Lu Xuan stood beside Liu Tan and said coldly, "Gongsun Jingsheng's crimes are monstrous. How can he escape punishment just because Gongsun Wuniang marries someone else?"
The woman kowtowed repeatedly, and the bluestone slabs were already faintly red. Lu Xuan looked up and said to Ajia Mu, "Kick her out."
Ajia Mu responded and was about to move when Liu Tan, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up, "You're pleading for your wife now, but have you ever considered that when Gongsun Jingsheng embezzled military funds and caused the deaths of those under-clothed soldiers on the battlefield, their families had no one to turn to for help?"
The woman was slightly stunned. She was just a servant, so how could she understand these things?
She just said, "It was the Lord and the Young Master who made the mistake. Wu Niang is innocent."
Liu Tan said coldly, "Innocent? Exchange all the silks and satins she's worn, the precious gold and jade she's used, and the delicacies she's eaten for military expenses, and then you can claim innocence."
The woman's face showed despair. Lu Xuan winked at Ajia Mu, and Ajia Mu simply picked up the woman and walked out.
After the woman left, Lu Xuan whispered to her, "Don't be angry. Gongsun and his son have gotten what they deserved. You should be happy."
Liu Tan smiled bitterly: "Happy? How can I be happy? Gongsun and his son have indeed been apprehended, but I still want to marry Gongsun Wuniang!"
Lu Xuan was shocked after hearing this: "Why?"
Liu Tan said, "Do you know what "Chongxi" means?"
Lu Xuan was stunned for a moment before saying, "I remember it was said that if someone is seriously ill, their family will choose to get married to exorcise the evil spirits and hope that the patient will recover."
Liu Tan nodded. "That's right. I was sent out of the palace because my horoscope said I was in conflict with the imperial palace. Plus, Li Guangli... you know, they were worried about the aftereffects, so they chose Gongsun He's daughter. They valued her horoscope and her ability to ward off evil and calamity."
After hearing this, Lu Xuan immediately said, "If that's the case, then marry her."
Liu Tan turned around and looked at him in disbelief, almost blurting out: Are the liking you said all fake?
Lu Xuan thought he was just being reluctant, so he held his hand and said, "Nothing is more important than life..."
Liu Tan was almost going crazy: "That's all fake!"
Lu Xuan was slightly stunned: "Huh?"
Liu Tan pulled him into the house and said, "Li Guangli's witchcraft is fake, and the so-called clash... is also fake!"
Lu Xuan blinked hard and did not ask Liu Tan if this was true. He had always believed in Liu Tan unconditionally, so when he heard him say this, he naturally believed it.
Lu Xuan said, "It's fake... but... His Majesty believes it, the Queen believes it, so..."
Liu Tan said, "Now it depends on whether Mother can persuade Father to change his mind. No, changing his mind is useless. Without Gongsun Wuniang, there are still other young ladies. With so many people in the Han Dynasty, we can always find someone suitable."
He didn't want to get married at all.
Lu Xuan put his hand on his shoulder, squeezed it, and said, "Don't worry, I can help you..."
Liu Tan was so frightened when he heard this: "Please, please be kind! The Gongsun family is on the verge of destruction. You are committing such a sin!"
Lu Xuan looked at him innocently: "But... I originally wanted to help him, but who knew Zhu Anshi had evidence of his crime?"
Liu Tan said angrily, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Will you drink with me?"
What else could Lu Xuan say? He felt like if he didn't accompany Liu Tan for a drink, Liu Tan wouldn't know who else to go to.
But this time Liu Tan was better. He didn't pass out after drinking a single glass of wine, and he didn't even get drunk.
Before leaving, Liu Tan said to Lu Xuan from his horse, "Lately... Chang'an must be in a state of panic. If you've finished your business, leave early."
Lu Xuan immediately looked up at him pitifully: "Ah Tan, are you chasing me away?"
Liu Tan couldn't help but whip him lightly with his horsewhip: "You don't know what's good for you. What if you stay here and get taken advantage of by someone with ulterior motives? I'm letting you go for your own good!"
Lu Xuan reached out and grasped his whip, smiling slightly. "Okay, I'll be leaving when I'm done. You'll have to come and see me off then."
Liu Tan tugged at the whip but couldn't pull it back, so he shook his hand and said, "Of course, let go quickly. I have to go back. If I don't go back soon, the palace gate will be closed!"
Lu Xuan finally released his hand, helped him adjust the harness, and said, "Be careful on your journey."
Liu Tan waved his whip to say goodbye. Lu Xuan smiled as he watched his figure disappear around the corner, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
Aga Mu came over and said, "Kunmi, the young prince has left."
Lu Xuan suddenly said, "Aga Mu, ask your wife to find out where the young lady from the Gongsun family is now."
