Chapter 81 Chapter 81 is the only genuine version...
There was a commotion in front of the Meridian Gate.
When Chen Xu stepped down from the carriage on a footstool, the Jinwu Guards had already carried away Sun Yushi, who had hit the wall.
He stepped on the blood on the ground with his boots and walked into the palace gate without looking around.
It is truly a good thing that the imperial envoy died to impeach and admonish the king.
Especially in the past, the greatest dream of scholars in officialdom was to one day bang their heads against the pillars in the Golden Palace, leaving their names in history. Sun Yushi's banging caused a wave of envy among the imperial officials, who praised his integrity. Many even waited outside the palace gates for an audience, eager to emulate Sun Yushi's example at the slightest disagreement.
In this way, it is not so beautiful for the emperor.
His daughter's keeping of actors and concubines wasn't a big deal. After all, she was his own daughter, his only legitimate princess, and his first child. As a new father, his heart was soft, and he had held her in his arms since she was little. But with the exception of Jing'er, he only occasionally glanced at the other princes and princesses, and gave them a few words of advice.
Zhaoyang is different.
What's wrong with a favored princess keeping a lover?
This kind of thing is not uncommon throughout the dynasties.
Although the Duke of Anguo was sick with anger, he had also been stabbed by the prince consort, so the two should just counteract each other. Making the prince consort kneel was just to let him know the hierarchy between the monarch and his subjects, so why are these imperial envoys joining in the fun?
And there is the Anguo Mansion!
The women of the Duke of Anguo inherited the title, refrained from attending court and commanding the army. The emperor had been pleased to see them behave themselves, but he hadn't expected them to be so cunning. He had truly been deceived by their superficiality.
There were already quite a few memorials piled on the imperial desk. The more he looked at them, the angrier he became. He waved his hand and swept several of them to the ground.
Li Deshun didn't dare to say much.
The emperor had been recuperating since his last illness, and now he was so angry about this incident that he almost fell ill again.
"emperor."
When Shen Xu stepped into the imperial study, the emperor had already thrown the memorials into pieces.
"How do you do things?" The emperor pointed at his nose and vented his anger. "The huge East Factory can't even take care of the capital, and the Duke of Anguo's Mansion is actually causing trouble."
"It's such a commotion."
"I've lost all my face!"
The emperor threw the memorial in his hand at him fiercely.
A large group of people knelt down in the imperial study.
Shen Xu tilted his head slightly, and the memorial passed by his ear and fell to the ground with a thud. Immediately, a young eunuch crawled over on his knees, picked it up, and handed it to Shen Xu.
The emperor rubbed his tense brows. His eyes were dim, as if covered by a veil, and he could not see the human figure clearly.
"Your Majesty." Shen Xu walked forward slowly and placed the memorial on the imperial desk. "Duke Anguo has been very well behaved in recent years. He wouldn't have acted this way if he hadn't been pushed into a corner. Your Majesty is frail and knelt outside Shuntian Gate for a whole day and night. Is he okay now?"
The second half of the sentence was directed to Li Deshun.
Li Deshun shuddered, kneeling on the ground and saying, "Before the hour of Si, the Prince Consort fainted."
"The Empress said that the Prince Consort didn't reflect on his actions properly, so she had a basin of cold water poured over him to wake him up. He's still outside Shuntian Gate."
Chen Xu said slowly, "Your Majesty, if anything happens to the Prince Consort, and he is left childless, the Lu family's bloodline will only have Princess Pingjia left. According to the rules set by Emperor Taizu, the title can only be inherited by Princess Pingjia."
Princess Pingjia? She married Gu Baibai from the Gu family! Doesn’t this mean she’s giving the title to the Gu family for nothing?! The emperor suddenly stopped rubbing his brows and said hurriedly, “Go quickly, let the prince consort go into the palace to rest.”
"Take the imperial physician with you, and call the chief physician as well!"
Zhaoyang was really stupid. He had told her to have a child sooner rather than later. If she had a son, even a daughter, she wouldn't have to worry about losing her title.
There was a faint smile on the corners of Shen Xu's crimson lips, and his dark eyes were full of sarcasm.
"Duke Anguo suffered a stroke, and the Empress insisted that those were just actors, refusing to mention the Princess's faults. Taking advantage of your illness and lack of attention, she detained the Prince Consort and refused to let him return. With both of his children near death, it's understandable that Duke Anguo acted rashly."
