Chapter 179 Scolding

Pei Jingming and Qu Ling recounted the situation at that time

The princess flew into a rage in front of many court officials, "You simply don't know what you're talking about."

Zhao Xuanyi insisted, "Song Guang's crime is unforgivable, but he has also made great contributions to the dynasty. If we can spare his life and exile him instead, it will not only demonstrate the benevolence of the court, but also deter all officials."

He ignored the princess's sharp gaze and said, "Besides, he has countless followers in the court. If he is suddenly executed, his old subordinates will be in panic and may cause unrest."

The eldest princess stared at him.

Suddenly he stretched out his hand and drew his sword, pointing it at each of the ministers present.

Anyone who can enter the Council Hall must be a distinguished person or come from a powerful and noble family.

At this moment, he didn't even dare to breathe.

"Did you hear that? The Crown Prince means that among you, or among your subordinates, there are people who are colluding with Song Guang, or even plotting rebellion."

The eldest princess knocked on the table with her sword, and no one in the palace dared to say a word.

Zhao Xuanyi blurted out, "I absolutely do not have such intention."

Those who are timid have already broken out in cold sweat.

Zhao Xuanyi sighed in his heart, knowing that he could not save Song Guang.

He was also tricked by the eldest princess, causing the court officials to blame him.

"Aunt, please don't embarrass the gentlemen," he said, lowering his brows and eyes. "If you have any anger, just take it out on me."

The eldest princess hit him with the back of her sword without any mercy.

"You really deserved it." The blow came on the neck.

Zhao Xuanyi gasped in pain.

Shocked and ashamed.

"Lord Xiao, what do you think, should I hit you this time?" The eldest princess's eyes were sharp and moved to the first person sitting on her left.

Xiao Ciyu sat quietly, wearing a purple robe and a python belt, with a faint smile on his face, "There's nothing wrong with the eldest princess teaching her own nephew."

He was extremely tactful and gave the Crown Prince a way out while preventing anyone from accusing the Princess of doing something inappropriate.

"Prince, do you know where you went wrong?"

The eldest princess refused to give in, and Zhao Xuanyi felt a little embarrassed.

The court officials looked at each other and then at Xiao Ci Yu.

The late emperor left three people behind to assist the eldest princess.

Song Guang and General Hou both broke their promises, but Xiao Ciyu remained unchanged.

Now that the other two are gone, Lord Xiao, who has been walking on thin ice all these years, finally sees the light of day.

The eldest princess admonished the Crown Prince in public. Lord Xiao did not say anything, and they dared not speak even more.

When they saw Xiao Ci Yu closing his eyes, they closed their eyes too.

Go ahead and scold her. It’s normal for an aunt to scold her nephew.

After beating the man, the princess placed her sword on Zhao Xuanyi's shoulder and said, "Song Guang formed a clique for personal gain, embezzled disaster relief funds, and killed officials indiscriminately. You, reading your sage books in the East Palace, have learned the word leniency."

"But does he deserve this mercy?"

The eldest princess picked up a memorial with her sword and threw it into Zhao Xuanyi's arms.

"He allowed his cronies to seize land and commit crimes. Those children who starved to death and the people who were displaced were all your people."

Zhao Xuanyi's heart tightened, and his straight back bent a little.

"You feigned deafness and dumb when your grandfather committed all sorts of evil deeds. Now that his crimes have been exposed, you are trying to gain a reputation for benevolence. Do you think the entire court is blind, or do you think the people of the world are fools?"

Every word the princess said was as sharp as a knife.

"The prince may not be unable to distinguish between good and evil. It is possible that he had the wrong idea for a moment." Xiao Ci Yu spoke slowly.

Everyone thought he was trying to smooth things over, but he said, "The position of crown prince is related to the foundation of the country. The prince has been living in the East Palace for a long time and lacks experience."

Zhao Xuanyi felt something was wrong.

