Chapter 77

Confiscation of property, exile!

Eunuch Chen was stunned, and a very bad feeling arose in his heart. He slowly walked forward a few steps, staring at the box steadily.

Bloody.

But one could still tell at a glance that it was the head of his apprentice, Eunuch Yu.

The back of my neck suddenly felt cold!

In such a busy city, the only one who dared to kill Xiao Yuzi so arrogantly could be His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

But.

Why did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince want to kill him?

This Xiao Yuzi was his most proud disciple and also his godson whom he had trained for eleven years. Every palace official in the palace would give him some respect. He also knew that Xiao Yuzi had been a little arrogant recently and even wanted to replace him, but Eunuch Chen did not expect that the prince would actually send someone to bring his head here.

The prince sat to the lower right of the emperor, with a handsome face and a hostile look.

When Chen Gonggong passed by him, his legs inexplicably felt weak.

"Your Majesty, that is Xiao Yuzi's head."

The emperor was stunned!

Xiao Yuzi was handsome, talkative, and served him very attentively, even trying to figure out his thoughts. He used him very well, but as soon as he left the palace, his men were beheaded?

The emperor's eyes were terribly gloomy. He knew that the prince was provoking him.

Facing the emperor's coldness, the prince stood up quietly and bowed to the emperor. When he lowered his eyelids slightly, a hint of hostility flashed in his eyes. The emperor looked at his tall and domineering son in front of him, and his heart tightened a little.

Empress Song turned pale with fright. She looked at Rongyan. Rongyan glanced at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and nodded slightly. Empress Song then held the Emperor's hand tightly and said with a frightened look.

"Your Majesty, even if you beat a dog, you have to look at its owner first. The Crown Prince kills people whenever he wants. How can he take you seriously?"

That’s really true!

In the past two years, the prince has become more and more powerful and has become more and more strong in front of him.

He kept all the other princes in the capital in order to suppress the crown prince. He also wanted to see which of these sons was most like him and the most capable.

The prince's long fingers moved slightly.

The Dali Temple Minister glanced at him indifferently and then stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, let's talk business first."

After interrupting the Emperor and Empress Song at the right time, everyone was slightly startled, and then they remembered.

This was the first case brought to the Dali Temple.

Zhou Ruogu and Jiang Zhaoying are having an affair!

The second case.

There was an earthquake in Qingshan, causing countless casualties. Jiang Jianzheng and Jiang Zhaoying deserve to be cut into pieces!

"Doctor Zhou."

The Dali Temple Minister called softly.

Doctor Zhou, dressed in a green robe, walked out from behind the gentlemen. After he knelt before the emperor and kowtowed, Madam Song could not help but mock him.

"I've told you long ago that your son has bad character and behaves unruly. Why did he choose my Song family when there are so many other people to choose from? He insisted on eloping with the married Jiang Zhaoying. Now, all three families have lost face and the whole capital has made a fool of himself."

Jiang Zhaoying is really blind. She gives up the eldest son of the Song family, who is so good, and insists on having an affair with the son of an imperial physician.

Song Chengyu gritted his teeth when he thought of this, and was so angry that his eyes went dark. He couldn't figure out why he was inferior to Zhou Ruogu?

Because of Jiang Zhaoying's incident, he couldn't raise his head anymore.

"If Zhou Ruogu and Jiang Zhaoying were truly in love, they could have confessed when we came to propose marriage. We would never break up someone's marriage. They just got married, but they couldn't wait to elope with the adulterer. It would have been fine if they had found a deserted place, but they chose to go to Qingshan Town and hug each other in front of the common people. It's simply... Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must make the decision for us."

Seeing Madam Song crying, Song Qinghuan and Song Mingji hurried forward to surround her, and Madam Song said with eyes full of heartache.

"Second sister-in-law, it's not worth it for you to be sad for such a person. Our Chengyu is too kind and has a hard life. Now that the emperor is here, he will definitely give you justice."

"yes."

Mrs. Song hurriedly wiped her tears and retreated to Empress Song's side. The two looked at each other and pursed their lips.

As Empress Song snuggled up to the emperor, she frowned and sighed deeply. The emperor knew she was upset, so he held her hand tightly and squeezed it.

Then.

The emperor looked at Doctor Zhou with cold eyes, and Doctor Zhou hurriedly explained.

"Your Majesty, I am really unaware of this matter. If it is the truth, Your Majesty can execute Zhou Ruogu, and I will not hesitate."

