The next day, the battle for the throne between Zhao Ying and Zhao Xi officially began.
Shangguan Shu's coffin and funeral paraphernalia were carried from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion through the main street of the capital, and were carried to the Shangguan family's ancestral tomb outside the capital in a grand manner.
Shangguan Chengjing, as the eldest son, carried the coffin, and the others followed behind. Even Shangguan Qingyue wore mourning clothes and looked even more pitiful among the crowd.
This is exactly the effect we want.
The cause and effect of Shangguan Shu's unjust murder at Shenwu Gate were spread out, and with the deliberate exaggeration, the people were talking about it, and the public resentment was like a pot of water on the fire, ready to boil.
Zhao Ying also wore mourning for Shangguan Shu. Although she knew he was still alive, it was actually him in the coffin, and Zhao Ying's heart ached again.
She couldn't help but think that Shangguan Shu's life was a tragedy that was embellished with gorgeousness and splendor. He had been silently manipulated, and everything he got was not what he wanted. He lost everything he wanted and loved.
The woman who claimed to love him pushed him into an endless abyss.
He wanted to break free from control, but the only way to escape was death.
In fact, isn't it a tragedy for her and her children?
But this time, she would never allow those tragedies to happen!
After the funeral, the old duke brought the other three dukes and the patriarchs of the old clans into the palace and knelt outside the Golden Palace, demanding that the culprit Zhao Xi be severely punished and that an explanation be given to the clan.
The memorial from the four generals of the Southern Region was also sent urgently over 800 miles to the dragon table of Emperor Jianxi. There was only one request, that Zhao Xi pay with his life for the murder.
Outside the Golden Palace, all the civil and military officials trembled in fear at the spectacle before them. Taifu Yang angrily scolded the old Duke and his men, "You are forcing the emperor to abdicate!"
An official stepped forward and said calmly, "Grand Tutor, your words are wrong. How can you say he forced the emperor to abdicate? Princes who break the law are just as guilty as commoners. Prince Ding Zhao Xi orchestrated the unjust murder of Grand Tutor Shangguan. We have witnesses and evidence. Murder means death. This cannot be denied!"
Prime Minister Yin said, "Nonsense! The prince is the emperor's legitimate son, how could he sacrifice his life for a minister? Besides, the one who killed Shangguan Shu was Shangguan Zhu, not Prince Ding!"
"Hahaha..." Shangguan Dan sneered, "What the Prime Minister said is that the murderer should be punished by the murder weapon, not the person who ordered it."
The neutral officials remained silent. They thought that the unjust killing of a court official must be punished with death, but this man was the emperor's legitimate son and the one with the greatest hope of becoming the crown prince... Alas, in ancient times, the emperor was guilty of the same crime as the common people, but when was he truly guilty of the same crime as the common people?
There was a lot of noise outside the palace. Inside the Golden Throne Hall, Emperor Jianxi looked at the petition letters one after another, and after a while, he gave an order.
Zhou Ji, Shangguan Zhu, and Qiancheng were sentenced to death and executed in the autumn.
Since Hengbi did not hold an official title, he was not involved.
When the order was passed down, everyone understood that the emperor wanted to sacrifice the chariot to save the emperor, and the emperor was still wholeheartedly on the side of Prince Ding.
Prime Minister Yin and Grand Tutor Yang breathed a sigh of relief, but the old Duke and his entourage looked gloomy. After the court was dismissed, the old Duke did not leave and remained kneeling outside the hall. Emperor Jianxi also did not come out.
Everyone thought that the matter would be dealt with hastily, but Prince Ding's mansion was surrounded by the people.
In the middle of the night, a large number of people stood outside Prince Ding's palace and threw eggs and rotten vegetables. Some radical elements even instigated the people to break into the palace. Fortunately, the garrison of the capital arrived in time and brought Prince Ding into the palace that night.
The next day, all officials from Shangguan Shu's lineage withdrew from court.
At this time, Prime Minister Yin and Grand Tutor Yang discovered that the key to solving this matter was Zhao Ying.
After Prime Minister Yin and Grand Tutor Yang returned from the palace, they went to the princess's residence. Zhao Ying was not surprised by their arrival.
After the formalities, Taifu Yang got straight to the point, "What exactly does it take for Your Highness to let this go?"
They were really scared if this continued. Fortunately, Prince Ding was not a pushover and had placed the families of the Southern Territory generals under house arrest. But they were worried that they would just ignore it...
Zhao Ying was dressed in plain white, her voice low and hoarse, "You ask me? Then I'll tell you, I want Zhao Xi to pay for my husband's life!"
Prime Minister Yin frowned, "I hope Your Highness will reconsider. Prince Ding is none other than Your Highness's biological brother. How can you ask your beloved relative to pay for the life of an outsider?"
"Since he knew he was my close relative, why did he still plot to harm my consort?"
Taifu Yang and Prime Minister Yin saw that they were not in the right, so Taifu Yang pointed out directly, "In my opinion, Your Highness is claiming to avenge your husband, but in fact he wants to use this opportunity to overthrow Prince Ding and ascend the throne himself!"
Zhao Ying curled her lips in a half-smile, no longer trying to hide her intentions. She casually raised her teacup and took a sip. "So what?"
"Your Highness is too arrogant!" Prime Minister Yin was so irritated that he stood up and shouted angrily, "Your Highness is just a woman, why do you want to covet the supreme position?"
"Why? They're both my father's children, so Zhao Xi is fine, but I'm not?"
Taifu Yang lowered his voice, as if trying to comfort him, "Forgive me for my disrespect, but since ancient times, men have been true dragons, and women true phoenixes. Only then can dragons and phoenixes bring good luck! If... the phoenix wants to become a dragon, wouldn't that be going against the will of Heaven and breaking the laws of our ancestors?"
"The laws of our ancestors were also established by you men. Why should I follow them?"
Prime Minister Yin narrowed his eyes, "Your Highness is so stubborn and stubborn that he might even hurt himself! Your Majesty is so wise and powerful, how could he allow Your Highness to act so recklessly!"
This sentence seemed to touch Zhao Ying's heart. Zhao Ying stopped talking and asked someone to send the guest away.
As soon as the people were sent away, news came from the palace that Emperor Jianxi had summoned him.
Soon, Zhao Ying knelt outside the Yangxin Palace. Emperor Jianxi said that he would have to keep kneeling unless he admitted his mistake.
The queen wanted to plead for mercy, but was forcibly sent back to Kunning Palace by the guards and detained.
Inside the palace, Emperor Jianxi lay on his side, eating grapes fed by Concubine Qi. Zhao Xi glanced at him and couldn't help but say, "Father, sister..."
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