Eunuch Qin turned around and found that the person who said this was Mr. Yan Song. He didn't know if he meant to sow discord.
Qin Dewei quickly interrupted and said: "Don't mind! Don't mind!"
Eunuch Qin shouted softly: "Get out of the way and stop talking! You are not needed here!"
The eunuch in charge of the ceremony can be regarded as one of the most powerful figures in the palace, and his status is equal to that of the chief minister among the ministers.
If the emperor is healthy and can exercise his powers normally, and there is no strong role such as the queen mother, the eunuch who holds the title of ceremonial officer is often second only to the emperor in real power in the palace.
But at this time, Zhang Zuo found that his power was useless at this time. He had previously joked that the Qin eunuch of Dongchang was nothing without the support of the emperor. As a result, he was now in a similar situation.
One step was the difference between heaven and hell. Now Zhang Zuo felt like he had fallen into an abyss.
As long as the emperor doesn't wake up, now that the most powerful people in the imperial court are here, who else can save Zhang Zuo?
It's impossible for Queen Mother Zhang. Even if this old lady has no brains, she can't "forgive" Zhang Zuo.
After all, Eunuch Qin was nominally helping Empress Dowager Zhang to vent her anger, and he also arrested Zhou Yi, the former eunuch in charge of Ciqing Palace. No matter how stupid Empress Dowager Zhang was, she would not show "magnanimity" at this time. That would only make everyone alienated, and there would be no future.
Someone helped!
As for the queen, she started to cry, because she was afraid that he would die if he left the house, so how could he still reach out to save others?
In fact, strictly speaking, for all the countless mistakes that Zhang Zuo and Eunuch Zhang made, they could be explained in terms of words, and they could find ways to remedy them.
Therefore, when the ministers who were watching the excitement heard the various accusations against Zhang Zuo, they felt quite uneasy, because it was very possible that Eunuch Zhang could still escape the crime.
Who among those who hang out in palaces and temples has not been accused of a bunch of crimes?
It wasn't until the queen wiped her tears in public that this was the real watershed and the finishing touch. From then on, the ministers began to feel that Eunuch Zhang might be truly finished.
In terms of title, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony is a slave, and the queen is the master. The slave makes the master cry. This is equivalent to an evil slave bullying the master, which is unjust and contrary to ethics.
If the power of slaves could be so great that it would turn the hierarchy upside down, it would be enough for everyone to shut up, but Zhang Zuo was obviously not that powerful.
Moreover, Zhang Zuo had not yet been cleansed of the charges he had been carrying. When the queen cried in front of the ministers, it became the straw that broke the camel's back.
Although ministers cannot directly decide palace affairs, they control public opinion and can occupy the moral high ground and exert indirect pressure.
And what civil servants like to flaunt most is justice. If the queen expresses this, the ministers must also express it.
Therefore, unless the ministers present were treacherous ministers who were willing to flatter the eunuchs, they would never be able to help the "unjust" Zhang Zuo speak.
Even Yan Song, who had many secret contacts with Zhang Zuo and had a tendency to form an alliance with Zhang Zuo, would not stand up to defend Zhang Zuo at this time. At most, he could only keep his mouth shut and not add insult to injury.
In fact, Mr. Yan Ge was even more depressed. He had just hooked up with Zhang Zuo, so why did something happen again? Then wouldn't all the previous energy invested be in vain?
This left is simply useless. A dignified eunuch who is the chief of etiquette and prints the eunuch can't even defeat the eunuch who is the admiral of the East Factory! Not to mention defeating eunuch Qin, he can't even protect himself. In the past few days, it seems like he is going to
Completely finished!
Finally, Zhang Zuo looked around and saw that all the people he could see, the Queen Mother, the Empress, and the ministers were all enemies rather than friends at this moment!
"Except the emperor, none of you can depose me!" Eunuch Zhang suddenly spoke angrily.
Everyone was speechless. They didn't expect Zhang Zuo to say this. Could it be that he was planning to fight to the end with a hopeless heart?
But I have to admit that what Eunuch Zhang said is correct. Because the eunuchs who are the eunuchs in charge of rituals must be personally appointed by the emperor, and theoretically they can only be dismissed by the emperor himself.
Usually when the emperor was still alive, the eunuch withdrawal mechanism was sound, and he would be dismissed if he lost the palace battle. But now that the emperor is in a coma, the "exit mechanism" is very imperfect.
In other words, who has the qualifications to remove the eunuch who is responsible for the ceremony and holds the seal? When the old rules are no longer suitable, new rules have not been established.
Qin Zhongtang, who had been trying to steal the show today, stood in front of Zhang Zuo and said kindly:
"Listen to my advice. All you want from your family is your position. You must think clearly about it. Now that the matter has come to this, there is no other way to get this position."
People with slow brains did not understand what Qin Dewei meant. They just felt that the tone of Qin Zhongtang's words was too kind to be true. Most people had never seen Qin Zhongtang be so kind.
