Empress Dowager Pei was stunned and remained silent for a long time.
Gu Jiu was very patient and did not rush.
The tea in Weiyang Palace is excellent, and she has come to like the tea here.
"The lives of the Pei family depend on my thoughts?" Empress Dowager Pei finally spoke.
Gu Jiu put down the teacup and nodded, "Exactly!"
"But the Pei family is your maternal family, and your maternal uncle!"
"In the face of imperial power, all obstacles can be killed!"
Gu Jiuwen was gentle, but her words were filled with murderous intent.
The temperature in the hall dropped.
Queen Mother Pei shuddered. "Isn't he afraid of being criticized?"
Gu Jiu said lightly, "Your Majesty has carried many infamies over the years. He doesn't mind adding another infamy for killing his mother's clan."
Queen Mother Pei cried!
She cried so hard that she couldn't stop.
This is going to push her into a desperate situation!
"The Queen Mother already has everything, why are you still not satisfied? If you have less selfish desires, the Pei family can survive."
Empress Dowager Pei wiped her tears and sobbed, "I have learned that the Marquis of Lu's family has left the capital for the northwest. Your Majesty wants to execute the Pei family. Does this exclude the Marquis of Lu's lineage?"
"Exactly! Given His Majesty's temperament, he would rather kill his own uncle."
Either don't kill, or kill the person who is closest by blood. Liu Zhao has a violent temper and will never recognize his relatives.
Queen Mother Pei cried, "Why is he so cruel?"
Gu Jiu said sternly: "All this was forced by the Queen Mother."
Empress Dowager Pei refuted: "Nonsense! I never forced him. I was framed."
Gu Jiu smiled, "It's only been a short time, have you already forgotten? I remember exactly what the Queen Mother said when Your Majesty first ascended the throne."
Empress Dowager Pei was stunned. When Liu Zhao first ascended the throne, she scolded him for being unfilial.
Then began her frustrating life as the Queen Mother.
She took out her handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of her eyes. "What do you want me to do?"
"How about being a quiet queen mother without any desires?"
Empress Dowager Pei smiled sadly, "Does this palace have any choice?"
Gu Jiu shook his head, "No choice."
Empress Dowager Pei accepted her fate. "Never mind, never mind. I'll just do as you say. From now on, I won't interfere in your affairs anymore. I'll also be mindful of my words and actions."
"That's great! Let's set it for half a year. If the Queen Mother can fulfill her promise within half a year, then His Majesty will release the Pei family."
"Another half a year?"
"What else? It would be a joke for Your Majesty to release someone just based on a few words from the Queen Mother."
Empress Dowager Pei felt dizzy and her vision went dark.
She thought that she and Gu Jiu were indeed incompatible.
At this moment, she looked at Gu Jiu with displeasure.
All this talk about good fortune for husbands is fake.
Empress Dowager Pei wearily agreed, "Alright! I'll do as you say. I won't argue with you, as I can't win anyway. I just want to ask, can I come and go freely in Weiyang Palace? Can I have someone come in to greet me and chat with me?"
"Of course! The Empress Dowager can go to the Imperial Garden today. By the way, the chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom, and the scenery is beautiful. It's just that a lot of people have been cleared out of the palace, so it seems a little deserted."
"I don't mind."
Being able to walk out of the Weiyang Palace is a victory.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "The Queen Mother is busy, your daughter-in-law will take her leave!"
As soon as Gu Jiu left, Empress Dowager Pei called the palace maids to come and escort her, and she couldn't wait to walk out of Weiyang Palace and breathe the air called freedom.
…
The Jinwu Guards were dispatched again, and the streets were cleared of pedestrians in an instant.
The Jinwu Guards really have a bad reputation.
Just shout in the street that the Jinwu Guards are coming, and even the most crowded streets will become empty in the blink of an eye.
Qian Xiang personally led the team to Prince Kang's mansion to arrest people.
The attendants around Prince Kang, the eunuchs, the housekeepers, the advisors, the counselors, the hangers-on...
Don't let any one go, catch them all.