Think about it.

Doctor Zhou continued.

"Your Majesty, Zhou Ruogu's biological mother died early, and I have never been close to him. He has always been independent since he was a child and does not obey anyone's discipline. I am afraid that I have no way to catch this person, and I have to ask for your help. If he does not admit his crime, Your Majesty can also kill him on the spot, and I will have no complaints."

When Doctor Zhou said these words, there was hatred in his eyes.

Jiang Zhiyu suddenly remembered the scene many years ago when Zhou Ruogu hid in their garden, with his back against a big tree that had lost all its leaves, looking up at the sky in horror, lonely and helpless, crying all the time.

Jiang Zhiyu lowered his dark eyelids and sneered lightly.

"Doctor Zhou is truly a good father."

In front of so many people, he wanted to kill his eldest son. In order to silence the gossips, he even wanted to use the emperor to make things worse. It can be said that Doctor Zhou is a cruel person.

Doctor Zhou shuddered violently, glanced quickly at the emperor, then turned around and glared at Jiang Zhiyu.

"Isn't it that I am forced to do this? He is lawless, uneducated, and doesn't take us seriously at all. Is he going to cause trouble for the whole family because of him?"

As he spoke, he glared at Jiang Jianzheng. Seeing that he was handsome, had a cold expression, and looked otherworldly, Doctor Zhou became furious and said through gritted teeth.

"If you had disciplined your daughter more, this situation wouldn't have happened. Jiang Jianzheng, your two children are really not that good."

Doctor Zhou’s second wife and Madam Jiang’s second wife have been good friends for more than ten years.

Speaking of which.

There was once a trend of seeking successors to wives in the capital, and this small group secretly became united and very cohesive.

Mrs. Jiang secretly helped several of her good friends to get promoted, and now they are all very successful.

Mrs. Zhou's second wife was able to ascend to the throne because of her favor.

"It's not your turn to talk about what happened to my children."

Jiang Jianzheng walked in front of Jiang Zhiyu, protecting his son behind him, while also protecting Jiang Zhaoying.

"Doctor Zhou, I am different from you. You favor your concubine and neglect your wife, and you are completely heartless. You are not satisfied with the death of your principal wife, and you even want to eliminate your eldest son."

Ignoring the change in Doctor Zhou's expression, Jiang Jianzheng looked at everyone and spoke coldly.

"If you don't believe me, you can go to Zhou's mansion and check. If there is a courtyard with Zhou Ruogu, or even a decent wing room, I, Jiang, can take my head off. He has grown up on his own for so many years. He has never said a bad word about you, but what about you? Every word you say is trying to kill him!"

"You, you, you... stop spitting blood at me."

There was a flash of panic in Doctor Zhou's eyes, and Jiang Jian interrupted him.

"Doctor Zhou, apart from Zhou Ruogu, you will never have any descendants!"

Judging from his face, he has no children or grandchildren. Mrs. Zhou is kind-hearted and has done many good deeds. It was God who blessed her that she gave birth to Zhou Ruogu with great difficulty.

Doctor Zhou became so angry when he heard this that he started to curse.

"If it weren't for Jiang Zhaoying, today wouldn't have happened. Even if they died, they deserved it. Who can be blamed?"

Jiang Zhaoying is already dead. Since Zhou Ruogu liked her so much, he should not be alive. He should go down to accompany her.

This would prevent his current wife from crying and complaining about him every day. The huge Zhou family will have to be handed over to Zhou Ruogu in the future and cannot be given to her two sons.

The prince glanced at Cheng Ting'an indifferently. Cheng Ting'an nodded slightly, and then rushed towards Doctor Zhou's mansion.

"Adultery is a serious crime, and the punishment is to be thrown into a pig cage. Young people nowadays are so reckless."

"Didn't you hear them say that since they are motherless, naturally there is no one to teach them carefully, so they make mistakes."

"He's dead, but the reputation of the mansion is ruined as well."

Some people were talking in low voices. The emperor listened, slammed the teacup in his hand, and said coldly.

"Jiang Zhaoying is missing. I will dig deep underground to investigate. I must find her alive or dead. The Jiang residence will be raided. The men will be exiled and the women will be sent to prison..."

"Father."

The prince interrupted the emperor in a deep voice.

The Emperor's aura suddenly dropped, but the Prince seemed not to notice it and continued.

"It seems unfair to only listen to what the plaintiff said and not to what the defendant said."

