Chapter 180
The trial of Prince Yong in the Dali Temple shocked the government and the public.
No one expected that a public trial would lead to so many things in the end.
Tang Yisu committed suicide by burning himself on the spot. Although he spoke excuses for the Second Prince before his death, he actually put the blame on the Second Prince.
The fifth prince took the initiative to identify the second prince as the mastermind behind the third prince's broken arm and the Shu family's corruption, and even as the one who induced the Li family to resell weapons.
For a time, border soldiers and the people of the Great Zhou were extremely angry, and they requested severe punishment for the murderer in front of the government offices in their areas.
The second prince was imprisoned in the East Factory, and the fifth prince was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice.
The two departments worked together to examine the truth of what the Fifth Prince said. In the dark room inside the Fifth Prince's bedroom, they found the Second Prince's involvement in the Shu family's embezzlement case.
The Shu family is guilty of negligence. The chief official should be beheaded for such negligence, but punishing one person is enough so as not to implicate the entire family.
Just as the Second Prince used Tang Yisu to guard against the Fifth Prince, the Fifth Prince also guarded against the Second Prince.
The matter of the Third Prince was a signal that the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince were joining forces. It had been so many years since then that the Fifth Prince could not provide any evidence, but he gave a clear and organized account of their planning process at that time.
The second prince saw his confession and did not refute it.
The third prince submitted memorials like crazy and ran to the royal family all day long, wanting the second prince, the mastermind, or even the fifth prince, to pay him with an arm.
The eldest prince, who was far away in Lingbei, also asked one or two useful people still left in the capital to write a letter to review the Shu family case.
Emperor Chongzhao was not able to do it, so Taifu Fang, Xi Shiqiu and Lin Zongping were in charge of the trial.
In the end, the Shu family was re-evaluated and their slave status was erased. They were allowed to return to their hometowns, part of their property was returned, and their descendants were allowed to continue taking imperial examinations.
However, the charges against Minister Shu were suppressed by Emperor Chongzhao and no decision was made.
He recalled the eldest prince from Lingbei to the capital.
The eldest prince stood outside the palace, looking at this magnificent and heavy imperial city. He was used to the free wind blowing between the mountains in northern Lingnan. Now he returned to the place where he grew up and felt a little breathless.
He was led into the Zichen Palace by Eunuch Yu.
The hall was filled with medicinal fumes, and the eldest prince saw his father sitting cross-legged on the kang table in front of the bed.
From the pincer attack from the two countries, the Great Zhou was on the verge of collapse, to the current turmoil in the capital, he has aged a lot since the last time they met.
He doesn't look old, but his temples are gray.
He was wearing the most noble dragon robe in the world, and his body was covered with twilight.
He knelt down and said, "I greet your Majesty."
Emperor Chongzhao pointed to the seat opposite him and said, "Take a seat."
The eldest prince hesitated for a moment and sat opposite Emperor Chongzhao.
Emperor Chongzhao: "The Shu family's crime was a miscarriage of justice. All the charges that should be erased have been erased."
The eldest prince said: "Yes, I already know it."
Emperor Chongzhao: "However, your father-in-law is the chief officer, and his negligence is too great, and he is guilty of death. This cannot be changed."
The eldest prince: "I have already used my official position to offset my father-in-law's death penalty."
Emperor Chongzhao looked at his clothes.
Ordinary cloth, washed many times, "The Shu family case is being re-examined. I will give you another chance to choose."
The eldest prince followed his gaze and looked at his clothes, but didn't find anything wrong with them. He asked in confusion, "Choice?"
Emperor Chongzhao: "I will pretend I didn't hear your words about revoking your position. Minister Shu is guilty of death. You can return to the capital and still be the eldest prince."
The eldest prince was silent.
After a long time, he said: "Although the clothes I wear are cheap, they are sewn by my wife stitch by stitch. There is no more comfortable clothes than those sewn by my mother and wife.
I am used to wearing the best clothes, and other clothes are uncomfortable to wear.”
Emperor Chongzhao: "This is your answer."
The eldest prince stood up and knelt on the ground again.
The sunlight from outside shone through the blurry window lattice onto the back of Emperor Chongzhao, and the expression on his face was dark and unclear.
