cabinet first lady

Chapter 99 Entering the Palace to Face the Holy Spirit
Shen Weiqing's cold voice ruthlessly pierced through the remaining trace of charm, and brought all hidden crises and problems to the table.

They can have such an enviable position, high position and weight, it can be said that they have fought for their lives.The ups and downs of the officialdom have killed too many people, just like a big wave washes the sand, it is very difficult for those who can really stay. How can anyone not cherish what they got in exchange?So as long as they are in this position and in the court, it will never be possible.

Seeing Shen Wei's firm tone, as if he had seen through and analyzed everything, including him, Yin Ji raised his eyebrows, and said with a rare emotion in his tone: "Master Shen, maybe it's because we are all I have been in a high position for too long, and this turbulent court is the most test of careful thinking, which requires patience and patience, so we all have the illusion that we can see everything through. However, breaking away from these The human heart is the most variable thing besides conspiracies and schemes. People like us who are accustomed to being calm and rational will never be able to analyze it.” After speaking, there was a trace of emotion in his frivolous voice, as if he was mocking Shen Wei, It seems to be mocking themselves, or laughing at many people like them.

People's hearts are the biggest variable.

Because of this sentence, Shen Wei's heart moved slightly, and he frowned unconsciously.

She subconsciously guessed the deep meaning behind Yin Ji's words, an idea quickly passed through her mind, and was immediately denied by her, as quickly as a fleeting shadow.Whatever he was trying to say, now is not the time to talk about it.

There was still a hot feeling on his lips from being kissed by him, obviously it had been a while, but now the feeling was clearer than before, making Shen Wei's heart beat fast again.She looked at Yin Ji, met his voice-filled eyes, quickly moved away and said, "I still have a lot of things to deal with, so I'm leaving first. Don't delay, the victory or defeat depends on tomorrow."

Knowing that he really had business to do, Yin Ji did not keep her roguely.He nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will naturally have no problems here."

As a woman, Shen Wei is more talented, courageous, and strategic than many men in the world. She has such a high starting point, a cabinet scholar, and a minister of the Ministry of Rites. How many men in the world are able to accompany him?She used to feel that apart from Zhang Anyi, there was no other man who could catch her eyes, but before she knew it, someone broke in frivolously in another way.

Yin Ji experienced great changes in his life experience when he was young, and his brothers and sisters ruthlessly plotted and calculated. His heart was already cold. He admired a woman like Ruan Muyang. Shen Wei, a woman disguised as a man, wandered around the court.

At this moment, the touch in their hearts can't be told to anyone, just like standing in a pale ice and snow field for more than ten years, they have gotten used to this barrenness, and they are ready to stay in this terrible tranquility forever, in this tranquility. When Li died alone, he suddenly met another person who was in a similar situation to his own. The feeling of finding him in the crowd and meeting him suddenly can only be experienced by personal experience.

Seeing Shen Wei leave, Yin Ji's eyes softened.

The human heart is always inestimable and calculating, and it is the most unknown variable.Just like when Jiang Hanyun knew that he would die and impeached Luo Jie, like when Luo Yu married Jiang Hanyun and found out that he didn't like her, but he was unwilling to give up anyway, but in the end he became discouraged and had no business. The father who died unjustly and the Shen family were rehabilitated. Shen Wei, a weak woman, did not hesitate to commit the crime of deceiving the emperor. She disguised herself as a man and stepped into this court that only belonged to men...

Knowing that you can't do it, but doing it, is the human heart.

Although such a variable may seem inconspicuous at the time, it has changed the fate of many people in the dark.

In this turbulent court where you live and die, it is precisely because of these variables that always appear inadvertently that these calm superiors live with flesh and blood.Only with reverence for people can we always be invincible, otherwise, we will be like Luo Jie.

In the early morning of the second day, Ruan Muyang got up under the service of enamel and red glaze, had breakfast and took the medicine prescribed by the doctor, and solemnly changed into the court clothes of Mrs. Yipin Gaoming.

