At this moment, the entire hall became silent.

All the people were quiet, compared to the silence I felt before Chang Qing and I walked in just now, the silence at this moment was even tighter, as if as long as one person spoke again, it would pierce the mask of this layer of quiet, and with it, there would be a violent storm.

Enlargement of the Inner Court.

Nangong Jinhong finally said this, and this is the news that Kou'er came to tell me last night.

If it is not surprising, the next step, those few people will meet and ......

Thinking of this, I immediately said: "This, expanding the inner court, will lose the meaning of the inner court's political discussion." ”

As soon as my words fell, no one around me even reacted to this sentence, and immediately, a young imperial historian had already stepped forward, pointed at me and scolded: "Above the court, how can women interfere in politics!"

That scolding was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, and it exploded all at once, and my whole body trembled.

I almost got carried away.

From the moment I first entered the main hall, I didn't speak casually, and it wasn't until Nangong Jinhong asked me about Pei Yuanhao's condition that I answered him very cautiously and didn't say anything. It was only just now, when I heard him build yì to expand the inner court, thinking of what Kou'er told me yesterday, I was in a hurry, and I couldn't help but speak.

This time, I don't even need them to deal with me, and every man in the court will not let me go lightly.

Sure enough, after that reprimand, the other officials all looked at me, all with angry faces and cold faces.

"It's so unruly!"

"That is, a woman, who knows something, dares to speak out!"

"Not even a concubine, dare to come to the court to say anything, drag her down!"

Seeing that those people's hostility towards me was getting worse and worse, at this time, Chang Qing suddenly stepped forward, stopped in front of me, and said to those officials: "Ladies and gentlemen, this palace is also a woman, can this palace say a word here?"

The officials were stunned by her, and the young Yushi just now also hesitated.

Chang Qing smiled faintly and said: "This palace is also a woman, and she has no power to interfere in court affairs, but you also said that the prince is young, and he is indeed young, so there are some words, as the prince's mother, this palace wants to make it clear first." ”

Those officials, you look at me, I look at you, and they don't dare to speak lightly.

Chang Qing walked in the center of the hall step by step, looked at the courtiers with different faces, and said solemnly: "The establishment of the inner court is the emperor's attention to the government, no matter how big or small, therefore, Lord Nangong is right, the inner court cannot be abolished; In this case, it is only inappropriate to expand the inner court. ”

Nangong Jinhong said: "What's wrong?"

Chang Qing coughed, I hurriedly stepped forward to help her, stroked her back to help her breathe, and said softly: "Queen Mother, are you okay?"

"It's fine, it's just a little cold and my throat is uncomfortable. ”

"That's—"

"It's okay, light, you know Bengong's mind best, what Bengong wants to say, you can help Bengong finish it." ”

My heart skipped a beat, and I looked up at her, only to see her covering her mouth, pretending to cough, and winking at me vigorously.

She's giving me a chance!

Feeling her hand squeeze me hard, as if giving me strength, I took a deep breath, turned my head to look at the ministers whose faces had changed suddenly, and said slowly and solemnly in a voice that was neither high nor low, neither light nor heavy: "Please forgive me." ”

“……”

The ministers were speechless for a moment.

I took another deep breath, and then said: "The queen believes that the inner court was set up by the emperor, and only a few ministers were absorbed, just to strengthen the management of the imperial court's government affairs, so that the voices of all ministries can reach the heavens, and the emperor's will is also quickly promulgated and effectively implemented." Master Zheng—"

I turned my head to look at Zheng Chai, he hesitated for a moment, and subconsciously said "um", and I continued: "Those words that Lord Zheng asked His Royal Highness the Crown Prince before, I would like to ask, in previous years, how long did it take to complete the tax payment of the two rivers, the handling of the household department, and then the appropriation to the ministry?"

"About a month," he said. ”

"So, what about this time?"

“…… Less than half a month. ”

"Yes, the efficiency of administration has been half faster, isn't it because the inner court has concentrated its deliberations and acted vigorously and resolutely? If the inner court is expanded, won't it be the same as in previous years, where everyone is noisy and noisy, you say yours, I will do mine, in this way, how can we act normally?"

