Sending off the spirit
Chu Chanyin was not surprised to learn of this, because his father had also died under similar methods by the emperor. It could only be said that the emperor's method of discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose was as usual.
“Cousin, it’s late, you should go and rest. I’ll keep vigil for Brother Nianling tonight.” Chu Chanyin’s gaze fell on Zhao Youyi’s pale face. “You’re not well, you should get more rest.”
Upon suddenly learning how cruel the truth behind her elder brother's death was, Zhao Youyi could no longer muster the strength to cope. She simply nodded and let Xiao Qing help her leave.
The following morning, people in the market were spreading the latest gossip from the capital. The most talked-about topic in the capital recently was the affair between the Zhao family and the imperial family. Everyone spoke of it with great detail, as if they had experienced it firsthand.
"My second sister-in-law's third uncle told me that Zhao's daughter did indeed have a marriage agreement with the royal family, but it was with the King of Chu." The old woman selling cured meat whispered to the old woman selling ginger at the next stall, but unfortunately she had a loud voice, and many passersby heard her and quickly gathered around.
"Really? Didn't that King of Chu grow up in Fuzhou? How could he be engaged to a woman from the Zhao family?" someone questioned, skeptical.
The old woman slapped her thigh. "Of course it's true! I heard it was personally bestowed by the Holy Ancestor! If you ask me, the current emperor is truly inhuman. He poisoned a meritorious official and even forced his nephew's wife to marry him. It's a complete violation of morality!"
Seeing that the old woman spoke with such conviction, the man had no doubts and immediately went to talk to his family about the matter.
The news spread like wildfire, and soon the whole city was abuzz with it. Even the opera stage was set up to perform "The Song of Everlasting Regret." Scholars and literati discussed the matter with great enthusiasm, expressing their deep sorrow and indignation at the emperor's utterly absurd behavior.
When Eunuch Gao went out of the palace to investigate the rumors, he was surprised to find that the rumors had spread even more wildly overnight, even involving the King of Chu. He rushed back to the palace to report the matter.
Upon learning of this, the emperor was so enraged that he smashed a room full of antique vases. "What's going on? How did my marriage to a woman from the Chu family become a forced marriage to my nephew's wife? And the 'Song of Everlasting Regret' is performed? This is outrageous!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Eunuch Gao quickly knelt down. "This matter was spread by the common people, and the scope is too wide. This servant is incompetent and has not been able to find the source."
Upon hearing this, the emperor picked up a teacup and smashed it at Eunuch Gao, yelling, "Get out! Go and collect thirty strokes of the cane!"
Eunuch Gao quickly withdrew.
"Your Majesty." The Empress Dowager frowned upon seeing the mess on the ground as soon as she reached the door. "How can a ruler of a country be so easily angered?"
Upon seeing that it was the Empress Dowager, the emperor, who was still angry, was too lazy to perform the proper etiquette and simply said, "Your Majesty has arrived."
"I've heard about it all. I've long advised you not to covet the Zhao woman. The Zhao family has always been known for its strong-willed nature; you can't force it." The Empress Dowager ignored his reaction and looked at him coldly.
The emperor did not answer. What was wrong with him wanting a woman? Why should he care about her feelings? He was the emperor, the supreme ruler, and naturally no one dared to disobey him.
Judging from his expression, the Empress Dowager knew what he was thinking. No wonder he was the good-for-nothing she had carefully chosen. He was neither good at literature nor martial arts and was also very stupid. In the current situation, he was just a puppet emperor. Lady Zhao was intelligent and there was no way he could defeat her.
However, she didn't want Zhao's daughter to enter the palace. That woman was too fiery and too intelligent. Entering the palace would only disrupt the situation. Moreover, Zhao's daughter had no ties. If she were to die with the emperor one day, where would she find such a foolish puppet after the emperor's death?
"She's just a woman. Do you think your harem is lacking in women? She's just a little prettier. There are plenty of beauties in the world." The Empress Dowager waved her hand and had someone come in to clean up the mess. "If you want more beauties, then hold another grand selection."
