Chapter 219 Chapter 219 is Wei...
"Save me, save me!"
"Help."
Xie Rong prayed with difficulty.
Gu Zhizhuo examined his wound and said calmly, "You are beyond saving."
The knife stabbed directly into his lung, which was a fatal wound. Even a god could not save him.
Xie Rong looked desperate.
Gu Zhizhuo stuffed a pill into his mouth, gave the doctor a few more instructions, wiped his hands, and walked out. "It's a paper cutter. I don't know how it got in here."
She shook her head at Xie Yingchen and whispered, "Stop the bleeding, then use talismans and elixirs to prolong his life. He can probably hold on for another three to five days. However, during these three to five days, he will be in extreme pain and slowly suffocate to death."
Xie Yingchen said to the Dali Temple Minister, "Submit the case as soon as possible."
The Dali Temple Minister agreed repeatedly. This case of treason was under scrutiny from top to bottom, and the criminal must not be allowed to die before being convicted and executed.
Xie Yingchen then had Prince Li and the cabinet called over and said, "Yaoyao, he won't die for a while?"
"I won't die unless I draw my sword," Gu Zhizhuo said confidently. "I need to draw a few talismans before I can draw my sword. Young Master, call my senior brother over and have him lend me a hand."
Xie Yingchen ordered his men to do it, saying, "Separate them. We'll leave first."
"Big sister! Big sister!"
Xie Yan chased after her again, her small hands tightly grasping the iron railings: "Big sister, take me away, I will definitely be obedient."
Xie Yan's lovely face was filled with pleading. Gu Zhizhuo remained unmoved. She pointed coldly at Xie Rong and said, "You look a lot like him. He killed his father, and you killed your father too. You are destined to be father and son."
Xie Yan desperately shook his head, slamming the iron railings, and screamed, "No, he's not my father, no. My last name is Gu, and my name is Gu Yan."
"You can't just ignore me! Ahhhhhh."
"You used to like me the most."
His cries echoed in the cell, making Gu Zhi's eardrums hurt.
Seeing them about to leave, Xie Yan rushed to Xie Rong again, grabbed his clothes and shook him vigorously, crying, "Go and tell them, I'm not your son. I'm Gu Taotao's son, and my name is Gu Yan! Not Xie Yan."
It's all his fault.
He said he would make himself the heir, but he didn't keep his word. He wasn't kind to himself at all.
Xie Yan kicked Xie Rong frantically, screaming, "Go and tell them! Go and tell them!"
As long as Xie Rong said it, they would definitely believe it. He was still the young master of the Gu family and didn't need to suffer here anymore.
He kicked Xie Rong on the body and face, but Xie Rong still did not respond. He lay there dying, breathing heavily with difficulty.
In his eyes, Xie Yan was like a ghost crawling out of hell, coming to take his life.
Oh.
Gu Zhizhuo smiled and left with Xie Yingchen.
The jailers came in and took Xie Jing and the others out first, and then came to pull Xie Yan out.
"Come here."
Xie Rong waved to him weakly.
Xie Yan was so happy that he bit the back of the jailer's hand unexpectedly. The jailer let him go in pain. Xie Yan ran back and said happily, "You are willing to help me talk to my elder sister, right?"
It was clearly Xie Yan who stabbed him, but he didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt.
Even though Xie Rong was dying, all he wanted was for Xie Rong to plead for him so that he could live a good life.
He did not feel the slightest bit of guilt or grief towards his father.
"It really is an evil ghost that is here to claim my life, my life..."
Xie Rong laughed at himself.
"Go tell your elder sister..."
His voice gradually became softer, so soft that Xie Yan could not hear it at all, and could only slowly lean his head over.
The jailer came over to pull people away, but who would have thought that Xie Rong grabbed Xie Yan's arm, pulled out the paper cutter from his chest, and cut Xie Yan's neck.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Aaaaaaahhhh!!
"The son kills the father, the father kills the son, hahahahahahahaha."
Changfeng's curses seemed to be right next to my ears.
Xie Rong dropped the paper cutter. A large mouthful of blood spurted out, and he immediately began to breathe in and out more than he breathed out.
The blood from his chest flowed out through his fingers and merged with the blood he vomited. The straw under him was immediately stained red with blood.
The doctor was shocked.
So did the jailer.
Xie Jing had just walked out of the cell and stayed there for a long time. He shouted in shock, shook off the jailer and rushed out.
"Miss Gu!"
"Help."