"You go now."
The eldest prince's tense body relaxed a little. He did not get up, but begged, "Please allow me to go to the place of Concubine De."
Emperor Chongzhao raised his hand.
Eunuch Yu helped the eldest prince up and took him outside, whispering, "Someone will take you to Concubine De later."
The eldest prince then revealed a genuine smile.
Wen Xin asked him to bring back some specialties from Lingbei. She didn't know whether her mother would be used to eating them. After giving some to her mother, he would go and give some to Xiaoqi.
Eunuch Yu handed the eldest prince to the young eunuch and returned to the palace.
Emperor Chongzhao lit a thin stick of incense and inserted it into a gilded incense tray that was half the size of his palm. "He chose the Shu family instead of me twice, and he betrayed me twice."
"I am his father, am I not as good as a father-in-law who has little affection for me?"
When he said this, his voice was calm, and no emotion could be heard in it.
Eunuch Yu stood quietly by the side.
Emperor Chongzhao said: "Send a message to the border and ask Prince Ming to come back."
Eunuch Yu: “Yes.”
He reminded carefully, "There is one more thing. How to deal with the Second and Fifth Princes? The three Grand Secretaries are waiting for your Majesty's decision."
The fifth prince was relatively better off, but the second prince really angered the public. The border soldiers and the people of the Great Zhou were all waiting for his final outcome.
Emperor Chongzhao looked at the smoke rising from his hand.
"I have already made the decision when I asked Prince Ming to come back. You have been by my side for many years, how could you not understand it? It has been delayed for so long, go now."
-
East Factory.
In prison.
Tang Yisu burned himself to death, igniting the anger of border soldiers and the people of the Great Zhou, and costing his own life as well as the life of the second prince.
The Second Prince's party didn't even dare to write a letter to the Second Prince to beg for mercy.
Anyone who opens his mouth will be labeled a traitor.
The second prince sat in a solitary cell with a small, clean table in front of him.
When he was imprisoned in a hurry, he asked someone to get a set of clothes, a crown and a hairpin from the mansion. He tied up his hair that was messed up by the third prince and pinned it with a hairpin.
The Second Prince would be given the same food that the Eastern Depot gave to other people in prison.
He is not picky and will eat whatever is given to him.
It’s just that the food was not good, and he lost a lot of weight in half a month.
There were footsteps outside.
A piece of plain and elegant clothing stopped in front of the prison door.
Chen Jian personally led people over and unlocked the prison door, "Madam Ruan, please come in."
Concubine Ruan thanked him gently and came in carrying the lunch box.
The second prince opened his eyes, "My mother is here."
Concubine Ruan placed the lunch box on the table in front of him and sat opposite him.
Her eyes were slightly red, and her gaze wandered over the Second Prince, with an indescribable complex expression in her eyes.
"As far as I can remember, mother hasn't looked at me like this for a long time," the second prince smiled slightly, "like a mother."
Ever since he killed the palace maid when he was a child, he never saw the motherly care and love on Concubine Ruan's face again, only a monster-like look.
Concubine Ruan lowered her eyes and took out food and wine from the lunch box.
The food cooked in the palace is much more exquisite than that in the East Factory.
Ruanpin: "You are in this situation today because of you. You have done too many evil things." She poured wine into the cup and pushed it in front of the second prince. "Don't blame others."
The Second Prince: "Mother, you worry too much. I never blame others."
With the help of the fifth brother and taking advantage of his hatred for Lanpin and the sixth brother, the third brother was destroyed. Unfortunately, the eldest brother was not involved.
He could only deal with the eldest brother through the Shu family. The result was better than he expected. The eldest brother became an official, saved his wife and children, was deposed from his title, and fled to Lingbei.
He also lured the Li clan into reselling weapons. People are greedy and have a sense of luck. The Li clan took the bait and sold out their country. When the truth was revealed, Lao Liu fell.
The day he was scheming against others, he had anticipated that this day might come, but he did not expect it to be this way.
Not too sensational, he thought to himself.
Ruanpin: "Killing your brothers, Ping'er, you grew up with them, didn't it hurt when you did it?"