The emperor wanted to say that Lady Zhao was different, but seeing the Empress Dowager's unquestionable expression, he suddenly couldn't say it. He naturally thought that Lady Zhao hated him to the bone and probably wished she could kill him.
"Then I will listen to Mother." The Emperor compromised, but thinking of the rumors about the Prince of Chu, he couldn't help but ask, "Mother, did Father really arrange the marriage between the Prince of Chu and the Zhao woman back then?"
The Empress Dowager was the second empress. She had only been in the palace for a few years when the late emperor died. She did not know much about the palace affairs of that time, but she vaguely heard that the late emperor had arranged a marriage between the son of the Prince of Chu and a woman from the Zhao family. Later, she did not know whether it was because the late emperor died or for some other reason that the matter was left unresolved.
"Probably. I guess this is just a way for Lady Zhao to buy time. Could it be that the King of Chu would really marry an orphan?" The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples. Recently, one troublesome thing after another has happened. Fu'an is making a fuss again, insisting on marrying the son of Lady Liu. She says that she fell in love at first sight and will marry no one but him. She just issued an imperial decree to make Lady Liu a princess in preparation for a marriage alliance, and Fu'an turns around and wants to marry the younger brother of that person. It's simply ridiculous!
The emperor recalled the appearance of the Zhao woman and felt that it was not impossible.
Seeing his expression, the Empress Dowager said frankly, "Not everyone understands how to cherish women like the Emperor does, accepting both courtesans and peasant girls with a smile."
When the royal family makes a marriage, they either consider whether the woman's family can provide support, or whether the woman is virtuous and well-mannered enough to fulfill the duties of a matriarch. They marry a woman of virtue, not beauty. The direct line of the Zhao family is extinct, and the collateral branches are not influential. Women of the Zhao family are known for their strong and unyielding nature. Unless the King of Chu was out of his mind, why would he marry a woman from the Zhao family?
The emperor hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject, saying, "The anniversary of my father's death is approaching. Should we, according to custom, notify the vassal kings to come to the capital?"
The group of sworn brothers whom Emperor Taizu befriended during his conquest of the country were scattered across the land after the founding of the nation, having been ennobled and appointed as ministers. Emperor Taizu decided to select one day each year for all his brothers to come to the capital for a reunion. Later, Emperor Taizu felt that this bond of brotherhood should be passed down through generations, so he established the rule that the princes would come to the capital to pay homage on the anniversary of the late emperor's death. In earlier years, when the emperor had just ascended the throne and his power was not yet secure, he refused to allow the princes to come to the capital on the grounds that it was not a year and there was no need for extravagance. However, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the late emperor's death, so the previous excuse could no longer be used.
The Empress Dowager considered the current situation and knew that it could no longer be avoided, so she simply nodded and said, "The Emperor should instruct people to carry it out."
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager specifically instructed, "You must not have any more thoughts about Zhao's daughter. This woman is not someone you can subdue."
The emperor nodded indifferently.
Today is the day when General Zhao Youli, the protector of the nation, is sent off. Due to the imperial decree, the coffin will only be kept in the city for three days before being hastily left. The people came to see him off, and the sound of weeping shook the heavens.
Dressed in white mourning clothes, Zhao Youyi walked numbly, carrying Zhao Youli's memorial tablet. Seeing the people coming to see her off, two streams of tears flowed down her face. Holding the tablet, Zhao Youyi bowed to the people who came to see her off, saying, "This young woman thanks you all for coming to see my brother off."
"Miss Zhao, don't cry. We will never let you marry that incompetent and tyrannical emperor!"
"That's right, let's smash that damned emperor to death with rotten cabbage leaves and rotten eggs!"
Everyone's words were filled with hatred for the emperor. They were human beings, not plants or trees. One was a foolish and lustful emperor who only knew how to exploit the people and poison meritorious officials, while the other was a patriotic general who fought for many years but was ultimately poisoned to death by the emperor. They naturally knew who to choose.
Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it; only those who win the hearts of the people can win the world.
Zhao Youyi, fighting back tears, bowed to everyone again, "I thank you all, but there's no need. What if His Majesty blames you?"
One of them waved his hand dismissively: "With so many of us, do you think the dog emperor would kill us all? He won't even need to wait until tomorrow; a vassal king will storm the capital today and take his head."
Everyone thought it made perfect sense, and after sending the general's coffin out of the city, they turned around and headed straight for the imperial city.
The emperor enjoyed traveling incognito, especially to brothels. However, he knew he was a thorn in the side of many people, so he would always bring many guards with him when he left the palace. But after a while, he became very conspicuous, and many people could tell their identities from their attire.
Liu Er was one of them.
His brother joined the army and happened to be a soldier under General Zhao. He was furious about what the dog emperor had done. When he saw them, he quickly called the villagers to come forward. The villagers rushed forward upon hearing this.
Liu Er even shouted a slogan: "Folks, this is the man who forcibly abducted a woman! Smash it!"
The emperor was bewildered, and his guards immediately protected him, shouting, "Who are you?!"
The people ignored the corrupt official's nonsense and offered the emperor rotten vegetables and eggs as if they were free. The guards tried to stop them, but the people outnumbered them and soon surrounded the emperor, who was smashed beyond recognition and reeked of foul odors.
"You unruly people! Protect the Emperor! Guards, protect the Emperor!" The Emperor shouted from the ground, but the people seemed not to hear him and smashed the objects even more excitedly.
When the patrol team arrived, the people scattered like birds and beasts. Because of the large number of people and the fact that they were all manual laborers who ran fast, they disappeared in no time.
The patrol captain, newly appointed and never having met the emperor before, saw him so disheveled and assumed he was some rich young master who had done something wrong and was being punished. So, he asked in a leisurely manner, "Young master, are you alright?"
The emperor looked up in disbelief. How could this soldier ask such a question when he was all dirty and disheveled?
"What do you think! Nonsense!" the emperor retorted angrily.
The captain, puzzled, asked directly, "Young master, the people wouldn't make things difficult for you for no reason. What have you done to anger them?"
That's practically saying that flies don't land on eggs without cracks.
The emperor was furious. He went out of the palace to seek pleasure, but returned covered in rotten vegetable leaves and was even mocked by a lowly soldier!
He pointed directly at the captain, "You, die!"
The guard beside him quickly whispered, "Your Majesty, you mustn't! He is a member of the Song family."
The Song family was the Empress Dowager's maternal family. Her father served as the prime minister in the court, her brother served as the vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and many other positions, large and small, were held by members of the Song family. Now, the court was almost entirely dominated by the Song family.
Upon hearing this, the emperor was so enraged that he fainted.
Seeing this from the high-rise building, Ying Liu immediately went out of the city to report to the prince.
Chu Chanyin disguised himself as a guard and accompanied the funeral procession. His gaze fell on Zhao Youyi's frail figure. Just as he was about to go up and offer his concern, Ying Liu arrived.
After hearing what Ying Liu had to say, Chu Chanyin's gaze fell on Zhao Youyi again.
Cousin Zhao... is indeed extraordinary.
Watching helplessly as Zhao Youli's coffin was lowered into the Zhao family tomb, Zhao Youyi couldn't help but take out her handkerchief and weep, "Brother—"
Upon hearing her voice, Chu Chanyin rushed over, but due to the strict separation between men and women, he could not help her. He could only signal her maid to come forward and support her. "Cousin, we will definitely clear your brother's name."
Zhao Youyi couldn't stop her tears. What good was clearing her name? Her brother would never come back. He was only twenty years old, gone at such a young age. How could she not hate him? How could she not shed tears?
Chu Chan knew he couldn't comfort her, so he knelt down with her. Seeing her crying so sadly, he couldn't help but gently pat her shoulder through their clothes.
Zhao Youyi looked at him in surprise, only to see a deep sadness in his eyes, along with a hint of... pity for her?
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