Sign a Lu Fengxian at the beginning

Chapter 158: Who told you this?

After retreating from the court, Zhou Chen returned to the Yangxin Hall.

Winning the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice was Zhou Chen's second step.

The first step is to capture the Minister of Hubu, and the second step is to capture the Minister of Punishment.

Break them down one by one, divide them and eliminate them.

The most prestigious and influential leaders in the court from the three major aristocratic families have been eliminated.

Now only Prime Minister Yuan Bo is left.

Other officials from the three major aristocratic families in the court also cleaned up a large part of them.

It can be said that Zhou Chen's plan is progressing fairly smoothly.

It was just an accident in which the Jiexiu Fan family was ordered to be killed in advance.

Zhou Chen sat on the dragon chair, thinking deeply.

After going to court in the morning and being captured by the Minister of Punishment, Zhou Chen estimated that Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the others must have realized something was wrong.

No one who can hold the position of prime minister, serve in two dynasties, and be appointed by the late emperor as an auxiliary minister is a simple figure.

They are all old foxes.

Zhou Chen has never underestimated Prime Minister Yuan Bo and others.

Compared with Prime Minister Yuan Bo and others, no matter how you say it, Zhou Chen lacks decades of experience.

However, even if Prime Minister Yuan Bo and others realize that something is wrong now, it is no longer important.

The Minister of Household Affairs and the Minister of Justice have been captured.

Most of the party members and close officials they cultivated in the court were also eliminated.

The general trend has taken shape.

Their power in the court has been gradually disintegrated. What can they do if they realize something is wrong?

At most, it would just speed up what they are planning.

"Now, you should be impatient to take action, otherwise I will clean up all your gang members in the court."

Zhou Chen murmured to himself.

Just then, a house guard walked in.

"His Majesty."

"The Queen Mother just sent a message, asking Your Majesty to come to Cining Palace for dinner."

After the house guard came in, he bowed and said.

"I understand."

Zhou Chen nodded.

In the past few days, Zhou Chen occasionally went to Cining Palace to have meals, and every time Zhou Zhi, the king of Shu, was also there.

Zhou Chen understood the Queen Mother's intention, which was simply to bring the two brothers closer together.

It is a pity that the Queen Mother's hard work may be in vain.

Some things can't be changed just by getting closer.

The most ruthless emperor's family.

Personal feelings are sometimes more fragile than anything else in the imperial family.

…

Prime Minister's Mansion.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo returned to the mansion with a thoughtful look on his face.

In the morning, the Minister of Punishment was taken down, which gave Prime Minister Yuan Bo an unusual smell.

Checking the household department is a normal thing.

However, most of the officials found were basically their powerful officials in the court, which was a bit abnormal.

This seems more like an investigation into the power of the three major families in the court.

First it was the Minister of Hubu, and now it is the Minister of Punishment. Most of their influential officials in the court have also been investigated. Is this a coincidence?

Prime Minister Yuan Bo frowned in thought.

After a while.

"Here comes someone."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo shouted.

"Master of the house."

A black shadow instantly appeared next to Prime Minister Yuan Bo.

"Immediately pass the news back to the clan that the Minister of Punishment's house was confiscated."

"Let the clan make more preparations."

"For the younger generation, send them away first if you can. It won't be too late to let them come back when the matter is settled."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo had to prepare for the worst.

It doesn't matter whether officials such as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice were arrested because of the investigation of the Ministry of Revenue.

What's important is that their next plan is the most critical.

To prevent that eventuality, there is no harm in making some extra preparations.

"Yes, Master."

The dark figure disappeared in the blink of an eye.

…

Cining Palace.

Zhou Chen, the Queen Mother, and Zhou Zhi ate together.

"Brother Imperial, I heard that the Minister of Punishment was also found guilty of corruption earlier this morning."

"I really didn't expect it! It's really hard to believe that an important official like the Minister of Punishment is corrupt."

Zhou Zhi glanced at Zhou Chen and said.

Zhou Chen nodded; "Yes! I originally thought that such an important official in the court would be the pillar of my great Zhou Dynasty, but I didn't expect that he would be the worm of my great Zhou Dynasty."

"First it is the Minister of the Ministry of Husbandry, and this is the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments."

"I really don't know how many honest officials there are in this court."

Zhou Chen sighed quietly.

"Especially because they also involved the Grand Master's death in the four northwest prefectures."

"Even if Xiaoyao King Zhou Qian launched a rebellion in Daizhou, it would be impossible for only one minister of the Ministry of Industry and the Boling Cui family to be behind it."

"They think I don't know."

"As everyone knows, there is nothing you can hide from me."

As soon as Zhou Chen said these words.

King Zhou Zhi of Shu's face changed.