"Not every bad thing is done by that one bad person," the second prince said, "but, heartache?"
He touched his heart.
“That’s a disease.”
Ruanpin stopped talking: "Eat the food."
"Okay," the second prince picked up the chopsticks and picked up a piece of meat, "But mother, is this dish really edible?"
Ruanpin looked up at him and said, "I'll eat with you."
As soon as she stretched out her hand, the second prince pressed her chopsticks with his own.
"Since you gave it to me, mother, please don't eat it. I'm hungry."
He ate the food brought by Concubine Ruan slowly and drank a sip of wine.
The Second Prince: "Sometimes I really want to go back to the day when you found out that I killed someone when I was a child. That way, with my current abilities, I will be able to properly dispose of the body. That way, we can still be a close mother and son."
Concubine Ruan turned her face away.
The second prince finished his food and drank all the wine.
He looked at Concubine Ruan's profile carefully and said, "Why are you crying? It's just the poison given by the emperor father."
Ruanpin: "Do you know?"
"I guess it's time for Father to make a decision."
Killing him is the will of the people.
Even the Son of Heaven cannot really go against the will of the people.
My father was particularly concerned about his reputation. As his health deteriorated, he attached even more importance to his reputation after his death. If I killed him, I would probably be praised for "killing my relatives for the sake of justice."
The second prince: "Mother, are you heartbroken now?" He asked doubtfully, "How does it feel to pour poisoned wine on your own child?"
Concubine Ruan's face was covered with tears. She reached out and grabbed the Second Prince's shoulders and shook him, her eyes fixed on his face.
"I want to see you for the last time, Ping'er, can't you feel anything at all? Human emotions..."
The Second Prince showed his most perfect and gentle smile in front of her for the last time. He always smiled like this every time he went to pay his respects to Concubine Ruan's palace.
"If we meet again, mother, please teach me in the next life."
He closed his eyes while Concubine Ruan was stunned, and died without a breath.
Concubine Ruan slowly let go of his shoulders, and the second prince fell to the ground.
There was silence in the prison.
After a long time, the crying became louder and louder.
In the struggle for imperial power, he did not think that his actions were wrong, he just felt that there were gains and losses, so he never signed any confession until his death.
-
After the second prince reaped the fruits of his own action, the protesting people in various states and counties gradually calmed down.
Emperor Chongzhao summoned the imprisoned fifth prince.
After hearing the news, Qu Dubian went directly to the gate of the palace to block the people, but he was a step too late and failed to stop them.
The guard at the palace gate said in embarrassment: "If you had come a little earlier, you would have been able to see him. The Fifth Prince should be in the Purple Palace by now."
"Why don't you just go in?"
Qu Watanabe shook his head.
The fifth brother was not the mastermind in many things, so his crime could be given a lighter sentence, but for such a long time, he was only imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice without being convicted.
I don’t know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing that my father suddenly summoned me.
But he definitely didn't want anyone to know what they talked about. If he went to the door of the Purple Palace, he might end up making things worse.
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Go wait in the carriage, open the curtain, and when the fifth prince comes out, you will be able to see him immediately."
-
Purple Palace.
West Warm Pavilion.
The fifth prince knelt on the ground with a grim expression.
He knelt for a while, but Emperor Chongzhao was reviewing memorials and didn't look at him.
About half an hour later, he pinched his brows and asked Eunuch Yu to move the approved memorials away.
Only then do I have time to look at the Fifth Prince.
Emperor Chongzhao: "There is no one else here, I have something to ask you."
The Fifth Prince: "I will answer all your questions."
"Princess Lan, you harmed your mother. I understand why you attacked the Sixth Prince in the court. But that day in the Dali Temple, you suddenly revealed what you had done with the Second Prince, pushing him and yourself to the forefront. What was your purpose?"
Because of Tang Yisu, the Second Prince was destined to never have a chance to gain a foothold in the court again.
Apart from making the Second Prince even more miserable or causing him to die, the Fifth Prince's self-destruction does him no good at all and may even be completely bad.
The Fifth Prince: "Why? Father, do you want to hear the truth?"
