Chapter 69: Those who bullied him and his mother must pay the price for their actions
However, the emperor was not so shameless. He took Chi Hongyuan, who had been neglected for a long time, out of the cold palace and threw him to the border, and even perfunctorily settled Rong Shi. That would make him look too clumsy. So the emperor pretended to praise Chi Hongyuan and proposed a compromise.
"It just so happens that the Baoyue Palace is now vacant, so I will place your mother there. You are a meritorious official, and your mother should also be rewarded. I will make her Rong Fei, and she will live alone in Baoyue Palace. What do you think?"
It was obvious that the emperor was very satisfied with his arrangement, and he probably thought he had done a good job, with a smile on his face. After all, on the surface, Rong Fei was the daughter of a criminal, and she was able to be forgiven thanks to her son.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!" Chi Hongyuan's eyes were slightly red and he looked very excited, but he did not forget the rules. He kowtowed to the emperor respectfully to express his gratitude, as if he was very happy to know that his mother could leave the cold palace.
After finalizing the border affairs, Chi Hongyuan stepped out of the imperial study. The moment he stepped out of the door, his smiling eyes suddenly darkened.
The current emperor is self-willed, foolish and incompetent. He has killed all his loyal ministers and their families, which has led to the situation where there are no generals available at the border.
Rather than handing the country over to such a person, it is better for him to seize it!
Today, all the princes of his generation are incompetent. Sooner or later, he will take the kingdom into his possession. As for those who have bullied him and his mother, they must pay the price for their past actions!
Even his biological father is no exception.
"Your Highness, please stay." When passing by the Imperial Garden, an old voice sounded behind him.
Chi Hongyuan paused for a moment, immediately dispelling the sinister look in his eyes, and turned around, to see Lord Sun jogging after him.
He was standing and waiting, but when he saw this, he walked over to Master Sun and said, "My student greets you, sir."
Chi Hongyuan was very respectful to Lord Sun. This respect was not false but came from the heart.
"Your Highness, I haven't seen you for many years. Your humble servant..." Lord Sun wanted to say something, but looking at the young man who was a head taller than him, he only smiled bitterly, "I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you at all back then."
Chi Hongyuan thought Lord Sun wanted to talk about the war at the border, but he seemed to only want to talk to him.
The young man felt a lump in his throat. He was thrown into the cold palace that year and everyone treated him coldly. Only Lord Sun valued his talent and had always tried his best to train him, even secretly giving him dry food to fill his stomach.
However, Sun Taibao was an upright and resolute person with incorruptible integrity. He did not make enemies with anyone in the court, but he also did not make friends with anyone.
So even if Sun Taibao felt sorry for Chi Hongyuan back then, he couldn't do anything for him.
"Sir, please don't say that. There were many things I had no control over back then. How could you control them? I have never blamed you. The opportunities I have today are all thanks to your care and concern over the years."
Chi Hongyuan also planned to make the emperor pay attention to his son who was forgotten in the cold palace. Unexpectedly, Sun Taibao's recommendation gave Chi Hongyuan a push, which was exactly what he planned, and made him appear in front of the emperor.
"Seeing Your Highness grow up, I feel relieved. However, the border is dangerous, so Your Highness must take care of yourself."
Sun Taibao's drooping hands moved, and Chi Hongyuan knew that he was patting his student's shoulders to encourage him, just like he did in the past.
But now is not the past. This is not the Imperial College, but the Imperial Palace. Even if they have been master and disciple for many years, it is not easy for them to get close.
"It is not appropriate for me to stay in the palace for long. I will leave the palace now. Your Highness should also go back and prepare for the expedition. Go."
Sun Taibao's last words of "Go" were full of earnestness. Chi Hongyuan felt sad. He bowed to the gentleman and turned to leave.
The imperial edict for Chi Hongyuan to lead the army in person was passed down, and the Zhou Mansion also received the news that Zhou Junyuan was killed in the military camp, and the whole family was in chaos.
"Madam! The Zhou family is supported by the master inside and out. Now that something like this has happened, what should we do?" As soon as she learned of Zhou Junyuan's death, Aunt Zhao hurried to find her mistress Zhao Yinlian.
Isn't Zhao Yinlian also feeling uneasy? Over the years, she has only been concerned with the affairs of the mansion, and has not paid much attention to the affairs outside the mansion. She also knows that the reputation of the Zhou Mansion is supported by Zhou Junyuan.
She was fine before going to the war, but not long after arriving at the border, she received the news of her husband's death. Zhao Yinlian was unable to calm down for a while. The Zhou family now had only one legitimate son, who was still young and unable to manage the family.
The death of the man in charge at the border meant that the Zhou family would collapse. It was impossible for the women in the mansion to support the family. Without someone in the officialdom, the family would decline sooner or later.
"I greet the mistress." Just when Zhao Yinlian and Aunt Zhao were at a loss, Aunt Bai and Aunt Liu came. The women in the hall all had red eyes and sobbed softly.
Zhou Junyuan’s death was devastating news to the woman living in the back house.
However, among those who were sad about Zhou Junyuan's death, there was also one who was just going through the motions, and that was Aunt Liu.
"There's no need to be so polite at a time like this. Let's all get up." Zhao Yinlian waved her hand tiredly, signaling them to get up.
"I heard that His Majesty plans to wait a while before bringing the master's coffin back to the capital. However, without a backbone in the mansion, how are we supposed to support this family in the future?"
Aunt Bai's question was straightforward, but it was a difficult problem that had to be faced at the moment. Aunt Liu frowned and looked at Zhao Yinlian. The other aunts were also waiting for her to speak, after all, she was the mistress of the mansion.
Aunt Liu acted worried, but no one could tell. No one knew what Zhou Junyuan had done in the past, but she already knew most of it. Now she only felt disgust towards this man.
As long as this man was alive, Aunt Liu would still feel sick looking at him. If Zhou Junyuan came back from the border and came to her yard again, it would be really disgusting.
God knows how happy Aunt Liu was when she learned of Zhou Junyuan's death? The hypocrite with a beastly heart finally died in a foreign land. When they meet again, she will only see his corpse.
Zhao Yinlian was silent for a long time, and sighed under the gaze of everyone. There was nothing she could do.
"After all, I am young and have not experienced any major storms. The life and death of my master is of great importance. You come with me to see the old lady and see what she says." Zhao Yinlian pursed her lips.
The mistress who was always arrogant and domineering in the past is now pale. Where is the former momentum?
When Zhao Yinlian was about to take the concubines to the old lady's room, she thought of something, turned her head to look at the servants who had been serving in the flower hall, and warned them sternly.
"Don't alarm the young ladies and masters in the mansion about the death of our master at the border! If there is chaos in the mansion, I will blame you first!" Even though Zhao Yinlian was powerless, she knew that she had to stabilize the mansion first.
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