From Imperial Order to Yipin Imperial Order, this journey has been going on for many years and has experienced many adventures. This is the first time she has worn such awe-inspiring clothes.Because of the hard work of the past few days, her face was always pale, but her exhaustion was covered by this solemn dress.

She is going to the palace today to face the saint.

"Ma'am, it's done." The enamel and red glaze seemed to be overwhelmed by this luxury, and they were very quiet all the time, with solemn expressions.

The tranquility she has accumulated over the years is even more obvious against the backdrop of this complicated and bright court dress from Cong Yipin. It is so elegant and dignified that people dare not look directly at it. Even if she is pregnant, her bulging stomach will not be affected at all. The grace and dignity that the first lady of the cabinet should have.

Fang Fang stood behind Ruan Muyang, looking at her from the bronze mirror, her eyes were inexplicably sore.She's actually not an excitable person.She and Dian Cui followed Ruan Muyang from the Ruan Mansion, they saw how hard her young lady had at first, and knew how difficult it is to be here today.

"Do you want to use some powder to improve your complexion?" She suppressed her surging emotions and asked.

Ruan Muyang looked at himself in the bronze mirror, shook his head and said, "That's it."

It's good to be a little pale and haggard.

She has experienced so many things in this life, but she has never had the opportunity to step into the court.She didn't expect that she would have such an opportunity to appear in front of the Holy Master and the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty as a courtier's wife.

She caressed her protruding belly with her hands, her eyes were full of tenderness.After today, Zhang Anyi and Zhang Qingshi will be able to come back, and in less than three months, the child in her belly will be born.Slowly, she raised her head to look at the bronze mirror, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, the tenderness in her eyes slowly disappeared, replaced by a stormy scene, and that charming and unparalleled face was even more serene.

It's today, and she will unveil the biggest show since Emperor Yuan ascended the throne in the six years of Xinde.

Mo Jian walked in and said respectfully, "Madam, the carriage is ready."

"Okay." Ruan Muyang stood up.

Hearing that Ruan Muyang was going to enter the palace to face the saint today, members of the Zhang family had their own reactions.It has been many days, and Zhang Anyi and Zhang Qingshi have not been found yet, probably because of an accident.The servants couldn't bear it when they saw the second young lady with her back straight and her stomach puffed out.

"Father, mother, second uncle and second aunt, I'm going." Ruan Muyang's voice was calm.

Zhang Ji said: "Today we must report Yin Ji, a treacherous minister, in front of the Holy One."

Ruan Muyang just nodded indifferently, without speaking.

At the end of June in the sixth year of Xinde, the weather was muggy.Fortunately, the hall was spacious and cool, so that the ministers wearing complicated court clothes would not faint.

This morning, it seems that there is no difference from usual, but there are a few people who know that something big will happen today, and their hearts are heavy.

Zhang Anyi, the chief assistant of the dynasty and the auxiliary minister appointed by the first emperor, was assassinated and disappeared for six days, and there is still no news, which is naturally the biggest thing at the moment.

"Is there still no news about Zhang Ge and his son?" Emperor Yuan asked.

The people in Shuntian Mansion and Wucheng Military Command Department were all panicked.Strange to say, the entire outskirts of Beijing had to be searched, but no one was found.

"Go back to the emperor, not yet." Shuntian Fu Yin knelt down and said.

Emperor Yuan said dissatisfiedly: "Trash!"

Everyone knelt down and said in unison: "The emperor calm down."

Behind the bead curtain, Queen Mother Qiu curled her lips soundlessly.

"Your Majesty!" Shen Wei's voice sounded, and when the officials were quiet, her voice was very abrupt.

Emperor Yuan frowned: "What's the matter with Shen Aiqing?" In the eyes of others, Emperor Yuan had begun to alienate Shen Wei.

Shen Wei knelt down and said: "Mr. Zhang Ge disappeared for six days, obviously he was killed by a traitor. Mr. Zhang Ge was a minister of the three dynasties, and he was highly regarded by the late emperor. Now he has disappeared for no apparent reason, and he has never been caught. His people are really chilling for the government and the public. Not to mention that his five-year-old child was killed together with Mr. Zhang Ge. His wife is now seven months pregnant but has to go through such a thing. The emperor should return Mr. Zhang Ge. One is fair." As she spoke, she looked at Yin Ji who was standing aside.

