Chapter 219 Things are going to change!
Public opinion swelled silently like fermenting flour. But within two days, rumors of divine punishment spread like wildfire.
What's more, there is a voice in the dark - the natural disaster happened at the juncture when the emperor was marrying the daughter of the Liang family. Isn't it a sign from the gods that the emperor's relatives are powerful and flatterers are ruining the country?
This news gradually spread in a secret way, and everyone in the court knew about it. But strangely, everyone remained silent, waiting to see what Duke Xin would do.
Duke Xin naturally also heard the news and his face was gloomy.
"Where did this news come from?"
"I heard he was a Taoist priest named Qingxuan."
"A Taoist priest actually dares to spread false rumors and mislead the public. Who gave him the courage?"
Marquis Cheng'en sneered, "Is this the time to talk about this? It's obvious that someone is deliberately framing this."
"Who? Pei Xingju?"
"Looking at the court, who else can compete with the Duke?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sharp sound of a teacup breaking, interrupting everyone's conversation.
The tea boy was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Damn it! Damn it!"
Duke Xin glanced at him calmly and asked in a deep voice, "Why are you so flustered?"
“Small…small…”
"explain."
"Yes," the tea-serving boy said, "I heard rumors outside. Everyone is saying...that the people are so angry they're going to break into the mansion."
Over the past few days, as rumors have intensified, many people of unknown origin have appeared outside the Xinguo Mansion. The servants in the mansion are terrified by the rumors.
Duke Xin sneered and ordered, "Leave the teapot here, and go down."
"Yes." The servant quickly wiped the teacup with his sleeve, picked up the broken teacup on the ground and hurried out.
"Even the people in your house are so worried. It seems that this is a serious matter." said Marquis Cheng'en.
Natural disasters are a matter of life and death for the people, and even more so for the nation. No one can afford to bear the consequences. Even the emperor would have to issue a self-blame edict when faced with a natural disaster, let alone Duke Xin, who was only a minister.
But such an outrageous thing actually happened to him.
After a moment, Xin Guogong said, "The Li County dam burst is a fact. The important thing is to find out why it broke."
Marquis Cheng'en turned to his staff and asked, "Have you checked?"
An aide nodded and said, "We've already checked. The reason the Li County dam burst was because the flood hit the embankment. There were no cracks or damage before."
"Impact? I remember the Li County dam was only built six years ago. How could it burst so easily?"
The aide sighed, "That's exactly what went wrong. The people who built the dam cut corners. They mixed a lot of weeds into the clay, causing the riverbank to become loose."
Duke Xin frowned and asked, "Who built the dam?"
"The supervisor was Yang Shicong, the Hezhou Censor. However, he has been beheaded for his involvement in a case of illegal taxation."
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped and fell silent.
The reason was simple: Yang Shicong was a disciple of Duke Xin during his Tianji years, and quite talented. He was known for his opportunistic tactics in the court, and rose through the ranks quickly, having risen to the position of Censor within just a few years of his service. Unexpectedly...
Now that he is dead and there is no evidence to prove his wrongdoing, all the blame for what he did falls on Duke Xin, and he has no way to defend himself.
.
Imperial Palace.
Mingyue Palace is located in the center, spacious and magnificent. The palace is simple and exquisite, filled with subtle fragrance, and the pearl curtains are scattered with colorful draperies.
Liang Yixin was sitting in front of the beauty bed, and the imperial physician was taking her pulse.
After a while, the imperial physician instructed, "The Empress's pulse is stable, and the fetus is healthy. Rest more and don't worry. Don't eat any more heavy foods. Just take two more doses of the abortion-maintaining medicine I prescribed last time."
"Thank you, Doctor Meng." Liang Yixin nodded.
The imperial physician packed up his things, bowed and left.
Not long after, a palace maid came in with a bowl of something hot: "Your Majesty, the pregnancy-maintaining medicine is ready."
The maid Su'e went forward to take it, but somehow her fingers were burned and she cried out.
Liang Yixin looked up at her and asked, "What's wrong with you these days? Why are you always so restless? Are you not used to the life in the palace?"
"I have often followed Your Majesty into the palace before, so how could I not be accustomed to the daily life in the palace?"
"Why is that?"
"Maybe..." Su'e tried to put on a lighthearted smile: "Maybe I didn't get enough rest from preparing for the Queen's wedding a while ago."
You can't even tell a decent lie. It's been almost a month since the wedding, and you haven't had enough rest yet?
