PFC Chapter 395 The final confrontation between the monarch and his subjects!
Chapter 395 The final confrontation between the monarch and his subjects!
"This is the most beautiful oath I have ever heard! Gu Qing, thank you for your hard work!"
Emperor Xia's tone became gentle. He looked at Gu Jingzhi and said with a smile, "I once told you that you, Gu Qing, have the talent to be a minister. In my heart, I also hope that one day you can be made a marquis and become a prime minister, worthy of our relationship as king and subject! But..."
"You can't be the prime minister of Daxia, so I will give you the Dragon Bird of Daxia as compensation!"
"His Majesty……"
Gu Jingzhi didn't know how to answer for a moment.
The Xia Emperor couldn't possibly be unaware of the symbolic significance of the Great Xia Dragon Bird. Abolishing the Prime Minister and establishing a cabinet was partly a precaution against Gu Jingzhi, yet now he bestowed the Great Xia Dragon Bird...
It is impossible for him not to know that with Gu Jingzhi's relationship with the prince, plus Gu Jingzhi's talents... the prince will definitely rely on him after he ascends the throne.
Under such circumstances, if the prime minister system is not abolished, Gu Jingzhi will definitely ascend to the position of being second only to the emperor within a few years.
But how old was Gu Jingzhi at that time?
At most, he was around thirty years old. A thirty-year-old prime minister...
It would be a lie to say there is no threat!
Emperor Xia abolished the prime minister system at this time, on the one hand because he was afraid of Gu Jingzhi, and on the other hand he also wanted to protect it. If Gu Jingzhi really went to that step, it can be foreseen that this capable minister and his Zhou family would face a decisive battle.
No matter who wins or loses, the other party will not end up well!
It was partly to maintain the friendship between the monarch and his subjects, and partly to avoid the outcome he did not want to see.
For the first time, Gu Jingzhi was unsure of Emperor Xia’s intention, and he wanted to refuse!
The Great Xia Dragon Bird, while considered a weapon of supreme power by others, was rather useless to him. Its symbolic significance outweighed its practical significance. After all, it was the sword of the founding emperor. If it fell into the hands of a minister like him, who knew when the crown prince would have a brain attack...
Something happened out of nowhere!
For him, even if there is no symbolic meaning, it will not affect the power in his hands. Why put such a thing between the two of them?
He was unwilling to gamble, after all, the prince was the prince and the emperor was the emperor.
As if he could see Gu Jingzhi's refusal, Emperor Xia simply smiled warmly and said, "I dare not refuse your gift, Elder! In my hands, this sword was used to conquer the world. I hope in yours, it will be used to protect the world... Just treat it as a wish!"
"promise!"
To be honest, this sword has always been in his hand, and Emperor Xia has never taken it back. However, it was different before and now. It was temporary before, but it is permanent now!
After receiving Gu Jingzhi's consent, Emperor Xia waved his hand and said, "Go! I need to see other people later!"
As he spoke, he closed his eyes slightly!
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingzhi slowly left the hall!
……
At this time, the outside of the hall was full of people. The prince was in the front, with the second and third sons, and then there were Wei Xuan, Li Ye and other civil and military officials.
The second son requested to be crowned king a few months ago, and Emperor Xia agreed to the throne, but he was not in a hurry to let him go to his fiefdom. Perhaps he felt that he would not have much time left to live, so he kept his sons by his side.
After the second brother requested to be crowned king, the third brother was also given a title. However, compared to the second brother, the third brother's fiefdom was much more complicated.
It seemed that at the last moment, Emperor Xia had seen through the true nature of the third brother and sealed him in Hengzhou, next to Ningzhou, and made him the King of Heng, a place that was neither near the border nor wealthy.
Moreover, with Gu Jingzhi's base camp Ningzhou surrounding them, it would be difficult to achieve anything.
The third brother naturally refused, but since the imperial edict had been issued, he had no choice.
……
Seeing Gu Jingzhi coming out of the hall, all the civil and military officials were surprised.
They never expected that among these foreign ministers, Gu Jingzhi would be the first to be received. Everyone nodded in tacit understanding.
At this time, eunuchs from Yangju Palace followed out.
"Your Majesty has ordered the princes and officials to enter the palace..."
Upon hearing the decree, everyone immediately straightened their clothes and hats. Gu Jingzhi was also about to return to the ranks of the ministers, but unexpectedly, the eunuch whispered, "Marquis Xiling, His Majesty has ordered you to temporarily take charge of the palace's defense. Your Majesty does not need to enter the palace!"
"???"
Gu Jing subconsciously glanced at the princes, then bowed and took the gold medal handed to him by the eunuch.
To put it bluntly, the Imperial Guards are the emperor's private army. If foreign officials want to mobilize them, they don't need a tiger talisman, they just need a gold medal.
After Gu Jingzhi took on the task, he asked Lin Feng about the defense of the imperial guards. After finding that there was no problem, he chatted with Lin Feng casually.
Lin Feng seemed to still be in shock. He asked uncertainly, "Cousin, is His Majesty's time really up?"
Gu Jingzhi wanted to shake his head, but finally nodded: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid this time..."
"Ugh!"
Lin Feng sighed, "Your Majesty is a good emperor, it's just a pity!"
pity?
Gu Jingzhi glanced sideways slightly?
Lin Feng said, "I've been on duty before the Emperor for a long time, and His Majesty sometimes lets me stay with him, just like when I was a child with my grandfather. Occasionally, His Majesty even gives me advice on military tactics..."
"..."
Gu Jingzhi was silent.
As the founding monarch, where does his true kindness come from?
It's just that I'm old and alone, so when I meet a young man like Lin Feng, I occasionally place my emotions on him.
However, Gu Jingzhi did not point it out directly.
If possible, he didn't want to change the emperor. After all, a boss who was familiar and understood him in all aspects... would make things easier for them.
The two cousins were chatting casually, and soon, a person dressed as a palace maid came over.
"My Lord, the noble invites you!"
Shu Liu, a maidservant beside the Crown Princess.
Gu Jingzhi was slightly stunned. Why did this woman look for him at this time?
However, Gu Jingzhi did not refuse. This was a critical moment, and the woman might have something to do. He said to Lin Feng, "You must take care of the defense around Yangju Palace. No one can be allowed in without my or the prince's order!"
"Ok!"
Lin Feng glanced at Shu Liu. Although he didn't know why the Crown Princess wanted to see his cousin, he didn't say much. He just agreed to what Gu Jingzhi asked him to do.
Gu Jingzhi followed him to a side hall. Shu Liu opened the palace door, lowered his head and made a gesture of invitation, and stood at the door of the hall.
This was the Crown Princess's temporary residence. As soon as Gu Jingzhi entered, he saw the woman coming towards him.
"You're finally here!"
The Crown Princess's brows were filled with worry as she asked, "What's going on outside? Also, the Emperor is..."
Gu Jingzhi said in a gentle voice: "Don't worry, there's nothing going on outside. I'm in charge of the palace's defense now, and no disturbance will escape my eyes and ears!"
"call!"
The Crown Princess patted her towering peaks and said lightly, "You don't know, he suddenly brought us into the palace this morning, I was almost scared to death!"
"By the way, where's the emperor? This time it's really..."