Regardless of how fiercely the two factions argued, the Sage's expression remained calm. Even when Minister Qin eventually shifted the blame onto him, he stood his ground.
Yao Zhinian, holding the trump card, was cornered by Minister Qin's trickery, leaving Prime Minister Mo with little else to say. Minister Qin was a walking god of wealth, and Yao Zhinian had thoroughly offended him. If he were to further escalate the conflict, it would be detrimental to his future endeavors.
The Sage looked at Minister Qin, his gaze as warm as if he were looking at a beloved relative. "Then, we shall proceed according to Minister Qin's wishes."
Qin Yanjing was taken aback. His wishes? What were his wishes?
"Vice Minister Lu, you will personally travel to Fanyang and, in cooperation with the local officials, oversee the people's grain cultivation."
"Assistant Minister Guo, you will go to Longxi!"
"Esteemed Minister Gu, you will head to the Xingyang region!"
Fanyang was the Lu family's stronghold, Longxi was allied by marriage to the Li and Guo families, and Xingyang was the ancestral home of Gu Bohao's mother's family. If they failed in their duties, they would have no face to return.
Finally, there was the Cui family. The Sage's gaze swept over Yu Mingjing before settling on Yao Zhinian. "Minister Yao, you previously traveled to Qinghe to borrow books and are presumably familiar with the local situation. You will lead your men to Qinghe."
Yao Zhinian immediately accepted the imperial decree. If the Cui family dared to cause any more trouble this time, the Wang family's fate would be theirs. It was regrettable that he couldn't use this opportunity to bring down the aristocratic clans, and he was unsure how he would explain this to the Empress.
After the court session, Qin Yanjing caught up with Prime Minister Mo. "Prime Minister Mo, please wait."
"Minister Qin!" Prime Minister Mo smiled, as if the argument in court had never happened.
"Prime Minister Mo, I may have offended you earlier. I hope you will overlook it." Qin Yanjing cupped his hands. Although he said this, there was no trace of apology on his face.
While today's events could not be described as a public confrontation with the aristocratic clans, a choice had clearly been made. After much thought, it seemed he had aligned himself with the future new ruler. The simplest and most effective way to do this would be through marriage. It appeared Prime Minister Mo had his sights set on the position of Crown Princess, otherwise, why would he have helped Yao Zhinian?
"Minister Qin, what are you saying? We are both officials in the same court, working for the common good of the realm. What animosity could there be between us?" Prime Minister Mo patted Qin Yanjing's shoulder. "The Sage increasingly relies on you, Minister Qin. Your future is bright!"
Qin Yanjing smiled. "Prime Minister Mo, the Sage has long been aware of the aristocratic clans' land hoarding. It was merely borrowing Minister Yao's voice to bring it up. As for a solution, the Sage has it in mind. However, I am curious, which family came up with such a foolish idea that would invite infamy and be remembered for all eternity?"
Prime Minister Mo sighed. "Minister Qin, you've asked me a difficult question."
"Prime Minister Mo," Qin Yanjing's expression turned serious. "We both come from aristocratic families and owe them a great debt. We should repay them. If we claim to wholeheartedly serve the common people, we might not even be able to deceive ourselves. But to disregard the lives of the people solely for the sake of the aristocratic clans would weigh heavily on our conscience. The Mo family and the Cui family are often allied by marriage, and Prime Minister Mo's daughter is married into the Li family of Longxi. If the Sage cannot tolerate the aristocratic clans, he will not tolerate the Mo family either. In the end, we are all in the same boat, and none of us can escape. Rather than trying to escalate the conflict for personal gain, it would be better to find a way out for the aristocratic clans."
Qin Yanjing, being in the court, saw further than the aristocratic clans who held power in their respective regions. The old ways were no longer viable; the aristocratic clans had to find a new path.
After Qin Yanjing finished speaking, he left. Prime Minister Mo watched Qin Yanjing's retreating figure, lost in thought, before shaking his head with a smile. Finding a new path, how easy could that be? However, the Mo family was already on a new path.
...
"You're saying the Sage sent Yao Zhinian?" Yu Mingyue asked.
Cui Jiulang nodded. "He should have already departed."
"The choices for those regions are suitable, but why would the Sage send Yao Zhinian to Qinghe? Isn't that just escalating the conflict?" Yao Zhinian was accustomed to acting with impunity in the capital, but the provinces were different from the capital. It was not impossible for him to die here. Could the Sage really do anything to the Cui family for the sake of a single Yao Zhinian?
"I fear the Sage is testing the Cui family again," Cui Jiulang frowned, worried that the Cui family would suffer the same fate as the Wang family.