Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 796 - 2: Prime Minister Extra Story (Part 2)
On the day the Left General returned, Her Majesty the Empress conferred upon him the title of Marquis Wei Yuan.
On the day Chief Historian Chen returned to the Capital City, Her Majesty the Empress appointed him Chancellor of the Da Liang Dynasty.
Such honors and royal favor are enough for Marquis Wei Yuan and Chancellor Chen to remember for a lifetime. Among the court officials, while they talked about it with relish, they couldn’t help but feel envious.
They too longed for such favor!
Especially Minister Dong of the Ministry of Rites, who had always been on good terms with Chancellor Chen. He felt very envious. However, he was mentally prepared for this. If it hadn’t been for Prime Minister Wang holding on without stepping down, Chief Historian Chen would not have had to wait over a year and would have become Prime Minister long ago. Leaving aside the Prime Minister, he could be content with being the second among the civil servants as the Minister of Rites.
With a new Chancellor in the Da Liang Court, a new pattern quickly emerged. At the grand court meetings, Chancellor Chen stood at the forefront of all officials. At the smaller court meetings, without Chancellor Chen’s word, all the ministers had to wait patiently.
When a new official takes office, they always start with a burst of energy. Chancellor Chen fully understood this and was not in a hurry to show his warm and gentle side. Borrowing the might of the Emperor, he quickly established his prestige as Chancellor.
Some curious individuals privately discussed the differences between Prime Minister Wang and Chancellor Chen.
"When Prime Minister Wang was in power, he was domineering and dictatorial, allowing no question. If you wanted Prime Minister Wang to bend the rules, you had to spend a lot of silver."
"This Chancellor Chen is exactly the opposite. He doesn’t accept a single gift, returning them all. He does everything impartially, which actually makes him harder to deal with."
Isn’t it indeed harder to deal with?
For the officials, forming cliques and court struggles are their familiar and skilled areas. Prime Minister Wang’s practices had continued for decades, and everyone was accustomed to it.
Now with Chancellor Chen, everything is handled impartially, meaning they can no longer muddle through and must really focus on performing their duties well. Over the past year or so, since the new Emperor ascended to the throne, the court atmosphere has long since changed. However, the Emperor can’t watch every single person, so they still have some breathing room. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
When Chancellor Chen took office, he was truly relentless. In less than two months, he dismissed three capital officials who were occupying their positions without doing their jobs.
Chancellor Chen was not worried about having no one to use. The Da Liang Dynasty had a hundred new advanced scholars and many officials waiting for appointments. Just pulling out a few rotten carrots and selecting suitable replacements was enough.
Chancellor Chen’s series of actions served as a warning to all officials. The courtiers became ever more cautious and diligent.
Minister Zhang was the most upset.
The promotion of officials below the third-rank used to be the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel. Now with Chancellor Chen continuously making personnel changes, it feels like a hand reaching into the Ministry of Personnel. Yet as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he can’t object. The Chancellor is the head of all officials, and all Six Ministers must listen to the Chancellor. Back when Emperor Taikang’s health was frail, it was Prime Minister Wang who managed the state affairs. During Emperor Taihe’s reign, even amidst the two factions vying for power, daily government matters were decided by Prime Minister Wang.
Now sitting on the Dragon Throne is the resolute and strong-tempered Empress Zhaoping. The newly appointed Chancellor has Her Majesty’s trust and support, making personnel changes boldly without anyone daring to oppose, and without the right to oppose.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the end of the year.
Her Majesty the Empress changed into regular attire and quietly left the court for the Nanyang Prince Mansion.
No, it should be called the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
That’s right, with just a wave of her hand, Her Majesty the Empress bestowed the former Nanyang Prince Mansion upon Chancellor Chen. Chancellor Chen tried to decline, but Her Majesty the Empress laughed directly, "You and Chen Sheren have been residing in the Prince Mansion in the Capital City for over a year. Now I am officially granting the residence to you, no need to be formal with me."
"In the future, when I have some free time and wish to leave the palace, going to the Prime Minister’s Mansion will be just like returning home."
The benevolence of the Emperor is so great that there is no way to repay it, only by dedicating oneself fully.
The plaque of the Nanyang Prince Mansion was replaced with one reading Chen Mansion.
The invitations delivered to the Prime Minister’s Mansion each day piled up like a mountain, comparable to when Prime Minister Wang’s power was at its peak.
The Wang Family, located a few streets away from Chen Mansion, now found themselves with much more leisure.
How practical the officials are! They are all busy ingratiating themselves with the new Chancellor. As for the Wang Family, luckily, there is still Wang Zhongshu Ling to maintain the household, so it’s not too deserted. By the end of the year, there were still quite a few officials delivering invitations and New Year gifts. However, those in higher positions would not easily visit; it was mostly mid to lower-level officials.
Prime Minister Wang felt displeased, venting sarcastically in front of his son: "Look here! The eyes of the courtiers are bright. The Emperor previously elevated you because of this Prime Minister. Yet you, in your foolishness, kept urging your father to step down from the court as soon as possible."
"Now that I’ve truly stepped down, who still takes you seriously? They’re all kissing up to the new Chancellor."
Wang Jin knew his father was unhappy, so he consoled him with a smile: "Chancellor Chen is a trusted minister of the Emperor. When the Emperor was once Nanyang County Princess, for half a year every year, the internal affairs of the Prince Mansion were managed by Chief Historian Chen."
"I’ve only served the Emperor for a little over a year. Chief Historian Chen has worked in the Nanyang Prince Mansion for more than thirty years. How can this even be compared."
"In the officialdom, seniority is built up slowly, and the Emperor’s favor and the trust between monarch and ministers are also cultivated over time."
"This is the principle you, father, taught me. I have always remembered it in my heart."
Prime Minister Wang was rendered speechless and let out a humph.
Wang Jin chuckled, changing the subject: "Today, the Emperor leaving the palace for the Prime Minister’s Mansion is because of Chen Sheren. We should also prepare a generous gift to send over."
Early today, Chen Sheren had a sudden stomach pain that lasted half the day, and by noon, gave birth to a child. Upon hearing the news, the Emperor left the palace that afternoon.
Such a bond is what truly evokes envy.
Prime Minister Wang’s brow moved slightly, and he suddenly said: "Chen Sheren has given birth to a son with this child, only a year younger than Princess Bao’er."
"You should also quickly marry and bring a wife home, have a son early whose age difference with the Princess should not exceed three years."
Wang Jin: "..."
Wang Jin was both amused and at a loss: "Father’s thinking is too far ahead."
Prime Minister Wang glanced at Wang Jin: "What’s so far ahead about this. It’s a matter right before our eyes. Back when the Crown Prince was selecting companions for reading, your age was just right, so you were chosen to enter the palace as the Crown Prince’s Companion."
"In the blink of an eye, children can grow up. In a few years, Princess Bao’er will start her education, and she will definitely choose a reading companion. Knowing Her Majesty the Empress’s temperament, she might appoint Princess Bao’er as the Crown Prince. The future position of the Crown Prince’s Companion, the Wang Family must at least secure one."
"If you delay in having children, a suitable candidate can surely be found among your brothers’ families."
These were just words of frustration from Prime Minister Wang.
The position of the Crown Prince’s Companion is not something that can casually be filled by just anyone. Family background, imperial favor, and all must be accounted for, in addition to being clever and quick-witted, able to catch the Emperor’s eye.
Wang Jin remained silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Prime Minister Wang immediately said: "I will write to the Cui Family at once to move up the wedding date by half a year. Choose an auspicious day in April for you to marry and bring your bride home."