"Everyone is dead, how can we listen to Zhou Ruogu and Jiang Zhaoying's explanation?"

Empress Song couldn't help but yell.

Mrs. Song and Song Chengyu looked at each other, with deep anxiety flashing in their eyes. It seemed that they were about to succeed and would be accomplished soon.

It's so frustrating!

Song Chengyu frowned and looked at the prince, with his fists clenched tightly behind his back. This prince was indeed an eyesore, and it was time to let his cousin take his place.

The emperor looked at the prince coldly. After reviewing this matter, the next stop was Qingshan Town.

Knowing that it was related to him, he didn't avoid suspicion and said nothing, and even brought people here. He is really a person who has not made any progress.

The emperor shouted with anger.

"Why? Prince, do you have a solution?"

"Father, why don't you listen to what Zhou Ruogu has to say first?"

Doctor Zhou's expression suddenly changed.

If he really had to die, he hoped that Zhou Ruogu would die outside.

So for so many years.

They just let Zhou Ruogu wander around outside the mansion without paying any attention to him.

Unexpectedly.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince actually knows his whereabouts.

Empress Song played with the handkerchief in her hand, with a half-smile on her face.

"The prince actually has information about Zhou Ruogu? Could it be that the prince has always known Zhou Ruogu's whereabouts?"

The crime of hiding cannot be escaped even if you want to.

The prince naturally knew that Empress Song had set a trap for him, but he ignored it. Anger was surging in Empress Song's eyes.

But at this moment, there was a noise at the door.

Everyone turned their heads.

The crowd is surging.

A thin and tall figure walked out slowly.

It’s Zhou Ruogu.

She was wearing a black brocade robe, her long hair was tied up with a white jade crown, and she even had a small white flower in her hair.

Doctor Zhou looked at him, who looked like his biological mother, and his expression became extremely ugly.

He actually forgot.

Today is the anniversary of Zhou Ruogu's biological mother's death. Every year on this day, he wears a white flower.

He was provoking Doctor Zhou and also appealing to him, telling him that his mother's death was unclear.

"How dare you come back?"

Doctor Zhou was afraid that he would talk nonsense, so he rushed forward and slapped Zhou Ruogu in the face.

Blood slowly overflowed from the corner of Zhou Ruogu's mouth. He turned his face away, allowing half of his face to become red and swollen. When he slowly moved his eyes, his eyes were reflected with Doctor Zhou's furious look, as if he wished he would die and show disgust.

"Zhou Ruogu greets His Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and all the gentlemen."

Zhou Ruogu stepped forward and saluted, then spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

Doctor Zhou clenched his fists tightly and glared at Zhou Ruogu in hatred. It would be fine if he died outside, but he insisted on coming back. After the emperor was furious, the entire Zhou family would definitely be implicated.

How will the Zhou family survive then?

"Your Majesty, please have a look."

Zhou Ruogu took out a booklet from his arms and presented it to him. Eunuch Chen looked at the emperor, and Empress Song said with a cold face when she saw this.

"A person with bad character like him probably won't write beautiful words either. Don't pollute the emperor's eyes."

Empress Song knew the emperor's habits well.

Over the years, the emperor had to review memorials every day. He would get annoyed and even have a headache when he saw the dense handwriting. When he encountered memorials from some stubborn old ministers, the pain became increasingly severe.

but.

This time, to Empress Song's surprise, the Emperor actually signaled Eunuch Chen to hand over the things.

Open the fold.

The emperor was furious at first, looking at her with a frown, but then his brows gradually relaxed, and finally his expression became heavy.

Close the fold.

He looked at Zhou Ruogu.

"You get up."

Zhou Ruogu bowed deeply, prostrated himself on the ground and shouted.

"Your Majesty, Ruogu wants to sever ties with the Zhou family. Please help Ruogu."

Various reasons.

He had already written it all down in a booklet, including every detail of what happened in Qingshan Town, how many people were rescued, and how many people were killed or injured.

When Doctor Zhou heard what Zhou Ruogu said, he rushed forward and kicked Zhou Ruogu on the shoulder. Zhou Ruogu fell to the ground with a bang, frowning in pain and unable to utter a word.

"Your Majesty, please don't listen to his nonsense. I will not sever ties with him. Even if he dies, I will have to deal with his body."

Since the emperor is disgusted, he will whip Zhou Ruogu's corpse. As long as the emperor has no grudge against the Zhou family, he can try anything.

He still has two sons and two daughters, and he still has a lot of room to climb up.

