Emperor Cheng'an's expression turned cold: "I'm afraid someone is stirring things up behind the scenes. A mob can't accomplish anything great, so there's no need to pay attention to them."
Qi Zhong hesitated, then said, "But now some scholars have been instigated to beat drums and appeal for justice in front of the palace gates, requesting His Majesty to publicly try the case of the Shen family father and son. When I received the news, there were already hundreds of people kneeling outside the palace gates to petition."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng'an's face darkened with anger: "How dare they! These fools are being manipulated and used without even realizing it!"
Qi Zhong asked tremblingly, "Those are all ordinary people, how should we deal with them?"
Emperor Cheng'an pondered for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, "Have the Imperial Guards disperse the people."
Qi Zhong looked disapproving, but he didn't dare say anything more when faced with Emperor Cheng'an's gaze, and could only nod in agreement.
He mobilized the imperial guards and, following Emperor Cheng'an's orders, forcibly dispersed the people who were beating drums and appealing for justice in front of the palace gates.
But this expulsion ignited the anger of the common people and scholars, who became even more convinced that the Shen family father and son had been framed.
For a time, scholars and writers wrote poems and articles to condemn the Shen family, while ordinary people, not understanding the intricacies of the situation, would certainly curse them if they were mentioned. Some people who had received favors from the Shen family even wrote words on the gate of the government office with black dog blood to plead for justice for the Shen father and son.
By the time the news reached Emperor Cheng'an, the public's resentment had become uncontrollable.
Upon hearing Qi Zhong's words, Emperor Cheng'an's temples throbbed with anger, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "You unruly commoners! A bunch of unruly commoners!"
"Send for the Imperial Guards. Anyone who dares to speak up for the Shen family father and son again will be arrested and imprisoned. I want to see who else dares to speak up for the Shen family father and son."
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhong lowered his head and didn't dare to say a word. He responded and went to carry out his duties.
But just as he reached the door, Emperor Cheng'an called him back.
"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"
Emperor Cheng'an pondered for a long time with a grim expression before finally speaking: "Fine, go and inform the Dali Temple to hold a public trial for the Shen family father and son."
Qi Zhong was startled by these words and looked up at him abruptly, his expression hesitant: "Your Majesty, what is this...?"
Emperor Cheng'an stood up, walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Empress's palace, his face hidden in the shadows: "Embezzling military funds is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. Even if I wanted to show favoritism, I really have no power to do so."
Qi Zhong's heart pounded, and he whispered, "This servant understands, I'll go and do it right away."
Emperor Cheng'an waited until he left before ordering, "Go and invite the Empress."
When Empress Zhou learned that Emperor Cheng'an had summoned her, she showed annoyance. But remembering his subtle and overt warnings last time, she dared not easily push away this powerful figure. She could only suppress her displeasure, change her clothes, and go to see Emperor Cheng'an.
When Emperor Cheng'an saw him arrive, he kindly offered him a seat: "Empress, please sit down and let's talk."
Empress Zhou sat down beside him and asked with a smile, "Why did Your Majesty suddenly summon me today?"
Chang'an grasped her hand and sighed deeply, "If I remember correctly, the Empress has been by your side for twenty years, hasn't she?"
Empress Zhou nodded: "Yes, it has been exactly twenty years."
She suppressed her nausea and looked at Emperor Cheng'an with tender affection: "I entered the palace when I was sixteen."
Emperor Cheng'an sighed and said, "In the blink of an eye, so much time has passed. People say that a couple who have been married for a long time will be companions in their old age, but Empress Yuan passed away early, and it was you who spent more time with me."
As Empress Zhou listened to his recollections of the past, she felt no tenderness or emotion, pondering the meaning behind his words.
Then Emperor Cheng'an sighed again, "The Empress is like this, and so is the Zhou family."
“Back when I was just a prince, if it weren’t for the Zhou family’s loyal service to me, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Empress Zhou's heart pounded faster and faster, and she forced a smile as she said, "As a subject, it is the duty of the Zhou family to be loyal to the emperor."
Emperor Cheng'an nodded indifferently: "The Zhou family has always been loyal to me, and I will always remember this old friendship. Even if something happens to the Zhou family, the Empress's and the child in your womb's position will never be shaken."
The heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart suddenly fell, making Empress Zhou dizzy and disoriented.
She asked in a weak voice, "Has something happened at home? Your Majesty, just tell me the truth. I can bear it."
Emperor Cheng'an sighed deeply: "The Zhou family is doing well for now, but in the past few days, the people have been appealing for justice for the Shen family father and son, petitioning for a public trial for their case. When Consort Shen was accused of treason, there was only certification but no physical evidence, and the Empress was aware of this."
"A few days ago, the Shen family father and son returned to the capital with the Prince of Qin. The Prince of Qin spoke out for the Shen family father and son, saying that Shen Xiuyi's disappearance on the battlefield was not because she defected to the enemy, but because she discovered the embezzlement of military funds and was assassinated, which led to her falling off a cliff and disappearing."
Emperor Cheng'an spoke calmly and slowly, but Empress Zhou's heart pounded as she listened.
She already knew about what Emperor Cheng'an had said and had been worried about it. At that time, she sent a message to her father and brothers, asking them to find a way to kill the Shen family father and son to eliminate future troubles, but for some reason, they had not succeeded.
Hearing Emperor Cheng'an's words, she clenched her fingers tightly and weakly smiled, "But...but what does this have to do with the Zhou family?"
Emperor Cheng'an said cryptically, "The Prince of Qin has handed over a list and an account book, which involve the Zhou family."
He appeared magnanimous: “I was thinking of the old friendship between the Empress and the Zhou family and wanted the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to make this matter a small matter and let it go. But unfortunately, the people in the city are still making a fuss. In order to appease the people, I have no choice but to agree to a public trial of this case.”
"Now that the evidence is conclusive, the crimes committed by the Zhou family are unlikely to be concealed. Once exposed, I can only handle the matter impartially and cannot show any favoritism."
He sighed again as he spoke, and holding Empress Zhou's hand, he said, "I thought it better to tell you first so that you can be prepared, rather than waiting for the Empress to learn the news from others, so that you won't harbor resentment later and ruin our relationship."
"I really had no choice but to do this."
Empress Zhou gritted her teeth and forced herself to say, "This case has not yet been investigated, and perhaps it has nothing to do with my father and brothers."
Emperor Cheng'an said, "If it has no relation to the Zhou family, that would be the best."
"This is just to let you know in advance, so don't worry too much. In any case, it won't affect you or the child."
Empress Zhou forced a smile. Seeing that she was distracted, Chang'an thoughtfully ordered someone to send her back to her palace.
Empress Zhou hurriedly returned to her palace, immediately changed her expression, and summoned her confidante to question her: "What exactly are Father and Elder Brother doing? Why haven't they made a move yet?"
Seeing that he could no longer hide the truth, the confidant had no choice but to tell the truth: "The patriarch and the master have sent three waves of assassins, but none of them have succeeded. Instead, all the assassins have disappeared without a trace. The patriarch is worried that if the empress finds out, she will be distressed and it will affect her pregnancy, so he asked me to keep it a secret for the time being."
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