"What a great Empress Dowager! When the last emperor was in power, she interfered in government affairs and made him miserable. I really thought she had repented and went to Hanshan after I ascended the throne. But I didn't expect that she left and my entire court is still under her control. She is really good at tricks. You think I can't do anything to you with the support of the Empress Dowager, right?"
The resentment that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time made Murong Zheng no longer care about his own image. He seemed to be out of control and vented his dissatisfaction with the Empress Dowager.
In the past, the late emperor was often restrained by Empress Dowager Long, and dared not speak out. Even at the moment of his death, he was intimidated by her and told himself to listen to Empress Dowager Long more in the future. But he was not a father who would just accept everything. He tried his best to get rid of her and let her escape to Hanshan. However, there were still court officials who did not know the truth and regarded Empress Dowager Long as a meritorious official of the Great Zhou. Some people even said that she was the patron saint of the Great Zhou.
He admitted that Queen Mother Long had made contributions to the country, but when the world was stable, she should return power to her father and not be attached to power.
Especially now, if it weren't for Queen Mother Long controlling all the officials, how could a scene like today occur
"Your Majesty, I don't agree with what you said. The Empress Dowager fled to Hanshan so that Your Majesty could take sole power and not be constrained by her. The late Emperor obeyed the Empress Dowager's orders because she was selfless and she wanted to protect the people of our Great Zhou. Your Majesty was wrong in what you said. It's not the Empress Dowager who is our supporter, but we and the people of the Great Zhou who are the Empress Dowager's supporters. As long as I am alive, I will not allow you to say such disobedient and unfilial words."
Envoy Zhang Yu, who had been vague and unwilling to speak for Murong Zheng before, suddenly looked up and shouted righteously.
After he finished speaking, he knelt on the ground. After him, a group of civil officials followed Zhang Yushi and knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, the lives of me and my wife were saved by the Empress Dowager because of our loyalty to the Great Zhou. Your words really chill us."
General Chen Jingting, who had rushed back from the border because of the peace talks between Da Zhou and Bei'an, had a change of color in his eyes while he was speaking. When he looked at Murong Zheng, there was a coldness in his eyes that he had never had before.
As soon as he finished speaking, the generals in the court all knelt on the ground at the same time.
"Why, are you trying to force me to abdicate? Force me to invite the Grand Empress Dowager back from Hanshan Mountain, let her be the ruler of the Great Zhou, and let my Murong clan's kingdom follow the Grand Empress Dowager's surname Long?"
"Your Majesty, if the Empress Dowager wanted to change the world to the Long family, would she have to wait until now? The regent King Qingtian back then..." The white-haired Lord Xu spoke again. After he finished speaking, the white beard on his face trembled slightly. His words seemed to be reminiscing.
Murong Zheng looked at the like-minded court officials in front of him, and his face became increasingly grim.
The Grand Empress Dowager was married to the Regent Prince Qingtian. Granduncle Qingtian was in control of the Great Zhou Dynasty at that time, and the Grand Empress Dowager only needed to have a child with her great uncle... However, the Grand Empress Dowager, who had a love stronger than gold with her great uncle and was omnipotent, had no children.
"She is in Hanshan, and she wants you to fight against her and me, the emperor. You deserve to be killed."
"I just know that the Empress Dowager has devoted herself to the Great Zhou and has never had any evil thoughts, so I will speak up for her."
Elder Xu stood up tremblingly and looked at Murong Zheng calmly.
There are not many people left who have watched the Empress Dowager being plotted by the Tong family to marry into the palace, and watched her single-handedly turn the tide for the Great Zhou. If he does not stand up, I am afraid that no one will speak up for her.
"Mr. Xu, you are getting old and confused."
"Your Majesty, although I am old, I can still distinguish between good and evil. But you, Your Majesty, have been blinded by the power of the emperor and bewitched by women to the point that you have forgotten even the affection between your own flesh and blood."
"You are bold."
If the court officials had only embarrassed Murong Zheng quietly just now, then Lord Xu's words were a slap in the face, especially in front of the envoy from Bei'an.
(End of this chapter)