After Shen Jing left, Emperor Zhou severely reprimanded his officials again, then sent them back to reflect on their actions.
However, apart from Yao Jian, Fu Yan, and Ye Qing, no one else received too heavy a punishment.
Most were fined, and Lu Yuliang was not only not punished but also promoted one rank.
This couldn't help but make everyone suspect that Lu Yuliang, like Zhang Ci, was also someone Emperor Zhou had arranged beforehand.
Ye Qing left Emperor Zhou's bedchamber in a daze, like a walking corpse.
Even when Fu Yan came to his side, he didn't notice him.
"Your Highness, Your Highness..."
Fu Yan called out several times before Ye Qing finally came back to his senses with difficulty.
"What is it?"
Ye Qing was like a deflated ball.
"Your Highness is confused!"
Fu Yan sighed softly: "The Emperor demoted Your Highness to a Prince of the Commandery, Your Highness should not have openly contradicted the Emperor..."
Ye Qing's face was full of bitterness, and he said with a resigned attitude: "It's come to this, what's the use of saying all this?"
"Why doesn't Your Highness understand!"
Fu Yan said earnestly: "The Emperor is just trying to put us in our place! We can be reinstated to our original positions, and Your Highness can also be re-enfeoffed as a Prince..."
He didn't understand it at first either.
But after his mood calmed down, he understood.
There was nothing wrong with their remonstrance!
Although he, the Minister of Justice, was dismissed, it wouldn't be long before he could be reinstated to his original position.
The most important thing was to make up for the lost twenty thousand taels of gold and, at the same time, find a plausible reason that everyone could accept!
But his noble title certainly couldn't be restored in a short time.
To restore his noble title, he had to perform meritorious service for the imperial court!
What was the point of making them perform meritorious service?
Wasn't it still to make them compete and perform?
He was Ye Qing's man!
If Emperor Zhou was determined to let the Crown Prince inherit the throne, why would he let him compete?
As for Yao Jian, the same logic applied!
If he truly wanted to dismiss Yao Jian from his premiership, the position of Left Prime Minister would not have been temporarily vacant!
The Emperor's unspoken meaning was clear: the position of Left Prime Minister was still reserved for Yao Jian!
However, Yao Jian had to be obedient!
The Emperor could allow Yao Jian to resume his premiership, or he could let others take on the role of Left Prime Minister!
Because, whether it was Yao Jian's noble title or official position, he had already reached his limit!
Only in this way could Yao Jian be better controlled!
This was the art of controlling officials!
Listening to Fu Yan's analysis, the dead-water-like eyes of Ye Qing re-lit with a glimmer of light, "So, this king still has a chance?"
"Yes!"
Fu Yan nodded lightly, "However, Your Highness openly contradicted the Emperor, which must have angered him! Your Highness should lay low for a while, do his own thing, and I believe the Emperor will notice! What Your Highness needs to wait for now is an opportunity to perform a great service!"
Ye Qing pondered for a moment, then quickly bowed to Fu Yan: "Thank you, sir, for enlightening me!"
"Your Highness is too kind."
Fu Yan quickly helped Ye Qing up, "I hope Your Highness uses this period of confinement to reflect thoroughly and temper his sharp edges!"
"This king understands!"
Ye Qing nodded heavily, looking at Fu Yan with gratitude.
Fu Yan smiled, then whispered: "Your Highness, the gold lost by the Ministry of Justice, you see..."
"I..."
Ye Qing's face twitched violently.
So, he came to ask for money?
After taking a few deep breaths, Ye Qing gritted his teeth and said, "I'm also short on cash lately. At most, I can support you with ten thousand taels of gold!"
Fu Yan originally wanted to ask for more, but seeing Ye Qing's expression, he could only swallow the rest of his words.
Ten thousand taels it is!
It's better than nothing!
He'll have to figure out the rest himself!
Damn Shen Jing, it's all his fault!
...
Upon returning to his residence, Yao Jian went alone to the back garden and sat down.