What she said meant something, all pointing to Yin Ji.

Dissatisfied on the young Emperor Yuan's face, he asked: "There is no evidence, and no one has been found, how can I uphold justice?"

Shen Wei raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, Mrs. Zhang is waiting outside the palace at this moment, she wants to enter the palace to meet the Holy Majesty in person, and beg the Emperor to uphold justice for the Zhang family."

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar.

This means that Zhang Anyi's wife, Ruan Shi, is going to sue the imperial court!This has never happened in this dynasty.

At this time, Yin Ji said: "Your Majesty, it is probably not in accordance with the rules for a woman to go to court."

Shen Wei sneered and said: "Mrs. Zhang is an imperial lady, she has a salary and a rank, so why not go to court?"

He clearly knew that Shen Wei was acting, but Yin Ji felt that her sonorous and indifferent appearance was not pretending, as if she really had a lot of dissatisfaction with him.Publicly avenging his personal revenge, but he had no way to retaliate, Yin Ji raised his eyebrows secretly.

Shen Wei paused and asked: "The son of Mr. Zhang Ge who disappeared together is Mr. Yin's adoptive son. Why? Should Mr. Yin not be worried about the safety of his adoptive son? Why did you speak out to stop him? Are you really guilty?" Every sentence of hers was very sharp, pointing at Yin Ji like a sharp knife.

"Shen Wei! Presumptuous!" Emperor Yuan shouted.

Shen Weichao and Yin Ji snorted coldly and stopped talking.

"Your Majesty, how can there be women in this court? It is really inappropriate for Mrs. Zhang to come here." Most of the people who did not support it were those old-fashioned and stubborn censors.

On the contrary, the Queen Mother Qiu's people remained silent all along, as if they were sitting on a mountain watching a tiger fight.

"Your Majesty." Ruan Zhongling stood up, "I implore the Emperor to allow Mrs. Zhang to meet the Holy Majesty." Ruan Zhongling was naturally on his daughter's side.Two days ago, he received a letter from Ruan Muyang, and only then did he know that Zhang Anyi and Zhang Qingshi were both safe and sound.However, he was always worried and disagreed with the matter of Ruan Muyang going to the court with his stomach full.

But so far there is no other way.

Those who agreed with Ruan Muyang's visit were all on Zhang Anyi's side, and of course some were moved with compassion.

So the officials began to quarrel.

Empress Dowager Qiu, who had been watching everything behind the bead curtain, had a flash of pride in her eyes, and said, "Your Majesty, Ai's family has also had some contact with Mrs. Zhang. Now the whereabouts of Zhang Ge's old father and son are unknown. Mrs. Zhang is pregnant. It's not easy. If she has any grievances, let her go to the court and talk about it."

Although the Queen Mother Qiu is strong, she rarely speaks when facing the officials and ministers in the court.

This time, she felt that victory was in sight.When Emperor Ling passed away, Empress Dowager Qiu cooperated with Ruan Muyang, so she naturally knew that Ruan Muyang was not an ordinary woman.Since she chose to face the saint, she must have been prepared, so why didn't she help her, except Yin Ji?

Queen Mother Qiu expressed her attitude, and the officials of her faction would naturally look at the direction of the wind and speak for Ruan Muyang one after another.

Suddenly, the direction of the wind in the middle turned to one side.

In the end, Emperor Yuan hesitated for a while, and finally said: "Xuan Ruan."

Ruan Muyang waited outside the palace for a long time.She was wearing imperial imperial attire, and she already felt heavy on her body, but as the sun slowly came up, sweat came out of her forehead.

She gritted her teeth and persisted, and finally waited until someone came out to announce her.

"Madam Zhang, please." The guard who came out to take her in was very respectful.

Ruan Muyang hooked his lips: "Thank you."

"Mr. Ruan is here."

Following the notification, everyone looked outside.

