A night passes, the sun tears through the night sky, and a new day begins.
The shop owner looked outside cautiously through the crack in the door. The street was very quiet. Can he open the shop?
The sky is getting brighter.
Finally, a store opened.
Once you have the first one, you will have the second one.
More and more shops are opening their doors to welcome guests from all over the world.
People in the capital also took to the streets.
No matter how serious the situation in the palace is, life must go on.
The bustling market makes people forget the bloodshed of yesterday and return to their daily life of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea.
However, in the palace, everything was just beginning.
After a night of rest, the emperor looked much better.
The emperor did not rush to summon the court officials, but summoned Pei Meng first.
Pei Meng took off his armor and put on a long robe with wide sleeves. He dressed up neatly and regained the appearance of a young man from a noble family.
The emperor looked at him with a gentle gaze, "Sit down and talk."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Pei Meng sat down on the round stool, his posture straight and his face serious.
"Why didn't your father return to Beijing?"
As soon as the emperor opened his mouth, he wanted to give a proposition.
Pei Meng had been prepared for this. "Father is worried that returning to the capital will make things difficult for His Majesty."
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Your father is still as straightforward as ever. He's probably afraid that I'll keep him in the capital and won't let him return to the northwest."
Pei Meng lowered his head and said, "I don't know what my father is thinking."
The emperor hummed, "It seems that the Duke of Lu intends to take root in the northwest. As long as I am alive, he will not return to the capital."
"Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness!"
Pei Meng bowed and pleaded guilty.
The emperor waved his hand, "Don't be nervous. I was just speaking casually. Since he refuses to return to the capital, when you leave the capital, bring an imperial edict back to the northwest."
"I obey your order!" Pei Meng breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that His Majesty does not intend to pursue this matter, fortunately!
The emperor asked again, "How many troops did you bring with you back to the capital this time? Where are you stationed?"
Pei Meng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have brought a total of two thousand men and horses and stationed them in Jingxi Camp. I am also guarding the people in Jingxi Camp."
The emperor nodded and said, "Very good! Go down."
Pei Meng was a little surprised. Did he finish asking questions so quickly?
But it's okay this way.
He was also unwilling to stay in the palace for any longer.
"I'll take my leave!"
Pei Meng left and the bedroom became quiet again.
The emperor closed his eyes for a moment, then beckoned Chen Dachang to his side, "Is the interrogation complete?"
"Half of the case has been tried, and the remaining half is still under interrogation." Chen Dachang said with a bow.
The emperor hummed, "Show me the imperial edict of succession."
Chen Dachang's heart skipped a beat and he bowed in agreement.
Soon, he took a bright yellow imperial edict and placed it in the emperor's hands.
When the imperial edict was unfolded, it was the edict of succession forged by Concubine Xue and her son. It clearly stated that the throne would be passed on to Prince Zhao.
The emperor smiled coldly, with a flash of thunder in his eyes, "Did Xue confess?"
"Noble Concubine Xue refused to say anything and only asked for death."
"Death? That's too easy for her! Tell her. If she doesn't, I'll chop off King Zhao's other arm."
Chen Dachang was startled, but still bowed and nodded.
The emperor said, "I want a list of all those involved in the rebellion, without missing a single one. Xue has been operating in the palace for so many years, and he must have many followers. These people must be eradicated. It is better to kill the wrong person than to let him go."
"I obey your command!"
The emperor threw the fake edict of succession to the throne and said, "Burn it!"
The eunuch brought a brazier, and the emperor personally threw the fake imperial edict into the brazier. The flames shot up and quickly burned the silk imperial edict to ashes.
The flames gradually died down, and only ashes remained of the fake decree of succession.
Fearing it wasn't burned clean, Chen Dachang personally checked it again. After confirming that there was no problem, he asked the eunuch to take the brazier away.
"I heard that Liu Zhao injured King Zhao yesterday because of Gu Jiu?"
"That's right!" Chen Dachang said truthfully.
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, "So, Liu Zhao didn't come to pay his respects to me, but went to rescue Gu Jiu?"
"Your Majesty is right. People are saying that Prince Zhao and Madam Zhao have a bond stronger than gold."
"How foolish!" the emperor rebuked.
Chen Dachang didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore.
The emperor snorted coldly, venting his dissatisfaction, "Since we have already sent people to rescue Gu Jiu, why did he go there in person? Isn't my place important?"
Chen Dachang hesitated for a moment before saying, "I heard that the situation was extremely dangerous yesterday. The thieves kidnapped Madam Zhao and wanted to take her to jump into the inner city river. At the critical moment, it was Master Zhao who arrived and saved Madam Zhao."
Tianzi said, "Is Gu Jiu okay? Has the thief been caught?"
Chen Dachang said honestly, "Madam Zhao is fine, but she's not feeling well. As for the thief, Young Master Zhao ordered a full night of searching along the inner city river, but they couldn't find a trace of him, alive or dead. Young Master Zhao even personally led a search outside the city, but still found no trace of the thief."
"I'm afraid he's already escaped." After a pause, the emperor asked, "Have you found out who kidnapped Gu Jiu? What was his purpose? Was it just to hold Liu Zhao back?"
Chen Dachang said, "Noble Concubine Xue refused to reveal a single word, and the others were completely clueless. None of them could explain Madam Zhao's abduction. In my opinion, Madam Zhao's abduction wasn't necessarily done by Noble Concubine Xue. It's possible someone was taking advantage of the situation, and Noble Concubine Xue took advantage of the situation and temporarily joined forces. As for the purpose of kidnapping Madam Zhao, perhaps it was to contain Young Master Zhao."