But Zhang Zuo, the person involved, understood the connotation and couldn't help but trembled. He simply said the most vicious words in the kindest tone.
What Qin Dewei actually means is that what you want from your family is not your life. If you withdraw voluntarily, you can still have a chance to live outside the palace and die of old age.
If you persist, others may kill you.
This is not an exaggeration at all. In the past, after eunuchs fought with each other, the loser might be deposed by the emperor and sent to Xiaoling to grow vegetables.
But now, if Eunuch Zhang resists to the end and cannot withdraw normally, then the opponent will have no choice but to destroy them physically.
When people are gone, won’t the space be freed up?
After thinking about it, Zhang Zuo looked up to the sky and let out a long sigh. The matter has come to this, what else can be done?
Thinking back again, maybe from the moment Chen Hong, the former empress's trusted eunuch, stepped into the outer house, I had already lost! I regret that I got greedy at that time!
Although Eunuch Zhang felt that he was sober as never before, he still couldn't tell whether Chen Hong was really defecting or pretending to surrender?
His judgment is not bad either. It was clear that Chen Hong was really surrendering last night, but why did the end result still look like a fake surrender?
While thinking about it, he said to the Empress Dowager Zhang: "Thanks to the emperor's grace, I have been able to serve as the Supervisor of Ceremonies for ten years. Now I am old and faint, and it is difficult to perform my duties. Therefore, I beg for your grace to let me go out of the palace to take care of myself."
At this point, the dust has completely settled! Everyone had to admire Qin Zhongtang. With just a few words, Zhang Zuo's last thoughts of resistance were shattered.
Faced with Eunuch Zhang's resignation, Empress Dowager Zhang naturally nodded her head and did not hesitate at all, not even saying a symbolic condolence.
So a new question arises. If you can withdraw freely, how can you legally appoint a new eunuch who is responsible for the rituals and eunuchs? You can't appoint them freely, right?
This was originally the exclusive power of the emperor, but now it is obvious that the emperor cannot be counted on, and another rule must be set.
Empress Dowager Zhang asked the ministers: "Gentlemen, do you have any ideas?"
In fact, everyone had thought of this method, so Zhai Luan, the first assistant, said on behalf of the ministers: "It can be decided by the two empresses together."
Apart from the emperor, the most distinguished persons in the palace were the Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Fang.
Currently, one of the two empresses is the nominal regent, and the other is in charge of palace affairs. They each share part of the imperial power. Now, it is only natural for them to jointly decide on the candidate for the chief of ceremonies.
Logically speaking, ministers should not interfere in palace affairs, but the Queen Mother had already asked this question, so she just answered her question.
Anyway, it turns out that it's probably Eunuch Qin, it's just a formality.
Moreover, the main reason is that neither the Queen Mother nor the Empress can authorize themselves, and they always need a third party to "persuade". This is the real meaning of the Queen Mother asking the minister just now.
After being "persuaded" by the minister, Queen Mother Zhang seemed to have obtained legal authorization and spoke without hesitation.
In any case, in terms of seniority, Queen Mother Zhang is the elder and should indeed speak before Queen Fang.
"Bao Zhong can take over as palm!" Empress Dowager Zhang said firmly.
As if he had been slapped, Eunuch Qin's smile gradually froze. How could there be any other candidate?
Some ministers were astonished and subconsciously thought: "Who is Bao Zhong?"
Others say that Qin Dewei often does not follow common sense, and now it is almost the same when looking at Queen Mother Zhang!
The key is that what Queen Mother Zhang did was too bad for her reputation! Just like she did to Qin Dewei last time, Queen Mother Zhang went back on her word again this time!
Eunuch Qin worked so hard to vent his anger on Empress Dowager Zhang and punished the former eunuch in charge of Ciqing Palace, but in the blink of an eye, Empress Dowager Zhang publicly promoted others?
[To be honest, I have been using Yeguo to read and catch up on books recently. I can switch sources and read aloud with many sounds. www. Android and Apple are available.]
Everyone was speechless and wanted to ask, Queen Mother Zhang, do you have no idea what political exchange is? Do you think that everyone should give you what you want?
You are also the Supreme Queen Mother, otherwise you would have been dealt with long ago!
It was only then that everyone recovered from their shock and remembered who Bao Zhong was.
Yes, this person is also Eunuch Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, but he is usually not so high-profile and always hides behind Zhang Zuo.
But as the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch who is the chief of etiquette, he also has to deal with government affairs, so most of the auxiliary ministers also know Bao Zhong.
At this time, Queen Fang next to her said, "I'm afraid it will be difficult for Bao Zhong to serve as the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, so it's better to let eunuch Qin take the post directly!"
This is the correct way to open political life.
Empress Dowager Zhang retorted to Empress Fang, "No one has ever been the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, so how do you know that Bao Zhong can't convince the public? I think Bao Zhong is mature and prudent, and he is suitable for being the eunuch."