Gu Zhizhuo was still on the first floor, so she had to come back in a hurry. The talisman had not been drawn yet, so she first used silver needles to stop the bleeding and save his life, and then she improvised a prescription and asked someone to get it.
He was busy and covered in blood. Fortunately, Qingping came, and Gu Zhizhuo asked him to help draw the talisman.
It took her a full hour to get out of the prison, and after washing her hands, she returned to the back court.
"He's been saved." Gu Zhizhuo pointed with his finger and said, "He can only hold on for three days at most."
She was so tired that she leaned back in the armchair.
Prince Li and his men had also heard about what had happened. After arriving, they went to the cell and watched over it for a while.
Upon hearing this, Prince Lian Li didn't say much except for sighing.
Death at the hands of an adulterous child is retribution.
Gu Zhizhuo finished drinking a glass of warm water that was handed to him and had just rested for a while when the Dali Temple Minister came in hurriedly and presented the sorted files to Xie Yingchen.
If Xie Rong's surname was not Xie, every one of the things he did would be punishable by the death of his entire clan.
pity.
The three courts decided that the principal offender would be executed immediately, his wives, concubines, and children would be exiled to Fujian Province, and all those except those of the imperial clan would be reduced to slavery. The remaining accomplices would be executed in the autumn, their property confiscated, or exiled, depending on the severity of their crimes.
Generally speaking, the punishments imposed by the Three Courts would be heavier, so as to leave room for mercy from the superiors.
They decided to exile, but what was approved was often just confinement.
After reading it, Xie Yingchen handed it to Prince Li. Everyone in the circle looked at it one by one, even Gu Zhizhuo was no exception.
Finally it returned to Xie Yingchen's hands.
"Grandson, look..."
Prince Li hesitated, wondering whether to change the exile to confinement or to guard the imperial mausoleum. Finally, Xie Yingchen wrote a single "approval" in red ink.
Exile. Gu Zhizhuo curled his lips. Very good! Exactly the same thing that the Gu family had suffered back then.
Prince Li: “…”
Well, just exile him, Prince Li did not persuade him anymore.
"The execution will take place in three days." Xie Yingchen said, and then said to Gu Yican, "Prince of Zhenbei, you will oversee the execution."
"yes."
"That's right, Your Highness," Gu Zhizhuo said, "The late emperor arranged for my aunt, a daughter of the Wang clan of Langya, to be the principal wife of Prince Rong. The Wang family signed the marriage certificate, but after arriving in the capital, my aunt inexplicably became a concubine. This is wrong! The late emperor deceived her into marriage, so the marriage certificate should be invalid. Your Highness, please help me remove my aunt and cousin from the imperial genealogy."
Prince Li: “…”
That's far-fetched.
It's understandable that Miss Gu wants to protect Concubine Shu, but is she too lazy to even make up any evidence?
Can we first discuss a slightly better excuse?
Xie Yingchen nodded. "This matter was indeed a royal marriage fraud. The marriage certificate should be declared invalid. Wang can take her daughter home. Prince Li, please go and handle it."
Prince Li: “…Yes.” Never mind, it’s not a big deal anyway.
Done! Gu Zhizhuo turned his head and smiled at Gu Yican: "We will go and help my aunt move later."
My aunt has moved back to the Wang family's house, but since she left in a hurry, her dowry and other things are still left in the palace.
Gu Yican echoed, "Ask Cousin Xing to come along." Then he urged, "Your Highness, hurry up, let's get this done today."
"Okay, okay." Prince Li was at a loss as to what to do with the two siblings. "I will go get the imperial certificate myself later."
Speaking of this, Prince Li remembered that Xie Rong's wives and concubines were still imprisoned in the harem, and it was time to move them all to the prison, otherwise Xie Yingchen would not be able to move into the palace.
On that day, everyone's sins were determined and announced to the world.
The official document was posted in front of the Meridian Gate. The government specially sent several students to read it to the illiterate people, and also arranged for yamen runners to walk through the streets with gongs and drums.
Xie Rong's punishment was decided three days later.
The people cheered.
The news has spread throughout the capital that the deposed emperor has colluded with the people of Liang to set fire to the city. If it weren't for Miss Gu who single-handedly turned the tide, they would all have been burned to death.
There are also people in the north city who claim to have seen with their own eyes the people of Liang setting fire and killing people.
The resentment and anger towards the deposed emperor almost reached its peak at this moment.
However, several imperial censors jointly submitted a memorial accusing the crown prince of imposing too harsh a punishment, which was contrary to the principles of benevolence, righteousness, and filial piety. They said that since the deposed emperor had once ascended the throne, it was justified to confine him and live in honor.