“……”

"Besides, His Royal Highness the Prince, it is true that he is young and knows very little about the political affairs of the imperial court, the more this is the case, the more he needs the support of several ministers, if the inner court is expanded, it will be the discussion of the ministers, may I ask what is the meaning of this'Prince supervising the country'?"

When I said this, I saw Nangong Jinhong's face sink significantly.

My words just now are not only refuting him, but the last sentence has even led his mention to the road of "bullying the young lord and usurping the throne and seizing power".

I sensed something was wrong with his expression.

However, he was also calm, and did not confront me immediately, but turned his head to look at the people around him, and immediately, Zheng Chai, who was still a little dazed by my question just now, pointed at me and said sharply: "Yan Qingqing, you are so bold, as a common person, you dare to point fingers at the court, what should you be guilty of!?"

Chang Qing's face also sank, and he immediately said: "Zheng Shilang, this palace has already said it just now, these words are what this palace wants to say, it's just for Qingqing to relay it on his behalf." ”

Zheng Chai was stunned by her, but on the other side, Fang Tongting had already stood up, and said: "Then, Weichen is only afraid that he will also admonish the queen's mother, above the court, there is no reason for women to interfere in politics!"

Sure enough, they still clung to this sentence!

At this moment, Chang Qing's face was also a little unsightly, red and white, as if he had been slapped hard, and even more powerless, whether we knew the truth of the matter or not, but on the table, Zheng Chai and Fang Tongting were not wrong, so as long as they grabbed the sentence "Above the court, how can women interfere in politics", it is enough to trample our words on the soles of their feet!

The thought on the side was anxious: "The queen mother is the queen of a country, and the mother is the world, why can't you say it?"

Nangong Jinhong smiled faintly and said to him: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said this, it can be seen that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is indeed young. Chicken Si Chen, only the family's rope, this is not a good phenomenon. Master Fu, you have taught His Royal Highness the Crown Prince so much knowledge, you can't have said this, right?"

Fu Badai looked like he had just been woken up by a dozing off, and suddenly said, "Huh?"

As soon as everyone saw him pretending to be deaf and dumb, they were immediately angry and funny, Nangong Jinhong didn't know what to say, he only took a breath through his nose, then turned his head and said to Chang Qing: "Queen Niangniang, even if the queen mother and the noble concubine Niangniang will govern the sins of the lower officials in the future, there are some words, and the lower officials must say some things." The former dynasty is different from the harem, and many things are not the mother of the harem...... There are also some things that ordinary people can think and understand. Although as the saying goes, governing a big country is like cooking a small fresh, but I have never heard that a person who cooks a small fresh can really govern a big country. So—"

My face sank, and I looked at him coldly: "Then in the opinion of Lord Nangong, who can take on this heavy responsibility and govern such a big country?"

Nangong Jinhong glanced at me, as if he didn't bother to talk to me, but after all, the words had already been delivered to his mouth, and he didn't seem to be able to stop talking, so he said slowly: "This official seems to ......"

Before he finished his words, he heard a rush of footsteps outside, and when he looked up, it was a small eunuch who hurriedly ran in from outside.

When Gonggong Yu saw it, he immediately stepped forward.

The little eunuch stood outside the threshold, hugged the ear of the Jade Father-in-law and said a few words, the Jade Father-in-law's face sank, and immediately waved his hand to him, and then walked in.

Chang Qing looked at him and asked, "Chief Jade, what happened?"

Father-in-law Yu glanced at a few of us again, and then said in a low voice, "Queen Mother, everyone...... Ladies and gentlemen, Your Highness, I have someone asking to see you. ”

"Who wants to see you?"

"Gongsun Qi, son of Gongsun Shu, Marquis of Jin, Yuan Mingde of Runan, ...... in the clouds"

He said the names of several people in a row, and Chang Qing and I looked at each other, and our hearts sank.

These people came at the right time.

As soon as Nangong Jinhong finished saying that he wanted to expand the inner court and mention a few people, they appeared, as if they were rushing to these few people. This time it was not only us, but the old ministers in the hall who had just spoken up were also taken aback, and looked at Nangong Jinhong in amazement.

At this moment, there is no need for Nangong Jinhong to say the words just now.

However, he also stood there without moving, with a little complicated expression on his face.

After announcing the names of those people, the Jade Duke hesitated and said, "Queen Mother, do you want to announce their arrival in the palace?"

