"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous! Have the rules become mere decorations?"
Empress Dowager Xiao was furious. She was angry at Gu Jiu and even more angry at Princess Chaoyang.
At such an old age, he was trying to commit suicide in the Cining Palace, crying, making a fuss, and even threatening to hang himself. Who was he trying to scare?
Is there anyone here who grew up being scared?
Just because Empress Dowager Xiao stood up for Princess Chaoyang doesn't mean she will tolerate her unscrupulous words and actions.
Princess Chaoyang shed tears in the Cining Palace, "I really have no way out!"
Bang!
There was a loud noise and everyone was startled.
Gu Jiu also felt a strange pain in his hand.
I was a little excited and didn't control the strength well when I slammed the table. The sound was loud and my hand really hurt.
"Liu Zhao's wife, what are you doing? You smashed the teacup before, but I didn't bother with you because you saved someone. Now you slam the table again. Are you trying to be disrespectful to me?"
"The Empress Dowager has misunderstood me. I would never dare to show disrespect to any elder. I'm just angry at what Her Royal Highness the Princess said. What do you mean there's no way out? It's as if I were the one who sent the Jinwu Guards. This is a huge injustice, and I won't admit it even if I'm beaten to death."
Princess Chaoyang pointed at Gu Jiu and said, "If it weren't for you, the Jinwu Guards..."
"Your Highness, the Princess is wrong." Gu Jiu interrupted him rudely, "The Jinwu Guards were sent by His Majesty. His Majesty is very perceptive and saw through the truth in the chaos, which is why he sent the Jinwu Guards out.
Besides, the Jinwu Guards were investigating the Youcai Casino. Her Royal Highness the Princess kept saying that the Jinwu Guards were investigating the Princess Mansion. Does this count as a personal admission that the Youcai Casino is part of the Princess Mansion's business?
"You are slandering me." Princess Chaoyang became anxious.
Gu Jiu sneered, "Since the Youcai Casino has nothing to do with the Princess's Mansion, why is Her Royal Highness the Princess so anxious and seeking death? She keeps saying she can't live anymore and keeps crying. Could it be that all of this is a lie?
Do you really think it's easy to deceive the Empress Dowager because she doesn't leave the palace? Your Highness, you are simply a ruthless person. You even deceived the Empress Dowager, what crime should you be punished for?
“Nonsense!”
"Is the connection between Youcai Casino and the Princess's Mansion nonsense, or is it that you deceived the Empress Dowager? Your Highness, I respect you as an elder, but you can't just use your status as an elder to act so recklessly. You accuse me of harming you, so at least explain the whole process clearly. If you can't, then I can only conclude that you are deceiving me."
Who doesn’t know how to wear a hat?
Gu Jiu held her head high, she also wore a hat.
And she always wears it accurately.
Princess Chaoyang, if you have the guts, just refute it!
Gu Jiu was not afraid of her rebuttal, but was afraid that she would not refute.
The more you talk, the more mistakes you make.
Princess Chaoyang knew that she had fallen into Gu Jiu's trap.
At this moment, she decided to avoid it and not confront Gu Jiu head-on.
She looked at Empress Dowager Xiao eagerly, "Empress Dowager, do you trust Gu Jiu? She's so sweet-talking and flattering that she can even make the dead come alive. You can't trust her words."
"I will make my own decision on who to believe."
Empress Dowager Xiao was not easy to fool either.
Princess Chaoyang was sobbing, and at her age, she looked really pitiful.
Empress Pei coughed lightly, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help Her Royal Highness the Princess go downstairs to wash up. Don't delay."
The palace maid obeyed the order and half-forced Princess Chaoyang to leave the hall.
After people left, the hall became quiet.
Empress Pei said to Empress Dowager Xiao, "Mother, Her Royal Highness the Princess's matter deserves discussion."
Empress Dowager Xiao glared at her and asked, "Do you want to speak for Gu Jiu?"
Empress Pei shook her head and said, "How could that be possible? Gu Jiu deserves to be punished for disrespecting his elders. If this matter has not alarmed His Majesty, it is entirely up to you, your mother, to make the decision. Your daughter-in-law has no objection."
However, His Majesty is currently having the Jinwu Guard investigate. My daughter-in-law believes that it is inappropriate for the harem to interfere in this matter. What if it hinders His Majesty?
