118 Aftermath
How can he compare with Jiming?
"A letter from Rongguo?"
Rong Pan opened the envelope, revealing a piece of letter paper used exclusively for correspondence between the Rong Kingdom royal family. "This is from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Zhao'er? Bring it here!"
Rong Zhao is He Wanrou's only son and the current Crown Prince of Rong State. He is over three years younger than Rong Qianyu and is sixteen years old. He Wanrou deeply cherishes Rong Guangzhao and, as an exception, gave him a courtesy name that sounds the same as his father's, a gesture of high hope. Although he and Rong Ruyu grew up together, Rong Zhao possesses a surprisingly good disposition and is extremely polite, possessing a youthful air of adulthood.
Therefore, the relationship between Rong Qianyu and him is not as tense as that between Rong Ruoyu and Rong Qianyu, and she is very caring towards her younger brother.
Rong Qianyu hastily opened the letter and read several lines at a glance, which made her sweat and frown.
Seeing this, Rong Pan hurriedly asked, "What did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince say?"
Rong Qianyu held the envelope in silence for a long moment. "Father has been ill since the beginning of the year. Now the Crown Prince is acting as Regent. The Imperial Physician says he won't be long."
Although Rong Qianyu had no feelings for Rong Guangzhao, the bond between blood and bones remained unbroken. Upon hearing that he was nearing death, she didn't know whether to be happy or sad. Because of their mother's early death, their father-daughter relationship wasn't deep. For so many years, Rong Qianyu hadn't fulfilled her filial duties, and after so many years of not seeing him, he ended up with such a desolate end.
Rong Pan was also caught off guard upon hearing the tragic news. He asked in confusion, "But Your Majesty has always been in good health. How could this illness be so serious? Could it be so?"
Rong Qianyu murmured softly, "How can my mother's health be considered weak?"
"The princess suspects..."
Rong Pan was frightened when she thought about it and didn't dare to say it out loud. She was already the queen, and her eldest son was made the crown prince. She was the empress dowager in full legal standing anyway, so why should she be so anxious?
These thoughts surfaced, their intentions were clear, but...
How dare she?
Seeing that neither the master nor the servant spoke, Xue Ji didn't have any idea and blurted out, "Do you suspect the queen is planning to kill the king?"
Rong Qianyu obviously didn't dare to believe it, but the facts were right in front of her, and she was filled with doubts. She didn't know where to start. "I don't dare to think so. Zhao'er meant for me to prepare early to avoid being caught off guard."
Zhao'er, Zhao'er, she called him affectionately. Xue Ji came to see her worriedly. Before they had said a few words, a letter from his brother came. He mumbled to himself and could not hear what was said at all.
My mind is full of Zhao'er, Zhao'er, Zhao'er.
He leaned over and looked at her expression from the side. He looked at her for a long time, then seemed to casually take the letter from her hand and toss it aside. "Your brother is so nice to you that he doesn't even write to his own sister."
Rong Qianyu was worried about her father and didn't notice Xue Ji's jealousy. "Zhao'er and I have always had a pretty good relationship."
"You're calling me so earnestly. Isn't it true that she's not as close to her own sister as she is to you?"
Rong Qianyu finally smelled jealousy. "Let me tell you, the last time Rongguo sent troops, it was thanks to Zhao'er and Xia Qing."
The name Wen Xiaqing was unacceptable to Xue Ji. Even someone with the surname Xia would sigh when he heard it. "He's already married, and he still calls her so dear."
"Oh, you also know that he's married. Could it be that I should give up my position as Queen and become his concubine?"
"You dare," Xue Ji added, fearing he might have said something too harsh, "I'll kill him!"
Rong Qianyu saw that he was a little unhappy and teased him, "Then for his longevity, I will have to spend my time with you, Master Seal Holder?"
Xue Ji looked like a firecracker ready to go off at any moment. "Thank you for your hard work."
Rong Qianyu took his hand and held it, "It's not hard. How can he compare with Jiming?" Her eyes were big and bright, which made Xue Ji stunned.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he held her hand back, "That's still a bit conscientious."
Rong Pan asked, "Princess, should we talk to Rong Ruoyu about this?"
"No hurry, I have other plans."
After dealing with the affairs of the Imperial College, several people returned to the palace. After the palace examination, it was also the time of Cui Zhicong's death.
After returning to the palace, Fengyi Palace remained closed. Rong Qianyu occasionally went to talk to Tan Lu and Liu Chunyan, but more often she taught the children to read.
Shu'er and Yan'er are of similar age and play very well together, especially Yan'er, who needs more care as her parents are not around.
"Big rat, big rat, don't eat my millet..."
Yuan Qing came in and announced, "Your Majesty, Concubine Ke is here."
Rong Qianyu still lowered her head, "What is she doing here?"
"For Master Cui's sake."
"not see."
"Concubine Ke has been here several times before. This is the third time. Why don't you come?"
