Chapter 230 The Imperial Decree
The emperor was stunned.
In order to balance all parties, it is necessary to punish Zhao Luoxuan.
If the princess is punished, the Jiang family will have nothing to say, and the Jiang family’s control over military power will be eliminated.
But he never expected that his most beloved little princess would voluntarily ask to be stripped of her royal status and willingly be reduced to a commoner.
Last night, the emperor unexpectedly met Mu Junyan who was already dead.
After the shock, he firmly believed that Mu Junyan faked his death in order to protect the imperial power and eradicate the corrupt officials who colluded with the enemy and resold the national minerals, even though he was still alive. He also presented the military command to show his loyalty.
The emperor's trust in him deepened, and the two of them conducted secret operations for a long time.
Prince Ping An is now extremely powerful and the Queen Mother is ambitious.
The most dangerous thing is that the Jiang family controls most of the city defense troops and the imperial guards in Bianliang, and the family of the Crown Prince's wife, Yuan, controls the Yuan family army that can rival the Mu family army.
The Yuan family army also garrisoned the northern border for more than ten years, facing the Mu family army from the north and south, allowing the emperor to maintain his position.
But if the Jiang and Yuan families conspire against each other and the two forces work together, the consequences will be terrible.
Therefore, it is imperative to eliminate Jiang’s military power.
As for the Yuan family, as long as they garrisoned the northern border honestly, he would not touch them.
The emperor looked at his daughter who had suddenly grown up and suddenly felt a fatherly heart.
"Xuanxuan, get up and talk."
Zhao Yuwen hurried to help his sister.
Zhao Luoxuan was not stubborn anymore: "Father, I sincerely request that the princess's position be abolished and that I become the widow of General Qi."
Qi Jun, the splendid general of the Mu family army, is her husband!
She wanted to carry the coffin back home, serve Qi Jun's parents-in-law, and take care of him until his death, so that Qi Jun's soul could rest in peace.
"Father is a wise ruler. He knows that the people of the world can be carried by water but can also capsize it. Soldiers on the frontier can defend the border but can also rebel when pushed into a corner. I know I am useless. I hope to marry into the Qi family in Juzhou and guard the southern border for you forever. At the same time, I will burn incense and pray for the souls of the heroes who died in vain or in battle every day."
These words moved the emperor.
The emperor wiped the tears from his eyes: "Xuan Xuan..."
"Your Majesty, please grant my approval."
Zhao Luoxuan leaned forward and kowtowed.
All the court officials couldn't help but sigh.
Duke Jingguo was filled with grief and indignation. He lifted his robe and knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, I beg you to severely punish the traitor! Jiang Duo's crimes are extremely serious and he deserves death. Crown Prince Jiang privately mobilized the imperial guards to kill the princes and princesses, and he must also be severely punished! Those of the Jiang family who work in the Ministry of War and those who control the military power in Bianjing must be strictly investigated. To restore peace to the capital!"
"Your Majesty, I second the motion."
"I second the motion."
"I second the motion."
One by one, the ministers stood up.
Prince Ping An and Crown Prince Jiang's faces turned pale and they looked towards Yuan and his cronies. They all shrank their necks and dared not say a word.
Especially those in the Yuan family who were in the court, they were all afraid of being implicated, being bitten by the princes and princesses, and being caught by the emperor, and taking advantage of the situation to deprive the Yuan family of their military power.
Prince Ping An and Crown Prince Jiang also knelt down quickly.
"Your Majesty, my son really didn't know that the rebellious son dared to disobey the order, and he also lied to him that the prince and princess had joined forces with hundreds of thieves to besiege the palace, intending to frame the palace. He was worried about the safety of the old minister, so he hurriedly brought his own troops to protect the old minister."
Duke Jing laughed strangely, "What do you mean by his troops? Prince Jiang is the commander-in-chief of the 5,000-man Palace Guard, but the troops of the Palace Guard belong to the emperor's personal guards. How can they be his own troops? If this is not privately mobilized, what else can we call it? What if one day he misunderstands that the emperor has some thoughts about you, Your Highness? Will he lead his troops to besiege the palace again?"
Prince Jiang's face turned pale.
King Ping An was so angry that he was shaking all over: "You, you, you old bastard!"
It was rare for Duke Jingguo to have the upper hand in front of him, and he straightened his back proudly: "Your Majesty, your safety is the most important."
The emperor sighed and was about to speak when he heard the sound of drums.
The Zuoban Duduzhi standing nearby pricked up his ears and was surprised: "Dengwen drum! It's the Dengwen drum in front of Xuande Gate."
Xuande Gate is closest to the Council of State. The Dengwen Drum set up in front of the gate is so that people who want to appeal can beat the drum and hear their grievances directly from the emperor.
"Who dares to beat the drum?"
"No one has beaten the drum for more than ten years, right?"
The emperor frowned.
"I'll go and check it out right away." Zuo Bandu knew it and ran out quickly.
In less than a quarter of an hour, he came running back.
"Your Majesty, it was the divorced wife of Marquis Wenchang, Wang, who played the drum for the hearing."