As expected, Xiao Ciyu took out a memorial from his sleeve and said, "Yuezhou has a memorial and another written in blood. The governor enriched himself and concealed the disaster, which led to the people of Yuezhou suffering for many years. Last winter, there was a severe cold weather, and countless people froze to death. This spring, the snow has not melted, making it impossible to farm."

"I request that the Crown Prince go to Yuezhou to investigate this matter and provide disaster relief to the people."

Zhao Xuanyi's hair stood on end.

This is not a petition at all; it is clearly a demotion.

The crown prince of a country went to Yuezhou. Not to mention whether he would be able to come back alive, would there still be a place for him in the court after he came back?

"What does my aunt mean?" Zhao Xuanyi clenched his fists under his sleeves.

He couldn't just say on the spot that he wouldn't go.

That means not caring about the suffering of the people.

But he couldn't go either.

The princess calmly put away her sword, her expression expressionless. "I think what the Minister said is absolutely right."

The hall was silent.

No one raised any objections.

After Song Guang was imprisoned, no official filled the position of Zhongshu Ling, so the princess took on the post herself.

Xiao Ciyu, the Minister of the Imperial Household, was originally the eldest princess's man, not to mention the Censorate. The Censor Zhang Jing was an official under the eldest princess' fiefdom, and the currently popular Jiang Yanzheng was promoted by the eldest princess.

The eldest princess had already ordered that only Song Guang should be investigated and no one else should be implicated.

Those who originally disobeyed the eldest princess are now shrinking their necks.

After the prince pleaded for Song Guang, he was sent to Yuezhou. Coming out to speak for the prince at this time would be courting death.

Zhao Xuanyi also saw it clearly.

He knew that once Song Guang was eliminated, it would be a life-and-death battle between him and his aunt.

However, the situation seems to be one-sided.

Every step he took, his aunt had the power to counterattack.

How did it come to this?

Ever since the fall of the Duke Su's Mansion, he has been defeated by his aunt in every way.

"I will discuss this matter with my father," Zhao Xuanyi said, using a delaying tactic. "The matter in Yuezhou is of great importance. Once the emperor issues his decree, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

The emperor is the emperor after all.

Even if it is a puppet, once it is brought to the stage, it must be treated respectfully.

"Your Majesty has been out of the palace for over a month. It's time for the Crown Prince to go to the temporary palace to kowtow to your father, the Emperor, and your mother, the Empress, so that the whole family can reunite." The eldest princess raised her eyebrows slightly.

Zhao Xuanyi went to the palace today. When Zhao Yuanrong got the news, he immediately got up.

"Don't be impatient," the princess said to her daughter. "You must let him say what he needs to say. If you go too quickly, he won't be able to finish what he wants to say, and you won't know what they mean."

She tied her daughter's hair with her own hands and said, "Bringing more people with me makes me feel uneasy when I get up early."

"good."

Zhao Yuanrong nodded, then turned around and raised his head, "I picked out a dowry gift for A Ling, and I wanted to give it to her personally."

The eldest princess smiled and said, "Let Jingming go. He is your brother. When Aling gets married, he should carry her on his back."

"A Ling won't ask Pei Jingming to carry her," Zhao Yuanrong said with a smile, "I'll go find her when I get back from the palace."

Pei Jingming brought this message to Qu Ling.

After he left, Qu Ling asked someone to prepare tea and snacks, waiting for Zhao Yuanrong to arrive.

Until it got dark, there was no sign of Zhao Yuanrong.

Qu Ling leaned against the door frame and suddenly asked, "Is there any news from the Princess's Mansion? Why hasn't the Princess returned yet?"

"The princess may be too tired and has already rested." Tingqin said.

"No," Qu Ling said confidently, "Even if my sister doesn't come, she will send someone to tell me."

She said, "Go to the princess's mansion and ask."

The person who went there quickly came back with the news.

"It is said that His Majesty wants the princess to stay in the temporary palace for a few days, and the Crown Prince is also staying in the temporary palace."

Zhao Yuanrong went to the palace to monitor the prince.

Qu Ling was silent for a moment, "I'm going to the palace."

She must see Zhao Yuanrong with her own eyes.