Seeing this, a group of civil officials finally showed triumphant smiles on their faces.
It wasn't just a mere Crown Prince; even Emperor Longsheng wouldn't dare to easily offend these censor officials.
After all, the mouths of civil officials were sharper than killing blades.
Qí Délóng smiled with satisfaction, a proud look on his face. He took a step forward.
Just as he was about to continue recommending his own people for the post of Minister of Revenue.
It was at this moment that Táng Tīngbái stood up. He looked at the three censor officials, his voice ice-cold.
"Heh heh, since the three of you wish to die, then this Prince will fulfill your wish.As he spoke, Tang Tingbai once again took out the pale blue booklet from his chest.
"Censor officials Hé Ānxià, Jiāng Míngwēi, and Fàn Jìn have been in office for over a decade, falsely accusing officials of corruption and bribery."
"Order the Asura Guard to immediately confiscate their property."
"Hé Ānxià, Jiāng Míngwēi, and Fàn Jìn deserve death. According to the Great Gan Law, they shall be beheaded and displayed."
"All their family members shall be banished to the Southern Border."
What?
Upon hearing Táng Tīngbái's words, everyone was stunned again.
Was this Regent Crown Prince too ruthless?
Everyone knew that censor officials were upholders of integrity and would never engage in corruption.
Yet, in Táng Tīngbái's words, these people were criminals and parasites of Great Gan.
Censor official Jiāng Míngwēi's face was filled with fury. "Your Highness, as the Regent Crown Prince, you are baselessly slandering us, who uphold integrity. We are not convinced."
As soon as he finished speaking, censor official Hé Ānxià quickly added, "Your Highness, we are wronged. We request Your Highness to immediately lead the civil and military officials to our residences for a search, to prove our innocence."
Oh?
Táng Tīngbái let out a cold laugh.
He had just been spouting nonsense; the small booklet in his hand was actually blank.
However, since these people dared to oppose him, it meant these censor officials were his enemies.
For enemies, Táng Tīngbái would never show mercy.
At this moment, Old Chéng had already brought the soldiers of the Eastern Palace Guard and dragged the three censor officials out as if they were dead dogs.
Jiāng Míngwēi and the other two kept crying out their innocence and even cursed Táng Tīngbái to have a terrible end.
Táng Tīngbái sat on the dragon throne, smiling as he looked at the civil and military officials present.
"Esteemed officials, is there anyone else who opposes Zhāng Liáng's succession to the post of Minister of Revenue?"
This...
Everyone exchanged glances, no one spoke.
They knew clearly that if they dared to refuse, their names would surely appear on Táng Tīngbái's small booklet.
At the same time, they also knew that Jiāng Míngwēi and the other three censor officials would surely die.
Even if they were truly incorruptible, Táng Tīngbái would make them appear as corrupt officials and thoughtfully prepare all the evidence.
Seeing that no one spoke, Táng Tīngbái smiled with satisfaction.
"Zhāng Liáng, from this moment on, you are the Minister of Revenue."
"Upon returning to the Ministry of Revenue, immediately investigate the matter of the treasury deficit."
"Concurrently, this Prince will provide you with one million taels of silver to purchase grain and aid the disaster victims in Hédōng Prefecture."
Zhāng Liáng quickly bowed, his voice filled with emotion.
"This subject understands. Please rest assured, Your Highness. This subject will definitely not disappoint you."
After the morning court, at the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Currently, several middle-aged men were seated in the main hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Seated at the head was the Prime Minister Qí Délóng, who weighed three hundred jin.
Beside him sat the Minister of Personnel Cáo Bào, the Minister of Rites Chéng Qián, the Minister of Justice Dí Yīng, and the Minister of Works Bái Yùtáng.
Cáo Bào was tall and his face was ashen.
"Prime Minister, Táng Tīngbái, that good-for-nothing, is now trampling all over us. If we don't even dare to squeak, how can we manage our subordinates in the future?"
