Both Zhao Liexian and Dong Daoming had guessed wrong at the beginning. The Emperor actually gave an order the next day. This order blinded Zhao Liexian and Dong Daoming's eyes.
Because this was a self-incriminating edict!
Zhao Bairen recalled all the things that had happened since he ascended to the throne. Then, he sorrowfully blamed the tragedy in the Autumn Moon Valley on the wrath of the heavens, believing that it was a warning from the heavens.
This decree of self-incrimination caused Zhao Liexian's heart to go cold to the bottom. It was as if he'd fallen into an icy pit in the middle of the night, and it was bone piercing cold and filled with extreme despair.
This was simply clearing the Crown Prince's name and the Emperor shouldering all the blame himself!
It was obvious that he wanted to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne!
Zhao Liexian simply fell into complete despair when he saw this decree. At this instant, he didn't even have the courage to fight for the throne with Third Brother of the Crown Prince!
Miraculously, after half a day, the Emperor quickly issued four edicts. The first edict was to severely reprimand the Crown Prince for failing to supervise the country. As the host and principal of the tournament, he had an unshirkable responsibility.
Because of this, the Crown Prince was punished with two years of service.
In the eyes of the commoners, this kind of punishment was too miserable. Two years of salary was gone. How could they live like this?
But in the eyes of Zhao Liexian and the others, was this any different from being punished with three cups of wine?
When Zhao Lie first heard someone read the imperial edict that had been copied, he smashed his favorite cup in anger on the spot. However, when he heard the last part, he couldn't help but reveal a strange expression.
Two years of punishment was only the beginning. After that, the Crown Prince was stripped of his title and became a two-word king. He was renamed King Feng Xian.
At the same time, he was summoned to Chongyang Palace and punished to continue copying the "Classic of Filial Piety". He was not allowed to step outside for a month.
This was not the end. When the third and fourth edicts reached Zhao Liexian's residence, his fighting spirit and hope were reignited!
Because the Emperor had reprimanded the Crown Prince's Manor's Zhan Shi, Xiao Yueping, as the highest official in the Crown Prince's Manor, he had to bear the brunt of being the scapegoat. Such a big scapegoat, Xiao Zhan Shi not only had to bear it, but he had to bear it firmly and heavily!
A subordinate who doesn't take the initiative to take the blame for his leader isn't a good subordinate!
As soon as the edict arrived, Xiao Yueping's memorial had already been delivered to the Emperor's desk. This was Xiao Yueping's letter of resignation. He took all the blame for all the crimes on himself.
Soon after, the Crown Prince's teacher, the leader of the scholars, Zhang Datong, also retired. Although he no longer held an important position, he was still the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor and Grand Tutor!
Being one of the Three Masters of the Eastern Palace was a great honor. It was the highest level of evaluation for scholars.
Only the most knowledgeable person in the world is qualified to teach the Crown Prince literature, hence he is called the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor; only the most skilled person in the world is qualified to teach the Crown Prince martial arts, hence he is called the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor.
Generally, this kind of honorable title was a nominal position, and only one person could hold it. However, Zhang Datong had turned this nominal position into a real one. In the past ten years, he had almost no achievements to show. The only thing that he was most proud of, and most admired, was that he had personally taught this famous sage king of this generation, and the future sage!
In order to commend his achievements and express the emperor's respect, the emperor gave him the honorary titles of the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor and the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor.
This was a unique honor!
However, this time, the Autumn Moon Valley incident was too serious. It was so serious that the Crown Prince could not take the blame alone. He needed someone to take the blame for him!
The three people who helped him carry it were simply terrifying.
The first to bear the brunt was the emperor, followed by the Crown Prince's right-hand man, the Crown Prince's Residence's Grand Tutor, Xiao Yueping!
If the Crown Prince's Residence was a small court, then the Crown Prince's Residence's Grand Tutor was equivalent to the position of the prime minister!
After that, it was the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Zhang Datong, who took the blame for him!
With these three super big shots taking the blame, it immediately attracted countless firepower and attention. For a moment, the voices and memorials attacking the Crown Prince from all over the court decreased by a lot.
The cabinet quickly approved Zhang Datong and Xiao Yueping's resignation. There wasn't even the most basic process of three resignations.
Normally, when a big shot of the court asked to resign, even if the emperor or cabinet agreed, they had to pretend to reject it. Then, the big shot would ask to resign again, and the emperor or cabinet would reject it again. This would repeat three times, and then the emperor and cabinet would "unwillingly" agree, giving the other party enough face.
But this time, they actually agreed at once. This was simply a slap in the face.