The Kang County Prince's Mansion was in chaos, and the people were in panic. The servants cried for their parents and shouted that they were wronged.
The Qingke counselors looked utterly embarrassed and cursed the Jinwu Guards for taking human lives so lightly, wishing them a miserable death.
If you curse the Jinwu Guards in front of them, you will naturally be severely beaten.
Blood splattered everywhere, frightening everyone.
It was not until Qian Fu arrived at Prince Kang's mansion that the Jinwu Guards stopped beating him and took him away.
Ouyang Fu's face turned pale. "Is Eunuch Qian going to read out the imperial decree?"
Qian Fu waved his hand, "Princess, don't be nervous. I've been ordered to see Concubine Shen today. Please lead the way."
"Meet Concubine Shen?"
"Exactly!"
"Can I ask what this is about?"
Qian Fu shook his head slightly.
Ouyang Fu was tactful and personally led Qian Fu to the backyard of the palace to meet Concubine Shen.
After sending the man to the courtyard, Ouyang Fu couldn't help but ask, "Will my prince die?"
Qian Fu shook his head, "We don't know."
Ouyang Fu bit her lip. "Is what happened in the palace really related to my prince?"
"The Jinwu Guard is in charge of the investigation. Princess, please ask Lord Qian, the Right Guard of the Jinwu Guard, for the details."
Ouyang Fu gave a bitter laugh. "The Jinwu Guards are so ferocious and terrifying that I'm scared to death. How could I dare to ask? This is the courtyard where the Concubine Dowager lives. Please do as you please, Eunuch. I'll be guarding outside the door."
"The princess is thoughtful."
Qian Fu walked into the courtyard with the eunuch.
The servants had been notified long ago and were standing in the yard to welcome him.
"Please come this way, sir. The Dowager Concubine has just finished washing up."
Concubine Shen sat at the head of the bed, feeling uneasy.
If it was Empress Dowager Pei who sent someone to visit, she wouldn't be so nervous.
However, Qian Fu was someone close to Liu Zhao, so he was afraid that those who came would have bad intentions, and those who came with good intentions would not come.
Concubine Shen braced herself and prepared to deal with the tough battle ahead.
"We pay our respects to the Queen Mother!"
"Eunuch Qian is here! Please take a seat!"
"Thank you, Madam!"
Qian Fu sat down on the stool beside the bed. "Is your Majesty feeling better?"
Concubine Shen looked weak and frail. "Thanks to Eunuch Qian's concern, I can still live for a few more years."
Qian Fu smiled and said, "I have been ordered to come to see the Queen Mother. I have a few words to tell her."
"Speaking!"
Qian Fu observed Concubine Shen's reaction while saying, "Recently, a group of people were purged from the palace. Under severe torture, they confessed a lot of things. Among them was the inside story of forcing the emperor to abdicate."
Concubine Shen’s face was pale, but she was already sickly, so it wasn’t obvious.
She asked calmly, "From what Eunuch Qian said, has the matter been thoroughly investigated?"
"That's about right! Your Majesty, why don't you ask His Majesty what his attitude is?"
"What is your Majesty's attitude?"
"His Majesty is furious! He said he would punish the culprit severely, with poison, white silk, or even beheading him in public. Choose one."
Concubine Shen cried out in surprise and fell towards the bed.
Qian Fu remained indifferent, "What happened to the Concubine Dowager?"
Concubine Shen covered her heart and said, "My heart hurts so much!"
Qian Fu smiled knowingly, "Your Majesty also said that if someone knows what's good for him, there's no need to kill them all. It's not a bad idea to spare his life."
Concubine Shen slowly sat up and stared at Qian Fu, "Did your majesty really say that?"
Qian Fu lowered his head slightly and said, "We dare not deceive the Queen Mother."
Tiffany Shen’s face turned pale, “He’ll be fine, right?”
Qian Fu said solemnly, "It all depends on what the Dowager chooses."
Concubine Shen smiled bitterly, “He has nothing to do with this.”