"I can't let the bond between you and your majesty be damaged for the sake of an outsider. Aunt Chaoyang is indeed pitiful, but no matter how pitiful she is, she is not as important as your majesty's important affairs. This is just my humble opinion. If your mother finds it inappropriate, please just pretend I never said anything."
Empress Dowager Xiao frowned slightly and glanced at Gu Jiu again.
She suddenly asked, "Gu Jiu, answer me honestly, were you deliberately targeting Chaoyang in Huyang County Princess's Mansion?"
Gu Jiu bowed slightly and said, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, it is not the granddaughter-in-law who is deliberately targeting the Princess, but the Princess who is deliberately targeting the granddaughter-in-law?"
Empress Dowager Xiao frowned, "Why is Chaoyang deliberately targeting you? When did you two become enemies? And why did you become enemies?"
"My granddaughter-in-law and Her Royal Highness the Princess have no grudges. It's all a dispute over interests." Gu Jiu said frankly. She was not afraid to tell the truth.
The person who is really afraid of telling the truth is Princess Chaoyang.
Gu Jiu looked at Empress Dowager Xiao and said, "I think Her Royal Highness the Princess hasn't told the Empress Dowager the truth."
Empress Dowager Xiao's face turned pale. "Then tell me, what is the conflict of interest between you and her?"
Gu Jiu chuckled, then straightened his attitude and said seriously, "To be honest with the Queen Mother, Princess Chaoyang has coveted the position of Shaofu Household Supervisor for many years. She wants to support her own son to take the position and make him the Shaofu Household Supervisor. To this end, she did not hesitate to set a trap to frame others.
The Youcai Casino is not only a tool for her to amass wealth, but also a tool for her to set traps and harm others. Your Majesty dispatched the Jinwu Guards because the Youcai Casino has committed numerous evil deeds, and he cannot allow them to continue their rampant behavior.
Empress Pei exclaimed, "So that's it! Aunt Chaoyang is truly young at heart, even though she may be old. I was wondering why she suddenly made such a big fuss, but it turns out she wants her own son to be the Shaofu Household Supervisor."
Given Aunt Chaoyang's love of money, if her son becomes the Minister of the Imperial Household, I'm afraid the palace will no longer be able to use top-quality rouge and powder, or drink top-quality tea. All the good things must first be kept in the Princess's Mansion."
Empress Pei's words were like words that pierced her heart.
No one accused Princess Chaoyang of being greedy for money, but every word she said was about greed.
This move is very much like that of Empress Pei.
Empress Pei was worried. "Mother, please be careful about this matter so as not to attract criticism."
Empress Dowager Xiao snorted coldly, "I don't need you to teach me."
With just one sentence, Empress Pei was retorted.
Empress Pei felt very aggrieved, "My daughter-in-law is also thinking about the harem."
Empress Dowager Xiao snorted again, staring at Gu Jiu, and asked, "How do you know Chaoyang wants to support her son to take the throne? Did she tell you?"
Gu Jiu lowered his head and smiled, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, if Princess Chaoyang hadn't plotted against the Grand Secretary's eldest grandson, my granddaughter-in-law wouldn't have suspected her. But she went to great lengths to set up a trap to harm others. If you say she doesn't have any thoughts about the position of Grand Secretary, my granddaughter-in-law will be the first to disbelieve it."
"Money can move people's hearts. In recent years, the Shaofu Household Manager has become more and more enviable. No wonder he is being targeted by others." Empress Pei sighed, agreeing with Gu Jiu's statement.
Empress Dowager Xiao frowned and turned to ask Empress Pei, "I've heard that there's been a lot of criticism in the court recently, and the censors have been writing letters to impeach Liu Zhao and his wife. Is this true?"
Empress Pei hurriedly said, "I dare not lie to you, Queen Mother. This is absolutely true. Your Majesty is also furious. He believes that there is something fishy going on and that someone is deliberately stirring up trouble. That's why he has asked the Jinwu Guard to investigate."
Empress Dowager Xiao nodded and glanced at Gu Jiu with suspicion.
Gu Jiu then said, "I promise that I have no dealings with any censors, let alone asking them to impeach me. Your Highness will not do such a thing as shooting yourself in the foot. There is no need for my wife and I to mobilize so many censors to cause a stir just for Your Highness the Princess."
Empress Pei nodded repeatedly. "Although Liu Zhao's words may be harsh, he is a man of measure. Under your majesty's watchful eyes, he would never do something as foolish as mobilizing all the censors to impeach me."