"Today, that good-for-nothing dared to kill the Minister of Revenue, Liú Dàzhì. Tomorrow, will that good-for-nothing dare to kill us too?"
"Prime Minister, Táng Tīngbái cannot be spared. As long as he lives, we will be in danger at all times."
The Minister of Rites, Chéng Qián, sighed, his face filled with frustration.
"Prime Minister, the officials under my command have already begun to fear that good-for-nothing Táng Tīngbái. If this continues, I'm afraid no official will dare to oppose Táng Tīngbái anymore."
Dí Yīng and Bái Yùtáng did not speak, but their faces were livid.
Qí Délóng, however, remained expressionless. He calmly took a sip of tea.
"Everyone, please remain calm. Today, we have indeed suffered a great loss, and it's a loss we can't even complain about."
"But this Prime Minister has already devised a plan to deal with this good-for-nothing."
"Now that Táng Tīngbái holds great power, if we openly oppose him, we will be the ones who suffer."
"However, the one supporting Táng Tīngbái is Emperor Longsheng. As long as we make Emperor Longsheng unhappy with Táng Tīngbái and dismiss him from his regency position."
Having said this, Qí Délóng fell silent.
The several ministers present were filled with joy.
Cáo Bào narrowed his eyes, a glint of killing intent flashing within them.
"Since we want the Emperor to be completely disappointed with Táng Tīngbái, we need to think about what the Emperor hates the most?"
Chéng Qián's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Throughout the dynasties, what emperors hate the most is rebellion."
"Now Táng Tīngbái has five thousand Capital Garrison Soldiers under his command. He secretly made imperial robes and a dragon throne, which can be considered somewhat justifiable."
"Our informants in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace have not yet been discovered. We can use them."
Qí Délóng coughed lightly, a triumphant expression on his face.
He could already envision the enraged Emperor Longsheng throwing Táng Tīngbái into prison.
"Not only that, but we must also have a two-pronged approach."
"That good-for-nothing Táng Tīngbái asked Zhāng Liáng to use one million taels to buy grain? Notify all grain merchants near the capital, and increase all grain prices by twenty times."
"This Prime Minister wants to let that good-for-nothing Táng Tīngbái know who truly calls the shots in Great Gan!After saying that, the few of them laughed triumphantly, as if Táng Tīngbái would definitely be dismissed from his Crown Prince position this time and then tortured to death by them.
At the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Tianwu Hall.
Currently, a hand-cranked loom of Great Gan was placed before Táng Tīngbái.
This kind of loom was cumbersome and labor-intensive. A farm woman would have to toil for three days to weave just one bolt of cloth.
In Great Gan, one bolt of cloth was only worth one hundred copper coins.
Moreover, this hand-cranked loom was not cheap, and ordinary families could not afford it.
In present-day Great Gan, in many remote areas, the common people still struggled to get enough food and clothing.
Therefore, Táng Tīngbái intended to improve the loom to increase weaving speed, so that the common people of Great Gan could all have enough to wear to protect themselves from the cold.
Just as Táng Tīngbái was deep in thought, Old Chéng lightly knocked on the door.
"Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort Qí Mǐn wishes to see you."
Oh?
Upon hearing this, Táng Tīngbái was taken aback.
Why would this young woman come to see him?
They had already completely fallen out, and yesterday Táng Tīngbái had executed dozens of the Imperial Noble Consort's trusted eunuchs.
Táng Tīngbái narrowed his eyes. After thinking for a while, he could roughly guess the purpose of this young woman's visit.
It could only be about the Thirteenth Prince Táng Shuǎng.
"Come, let's go take a look!"
At the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, the reception hall.
Qí Mǐn sat on a chair, looking at the steaming teacup before her with a grim expression.
Just moments ago, she had gone to the Imperial Clan Court to visit her own son, the Thirteenth Prince Táng Shuǎng.
