Chapter 1811: Xie's mother is seriously ill

A piece of news was quietly circulating among the powerful in the capital.

Xie Changling's parents lived in their hometown. A while ago, Xie's mother went out to offer incense, and there was chaos in the temple; the Xie family servants were in a mess, and Xie's mother had a fall.

The old lady was old, and the thing she feared most was falling.

Xie's mother fell down and was bedridden. It was said that the situation was very bad!

If by any chance...

Everyone looked towards the Xie Mansion.

If by any chance...

If Minister Xie were to pass away, the court would likely change.

Zhao Jichong had been unusually excited and uneasy these days; although he put on a calm appearance, he couldn't hide it from those with keen minds.

The Emperor on the dragon throne also had an exceptionally friendly attitude these days, looking like everything was negotiable, a change from his previous irritable and mean appearance.

Linking it to the Xie family's affairs, it was not difficult for everyone to guess: could it be that there was something fishy about Xie's mother's fall?

Everyone was shocked.

Looking at Emperor Yuanding and Zhao Jichong, the gazes of this pair of monarch and subject were instantly filled with questions and vigilance, as well as fear and anxiety.

If this matter really had something to do with this pair of monarch and subject, it was not just shocking; it clearly broke the bottom line of monarch and subject and ruined the rules of the court. This was a muddled monarch and a treacherous subject!

Those who were emotionally agitated showed anger when facing Zhao Jichong.

Zhao Jichong felt guilty and didn't dare to investigate further.

He was actually worried and very scared in his heart.

Of course, he didn't dare to kill Minister Xie's parents.

First, the difficulty was very high. Wealthy families were accustomed to raising martial artists as guards. The Xie family's hometown was like a wall of copper and iron, and there was simply no opportunity to take action. Choosing to take action when Xie's mother went out to worship Buddha was just to create chaos when there were many people, causing Xie's mother to fall. Just this little thing wasted several secret agents. It could be seen how strict the Xie family's guards were.

Second, he was afraid of Xie Changling's retaliation afterward, losing his life. Xie Changling was not a good person; he killed without blinking and without seeing blood.

Therefore, he didn't dare to take things to the extreme.

The Emperor's orders had to be completed, and the friendship with colleagues had to be maintained; it exhausted him.

Having finally finished the task in front of the Emperor, now he had to face the scrutiny of his colleagues in the officialdom; he wished he could find an excuse to hide.

In the end, it was because his skin was thin.

Everyone was secretly observing Xie Changling's reaction.

Xie Changling had no reaction and worked as usual. He only arranged for his young son and young daughter to take several carts of medicinal materials back to their ancestral home to serve his mother. His eldest son remained by his side to gain experience and could not delay his future.

His steadiness stabilized the members of the alliance who had become anxious because of Xie's mother's injury; everyone's emotions calmed down, and things did not become chaotic as Emperor Yuanding had expected.

Emperor Yuanding was very disappointed.

Privately, he discussed with Zhao Jichong, "Could it be that the heat is not enough?"

"Your Majesty, the heat is quite enough."

Zhao Jichong was scared!

He was afraid that the Emperor would come up with another ghost idea, and he would die. Sooner or later, he would be forced to death by the Emperor!

Emperor Yuanding was dissatisfied and frowned. "Since the heat is enough, why is it not chaotic?"

"Minister Xie has presided over the court for more than ten years, like a pillar supporting the sky. As long as he is not chaotic, those below cannot be chaotic, and the world cannot be chaotic."

Emperor Yuanding didn't like hearing this; it was annoying!

What did that mean?

If Xie Changling was the pillar supporting the sky, then what was he, the Emperor? A decoration?

Which side was Zhao Jichong on?

He suppressed his anger and did not break out.

"In the current situation, I am not happy to see it. Think of a way to make them mess up their own positions. As long as they become chaotic, I will have a reason to take action and eradicate them all together."

This was the worst point of imperial power being suppressed.