Liang Yixin pretended to be sullen. "It's fine for others, but you've been with me for so many years, and you've actually learned to lie to me?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Su'e knelt down and said, "I didn't mean it."
Liang Yixin picked up the bowl and blew on it slowly to cool it down: "Did something happen outside?"
"This..." Su'e hesitated for a moment, then said with a bitter face, "I dare not lie to your majesty. There are many rumors out there that are unfavorable to the Duke, and I have heard some of them."
"About the natural disaster in Hezhou?"
"Your Majesty also knows?" the maid was surprised.
Liang Yixin hid her brows. How could she not know about such a big thing? Everyone in the palace kept it a secret from her, but she didn't know that everyone in the palace was talking about it in secret. The walls have ears, and she can hear it as long as she wants to.
She laughed: "I just don't understand, why are you hiding it from me? Are you afraid that I'll have a miscarriage?"
"Don't worry, it's not that serious yet." After saying that, she slowly drank a sip of the medicine.
Su'e looked at her in confusion and whispered, "Your Majesty, everyone is saying that the Duke is... a traitor, and that the Emperor will soon banish you to the cold palace. I'm worried about this, too, and haven't had a peaceful rest these past few days."
"He won't." Liang Yixin whispered.
"Who wouldn't?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the eunuchs outside singing loudly: "The Emperor has arrived!"
Liang Yixin stood up and was about to go out to greet them, but Li Jinyu had already strode in and immediately stepped forward to support her.
"I told you not to be so polite. You are pregnant and cannot move easily, so please sit down."
Liang Yixin lowered her head: "The palace has its own rules. Since I entered the palace, I cannot break the rules."
Hearing this, Li Jinyu sighed secretly.
He married her into the palace with the intention of taking good care of her. However, he discovered that things were not that easy. No matter what he did, she could hardly smile. In fact,... she was not as good as when they were in the Yangdong Lane Villa.
"cousin......"
"emperor......"
The two spoke in unison.
Li Jinyu paused: "Cousin, please speak first."
"Your Majesty, you've arrived just in time," Liang Yixin said, "There's something I want to discuss with your Majesty."
Li Jinyu's heart skipped a beat: "What's the matter?"
Liang Yixin glanced around the hall and said, "You guys should leave."
"Yes." All the palace servants left and the hall became quiet.
"Your Majesty," Liang Yixin said after pondering for a moment, "I've heard everything that's going on outside. How does Your Majesty plan to deal with the Liang family?"
"I..." Facing her, Li Jinyu found it difficult to tell the truth in his heart.
Liang Yixin had just entered the palace, so he didn't intend to move on from the Duke of Xin so quickly. He wanted to at least let her secure her position as empress and have a child. At the very least, let her develop some affection for him.
But unexpectedly, the incident happened so suddenly that it was beyond his expectations. Judging from the political situation, now was a good time to get rid of Duke Xin, and he was gradually leaning towards the latter.
Because of this thought, I subconsciously didn't dare to visit her these past two days, for fear that she would ask this question.
"I haven't thought about it yet..." At this moment, he couldn't bear to make her sad, and said gently: "Cousin, don't worry, your father's matter..."
"Your Majesty, please deal with my father's case severely." Liang Yixin continued.
Li Jinyu paused and looked at her in surprise.
Liang Yixin's expression was firm: "You don't have to hide it from me. I actually know. Not only this, but many things. I know."
"Know what?"
Liang Yixin's throat moved and he said, "I also know about Minzhou."
Li Jinyu narrowed his eyes and listened quietly.
"I'm sure the emperor has found out too," Liang Yixin said. "What did my father do? Who did he hurt? I don't need to say it directly. The emperor knows it clearly, and so does everyone in the world."
"Your Majesty, don't worry about me." She continued, "Your Majesty must be a wise monarch. If you ignore the soldiers and civilians who died tragically in Ningju County because of me, then I will become a sinner for all eternity."
"I grew up in the Duke's Mansion all these years. What can I not understand? The Liang family is not as glamorous as it appears. The entire Liang family, and even the entire Hezhou, is rotten to the core."
She took Li Jinyu's hand and slowly knelt down: "Your Majesty, just punish him severely. Some people in this world must pay the price for their own actions."
"My intention is not to harm the Liang family, but to save them. If we allow this to continue, the Liang family will be doomed. Only by eradicating all corruption can the Liang family be clean and survive forever."
.
"Have you really decided?"
In a farmhouse outside the capital, Mrs. Zhuang and Zhuang Wan sat by the tea stove and talked.
