sbdcsierra Chapter 348 Fears the Crown Princess's Plot to Usurp the Throne
Chapter 348 Fears the Crown Princess's Plot to Usurp the Throne
"Emperor calm down!"
All the officials knelt down and shouted in unison.
"Absurd!" Emperor Changlong picked up the poetry collection and pointed it at Prime Minister Jiang. "This poem was written by the Crown Princess. What kind of clue is this? You even picked out a single word from each line and strung them together. This is simply making something out of nothing and deliberately finding fault!"
After he finished cursing, he threw the poetry collection hard at Jiang Xiang's face and demanded, "Jiang Zhen, is this how you deal with the task I assigned you?"
Prime Minister Jiang knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, I have not fabricated anything. The Crown Princess's poems are not just one like this; every single one of them is like this. They seem to be praising the Great Zhou, but in reality, they are all slandering the Great Zhou, encouraging the remnants of the previous dynasty, and tipping them off."
"Nonsense!" Emperor Changlong was so angry that he felt a sharp pain in his chest, his face turned pale, and he almost fainted.
"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Wang quickly helped Emperor Changlong up.
"Your Majesty, whether I am speaking nonsense or not, just summon the Crown Princess and ask her!" said Prime Minister Jiang.
“Your Majesty, I believe that Prime Minister Jiang’s words are not without merit. The Crown Princess is already the Crown Princess, and her status is noble. Now she holds military power, which is against the ancestral rules,” said the Minister of War.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess enjoys a high reputation among the people, and her poems are very influential. Many people must have read them. I believe that the Crown Princess’s poems are inappropriate and have had a very bad influence among the people!” said the Vice Minister of Rites.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess holds military power. If she harbors any disloyalty, the consequences will be unimaginable."
……
Emperor Changlong listened coldly to their accusations and discussions about Song Siyao. The discussions had only one purpose.
They wanted him to strip Song Siyao of her military power.
"Do you all know what Song Siyao's status was before she became the Crown Princess?"
"The Marquis of Protectorate," the Minister of Revenue replied.
"She is the Marquis Protector of the Great Zhou. Her achievements were earned through battles and her life. Even though she has now become the Crown Princess, she is still the Marquis Protector of the Great Zhou. This will never change. You all want to use this to force me to take away her military power. You are simply dreaming!"
After Emperor Changlong finished his reprimand, he got up and left.
"Dismiss the court!" Eunuch Wang shouted, quickly following Emperor Changlong's footsteps.
"Prime Minister Jiang, do you think the Emperor will listen to our advice?" the Minister of War asked.
"We, as subjects, are merely fulfilling our duties. As for whether or not His Majesty listens, that is His Majesty's decision." Prime Minister Jiang's gaze was deep and meaningful.
"Prime Minister Jiang, what should we do if the Emperor does not heed our advice?"
"Yes, Prime Minister Jiang, the Crown Princess holds a high position and wields great power. Her poems are not of good quality, and the Crown Prince dotes on her excessively. If this continues, it may be detrimental to the Great Zhou."
"Only by stripping the Crown Princess of her military power can the Great Zhou be kept safe; otherwise, the Great Zhou may have to change its surname to Shen!"
"Prime Minister Jiang, what do you suggest we do? We all support you, as long as the Emperor can strip the Crown Princess of her military power."
……
As Jiang Xiang listened to these requests, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes. With so many people supporting him, he was certain he could bring down Song Siyao this time.
He told the court officials that Song Siyao's poems revealed her wicked intentions, and that her powerful position posed a threat to the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Therefore, he joined forces with other officials to advise Emperor Changlong to reclaim Song Siyao's military power.
However, little did the ministers know that what he wanted was not just for Emperor Changlong to take back Song Siyao's military power.
These courtiers were merely pawns in his pursuit of his own goals.
"Please calm down, everyone. I understand your patriotism. This matter is urgent. If the Emperor disagrees today, we will continue to advise him tomorrow. If all else fails, and the Emperor still disagrees, we will risk our lives and die right here in this hall. I wonder if any of you are willing to die?" Prime Minister Jiang asked.
"We will obey the Prime Minister's orders," the officials said, bowing.
Jiang Xiang's eyes flashed with malice. "Song Siyao, this time, you're dead!"
Royal study room.
Emperor Changlong sat on the dragon throne, his anger still not subsided.
Eunuch Wang served him with utmost care.
Emperor Changlong angrily cursed, "When the birds are all gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked. This doesn't just apply to monarchs; it applies to a bunch of ungrateful dogs! I wish I could give the Crown Princess supreme power so she could fully utilize her talents and bring more benefits to the people. But they are all afraid that the Crown Princess will have too much power!"
"Every time there's a natural disaster or man-made calamity, or when the enemy attacks the city, they push the Crown Princess out. Now that the world is at peace, they push the Crown Princess out to besiege the city. What a bunch of ingrates!"
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Advisor has arrived."
Emperor Changlong was in the middle of a heated argument when a palace attendant came in to report something.