The emperor's anger gradually subsided.
Li Deshun felt relieved, got up from the ground, and made another gesture. The kneeling eunuchs and palace maids stood up one after another without making any noise.
The emperor didn't even glance at them. He said irritably, "These memorials are all impeaching the eldest princess. Ah Xu, what do you say?"
"emperor."
Chen Xu's slender fingers picked up the scattered memorials on the table one by one, his movements neither hurried nor slow. "You had given it careful consideration when you asked the prince of Anguo to marry the princess."
The emperor nodded silently. Yes, at that time, he had just ascended the throne.
Sitting on the dragon throne in the Golden Palace, in addition to the excitement of having his wish fulfilled, he also felt a sense of uneasiness.
Emperor Taizu left him three dukes, each holding a tiger talisman. Duke An was the weakest, with few children and a sickly heir.
Zhaoyang was his eldest daughter and a legitimate princess, worthy enough for Lu Jinyi. As long as she gave birth to a child, whether it was a boy or a girl, the tiger talisman of the Duke of Anguo's mansion would be returned to the hands of the Xie family bloodline without bloodshed.
But this damn girl is so ignorant.
"The Emperor is a wise ruler."
In just a few words, the emperor transferred all his anger to Zhaoyang.
What a good match this was. The Anguo family was small, and the emperor's only request to Zhaoyang was that she give birth to a child as soon as possible. With just such a small matter, she managed to accomplish this.
He didn't notice that Shen Xu nodded imperceptibly to a young eunuch standing at the door, and the young eunuch quietly left the imperial study.
The emperor became angrier the more he thought about it. If he had a child, he wouldn't be in such a dilemma now!
He slammed the table and said angrily, "I told her long ago to give birth to the child as soon as possible, but she ignored all my words. He..."
"Father!"
Accompanied by a coquettish voice, the eldest princess Zhaoyang pushed the door open and walked in from outside, wearing a rouge-colored palace dress. The neckline of the dress was open very wide, revealing a large area of pink skin on her shoulders and chest.
Chen Xu had already sorted out the memorials, stood up, and looked sideways towards the door.
His black hair was as thick as ink, his crimson lips made his skin look sickly pale, his peach blossom eyes seemed covered with a layer of mist, he looked as if he was drunk but not drunk, and was captivating.
It looks really good.
Better looking than anyone she had ever collected.
Especially the cinnabar mole at the end of the eye, which was so charming and evil that she couldn't take her eyes off it.
As soon as she saw him, Zhaoyang felt that even her latest acquisition, Qingyi Sese, was a little boring.
Chen Xu lowered his eyes: "Grand Princess."
Seeing her staring at Shen Xu as soon as she came in, the emperor's face became even more serious: "Who let you in!?"
Zhaoyang was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses.
It was clearly a young eunuch who said that the emperor wanted to see her. Did she hear it wrong?
The emperor slammed the table and shouted, "You still remember to return to the capital?!"
Zhaoyang was favored not only because she was the eldest daughter, but also because she was the best at reading people's expressions. As soon as she saw the emperor's face was not good, she quickly said coquettishly: "Father, I was wrong."
She raised her eyes cautiously and saw that the emperor still had a stern face. Zhaoyang was thinking about the little eunuch who ran to the hot spring villa to give her the message.
The young eunuch said that the Duke of Anguo's Mansion refused to give up and the emperor was very angry. He also said that if the princess had given birth to the child earlier, the Duke of Anguo's Mansion would not have been in such a turmoil.
She hurriedly said ingratiatingly, "Father, I will have a child with my husband as soon as possible. Please don't be angry."
It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned this, but once she did, the emperor's anger flared up again.
"You give birth?"
"Even if you give birth to a child, the Lu family won't recognize it."
The emperor said viciously.
Zhao Yang pouted and said, "The Lu family wouldn't dare say anything. As long as it's mine, it's fine."
emperor:"……"
The fact that she could say such words meant that she had no intention of admitting her mistake to her husband and living a good life.
It was obvious that he wanted to randomly give birth to a child with an unknown father and force the Lu family to acknowledge him.
If she had gotten pregnant accidentally in the past and given birth secretly, it would have been fine. But now that it has caused an uproar in the whole city and things have gotten to this point, if she continues to act like this, it is clearly saying that this is a bastard.
No matter what, the Lu family is a duke's mansion personally appointed by the great ancestor. Zhaoyang has been absurd for so many years, and Lu Jinyi has tolerated it all and has never done anything disobedient.
