There was another thing that gave Emperor Gu Zhenting a headache. It was the incident of Su Changfeng, the defender of Luli City, killing an innocent woman. It was not a difficult matter, and Su Changfeng also submitted a letter of apology. He could just be executed in the autumn!
Su Changfeng had been an official for many years, and had always been diligent and caring for the people. He had made outstanding achievements and received awards from the court every year. This time, the people of Lüli City presented a petition to the people, hoping for a lighter sentence. He also admitted his guilt with a good attitude. All his private property was confiscated.
Moreover, he was the brother-in-law of Lu Taifu, who was always a royalist.
For these reasons, Gu Zhenting wanted to give him a lighter sentence.
However, he did not expect that Concubine Liu and the Queen Mother were involved in this. This indirectly affected his reputation as an emperor. It was considered a loss of morality for the royal family.
This tortuous matter gave Gu Zhenting a headache. And it was already known to the world, so it couldn't be concealed.
At court today, the ministers argued fiercely about this matter.
Some supported Su Changfeng's death penalty. Some said Su Changfeng should be exiled. Some even thought that Lu Taifu should be held responsible, regardless of Su Changfeng. Some imperial censors even asked Concubine Liu and the Queen Mother to come forward and explain the whole story.
Gu Zhenting felt his temples throbbing. He left in anger halfway through the morning court session. He knew it was wrong, but he just couldn't control his temper. He wanted to get angry and smash things.
Now that he had calmed down and thought about it, he decided to go to the Queen Mother and ask about the situation. But when he thought about the fact that the Queen Mother was the biological mother of both him and King Wensheng, and that she was more partial to King Wensheng, he felt upset again.
Gu Zhenting took a deep breath and said to Xiao Quanzi, "Go to Renshou Palace."
"Yes!" Xiao Quanzi said loudly, "Go to Renshou Palace!"
…
In Renshou Palace, the empress dowager, who had taken off her pearl jewelry and palace dress and was well-maintained, was looking at the letter in her hand with a sad face, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
When she heard that the emperor was coming, she couldn't help but tremble, and quickly asked Wei Ma, the most trusted maid, to bring a candle and burn the letter in her hand to ashes. She adjusted her expression and made sure there was no flaw before letting the emperor in.
The emperor waved away his followers and walked in with only Xiao Quanzi.
"Greetings to the Queen Mother. May your Majesty be with you forever."
"Your Majesty, why are you here so late?" The Queen Mother looked kind. But her heart was beating fast, because she had also heard about what happened in the morning court today. She originally thought that the Emperor would come to question her soon. She didn't expect it would take until this time.
"I haven't come to see my mother for a few days. Today I have some free time, so I came to see her." Gu Zhenting smiled, but did not mention the morning court.
He didn't mention it, and the Queen Mother couldn't bring it up either. If she said too much, the Emperor would suspect that she was planting spies everywhere. Besides, the harem was not allowed to interfere in government affairs. Even if she was anxious, she could only bear it. There was another matter, which was even more serious and life-threatening. But she still couldn't say it.
The Queen Mother felt so aggrieved for the first time, but there was nothing she could do. The Emperor was her son, and he was the ruler of the world. She could not have a heart-to-heart talk with him like an ordinary mother and son.
The two chatted casually without any awkwardness.
The deadlock was not broken until a young eunuch outside announced that Concubine Liu had arrived.
Concubine Liu has lost a lot of weight in the past few days, because the emperor no longer favors her. The emperor has taken in Ye Xueyi, the eldest daughter of Marquis Dingyuan, as Concubine Ye. He also often stays at Concubine Ye's place. She vaguely feels that she seems to have fallen out of favor.
But the emperor still visited her and gave her all kinds of good things, but he no longer stayed in her palace. She herself couldn't figure out what was going on.
Today, she heard rumors about the morning court session and had always wanted to see the emperor, but she had always said that no matter how busy the emperor was, he had no time to see her. Until just now, when she heard that the emperor had arrived at the Renshou Palace, she hurried over.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent!" As soon as Concubine Liu came in, she started crying and protesting her innocence.
The originally charming face now had a touch of sad beauty like pear blossoms in the rain.
Gu Zhenting immediately softened his heart, but when he thought of the vivid and realistic painting submitted in Su Changfeng's memorial, which depicted the entire process of using the blood of unmarried women to make beauty pills, the blood was dripping and the women were in a horrible state.
And those things were finally used by Concubine Liu on this stunningly beautiful face.
He looked at her face and felt a chill.
Looking at the empress dowager's face, which was already over fifty years old but still well-maintained, Gu Zhenting felt uncomfortable all over, and his stomach suddenly churned.
He quickly grabbed the cup beside him and vomited.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you!" Concubine Liu cried out in shock and worry, "Your Majesty, please don't scare me!"
The Queen Mother was also startled and ordered someone to call the imperial physician immediately.
Gu Zhenting vomited for a while, and his stomach felt better. He looked at the two women in front of him, one was his biological mother, and the other was the woman he loved. He was very annoyed. He turned around and left. When he reached the door, he turned back and looked at Concubine Liu.
"Empress Liu has committed a crime, but considering that you have served me for many years, I will demote you to Zhaoyi and confine you to your own palace to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures!"
After Gu Zhenting finished speaking, he looked at the Queen Mother and said, "Mother, you should also recite more sutras and chant more for those dead women. Stay in Renshou Palace for the time being and don't go out."
"Your Majesty, I..."
"Mother, there is already a censor impeaching you! Let me deal with you..." Gu Zhenting looked at the empress dowager calmly.
The Queen Mother lowered her head guiltily.
Gu Zhenting sneered, turned around, and strode away.
That night, the emperor issued an edict that Su Changfeng, the city guard of Luli City, was guilty of murdering a woman and was demoted to be executed. The entire Hua family was confiscated and executed.
This matter has come to an end for the time being.
…
The next day, the road to the northwest was open, and Li Yang and Dong Yishu led the exile team to Qichen again. But this time, there were a few more people outside the city gate!
Su Changfeng, Zhu Qian, Mr. Yan, and Madam Yu.
Su Changfeng didn't waste any time and asked someone to bring Su Xiaoxiao over, as well as a wooden box, and handed them directly to Ye Xinran.
Ye Xinran raised an eyebrow, did not answer, and asked, "What does this mean?"
Su Changfeng suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down, scaring Ye Xinran.
"You, what are you doing?" Ye Xinran pushed Gu Yanming, asking him to pull the man up, but he didn't move.
"Princess, I would like to ask you to take care of my daughter. The box contains her living expenses! You just need to let her grow up healthily and arrange a simple family for her in the future so that she can get married!"
Ye Xinran didn't expect that it was a care for a child. She felt a little sad. Seeing that the little girl was still confused and had no idea what her father had done for her.
This reminded Ye Xinran of her father in her previous life, who had lived with her. She couldn't say no.
"Okay, I promise you!"
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