Xie Yingchen didn't say anything, but just had the memorial read several times in front of the Meridian Gate. On the way back from the yamen, the imperial censors were put into sacks and beaten by the excited people.
When Gu Zhizhuo heard this, he was overjoyed.
"Stop laughing! Your hair's going to get messed up. Hey, sit still. Don't move."
"Can you at least pretend for a while?"
Madam Gu had a fierce look on her face and gave repeated instructions.
Princess Li will come soon to set a date for their wedding.
My girl ran away for more than half a month, saying she was going to "catch mice"? Even though she was so unreliable, Chen'er didn't regret the engagement. He came to talk to her every two or three days. He was much more considerate than this girl.
As soon as Zhuo girl came back, Princess Li handed in the invitation in a serious manner and discussed the date of the invitation. The lady-in-waiting felt very relieved.
Xie Yingchen really holds Zhuo'er at the top of his heart.
The lady was very satisfied, and the result of her satisfaction was that she waved her hand and increased the dowry.
Princess Li followed ancient rituals in everything and held the Gu family in high esteem. The auspicious date for the wedding had been calculated long ago by Wuwei Zi. After the lady opened the blessing package and took a look at it, she readily agreed.
Gu Zhizhuo sat there obediently, pretending to be dignified and virtuous for a long time... no one would take her seriously anyway.
Everyone is happy.
The lady personally saw her off, and the two families together donated rice in front of the Longhu Temple for three days.
Hearing that it was for the marriage between the Crown Prince and Miss Gu, the people, regardless of whether they needed it or not, went to ask for a handful of rice to add to the joyous atmosphere.
For Xie Rong, these three days were so unbearable that he would rather die than live.
He was hanging on to his life, his lungs were injured, and he had to use all his strength to breathe, only to inhale a tiny breath. However, this breath was like the sharpest knife, cutting his limbs and internal organs, causing pain to his bones.
This kind of torture is comparable to lingchi.
He wants to die but can't.
I want to live but I can't.
He suffered in agony until the day of his execution, when his head fell to the ground in front of the whole world at the Meridian Gate.
Rumble.
There was a roar in the sky, and then the dark clouds dispersed, as if all the haze had been dispelled, and the earth was covered with sunshine.
"Long live!"
"Long live!!"
In the Meridian Gate Square, people gathered together and cheered loudly with excitement.
The shouts of "Long live" were like surging waves, echoing between heaven and earth. Even Gu Zhizhuo became excited, pulling Xie Yingchen and jumping around, talking to him.
After they watched the execution from the Meridian Gate Tower, Xie Yingchen led her down the stone steps. No one else was with them; it was just the two of them, walking side by side.
Gu Zhizhuo happily took his arm and said, "Sir, where are we going to play?"
"careful."
Xie Yingchen had reason to believe that if she hadn't been holding him back, he would have jumped down three steps at a time.
Xie Yingchen: "Let's go release river lanterns."
Today is the opening day of Longhu Temple, and there will be a large-scale Dharma Assembly.
Gu Zhizhuo nodded repeatedly, her eyes sparkling as if dotted with infinite stars.
Xie Yingchen had Chongjiu park the carriage outside the Meridian Gate early in the morning. They did not disturb anyone and got into the carriage secretly. When Gu Yican finished supervising the execution and was about to come to report, he was nowhere to be found.
“There!”
Someone with sharp eyes saw Xie Yingchen stepping on a footstool to get into the car and shouted loudly.
"Oh no, we've been discovered."
Gu Zhizhuo smiled and pulled him up, urging him, "Hurry up, hurry up. Let's go."
Chongjiu flicked the whip, and the carriage rattled away, leaving everyone behind at the Meridian Gate.
Huai Jingzhi stood in front of the Meridian Gate and bowed deeply: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is going to release river lanterns. You don't have to wait for him."
"Oh my!" Prince Li stamped his foot in anger. "The auspicious date for the coronation hasn't been set yet, the reign title hasn't been chosen yet, and there's still so much to do. How could he just run away like that?"
Huai Jingzhi stood up straight and said with his usual serious expression: "The Crown Prince said that if you keep watching him all day, he won't be able to find a wife."
Prince Li was speechless and watched the black lacquered carriage go away with tears in his eyes.
Gu Zhizhuo leaned against the car window and looked back, saying happily, "Prince Li is about to cry."
"You'll get used to it."
Xie Yingchen held his chin with one hand and looked at her with a smile on his face.
Yaoyao is a person who can't sit still. Even after their wedding, he will not let the small square room of the palace restrict her hands and feet.
