Chapter 161: What is shaken is not only the people's hearts but also the foundation of the country
Soon, the imperial edict came down.
Qian confessed to the false recognition of kinship with her child and the poisoning of Jiang Yinyue, and was sentenced to death. Zuo Wen'an, also known as Li Chang'an, was also sentenced to exile in a cold and bitter place, and was never allowed to serve as an official and return to the imperial city.
When she heard the imperial edict, Qian fainted from tears. She had planned so much for Li Changan, and it seemed that all that was left were good days. However, she did not expect that all her efforts would be wasted. Not only could Li Changan not become a general, but he would have to be a slave for the rest of his life.
However, when death was imminent, she just thought that she and Li Changan were unlucky. If there was an afterlife, Li Changan would definitely become a general, and she... would also enjoy happiness with her son.
Lou admitted that she had instigated Qian to poison the queen and that she herself had poisoned the queen by mistake. She always insisted that the incident had nothing to do with Zuo Shanzhang, Zuo Sixian and others, and she refused to give in even when she was beaten half to death.
Because she knew clearly that if she exposed Zuo Shanzhang, then Zuo Sixian and Zuo Jiali's lives would be ruined, so for the sake of her children, she could only bear everything alone.
She was also sentenced to death.
At the same time, Jiang Yinyue also received an imperial decree allowing her to divorce. In addition to the imperial seal of the Jin Emperor, there was also the seal of the Empress Dowager. From then on, she regained her freedom and became the first woman in the history of the Jin Dynasty to take the initiative to divorce and divorce her husband.
In addition, Yuan Tianchen and Shangguan Jinglan agreed that the General's Mansion had made outstanding contributions in the Queen's poisoning incident, especially Wei Ranzhu and Li Suining. Therefore, Wei Ranzhu was conferred the title of Lady of Imperial Edict, and Li Suining was conferred the title of Princess Suining County.
At the end of the imperial edict, Zuo Shanzhang was required to enter the palace immediately.
The moment the imperial edict was delivered to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Zuo Shanzhang almost couldn't stand. Fortunately, Zuo Sixian and Zuo Jiali were there to support him in time.
"Lord Zuo Xiang, please pack up and hurry into the palace." The eunuch who delivered the decree had an obviously contemptuous attitude. Although Zuo Shanzhang had not been punished yet, everyone knew that all this was related to Zuo Shanzhang.
The most glorious days of this dignified prime minister of the Jin Dynasty, who was second only to the emperor, are probably gone forever.
"Father..." Seeing the eunuch leave, Zuo Sixian spoke cautiously, "You are okay..."
With a "slap", Zuo Shanzhang slapped him, "Evil creature!"
"Father!" Zuo Sixian quickly knelt down.
Seeing this, Zuo Jiali, who was behind the two men, immediately knelt down, too frightened to even breathe.
"Was it your idea that your mother instigated Qian to poison the woman?" Zuo Shanzhang asked with great sorrow.
Zuo Sixian hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.
"You're completely crazy!" Zuo Shanzhang kicked Zuo Sixian on the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. "A bastard's son is a bastard's son, and a lowly fate is a lowly fate. I tell you, you'll never be the legitimate son of the Prime Minister's Mansion in your lifetime."
Zuo Sixian looked up at Zuo Shanzhang in disbelief. He knew his father was always strict, but he thought it was a good thing. It was because his father had high hopes for him, so for so many years, he had worked hard to be a good eldest son and a good brother... But now...
He asked tremblingly, "So, in father's eyes, what are Jiali and I...? Even if we are born out of wedlock, are we no longer your sons?"
"Brother..." Zuo Jiali could no longer hold back his tears and gently tugged at Zuo Sixian's clothes, fearing that Zuo Sixian would anger his father again.
"My son?" Zuo Shanzhang had calmed down by now, straightened his clothes, and said, "How dare you! You're just two dogs raised by the Prime Minister's Mansion!"
He stood up straight, his eyes swept over the two people coldly, "I'm going to the palace now, you stay at home and don't go anywhere."
After saying that, he turned around and strode out.
"Li Suining did the right thing." Suddenly, Zuo Jiali shouted from behind, his voice clearly filled with tears.
Zuo Shanzhang looked back in confusion.
Zuo Jiali bit his lip hard before continuing to shout, "Sister Suining is right. You are not a good father. You don't deserve to be a father. I really envy my sister. She is right not to recognize you."
In an instant, Zuo Shanzhang's face became extremely gloomy, and the look he gave Zuo Jiali almost killed him.
"Brother, you're right." At this time, Zuo Sixian also spoke. He moved his body to protect his brother behind him, and looked straight back at Zuo Shanzhang, "If possible, we really hope... that we are the children of the general's mansion."
"Someone!" Zuo Shanzhang was completely furious. "Lock these two beasts in the dungeon. I'll settle the score with them when I come back."
He angrily threw up his sleeves and strode away.
Zuo Shanzhang knew what was waiting for him in the palace, but he would not give up, and he did not lose.
After entering the palace, he also met several colleagues, but those people no longer came to fawn over him like lapdogs. Instead, they stayed away from him as if he were the plague.
Zuo Shanzhang knew that from now on, his and Bai Yunfeng's situation in the court would probably be completely reversed.
Very good, he likes this situation.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Upon entering the Yangxin Palace, Zuo Shanzhang immediately knelt down in a respectful manner and said sincerely, "I am guilty. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Yuan Tianchen sneered, "You still know that you are guilty?"
"I failed to discipline my family properly, and was blinded by my concubine. I almost harmed the Empress. I deserve to die!" Zuo Shanzhang fell to the ground, crying out in grief, "Your Majesty, please grant me the death penalty."
Yuan Tianchen stood up, walked up to Zuo Shanzhang, and asked condescendingly, "Are you serious?"
Of course he couldn't kill Zuo Shanzhang, even if everything that happened in Kunning Palace was Zuo Shanzhang's behind the scenes, he couldn't kill him.
Zuo Shanzhang was a prime minister of a dynasty and had great influence. If he was killed, it would not only shake the people's hearts, but also the foundation of the country.
"Every word I say comes from the bottom of my heart, but..." Zuo Shanzhang raised his head cautiously and looked at Yuan Tianchen, "Before I die, there is one thing I must remind Your Majesty."
Yuan Tianchen frowned and said, "Speak."
"Your Majesty, the Bai family must be guarded against!" Zuo Shanzhang lowered his head again and spoke excitedly, "Your Majesty, think about this. The Bai family's influence and actions in this entire incident have made Bai Yunfeng the person everyone in the court wants to curry favor with the most."
Yuan Tianchen didn't say anything.
Zuo Shanzhang waited for a while before carefully raising his head and looking at Yuan Tianchen, speaking in grief.
"Your Majesty, after this incident, the three factions in the court—military officials, civil officials, and the old Grand Tutor—will probably all lean towards Bai Yunfeng. If Bai Yunfeng develops ulterior motives in the future... Your Majesty, I dare not even think about it."
He lowered his head again and said, "Your Majesty, I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid that after I die... no one will consider Your Majesty wholeheartedly anymore."
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