Wanting to deal with someone, wanting to punish someone, could not rely solely on an imperial decree. It must go through the Three Judicial Offices.

The Emperor wanting to override the law with power, dealing with people privately, or granting favors privately, was absolutely impossible.

If it were during the time of Emperor Taixing, Emperor Taixing strictly protected Jiang Tu, saying he would protect him, and he protected him! The entire court of civil and military officials could do nothing about Jiang Tu until the day Emperor Taixing died.

Compared to his grandfather and father, Emperor Yuanding was indeed aggrieved.

His mood was very bad.

He had had enough of the days of being suppressed by the power of the prime minister.

He urgently needed to find an opportunity to break through the power cage woven by Xie Changling and be an Emperor whose words were law.

Zhao Jichong desperately started his brain.

He thought of an entry point. "Your Majesty, firewood in the capital is becoming more expensive by the day, and the people are suffering. According to my understanding, the mountains and forests outside the city are all controlled by powerful families, and private exploitation by the people is not allowed. The firewood needed daily in the capital is transported from a hundred miles away, and the cost is quite high. During the time of the late Emperor, feeling that the capital's climate was bad and dust was flying, he once ordered that logging be prohibited in the mountains and forests around the capital for ten years. The ten-year period has arrived; why doesn't Your Majesty order the resumption of logging in the mountains and forests near the capital?"

Emperor Yuanding frowned. "What does this matter have to do with what I want to do?"

"Your Majesty can issue a decree to order the resumption of logging in the mountains and forests outside the capital to suppress the price of firewood. Those powerful families who control the mountains and forests near the capital will definitely not agree, and the court will inevitably have turmoil. Those powerful families have supported Minister Xie quite a bit on weekdays. At that time, Your Majesty can take the opportunity to kill the chicken to warn the monkey and raid a few families."

Oh?

Emperor Yuanding was half-believing and half-doubting.

Could a little firewood have such lethality? It wasn't food.

"Your Majesty, please observe!" Zhao Jichong knew the Emperor didn't believe it and hurriedly explained: "The capital is big, and it is not easy to live. It is not just that housing prices are high, but the firewood needed daily in the vast capital is no less than a million piculs, for three meals a day, especially in the cold winter months, it is inseparable from firewood. Its importance to people's livelihood is no less than food. You won't die if you are hungry for two days, but you will definitely die if you are frozen for two days in winter. This matter concerns the livelihood and well-being of millions of people in the capital, and Your Majesty should attach importance to it."

Emperor Yuanding pondered for a while and nodded secretly. "Official Zhao's words are reasonable. Order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate clearly the ownership of all mountains and forests near the capital, and investigate clearly the changes in firewood prices over the past twenty years. Since I want to take action against these people, I must be fully prepared. Official Zhao, I leave this matter to you to handle. Don't be like the last time, with a tiger's head and a snake's tail, intercepted halfway. If you can't handle it well this time, don't come to see me!"

Zhao Jichong bowed to accept the order and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the Emperor didn't ask him to kill Xie Changling's parents, anything would do.

Provoking party strife was acting within the rules of the officialdom. He had no psychological burden. Killing a colleague's parents was completely breaking the bottom line and destroying the rules of the officialdom; not only would others despise him, but he would also despise himself.

Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xia Qiuhong received the task and sharpened his knife.

He was worried that he wasn't killing enough people and that the money he was defrauding wasn't enough. Now, using the excuse of investigating mountains and forests, he was going to kill a batch fiercely. He would make his name known.

Yang Deguang was a fart.

Xiao Jincheng was also a fart!

Sooner or later, he would become the benchmark of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pressing Xiao Jincheng firmly underneath. One day, as long as he found an opportunity, he would definitely kill Xiao Jincheng.

The rules of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were that no one could leave the position of Commander alive, and Xiao Jincheng was no exception! Rules were rules.

In the future, if he left the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it would be the same end, and he would accept it calmly. ===== CHAPTER 1812 =====