Under the eyes of civil and military officials, Ruan Muyang walked in step by step steadily, his back straightened, and a dignified and solemn expression appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty, my wife, long live my emperor." Although it was inconvenient to move around while pregnant, Ruan Muyang's movements were still graceful, without showing a trace of clumsiness.

"Madam Zhang, get up." Emperor Yuan said.

Ruan Muyang raised his head, straightened up but didn't get up.She looked at Emperor Yuan respectfully and said: "Your Majesty, the reason for your majesty's boldness is to sue the person who intends to murder my husband and my child." Among them, the voice was extremely firm.

Her complexion was already a little pale, and after standing outside for so long, she looked even more haggard than before. This is exactly what showed her forbearance, making people look at her. Unbearably moved, my heart was shaken.

After all, it is the first imperial wife of this dynasty, after all, it is Mrs. Zhang Ge's wife. She is not very old. Under such circumstances, she still does not appear flustered, neither humble nor overbearing, noble and elegant.She gave people the impression that she did not come to this court to beg the mercy of the Holy One, but came here to seek justice!
As a woman, the Queen Mother Qiu behind the bead curtain couldn't help but want to applaud Ruan Muyang when she saw it.Such an imposing manner, such a posture is too easy to resonate with people, but how can the teenage Yuan Emperor stand up to it?She had a premonition that she would succeed today.

Sure enough, Emperor Yuan said, "Who is Mrs. Zhang suing?"

Civil and military officials looked at Ruan Muyang who was kneeling in the middle.They feel the answer is obvious.

Ruan Muyang's heart sank, he stabilized his breath, his eyes were firm, and he said clearly: "Back to the emperor, what I want to sue is Qiu Lin, the Prime Minister of Shuntian Mansion, the assassin ordered by him!"

What she wants to sue is not Yin Ji, a scholar of the cabinet and secretary of the household department, but Qiu Lin, the younger brother of the Empress Dowager Qiu, the Prime Minister of Shuntian Mansion!

Everyone heard what she said.This sudden reversal was surprising and there was an uproar.

The smile on Empress Dowager Qiu's face froze like a victor, and was caught off guard, replaced by a deep frown of eyebrows.She suddenly had a premonition that she had fallen into a big trap.

It turns out her hunch was correct.

Qiu Lin, whose name was called, froze for a while, then knelt down in a panic and said, "Your Majesty, I have been wronged." Before he realized why he was the one who was suddenly reported.

Emperor Yuan, who knew everything in advance, looked at Qiu Lin calmly and said, "Oh? What wronged Mr. Qiu?"

Qiu Lin looked at Ruan Muyang, and said with cruelty in his eyes: "She has no evidence at all, she speaks without proof, and she spouts blood!"

In the Qiu family's faction who realized that the situation was wrong, those who responded quickly chimed in and said, "Your Majesty, if Mrs. Zhang can't produce evidence, she will frame the court order."

With the first person taking the lead, others soon followed suit.

Facing the doubts and intimidation from the officials of Qiu's faction, Ruan Muyang remained unmoved, without any fear or nervousness, and his face was calm.She has experienced many thrilling moments, each of which is as thrilling as it is now.Queen Mother Qiu and the others were caught off guard, and they were already in disarray, but they came prepared, so what did she have to be afraid of?
"Your Majesty, everything my wife said is true."

Qiu Tong said coldly: "Sometimes you say you want to sue Yin Ji, and the next moment you want to sue others. What you say is totally unbelievable."

Ruan Muyang looked at Qiu Tong calmly, and said calmly and calmly: "Lord Qiu Tong, I never mentioned Lord Yin from the beginning to the end, did you remember something wrong?" She did not mention it, but everyone She thought she was asking the Holy Master to deal with Yin Ji.

Realizing that he was cheated, Qiu Tong's face was very ugly, and he couldn't say anything else, so he could only say stiffly: "Empty words are nothing!"

At this time, a tall and straight voice appeared outside the hall.In the sudden chaos, few people noticed, only Shen Wei and the others noticed, and secretly hooked their lips.

"What if I say I saw it with my own eyes?"