Zhou Zhi did not expect that Taishi Wen Zhong died in the four prefectures in the northwest, and he was actually related to the Minister of Hubu and the Minister of Punishment.

So if you say this, Prime Minister Yuan Bo must have something to do with it.

In an instant, Zhou Zhi understood everything.

No wonder the three great aristocratic families sent people to visit him, the King of Shu. It turned out that the three great aristocratic families had no way out.

Originally, Zhou Zhi thought that the three major aristocratic families had reached an agreement with him because the emperor Zhou Chen wanted to deal with the wealthy aristocratic families.

This led to the wealthy family having to hook up with him, the King of Shu, to protect themselves.

But who would have thought that the real reason was that the three major aristocratic families, like the Boling Cui family, plotted against Taishi Wen Zhong, and there was no way to retreat.

Even the Queen Mother next to her changed her face after hearing Zhou Chen's words.

Grand Master Wen Zhong died in battle in the Four Prefectures of the Northwest, and people like the Minister of Hubu and the Minister of Punishment were actually involved behind the scenes.

This was the first time the Queen Mother heard such a secret from the emperor Zhou Chen.

"Brother Emperor, what you mean is that the Grand Master died in the battle in the Four Prefectures in the northwest, and he has something to do with the Minister of Punishment and the Minister of Hubu."

"Then you investigated the household department and issued an order to kill Jiexiu and the Fan family, just to deal with the three aristocratic families one by one and eliminate their influence in the court?"

Zhou Zhi looked at Zhou Chen.

Initially, Zhou Zhi was still doubting whether Zhou Chen, the emperor who had first taken over the Household Affairs Bureau and now the Punishment Department, might have discovered the plan between him and the three aristocratic families.

But now it seems that he was worrying too much.

Zhou Chen smiled noncommittally, took a deep look at Zhou Zhi, and said nothing more.

Although Zhou Chen just smiled noncommittally and did not speak, the meaning was already obvious.

Zhou Zhi no longer struggled with this topic, but instead talked about other things.

But he was thinking in his heart, although Zhou Chen didn't discover the plan between him and the three major aristocratic families, but depending on Zhou Chen's intention, the next step is to deal with Prime Minister Yuan Bo and the other two major aristocratic families.

This is not good news for him, the King of Shu.

Once the emperor Zhou Chen was allowed to attack the prime minister and the other two aristocratic families first.

Then their plan would be in vain.

When the time comes, even he, the King of Shu, will not be able to escape disaster.

Zhou Zhi thought secretly in his heart.

The meal is over.

Zhou Chen left Cining Palace.

As an emperor, Zhou Chen has a lot of things to deal with every day, and it is impossible to stay in Cining Palace for too long.

After Zhou Chen left, Zhou Zhi also stood up and said to the Queen Mother, "Mother, my sons and ministers will also leave first."

The Queen Mother shook her head and said, "There's no rush."

"You sit down first."

"My mother has something to say to you."

The Queen Mother looked at Zhou Zhi and said.

After Zhou Zhi heard this, he sat down obediently.

After Zhou Zhi sat down, the Queen Mother looked at Zhou Zhi and said, "Have you heard what your Majesty just said?"

Zhou Zhi nodded and looked at the Queen Mother with some confusion; "Of course all the ministers heard what the Emperor said. What does the Queen Mother mean?"

"Your Majesty is right in saying that nothing can be hidden from His Majesty."

"The East Factory is pervasive, and everything inside and outside the court is under His Majesty's control."

"The queen mother does not want you to follow in the footsteps of Xiaoyao King Zhou Qian."

"This is your mother's reminder and warning to you."

The Queen Mother looked at Zhou Zhi with a serious face and said.

Facing the Queen Mother's serious tone, Zhou Zhi was obviously taken aback.

In Zhou Zhi's memory, his mother-in-law seemed to have rarely been so serious to him.

"Mother, don't worry!"

"How could my son follow in the footsteps of the Four Emperors?"

"My son is just a king of Shu. I have been ordered to come back to see my mother. After the new year, I will go back to Shu to live freely."

Zhou Zhi said with a smile on his face.

Regarding Zhou Zhi's words, the Queen Mother sighed directly: "Zhi'er, you are the flesh that fell from the Queen Mother's body."

"You can hide what you are thinking from others. Do you think you can hide it from your mother?"

The Queen Mother has gone through the ups and downs of the harem, and she has grown from a palace maid to the Queen Mother who is the most revered mother in the world. She is certainly not an ordinary person.

In addition, Zhou Zhi was born from the Queen Mother.

Therefore, how could Zhou Zhi's thoughts be hidden from the Queen Mother?

"These days, when the Queen Mother dines with you, the Queen Mother will ask His Majesty to come with her."

"You should understand the Queen Mother's intentions when it comes to treating children."