Qí Mǐn had expected that even if Táng Shuǎng was imprisoned, his freedom would merely be restricted.
After all, Táng Shuǎng was a prince. Even if he couldn't become emperor in the future, he would still be a powerful feudal lord.
However, she never imagined that when she saw Táng Shuǎng.
Her poor son was trembling all over, his hair dishevelled, and his body reeked of an foul odor.
Táng Shuǎng tearfully told her.
In the Imperial Clan Court, he was only allowed to eat one meal a day, was confined in a dungeon, and it was freezing cold.
He was even woken up by large rats every night.
Qí Mǐn berated the officials of the Imperial Clan Court.
But the officials of the Imperial Clan Court were also helpless. They dared not disobey the Crown Prince's orders.
Helplessly, Qí Mǐn came to find Táng Tīngbái, hoping he would spare the Thirteenth Prince Táng Shuǎng.
Just as Qí Mǐn was lost in thought, Táng Tīngbái walked in with a smile.
Táng Tīngbái walked to Qí Mǐn's side, boldly put his arm around her slender waist, and greedily inhaled the scent of perfume from her.
Qí Mǐn frowned and glared at Táng Tīngbái with disgust.
"Crown Prince, I am an Imperial Noble Consort. Do not go too far."
Táng Tīngbái chuckled, and his hand directly tore open Qí Mǐn's clothes, revealing a expanse of snow-white beneath.
"This Prince is going too far. So what?"
You--
Qí Mǐn quickly covered her chest, which had been exposed. She took a deep breath, suppressing the humiliation and anger in her heart.
"Crown Prince, I went to the Imperial Clan Court to visit the Thirteenth Prince."
"The environment in the Imperial Clan Court is harsh, and the Thirteenth Prince is suffering greatly. He knows he was wrong."
"Therefore, I hope the Crown Prince will release the Thirteenth Prince."
"I know, for the Crown Prince, this is just a matter of a word."
Táng Tīngbái pulled Qí Mǐn into his embrace, and his hands began to roam her lower abdomen wantonly.
"Consort Qi, releasing Táng Shuǎng is indeed a matter of one word from this Prince."
"But why should I release him?"
As he spoke, Táng Tīngbái's hands had already moved to Qí Mǐn's lower abdomen.
"If you can make this Prince happy today, this Prince will release Táng Shuǎng, how about it?"
Qí Mǐn's pretty face flushed. Her body went limp in Táng Tīngbái's embrace.
"Crown Prince, I am the Emperor's Imperial Noble Consort. You should think clearly about the consequences."
Upon hearing this, Táng Tīngbái chuckled.
"Consort Qi, although you have a strong mouth, your body is very honest."
I...
Qí Mǐn's face turned even redder.
She was already at an age where desires were strong, but Emperor Longsheng had been seriously ill for years and had not touched her.
Qí Mǐn felt nervous. She couldn't let this continue.
Otherwise, a grave mistake would be made.
She quickly pushed Táng Tīngbái away and fled the reception hall as if escaping.
Standing at the door, Qí Mǐn panted heavily.
"I am willing to offer one hundred thousand taels of silver in exchange for Táng Shuǎng's freedom."
After saying this, Qí Mǐn fled the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
She knew that if she didn't leave, something would surely happen between her and Táng Tīngbái.
Táng Tīngbái chuckled and looked at Chéng Yǎojīn, who was guarding the door.
"Old Chéng, go to Consort Qi's residence and collect one hundred thousand taels of silver."
"After receiving the money, go to the Imperial Clan Court and release Táng Shuǎng."
Old Chéng immediately nodded.
"Your subordinate understands."
Táng Tīngbái stood up.
He directly returned to his own sleeping quarters.
He was a strong adult man, and the scene just now had his lower abdomen burning.
Returning to his sleeping quarters, Táng Tīngbái directly picked up Gù Qīnghán and threw her heavily onto the soft bed.
"Ah, Crown Prince, it's daytime..."