a celebration banquet for him.
My dear ministers, you are all wise people. Which is more important, the prince's previous mistake or today's celebration of saving the country and the people? "
The questions from the Empress Dowager struck hard on the hearts of the ministers and their families.
The various factions have different positions in their fight, but they are united on issues of justice and principle.
The ministers were silent.
*
The Queen Mother looked around with her cloudy eyes and then said slowly,
"I am not boasting. Your Highness's contribution to saving the people of Jiangnan this time is greater than heaven. All previous mistakes can be made up for.
All of you are scholars. It is recorded in history books that there was an epidemic in the previous dynasty, and in just a few days, the ground was covered with piles of corpses.
That disaster affected everyone, regardless of their social status. The population of the previous dynasty, which was already in dire straits, suddenly dropped by more than half.
It was a nightmarish disaster that I don’t need to describe in detail. You must have been terrified after seeing it.
History repeats itself. Unexpectedly, not long ago, such an epidemic broke out in Jiangnan City of Daliang.
In order to protect the people of Daliang from the devastation and spread of the epidemic and to avoid the loss of lives, the prince risked his own life.
What were you doing at that time? There was constant singing and dancing, and it was a peaceful scene.
It is the prince who is protecting you from disaster!
The epidemic was prevented from spreading and affecting other parts of the capital.
The prince in Jiangnan City worked day and night with the imperial doctors in the Imperial Hospital to treat the epidemic. Finally, they developed an antidote and saved the dying people. The epidemic was contained.
This one great achievement of the prince alone deserves the admiration of all of you.
However, the prince hadn't had a chance to catch his breath.
This winter, Daliang suffered more than one disaster. People in the south were hit by extremely cold weather that occurs rarely in a century.
They were already suffering from hunger and cold, lack of food and clothing, and the days were even worse, making it increasingly difficult to survive.
It was our Daliang's crown prince who, despite being seriously ill and on the verge of death, tried every possible way to ensure that the common people in the city had food to eat and warm clothes to keep out the cold, so that the people could recuperate.
However, the prince was exhausted and passed out, refusing to take a single drop of water. The imperial doctors were helpless.
When my good grandson's life or death was in danger, did you ever think about his hard work? "
*
When the Empress Dowager said this, her cloudy eyes glanced at everyone present, and finally fixed her gaze on Geng Yanguan.
Facing the gaze of the Empress Dowager, Censor Geng felt a strong sense of oppression.
This little old man, who had always been ruthless and dared to swear to the sky, drooped his eyelids in guilt.
He had to admit that everything the Queen Mother said was true. Had he gone too far?
Censor Geng fell into deep self-doubt.
Then I heard the Queen Mother continue to say,
"Please open your eyes and take a good look at my grandson. How thin has your crown prince become now?
I am not here to plead for the prince, but to speak up for him and feel wronged for him."
The old yet truthful words silenced the entire banquet hall.
When everyone felt that their behavior just now was indeed too much and blamed themselves.
*
At this time, there was another report from outside the door.
"Prince Kang has arrived."
A fat old man in his seventies with a pale face, no beard, walked in, supported by two people.
Emperor Kun saw that it was none other than his uncle, Prince Kang.
And no one noticed that the eyes of Prince Kang and Prime Minister Xiao met in an instant.
Prince Kang walked tremblingly to Emperor Kun and bowed,
"Your Majesty, I request to play the game."
Emperor Kun said respectfully,
"Uncle, please speak."
“Your Majesty, I also admire the Crown Prince and am proud to have such an outstanding Crown Prince.
But the rules set by our ancestors cannot be violated. It is said in the ancestral precepts that royal children are not allowed to take prostitutes as concubines.
However, His Royal Highness violated this rule. Judging from the facts, it was not excessive for Censor Geng to impeach the Crown Prince.
There is a saying that goes, if a prince breaks the law, he is punished just like a commoner.
If it's wrong, it's wrong. Don't talk about merits outweighing faults. Rewards and punishments are clearly defined, this is the system that the late emperor has always believed in."
The Queen Mother's face turned cold as soon as she saw him coming.
*
At this time, the prince, who had been silent all this time, bowed to Emperor Kun and said,
"Father, I am willing to be punished. I will take all the blame. I beg you to show some leniency and spare Concubine Fang for the sake of our two children."
Prince Kang was displeased when he heard this, and pointed at the prince and rebuked him,
"Your Highness, this is disrespectful to your ancestors. This behavior is really inappropriate."
Everyone chose to remain silent after hearing this. Everyone knew that this old Prince Kang was a troublemaker and anyone who provoked him would be in trouble.
Didn’t you see that the Queen Mother frowned and kept silent when she saw him?!
*
At this time, Emperor Kun said to Prince Kang,
"Please take a seat, old uncle. All my dear ministers, please take a seat!"
Everyone was very discerning and took their seats, waiting with bated breath for the emperor's next step.
Emperor Kun said to everyone in the palace,
"My dear ministers, you may not know that this is indeed a family matter. Since the prince has touched my bottom line, it is only natural that he should be punished.
When the Crown Prince asked me to let Concubine Fang enter the palace, I refused, which is why this brat behaved so recklessly.
Hehehe… Speaking of which, the prince’s behavior was indeed inappropriate. But looking at this matter from the other side, the prince is a man who values friendship and loyalty.
As for the ancestral teachings of our ancestors, I think that special circumstances should be treated specially! What do you think, my dear ministers? "
**