It has been snowing heavily in Beijing for three days. This is an ordinary day.
At this moment, on the long street, more than twenty prison cars were slowly driving out of the city.
On such a cold day, the people in the prison car were wearing autumn clothes, and they were all huddled up in the cold.
If it weren't for the end of the world and people were either confined to their homes or busy working, this scene would have attracted a large number of people to watch.
On the deserted streets, apart from the creaking sounds of the prison vans, the only sound left was the chatter of the escorting officers.
At the front of the team, a young officer was heard asking: "Boss... I'm afraid many of these men will die if they can't get to where they are. Then they won't blame us, right?"
The bearded child on the side rubbed his hands, sucked the snot that had flowed out, and then cursed: "What is in your kid's head? Do you still blame us? Do you think they still have black gauze hats on their heads?"
"Dead... just die. Who will be killed by the freezing cold weather? Maybe someone is eager to do so?"
Hearing this, the young officer couldn't help but ask: "Boss? Who wants them to die?"
The bearded man said coldly: "Who do you think wants them to die? Whoever asked them to come down wants them to die!"
"Did the Emperor dismiss them from office? Boss, are you saying that the Emperor wants them to die?"
"You idiot, are you talking nonsense too, Your Majesty?" The bearded man's eyes widened angrily, and he looked around warily at this moment.
Fortunately, they spoke quietly and other people were talking too, so no one paid attention to them.
"Boy, if you want to live a few more days...just watch your mouth!" The bearded man said in a cold tone.
Seeing that the bearded man was really angry, the young officer quickly replied: "Yes, yes, yes!"
The team continued to move forward and soon left the capital.
Imperial Palace, inside Qian'an Hall.
In the Nuan Pavilion, Emperor Zhao Weilong was reviewing memorials. A minister knelt in front of him and put his official hat on his side.
While reviewing, Zhao Weilong asked: "Ai Qing really wants to leave?"
"Please give me your permission!"
As a cabinet minister, after a large number of his disciples and former disciples were purged from the court, he remained in the cabinet without knowing what he was doing.
In the past month or so, three groups of officials have been dismissed or even imprisoned due to corruption, clique formation and ineffective handling of affairs, including both Beijing officials and local officials.
Some of these people were officials attracted by Concubine Duan, but most of them were his disciples, Lu Chaowen.
Even Lu Chaowen himself had many impeachment memorials.
Those who understand current affairs are heroes, and Lu Chaowen knows how to choose.
Zhao Weilong stopped the pen in his hand, and then said: "Since you want to leave, then I won't keep you!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lu Chaowen kowtowed three times in succession.
When Lu Chaowen heard that the emperor agreed to retire, his heart dropped.
Preserving some dignity for Lu Chaowen was a goal that Zhao Weilong had set before the Great Purge began.
In fact, among the officials who were punished, except for those whose crimes were truly heinous and were beheaded, others were either exiled, and even more were dismissed from office.
Zhao Weilong wants to balance the court, not just as a wedding dress for the other two parties. As long as people like Lu Chaowen are alive, they will still be Zhao Weilong's bargaining chip to balance the court.
Zhao Weilong sighed and said: "My dear, you have been an official in the court for many years, and you have worked hard and made great achievements. You have contributed a lot to our promotion!"
Recognizing Lu Chaowen in terms of language can be regarded as giving him a glimmer of hope.
"I am still young, I cannot understand many things, and I cannot make decisions... If you have any grievances, please tell me now!"
Unsure of what Zhao Weilong was thinking, Lu Chaowen replied: "I have no grievances. I only blame my lack of strict supervision, which is why I caused trouble for the emperor!"
Zhao Weilong sighed and said: "No matter if you have any grievances or not, but the current situation is like this, if you have any grievances, you can only swallow them in your stomach!"
At this moment, a young eunuch came out of Nuan Pavilion and reported: "For the record, Your Majesty, the two pavilion elders have come to see you again!"
"I know, send them in!"
"yes!"
When the young eunuch left, Zhao Weilong said to Lu Chaowen: "Lu Qing... you can go back!"
"yes!"
Lu Chaowen stood up and walked out. When he just left the palace gate, he happened to run into Wang Tinghe.
Cifu Xie Xiaofang stopped and asked: "Mr. Lu Ge, what are you..."
Lu Chaowen said respectfully: "Two pavilion elders, I cannot be called the pavilion elder. Just now... the emperor has approved my request, and Mr. Xu has retired and returned home!"
"As ministers of the same palace, I hope you will bear with me if I have done anything wrong over the years!"
Although the emperor allowed him to retire, it does not mean that he is safe. If these two men pursue him fiercely, he will not have a good life even if he returns home.
It is said that killing can only be done with a nod, and everything must be done in a measured way. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the liquidation of cabinet ministers has only been done two or three times, and each time there are special and vulgar reasons.
Just listen to Wang Tinghe say: "I'm afraid Lu Ge always wants to go back and hide away, and that's right... there are too many troubles to worry about now, so it's better to hide away!"
Xie Xiaofang, who was on the side, also said: "It's good to be able to hide away, but like us... we still have to stand in front to support him. He is said to be a cabinet minister, but he is just a mouthpiece for others!"
Three cabinet ministers, three people who could be called rivals and had been fighting each other for many years, were now talking like old friends.
At this time, a eunuch came out to remind: "Two pavilion elders, the emperor is still waiting inside!"
The three of them stopped talking, Wang Tinghe and the other two entered the hall, and the stone in Lu Chaowen's heart also fell to the ground.
From the attitudes of the two of them just now, Lu Chaowen could tell that he would not be liquidated when he retires.
Besides, Wang Tinghe and his wife entered the hall. After saluting Zhao Weilong, they heard Wang Tinghe say: "Your Majesty, the auspicious date of the wedding has been decided, it will be the eighteenth day of the first lunar month next year!"
"Yeah!" Zhao Weilong responded.
In his marriage, except who he chooses to be the queen, all other matters are taken care of by these ministers.
Picking up the teacup, Zhao Weilong took a sip, and then asked: "My dear friends, I am changing the Yuan Dynasty according to the ancestral system, getting married, respecting the Empress Dowager, and there is one thing... Shouldn't we also do it according to the ancestral system?"
These three things are arranged in order, and the Empress Dowager Zuntai was placed at the end, which means that she will have at least February or March next year.
"Please give me your instructions, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Weilong said slowly: "According to our ancestral system of the Jin Dynasty, the vassal king should leave the capital and join the vassal state, right or wrong?"
Both cabinet ministers were stunned. The current situation was special and they did not ask the ennobled vassal king to leave the capital.
Of course, these are not important. What is important is why Zhao Weilong raised this matter at this moment.
But if you think about it for a moment, you'll know why.
As an emperor, it is completely normal to exclude people who threaten his throne.
Zhao Weilong said by saying: "The cabinet, the six ministries, the yamen in the capital, and the county chiefs all use the ancestral system when admonishing me. I think you will not violate the ancestral system of the Jin Dynasty!"