Emperor Chongzhao: "Deceiving the emperor is a capital crime."
The Fifth Prince: "Okay."
He smiled, knelt straight and respectfully, then bent his back slightly, leaned back and sat on his calves.
It became a kneeling position.
The cautious, silent and steady look disappeared completely.
"In your opinion, what I did is of course difficult to understand. Betrayal... no, or rather, lurking around my sixth brother, is because I want to take revenge on him and Lanpin, and avenge my mother."
"As for the second brother, he should be your top priority heir after the fall of the eldest and sixth brothers, right?"
"Back then, it wasn't just Concubine Lan who harmed my mother, but you as well," the Fifth Prince was puzzled. "You wouldn't forget it, right? You said, 'The former court and the harem are all involved. Concubine Lan's father will still be useful to me in the future.' What a useful person, is someone who resells weapons useful?"
"You were one of the people behind my mother's death because you didn't want to investigate further due to weighing your own interests. Without you, none of this would have happened today."
Emperor Chongzhao dropped the cup in his hand, and the porcelain shards splashed on the Fifth Prince's face, leaving a small wound.
He glared at the fifth prince: "You are seeking revenge against me."
The fifth prince smiled and said, "The anger in your eyes that day in the Dali Temple made me very happy."
He is probably the mad dog among all the brothers. The last chain that tied him was moved. If the mad dog bites someone, the person who moved the chain can only be blamed.
In fact, to put it bluntly, he didn't let Lao Er die entirely for Xiao Qi, but also to disgust and annoy the person in front of him as much as possible.
Xiao Qi will live a good life in the future, as he has nothing to be attached to in this world.
Eunuch Yu wished he could poke out his ears.
There was no anger on Emperor Chongzhao's face; in fact, he looked very calm.
I don't know if he was being reserved and didn't want the Fifth Prince to see him getting angry again, or if he was advised by Imperial Physician Yang to control his emotions.
"I understand. I have asked all the questions I need to ask. Eunuch Yu, let him go."
The fifth prince stood up and said, "I'll take my leave."
Emperor Chongzhao: "I give you the innermost cell in the East Factory. From now on, you will live there. You are not allowed to leave forever. You are not allowed to see the light of day. You must kneel towards the direction of the palace for an hour every day to atone for your sins."
"Since you hate me, you don't have to be buried in the imperial mausoleum after you die. From now on, you and I will never meet again in the world of the living or the underworld."
The Fifth Prince: "Thank you, Father, for your kindness."
He gladly accepted the reward and strode out of the Purple Palace.
Emperor Chongzhao watched once again as his sons walked out of the door one after another, never to appear in front of him again.
-
Outside the palace gate.
Qu Dubian waited until the Fifth Prince came out in one piece, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Fifth brother."
The Fifth Prince: "My Fifth Brother went crazy in the Purple Palace just now. Xiaoqi, you'd better stay away from me, lest Father gets upset when he finds out."
Qu Watanabe: “It’s okay.”
His military achievements are his strongest shield. As long as he doesn't make big mistakes, he won't have to look at anyone's face in his life.
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Where are you taking the Fifth Prince?"
The palace servant behind him said, "Send the Fifth Prince to the deepest prison in the East Factory, imprison him for life, and after his death he will not be allowed to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. His Majesty said that this is the punishment for the Fifth Prince."
This is a much more severe punishment than stripping one's title.
Qu Watanabe frowned.
What did fifth brother say in the Zichen Palace?
The fifth prince reached out his hand and gently wiped the edge of the black silk covering his eyes, "Brother has made a mistake, and the punishment is justified. Don't frown."
"Don't go looking for him, it's useless."
This is probably the best ending for him.
Maybe one day when I get bored, I will end this boring life.
Qu Dubian's heart tightened for no reason, and he suddenly held his hand: "Fifth brother, I plan to leave the capital and travel far away, looking for some interesting books and local products. Some of them I don't have time to read and enjoy, I will send them to the capital, can you help me choose them?"
"There are also some rare and interesting little things. The East Factory prison is probably a good place to keep things." He pulled the fifth prince aside and whispered, "I have an acquaintance in the East Factory. Can I ask the fifth brother to be the custodian of my belongings?"