The emperor hummed, "That's why I have to call Liu Zhao a fool. He's effectively exposing his own weaknesses to everyone. If I don't kidnap Gu Jiu, I'd be doing him a disservice to his unwavering love."
Chen Dachang hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I heard that Gongzi Zhao secretly left the capital more than half a month ago to escort Prince Ning back to the capital. During this time, he encountered several assassination attempts. Later, he even faked his own death to deceive Prince Zhao.
However, the King of Zhao said that two of the heads Liu Zhao brought were not his. Besides the ones sent by the King of Zhao, there must have been another wave of people who killed Prince Zhao.
The emperor nodded. "Investigate. Follow these clues and make sure to get to the bottom of it. What's the current situation of the King of Yan?"
"The Prince of Yan is imprisoned in the Prince of Yan's Mansion, awaiting His Majesty's disposal."
"There's no rush to deal with him. First, banish Concubine Shu to the cold palace."
Chen Dachang was surprised.
Shu Jieyu was the former Xianfei, the biological mother of Prince Yan. Due to the frame-up by Concubine Li De, she was demoted from Xianfei to Jieyu.
This time, Prince Yan helped Prince Zhao to rebel, but unexpectedly, Concubine Shu would be the first person to be implicated.
Chen Dachang accepted the order without hesitation.
At the latest today, Shu Jieyu will be banished to the cold palace and live a miserable life.
This is the principle of "prosperity together, loss together".
Shu Jieyu could not escape the crime committed by Prince Yan.
The emperor was still in good spirits, so he made a decision, "Call Prince Ning and his son, I have something to ask them."
Chen Dachang was embarrassed, "Gong Zizhao is still searching the whole city for the thieves."
The emperor was furious. "Tell him to get out of here right away. He's a grandson of the emperor, but he's trying to steal the work of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. How can he be so proud! I've been in such a big situation, but he didn't even come to pay his respects. Ask him if he still has any filial piety in mind."
"This old servant will immediately arrange for someone to summon the young master to an audience."
"I give him one hour. If he fails to do so, he will bear the consequences."
Chen Dachang immediately ordered someone to find Liu Zhao and bring him to the palace within an hour.
…
Liu Zhao did not rest all night, and before dawn he personally led people out of the city to search the docks and pipelines.
Zhou Jin was like a fish entering the sea. After he jumped into the inner city river, he disappeared without a trace.
"I don't believe a living person can just disappear out of thin air."
Liu Zhao was very eager to kill Zhou Jin.
Just like Zhou Jin's desire to kill him.
Daring to kidnap Xiaojiu is equivalent to acting wildly over his head.
If he didn't kill this man, Liu Zhao would not be able to sleep or eat.
As soon as Liu Zhao returned to the city, he encountered eunuchs from the palace who were chasing him.
"Your Majesty has ordered that Prince Zhao appear before you. Your Majesty must see him within one hour, or you will bear the consequences. Three quarters of an hour have already passed. Prince Zhao, hurry!"
Liu Zhao frowned, feeling unhappy.
He was busy when the emperor's grandfather called him for something.
"Young Master Zhao, why don't you hurry up and go to the palace to meet the emperor? If you are late, you will be punished."
Liu Zhao snorted coldly and rode towards the palace.
Liu Zhao arrived at the bedroom just at the last moment.
Prince Ning has arrived and is playing the role of a filial son.
Prince Ning saw Liu Zhao and quickly waved, "Come and pay your respects to your royal grandfather. You disappeared yesterday. If I didn't know you had something important to do, I would have given you a beating."
Liu Zhao ignored Prince Ning and took three steps forward, bowing and greeting him. "Grandson greets the Emperor. Is the Emperor feeling better?"
"No need to be polite! I heard that you have been busy searching for thieves from yesterday until today?"
"That's right!" Liu Zhao was very frank.
The emperor asked casually, "Any results?"
Liu Zhao shook his head, "There is no result yet."
The emperor sneered, "Do you admit your guilt?"
Liu Zhao was a little confused, "I don't know what crime my grandson has committed."
"Leaving the capital without permission is a serious crime!" the emperor said without question.
Liu Zhao secretly glanced at the emperor, then looked at Prince Ning.
Prince Ning was very well behaved today, and was unusually honest.
"Don't hide anything in front of your royal grandfather. Just tell the truth." Prince Ning was not only honest, but also straightforward.
Liu Zhao immediately said, "If I, your grandson, had known that my father was in danger and had not gone to rescue him, I would have been unfaithful, unfilial, unkind, and unrighteous."
"You left the capital without permission. Does that mean you can be both loyal and filial?"
"It is indeed a mistake to leave the capital without permission. I am willing to accept the punishment." Liu Zhao was a simple man and was too lazy to argue. He just accepted the punishment.
The emperor was furious.
He originally wanted to give Liu Zhao a chance, but the kid got impatient and thought he was too nagging.
The emperor pointed at him and said, "Go back and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors, and write a 20,000-word self-reflection."
What the hell is review?
The emperor smiled smugly, "Go home and ask Gu Jiu. Twenty thousand words, not a single word less, or I will not forgive you."
Liu Zhao: “…”
My royal grandfather is probably taking revenge.
It's totally unfair.
snort!
Twenty thousand words is twenty thousand words!
He didn't even think about bargaining and just agreed.
The Emperor Regrets Being Angry Only 20,000 Words. I should have been more ruthless and gone straight to 40,000 words.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