Aga Mu first agreed, then asked, "Then... Kunmi, did you find out?"
Lu Xuan raised his eyebrows and said, "Of course I'm going to meet her."
Agamu was a little confused, but the expression on his Kunmi's face made him feel that it would be better not to continue asking hello, so he just scratched his head and said nothing more.
On the other hand, after Liu Tan returned to the palace, he was called over by Chen Ajiao before he had time to return to Sui Yu Palace.
When Liu Tan saw Chen Ajiao, he found that her expression was very unhappy, and his heart couldn't help but skip a beat. Could it be that Chen Ajiao... had a fight with Liu Che?
Seeing his expression soften slightly, Chen Ajiao raised her hand and beckoned towards Liu Tan, saying, "Tan'er, come here."
Liu Tan obediently went over and sat next to Chen Ajiao. Chen Ajiao took his hand and said, "Regarding this marriage... Mother knows you've been wronged, but time is running out. It's too late to choose someone else now. But don't worry, Tan'er. Your imperial consort will definitely be a good woman with a clean background."
Liu Tan asked, "Time is tight? Why are you in such a hurry? Mother, I won't comment on Gongsun Wuniang, but she... her father and brother are criminals, and Gongsun Jingsheng embezzled 19 million coins! This is at least four months' worth of tax revenue for the Han Dynasty. If a man like that... his sister can still be a consort, then does that mean Gongsun Jingsheng can also be acquitted?"
Liu Tan had not taken any action before because he thought Chen Ajiao could handle it, but he didn't know what Liu Che said to Chen Ajiao that actually convinced her.
That's military spending! The Han Dynasty didn't have professional soldiers. They usually recruited soldiers when they were about to go to war. Usually, these soldiers were farmers working on the land. This meant that large amounts of military spending were only used when war was needed.
Liu Tan didn't know how much Wei Qing and Huo Qubing spent on the expedition, but judging by the tax revenue, the money Gongsun Jingsheng embezzled was enough to support another Western Expedition.
This was just him. Liu Tan absolutely did not believe that Gongsun Jingsheng was the only one who was corrupt.
Think about it, since the death of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, the Han Dynasty has lost more than it has won in foreign wars. Part of the reason is the incompetence of the generals, and the other part is insufficient military funds!
Liu Tan had been suppressing the Gongsun family because he knew that they would definitely not have a good ending. But now he was told that he was still going to marry Gongsun Wuniang. This was simply dancing on his explosive point!
Chen Ajiao comforted him and said, "Your Majesty knows you are unwilling to accept this, but Your Majesty has consulted many alchemists, and they all say that you must overcome this hurdle before everything goes smoothly."
Liu Tan was completely furious: "Master, Master, I understand everything the Masters understand, and I also understand what they don't understand. I'm going to go find Father right now..."
"Liu Tan!" Chen Ajiao shouted sternly, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Liu Tan panted and calmed down a little. He looked up at Chen Ajiao and asked again, "Do you really want to marry me?"
Chen Ajiao said: "As long as the wedding is held, it will be fine."
Liu Tan's eyes turned cold: "Okay."
After saying this, he turned and left. After leaving the Pepper Room, he turned around and said, "Go find out where Gongsun Wuniang is now. I want to see her."
Bi Gao said tremblingly: "Your Highness..."
Liu Tan walked very quickly, saying as he walked, "You can go tell Father, I won't stop you."
Miao Rui and Bi Gao: ...
The two of them looked at each other, hesitated for a moment and decided to help keep it secret.
After all, the two of them are now branded with the mark of the Fifth Prince. Even if they tell His Majesty, there will be no other benefit except to make the Fifth Prince disgusted. Moreover, there is no value in telling His Majesty this news.
Miao Rui and Big Gao were very quick and found out the next day that Gongsun Wuniang was now living in a house belonging to her aunt's family.
The Gongsun family had made a mistake, but my aunt's family was not implicated, and since they still had some connection, they reluctantly took her in.
However, when Liu Tan arrived there, he found that the location of the courtyard was very remote and the people around were all poor and cold. After seeing Liu Tan's carriage, they couldn't help but look at him a few more times.
Liu Tan turned around and asked, "Are you sure it's here?"
Miao Rui immediately said, "Sure, we've already sent someone to check the spot."
Liu Tan said indifferently, "Lead the way."
Immediately, a young eunuch came in front to lead the way.
The courtyard where Gongsun Wuniang lives now is called a courtyard, but in fact it only has two or three rooms.
No matter what Liu Tan thought of her, he still followed etiquette and asked someone to knock on the door and ask first.
The one who came to open the door was the woman who had come to plead for mercy that day. When she saw Liu Tan, her eyes lit up: "Your Highness... Your Highness, are you here to see Wu Niang?"
