Chapter 303: Chapter 213: The Crown Prince as Regent, Scolding the Officials, Civil and Martial Officials Resign, a Political Earthquake

"The Minister of Rites is to be temporarily suspended from his post. The entire current Cabinet will be restructured. Their final disposition will be decided at a later date, pending further review."

"Furthermore, starting today, I will establish the Eastern Palace Mansion. It will assist in and supervise all civil and military officials. I will also dispatch the Forbidden Army Townhouse Department to stand guard. My palace has no need for eunuchs. In all major matters, I will have the authority to act first and report later."

When he finished speaking, all the civil and military officials of the Imperial Court were utterly stunned.

They could accept the major shake-up in the Ministry of Rites. After all, something this monumental had occurred. To put it bluntly, even if the Ministry of Rites had nothing to do with it, they still had to shoulder some of the blame.

The Ministry of Rites had been responsible for the political marriage, so it would be indefensible not to punish them severely.

But targeting someone at the rank of Minister was going too far. The Minister of Rites was a Celestial Official! He had a hand in nearly every affair of the Great Yan Dynasty; fundamentally, only the Holy Emperor had the authority to remove him.

The Cabinet was being restructured and the Chief Minister suspended. Although it was only temporary, this "temporary" status was even more terrifying. There were so many people below them, eyeing that very position.

Besides, wasn’t this restructuring too extreme? With so many unresolved issues, who would be left to manage the government if the Cabinet was in upheaval?

Once the Cabinet was restructured, countless people would be implicated. Numerous factions, both large and small, would be toppled. It was just that drastic.

’Is this really the Holy Emperor’s will?’

’It couldn’t be Lu Mingyuan’s idea, could it?’

However, as the imperial edict was read aloud, everyone understood that it was the Holy Emperor who wanted the restructuring, not the Crown Prince.

Lu Mingyuan finally understood why he had to be the one to announce this. ’My Father Emperor is using me as a shield.’

’Use the Cabinet restructuring to force out my own maternal grandfather, then leave the whole mess for me. I’ll be completely overwhelmed.’

Since the Holy Emperor himself was restructuring the Cabinet, no one dared to say much, even if they had objections.

After all, if the Emperor was displeased, he could find any reason to replace a group of officials. What could anyone do about it?

However, the matter of establishing the Eastern Palace Mansion was completely absurd.

This was something Lu Mingyuan had added himself.

’Isn’t this just a sword hanging over our heads?’

’Is the Crown Prince trying to insert his own faction into the Court?’

The Great Yan Dynasty already had the Advisory Platform Bureau; that was enough.

Now, with the Eastern Palace looming on the side, how could they not feel panic?

’On the surface, it’s to provide "assistance," but isn’t it really just supervision?’

And so, it wasn’t long before someone stepped forward to object.

"I implore Your Highness, the Crown Prince, to reconsider."

"Establishing the Eastern Palace Mansion is acceptable, but the act of supervising all officials will instill fear in them. In the future, no one will dare to speak their mind, which will throw the Imperial Court into chaos. Furthermore, even if such a supervisory body is established, it cannot be run by ordinary men. We should invite the upright scholars from the Confucian Temple to take charge."

Lu Mingyuan had expected to hear such objections.

No one dared to oppose his Father Emperor’s commands, not even the restructuring of the Cabinet.

And yet, his mere proposal to establish an Eastern Palace Mansion for recruiting talent and supervising officials had these men breaking out in a cold sweat.

He had to admit, his Father Emperor had calculated their reactions down to the smallest detail.

’This is what it means to lack weight and prestige.’

’Even though I spoke for the good of the nation, even though I am the Crown Prince of Great Yan...’

’...in the eyes of these officials, I am still just a junior. An outstanding one, at best, but with no right to meddle in the affairs of the Imperial Court.’

Lu Mingyuan explained, "The main purpose of the Eastern Palace Mansion is to recruit talent for the Court. It will not interfere excessively in the Court’s work. At most, it will simply encourage things along."