"Zhou Ruogu, have you really thought it through?"

The emperor spoke in a low voice, and as he leaned forward slightly, there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Empress Song's eyes moved slightly.

Doctor Zhou fell to his knees on the ground, trembling with fear.

"yes."

Zhou Ruogu answered loudly that he was willing to do anything as long as he could sever ties with the Zhou family.

"Okay then."

The emperor smiled. This was the kind of drama he liked to watch the most. There was no family affection in the royal family, only calculations and hatred. There was no need for that in the minister's family.

He looked at Doctor Zhou.

"Since he wants to leave, he will no longer have any relationship with your Zhou family. If he wants to leave his household registration in the future, you must not stop him."

"emperor."

Doctor Zhou's face changed drastically. For so many years, Zhou Ruogu had always said that he wanted to leave. His uncle even threatened to adopt Zhou Ruogu, train him as his eldest son, and give all the family property to Zhou Ruogu in the future.

He had been blocking them from succeeding, but now...

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Zhou Ruogu knocked his head heavily on the cold ground, a relieved smile on his face.

Mrs. Song looked at him and said coldly.

"Even if he gets out, so what? You and Jiang Zhaoying have an affair, and you deserve to die. If you ask me, Doctor Zhou, you are right to let him get out. Otherwise, he will definitely implicate your Zhou family."

That's true.

then.

Doctor Zhou did not hesitate. When the document was brought to him, he signed without any hesitation and severed all ties with Zhou Ruogu on the spot.

Zhou Ruogu stood up, looked at Doctor Zhou coldly, and then looked at Madam Song.

"Mrs. Song, you seem to really want me to have an affair with Zhaoying."

Madam Song didn't expect Zhou Guruo to suddenly point the sword at her, but then she thought, she had the support of the Emperor and Empress Song, so there was nothing to worry about, so she frowned and said angrily.

"You are shameless, what does it have to do with me?"

Song Chengyu stared at Zhou Ruogu intently, anger bursting out in his heart. He didn't understand. Although Zhou Ruogu was good-looking, he was very thin and looked like he could be blown down by a gust of wind. Was Jiang Zhaoying blind? Did she look at Zhou Ruogu?

"You slept in the same bed with her?"

Unable to suppress his anger, Song Chengyu took two steps forward, pinched Zhou Ruogu's shoulders and questioned him.

Zhou Ruogu waved Song Chengyu away, took a step back, and looked at him, word by word.

"right."

Song Chengyu's mind instantly appeared the image of Jiang Zhaoying and Zhou Ruogu rolling around on the bed in each other's arms. As his anger surged up, his throat felt fishy and sweet.

This damn Jiang Zhaoying, he hasn't even touched her hand since she married him.

How could he accept this?

"Your Majesty, Zhou Ruogu and Jiang Zhaoying are having an affair, which is a crime that will be punished by the Tang Dynasty."

Imperial Physician Zhou stepped forward and bowed, and Empress Song added a sentence.

"Is Jiang Zhaoying dead? Why is there no trace of her alive or dead? Could it be that her crime was exposed and she ran away?"

Speaking of which.

That's true.

After Jiang Zhaoying left the capital, she disappeared. Rumor has it that she was dead, but what if it was false?

Madam Jiang held Jiang Fuqin tightly and protected Jiang Fuxiao. After listening to Empress Song's words, she looked at Jiang Jianzheng.

Jiang Jianzheng had a blank expression from beginning to end. He didn't speak, didn't resist, just stood there quietly, as if waiting for something.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sat in his seat, listening to what Empress Song said, and glanced towards the door with sharp eyes.

"Jiang Zhenggan, what do you say?"

The emperor asked in a cold voice as Jiang Jianzheng slowly stepped forward and bowed.

"I don't know where she is either. If the emperor insists that the Jiang family pay with their lives, then I am willing to die in place of my daughter."

The prince's cold long eyelashes flickered slightly. The Zhou family and the Jiang family were really interesting. One wished their daughter would die, while the other was willing to die in her place.

He looked at Zhou Ruogu. No wonder Jiang Zhaoying loved her so much. She was truly a person with a miserable life.

"Zhou Ruogu, if you tell me the whereabouts of Jiang Zhaoying, maybe I can even plead with the emperor on your behalf and let you have an intact body..."

Just as Empress Song finished her words, a clear and elegant voice came from the entrance of Dali Temple.

"I don't need him to confess. I know where she is..."