When the eunuch Bi Jin led the three people to the palace of Empress Dowager Bian, a eunuch had already trotted over to report.
Empress Dowager Bian was over sixty years old. When she was sitting in the palace, she heard from the eunuch that Prince Yongqiu, who had left Luoyang for several years, had come to the palace to visit her today. She ran out of the palace in a hurry.
"Zhi'er, it's really my Zhi'er." After Empress Dowager Bian roughly saw Cao Zhi's appearance from three meters away, the emotions that had been suppressed in her heart for years could no longer be suppressed, and she shouted from a distance.
"A son greets his mother." Cao Zhi could not hide his sadness and joy, and immediately stepped forward and knelt on the ground.
In his early years, his youngest son Cao Xiong died before he reached adulthood. His eldest son Cao Pi also had a long-standing feud with his two sons Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi. First, her husband died, and a few years later, the second son died of an unclear illness. The eldest son then drove the third son far away to his fiefdom, and then the eldest son died too.
Putting aside the halo of the royal family, the feeling of desolation behind the royal family's wealth is difficult to conceal.
"Hurry up, Zhi'er." Empress Dowager Bian looked carefully at her only living son: "You have grown some white hair."
Cao Zhi stood up and said, "Is my mother still healthy? Your Majesty has transferred me to Luoyang as an official, and I have been living in Luoyang since then."
Bian's eyes were surprised for a moment, but then they showed some confusion and suspicion: "Zhi'er, let's go inside and talk."
After saying that, he reached out and took Cao Zhi's arm and walked inside.
Liu Ye and Yang Fu looked at each other, and Yang Fu nodded slightly without showing any expression. Liu Ye and Yang Fu then followed.
When they were about to reach the palace gate, Empress Dowager Bian heard footsteps behind her and turned around with a look of surprise.
Liu Ye was a veteran minister who had served three dynasties, so she recognized him. The man beside her was standing side by side with Liu Ye, so he must be a similar role to the Minister of the Court.
"Liu Shizhong." Empress Dowager Bian asked with displeasure, "Did His Majesty ask you to escort Prince Yongqiu here? You two should wait outside the palace first. I want to talk to Prince Yongqiu about some matters between mother and son."
Liu Ye was good at planning and making decisions, and now was the time to make a decision.
On the way to the Empress Dowager's palace, Liu Ye kept thinking about His Majesty's various ways of treating the royal family and His Majesty's attitude.
Although Your Majesty has re-employed Cao Hong and Cao Zhi, who were abandoned by the previous emperor, it seems that Your Majesty does not care much about these two people emotionally. Instead, just like appointing officials, he has more political considerations.
The King of Yongqiu... must be using him while on guard. Your Majesty must be aware of what happened during the Jian'an period.
Otherwise, why did His Majesty ask us to accompany Prince Yongqiu to see the Empress Dowager just now?
Liu Ye bowed respectfully and said, "Grand Empress Dowager, His Majesty asked us to accompany Prince Yongqiu to pay respect to the Grand Empress Dowager, but he did not allow us to leave for a while."
"Please allow the two of us to enter the palace, Empress Dowager."
Yang Fu also said, "Grand Empress Dowager, this is exactly the truth."
"Who are you?" Empress Dowager Bian looked at Yang Fu and asked with a little anger.
"I am the newly appointed Minister of the Court, Yang Fu, Yang Yishan."
Bian wanted to start scolding, but when she thought of the eunuch who was executed by the emperor in her palace, she felt a little uneasy. Since it was the emperor's order, it must be directed at Cao Zhi. For the sake of her own son, Zhi'er, she should give in for the time being.
"Let's go, Zhi'er." Bian turned around and pulled Cao Zhi inside, completely ignoring the two people behind her.
Cao Zhi felt a little helpless in his heart, but this was Luoyang, His Majesty's palace, so what could he do?
Liu Ye and Yang Fu took out the guise of the emperor and insisted on following in. Although Empress Dowager Bian could not stop them, she could still refuse to give them seats. While Bian was chatting with Cao Zhi, Liu Ye and Yang Fu stood aside with their hands folded at a distance of ten feet.
At a distance of ten feet, the whispers between Bian and Cao Zhi could not be heard clearly. If they were closer, it would be too rude. Liu Ye thought that he could report to His Majesty in this way.
Bian frowned and asked, "Zhi'er, why did His Majesty transfer you to Luoyang as an official?"
Unlike Cao Zhi who was obsessed with realizing his life value, she was more worried about the safety of Cao Zhi's life. When his mother asked, Cao Zhi had to tell the story again, which he had said countless times.
But as Cao Zhi continued to speak, Bian's expression became more and more worried: "Zhi'er, Rui'er didn't tell you about what happened in Luoyang at the beginning of this year?"
"What's the matter?" Cao Zhi asked puzzledly.
"At the beginning of the year, a thief in Luoyang spread rumors and claimed that he wanted to support you as emperor..." After Empress Dowager Bian finished talking about this major case at the beginning of the year, she glanced at Liu Ye and Yang Fu, and then continued: "You came to Luoyang to serve as an official, but you didn't know about this?"
Cao Zhi was shocked: "I really didn't know about this! But your majesty and others didn't mention it to me!"
