Chapter 169 Go if you can grab it
Changjing was in a state of turmoil.
News from the court began to spread frequently among the people.
The emperor was furious at the court meeting and ordered a thorough investigation.
Cui Guozhang cried out for justice and tried several times to kill himself by hitting the golden dragon pillar in front of the hall to prove his innocence, but was stopped several times by officials nearby.
Empress Cui knelt outside the emperor's bedroom for three days without being able to see his face.
Rumors are spreading.
Apart from the Cui Mansion, the place that the people talked about the most was still General Yuan’s Mansion.
The family of generations of loyal ministers and generals was framed by treacherous officials. While the people sighed with regret, their resentment towards the Cui family also grew.
Imperial Palace, Chengqian Palace.
Outside Emperor Hongde's bedroom, Empress Cui was wearing a red phoenix robe and kneeling upright.
Behind him knelt the accompanying nanny and several palace maids.
In the height of July, the midday sun is particularly scorching, and it can make people dizzy and have tinnitus in a short moment.
A large area of the Queen's phoenix robe's vest was soaked with sweat.
Even her well-maintained face was burned red. Big beads of sweat wet her hair, sticking to her face, making her look disheveled and ruining her delicate makeup.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor summons you." The chief eunuch Miao Ping stood in the shadow of the Chengqian Palace gate, bowing his head slightly without much respect.
The queen raised her sluggish eyes, moved her cracked lips, and said in a weak and hoarse voice, "Mammy, help me up."
Nanny Xu and the palace maids hurriedly struggled to their feet and helped her up. A look of joy appeared on her pale face, which had been kneeling for a long time. "Your Majesty, this is great. The Emperor is finally willing to see you... I've always said that the Emperor cherishes you!"
The Queen's eyes moved, but she said nothing as she looked at the Chengqian Palace not far away where heavy guards were guarding the gate.
The palace is majestic and imposing, silently displaying its nobility in the sunlight, just like the man sitting on the dragon throne.
The concubines in the harem flocked to him.
With the help of his entourage, he stood up and walked into Chengqian Palace step by step. Even though his phoenix shoes were stepping on the white marble floor, they could not protect his feet from the heat from the sun that burned his soles.
My knees have been bruised, red and swollen from kneeling for so many days, and it hurts every time I take a step.
From the outer hall to the inner hall, in just a moment, the pain was like being tortured.
The queen tried to hold up her shaky body, and her scattered eyes focused again, their color as dark as the night.
In the emperor's bedroom, Emperor Hongde sat behind a rosewood desk with a coiled dragon pattern in the hall, wearing a bright yellow casual suit, a golden crown in his hair, and a beautiful beard.
Although he is nearly sixty years old, he is still vigorous and energetic. His brows still show the vigor and vitality of his youth. He raises his deep eyes and looks at me calmly. He has the aura of an emperor who is awe-inspiring without anger, and there is a hint of sinisterness in his eyes.
Their eyes met, and the queen bowed despite the pain in her knees.
Emperor Hongde first glanced sideways at Miao Ping.
Miao Ping understood and immediately sent out all the outsiders in the hall, including the nanny and palace maids around the queen.
"Do you know where you went wrong?" There were only two of them in the huge hall, which seemed empty. Even the emperor's voice sounded vague and ethereal in this space.
The Queen stood up and looked at the majestic and noble man behind the desk, tears in her eyes. "I know that my actions this time were rash and careless, and have caused trouble for the Emperor."
She said, "Your Majesty, over the past few decades, the Cui family has always been loyal to you and has never had any other thoughts. Your Majesty knows this. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy to my Cui family!"
Emperor Hong De did not answer immediately. He stood up and walked out from behind the desk with his hands behind his back. His tall and straight figure immediately brought a strong sense of oppression.
He walked up to the Queen, his eyelids half-closed, looking down at her. "It's precisely because I know this that I've been able to turn a blind eye to the Cui family's many secret deeds over the years. But this time, the incident has become too serious, and it has indeed caused me a lot of trouble!"
He narrowed his eyes, his aura growing even more intense and icy. "The letter with Hu Man was posted in the downtown area, making it known to the world! That old scoundrel Gan Boyuan took advantage of the situation and teamed up with his faction to pressure me in the court! Now all the evidence points to the Cui family. If I continue to protect and shield them, it will only lead to dissatisfaction among the civil and military officials, and the people of the world! I will also have to worry about the consequences of the Yuan family! How can you expect me to show leniency in such a serious matter?"
The Queen's face grew paler as she looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar man before her, her figure swaying. "Is the Emperor determined to take action against the Cui family?"
"I was originally planning to deal with the Grand Tutor's Mansion! This incident has completely disrupted my plans and put me in a difficult position! Now, not only can I not take any action against the Gan family, but I must also protect them to prevent another incident similar to the 'Yuan family injustice' from happening and becoming a public scandal!" Emperor Hongde closed his eyes, his tone softened, and he glanced at the woman with red eyes. "Empress, you and I are one. Since you married into the royal family, you are now a member of the royal family. In everything, you should put the royal family first and know how to make choices."
The queen walked out of Chengqian Palace in a daze.
Emperor Hong De returned to his desk and sat down, looking at the desk in front of him with a sinister look in his eyes.
There were barbaric letters taken from the riot.
"Your Majesty, I have ordered someone to send the queen back to Kunning Palace." Miao Ping walked in from outside and bowed his head to report.
"Well, draft an edict. Have my intention read out at tomorrow morning's court. I will strip Cui Guozhang of his second-rank official position and have him imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison pending trial. Also, have someone surround Cui's mansion. During this time, no one is allowed to enter or leave."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Miao Ping immediately complimented loudly.
I dare not say more or ask more questions about the rest.
The four major families in Changjing, Gan, Cui, Feng and Zhang, are all thorns in the eyes of the emperor who want to be eliminated.
The Cui family's move led to this outcome simply because the emperor took advantage of the situation. Unfortunately, the Gan family acted quickly and escaped.
The person sitting on the dragon throne fears most that those below him have too much power.
Once someone below becomes too powerful, the prince will rack his brains to recruit him in order to prepare for the fight for the throne.
How could the emperor tolerate someone competing with him for the throne?
Even if that person is his own blood.
The situation in the palace and the court is turbulent. Some people care, while others are indifferent.
In an ordinary house in East City, Du Buqin, Bai Xiaofeng and Big Beard were sitting in the living room enjoying the cool air.
There were ice buckets placed in all four corners of the hall. I don’t know where Bai Xiaofeng got them from, but the cool air seeped into the air, driving away the summer heat.
It was cool and comfortable, and adults and children stayed in the hall and refused to leave.
"It's a mess outside. Such a big thing happened in the court, but there is no movement in the princess's mansion. It's strange." Du Bujin relied on his age to occupy the only bamboo chair in the hall.
With Tianbao protecting me, no one can snatch it away.
The old man took a long sip of the iced sour plum juice beside him, squinting his eyes in relief. "But the security in the city seems to be a little laxer than before. Bai Xiaofeng, Big Beard, shall we just charge straight to the princess's mansion and rob her?"
Just rob and leave, and return to your own nest in the exile place first.
Then go to Wangquelou and get some ice buckets... These days are so happy!
When they heard that someone was going to be kidnapped, the five kids' eyes lit up and they were ready to fight.
Bai Xiaofeng looked at the old man with disdain and sneered, "Go ahead if you can grab it."
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