Empress Fang didn't care to continue wiping her tears. She turned to the Empress Dowager Zhang and said, "Bao Zhong has never stood alone, and his talents have not been tested. He is suddenly promoted to the position of palm, and he may not be qualified!"
Faced with the fierce opposition of Empress Fang and the black face of Eunuch Qin, Empress Dowager Zhang still supported Bao Zhong and said: "Bao Zhong has been in the Supervisor of Ceremonies for many years and has been assisting the master in handling official affairs. What test does he need?"
After hearing this, everyone could roughly guess that Bao Zhong had probably burned the cold stove.
That's why Queen Mother Zhang, who had been isolated and helpless, became obsessed with Bao Zhong and tried her best to support him.
It has to be said that the same rice can support hundreds of people, and there are all kinds of people in the palace.
No normal person would take a second look at Empress Dowager Zhang's powerless and embarrassing situation, but in the end, people like Bao Zhong actually tried to flatter her.
Otherwise, why would Queen Mother Zhang think of this person?
Then I saw Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Fang arguing with each other, and they were at a stalemate for a while.
At this moment, Qin Dewei suddenly interrupted and shouted: "I have a few words to say. I feel that the two empresses are really unfair!"
Without surprising anyone, Qin Zhongtang successfully attracted everyone's attention. This time, no one could understand what he meant.
Qin Dewei continued: "Among the two candidates, Eunuch Qin is standing here and can participate at any time; but the other candidate, Bao Zhong, has disappeared. Is this fair?"
Everyone: "..."
Is this trivial matter worthy of your fuss, Qin Dewei?
Then the kind-hearted Empress Dowager Zhang ordered a young eunuch to go to Xiyuan to deliver the order.
Everyone was waiting and watching Queen Fang and Queen Mother Zhang continue to argue.
Half an hour later, Bao Zhong also appeared in Ciqing Palace.
Qin Dewei asked: "Eunuch Bao, do you know why the Queen Mother invited you here?"
Bao Zhong knew what was going on. A fierce conflict broke out between Eunuch Zhang and Eunuch Qin, and everyone in the palace was paying attention.
Afterwards, the two of them entered Ciqing Palace together, and Zhang Zuo came out in a state of ecstasy. Even if there was no gossip, you could guess something just by looking at it with your eyes.
But no matter how many and accurate Bao Zhong's guesses were, he couldn't speak out and could only continue to pretend.
Qin De said: "Since you don't know, then I will tell you that Zhang Zuo, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, has resigned! Now the Queen Mother has nominated you as a candidate for the new palm!"
Bao Zhong quickly saluted the Queen Mother again to express his gratitude.
Qin Dewei naturally continued to ask: "Do you have any personal thoughts on this?"
Bao Zhong glanced at Qin Zhongtang in confusion. This place was not the domain of civil servants, let alone Qin Zhongtang's home.
Why do you, Qin Zhongtang, still ask questions here and there, as if you are presiding over here? Besides, as a civil servant, who do you represent to ask the eunuchs?
Eunuch Bao mumbled a few words in his mind, but did not answer in time.
But he saw Qin Zhongtang's kind-hearted face and said in an amiable tone: "Listen to my advice, what you want in your family is just a position. You must think clearly about it."
Bao Zhong asked in surprise: "What do I need to think clearly about?"
Qin Dewei explained nicely: "You must not be smarter than Eunuch Zhang, right? So please look at Eunuch Zhang more and think more about Eunuch Zhang.
First, you need to think clearly about why Eunuch Zhang resigned. Second, you need to think clearly about why Eunuch Zhang didn’t fight to the end, and what is he afraid of?”
"What does Eunuch Zhang's resignation have to do with me..." Bao Zhong was only halfway through his words when he suddenly woke up and stopped forcibly.
Considering that Zhang Zuo's power and ability as Chief of Ceremonies for ten years were destroyed by the joint efforts of Eunuch Qin and Empress Fang, can he really be stronger than Zhang Zuo?
Besides, on my side, the Empress Dowager Zhang who supports me is not a powerful person, and her strength is not as good as Zhang Zuo.
So even if you become a palm eunuch, how long can you survive?
Bao Zhong suddenly felt that fighting for the palm print might not be a good thing. Empress Fang was in charge of palace affairs, Qin was the eunuch in the Waidong Factory, and he was forced to be the eunuch of the palm print. If he was attacked from both sides, he would not end well.
Thinking of this, Eunuch Bao did not hesitate and immediately said to Queen Mother Zhang: "I heard that I nominated my slave to be the palm seal. I am extremely frightened. I am not very talented and knowledgeable and I really don't dare to take on the important task. I beg you to choose someone else."
Queen Mother Zhang said angrily: "Then let the Queen make the decision!"
Eunuch Qin sighed, the meaning of this palm print is really... hard to describe.