"I am increasingly unable to understand Rui'er's actions." Bian shook her head slightly: "Since Rui'er has never told you and has granted you an official position regardless of past grudges, I believe he will not care. But after you come to Luoyang, you must be extremely careful and cautious in everything, and don't cause yourself trouble." Cao Zhi replied: "Mother is right, but Xun Hong is my old official, and he is still in prison. Is there any way to rescue him?"
"Rescue?" Empress Dowager Bian's face fell instantly: "Still thinking about saving others? Take care of yourself first. Zhi'er, do you know that about ten days ago, Rui'er beat a eunuch in my palace to death on the charge of communicating with the inside and outside?"
"Communicate inside and outside?" Cao Zhi was puzzled for a moment. But after listening to his mother's narration of Cao Hong's previous affairs, Cao Zhi finally felt the turmoil in Luoyang City and roughly guessed the emperor's style of doing things.
For members of the royal family, you can do things, but you cannot cross the line.
Liu Ye and Yang Fu stood not far away, watching the mother and son chatting in low voices. After chatting for nearly an hour, Liu Ye bowed and said, "Report to the Empress Dowager, His Majesty is still in the study waiting for Prince Yongqiu to return."
Bian looked at Liu Ye deeply, reached out and touched Cao Zhi's face, then stood up and said, "Zhi'er, go back with the two attendants, don't make His Majesty wait anxiously."
"My son understands." Cao Zhi looked at his mother and said goodbye.
On the way back to the study, Cao Zhi, Liu Ye and Yang Fu were walking on the road, feeling a lot of emotions. My mother just said that she had a few more white hairs, but isn't my mother's hair all white too?
Cao Zhi thought about it and couldn't help asking Liu Ye about what Empress Dowager Bian had just mentioned. He didn't dare to ask Xun, but it would be okay to ask Cao Hong.
"Mr. Liu," Cao Zhi asked, "The Empress Dowager just mentioned to me the case of General Wei's family's obscene sacrifice a few days ago."
"The Empress Dowager only knows that General Wei is fine, but she doesn't know how he was dealt with?"
The emperor did indeed reduce Cao Hong's two hundred households, but he did not announce the matter to the public. However, for several days, the Empress Dowager in the harem was still unaware of it.
At this time, the emperor was not in front of him, so Liu Ye did not refuse the title of "Mr. Liu". He stroked his beard and said tentatively: "Your Majesty has punished General Wei and reduced his fiefdom of 200 households."
"Is it just the reduction of two hundred households?" Cao Zhi asked.
Liu Ye glanced at Cao Zhi and then laughed, "Aren't two hundred households enough? General Wei only got three hundred households in this southern expedition. How can we punish him?"
Cao Zhi just nodded thoughtfully and did not respond.
Seeing this, Liu Ye continued, "This matter can be small or big. It is not only related to 'improper sacrifice', but also involves the laws of the Wei Dynasty. Your Majesty is preparing to hold a court meeting to discuss with the court officials how to revise the laws of the Wei Dynasty."
"New laws?" Cao Zhi was stunned for a few moments before saying, "The laws are complicated. Is it true that Wei is still using the laws of the Han Dynasty? In the early years, I discussed this with the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Handan. Both of these learned men believed that the laws should be changed."
Cao Zhi was talking about Wei Ji and Handan Chun. Perhaps Cao Zhi had indeed talked to these two people when Cao Cao was still alive, but Liu Ye did not want to listen to Cao Zhi's past affairs.
Liu Ye interrupted, "Emperor Wu was fond of magic, and the world has valued criminal law ever since. There are many ministers in the court who are good at law, so this matter should not be difficult to handle."
Cao Zhi nodded, thought for a moment and asked again: "Laws and decrees are naturally not a problem, but culture and education are different. I heard that Your Majesty said that you want to appoint Gao Tanglong as the chief priest of Chongwen Temple. I remember that this person was in Your Majesty's Eastern Palace. What position does he hold now?"
"Imperial College," Liu Ye replied, "Doctor Gao is currently serving as an official in the Imperial College, in charge of the daily administration of the Imperial College."
"Dr. Gaotang is open-minded, knowledgeable, and easy to get along with. I'm sure the king will have no problem working with Dr. Gaotang."
"What do you mean by working together? I want to be a subordinate of the doctor in the hall." Seeing that the study was just around the corner, Cao Zhi quickly stretched out his right hand: "Mr. Liu, Mr. Yang, please."
Liu Ye was about to push the throne to Cao Zhi, but Yang Fu stepped in without any hesitation.
Cao Zhi could only force out a bitter smile.
Cao Zhi's entry into the palace was nothing new to the emperor's attendants, after all, she had come with the emperor from Chenliu. But for Cao Zhen and Sima Yi, the "old party of the previous emperor", it seemed awkward and strange.
Sima Yi was walking out of the West Pavilion where Cao Zhen and Dong Zhao were staying. Sima Sikong, who had just gone to look for Dong Zhao, looked up and saw Cao Zhi in the courtyard.
As smart as Sima Yi was, he was also stunned for a moment. It was Sima Yi and his men who assisted the late emperor in getting rid of Cao Zhi.
Today, I actually saw it in the palace. Although I had heard that His Majesty had promised Cao Zhi a civil service position, the shock I felt from hearing about it and seeing it with my own eyes was different.
Sima Yi's face is quite distinctive, with the so-called eagle-eyed and wolf-like look.
Although Cao Zhi no longer resented his brother, he was gone, leaving only memories. But Cao Zhi still found it hard to let go of those people who fanned the flames around his brother. (End of this chapter)