Liu Tan raised his chin slightly and said, "I have something to say to Madam Gongsun."
Before the woman could speak, a thin woman in plain clothes came over and said, "Your Highness has come from afar. I'm sorry for not welcoming you. Please come in."
Liu Tan walked in silently and asked, "Are you Gongsun Wuniang?"
Gongsun Wuniang looked up at him and said, "Yes."
Liu Tan discovered that Gongsun Wuniang was not the same as the tomboy he had imagined. She was very thin and looked very calm, not fierce at all. Only her eyes revealed a stubbornness and perseverance that was different from that of ordinary women.
Liu Tan was about to say something when Gongsun Wuniang suddenly smiled faintly and said, "I know what Your Highness wants to say. Don't worry, I will follow the Empress' instructions and will not leave any stain on Your Highness."
After hearing this, Liu Tan asked, "Empress? What did my mother ask you to do?"
Gongsun Wuniang looked up at him and said, "Your Highness, don't you know? But it shouldn't matter if I tell Your Highness. After the wedding, I will commit suicide with a white silk scarf. Your Highness has not set a time limit. Your Highness can choose a date. I will not drag my feet."
Liu Tan suddenly realized that it was no wonder that Chen Ajiao told him not to worry. She was planning to kill Gongsun Wuniang after the "good luck".
After Gongsun Wuniang finished speaking, she turned to the woman and said, "Bring me the lacquer box from my room."
The woman hesitated for a moment, then finally brought the lacquer box. Gongsun Wuniang opened it quickly and said, "This is the key to one of my rooms. It contains the dowry my mother has saved for me over the years. Those who came to confiscate our property previously didn't find it. Now... I'll give it to Your Highness. I know this amount of money is not even one-tenth of the military funds my brother embezzled, but... it's all I have."
Liu Tan didn't answer. He looked at Gongsun Wuniang and asked, "Since you wanted to compensate me, why didn't you pay it back then?"
Gongsun Wuniang smiled bitterly. "At the time, I thought my father and brother were framed. Since the engagement hadn't been broken off, I assumed their injustice would eventually be redressed... But... I only knew my brother was absurd, never expecting him to commit such a heinous crime. To say I had nothing to do with it would be a lie. He's spent a lot of money on me over the years, and now, this is all I can do."
Liu Tan took the key in silence, feeling a little complicated for a moment.
To say that Gongsun Wuniang is innocent is definitely not innocent, but she really does not know the crimes committed by Gongsun He and Gongsun Jingsheng. She is not even an accomplice, so she does not need to atone for her sins with her life.
Liu Tan stood with his hands behind his back and said, "I can spare your life. After we get married, you can fake your death and I'll send you away. But from now on, there will be no Gongsun Wuniang anymore. Do you understand?"
Gongsun Wuniang looked at Liu Tan for a long moment, then suddenly knelt down and said decisively, "Your Highness, I will never forget your grace in sparing my life!"
Liu Tan said nothing more and turned and left.
He suddenly remembered that he had once thought of letting Gongsun Wuniang elope with her childhood sweetheart, and now after all these twists and turns, he didn't expect that he would have to use this method again.
Originally, he wanted Gongsun Wuniang to fake her death before the wedding, but he soon changed his mind.
According to today's etiquette, after a wife dies, a husband can wait at least one year before remarrying.
One year is enough time for him to quickly make arrangements to get himself a fiefdom. If that doesn't work, let Huo Guang write a letter!
After Liu Tan left, the woman helped Gongsun Wuniang up, tears streaming down her face. "Wuniang, why are you so foolish? If you had become the prince's consort..."
"Silence!" Gongsun Wuniang looked at the woman coldly and said, "Prince's consort? No one would want me to sit in that position. If I really want something that doesn't belong to me, all I'll get is a piece of white silk. Now that Your Highness is willing to let me go, don't have any more extravagant hopes. Do you understand?"
The woman sighed and went to close the door, but just as she reached the door, she saw the barbarian who had dragged her out of the Kunmi Mansion in Xiao Wusun that day. She was so scared that she wanted to close the door, but the man held the door open with one hand and said in very stiff Chinese: "It's you, Kunmi, yes, it's here!"
Gongsun Wuniang turned and went back to the house. When she came back, she had a sword in her hand. She quickly walked to the door, drew her sword, pointed it at Ajia Mu and said, "Who are you?"
Before the foreigner in front of her could say anything, Gongsun Wuniang saw a young man with a less strange appearance walking out from behind him.
The young man said softly, "Don't be afraid, Madam Gongsun. I am a close friend of the Fifth Prince. I have the audacity to come here because I have something important to discuss with you. I hope you will forgive me for any impoliteness."
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