Chapter 115 Three Refusals and Three Declinees
Guan Zhiwei held the dagger between two fingers and gently applied force, causing the blade to bend immediately.
She threw the dagger on the ground.
Empress Jiang was not surprised by this result. It would be absurd if a general who charged into battle could be killed by her, a mere eunuch or palace maid.
She knelt down and picked up the broken dagger.
"This curved knife can also kill, but it didn't kill the Grand Tutor; it killed me."
"Why? Jiang, the emperor must have told you that I have no intention of killing you. You can go to the common people and live a life of plenty, which is already much better than most people in the world. Why don't you cherish your blessings?" Guan Zhiwei really didn't understand.
She always felt that the emperor and empress were very lucky to have met her, who wanted to be a human being.
She would grant the deposed emperor a marquisate, neither kill nor imprison or restrict them.
They are still so young, in their twenties. Even if they are no longer emperors or empresses, what can't they do?
For example, one could study history, copy books, bake porcelain, cook, or study medicine.
I've heard the Empress is also very skilled at silkworm rearing and weaving. Whether you weave in the palace or outside, it's still weaving; what difference does it make?
Empress Jiang retorted sharply: "Please address me as Empress, Grand Tutor!"
Guan Zhiwei raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
She has devoted her entire life to this title, and she deserves a dignified end.
She couldn't bear to see herself, harboring lofty ambitions, not only failing to achieve them but also wasting half her life until her hair turned white.
That was the real nightmare.
Empress Jiang's tears welled up in her eyes, and just as she was about to raise her hand to commit suicide, a palace maid suddenly stopped her, then silently picked up the phoenix crown and put it on her head.
She straightened her clothes; even a curved dagger could kill.
She fell backward, her phoenix robe stained crimson with blood.
"Your Majesty the Empress!"
Seeing this, the palace maids and eunuchs around them also took out daggers and committed suicide.
It was quite an achievement to have managed to amass these daggers under the noses of several powerful ministers.
There were even people who were loyal to her and willing to die for her.
Guan Zhiwei scratched her head and sighed. What kind of mess is this?
She ignored the corpses scattered on the ground, humming a tune as she left the palace. Then she told Gao Huan that there might be some public pressure coming her way.
"I bet they'll start wailing again, saying things like, 'I killed the Empress.'"
"It was Empress Jiang who dared to murder the Grand Tutor! Her crime deserves death!"
Gao Huan was furious. "The Jiang family is to blame for raising such a daughter. The entire clan should be executed!"
"It's not that serious," Guan Zhiwei said dismissively. "I didn't lose a single hair, so what would she be after?"
Gao Huan was silent for a moment, then said, "She probably felt that the more fierce the snow and wind, the more resolute one becomes, and the more steadfast one's integrity is among flowers. Mencius said: 'The will is the commander of the spirit; the spirit is the filling of the body.'"
Empress Jiang's will influenced her integrity, and her integrity sustained her physical health. When one's will falters, one can only harm oneself.
"How interesting, the emperor is begging for life, while the empress is begging for death."
Guan Zhiwei seemed to be deep in thought.
Gao Huan tentatively asked, "Does the Grand Tutor admire Empress Jiang's integrity?"
If so, he will change his strategy and give the person a proper burial.
"No, I was thinking that more than a dozen palace maids and eunuchs died today, but we were only talking about Empress Jiang and didn't mention them."
When the emperor learned that Empress Jiang's assassination attempt had failed, he was heartbroken, unsure whether he was grieving the loss of his beloved wife or worried about his own situation.
Given the precedent set by Gao Yang's question, "Why is Your Majesty plotting a rebellion?", he feared he himself would be implicated.
Before Guan Zhiwei could get angry, he simply summoned his ministers, placed his imperial crown on the ground, and denounced himself.
"I listened to slander and mismanaged the government, becoming muddleheaded, wicked, and tyrannical, nearly ruining the country. I am truly unworthy to be the Son of Heaven, which is why Heaven has punished me. One disaster after another has struck, causing widespread famine and devastation. Nine out of ten households are empty, many have fled, and the land is desolate. Fortunately, Grand Tutor Guan is a man sent by Heaven, who turned the tide. Meanwhile, the villains fought amongst themselves and brought about their own destruction. This further proves that Grand Tutor Guan is the man chosen by Heaven."
The courtiers knelt, tears welling in their eyes: "Your Majesty."
The emperor bowed to his ministers and said, "I am no longer worthy to be Your Majesty. I am willing to be a commoner. I earnestly request that you, my ministers, wholeheartedly assist Grand Tutor Guan in ruling the world."
By the time Guan Zhiwei arrived, the emperor had said what he needed to say and taken off what he needed to take off.
The court officials were all waiting for Guan Zhiwei, and they knelt down whenever they saw him, saying, "Please, Grand Tutor Guan, ascend the throne."
"That won't do, I can't be the emperor," Guan Zhiwei said very modestly.
Behind Guan Zhiwei were generals such as Gao Huan and Zhi Junyuan, and the army had already surrounded the palace.
At this point, who wouldn't know what to do?
"Your Majesty, please ascend the throne." Gao Huan knelt and kowtowed.
"If you keep doing this, I'll get angry, Gao Huan. I've already said I don't want to be emperor!"
"Please ascend the throne, Your Majesty!" everyone shouted in unison, their voices deafening.
Guan Zhiwei looked helpless, stepped forward and took the emperor's hand, saying, "Your Majesty, I had no such intention. I only came to offer my condolences and comfort you after hearing of Empress Jiang's passing."
"The mandate of heaven rests on your shoulders; we implore you to save the people."
"Alas, I really can't bear to see the suffering of the people."
In fact, Gao Huan intended for Empress Jiang's death to be recorded in historical texts to prevent future generations from falsely accusing Guan Zhiwei of murdering the empress and seizing the throne. Instead, he wanted to preemptively accuse her, escalate the matter, and portray Guan Zhiwei as an oppressed and helpless victim who had no choice but to seize the throne.
But Guan Zhiwei felt it was unnecessary. She didn't care about her reputation during her lifetime or after her death. Making a big fuss and dragging a bunch of people into it would only cause turmoil in the court and the country.
So she casually let the matter drop.
Empress Jiang died of illness, her loyal servant committed suicide to be buried with her, and the throne was obtained by Guan Zhiwei after she declined it three times.
But everyone knows how Empress Jiang died.
The aristocratic families in the capital have many marriage ties, and quite a few have also formed marriage alliances with Yong'an City.
The Jiang family of Yong'an City soon learned of this matter, and when they thought of Guan Zhiwei's strong-willed nature, they felt that their heads were not very stable.
After thinking for a moment, the head of the Jiang family summoned his good daughter-in-law.
“Liu Liu, Shu Zheng has been kidnapped by Zhi Fang. Now our only hope is Grand Tutor Guan. You two sisters are very close. I will send you to the capital so you can go and plead with her.”
He hoped that Grand Tutor Guan would consider Liu Liu's feelings and not implicate the Jiang family because of Empress Jiang.
"Daughter-in-law knows." Guan Liuliu hesitated. Was there some deep sisterly bond between them? Zhiwei and Sister Nannan were probably closer.
Little did they know, the Guan family thought the same thing.
Since Grand Tutor Guan has already removed my father from the family genealogy, I can only rely on my sisters.
After discussing it, the two families decided to pack up Guan Nannan, Guan Liuliu, and Guan Huaihuai together and send them all to Beijing.
When Guan Zhiwei heard that these people had arrived, she was overjoyed: "I'm just short of people to do my work."
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