Chapter 487 Epilogue (3)

After the court session, Mo Lang went to apologize to the emperor.

He took all the blame upon himself.

Qingyao, fearing he would be blamed, secretly told Lu Qingqing the truth of the matter again.

That really has absolutely nothing to do with poor, handsome guy Xiao Mo!

Lu Qingqing repeated it to Ji Ruyan.

Ji Ruyan was still angry, of course. But what could she do? Qingyao was a princess, and the princess was right!

Like any brother who can't bear to part with his sister, he kicked Mo Lang a few times in dissatisfaction.

In addition to serving as the commander of the Imperial Guards, he was also punished by having to cultivate medicinal herbs for two years.

If a single herb in the palace's herb garden dies, the person responsible will be whipped!

As for the princess, she is still young and there is no rush for her to get married.

"Getting married too early is bad for your health," the Empress said.

Mo Lang pursed his lips as he came out of the Imperial Study and saw Qing Yao hiding behind a pillar in the corridor.

She was worried that he would get beaten.

The moment she saw him emerge unharmed, her expression lit up with joy, but she immediately pretended not to see him, turning her body to face the wall.

Mo Lang's eyes sparkled with dappled sunlight, interspersed with a single, shimmering drop of light.

He walked slowly and deliberately to the pillars.

"The princess has beautiful eyes, a beautiful nose, a beautiful mouth... and a beautiful smile!"

She is the most beautiful and lovely girl I have ever seen.

Qingyao blushed instantly.

He was about to say, with a forced smile, "You're smart to know what's good for you."

Then Mo Lang said in a serious tone, "Zhu Zi, did you hear me clearly?"

If you didn't hear me, I'll say it again.

"..."

You stinky Mo Lang! I hate you!

...

After the New Year holidays, Lu Qingqing left again.

On her way back from this departure, she encountered her first assassination attempt.

However, the assassins were incompetent; they didn't even have any bodyguards present before being dealt with by martial arts practitioners.

Lu Qingqing was very surprised. After asking, she learned that they were friends of the great hero Pengcheng.

As for Pengcheng, he was entrusted by Lu Qingqing's husband, Si Yanru, to inform his friends from all over the world of any disturbances in the martial arts world.

Lu Qingqing then realized that Ji Ruyan had already reached an agreement with Pengcheng under another identity.

The guards needed for transporting medicinal herbs to Fancheng were all hired from the martial arts world.

Not only did his friends in the martial arts world find work to earn money, but Lu Yun's personal safety was also guaranteed.

The world is vast, and having friends makes the road wider.

The assassination attempt was carried out by assassins hired by the Marquis of Wenyuan's mansion. They had obviously discovered Lu Qingqing's identity and wanted to pave the way for their young lady.

In the second month, all of the Marquis's businesses outside the capital were suppressed and robbed.

All the men sent down to patrol encountered bandits and never returned.

In the third month, the Marquis's mansion was found to have committed a series of crimes, including abducting women, disregarding human life, and forging documents, and the Marquis was imprisoned.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; he was then accused by his political enemies of serious crimes such as lending money at exorbitant interest rates, running casinos, and embezzlement.

The Marquis's mansion was raided, and a powerful family fell.

Lu Qingqing's second assassination attempt took place on her way back to Ming'an County from Fancheng.

This time, the scale is quite large. Learning from the previous experience, the people behind the scenes have made ample preparations.

They used suicide squads.

Dozens of assassins set out at sunset, through narrow forest paths, shadows and cold glints.

The martial arts world had not received any news either, and the secret guards all revealed themselves, eighteen first-level secret guards.

Clearly, they couldn't get close to Lu Qingqing.

But the eighteen bodyguards were carefully selected, and Lu Qingqing couldn't bear to lose even one of them.

So she pulled something from her waist and aimed it at the assassin.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

...

Six gunshots rang out, and the six assassins didn't even have time to react before they were swiftly killed.

Those few moments of hesitation were quickly wiped out by the guards.

A duel between masters can be decided in the blink of an eye.

You can't get distracted!

Lu Qingqing calmly blew on the smoke coming out of the flintlock pistol.

"What a joke! Do you really think the Lu family is a pushover?"

The only two muskets in the world, one in the hands of the emperor and the other in the hands of the empress, were both made by the eldest brother.

It took some effort to uncover the person behind this assassination attempt.

However, it was also found that the Jiang family, the second most powerful family after the Shangguan family, holds military power.

During the war against Liao, the Jiang family used the excuse of insufficient food and supplies to delay sending troops. By the time they actually sent troops, the war against Liao had already ended.

It's time for reckoning.

Three months later, the Jiang family was destroyed and their military power was taken back.

At this point, everyone in the court recognized one fact:

To disturb Lu Qingqing is like disturbing the royal family.

It's true.

No one dared to make another move.

Fortunately, two years have passed quickly.

To bring up an old topic again.

The entire court began submitting memorials to the emperor to select an empress and concubines.

In the imperial court, Prime Minister Shen no longer stubbornly argued with people; instead, he joined the ranks of those trying to persuade others.

Although his eldest daughter ran away to the northern border and severed ties with the Shen family, he still had a younger daughter born to a concubine!

My youngest daughter is fourteen years old, old enough!

While his courtiers debated passionately with great hope, the emperor spoke:

"I was injured in prison in my early years and am no longer able to have children. Therefore, I will not establish an empress or a concubine in the palace."

As for the crown prince, eligible boys from the imperial clan will be sent to the palace for my personal upbringing.

What?

The court officials were greatly alarmed.

"Your Highness, is this true?"

"Impossible, there's a miracle doctor here..."

The court officials all sought verification from Prince Qing'an.

Prince Qing'an was also shocked.

Shockingly, he recalled Gui Chen, whom the emperor had taken away long ago. Could it be...?

How could you do that? He was born to a slave!

Also, don't mention that he can't have children. He investigated clearly where he was injured back then.

Prince Qing'an looked up at the head of the table with a dark expression, only to find the emperor also staring at him intently.

It was as if he was saying, "Uncle Wang, will you never stop me from making any decision, and will you always support me wholeheartedly?"

"yes!"

His answer from that day still rings in my ears.

What a blunder! What a blunder!

"Your Highness?"

"Shut up! No one is allowed to question the Emperor's decision!"

The old prince thought to himself that he might be wrong. The empress was living among the common people and was not incapable of having children. Perhaps the emperor was trying to protect the prince.

Sleight of hand, sleight of hand.

The courtiers looked at each other and then around.

Not a single person of any importance in the hall dared to refute the Emperor.

That old censor has been sick at home for several days, angered by the Emperor.

The commander of the Imperial Guards stood at the palace gate, coldly watching them, looking like a god of war who would kill anyone who dared to disobey.

That was terrifying!

Heavens above, they finally understood!

The emperor initially said that the nation was of paramount importance and that the matter would be discussed again in two years because by then, he would have eliminated powerful clans, seized absolute power, and no one would dare to disobey his will.

Ultimately, the emperor selected three five-year-old members of his clan to bring into the palace.

Next, the newly appointed candidates entered the palace to participate in the imperial examination, which was personally supervised by the emperor.

Ji Ruyan looked at the young faces, then gazed towards the distant palace walls.

Greenery ignites the spark of life among the people.

And he was also nurturing the spark that would ignite the world.

On the day they are scattered, each grain will shine like a star, spreading across the land and the world.

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