CHAPTER 460: CHAPTER 460: COUNTERATTACK (PART 1)

Emperor Taihe sighed deeply, "Do you think I haven’t thought about it? Between the two of them, who can truly bear the responsibility of Prime Minister?"

"Minister Li is unwilling to offend anyone, and likes to muddle through things. He neither has effective methods nor capable confidants. If he were promoted to Prime Minister, the other five chief ministers would not be pleased."

"Minister Ji is straightforward and stubborn, to the point of showing a long face even to me when he gets angry. His popularity is mediocre in court, and he is not fit to be a Prime Minister either."

The Da Liang Chancellor must withstand the Emperor’s pressure from above and manage the civil and military officials below, be familiar with all Da Liang officials, and adept at handling political affairs. If someone could easily replace Prime Minister Wang, why would he have tolerated Prime Minister Wang’s arrogance for so long?

Thinking of this, Emperor Taihe sighed again and lowered his voice, "It’s a pity, Zixian, you are still young and have been in the officialdom for only two years. After another twenty or thirty years of tempering, gaining experience and connections, I will be able to entrust you with the position of Prime Minister."

Prime Minister Wang became Da Liang’s Chancellor at the age of forty. By this standard, Zheng Chen would have to endure for at least a dozen or twenty more years.

He simply doesn’t have the patience to wait that long!

The current Da Liang is like a giant tree with rotten roots, parts that should be drastically pruned, such as Prime Minister Wang’s faction. Unfortunately, the young Emperor Taihe lacks such courage and vision. His actions are gradually becoming like those of the previous Emperor Taikang...

Zheng Chen’s mind raced with thoughts, yet his face revealed nothing, and he responded softly, "Your Majesty places great expectations on me; I understand it well. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will diligently learn to handle political affairs and strive to relieve Your Majesty’s burden as soon as possible."

Emperor Taihe eased his brow and smiled, about to speak, when Eunuch Ge suddenly entered with a strange expression to report, "Your Majesty, something has happened at Jingyang Palace!"

Emperor Taihe was startled and rose abruptly, "What about Grand Empress Dowager?"

Zheng Chen’s heart sank, and he quickly looked at Eunuch Ge.

The true foundation of the Zheng family lies in Jingyang Palace, in Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. At this crucial moment of dealing with Prime Minister Wang’s faction, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng must not be endangered.

Usually brisk, Eunuch Ge was uncharacteristically awkward today, stammering, "Grand Empress Dowager has no issues; the ones in trouble are Eunuch Lan and Eunuch Xiao Yuan."

Zheng Chen’s heart sank once more.

Eunuch Lan was recommended by the Zheng family into the palace a few years ago, and Eunuch Xiao Yuan entered last year, both secretly selected handsome young men by the Zheng family to serve the Grand Empress Dowager... the underlying intrigue, unknown to others, was well known to him.

Emperor Taihe’s brows were nearly knotted, and his tone became stern, "What exactly happened? Speak frankly and don’t hesitate any longer."

Eunuch Ge did not look at Zheng Chen’s expression, and reported with his head lowered, "Your Majesty, during the cleansing room’s inspection this year, it was found that Eunuch Lan was not properly castrated, and neither was Eunuch Xiao Yuan."

Emperor Taihe: "..."

It is well-known that eunuchs must be castrated before entering the palace. Castrated eunuchs, being neither male nor female, would not disrupt the inner court with inappropriate behavior.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had been widowed for a decade, surrounding herself with a few young and handsome eunuchs. Such a harmless indulgence, no one dared to gossip about. Emperor Taihe, being her eldest grandson, was aware but never spoke of it.

Now, suddenly, this undignified matter was exposed in the cleansing room, pointing directly at the Grand Empress Dowager in Jingyang Palace, no wonder Emperor Taihe looked upset.

"Eunuch Xiao Yuan hasn’t been in the palace long, but Eunuch Lan has been here for several years." Emperor Taihe’s eyes were full of anger, though his voice was extremely low, "The cleansing room conducts inspections every year, why was this discovered only this year?"

Eunuch Ge lowered his head to the point it almost touched his chest and replied, "The chief eunuch in charge of the cleansing room suddenly fell ill a few days ago and was moved out of the palace to recuperate. Vice Director Wei has temporarily taken over the cleansing room. Careful and meticulous as ever, Mr. Wei personally conducted this year’s eunuch inspection, unexpectedly uncovering this issue."

The original chief eunuch of the cleansing room was personally promoted by the Grand Empress Dowager and had a close relationship with the Zheng family. Therefore, Eunuch Lan and Eunuch Xiao Yuan were always ’problem-free.’

Now suddenly replaced by Mr. Wei, Eunuch Lan and Eunuch Xiao Yuan were immediately found to be improperly castrated. This incident slapped the faces of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and the Zheng family father and son heavily.

Zheng Chen endured anger and embarrassment and spoke up, "Your Majesty, I will go to Jingyang Palace immediately to see what’s happening."

Emperor Taihe did not stop him, "Very well, go and see how the Grand Empress Dowager is doing on my behalf, and reassure her. I will resolve this matter promptly."

Zheng Chen bowed and withdrew.

As soon as Zheng Chen left, Emperor Taihe’s expression suddenly turned grim.

He loathes the domineering Prime Minister Wang who holds all power, and is deeply wary of the Zheng family. The Zheng family, leveraging the Grand Empress Dowager’s influence, has been garnering support in the court, with their reach extending even into the palace...

At that moment, the words from his cousin Jiang Shaohua’s frequent letters—"Beware of those around you"—sprang vividly to mind.

Eunuch Ge hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Please forgive the servant’s forwardness, Your Majesty. Mr. Wei has already had Eunuch Lan and Eunuch Xiao Yuan properly castrated in the presence of dozens of witnesses. Keeping this matter concealed entirely may not be easy."

A darkness flashed in the Emperor’s eyes, and he snorted, "Investigate carefully, whose man this Mr. Wei really is."

To pop up at such a time naturally leads to unsavory speculations.

Eunuch Ge replied in a low voice.

...

Inside Jingyang Palace, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was in a towering rage.

By the time Zheng Chen arrived at Jingyang Palace, Mr. Wei from the cleansing room had been beaten half to death, barely clinging to life.

Zheng Chen’s brow twitched as he hurried forward to comfort and restrain, "Please calm your anger, Grand Empress Dowager. Surely someone has instigated this from behind the scenes; we must investigate thoroughly first."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng angrily replied, "Indeed, it must be thoroughly investigated; however, this vile servant cannot be kept. I will have him flogged to death, to show everyone in the palace the fate of traitorous servants."

"Do not stop! Keep beating!"

With a command from Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, the military eunuchs in charge of execution immediately obeyed, vigorously swinging their heavy wooden sticks. After a few strokes, Mr. Wei made no more sound or movement.

Zheng Chen was also very angry. The matter, not yet clarified, led to Mr. Wei’s death by flogging; this along with the issue of Eunuch Lan and Eunuch Xiao Yuan’s improper castration being spread, one doesn’t know just how many rumors will arise.

Women are just women, impulsive and reckless, lacking calmness in handling matters. Even broad-minded, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng at her age was making such childish mistakes.

Of course, these thoughts Zheng Chen could only silently grumble in his heart and could not utter a single word aloud. Instead, he had to follow Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s lead and curse Mr. Wei.

As Mr. Wei’s body was hauled away, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s anger had yet to dissipate, and she coldly declared, "I have already sent Zhao Chunming to investigate. I must see who is so bold as to cause this chaos behind the scenes!"