Chapter 220: Seizing Power
"Grand Chancellor Zhao, Tao Rui said his report was submitted to the Cabinet a month ago. Does Grand Chancellor not know about this?"
Li Chen looked at Zhao Xuanji and asked calmly.
Zhao Xuanji remained composed.
He was still disheveled and looked haggard, but after a brief moment of panic, his heart had strangely settled into a calm state.
"This matter, the cabinet is unaware of."
Zhao Xuanji flatly denied it.
No matter what, this matter cannot be admitted.
It matters too much.
Even Zhao Xuanji was unwilling to take on such a task.
At this point, Fu Yuzhi bowed slightly and said to the prince, "Your Highness, Tao Rui is like a rabid dog right now, seizing any opportunity to bite. Whether or not to report him depends entirely on his word. Moreover, even if he were reported, with the current chaos in the Xishan Prefecture, it's possible for something to go wrong during transportation, leading to loss or omission, which has happened before."
"Why has every other dispatch arrived safely in the capital, but the most crucial one from Xishan Prefecture has been overlooked?"
Li Chen sneered: “Since the Cabinet cannot guarantee that every report will be accurately delivered to your hands, then well, from now on, all documents from the provinces will be directly submitted to the Bureau of Royal Etiquette. The Bureau of Royal Etiquette will then forward them to the East Palace, and this palace will personally handle this matter.”
Li Chen's purpose was finally exposed on paper.
It would be nearly impossible to kill another cabinet scholar under this pretext.
Right now, both the cabinet and the entire bureaucracy are under immense pressure. Too much stress will only cause this tightly wound string to snap completely. What Li Chen wants is power.
"No!"
Zhao Xuanji resolutely refused, saying: “The power to approve documents is granted directly by the emperor. Now that the emperor's health is failing and the crown prince needs further training, he cannot directly intervene in approving documents.”

Li Chen stared at Zhao Xuanji and said in a flat tone: "Chief Assistant, the imperial edict is in your hands. It has already caused a major disturbance in Xishan Province with rumors of rebellion. Isn't this enough of a lesson?"
"The Qin Empire had thirteen prefectures plus the two capitals, which governed North and South Zhili. How many do you think you could overthrow?!"
Li Chen's words were extremely weighty.
Zhao Xuanji's eyes were resolute, and he replied without yielding: "The cabinet has been in charge of government affairs for decades, never making a mistake. Your Highness should not deny the cabinet's decades of hard work and dedication because of this one exception."
Otherwise, who among the hundreds of officials in the world would dare to serve the imperial court?
“You, Zhao Xuanji, could represent all the officials of the world?!” Li Chen rebuked.
Zhao Xuanji widened her eyes and flung her sleeve, saying: "Your Highness is acting stubbornly, it's hard to please everyone!"
Li Chen turned his head to look at the hundred officials in the Taihe Hall.
In the midst of officials, no one dared to meet his gaze.
Obviously, they were absolutely opposed to the East Palace reclaiming the right to review memorials. This would amount to a reduction of their own power and a significant strengthening of the East Palace's authority.
Among the officials, Xu Changqing and others who had already defected to Li Chen also wore grim expressions.
In the prevailing trend, they wanted to speak up for Li Chen. However, as insignificant individuals, their voices would have little impact and might even backfire, putting them in danger.
"Your Highness."
At this moment, Su Zhen Ting stood up.
Only he could provide the East Palace and the Cabinet a way out at this time.
"Instead of having all imperial edicts submitted directly, it is better to first collect them at the Si Lijian (Palace Bureau of Ceremonies), where they will be reviewed and then passed on to the East Palace for drafting. Afterward, they will be submitted to the Inner Cabinet based on the East Palace's suggestions and a comprehensive review of the situation. If the East Palace and the Inner Cabinet disagree, a meeting can be held at court to reach a consensus. Once everything is finalized, it will be sent back to the Si Lijian for official approval with a red seal stamp before being distributed to all regions."

(Editor in charge：the couple next door a novel)