books44 Chapter 422 Open Provocation
Chapter 422 Open Provocation
"Do you think I can't do anything to you, Sun Yunhe?" After thinking this, the Emperor slammed his fist on the table, stood up, and shouted in a cold voice.
"Sun Yunhe, you've gone too far! How could you treat me like I'm invisible?" Wei Zhongxian was a little surprised. The emperor was different today. If it were any other time, even Sun Yunhe, who was by Wei Zhongxian's side, would have been the one to teach the civil and military officials a lesson.
The Emperor would usually turn a blind eye, but things are different now. The Emperor seems to be in a bad mood lately. Thinking of this, Wei Zhongxian's cheek muscles twitched involuntarily several times.
Wei Zhongxian tugged at Sun Yunhe beside him: "Can't you calm down? What kind of occasion is this? You've openly provoked the Emperor, do you have multiple heads?" Wei Zhongxian's words immediately made Sun Yunhe even angrier.
Sun Yunhe felt that Wei Zhongxian was now an all-powerful figure in the court. Wasn't he just an emperor? And a paper tiger at that? Sun Yunhe sneered and immediately took a few steps back.
Chen Er sighed and then looked at the Emperor: "Your Majesty, I will take care of Zhao Tianming's matter. I will personally deliver Zhao Tianming's head to you." Chen Er said very seriously.
Chen Er's attitude softened the Emperor's expression slightly. The Emperor coughed, not even glancing at Wei Zhongxian, but looking at Zhang Xingchen and Chen Er instead.
"You two have made great contributions. Moreover, Chen Er captured Zhao Tianming and helped the Ming Dynasty recover some of its losses. Now Chen Er has been promoted from the first rank to the second rank." After saying this, the Emperor paused slightly and swept his cold eyes across the civil and military officials.
It was obvious that anyone who got even slightly close to Wei Zhongxian looked extremely displeased. Chen Er had only captured Zhao Tianming and raided a small treasury, so why was he promoted from a first-rank official to a second-rank official in such a short time? Many people were unhappy about this.
Wei Zhongxian did not speak, because there were many things he did not need to say himself. He simply gave Sun Yunhe a subtle wink, and Sun Yunhe immediately understood. He took a step forward, bowed to the Emperor, and then spoke earnestly.
"Your Majesty, I feel that your decision is a bit too rash. Chen Er is still young. How can he be promoted directly from the first rank to the second rank? I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."
It was obvious that Sun Yunhe did not want Chen Er to be promoted from the first rank to the second rank, as this would elevate Chen Er's status accordingly.
If they wanted to deal with Chen Er again, it would be no easy task. Therefore, Chen Er's rise to power was immediately obstructed by Wei Zhongxian's faction. What the emperor did not expect was that it was not only Wei Zhongxian who was obstructed.
Even Zhao Beixing's faction came to obstruct them, but this time it wasn't Zhao Beixing who spoke up, but Qin Zhongting.
At this moment, Qin Zhongting also took a step forward: "Your Majesty, I hope you will reconsider. Putting aside Chen Er's character, the fact that he was promoted from the first rank to the second rank just for handling a small case will surely make many civil and military officials dissatisfied."
Qin Zhongting is an extremely clever man, and he must be a cunning old fox in the imperial court.
Qin Zhongting directly brought out all the civil and military officials, which put the emperor in a difficult position. If it were Wei Zhongxian's faction that came to obstruct, the emperor might have forced Chen Er to be promoted to the second rank. But now even Qin Zhongting's faction was coming to obstruct.
This left the emperor somewhat bewildered. Although the emperor never went out, he was still aware of what was happening in the outside world.
Take, for example, the relationship between Chen Er and Qin Luoshen. Qin Luoshen is Qin Zhongting's biological daughter. Logically speaking, the emperor should promote Chen Er by one rank, from a first-rank official to a second-rank official.
Qin Zhongting should be happy, so why is he trying to stop us? The Emperor immediately looked puzzled.
"Qin Zhongting, I've heard that your daughter, Qin Luoshen, is living with Chen Er. What's wrong? Are you unhappy about my promotion of Chen Er, or are you afraid that Chen Er will gradually catch up with you and make you feel pressured?"
Faced with the Emperor's teasing, Qin Zhongting's facial muscles twitched involuntarily several times. After thinking for a while, Qin Zhongting's eyes darted around, and he finally found a way to back down. Qin Zhongting stumbled and knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, I beg you to do me justice. I have been unable to eat or sleep well lately, and I have been troubled by a problem." Qin Zhongting's voice was filled with grief and indignation, which immediately attracted the attention of all the civil and military officials of the court.
Even the Emperor was a little curious. He couldn't help but curse in his heart, "You Qin Zhongting, still putting on an act in front of me. You can't eat or sleep well, and now you look like a pig." Although the Emperor thought this, he still pretended to be righteous and awe-inspiring on the surface.
"Qin Zhongting, you're a veteran now. If you have any problems, just ask. I'll definitely help you make the decisions. Who's making you unable to eat or sleep properly?"
The Emperor's voice was very gentle, making Qin Zhongting feel as if he were bathed in a spring breeze. Qin Zhongting knew, of course, that it was time for him to smear Chen Er.
With tears streaming down his face, Qin Zhongting said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, you know I only have one daughter. I cherish her dearly, Qin Luoshen has always been the apple of my eye."
"But Qin Luoshen is a disappointment; she actually fell in love with Chen Er, and that beast Chen Er is just like Zhao Tianming."
At this point, Qin Zhongting seemed unable to continue, his lips began to tremble, and tears welled up in his eyes. Before the Emperor could even express his opinion, Wei Zhongxian stepped forward, gritting his teeth.
"Your Majesty, did you hear that? You just promoted Chen Er from the first rank to the second rank. Do you see that now? What kind of dog is this second-rank official in your eyes that dares to treat a woman like this?" Wei Zhongxian pretended to be furious.
If we were to ask the Emperor to trust Qin Zhongting more than Chen Er, it would undoubtedly be Qin Zhongting, given that Qin Zhongting has been by the Emperor's side for over a decade.