CHAPTER 459: CHAPTER 459: WANG FAMILY (PART 2)

Prime Minister Wang remained silent, staring intently at his son.

Wang Jin’s expression changed unpredictably, his eyes revealing struggle and pain. After a long time, he whispered: "We must save him, that’s certain. It’s not hard to save Big Brother’s life, but continuing to serve as Governor of Jiangnan is absolutely impossible."

Prime Minister Wang’s expression softened slightly: "At least you still have some sense of brotherhood. You haven’t been completely blinded by power."

The human heart is indeed peculiar. Prime Minister Wang, selfish and greedy, would do anything for power and dominance, yet when it came to his own sons, he wished for deep fraternal bonds and mutual support.

Wang Jin, a secretary, was constantly torn between loyalty and filial piety, always in pain and struggle, known only to himself.

Seeing his father’s approving look, Wang Jin didn’t know how to feel. After a moment of silence, he asked: "Father, what do you plan to do?"

Once the anger subsided, Prime Minister Wang calmed down: "According to court rules, officials jointly impeached should come to the Capital City to meet the Emperor and defend themselves."

"I’ll write to your brother immediately, telling him to plead guilty honestly, and not to stir up any more trouble. At most, he’ll lose his position and pay some silver to save his life and settle down for a few years. Later, he can seek reinstatement, just like Zuo Feng, a treasured sword temporarily sheathed, always with a chance to return."

"You don’t need to handle this, nor speak on behalf of your brother before the Emperor. Let the Zheng family revel in their moment for a while."

Detecting an odd tone, Wang Jin raised his head: "Father, how do you plan to counterattack?"

Prime Minister Wang sneered repeatedly: "The Zheng family, relying on the Grand Empress Dowager, has been jumping around the court. Now growing bolder, even reaching into our territory. If I don’t show them something, they might truly believe the world belongs to the Zheng Family."

"The Wang Family has your incompetent elder brother! Does the Zheng family have no useless descendants? Is the palace truly clean? Just wait and see!"

These few short sentences revealed a fierce and bloody struggle.

Wang Jin listened with a pounding heart, wanting to say something, but upon seeing his father’s icy and dark expression, he swallowed it back silently.

...

The next day, Prime Minister Wang personally submitted a memorial, acknowledging his failure in teaching his son, and requesting to resign from his position as Prime Minister.

Emperor Taihe firmly refused, comforting Prime Minister Wang with kind words.

Prime Minister Wang wept tearfully, performed a grand rite of kneeling before the ministers, and returned to the Prince Mansion, shutting himself away.

Minister Zhang, Minister Zhou, Minister Dai, and others took turns visiting the Prince Mansion to console him, but were all met with closed doors. Emperor Taihe dispatched Eunuch Ge to comfort Prime Minister Wang, and he was the only one admitted for an audience.

After returning to the palace, Eunuch Ge reported: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wang is overwhelmed with guilt over his eldest son’s corruption, and fell ill upon returning home. When I saw Prime Minister Wang, he looked extremely haggard and weak, barely able to speak."

"Prime Minister Wang asked me to convey to Your Majesty that he feels old and dim-witted, a failure as a parent, and now deeply ill. He asks Your Majesty to select another capable minister to be Prime Minister."

Emperor Taihe frowned: "A Prime Minister of the state cannot be replaced so easily. Governor Wang’s embezzlement and bribery cannot be unpunished by me. However, it will not implicate the Wang family; there’s no need for Prime Minister Wang to blame himself excessively."

"Go to the Prince Mansion now, and convey my words to Prime Minister Wang. Let him rest and recover, and return to court as soon as possible."

Eunuch Ge dutifully ran back and forth. After no more than two hours, he returned to report: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wang is grateful for Your Majesty’s immense grace, saying he will definitely recover and serve well to repay Your Majesty’s kindness."

Only then did Emperor Taihe finally breathe a sigh of relief.

This sigh, however, came too early.

Prime Minister Wang’s illness dragged on for more than half a month without improvement.

With state affairs piled high, Emperor Taihe spent every night reviewing memorials until late at night. Every document required his personal judgment, both major and minor matters needed his decision. Normally, only significant memorials would be presented at court, lesser affairs usually handled by Prime Minister Wang, never needing to reach court.

It was at times like this that the importance of Prime Minister Wang became apparent.

With Prime Minister Wang ill, Emperor Taihe’s workload more than tripled, feeling incredibly overwhelmed. Several secretaries accompanied the Emperor every day, frequently discussing state affairs.

Li Boyuan, bold and carefree, lacked meticulousness. Jiang Yi got a headache just seeing the memorials, mostly serving tea, presenting food and preparing the night meal.

Wang Jin and Zheng Chen both had their perspectives, but their political views differed, leading to constant arguments. Sometimes instead of relieving the Emperor’s burdens, they increased his worries.

"Wang She Ren, you need not attend to me any longer." Emperor Taihe, unable to bear it, finally spoke to Wang Jin: "Return home to care for your father; return to court when he recovers."

Wang Jin respectfully replied: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness on behalf of my father. However, my father has long instructed me to serve diligently and relieve Your Majesty’s burdens. My father isn’t in serious trouble, merely aged, troubled, and weak, needing time to recuperate."

How long would this recovery take?

A Prime Minister of the state, feigning illness to shirk responsibilities. Isn’t this forcing him, the Emperor, to concede and pardon Wang Yi, who has already been escorted to the Capital City?

Emperor Taihe, filled with frustration, couldn’t express a word. Thus, he felt even more stifled.

Zheng Chen suggested privately: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wang is merely pretending to be ill, trying to compel Your Majesty. You must hold firm and not lightly pardon Wang Yi!"

"Wang Yi is guilty of massive embezzlement and bribery, with conclusive evidence. Your Majesty can deal with him justly, severing one of Prime Minister Wang’s legs. Even if he returns to court, he will lack confidence to dominate the court again."

Emperor Taihe glanced at Zheng Chen: "You speak so easily. If I severely deal with Wang Yi, leaving Prime Minister Wang humiliated, what if the Prime Minister insists on resigning to retire? Who could replace him in court?"

Despite his confidence, Zheng Chen dared not utter the words "I can replace him."

The Da Liang Chancellor is the head of all officials, requiring proficiency in governance, familiarity with forty states and three hundred counties, and strong support from subordinate officials and disciples to secure the position and maintain court stability.

Currently, his age and credentials were significant disadvantages. The Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction officials recognize the Grand Empress Dowager and Duke An, not the seventeen-year-old Zheng Sheren.

"Among the Six Ministers, we can promote a civil servant to replace Prime Minister Wang." Zheng Chen whispered: "Ministers Zhang, Dai, and Zhou are in league with Prime Minister Wang, we can choose between Minister Ji and Minister Li."

Minister Ji is the father of the late Empress Ji, Minister Li is Consort Li’s biological father.

One is the Emperor’s titular grandfather, the other his bloodline maternal grandfather. No matter who becomes Prime Minister, it’s beneficial to Emperor Taihe.