[Hahahaha! Is this the Tenth Emperor's final act of stubbornness?]
Someone asked me to ask. I laughed to death.
Xia Miaoyuan tried hard to hold back his laughter.
The faces of Grand Tutor Jiang and the Duke of Huguo turned red and white.
At this moment, the hall was silent, so quiet that one could almost hear one's own breathing.
The guests all stared at Xia Zhengqi intently, waiting to see his reaction.
Xia Zhengqi pondered for a moment, surveyed the guests, and said calmly, "Since you are all quite interested in this matter, I will simply make an announcement today."
When the guests heard that Emperor Mingxi was going to make the announcement in public, they became even more nervous.
"You will never see the Empress Dowager again from now on." Xia Zhengqi said lightly.
As soon as these words were spoken, a burst of whispers immediately rang out in the hall.
"Ah! Why?"
"Could it be that the Empress Dowager has become a vegetable?"
"Ahem!" Xia Zhengqi cleared his throat and the guests immediately shut up.
"But there's no need to worry." Xia Zhengqi's voice was gentle.
"A few days ago, the Empress Dowager learned that the battle in the Northern Frontier, which lasted for more than two years, had resulted in the loss of nearly ten thousand soldiers from Great Xia. She was deeply saddened, and every time she thought about it, she was filled with grief."
"After much deliberation, the Queen Mother has decided to spend the rest of her life in seclusion at the Fanyin Temple, chanting sutras and praying day and night for the loyal souls of the fallen Great Xia, hoping they can soon ascend to heaven. She will also pray for the prosperity of our Great Xia."
Xia Miaoyuan grabbed a piece of cake and covered his mouth with it. He watched Xia Zhengqi's performance with great interest and couldn't help but praise him in his heart, "Daddy, what a great actor!"
【It seems that being an emperor in ancient times was not easy. 】
[Not only does one need to be smart and have a strong aura, but one must also have good acting skills.]
After Emperor Mingxi said this, the guests in the audience were all stunned and looked at each other in confusion.
"What? The Empress Dowager has become a nun?"
"how so?"
"This doesn't seem like something the Queen Mother would do!"
Especially the Jiang and Feng families, as well as Liang Chaozong and Yao Jinse, were dumbfounded and speechless.
Grand Tutor Jiang's face was gloomy, and he lowered his head without saying a word.
His hopes were dashed. Not only did the Empress Dowager, his backer, fail to rise up, but her support was completely ruined.
He was not stupid, so he naturally did not believe the empress dowager's polite words of asking to go to Fanyin Temple to pray for the country.
The Duke of Protectorate was originally in high spirits today, but now his eyes are dim and he is silent.
As for Liang Chaozong and Yao Jinse, in addition to shock and disappointment, they were also a little frightened.
Yao Jinse is now a little worried about the reason why the Empress Dowager was punished by Emperor Mingxi.
If it was because of the rumor, would she be implicated?
Xia Zhengqi forced a slightly sad expression and said solemnly, "Alas, the Empress Dowager moved to Fanyin Temple, and I was also very reluctant to let her go."
"I have repeatedly tried to dissuade the Queen Mother from abandoning me and my grandchildren. But the Queen Mother has made up her mind and there is absolutely no room for change."
"I am helpless too!"
Speaking of this, Xia Zhengqi squeezed out two tears.
"Now we can only understand the Empress Dowager's ambition and wish her peace and happiness in Fanyin Temple for the rest of her life." After Xia Zhengqi said this, he took out a handkerchief and wiped the only two tears from the corners of his eyes.
"Ah, it's not easy for the emperor either."
After listening to Xia Zhengqi's explanation, some simple-minded people in the audience began to sigh.
A noisy discussion broke out in the hall again, as noisy as a vegetable market.
At this moment, Han Qingbo opened his voice at the right moment and shouted, "The Empress Dowager has a heart of great love and is selfless. She is a blessing to Daxia!"
People tend to follow trends easily.
With Han Qingbo's shout, the guests followed suit.
For a moment, people's gossip and discussion were all drawn to this.
Xia Zhengqi gave Han Qingbo an appreciative look.
"This Han Qingbo is really a wonderful person! He has good eyesight and a quick mind!" Xia Miaoyuan couldn't help but admire him in his heart.
[In the original book, Han Qingbo was one of the most important counselors around Liang Chaozong, and he provided Liang Chaozong with many suggestions.]
[It can be said that Liang Chaozong's successful restoration of his country was inseparable from Han Qingbo's help.]
[However, in this new life, Han Qingbo became a scholar of the Hanlin Academy and my father's right-hand man.]
【Hahaha, it feels so good just thinking about it! 】
Xia Miaoyuan glanced at Liang Chaozong and Yao Jinse who were speechless in astonishment, and felt even more proud.
“Ahem!”
Xia Zhengqi cleared his throat again, then continued, "As for Concubine Li."
"She has lost her moral integrity and has been demoted and confined to the cold palace."
"Alas, this is my family's shame, and I can only say this much."
At this moment, the astonishment on the faces of the people in the hall were mixed with some secret joy from having heard some royal gossip. Some people even exchanged meaningful glances with the people next to them, and then cast sympathetic glances at Xia Zhengqi.
[Woqu, come on, what do you mean by those looks? Are you guessing that Concubine Li is cheating on my father?]
Xia Zhengqi: ...
On the other side, the eight prince, who was only 5 years old, had sorrow in his eyes, two hot tears overflowed from his eyes, and his little body was shaking slightly.
Madam Liu, who was in charge of serving him, pinched him on the back secretly and whispered, "Today is a palace banquet, don't cry, or you will spoil the Emperor and Empress's mood."
Ever since his biological mother, Concubine Li, was suddenly taken away a few days ago, he was quietly taken to Concubine Lu's bedroom.
Lady Lu told him that he would live here from now on and would not be able to go to the main hall for classes for the time being.
The eighth prince cried and went to find Concubine Li, but they were indifferent and just told him to have fun and stop making trouble.
He kept asking where Concubine Li had gone, but they refused to tell him.
Now, his father announced Lipin's crime in front of everyone, and he finally knew.
Demoted and banished to the cold palace, these words seemed light when spoken by his father, but for the five-year-old boy, it was like a bolt from the blue.
Although he was young, he knew about the cold palace. Once a concubine was thrown into the cold palace, she could never expect to come out again in her lifetime.
The eighth prince covered his mouth, struggling to hold back his tears, slipped down from the chair, and quietly ran back.
Nanny Liu sighed silently and chased after him.
Xia Miaoyuan and the Eighth Prince were not far away, and she happened to see this scene.
[Alas, Xiaoba has suffered. He is only five years old, still ignorant and naive.]
"Go out and cry for a bit. It'll make you feel better. I'll go and comfort him after the main part is over."
When Xia Miaoyuan came back to his senses from his sympathy for the Eighth Prince, the scene was already in chaos.
At this time, the Prince of Jin, who had raised the question, quickly tried to smooth things over: "Since Your Majesty has answered my question, please continue with the palace banquet!"
"Don't spoil everyone's fun!"
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