"There is already a person who is in charge of the country of Zhou Dynasty, so you should not have any extra thoughts."

"You have to learn to let go of some things. They are not yours, and there is no use in wishing for them."

"Mother, I hope you can understand this."

The Queen Mother looked at Zhou Zhi and said earnestly.

Zhou Zhi's originally smiling face gradually disappeared after hearing these words from the Queen Mother.

Zhou Zhi looked at the Queen Mother and said bitterly, "The Queen Mother and my son are just a little unwilling!"

"In terms of civil and military skills, the emperor's brother is the worst among the princes, not to mention his physical health."

"Such an heir cannot carry on the great Zhou Dynasty's eternal legacy."

"My son, I really can't understand why my father chose my brother."

Now that the Queen Mother saw it, Zhou Zhi no longer hid it and spoke directly.

"shut up."

"Are the late Emperor and His Majesty someone you can discuss behind your back?"

"Facts have proved that your father's choice was right. Your Majesty is the master of the resurgence of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Don't say that again in the future."

The Queen Mother scolded Zhou Zhi, her face had never been more severe, and even had a hint of anger.

Zhou Zhi saw this in his eyes and said with an unconvinced look on his face: "Mother, if the emperor had chosen a son, the son would have done as well as the emperor's brother, or even better."

"Brother Emperor, he is not the daughter of the queen. If the queen had fought for her son at that time, maybe he would be the one sitting in that position now."

As soon as Zhou Zhi said this.

The whole inner hall of Cining Palace can be heard.

The Queen Mother's expression changed even more, and she stood up directly.

"What did you say?"

The Queen Mother stared at Zhou Zhi.

Zhou Zhi saw this and felt a little scared in his heart. He had never seen such a scary side of his mother.

"Mother, son... sons and ministers..."

Zhou Zhi knew he had made a mistake and didn't know what to say.

"Kneel down for the Ai family."

"Tell me, who told you this?"

The Queen Mother's voice was trembling.

It seemed like fear or something else.

In this matter, no more than one person knew the inside story in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

The Queen Mother didn't know how her son knew about this.

"The Queen Mother was mentioned by my son inadvertently when he was young, overhearing the conversation between his father and the Queen Mother."

Zhou Zhi knelt on the ground, unable to withstand the pressure from the Queen Mother, and spoke truthfully.

Zhou Zhi knew that this matter was not trivial. If he had not leaked it in a moment of impatience, he would never have dared to say it.

After hearing Zhou Zhi's words, the Queen Mother's expression softened a little.

It's okay if Zhou Zhi heard it from other places.

Otherwise, if this matter spreads, the consequences will be disastrous.

"Have you ever told anyone else about this?"

The Queen Mother looked at Zhou Zhi who was kneeling on the ground and asked gloomily.

"No."

"Mother, how dare I say such nonsense?"

Zhou Zhi shook his head and said.

After hearing this, the Queen Mother felt completely relieved and said sternly to Zhou Zhi, "Remember, this matter is rotten in your stomach."

"If word gets out, even if you are the son of the Ai family, the Ai family will not be able to spare you."

The Queen Mother warned Zhou Zhi, her face had never been more serious.

Zhou Zhi nodded immediately; "Don't worry, mother, I know the importance of this."

"Get up!"

"Go back to your Shu Prince's Mansion. Without the Ai family's orders, you are not allowed to step out of the Shu Prince's Mansion for the Ai family."

"Let the Ai family reflect properly in the Prince of Shu's Mansion."

The Queen Mother sat down again and said to Zhou Zhi who was kneeling on the ground.

"My son, I obey."

Zhou Zhi got up and left Cining Palace.

After Zhou Zhi left, the Queen Mother shouted directly.

"Tongueless."

"Queen Mother."

An old eunuch with gray hair appeared in front of the Queen Mother.

"Go and invite the Eight Wise Kings to come to Cining Palace."

"By the way, change the people who were serving around you just now."

"The Ai family doesn't want any rumors to spread."

A cold look flashed in the Queen Mother's eyes.

What Zhou Zhi said just now really shocked the Queen Mother.

If Zhou Zhi hadn't been the Queen Mother's biological son, maybe the Queen Mother would have dealt with Zhou Zhi as well.

No one who can carve out a bloody path in this harem is a soft-hearted person.

The Queen Mother is of course no exception.

The Queen Mother didn't want anyone to spread what Zhou Zhi just said, so she had to change everyone in the palace.

"Yes, Queen Mother."

When the gray-haired old eunuch heard this, he immediately understood what the Queen Mother meant and nodded directly.

"Go ahead."

The Queen Mother waved her hand.

The figure of the old eunuch disappeared in front of the Queen Mother in an instant.

(End of chapter)