Soon after, Yao Yu, who had received the news, rushed back from the Ministry of Works and hurried to find Yao Jian.
However, Yao Jian merely sat there calmly, without a trace of anger on his face.
It was as if being dismissed from his premiership was an insignificant matter to him.
"Father, are you... alright?"
Yao Yu leaned closer, asking cautiously, but secretly muttering to himself.
What was wrong with his father?
He had been dismissed from his premiership, yet he hadn't flown into a rage.
"What could possibly be wrong with this old man?"
Yao Jian raised his eyes, "Do you think this old man should be in a towering rage right now?"
As he spoke, a faint smile appeared on Yao Jian's face.
Seeing this, Yao Yu was even more confused, "Father was dismissed from his premiership, why isn't he angry at all?"
"I was a little angry at first, but not anymore."
Yao Jian said, then raised his hand to signal his son to sit down.
Yao Yu sat down and then comforted his father, "Father has been working tirelessly for the country all these years; this is a good opportunity to rest well! I believe it won't be long before Father is reinstated to his original position!"
"Reinstated to his original position?"
A cold smile flashed across Yao Jian's face, "This old man doesn't want to be reinstated to his original position right now!"
"Ah?"
Yao Yu was stunned, looking at his father in disbelief.
He didn't want to be reinstated to his original position anymore?
Did he not even want the premiership?
Seeing his son's astonished expression, Yao Jian couldn't help but shake his head lightly, "You, you're still too naive!"
Yao Yu pondered for a moment with downcast eyes, then humbly said: "Your son is dull, please enlighten me, Father."
Yao Jian smiled, "The Emperor saw that the Second Prince wanted to win over this old man, and this is a deliberate warning to this old man! At the same time, by demoting the Second Prince to a Prince of the Commandery, he is telling everyone that he has no intention of establishing another Crown Prince!"
Yao Yu thought about it, then asked, puzzled, "What does this have to do with Father not wanting to be reinstated to his original position?"
Yao Jian shook his head and smiled to himself, then snorted, "The imperial court has been stable for a few years, and the national treasury has some silver again, so the Emperor feels that the imperial court can do without anyone! This old man insists on making him understand that the imperial court cannot do without this old man! This old man's premiership is not something he can revoke whenever he wants!"
Listening to Yao Jian's words, Yao Yu's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
After a brief moment of distraction, Yao Yu tentatively asked, "What does Father plan to do?"
Yao Jian's eyes gleamed, and he said in a deep voice, "Didn't the Emperor just establish the six thousand Dragon Martial Army? You order the Ministry of Works' Artisan Bureau to fully expedite the production of weapons and armor, spending silver lavishly! This old man will secretly order Cui Qiong in the north to actively provoke the Oirat people! In addition, severely crack down on private salt in the four southeastern prefectures..."
"Ah?"
Yao Yu was stunned, "Father, are you confused with anger? If private salt dealers are severely cracked down upon, won't the imperial court's salt tax be even higher? By then..."
"You are wrong!"
Yao Jian shook his head and smiled, "If the imperial court severely cracks down on private salt, the salt tax will not only not increase, but will greatly decrease!"
Yao Yu was stunned, looking at his father with a bewildered expression.
How was that possible?
Yao Jian revealed a cunning smile and began to analyze the pros and cons with his son.
After listening to Yao Jian's analysis, Yao Yu looked at his father with admiration.
"There's one more thing!"
Yao Jian continued, "Trade between the imperial court and the Oirat people has long been interrupted, but over the years, a large amount of private salt has continuously flowed to the Oirat people through some secret channels. Without private salt, the Oirat people will become even more desperate!"
"Brilliant!"
Yao Yu suddenly understood, looking at his father with admiration.
Such a simple move, yet it had so many effects.
The key was that it was also reasonable and legitimate; no one could find fault with it!
"This is just the beginning!"
Yao Jian smiled nonchalantly, "This old man has also prepared a few grand gifts for the Emperor! This old man wants to see if this imperial court can do without this old man!"