The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife-Chapter 2377 - 23079: Discussing the Appointment of a Prime Minister

"It’s him!"

Ye Zi’an didn’t say much, only saying, "You’ll find out later."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Though His Highness Crown Prince felt suspicious, he did not inquire further, assuming Ye Zi’an preferred limited contact after leaving the court, using Lele as a messenger instead.

After saying everything necessary, they dined at Prince An’s Mansion, and His Highness Crown Prince returned to the palace.

"What do you think of him?" After he left, Ye Zi’an asked Lele.

"Not lacking in innocence, has some thoughts but insufficient depth."

Ye Zi’an nodded, "Indeed, otherwise the Emperor wouldn’t choose him. Innocence is a virtue to treat brothers and ministers well, some thoughts to not be deceived by treacherous ministers, but depth, he’s still young."

And as soon as His Highness Crown Prince returned to the palace, he was summoned by the Emperor.

"So, what did Marquis Changning say?"

"Say what?" His Highness Crown Prince was a bit bewildered.

Baili Yan looked sharply at him, "Didn’t you go to persuade Marquis Changning not to resign?"

His Highness Crown Prince suddenly recalled Ye Zi’an’s words, steadied his spirit, and said, "I only heard that Uncle was sick and went to visit him. We didn’t discuss much else. Then Aunt kept me for a meal, hence I just returned to the palace."

Upon hearing this, Baili Yan didn’t press further and let him leave.

He felt quite irritated inside; that Ye Zi’an, several people went to see him but he never budged. Wants to leave the capital, does he? I simply won’t let you leave.

Thus, the next day, a royal decree was sent to Prince An’s Mansion, ordering him to immediately handle a major case for the Ministry of Criminal Justice.

Once the major case was wrapped up, he was sent to the Ministry of Revenue to audit accounts, and when that was done, he was tasked with the Ministry of Rites to help prepare the heavenly sacrifice. In short, within a month, he was sent to all six key ministries, running around, with no time to think about anything else.

Seeing he no longer mentioned resignation, Baili Yan was satisfied.

Soon, it was the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, the last court assembly of the year in Great Zhou.

Yet on this day, Emperor Baili Yan dropped another bombshell. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"The dynasty has been established for over a decade. Since the Prime Minister retired to his hometown five years ago, the chief ministerial position has been vacant. What do you esteemed officials think?"

The ministers looked at each other; is the Emperor planning to appoint a new Prime Minister?

Over the past five years, they had proposed this more than once, but each time was rejected by the Emperor. Why bring up the appointment again now?

"Ye Zi’an, what’s your opinion?"

"I have no opinion," he thought for a while, then added, "Whether appointed or not, it’s the same."

After Ye Zi’an said this, he suddenly felt a chill around him, glanced up, and saw countless cold stares.

"Lord Marquis, I beg to differ," said one minister. "The ancients said that without rules, nothing can form a pattern. Since Great Zhou was founded, the Prime Minister has been the chief among officials, assisting the Emperor in managing concerns and difficulties, coordinating and summarizing the memorials from various regions, and presenting the most critical ones to the Emperor. However, in recent years without a Prime Minister, officials at the same level don’t recognize a hierarchy, and no one obeys anyone else, causing memorials from various ministries to be presented en masse without distinction. Important matters are delayed, while trivial ones are solved early."

"Therefore, I believe a Prime Minister needs to be appointed promptly."

Though this minister spoke out of self-interest, aspiring to be Prime Minister, what he said was true, or else Baili Yan wouldn’t be considering the appointment at this time.

"Reporting to the Emperor, I also believe a Prime Minister should be appointed."

"I second that..."

"..."