Prince Li will have to get used to it sooner or later.
"You are absolutely right, sir."
Gu Zhizhuo said cheerfully, "Shall we go to Guer Street to buy river lanterns first?"
"Just buy some bamboo, wood, silk, and parchment. I'll do it."
good!
Gu Zhizhuo urged Chongjiu to go to Guer Street, where he bought everything he needed. The carriage then leisurely reached the Taisu River, which lay beside the Dragon and Tiger Temple, its waters crystal clear and shimmering.
Gu Zhizhuo let Chongjiu take a good seat. She lit a small red clay stove in the carriage, boiled water and made tea, and placed the snacks she bought on the road on the small coffee table.
She held the tea in both hands, drank it slowly, and helped Xie Yingchen.
Hand him a pair of scissors, take some bamboo strips, give him a few random instructions, and feed him snacks.
Regardless of whether her advice was right or wrong, Xie Yingchen listened to her, laughing and joking. By the time he finished making a lotus lantern and painted a cat chasing a butterfly on each side of the lantern, it was already dark.
Several river lanterns were lit on the Taisu River, and the flickering candlelight was like fireflies, making the Taisu River particularly beautiful.
Gu Zhizhuo jumped off the carriage with the finished river lantern.
The night in late autumn was already quite cold, so Xie Yingchen wrapped her in a cloak.
There were many people standing in groups of three or four on the banks of the Taisu River. There was a family with children, and a man and a woman who looked like a newly married couple, all clasping their hands and praying to the river lanterns.
The Longhu Temple not far away is brightly lit and crowded with pilgrims.
Gu Zhizhuo held the river lantern, and Xie Yingchen came close to light the candle inside. Then the two of them carefully placed the lantern into the lake and gently pushed it forward.
His fingertips glided across the water, and Gu Zhizhuo watched nervously, his heart in his hands.
The river was rippling, and the river lanterns did not fall apart after entering the water. They floated slowly along the waves.
"Sir, look, it's blooming."
Xie Yingchen used the method of a revolving lantern. After the river lanterns were lit, the "petals" slowly stretched out in the river, blooming from a bud into a blooming thousand-petal lotus. The transparent silk was dyed a light flame color by the candlelight, as if burning in the water. It was so beautiful that Gu Zhizhuo couldn't take his eyes off it.
The two of them sat on the ground by the river. Gu Zhizhuo leaned on him, gently hooked his little finger, twisted it into a pinky promise, and smiled knowingly.
The lotus lantern floated farther and farther with the flow of water, like a bright gem, slowly blending into the crowd of river lanterns. It was the brightest of all the river lanterns, like the moon surrounded by stars, with every river lantern surrounding it.
Gu Zhizhuo smiled lightly, hooked his little finger around him, and called him sweetly, "Young Master."
"Don't call me sir." His voice was a little hoarse.
Hmm.
She tilted her head and asked, "What should I call it?"
She's used to it in both lives.
Gu Zhizhuo thought seriously for a while. Her black hair, as silky as silk, fell on her shoulders. On her hair was the stamen-shaped hairpin she had worn on her coming-of-age day. The tassels inlaid with diamonds were particularly dazzling in the candlelight.
Xie Yingchen took her hand and placed it to his lips. His soft lips touched the back of her hand, and the faint fragrance lingering in his nose made him reluctant to let go.
Gu Zhizhuo was slightly surprised, and her red lips slightly opened, looking charming and tempting.
Her dark eyes rolled around, and she had an idea: "Chenchen?"
Xie Yingchen: “…”
Very good, it fits the Gu family’s naming style.
Xie Yingchen agreed happily and kissed her fingers. His slightly calloused fingertips rubbed her palms, making her feel itchy. She leaned against him, feeling extremely at ease.
"Chenchen! We agreed that you..."
"Meow?"
A tiny cat's head squeezed in between the two of them. The tabby cat looked left and right and shouted happily, "Meow!"
"Shenmao?"
Gu Zhizhuo recognized the cat and asked, "Why are you here?"
Seeing that he had found the right person, Shen Mao sat down on Gu Zhizhuo's open cloak with a swagger, slapped Xie Yingchen's hand away, pointed his tail towards him, and stepped on the cloak comfortably, making a gurgling sound in his throat.
"Meow~"
Xie Yingchen looked at his empty palm, smiled and shook his head.
Gu Zhizhuo stroked its furry head and asked, "Is your master here too?"
This place is far beyond the range where Shen Mao usually strolls.
"Meow!"