A few days ago, I heard that Madam Zhuang's old illness relapsed and she had asked for a doctor. Zhuang Wan had wanted to come and visit her for a long time, but Pei Xingju was worried, so he chose today, his day off, to bring her over to visit.
Fortunately, Mrs. Zhuang was not seriously injured, but her illness had just flared up a bit and looked serious.
At this moment, the mother and daughter were sitting in the house, and Zhuang Wan told her about her plan to marry Pei Xingju.
Zhuang Wan nodded. "Last time, when Mother asked me if I had considered it, I didn't give her a clear answer."
"Today," she looked up and said with a smile, "Mother, I have thought it over. I want to marry him. Perhaps I will marry him soon."
"How long is a short time? You are not worthy of being his wife in your current status, but you can't become his concubine, right?"
The laws of the Great Zhao Dynasty clearly stipulated that the wives of criminals could only be freed from slavery after serving a full year in prison. Not to mention that Zhuang Wan hadn't yet been freed from slavery, even if she did, she would still be a commoner. A commoner and a favored minister of the emperor—in an era that valued equal status—didn't look favorably on everyone.
Mrs. Zhuang had many concerns.
But Zhuang Wan was determined. She opened her mouth but couldn't bring herself to persuade him. After a moment, she turned her head and looked out the door.
In the courtyard, Pei Xingju sat sideways on a low stool, helping her peel the mung beans that she had not finished peeling.
After a long moment, she looked away and sighed, "I'm not stopping you. This is your wish and your lifelong event. It's up to you to decide."
"Actually..." she continued, "I can see that Master Pei is a reliable person. At least he takes good care of us, mother and daughter, and he loves you very much. But people's hearts are unpredictable, and no one can predict what will happen in a lifetime. I'm worried that you will suffer in the future and regret it."
Zhuang Wan laughed. "Mother also said that no one can predict what will happen in a lifetime. Life is so long. If I start to worry and weigh every possible thing now, wouldn't it be very tiring? I don't want that. Life is short, so I should be happy every day."
"You kid!" Mrs. Zhuang didn't expect her to say such words. She wanted to scold her but didn't know how. Finally, she smiled helplessly.
"Well, just make up your mind. There are some paths I can't walk for you, and besides, the path I've walked isn't necessarily your path. Now that you've made up your mind, I'll do as you wish."
"But no matter what happens in the future," Madam Zhuang's throat tightened, her tone suddenly bitter, "If you regret your decision and want to return to mother, just come back. Mother... is right here."
Zhuang Wan's heart softened. She stood up and hugged Madam Zhuang. "Then you must take good care of yourself. I will definitely come back."
With just one sentence, Mrs. Zhuang's sadness was dispelled.
She couldn't help but hit her: "You are getting even more naughty. Didn't Master Pei restrain you at all?"
Zhuang Wan smiled.
Pei Xingju seemed to sense something, turned his head and saw Madam Zhuang walking out the door.
She said, "You guys sit down for a while and have lunch here. I'll go check in the kitchen."
Pei Xingju quickly stood up and responded respectfully.
As soon as Mrs. Zhuang left, Zhuang Wan stretched lazily and went out, winking at Pei Xingju, indicating that he had succeeded.
Her purpose for coming today was not only to visit Madam Zhuang, but also to discuss their relationship. Pei Xingju knew this, and therefore felt a little uneasy along the way.
When he arrived at Zhuangzi, he did not dare to neglect for a moment. He would work whenever he saw an opportunity and try his best to look like a well-behaved and filial son-in-law.
He smiled when he heard Zhuang Wan's message. He put down the soybeans in his hand, stood up and walked over.
"Are you tired?" He pulled the person into the house and pressed him against the door at an angle where no one else could see.
Zhuang Wan stayed up late last night settling accounts, and woke up early today. She'd dozed off on the way here, and now her eyes looked a little tired.
But she shook her head and said, "I'm not tired. I don't know why, but all my tiredness and worries disappeared when I came here."
"Pei Xingju," she said, "I like this place. In the future, let's find a nice little courtyard and stay there for a few days occasionally, okay?"
Pei Xingju looked at her with a smile, which made Zhuang Wan confused.
"What's wrong?" Zhuang Wan asked.
"You seem...very anxious." Pei Xingju teased.
What this means is that Zhuang Wan started thinking so far ahead before they even got married.
But Pei Xingju was very happy.
Zhuang Wan curled her lips: "Oh, I forgot to tell you. My mother said she wanted to keep me for another two years. I thought about it and I think it's a good idea..."