This time Rong Qianyu looked up and said, "Let her wait in the front hall."
"Shu'er Yan'er, read on your own first, I'll be back soon."
In the front hall, Cui Rumei waited for another quarter of an hour before Rong Qianyu came out slowly.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen."
This time the greeting was more formal than any other time and more cautious than the first time they met.
Rong Qianyu ignored her and said coldly, "If you have something to say, please tell me quickly. I am asking the princess and the county lord to endorse it."
"My brother's matter..." Cui Rumei said cautiously. In fact, everyone knew without her saying it that the two of them had little in common. The only topic they could talk about was Cui Zhicong.
"Cui Zhicong is selling official positions and titles, and the people are complaining. Why should I beg for mercy?"
"I dare not," Cui Rumei lowered her head. This time she did not dare to behave like before, after being hit hard and knowing how to behave in a low profile. "After all, he is the brother you recommended... isn't he..."
"I recommended him, but could I have foreseen his actions, or could you have foreseen them? Do I have to vouch for all the officials I recommend? Is this what he meant by loyalty to His Majesty?"
"Your Majesty doesn't want to see me right now. I only ask Your Majesty to persuade His Majesty. My brother really didn't mean it." The implication was that Fu Hua and I could lose our temper and let Rong Qianyu be the first to speak up and plead for the treacherous minister at such a critical moment.
"You should tell this to the Hanlin Academy official who was forced to death. That's all I have to say. This time, he didn't know how to restrain himself. He deserves what he deserves. Who else can he blame?"
"I was arrogant and willful before. He is one of the few relatives I have. I beg the Queen to forgive my mistakes and plead for my brother and for our Cui family."
Cui Rumei really had a hard time pretending this time, and she used all her previous tricks of pretending to be good and pitiful. I have to say, if Rong Qianyu was Fu Hua, she would also be very happy to see the beauty crying.
But she was someone who had seen her powerful methods, and she couldn't believe crocodile tears.
Rong Qianyu leaned over to look at her, looking down at her with a condescending air. "You've been pretending to be a fox for so long, do you really think you're a lapdog? I've seen you so clearly over the past few years. Do you think I'd be stupid enough to plead for you?"
Rong Qianyu disdained to waste any more words with her. She turned to leave but was stopped by Cui Rumei. "Queen, you said my brother was corrupt. Do you know how much your beloved sister took from my brother? You won't help me or plead for her?"
"If Ruoyu is my sister, I will discipline her myself, so you don't have to worry about it. If you want to expose her, I won't stop you. Do you dare to threaten me?"
Cui Rumei overestimated their relationship. She thought that since they were both princesses of Rong State, they would prosper and suffer together. However, she did not expect that Rong Qianyu did not care about her sister at all.
Rong Qianyu can't help her and doesn't want to pay any attention to her. Today Cui Rumei can condescend to ask him for help, and tomorrow she can stab me in the back. Hasn't she done enough things like this?
Seeing that nothing she did was effective, Cui Rumei simply threw a tantrum, kneeling down and slapping Rong Qianyu in the face, repeating Rong Qianyu's dismissive apology, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I'm sorry, Your Majesty, it's all my fault."
Rong Qianyu pointed at Hua Xue and said, "She saw it. If you want to kneel here, it has nothing to do with me. Kneel if you want."
Rong Qianyu went back, leaving Cui Rumei alone kneeling in the front hall and slapping herself.
Rong Qianyu couldn't help but get angry, and she suppressed her anger and complained: "What kind of person is this? He threatens and intimidates me, and he dares to embarrass himself in front of me."
Yuan Qing asked, "My Lady, is it okay for you to refute her like this?"
"She wants to harm me, do I need to refute her? This kind of heartless person will only do me harm whether I help her or not."
The palace maids left. Cui Rumei's face was already bruised. Seeing that everyone had left, she stopped pretending and stood up silently, looking in the direction Rong Qianyu had left. "Rong Qianyu, you insist on making things difficult for me."
Not long after, the results of the palace examination were announced, and the imperial edict to dismiss Cui Zhicong passed through the Secretariat, was presented to the Imperial Household Department, and was issued to the six ministries and announced to the whole country.
"By the providence of Heaven, our Emperor proclaims: Cui Zhicong, the Minister of Rites, has colluded with the imperial harem, sold official positions and titles, and disregarded human lives. His unrepentant evil deeds have caused widespread public outrage. However, considering he is a close relative of the Crown Prince's biological mother, he shall be punished with sixty strokes of the cane, dismissed from office, and forbidden from ever entering the civil service. No male member of the Cui family shall be allowed to take the imperial examinations for three generations. Students of the Imperial College and Imperial Academy are loyal to the Emperor and their country, but those who are reckless and reckless in entering the civil service shall be punished with a year of minor punishment and a major warning. This proclamation shall be made known to all, and all shall be informed."
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