Chapter 263 The Queen Mother
"mother!"
The little emperor trotted into the Ganqing Palace, and Empress Dowager Zhou immediately put down the embroidery in her hand and held the little emperor in her arms.
"Why did Brother Chun come back so early today? Where is your Uncle Li?"
"Uncle Li is here too..."
The little emperor twisted his body and pointed at Li Xiu who had just walked in outside the hall.
"I have met the Queen Mother!"
"Hao Qin Gong, please give up the gift!"
Empress Dowager Zhou quickly got up.
"Mrs. Thank you."
"Uncle Li, didn't you say that you should tell your mother if you have something to do!"
The little emperor shouted, but the restraint in the hall was instantly dissipated a little.
Queen Zhou gently patted the little emperor's hand and whispered:
"What's wrong with Duke Qin?"
"There are some things that need to be reported to the Queen Mother."
After hearing this, Empress Dowager Zhou was also very serious.
It has been more than half a year since the late emperor passed away, and the Duke of Qin in front of him has been assisting the country for more than half a year. Naturally, she almost understood the character of the Duke of Qin.
If it weren't for a major matter, I would never go to the palace to report it specifically. Once I look for it, it would definitely involve the fate of the Ming Dynasty.
"Mr. Qin, please speak out!"
"Please read it!"
Li Xiu took out an account book from his arms, a book that records the income from the Ming Dynasty's treasury, the deposit of the treasury, and various expenses of the Ming Dynasty today.
Empress Dowager Zhou was a little puzzled. After taking the account book, Li Xiu clearly wrote the amount of income and expenditure, as well as the predicted financial situation, as the account book was turned, clearly fell into Empress Dowager Zhou's eyes.
The expression of Empress Dowager Zhou became more and more frightened as she read the account book. In the end, her face turned pale and her hand holding the account book was trembling a little.
"Qin...Duke Qin... these are all true?"
"Since Wanli, the court's finances have exceeded their expenditures every year. By the time the late emperor ascended the throne, the court's finances have been completely corrupt!"
"The administration is corrupt, the finances are corruption, there are plunders of the Later Jin outside, and there are natural disasters and chaos in the inside!"
"So, I discussed with the late emperor..."
"At present, external troubles are tentative and strong internal troops are present. I think it is time to turn the decline and create a new world!"
"As long as it is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, Duke Qin can let go and the Ai family will definitely support it!"
Empress Dowager Zhou was still in shock, but she still expressed her attitude as usual.
After getting the affirmative answer, Li Xiu did not retreat as before, but looked at Empress Dowager Zhou again and bowed: "Looking at the past and present, any new policy reform will be full of obstacles, and there will be no new policy reform, which can be completed without bleeding!"
"At that time, there will be countless remarks of criticism from the court and the people, countless cliques collusion, and they will try their best to destroy the new policy, and the whole world of Ming Dynasty will also be shocked!"
"But, when the new policy is opened, there is no way out! If you retreat, the Ming Dynasty will be over!"
As for this, Li Xiu didn't say much.
After this abrupt end, Empress Dowager Zhou was also stunned. After a moment, she quickly realized it.
Although she was born in a small family, she was not unaware of reading and reading, and she also studied a lot on weekdays. Naturally, she understood what these four words meant by the new policy of reform.
It must be a turbulent storm, and it must be a turbulent world and rumors are everywhere!
In this way, the position she, the empress dowager, is naturally extremely clear.
"Duke Qin is loyal to the country, and the Ai family knows it. Even if Duke Qin lets go, the Ai family will never cause trouble for major affairs in the court!"
"The Queen Mother is wise!"
After getting the answer he wanted, Li Xiu bowed deeply and then left.
When Li Xiu left, Empress Dowager Zhou stared at the file in her hand for a long time, and the worries between her eyebrows were also difficult to hide.
After a long time, she called out the outside of the hall, and soon, Wang Chengen hurried over.
"Empress!"
Queen Mother Zhou was obviously a little confused. After a while, she asked slowly:
"What's going on with the father-in-law recently?"
When Wang Chengen heard this, he was also stunned, a little uncertain about the meaning of the Queen Mother's words.
But then, he suddenly thought of the Duke of Qin who had just met the Queen Mother, and the recent big moves of the Jinyiwei...
After thinking about it, Wang Chengen carefully tentatively: "My father-in-law is fine. Recently, he has also taken two concubines..."
"The Ai family knows these."
Empress Zhou frowned slightly: "What the Ai family means is whether the father-in-law has any corruption and abuse of power, and has he gotten close to any courtier?"
"this……"
Hearing this, Wang Chengen couldn't help but tremble in his heart. After a while, he could barely suppress the shock in his heart, but he couldn't say anything when he spoke.
"The Jinyiwei monitors the world. The late emperors told the Ai family back then. You and Li Ruolian are very close to each other. The Ai family knows them. Don't try to cover up anything. Tell me the truth!"
Wang Chengen couldn't help but sigh in his heart. How could he answer this question?
After a long struggle, Wang Chengen finally couldn't resist the majesty of the empress dowager. He sighed inwardly and then told what he knew little by little.
Use the power of the father-in-law to rob and bully the people...
Make friends with officials and borrow the power of the father-in-law to do things for officials...
Every day, there are guests in the palace of the father-in-law, and people come and go...
As Wang Chengen told the story, Empress Dowager Zhou Rucong's fingers were also pinched white, and she was so angry that she trembled a little.
"Grandmaster calms down!"
Wang Chengen suddenly fell to the ground.
After a long time, Empress Dowager Zhou seemed to calm down from her shock and anger. She glanced at the little emperor and seemed to have figured out something, and her eyes immediately became firm.
"Transfer the will of Ai's family and let the father-in-law reflect on himself. Without Ai's family's order, he will not leave the palace!"
"this……"
Wang Chengen was even more frightened and kept introspective and could not leave the house. Isn’t it just a house arrest?
This... what bad luck did he leave today!
"What, is the Ai family's words not working well?"
Empress Dowager Zhou asked in a deep voice.
"Slaves obey the order!"
Wang Chengen kowtowed repeatedly, but the helplessness between his eyebrows was hard to hide.
Walking out of the hall, Wang Chengen also didn't come back to his senses.
"Mr. Master, what did you say? Let us get into such a disaster!"
He stopped and sighed, Wang Chengen looked helpless, but the order had been issued, but no matter how helpless he was, he had no choice but to take the imperial eunuchs, and quickly walked out of the palace surrounded by several eunuchs.
At this moment, in the Ganqing Palace, Empress Dowager Zhou was completely gone from being as hard as he had just issued the order. She felt as if she had lost all her strength and she suddenly collapsed on the ground.
"Mom, mom!"
The little emperor hurried over, but was hugged by Empress Dowager Zhou.
The little emperor was at a loss, but he did not dare to move around, allowing Empress Dowager Zhou to hold him tightly, and even a faint crying sounded...
Chapter completed!