***
Jing Lu's 30,000-strong army was completely dismantled by Jing Yan. The 10,000 rebel soldiers were stripped of their military status and dealt with together with the 20,000 rebel soldiers who were originally slaves.
Jing Huaixu ordered all these people to be shackled for life and sent to remote places to do even harder work.
Jing Lu, who incited these people to do wrong, bears the greatest responsibility.
He colluded with An Chenghuan, secretly deserted from the military camp, and attempted to harm Crown Prince Jingyan, who had more than 200,000 Xuanjia soldiers in the Jing Kingdom.
The second assassination attempt on Crown Princess Yue Jiang and the young prince Zhang'er was not something that could be saved by a mere imperial edict granting immunity from death.
Jing Huaixu made a tough decision, intending to uphold justice even at the cost of his own family, and to severely punish the perpetrators to give the people of Jing Kingdom an explanation.
Unfortunately, Empress Dowager Zheng had already been brought back to the palace. She had always doted on Jinglu, and after Jinglu was captured, Empress Dowager Zheng moved to the imperial prison to live with him.
Fearing that Jing Lu would be tortured or killed by someone with malicious intent while she was away, she refused to come out even after Jing Huaixu had come to pick her up many times.
With the situation now settled, Empress Dowager Zheng still refused to come out. Jing Huaixu had no choice but to confine Jing Lu to the palace, and Empress Dowager Zheng followed her back.
Inside the imperial study, Empress Dowager Zheng wept uncontrollably, her voice trembling.
"Your Majesty, spare Lu'er's life. I'll keep him in front of me, and I'll watch over him every day from now on."
"No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. Lu'er made a big mistake, but everything has been made up for, hasn't it? Lu'er is still your son, do you really want to kill him?"
Jing Huaixu was heartbroken; his eyes reddened, and his face was filled with regret and disappointment.
Even when speaking to his own mother, his voice couldn't help but rise with emotion: "Mother, didn't Jinglu grow up under your care since he was little?"
"He's so cunning, and he's been pretending to be a dutiful son and grandson all these years. Even if you keep him by your side again, do you think he'll stay at ease?"
"It is true that no one is perfect, but what mistake did he make, Mother? He committed the heinous crime of colluding with Anguo."
"Have you forgotten how Father Emperor died tragically in Anguo? He actually conspired with an enemy country to kill his own brother for his own selfish desires. How can I forgive him?"
"If I forgive him, how can I face my father who died tragically?"
"Mother, you are protecting such a beast. Will you dare to meet Father after you pass away?"
Jing Huaixu spoke sharply and sternly, each word resolute and each sentence piercing the heart.
Whether she was frightened or heard something unacceptable, Empress Dowager Zheng was momentarily stunned, her legs suddenly went weak, and she staggered unsteadily.
If Jing Huaixu hadn't remained conscious despite his anger and hadn't caught Empress Dowager Zheng in time, she probably would have fainted.
"Mother, please take care of yourself."
With Jing Huaixu's help, Empress Dowager Zheng walked to the armchair and sat down. Her voice was hoarse with tears in her eyes: "Your father is an elder, after all. He has always been soft-hearted. Maybe he will forgive Lu'er."
She patted her slightly dizzy forehead, held Jing Huaixu's hand tightly, and tried to say something to soften his heart.
"Your Majesty, think about yourself. You only have three sons. Although the Crown Prince is good, he is twenty-seven years old and only has one son, Zhang'er."
"Jing Shuo is crippled in both legs and has a withdrawn personality. He beat Yu Tong so badly that she became mentally impaired. If he wasn't watching her closely, she would even swallow hot coals. She can't even speak anymore."
Years ago, Jing Shuo offended Yue Jiang, who was pregnant. As a result, Zheng Yutong was taken back by Empress Dowager Zheng. She originally wanted Zheng Yutong to recover her health and find her a good marriage.
Unexpectedly, a cold made her delirious. The people in the house didn't keep an eye on her, and the mentally challenged Zheng Yutong picked up a hot coal and swallowed it, burning her tongue.