Before she could finish her words, Pei Xingju held her lips.
He held her and kissed her gently for a while, then whispered, "Not at all."
"Why?"
"I can't wait," he said.
Look, who is more anxious than who!
Zhuang Wan was overjoyed. She jumped up and hung on him like an octopus, holding his face and kissing him.
The courtyard was quiet, the spring orioles were chirping, and time was as sweet as honey. The two people in the house hid by the door and kissed passionately.
Perhaps it was the different surroundings, the cozy mood, or the news that Madam Zhuang had approved their marriage, but Pei Xingju found it increasingly difficult to restrain himself. He pressed against Zhuang Wan's door, wishing he could devour her.
In just a moment, both of them were out of breath.
Zhuang Wan paused and asked with concern, "Is it painful? Can you bear it?"
Pei Xingju blushed and scolded him in a serious tone, "Behave yourself when you are at your mother's place."
Wow!
Keep pretending! Okay, let's see if you can keep pretending!
She made up her mind, jumped down and closed the door, pushed Pei Xingju into the corner, and continued to kiss him in the sun.
Just when both of them were feeling emotional, someone spoke outside the door.
"Sir, Lord Shen has sent someone to ask you to return to the Ministry of Justice." It was Guard Lu.
Pei Xingju paused with difficulty and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Shen Mingchang is awake!"
Upon hearing this, Pei Xingju's confused eyes immediately cleared up.
.
Shen Mingchang's awakening was like throwing a stone into a calm lake. The stone made no sound, but the ripples it created spread throughout the court.
Everyone looked at the person sitting on the dragon throne with bated breath.
That night, the emperor summoned Pei Xingju to the palace again. It's unknown what the emperor and his subject talked about, but Pei Xingju didn't leave the palace until dawn the next day.
This incident was like a gust of wind, sneaking into the imperial palace and court, and sneaking into various places in the capital, quietly changing something.
Two days later, another shocking news came - Duan Hongyuan, the culprit of the Lantern Festival Rebellion, was captured and imprisoned in the dungeon of the Ministry of Justice.
If Shen Mingchang's awakening made everyone nervous, Duan Hongyuan's appearance suddenly made people panic.
Things are changing!
This was the unanimous reaction of everyone.
.
Duke Xin's Mansion.
Duke Xin sat there all night.
The lights were on all night. He looked at the pale sky, with a trace of vicissitudes between his brows.
The staff sitting with him also looked tired.
He turned to look at everyone and suddenly smiled: "I don't know when it started, but we all got old."
"Duke." An aide moved his lips: "Have you really thought it through?"
"I've thought about it a long time ago." Duke Xin nodded. "My premonition is correct. This time, I'm afraid I can't avoid it."
"I agree with the Duke!" Someone stood up and echoed, "We've been forced into a corner. The Emperor is being so open about it, it's clear he's not going to show any mercy. But we can't just surrender. Fortunately, the Empress is pregnant. Without the Emperor, the child in the Empress' belly will be the Emperor."
"What if it's a girl?"
"No!" Duke Xin said firmly, "It can only be a boy!"
"In that case," someone else said, "I will follow the Duke and accept his orders."
"I'm following the Duke too!"
"I also!"
Everyone in the group stood up. Marquis Cheng'en, who was sitting at the edge, looked around and nervously stood up as well. "Count me in. The Duke has supported me a lot over the years, and I've enjoyed all the blessings I deserve. If the Duke orders me to do so, I'll do it with all my heart."
Everyone listened with a determined look on their faces. However, they also knew that this game of chance might be a matter of life and death. When they first followed Duke Xin, who could have imagined it would come to this?
But Duke Xin gathered them together and told them what had happened in public. Everyone present heard it and knew that walking out of that door would mean death.
Since I am going to die, I might as well fight to the death. Whether I will be rich or die depends on fate!
"Thank you all!" Duke Xin bowed. "Your determination is truly worthwhile, as we've been loyal to each other for so many years. Rest assured, if this great cause is accomplished, everyone will succeed!"
The eighth day of the fourth month of the Xiyou year was destined to be an extraordinary day.
Duke Xin, who had been honored by Da Zhao for half his life, rebelled!
......
[Tip]: The previous chapter has been overhauled, with about a thousand words revised. If you want to read it again, you can take a look at it.
Also, Wanwan updates very late every day, and it's tiring for you guys to keep up. I've thought about it, and I'll set the update time to 11pm every night from now on. If you can't wait, you can come in the morning. Kiss!
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