Chapter 148 The Queen Takes Action
"Issue an order. The lord of Rongyang County used private punishment and poisoned the official prostitute. The evidence is irrefutable. I consider that he had military merits and his father was loyal to me and the country, so I will give him a lighter sentence."
Su Zhiyi's face was stiff, but his heart was slightly relieved.
It turned out that he should be given a lighter sentence, but using lynching and poisoning official prostitutes was too ugly.
If this gets out, her reputation...
Then, the emperor continued, "Remove her title of princess and demote her to a commoner."
Su Zhiyi was stunned and couldn't believe his ears.
What? Strip her of her title of princess? Degrade her to a commoner?
Is this called leniency?
Su Zhiyi used so much force with her fingers that her knuckles turned white. This was not leniency at all; this was a threat to her life!
Without the title of princess, would I have to bow and salute that bitch when I see Yu Shengsheng in the future?
Su Huaiyuan had not expected this to happen, and looked up in surprise: "Your Majesty..."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Su Qing, I know you are loyal. Although she is an official prostitute, she is still a life. It is true that killing someone should be punished with death, but Su Zhiyi has made military achievements after all, and she is the daughter of a general. It is only right that I should give her a lighter sentence."
Su Huaiyuan: “…” That’s not what I meant at all.
I think the punishment is too severe. How can it be called lenient?
Inside the harem, the queen said in disbelief, "What did you say?"
The eunuch who reported the incident quickly recounted the story: "Your Majesty, General Su brought Princess Rongyang to the palace to confess her crime. Princess Rongyang was stripped of her title and demoted to a commoner."
"Why is this happening? Why are you admitting to such a crime?" The queen still couldn't believe it.
"My lady, it is said that the princess killed a courtesan."
The queen was so angry that she almost laughed: "She is just a courtesan. What's the harm if ten or a hundred of them die? She is a lowly thing that deserves to die. Come on, prepare the carriage!"
Although the decree had not yet been passed out of the Shangshufang, Su Huaiyuan realized that the matter was a foregone conclusion after hearing the emperor's words.
I have no choice but to thank you.
"minister……"
"Your Majesty, the Empress wants to see you!" The eunuch came in and reported, "The Empress said that she wants to discuss some matters regarding the Mid-Autumn Festival Palace Banquet with Your Majesty."
The emperor hesitated for a moment, but still nodded: "Let her in."
Only the queen came in, and the palace maids and nannies around her did not follow her in.
She was wearing a plain, half-worn dress with white plum blossoms embroidered on the belt around her waist.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you," she said, bowing and seeming to notice that there were other people around. "Your Majesty, I hope I am not disturbing you."
The emperor smiled and said, "How can you say that? The queen can come anytime. What's wrong with the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?"
The queen hesitated, with a gentle smile on her face but an unconcealable resentment in her eyes.
She stepped forward lightly: "I dreamt of Li'er yesterday. She said in her dream that she missed her father and mother. The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. I really miss her. I guess...she feels the same way."
"So, I wonder if I can reserve a seat for her at the palace banquet?"
The emperor was silent for a moment, then held the queen's hand and saw the plum blossom beads on her wrist.
He stroked the beads with his fingertips and said softly, "Of course, she is my most beloved daughter. She married far away and made great contributions to the country. It is only right to reserve a place for her. I often think of her."
The Queen's eyes were red, and she pressed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief: "Princess Rongyang is here too? I remember that when Princess Rongyang was a child, she often played with Li'er. When she was fighting at the border that year, she even brought a letter home for Li'er."
The emperor nodded slowly: "Yes."
The queen asked with concern: "Good boy, is your leg feeling better?"
Su Zhiyi bowed her head and said, "Thank you for your concern, my legs...are still the same as before, and have not deteriorated."
That means it hasn't gotten better.
The Queen sighed, "Your Majesty, this child is so pitiful. I remember that she often went riding and hunting with Li'er. Li'er also said in her letter that she wanted to be a female general like her."
The emperor was moved: "Indeed."
He glanced at Su Zhiyi and said, "Stand up."
Su Zhiyi thanked him and struggled to get up, which was quite difficult.
The emperor signaled Su Huaiyuan to help her and carry her to the wheelchair.
The Queen fixed her eyes on Su Huaiyuan: "General Su, when did you return to Beijing?"
"Your Majesty, I returned to Beijing on the tenth day." Su Huaiyuan lowered his head and answered respectfully.
"The Su family is loyal and righteous," the queen said to the emperor, "I heard that the emperor has given the Su family a superior seat. I will make good arrangements."
The emperor patted her hand and said, "I always trust the queen to do things."
The Queen bowed and said, "It is my duty to share the worries of the Emperor. I will not disturb the Emperor any more and will take my leave now."
She turned and walked away, never looking at anyone else.
The emperor was distracted for a moment, and his eyes swept towards Su Zhiyi: "Forget it, for Li'er's sake, I will keep your title of princess, but deduct your salary for three months as a warning to you."
Su Zhiyi was determined in her heart: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Su Huaiyuan fell to the ground and kowtowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for forgiving my daughter. When I return, I will teach her well and this will never happen again."
The emperor looked tired: "Go away."
Including Wang Fuyin, the three of them retreated.
The emperor sat there in silent thought. Eunuch Wei did not dare to breathe and waited for him to speak.
After a long while, the emperor said, "Call the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I want to prepare some Mid-Autumn Festival gifts for Li'er."
"yes."
Eunuch Wei left the study room, flicked his whisk, and was followed by a young eunuch.
Fu Qingyin supported his forehead with one hand and held the note with the other. There was only one sentence on it - Princess Rongyang is still a princess.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, forming a cold arc.
He does have some skills.
Then, a Red Dragon Guard came in to report: "Reporting to the commander, it was the Queen who mentioned the Sixth Princess in front of the Emperor. The Sixth Princess and Princess Rongyang had some feelings for each other, so..."
Fu Qingyin flicked his finger, and the note fell into the fire basin and turned into ashes.
"What did you say?"
"It is said that he had a dream, and in the dream he said he missed his father, the emperor, and his mother, the queen."
Fu Qingyin sneered: "Dream? Then dream a few more times."
…
Yu Shengsheng was decocting medicine in the corridor when Ruan Jing came to ask for a meeting.
She frowned slightly, and Jin Baobao whispered, "Miss, if you don't want to see her, I'll chase her away."
"Little girl, I heard what you said," Ruan Jing walked into the yard with a slow pace and a smile in her voice.
Jin Baobao snorted: "Whether you hear me or not, am I afraid of you?"
Ruan Jing smiled good-naturedly: "Don't be afraid, it's me who is afraid. I'm afraid of leaking the most important news."
She raised her hand, holding a medicine bag in her hand: "Plaster, Shengsheng, you can try it first. If you feel good, I will completely cure your arm. How about it?"
Yu Shengsheng stood up, with steam rising from the medicine pot behind her: "Miss Ruan, why don't you get straight to the point? Why are you so concerned about my affairs?"
"I am not a master in the Su family. I am just a guest. You can see that I have no money or friends. What do you want from me?"
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