It is still kept in the Longevity Hall.
“Jinglu may not be of great use in other areas, but at least he can continue the royal lineage. You can’t let the royal bloodline continue to be thin.”
Jing Huaixu laughed when he thought about it. He shook his head and said, "Speaking of offspring, apart from losing a child with Cheng Suyun, I haven't heard any good news from Lu'er and Princess Li."
"But this Left Chancellor Zhao is vicious and dares to collude with the rebels again and again."
"It's good that Jinglu and Zhao Nianfu don't have children, otherwise the children would suffer, and I would also punish the entire Zhao family."
Jing Huaixu initially did not make things difficult for the Zhao family. He simply had Zhao Nianfu accompany the fake Jing Lu out of the city to welcome Empress Dowager Zheng back to the palace, as a show for the rebel army.
Zhao Nianfu, being in the thick of it, knew that Jing Lu was an imposter. At first, she remained calm, but later she secretly sent someone to tell her father, Zhao Zuo Chengxiang.
Fortunately, Jing Huaixu kept a close eye on people associated with Jing Lu, and when Zhao Zuo Chengxiang sent someone to loiter at the city gate, he was arrested.
Jing Huaixu secretly imprisoned Zhao Zuochengxiang, yet he still had the mind to bribe the jailers.
This led to the rebel army attacking the city, causing unrest in Pingkang City all night, which infuriated Jing Huaixu.
He was, after all, the emperor, and the Jing Kingdom was still safe. But the imperial capital where the emperor resided was almost attacked, a great disgrace.
Jing Huaixu said soberly, "Mother, please don't say anything more. Even if I only have three sons, at least I still have the Crown Prince."
"Zhang'er is also intelligent, and I have high hopes for him."
"It's not that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have few children these years. It's because the Jing Kingdom needs the Crown Prince to fight. Looking at the Yu Kingdom and the An Kingdom, their heirs are either unmarried or childless."
"Jing Kingdom is already much better than these two countries. I am content. Anyway, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have a long life ahead of them, and there will always be an heir. You can rest assured."
"As for Jinglu's fate, the court officials will discuss the matter and I will issue an edict. If you threaten me with your life at that time, I will go with you."
Jing Huaixu uttered harsh words, and Empress Dowager Zheng pointed at him repeatedly in shock and anger, saying, "You...you...you..."
"Guards, take the Empress Dowager back."
Jing Huaixu, not wanting to waste any more words with Empress Dowager Zheng, turned and walked into the side hall of the Imperial Study.
"Respectfully seeing off Empress Dowager Zheng."
Empress Dowager Zheng was unable to speak her words and was instead seen off by a group of palace servants kneeling before her.
She stood up, furious and her face dark with anger.
...
Jing Lu was imprisoned in the abandoned palace, with the doors and windows nailed shut and guards layer upon layer.
Empress Dowager Zheng burst into tears through a window and couldn't help but complain.
“Lu’er, look at the foolish thing you’ve done. Your father is determined to kill you. Your grandmother has tried to persuade you until her throat is dry, but he just won’t let you go.”
Inside the room, Jing Lu's expression remained unusually calm, but his voice betrayed his anxiety and pitifulness.
“Grandmother, didn’t Father already know that he wouldn’t let me go? The fact that you’ve come to see me means you don’t blame me, right? You’re the only one who can save me.”
"What can I do?" Empress Dowager Zheng said helplessly.
Jing Lu suppressed his impatience, raised his hand and pressed it against the window, whispering a seductive reminder.
“You have it, Grandmother. You saved me once back then, so you can do it again this time, as long as you are willing.”
Empress Dowager Zheng seemed to understand, and she broke out in a cold sweat, shocked: "Lu'er, what do you know?"
Jing Lu did not answer, but instead gradually instilled in Empress Dowager Zheng, "The one who harmed me was my sister-in-law. She tricked me into being captured, so she is also the one who can rescue me from prison."
“Grandmother, An Chenghuan’s sister-in-law was among those he exchanged with.”
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