Chang Qing's face also became unsightly.

After all, she was admonished just now that "there can be no women in the court to interfere in politics", and now these people are asking for advice, which is no longer within the scope of the harem's management, and she can't stop it lightly, otherwise, these officials in the court will have something to say.

Seeing her hesitation, Father-in-law Yu was also a little hesitant, and said softly, "Niangniang......

She thought about it, then simply turned her head to look at Nangong Jinhong and Fu Badai, and said, "Lord Fu, Lord Nangong, you are all the ministers of the emperor's trust, this-"

This time, without waiting for Nangong Jinhong to speak, Fu Badai opened his mouth first, and he said: "They are all here to meet the emperor, but now that the emperor is not in good health, he is still resting, announce them to the main hall, who will they see?"

Chang Qing immediately nodded and said, "Reasonable." ”

She was about to turn around and tell Father-in-law Yu, but Fang Tongting on the side said: "But, why doesn't Master Fu want to think about it, they came from afar to meet the emperor, it can be seen that they are loyal to the emperor, how can they let them go back without even seeing the emperor's dragon face?"

"yes. Another imperial historian also nodded and said: "If you don't see it, you will be rejected, there has never been such a precedent in this dynasty." ”

This time, Zha Bixing said with a smile: "Is it possible, are a few adults going to let them enter the harem, go to Yihua Palace, the side of the concubine Niangniang, and see the emperor?"

As soon as he opened his mouth, there was really no seriousness!

When the two imperial historians heard this, their faces immediately froze, and Nangong Jinhong next to him also froze there, and for a while he didn't know whether to reprimand him for being rude or reprimanding him for speaking falsely.

It was Fu Badai who slapped him with his backhand: "Who let you talk nonsense!"

Zha Bixing immediately lowered his head and took a step back: "The student knows that he is wrong. ”

Seeing that the situation was a little chaotic, Nangong Jinhong immediately came out and said: "Queen Mother, why don't you even want to see them? These people are the pillars of the court, even if the emperor is not safe at the moment, and cannot be seen, but they may have some new views on the current chaotic situation in the court?"

“……”

Chang Qing's face suddenly became solemn.

What else would these people think?

Once they appear, they will inevitably agree with the previous proposal to expand the inner court, and this expansion, how many people will be absorbed, and how many people will be from Nangong Jinhong's camp, it is really hard to imagine, in this way, the situation will fall into their hands, it is almost inevitable.

Chang Qing gritted his teeth and was about to speak, when Zha Bixing next to him said gracefully: "Lord Nangong, the affairs of the imperial court are the affairs of the imperial court, and the discussion of the inner court will not involve the outer court, so naturally we should not ask others about the problems here." ”

Nangong Jinhong's face turned cold, and he turned his head to look at him: "You mean, the inner court can't be expanded?"

Zha Bixing said with a smile: "Please forgive me, not only can the inner court not be expanded, but at this time, it should also be reduced. ”

"What?shrink?!"

When Nangong Jinhong heard this, he laughed angrily, and the people around him couldn't help laughing when they heard it, and after laughing, he said to Zha Bixing: "Tell me, how small should the inner court shrink?"

Zha Bixing's face still did not change, and even said with a bit of seriousness: "As Master Fu said just now, it is enough to let the prince supervise the country." ”

Nangong Jinhong looked at him coldly: "The prince is in charge of the country, but you also saw it just now, the prince is young, how can he deliver Jiangshan Sheji to him at this moment?"

Zha Bixing said: "The prince is young and embarrassed by heavy responsibilities, so it is not enough to nominate another person to assist the government." ”

Nangong Jinhong had almost sneered - even the problem of the inner court had not been solved, at this time, Zha Bixing would actually propose to nominate a person to assist the government, in their opinion, it was really ridiculous, the current situation, no matter who was promoted, would be opposed by everyone, and it was absolutely impossible for such a person to really appear to calm the struggle between several parties and sit in the position of auxiliary minister.

He sneered: "Then tell me who you are promoting?"

This time, Zha Bixing didn't answer immediately, he just raised his head and looked out of the door.

A figure walked slowly to the door.

At this moment, the sun shone in from behind him, making it a little difficult to see his face, but everyone, when they saw that figure, subconsciously held their breath.