Zhang Anyi's voice sounded, and the chaotic hall suddenly fell into silence.

The Empress Dowager Qiu's delicate face was already gray.She was caught in the trap, and she was not prepared at all, so she was powerless.

Under the horrified and astonished eyes of all the ministers, Zhang Anyi walked in.He walked to Ruan Muyang and stopped, knelt down and said, "I see the emperor."

Victory was in sight, and he was about to take charge of the government. Emperor Yuan suppressed his joy and asked, "Where has Zhang Ge gone these past few days?"

This is what many people want to ask.

"Your Majesty, my wife, Ruan Shi, is pregnant and very weak. I beg the Emperor to allow her to stand up." Zhang Anyi did not answer, but first asked Ruan Muyang to stand up, which whetted the appetite of many people.

"It's natural." Emperor Yuan said, "Come here, give Madam Zhang a seat."

Since Zhang Anyi came in, Ruan Muyang's heart was completely relieved.

"Is Madam okay?" Zhang Anyi helped her up himself.

His voice was low and extremely gentle, and his eyes were full of pity and tenderness when he looked at her.At this moment, he seemed to have left aside the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty and even the Yuan Emperor, and only cared for her in his eyes.

Ruan Muyang nodded.Her arm felt the warmth and strength of his palm, but in such a serious place, at such a tense moment, her heart was completely soft.

It was always like this, when Zhang Anyi was not around, she could be calm, unruffled, and even stand alone, but as long as he appeared and cared for her so tenderly, she would become vulnerable to a single blow.Seriously, no one was more terrifying to her than this man, and she liked it more.

Her script was a little swollen from the start, and after kneeling for a long time, she didn't need any strength at all when she got up, and she got up entirely with the strength in Zhang Anyi's hands.

Although he is a literati, he is in good health because he is very self-disciplined on weekdays.Ruan Muyang leaned all his strength on his arm, and his arm did not tremble at all.

After helping Ruan Muyang to sit down and giving her a very gentle look, Zhang Anyi looked at Emperor Yuan and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I was injured and unconscious. When I was found, I was able to move and immediately returned to face the emperor. Assassinated!" The mastermind of the minister is Qiu Linqiu. He bribed the minister's younger brother, and the younger brother personally confessed."

Before Qiu Tong had time to say anything, Yin Ji, who had been on the cusp of the storm and was suddenly forgotten by others, stood up.His voice sounded: "Your Majesty, I have a book to play." As he spoke, he took out from his bosom the notebook that he had written all night without sleep.

He was clearly talking about the assassination of Mr. Zhang Ge, and he wanted to play it all at once, wasn't he adding to the chaos?

Many people looked at him inexplicably.

"Bring it up." Emperor Yuan said to the palace man beside him.

The palace servants presented Yin Ji's booklet, and when Emperor Yuan opened the booklet to look at it, Yin Ji said amidst everyone's puzzled eyes: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Households has been ordered to check all the accounts of the past six years, including all localities. Going up to Beijing, going down to the localities, there are many cases of corruption and bribery, and many officials are involved, especially the generation of Jinling in the south of the Yangtze River is the most serious."

As soon as Yin Ji's words came out, many officials in the court paid no attention to Qiu Lin, and all looked at the paper in Emperor Yuan's hand, recalling whether they were involved in it, and everyone was in danger.

Emperor Yuan angrily threw the booklet on the ground, and said to the officials below who shrank their heads, "Look for yourselves!"

The Empress Dowager Qiu, who was sitting behind the beaded curtain, tightly clutched her sleeves, her face was very ugly.It turned out that everything was nothing more than Mingxiu's secret plank, and it was her that they really wanted to deal with.

"The list of officials with problems found in the thorough investigation is all written in the booklet. I implore the emperor to thoroughly investigate the corruption of officials and eliminate the administration of officials!" Yin Ji's voice was unprecedentedly serious.

"Your majesty, I second the proposal." Shen Wei said.

Hearing this, Yin Ji looked at Shen Wei's side face, secretly revealing a smug smile.

Noticing his gaze, Shen Wei frowned, and returned a warning.

(End of this chapter)