Force the Lu family to recognize it?
If he really did that, the spit flying up would kill him, and by then the Golden Palace would be filled with imperial eunuchs who had died.
As an emperor, he would surely leave his name in history! Or would it be a bad name?
What A Xu said was that he didn't marry his daughter to him to create an enemy.
Now, it has completely gone against his original intention.
The emperor said wearily, "That's all."
Zhaoyang looked at him cautiously, always feeling that he seemed to have said something wrong.
"You and Lu Jinyi should get a divorce."
"Father!" Zhaoyang's eyes widened in disbelief.
It’s not that she can’t bear to part with Lu Jinyi.
Lu Jinyi is too gentle, hesitant in everything he says and does. He can't let go at all in bed, which is not interesting at all.
However, this did not mean that she wanted to divorce. If she divorced obediently after the Anguo Mansion made a fuss, where would her dignity as the eldest princess be? Moreover, the Anguo Mansion was one of the most prestigious families in Daqi. No matter who she married, it would never be as glorious as the one she had now.
"I won't divorce."
"If you don't want a divorce, I'll ask Lu Jinyi to write a letter of divorce."
"Father, I am your daughter." Zhaoyang was so angry that she rushed over in two steps, put her hands on the imperial desk, and leaned forward, wanting to get closer to the emperor and act coquettishly.
She didn't notice at all that when she leaned forward, the wide neckline suddenly exposed a large area of her chest, and her snow-white skin was covered with patches of warm red.
Even if the emperor's eyesight was poor, he could see it clearly from such a close distance.
"presumptuous!"
The emperor slapped Zhaoyang in the face, but she didn't react at all. A huge force hit her in the face and knocked her to the ground.
She covered her face in disbelief.
The emperor actually beat her?
From childhood to adulthood, her father would at most scold her, but never hit her.
The last time the emperor was so angry was because she asked him for Shen Xu before the wedding. The emperor scolded her harshly at that time, but since that was the case, he did not hit her.
Zhaoyang's heart was pounding. She was a princess, and her honor and favor came from her father. Without her father's love, she was nothing.
Her cheeks were burning with pain, but she didn't dare to cry or make a fuss. She just knelt down obediently.
The emperor's eyes were icy cold, and he ordered expressionlessly, "Go and ask Lu Jinyi to write a letter of divorce. I will make the decision for him."
"Even though she is a princess, I will not protect my own daughter."
Li Deshun quickly responded.
Soon, a signed divorce letter was delivered to the imperial study, along with the imperial physician. The physician was ordered to see Lu Jinyi and came back to report that Lu Jinyi had a high fever and was in a weak state. If it had been any later, even a god would have been unable to save her.
The emperor was so angry when he thought that Lu Jinyi almost died.
He threw the divorce letter to Zhaoyang and said coldly, "Strip Zhaoyang of her title, fiefdom, and fine of thirty thousand taels of silver. Return to the Princess's residence. You are not allowed to enter the palace without an imperial decree."
The divorce letter floated in front of Zhaoyang, and the fingerprints on it were bright red and glaring.
Can’t enter the palace?
Is a princess who can't enter the palace still a princess? Who in the capital can look down on her? She will definitely become a huge joke. For Lu Jinyi, the emperor even disowned his daughter?
Zhaoyang fell to the ground, she was really scared, she choked and said: "Father, I was wrong."
"go out."
"Father..."
"go out!"
The emperor was so angry that two eunuchs came over and made a request to Zhaoyang.
Seeing that the emperor's expression was getting increasingly stern, Zhaoyang finally stood up tremblingly.
"You are not allowed to go to the harem. You have brought shame upon the Queen."
Zhaoyang shuddered, her thoughts of going to the Queen to plead for mercy interrupted. She lowered her head and hurried out, not until the door of the imperial study closed behind her did Zhaoyang finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"What do you mean the Queen's reputation has been affected by me?"
Zhaoyang grabbed the eunuch's arm, tears still streaking her swollen face. She said viciously, "Hurry up and tell me! Even if I lose power, it would be easy to kill a eunuch like you."
"Princess. It was..." The young eunuch recounted the incident of Duke Anguo and her concubine walking around the city. "So, the imperial eunuch impeached them. The emperor was furious."
Zhaoyang had just returned to the capital and didn't know any of this. He felt a chill run down his spine when he heard this.