The fifth prince was stunned for a moment.
He turned his head to look at his brother's face, and after a few seconds, he uttered a word:
"good."
Qu Watanabe high-fived him and said, "It's a deal."
After they finished speaking, the palace servants behind the Fifth Prince urged them carefully twice, and Qu Dubian made way and let them take the Fifth Prince to the deep prison of the East Factory.
Qu Dubian stood beside the carriage, watching them go away.
It seemed like the fifth brother would be fine whether dead or alive, which made him worried.
Fortunately, Dongchang is Xiaochun's territory, and he can ask Xiaochun to take care of his fifth brother more, so that he won't really lose his mind and do something irreparable.
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness, what you just said, that you plan to go on a long journey, is that true?"
Qu Watanabe: “It’s true.”
-
The Fourth Prince’s Mansion.
The fourth prince has been lying in bed for a whole day.
Don't eat or drink.
His dead fish-like eyes were open, looking at the roof.
The eldest brother went to Lingbei, the second brother died, the third brother had a broken arm, the fifth brother was imprisoned, the sixth brother was farming, the seventh brother was blind... He was the only one left among the princes.
He was the slowest to hide.
The servant inside the room advised, "Your Highness, please eat something."
The Fourth Prince: "What do you think is the possibility that Father will let Uncle Ming inherit the throne?"
Servant: “Uh…”
The Fourth Prince: "What are the chances that Father will give birth to another brother?"
Servants: “This…”
The Fourth Prince: "I want to hang myself, is it too late?"
Servants: "!!! No way!"
The servant guarding the door outside came in and reported: "Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace."
The Fourth Prince looked like a skeleton that had crawled out of the grave to bask in the sun. He opened the coffin lid and saw that it was cloudy outside.
He exuded a hint of death from head to toe, and walked into the palace with heavy steps.
Before going out, he saw his personal bodyguard Leng Yue, who was wearing half a mask because of the scary burn marks on his face.
The Fourth Prince: "You're back? Have you dealt with your family affairs?"
Leng Yue said: "Well, the elders in the family have been buried. Thank you for your support."
The fourth prince sighed, "Hmm."
-
From the fall of the Northern Frontier to Prince Yong's return to the capital due to injuries, to the arrival in the capital of the Sixth Prince, the Second Prince, and the Fifth Prince successively losing their qualifications to inherit the throne, within just two months.
All the officials and royal family members in the entire capital city did not have a good New Year.
Except for the common people, the place was deserted.
There are many people burning incense in the temple, praying for a peaceful and smooth year ahead with fewer setbacks.
However, after January, the capital city completely calmed down.
On the day of the Lantern Festival, the heads of Zuo Xian Wang and Jizhigla were placed in front of the altar in Fengxian Hall. Emperor Chongzhao comforted his ancestors and the threat to the northern border was completely eliminated. During his reign, the territory of the Great Zhou was even more vast than before.
Qu Watanabe also went there, acting like a mascot, receiving flattery all the time.
Besides him, there are four princes.
The Fourth Prince was taken to the palace by Emperor Chongzhao, and his residence was in the eastern warm room of the Purple Palace. He no longer had a peaceful life lying down every day. As soon as he opened his eyes, he had to face Emperor Chongzhao's one-on-one teaching and tutoring, and watch the review of memorials to the emperor.
I have to make up for all the laziness I have avoided over the years.
The fourth prince was not stupid, he was just lazy. He was forced by Emperor Chongzhao and three grand secretaries to learn the art of ruling a country and the art of governing a country. He learned quickly but he already had dark circles under his eyes.
Now among Emperor Chongzhao's sons, he is the only one left who is still intact.
Qu Duanbian was speechless and patted his shoulder: "Fourth brother, I believe you can do it."
The fourth prince held him back and wouldn't let him go: "Xiao Qi, you don't understand how much pain I'm in right now..."
No, he understands.
When he was fighting wars and handling military affairs in the northern border, he felt the heartache.
It’s better to let the emperor’s job be left to fourth brother, he wants to run away.