"Do you believe this, Madam? The evidence is irrefutable and cannot be denied."
Concubine Shen clutched the quilt tightly, "I will grant your Majesty's wish, so please spare his life for the sake of the late emperor, okay?"
Qian Fu took out his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, "Let His Majesty see the Empress's sincerity!"
Concubine Shen lifted the pen, as if it weighed a thousand pounds, and her fingers trembled.
She threw the pen away and said, "I will give His Majesty an explanation."
Qian Fu put away the four treasures of the study and said, "It seems that the Concubine Dowager still has some reservations about Your Majesty. Well, our family will not force the Concubine Dowager. Farewell!"
Qian Fu left cleanly and quickly, leaving only a small porcelain bottle on the table, which contained the highly poisonous poison Crimson Star.
Concubine Shen stared at the porcelain bottle for a long time, her face pale.
She suddenly grabbed the porcelain bottle and wailed in pain.
The next morning, news of the death came from Prince Kang's mansion.
Concubine Shen became ill due to worry and depression, and passed away in the middle of the night.
…
"Dead?"
In Xingqing Palace, Liu Zhao had a cold face.
Qian Fu bowed and said, "This old servant has confirmed that Concubine Shen is dead."
"She died very cleanly and refused to utter a single word until her death. How did she die?" Liu Zhao asked casually.
Qian Fu said: "He committed suicide by taking poison!"
Liu Zhao was slightly dissatisfied, "It's a bargain for her."
If it weren't for Emperor Chengzong Wende, Liu Zhao would never be so polite to Concubine Shen.
Where did that group of eunuchs who rushed into the Weiyang Palace come from?
All of them were hidden spies that Concubine Shen had planted in the palace over the years. Once the incident happened, all of them emerged.
Without this group of eunuchs working together from inside and outside, those middle and lower-level officials wouldn't be able to make even a single wave.
"Is there anyone helping Concubine Shen?" Liu Zhao continued to ask.
"No clues have been found yet. Concubine Shen refused to reveal a single word."
"She's very tight-lipped!"
"Your Majesty, what will Prince Kang do? Should he be allowed to return to the palace to handle the funeral and observe mourning for Concubine Shen?"
Liu Zhao sneered, "When have I ever been so merciful? Keep him locked up and don't let him out."
"I am worried that this may cause criticism from the court."
"Hasn't the criticism I've endured been enough? Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up. What are you afraid of?"
"I obey your command!"
Qian Fu didn't dare to persuade him anymore.
…
Concubine Shen's death was sudden and quite strange.
Considering Qian Fu’s visit, no one would believe that Concubine Shen’s death had nothing to do with Emperor Liu Zhao.
However, no one dared to criticize this matter.
Prince Kang was still imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple.
He was not released even after Concubine Shen died.
Obviously, this is a serious matter.
In order to avoid suspicion, royal relatives and high-ranking officials did not dare to pay their respects in person, and could only send a steward to deliver a condolence gift.
Ouyang Fu took the children to prepare for the funeral and wore mourning clothes.
She has long seen through the fickleness of human nature.
The housekeeper went to Zongzheng Temple to visit Prince Kang and inform him of the news of Concubine Shen's death.
After the housekeeper came back, he went straight to the mourning hall to find Princess Ouyang Fu.
"Your Highness, the prince is heartbroken and has written this petition with tears and blood, begging Your Majesty to show mercy and allow him to return home for mourning. This is the prince's petition, with fresh blood stains on it. Please present it to the palace and ask for your help."
Ouyang Fu looked at the memorial with indifference, "It's useless."
"We have to give it a try. Please don't let the prince down, Princess." The butler pleaded solemnly.
Ouyang Fu nodded. "Forget it, I'll try to get it to the palace. I can't guarantee it will work."
"As long as Princess gives her all, regardless of success or failure, the prince will be grateful to her in his heart."
Ouyang Fu lowered her head, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, full of sarcasm.
She didn't care about Prince Kang's gratitude.
If possible, she would rather he be imprisoned in the Zongzheng Temple for the rest of his life.
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