At that moment, Chief Minister Yuan Xuangang spoke, his face devoid of expression. "There is nothing wrong with establishing the Eastern Palace. However, the powers of the Eastern Palace Mansion must be approved by the Holy Emperor. Under no circumstances can your Staff Officers be given the power to supervise the officials. All supervisory authority must be in the hands of the Great Scholars. Otherwise, the people will live in constant fear, which is detrimental to the government and to the Great Yan."

’The Great Scholars in charge?’

’Wouldn’t that just make them your eyes and ears?’

’So, you just won’t let me install my own people, is that it?’

Lu Mingyuan laughed in anger.

He hadn’t even begun to form his Crown Prince’s Lineage, yet this soon-to-be-former Chief Minister was already obstructing him on behalf of the Emperor.

’What a loyal dog!’

Lu Mingyuan said coldly, "How can you be sure the Confucian Family had nothing to do with this political marriage affair? Are the Great Scholars you speak of so trustworthy, Chief Minister?"

"Spare me the nonsense. If you all refuse to agree, then you might as well all retire and return to your hometowns."

Lu Mingyuan was being direct.

He had already taken a step back, but this group refused to yield. ’Fine, then the game’s over for everyone.’

But as soon as he said this...

...Yuan Xuangang’s expression became resolute, and he slowly removed the official’s hat from his head.

"Since Your Highness the Crown Prince insists, I, your subject Yuan Xuangang, resign my post today."

Yuan Xuangang had spoken.

In an instant, the great hall fell deathly silent.

The silence was almost suffocating.

The esteemed Chief Minister of Great Yan, resigning in the middle of court?

This was enough to send the Dynasty into turmoil.

But in the next moment, another voice rang out.

"I, your subject Chen Yongxin, wish to resign and return to my hometown."

It was the voice of the Minister of Personnel.

Chen Yongxin had spoken, though his words were softer and less confrontational than Yuan Xuangang’s.

Soon, one voice after another followed.

Nearly all the Civil Servants removed their hats.

The Military Generals hesitated, gritting their teeth, but in the end, they too took a deep breath and removed their hats.

They knew that if the Crown Prince insisted and successfully established his Eastern Palace, they would all suffer the consequences.

A new ruler brings new courtiers.

They were destined to be Emperor Yong’an’s men, not Lu Mingyuan’s.

Sooner or later, their time would be up.

Rather than wait for that, it was better to make their move now, while someone else was leading the charge.

Besides, the law doesn’t punish the masses.

At that moment.

Lu Mingyuan fell silent.

But inside, his anger was like an erupting volcano.

He was seething with uncontrollable rage.

"Good."

"Very good."

"Truly, very good."

Lu Mingyuan didn’t fly into a thundering rage. Instead, he spoke slowly, but everyone knew that this newly ascended Crown Prince was seething with immense fury.

"In that case."

"Guards!"

As Lu Mingyuan spoke, his gaze turned exceptionally cold in an instant.

"Detain all who resigned in Chenxin Hall. If they show no remorse within three days, they will be stripped of all official posts, and their subordinates will take their places."

"Furthermore, arrest Chief Minister Yuan Xuangang on charges of colluding with the Demon Country. Imprison him in the Capital Prison for interrogation. He is not to be released without my express command."

"The Bright Lamp Bureau, the Three Academies, and the Imperial Guard will join forces and conduct a thorough investigation into every one of these officials for me. I’d like to see just how incorruptible you all are, just how noble."

These words sent a tremor through the court.

The Imperial Guard on either side exchanged dismayed glances. They looked at the resigning officials—a group that made up a third of the Imperial Court, all of them high-ranking. They didn’t even have enough men for the task.

"What are you all gawking at?"

The Crown Prince’s Jade Seal floated above Lu Mingyuan’s palm, pressing down with an immense pressure that swept through the hall. Many of the Imperial Guardsmen were jolted to their senses.

Just then, a burly man with thick brows and large eyes appeared at the entrance to the hall. It was the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Zhou Pingfu. He barked at his men, "Did you not hear the Crown Prince?"

"Move, now!"

The Crown Prince held the Supreme Authority of Regency, so his actions were both reasonable and justified.

It was just that his methods were somewhat insane.

Lu Mingyuan watched as the ministers were led away, group by group.

His brow furrowed, and the desire to build his own loyal lineage grew ever more intense in his heart.

「...」