For Zhang Datong, who valued his reputation, and Xiao Yueping, who aimed to enter the cabinet in the future, this was worse than killing them!
Because Zhang Datong had such a dark history, his reputation as a leader of the scholars would definitely fall!
And with this dark history, Xiao Yueping could basically announce that she had no chance of entering the cabinet in the future.
This time, two of the Crown Prince's four most capable vajras had resigned. Moreover, one was the most important minister by the Crown Prince's side, and the other was the spiritual leader of the Crown Prince's faction!
"Good!
Good! "
Zhao Liexian repeatedly read the last two imperial edicts that he had copied three or four times. He was overjoyed and repeatedly cheered.
Zhao Liexian said to Dong Daoming proudly, "It seems that Sir's prediction was not completely correct!
It seems that Father is really angry with Third Brother this time! "
Dong Daoming frowned and said, "It's just that His Majesty seems to have the intention of exonerating the Crown Prince this time."
Zhao Liexian sneered, "Even Zhang Datong and Xiao Yueping have been directly driven home. Third Brother has lost two pillars of support. The other two are nothing to worry about, nothing to worry about!"
Dong Daoming nodded lightly and said, "At this time, we should still deal with both sides simultaneously!"
While the two were discussing in the secret room, the Prince's Consort Zhang Xiao Yun gracefully entered. This time, she was wearing white mourning clothes and bowed to Zhao Liexian as soon as she entered.
"The widow has come to mourn His Royal Highness …" Zhang Xiao Yun's eyes flashed, but there was not the slightest trace of sorrow in them.
When Zhao Liexian saw her appearance, he felt a headache coming on and said with a bitter smile, "Beloved Consort, what are you trying to do now?"
Zhang Xiao Yun said in surprise, "Husband has completely failed in the inheritance war. At this time, he is like a skeleton in a grave, waiting for death!"
Zhao Liexian was furious, "You damned woman, why are you cursing me every day?"
Zhang Xiao Yun stood up and sneered, "Does Husband think that Zhang Datong and Xiao Yueping have left the capital at the same time that the Crown Prince's wings have been cut in half?"
Zhao Liexian said, "Zhang Datong is the Crown Prince's gallbladder, and Xiao Yueping is the Crown Prince's hand and foot. Now that both his gallbladder and hand and foot have been removed, isn't that the same as breaking half of the Crown Prince's wings?"
Zhang Xiao Yun sneered, "But Ning Tongyi is still the Assistant Minister of War, and Gu Cangping has been transferred to the Ministry of Personnel!
Does Husband not understand the crux of the matter? "
As the saying goes, those closely involved can't see clearly. Zhang Xiao Yun's words immediately enlightened the two of them, causing them to be dumbfounded!
The Assistant Minister of War was the second-in-command of the Ministry of War, a very important position. The person in this position meant that the Crown Prince had military power!
And the Ministry of Personnel's Minister of Personnel didn't seem to be a high-ranking official, only a fourth-grade official, but the Ministry of Personnel's Minister of Personnel's Minister of Personnel was very important because this position was in charge of the promotion of the various officials!
In other words, the Crown Prince still held military and personnel power at this time!
This … how was this supposed to annoy the Crown Prince?
This was clearly to protect the Crown Prince!
Zhao Liexian's face alternated between green and red, then he fell to the ground and said in pain, "Beloved, don't say such sarcastic words. Since that's the case, as husband and wife, we'll go our separate ways in the face of disaster. You should pack your things early and return to your parents' home. I'll prepare the divorce papers."
Zhang Xiao Yun spat and said, "You good-for-nothing!
Although it's a hopeless situation, there's still one last chance of survival! "
Zhao Liexian was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up and he said, "Beloved, please advise me!" After that, he stood up and bowed.
Zhang Xiao Yun accepted it casually. She gritted her teeth and said coldly, "There's only one way!
That is to strive to support the Southeast war! "
Zhao Liexian's jaw almost hit the ground. "Ah?
What, what kind of rotten idea is this?!
How can I get involved in the Southeast war?
If I lose, I'll be doomed eternally!
If I win by a fluke, I'll be thousands of miles away from the capital. At that time, if Father passes the throne to Third Brother, won't I be too far away to help?! "
Zhang Xiao Yun shook her head and said, "His Majesty definitely won't pass the throne to the Crown Prince before the Southeast war ends. Otherwise, there would be no need for him to issue these edicts!
He had to wait until the war in the Southeast was won before he could rightfully pass the throne to the Crown Prince!
Therefore, this is Husband's best and last chance!
Only in this way can my husband hold the military power! "
Zhao Liexian smiled bitterly. "Then why did you advise me not to lead the army out of the capital?"