The old woman, Duke Anguo, is about to die, yet she still wants to harm her?
Zhaoyang shook off the young eunuch and walked out of the palace in a rage.
She felt depressed and did not take the carriage. She walked forward with a gloomy look on her face, her long skirt dragging on the ground. She no longer looked like the proud and arrogant princess she used to be.
"Sister Zhaoyang."
A crisp voice called her from behind. Zhaoyang turned around and saw Ji Nan Ke walking towards her quickly. Ji Nan Ke's hair was a little messy due to the wind, and it was obvious that she had been waiting here for quite some time.
"Sister Zhaoyang, are you okay?" Ji Nanke said worriedly, "I heard that there was trouble in the Anguo Mansion, and I was worried that you would suffer."
Even though she was in such a miserable state, Ke'er still cared about her. Zhaoyang was deeply moved and hugged Ji Nanke.
"You are still the best, Ke'er."
"I'm glad you're alright."
Ji Nanke looked at her red and swollen cheeks distressedly, and hesitated to say, "Princess, I shouldn't gossip, but you treat me like a sister, and I can't watch you suffer."
Zhao Yang paused while holding her hand and said anxiously, "Hurry up and tell me."
Ji Nanke said behind the curtain: "Duke Anguo has had a stroke and is bedridden. It is Master Gu who is running back and forth."
Zhaoyang's breathing paused for a moment. She lowered her voice and spoke word by word, "It was the Gu family who harmed me? I have no grudges against the Gu family..."
"Sister Zhaoyang, you protected me and my aunt when you were a girl." Ji Nanke sighed softly, "You are the one whose anger was taken out on me."
"I wanted to remind you, but a new cousin has arrived at the Zhenguo Mansion. She's also Admiral Gong's fiancée, and everyone in the mansion is obsessed with her. I finally managed to get out, but you still ended up suffering."
Zhaoyang's hands and feet felt cold, and anger was shaking his chest.
"What fiancée? She's just a new thing Gong Hai has set his eyes on."
She had heard about it, too.
"The Gu family is forcing him to stay here, are they trying to offend Gong Hai..."
Before he finished speaking, the palace gate not far away opened and a sedan chair was carried out. It was clear that Lu Jinyi was half leaning and half lying on the sedan chair.
A carriage that had been parked in front of the palace gate for a long time opened its curtain. Two dressed servants got out of the carriage and helped Lu Jinyi onto it. From behind the raised curtain, a profile was faintly visible, and it was clearly Gu Baibai.
Gu Baibai was once known as the Jade-Faced General. Born into a military family, he was completely different from the useless Lu Jinyi. He was elegant and gentle. When he returned to the capital to present the captives, he sat on his horse, his armor solemn and majestic, like a god of war.
She had been watching him for a long time and recognized him at first sight.
It was really the Gu family who wanted to harm her!
The carriage left without staying at the Meridian Gate for long.
After Gu Baibai sent the person back to the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, not only did the emperor specially send a royal physician to the house, but Gu Baibai also arranged for a doctor to guard the mansion.
Gu Baibai stayed until his fever subsided before she said goodbye.
After Lu Jinyi woke up, he heard the whole story from his mother, Duke Anguo. He knew that this time it was thanks to the Gu family who were running around for him. Otherwise, let alone divorce, even his life would be in danger.
"Go and get the wooden box from my study, the sandalwood one."
The servant was shocked.
That is the most treasured thing of the prince. He is reluctant to open it even for himself to enjoy.
The servant nodded in agreement and went to get it quickly.
The wooden box was very long, at least three feet long.
Lu Jinyi cherished it very much and slept with it in his arms. The next morning, he took the wooden box and went to the door of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion in person.
Today is the third day baptism banquet for his little nephew Xu Ge'er, so he arrived early on purpose so as not to delay the Gu family's reception.
As soon as he came.
Gu Baibai brought Gu Zhizhuo and his sister to greet him and led him to his residence in the outer courtyard.
Gu Zhizhuo studied his features. He looked pale, frail, and weak. He was holding a long wooden box. His exposed hands were covered with calluses, and his arms were thin but strong. Third Aunt always said her brother looked neither like his father nor his mother, but more like the old Duke, and rather ordinary.
After sitting down, Lu Jinyi said slowly: "My relationship with Abai is too distant to express my gratitude."
The Gu family has no shortage of gold and silver.
"This took me ten years to complete. It should be useful to the Gu family."
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