I'm afraid the impeachment by the Censor is closely linked to Princess Chaoyang. It's okay that she coveted the position of Minister of the Imperial Household, but she shouldn't have taken advantage of her mother. It's a shame that her mother was still worried about her and, considering her advanced age, stepped forward to defend her. But she ended up being deceived by her. How despicable!
This was the first time that Empress Pei and Gu Jiu, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, cooperated so tacitly without any awkwardness at all.
The two of them sang in unison and successfully persuaded Empress Dowager Xiao.
Empress Dowager Xiao was shaken, feeling that her sincerity had been wasted and that she was still a heartless person.
She risked offending the emperor to stand up for Chaoyang, but in the end Chaoyang refused to tell the truth.
Empress Dowager Xiao was furious and hated Chaoyang to death.
Chaoyang was so insidious that he even took advantage of her, the empress dowager.
Empress Dowager Xiao instructed the palace maids, "I am tired. After Chaoyang finishes washing up, tell her to leave the palace directly without saying goodbye."
The palace maid paused, and seeing that Empress Dowager Xiao had no further instructions, she set out to inform Princess Chaoyang.
…
In the side hall, Princess Chaoyang looked at the palace maid in disbelief.
She angrily demanded, "What did you say? The Queen Mother told me to leave the palace without saying goodbye? Bullshit! Who gave you the guts to pass on the Queen Mother's decree? Is it Empress Pei? Is it?"
The palace servant's face was displeased. "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. This is the Cining Palace. Who else but the Empress Dowager could have ordered this servant to pass on a message? Your Highness, Your Highness, is not only slandering the Empress, but also the Empress Dowager. Are you doubting the Empress Dowager's control over the Cining Palace, or do you suspect someone within the palace of harboring evil intentions to harm it?"
Princess Chaoyang's face suddenly turned pale.
She sat down on the chair with a dejected look on her face. "Did the Empress Dowager really order you to come here?"
The palace attendant said seriously, "Of course! This matter cannot be false!"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible."
Princess Chaoyang shook her head repeatedly, unable to believe it.
"I have a lot to say to the Queen Mother."
A palace attendant blocked Princess Chaoyang's path and said sternly, "The Empress Dowager is tired and doesn't want to see Your Highness. Please be tactful and leave the palace."
"I don't believe the Queen Mother won't see me. Please move aside. I must see the Queen Mother today."
"If Her Royal Highness insists on forcing her way in, don't blame me and the others for being rude."
Princess Chaoyang stared at the palace maids and eunuchs blocking her way, smiled bitterly, and felt that she had been deceived and teased.
She angrily questioned, "Were Empress Pei and Gu Jiu fabricating bad things about me? It must be them. I knew Empress Pei wouldn't ask me to wash up out of kindness. It turned out she had it all planned. She sent me away just to impress the Empress Dowager. These two are really going too far. I will never let them go."
The palace maid rolled her eyes.
He can't even protect himself, yet he dares to say harsh words to make others suffer. Do he have any self-awareness at all?
As the Empress, the palace maids wanted to know how Princess Chaoyang could make the Empress look good.
"Your Highness, please stop talking nonsense and leave the palace immediately."
Princess Chaoyang stared at the direction of the hall with a vicious look in her eyes, then waved her sleeves and left.
The palace servants breathed a sigh of relief, at least there was no commotion.
Is Princess Chaoyang willing to leave like this?
Of course I'm not willing to accept that.
She blamed all of this on Gu Jiu.
Tracing back to the source, everything is Gu Jiu's fault.
If Gu Jiu had not meddled in other people's business and stood up for the Shaofu Household Manager, the subsequent events would not have happened.
Left the palace and got on the carriage.
Princess Chaoyang ordered those around her, "Find someone to keep an eye on Gu Jiu. If necessary, be sure to capture her... Do you understand?"
The servant bowed and accepted the order, "I understand. It just so happens that many people at the gambling house have been idle recently, and this kind of thing is what they are best at."
"Find some unfamiliar faces, and don't let anyone find the gambling house, let alone the princess's mansion."
"Princess, don't worry. I will definitely take care of this matter. I will make Madam Zhao regret provoking our Princess Mansion."
Princess Chaoyang laughed, "That's great!"
She just didn't believe that she couldn't deal with Gu Jiu.
If the open approach doesn’t work, then try the covert approach.
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