The emperor was unhappy: "What's wrong with you?"
What's the fun of this?
"Your Majesty, according to the law, beating the Dengwen Drum requires thirty strokes of the cane first. The Dengwen Drum Court Envoy asks Your Majesty for instructions. Should we beat him or not?"
The emperor was furious: "Beat him!"
Lord Yan, the Left Counselor of the Censorate, immediately stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, since there is an injustice, can you please listen to the cause first? It won't be too late to punish you later."
The emperor was very impatient: "What's the matter?"
Zuo Ban Du Du Zhi glanced at Prince Ping'an and his sons, "Wang sued Crown Prince Jiang for his sinister tactics, sending his daughter to instigate Marquis Wenchang and causing civil strife in the family. Crown Prince Jiang used Aunt Huang, who was married to Marquis Wenchang, to secretly injure Marquis Wenchang and frame Madam Mu. He sent assassins to besiege the Duke of Yong's mansion in an attempt to kidnap Madam Mu. Wang sued Marquis Wenchang for setting fire to her parents and brother, and forcing her to death even though she had already divorced him. He also wanted to kill Madam Mu and the Duke of Yong's posthumous child."
The civil and military officials present looked at each other in surprise when they heard this.
What is this?
The emperor's temples were throbbing.
"You are slandering me!" Prince Jiang jumped up in anger.
Duke Jingguo was delighted: "Then Kaifeng Prefecture must take over this matter. However, beating the drum for reporting the incident and being caned thirty times is the ancestral rule, so they must be beaten."
The emperor waved his hand.
Zuo Ban Du Duzhi went to notify everyone.
The emperor looked exhausted: "This is a serious matter. Please consult with the Secretariat and make a decision for me."
Duke Jingguo said: "Prince Ping'an is the chief minister, so he must avoid suspicion."
The emperor was helped to stand up by the eunuch: "Well, the relevant people should avoid suspicion. At this time, let Jingguogong handle it."
"I obey your order."
Duke Jingguo lowered his head, feeling extremely happy.
The emperor glanced at Zhao Luoxuan and sighed silently: "Princess Shuhe... just wait for your decision."
"yes."
Zhao Luoxuan bowed respectfully and performed the great ceremony of a commoner.
Upon hearing the news, the Queen called Zhao Luoxuan to see her, but Zhao Luoxuan went straight to the Duke Yong's Mansion.
Zhao Yuwen and Zhao Yuxuan met the queen. The queen cried and scolded them two brothers for not protecting their sister well.
The two brothers hung their heads and were speechless.
They were all frightened by the imperial sister. They didn't expect her to be so resolute.
…
Gu Huan knew that when Wang Linyi went to knock on the drum to report the incident, he had already been knocked unconscious and carried back.
She felt sad as she looked at her mother whose lower body was covered in blood.
After Gu Yuan was rescued, Wang Linyi had a secret conversation with him for more than an hour, and then she came out with Gu Yuan's confession.
Gu Huan didn't know her plan at that time.
Now she knew that Wang Linyi went there for her.
If the matter got out of hand, the Wenchang Marquisate would be completely destroyed, and the Jiang family would no longer have the opportunity to use the Wenchang Marquisate to threaten the mother and daughter.
What Wang Linyi didn't know was that her report to the emperor only exacerbated the guilt of Crown Prince Jiang and made the emperor dislike him even more.
For three days in a row.
Zhao Luoxuan was dressed in mourning and silently stood beside Qi Jun's coffin, carefully burning paper money one by one.
Gu Huan sat beside him, waiting for the emperor's final decision.
Donghua ran over excitedly: "Madam, Her Royal Highness, it's here, it's here, the imperial edict is here."
Zhao Luoxuan and Gu Huan's eyes lit up, they stood up together and walked out hand in hand.
The emperor sent the left-hand officer to issue the decree in person.
He held the imperial edict in both hands with a respectful attitude: "Princess Shuhe, please accept the order."
Zhao Luoxuan knelt down: "I accept your order."
Zuoban Duduzhi felt mixed emotions when he saw the princess, who was once respected and valued, calling herself a commoner. Even a heartless person would feel uncomfortable.
He read out the long imperial edict, and the cumbersome official language made people dizzy.
Qi Jun was posthumously awarded the title of Second-Rank General of Cavalry, and his parents enjoyed his salary for life.
Zhao Luoxuan was stripped of her title of Princess Shuhe and demoted to Princess Gao. He was given a tea mountain of ten thousand mu to the west of Juzhou City, 500,000 taels of silver, and ordered the Ministry of Works to build a new house for his wife and parents to live out their lives.
Zhao Luoxuan was allowed to escort Qi Jun's coffin back to Juzhou with the princess's ceremonial guard.
Zhao Luoxuan looked up: "How should the sinner be punished?"
Zuoban Duduzhi bowed his waist and smiled apologetically: "Princess, please thank me first and accept the decree first. Your legs hurt from kneeling."
Zhao Luoxuan shook her head stubbornly: "Please tell me, sir, how should the sinner be punished?"
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