Qu Dubian whispered to him, "Fourth brother, you should give birth to a nephew as soon as possible and raise him. When he becomes the emperor, you can rest. Master Fang and his men can probably work for another ten years. If you take good care of them, they can help you raise your children."
The Fourth Prince had a dim and dead look in his eyes, and it seemed as if a distant hope emerged from his eyes.
He said, "Haha."
Qu Watanabe: “…”
This kid is crazy.
As soon as the ceremony was over, he returned to the prince's palace and packed things that would be useful for his long journey.
His fiefdom was settled in Guangling, also known as Jiangdu, and later called Yangzhou. Among all the prefectures where a king could be made king, his fiefdom was the most superior.
This time, he planned to travel around the Great Zhou and go to Lingbei first.
Last time, his elder brother sent him some specialties from Lingbei. After eating them, he missed them very much and planned to go to Lingbei again to see the snow-covered mountains there and see how it differed from the northern border.
Afterwards, I took a detour to northern Xinjiang to visit Xia Fuyang and pick up my grandfather along the way.
I think he's almost done with the treatment now.
Then go to Qingzhou and Jeju to have a drink with the brothers I met when I was fighting bandits before, then go to Xianghe County to visit the folks, and finally return to the fiefdom of Yangzhou.
He went to the palace and requested to take Concubine Xuan and Concubine Guo to their fiefdom, and Emperor Chongzhao agreed.
My grandmother also wanted to go, but she was too old and couldn't stand the bumpy road for so long, let alone the extremely cold places like Lingbei and Northern Xinjiang.
So after discussion, Concubine Xuan took the sword-wielding guards from the Marquis' Mansion, along with my grandmother and Concubine Guo, and went to the fiefdom of Yangzhou to settle down first.
Zhiyi and Xie Lishan have other tasks. They want to escort Aunt Xiang's spirit tablet and ashes back to Xianghe with A Hanli and live there for a while.
Everyone has their own plans.
A few days before leaving, Doctor Yang, carrying his medicine box, hurriedly knocked on the door of the Seventh Prince's mansion.
Qu Dubian asked someone to invite him in, wondering, "It's already dark, why did Doctor Yang come here?"
Doctor Yang was also straightforward and said, "I have made some progress in my research on breaking bones and tendons. The poison is really fierce and can damage the body. There is no antidote, but I have found a way to alleviate it."
He fished out an oversized gourd.
Qu Dubian weighed it and found it very heavy. He hesitated and said, "Is there medicine in it?"
Doctor Yang said happily, "Yes!"
"It can maintain your physical condition and prevent it from getting worse. It also has the effect of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and stimulating the sphenoid sinus to restore vitality. Maybe after taking it for a few years, you will be able to see better."
After he finished speaking, Ye Xiaoyuan's eyes lit up and he asked hurriedly, "Really?" He was very convinced of Doctor Yang's medical skills, "How many times a day should I take it, and how much should I take at a time?"
Doctor Yang poured out a thumb-sized black pill from a large gourd and said, "Chew it twice a day, three pills at a time. Of course, this is just the beginning. I will study it further and the new medicine will be sent to you on the way. Eunuch Xiaoyuan, remember to check it."
Ye Xiaoyuan held his hand and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Yang."
Doctor Yang: "It's not hard! It's just that the medicine is a little bitter. Chew it..."
Ye Xiaoyuan: "It doesn't matter! Your Highness is not afraid of hardship in order to see."
The two of them seemed to ignore the person next to them who needed to take medicine.
Qu Watanabe: “…”
He had originally planned that once the situation had completely stabilized, or his fourth brother had succeeded to the throne, he would allow his eyes to fully recover and stop watching cartoons.
Doctor Yang means well, but he really doesn't want to take a bitter pill!
-
No matter how Qu Duanbian cheated, Ye Xiaoyuan still resolutely took Doctor Yang's medicine.
Qu Dubian, Yi Twelve, Ye Xiaoyuan, Xi Zixing, and their group, plus two dogs, Bai and Jin, officially began their journey.
The carriage moved slowly forward.
Xi Zixing was sitting on the beam in front, and suddenly he wanted to see the expression on Xia Fuyang's face when he and His Highness appeared in the Northern Frontier together.
It will definitely be exciting.
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