"If you survive this ordeal, then all grudges will be settled, and Her Majesty the Empress will not pursue the matter any further!"
Helian Chen was still speaking softly to the aunt and niece who were shouting wildly.
If you can't get through it, then it's your fate, and you can't blame anyone else.
Helian Chen looked into the terrified and desperate eyes of Empress Dowager Ashina and suddenly smiled.
Empress Dowager Ashina, who was still crying and shouting, felt a chill run down her spine when she saw Helian Chen's smile.
She actually stopped her undignified tantrum.
Helian Chen grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "I'm sure Her Majesty the Empress Dowager can appreciate Her Majesty the Empress's gentleness and magnanimity!"
“She didn’t insist on killing you because she was in the right, nor did she do it herself.”
"The virus was brought in by Ashina Xue!"
"If anything were to happen to you, it would be because smallpox was too ruthless."
"Moreover, the sage originally intended to publicize your crimes to the world."
"His Highness is not only your grandson, but also the eldest son of the Sage, and the most legitimate heir of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
As a woman, poisoning and plotting against the heir of her husband's family is itself a sin. It cannot be resolved by simply adhering to ordinary filial piety or respect for elders.
After all, in ancient times, the continuation of a family line was of utmost importance.
If Empress Dowager Ashina's crimes were made public, the elders of the Helian imperial family (such as the Grand Empress Dowager) could, in the name of the clan, divorce his wife on behalf of the late emperor.
Empress Dowager Ashina's prestige stemmed from the fact that she was the late emperor's first wife.
Once divorced, she would just be an old woman without a husband or children.
Empress Dowager Ashina also understood this principle.
Therefore, upon hearing Helian Chen's words, although there was still resentment in his eyes, he also guiltily avoided looking away.
"It was Her Majesty the Empress who dissuaded the Emperor!"
Helian Chen continued, "Her Majesty the Empress said that even if you have a thousand faults, you are still a meritorious official of the Great Zhou Dynasty for 'nurturing the Sage' alone."
"She couldn't bear to see the saint kill his mother for his son, nor did she want him to bear the infamy of being ungrateful and heartless!"
Therefore, your crimes will not be made public!
"However, a smallpox epidemic broke out in the palace, and many people in the palace were infected."
"Empress Dowager Ashina has unfortunately become one of the infected..."
Xie Yuan's punishment for Empress Ashina was to make her reap what she sowed.
She survived, which is a stroke of luck, but she was disfigured, which must have had a significant impact on her health.
Furthermore, while Empress Dowager Ashina could escape the blame, someone else would have to take the fall—
Ashina Xue!
And the entire Turkic tribe!
The Great Zhou Dynasty has unified the north and south; next up are the Turks on the grasslands.
Helian Jue secured his throne and ushered in his "Yuantai" era.
He needed a victory to further solidify his position and mark the beginning of the "Yuan Tai Prosperity".
It must be said that it was a stroke of genius for Empress Ashina to have her people bring the virus from the grasslands.
The Turks directly handed Helian Jue the pretext for war.
The thought of the impending great battle fueled Helian Chen's burning desire for military glory, making his blood boil.
His eyes blazed with a thirst for conquest and victory!
Marquis of Jingbei is a bit too low a rank. If he could be promoted to Duke of Jingguo based on his military achievements, or even receive a certificate of merit...
At this moment, Helian Chen's gaze towards Ashina and her niece changed.
This isn't some wicked woman; she's a stepping stone to his future military achievements.
Empress Dowager Ashina and Ashina Xue both shivered.
Although they hadn't realized they had implicated the Turks, they all had a bad feeling.
Ashina Xue was younger and smarter.
She said urgently, "If we get through this, won't it... won't everything be over?"
The chances of surviving smallpox are slim, but there's always a glimmer of hope.
Ashina Xue had given up struggling, because she knew it was useless!
But she also needs a definite promise.
Even if one becomes a horrible, inhuman creature like some of the sick, lowly people on the grasslands, at least one is still alive.
Helian Chen: ...Little girl, how can you be so naive?
The Empress was willing to give Empress Dowager Ashina a chance because of the Emperor.
You are just a little princess who has neither done any favors nor contributed anything to the saint. Why should he spare you?
The sage also wanted to use this opportunity to start a war with the Turks, but the Empress Dowager couldn't publicize the crimes, so Ashina Xue had to bear the brunt of it all.
Princess Ashina Xue of the Turkic Khaganate was treacherous, vicious, and ruthless.
Using his relationship with the Empress Dowager of Yongshou Palace, he managed to bring smallpox into the palace.
Fortunately, the sage was ordained by Heaven and protected by the ancestors of the Helian clan, thus he was not infected with the epidemic.
Only the Empress Dowager, the mother, unfortunately fell ill.
As a filial son, how could a saint let the mastermind behind such a heinous crime go unpunished after his mother was so poisoned?
Even if it meant mobilizing a large army and launching a campaign against the Turks, the sage would not hesitate.
With the righteous banner of "avenging one's mother," even court officials could not arbitrarily impeach the emperor for "excessive military spending"!
Filial piety!
Sometimes, it's really useful!
Empress Dowager Ashina could not hear Helian Chen's true feelings, but she re-examined all of Helian Chen's previous words.
Then, she suddenly started laughing, "Hehehehe."
"Excellent! What a kind and magnanimous Empress Xie!"
"I am not as good as you! I am not as good as you!"
“You, you and that wretched Xiao are the real mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, you are both equally clever.”
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