Shen Mao's golden cat eyes looked around.
Gu Zhizhuo looked up, but Xie Yingchen took the initiative to guide her gaze and said, "Over there, on the right."
"Where is it... I saw it."
It’s Shen Xu.
He was not wearing a flashy red dress, and Gu Zhizhuo almost didn't recognize him.
Standing with him was Yin Xiyan.
“Are they also coming to release river lanterns?”
To be precise, it was Yin Xiyan who was releasing the river lanterns, and Chen Xu stood beside her, protecting her silently.
In the candlelight, his profile looked exceptionally gentle, completely different from usual.
Chen Xu happened to look over, and the moment their eyes met, Gu Zhizhuo picked up Chen the cat and waved his little paws at him.
Maybe it was because the candlelight was too dazzling, but he smiled happily and nodded in Gu Zhizhuo's direction.
So friendly? I'm not used to it.
"Hey, have you heard? The Imperial Master is performing a ritual on the Meridian Gate Tower."
"The Imperial Master said that we must obey the will of heaven and choose an auspicious day for the coronation ceremony."
Several young scholars came together and walked past Gu Zhizhuo.
Tower rituals? Gu Zhizhuo hugged the cat: "I seem to have led my brother astray..."
Xie Yingchen raised his eyebrows and looked at her.
Gu Zhizhuo leaned over and whispered in his ear what had happened. The more she spoke, the merrier she became. She spread her hands and said exaggeratedly, "...I said he shouldn't be so secretive. He's not showing off enough. Brother, he must have been thinking about it. Whenever he gets the chance, he'll show off."
Xie Yingchen also laughed and said, "Senior brother has a simple mind."
Xie Yingchen gave full authority to Prince Li for such a small matter as choosing an auspicious day for his enthronement.
This should be Prince Li's idea.
The deposed emperor had just been executed, and something was needed to boost public morale, the more ostentatious the better.
"It's settled."
Another young man dressed as a scholar ran towards his classmates excitedly.
"The first day of the Lunar New Year, it's the first day of the Lunar New Year!"
The scholar said aloud, "After the Imperial Master finished the ritual, golden smoke suddenly rose from the burning incense, transforming into a golden dragon that soared into the sky. Then, a piece of yellow paper fell down, with the words 'First Day of the Lunar New Year' written on it in cinnabar!"
"Good luck."
"Your Majesty, God has blessed me. I can look forward to ushering in a new era of prosperity."
Gu Zhizhuo looked over there excitedly, just like the others around him. His heart started pounding as he listened to them asking about the story of Jin Yan turning into a dragon.
She pulled Xie Yingchen's sleeve and asked, "Is the new era going to be changed next year?"
In the next year of his previous life, Xie Rong also changed the reign title.
The distance between their shoulders was only an inch.
Xie Yingchen had an idea and took out a charcoal pencil from his sleeve pocket.
"The Ministry of Rites chose the reign title at noon."
Xie Yingchen wrote three era names on the ground with charcoal pencil: "Which one do you like?"
"Yuanxi, Qihe, Jingan..."
Gu Zhizhuo murmured it again, and it seemed to be quite pleasant. She was a little undecided. How about a fortune telling?
"Meow?"
Cat Shen tilted its furry little head, jumped out of Gu Zhizhuo's arms, and walked around the three era names.
Bang!
It decisively slapped one of them with its paw, turned its head and called out in a coquettish voice: "Meow~"
Gu Zhizhuo and Xie Yingchen looked at each other and said in unison: "No, this is absolutely not possible!"
*
The Great History of Enlightenment
On the first day of the first lunar month in the first year of the Jing'an era, Crown Prince Xie Yingchen ascended the throne and changed the reign title to Jing'an. The young emperor was brilliant and intelligent, known for his benevolence and virtue. He enacted new policies, reducing taxes, promoting water conservancy, and fostering culture and education, earning praise from the people.
On October 15 of the same year, the Emperor and Empress were married. The Empress' daughter, surnamed Gu, was named Zhizhuo. Born into the Zhenbei Palace, she was a daughter of a general, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and possessed exceptional intelligence.
In the third year of Jing'an, she was ordered to be the commander of the imperial guards and in charge of guarding the capital, setting a precedent for empresses in all dynasties to be in charge of military affairs.
The emperor and empress were of one mind and joined hands to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. During the Jing'an period, the weather was favorable, the granaries were plentiful, the people lived and worked in peace, the four seas were at peace, and all nations came to pay tribute.
It is known in history as the "Jing'an Period of Prosperity".
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