Never hinder women from becoming officials
"Lou Xuan, how long do you intend to keep this a secret? Emperor Wende has long since fallen into a coma. Can a foolish crown prince hold up the Great Yan? He can't even protect his own child and mother-in-law. You are lenient with the aristocratic families and afraid of them, but I am not. Today, I will kill you all and establish my own system!" The masked man removed his mask and laughed loudly when he saw Lou Xuan holding a sword.
"Lou Xuan, if you want to support this spineless coward to the throne, you might as well become one of my people. Who knows, I might even be able to keep your life of luxury!" Upon hearing this, Dou Gong stood in front of Lou Xuan.
"Shameless brat! Even if we die here right now, we will never let you touch the Crown Prince or Princess!" Dou Gong, sword in hand, protected Lou Xuan.
"Fu Ci, do you still remember your younger brother?" Lou Xuan clapped his hands. Yunwu led Fu Yuan forward. Looking at the faces that resembled Fu Ci's, the old ministers who had experienced many things had some guesses about the identities of the two of them.
"I don't have a younger brother. He lives a carefree life in the Fu family, married, has children, and lives a stable life, while I live every day in hatred, so I don't have a younger brother." Fu Ci picked up the bow and arrow beside him and shot it at Fu Yuan, but Lou Xuan blocked it.
"Fu Yuan, the Fu family's actions are wrong because they are aristocratic clans, but is using common people as test subjects the way you know how to be a ruler and a subject!" Lou Xuan waved his hand, and Yunwu led the already stunned Fu Yuan away.
"Lou Xuan, do you dare to let Emperor Wende out, or can he even come out now? Imperial Guards, think carefully about whether you want to surrender for your own future!" Fu Ci took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve.
"Lou Xuan, I'll spare your lives if you and Lou Zuo kneel down." The Third Prince took a step back as he looked at the somewhat deranged Fu Ci beside him.
"You want to destroy the entire royal family and aristocratic clans!" The Third Prince was about to retreat behind the guards when Fu Ci grabbed him by the neck.
"Fool! You're just as much a fool as Lou Zuo! Did you really think I'd help you ascend the throne? You're just a bunch of idiots who fawn over powerful families!" Fu Ci plunged a knife into the Third Prince's heart.
"Alright, it's your turn now!" Fu Ci, carrying the porcelain bottle, slowly walked away as the Imperial Guards protected Dou Gong and retreated.
"This contains poison powder; just a tiny bit would kill you all. If I were to drop this porcelain bottle, the entire palace would probably be going to the underworld to keep you company, wouldn't they?" Fu Ci's eyes flashed with madness as he looked at Lou Xuan, his expression changing before he added, "I'll add this as I look at Lou Xuan."
"By the way, I gave Jiang Jin a dose of this poison. I wonder how she is now?" Fu Ci was about to laugh out loud, but a chill ran down his spine, and his soft voice caught in his throat.
Jiang Jin used all her strength to snatch the porcelain bottle from his hand and held it securely in her grasp.
"Your grandma's here!" Jiang Jin pulled out a dagger and splashed warm snow onto her face.
"This stab is for the innocent people!" Jiang Jin stabbed him in the abdomen again. "This stab is for the dead Ziyuan!"
As blood slowly dripped from Jiang Jin's mouth, Fu Ci suddenly unleashed a different kind of power, "Jiang Jin, it will be quite interesting to have you accompany me on the road to the Yellow Springs. Don't worry, you will die soon too!"
Jiang Jin collapsed to the ground, powerless. Lou Xuan and Wei Shu both wanted to step forward, but she stopped them, saying, "Go find a coffin, seal me up, and burn me. Lord Dou, I want you to swear that you will never hinder meritorious women from outside the city from entering officialdom!"
Jiang Jin used the bow to support himself as he slowly rose. "The Dou family is all-powerful, but you all owe me your lives today, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I demand that you swear that you will not obstruct women from entering officialdom, otherwise I will die in your mansion. You all know that this poison is fatal, and you, Lord Dou, do not wish for the Dou family to be wiped out!"
Jiang Jin took a step forward, and all the officials took a step back. "Jiang Jin, you're a madman!"
Lou Zuo murmured something, but Jiang Jin overheard it. Jiang Jin raised the bow and arrow in her hand, and the sharp arrowhead flew over the crowd and accurately shot into the crown prince's hair bun.
"Lou Zuo, I can take your life back too!" Jiang Jin swallowed the blood in his mouth and looked at the official in front of him who was glancing around nervously.
"Chang Yi's army is in the city! Don't forget I still have poison!" Jiang Jin raised the poison high. Zheng Xi, who had rushed over, only saw Jiang Jin surrounded by people.
"Alright, I agree!" Dou Gong glanced at Lou Xuan, then at Lou Zuo beside him, and sighed.
"Okay, did you all hear that?" Jiang Jin asked, looking at the women who had rushed over.
"Wei Shu, I need you to keep this medicine safe at all times. Send it to anyone who objects, even the royal family!" Jiang Jin couldn't help but cough up blood, but still handed the pristine white porcelain bottle to Wei Shu.
"Ah Jin!" Zhai Wan pushed through the crowd, only to see Jiang Jin coughing up blood. "Don't come any closer!" Jiang Jin took a step back. "Ah Wan, bury my ashes with Zi Yuan's." Jiang Jin watched as the Imperial Guards carried the coffin, and under everyone's gaze, she climbed into it.
"Lord Dou, today's events are all because the powerful families have manipulated things, eliminating dissidents, the innocent civilians who died unjustly, the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country, and everyone Fu Ci used—all of this is your doing. Lord Dou, can you face the world? Can you face the Great Yan?" Jiang Jin's deep voice came from the coffin into everyone's ears.
Lou Xuan could no longer hold back and leaned over the coffin, crying, "A Jin, don't leave me."
"You liar!" Zhai Wan stroked the coffin, listening to Jiang Jin's voice inside gradually fade. Wei Shu dared not leave the porcelain bottle in his hands any longer; the powerful families and royalty would not let him go. Therefore, he had to leave the capital while everyone was distracted.
"Cough cough cough!" Jiang Jin opened her eyes in the darkness. She raised her hand and touched the bed curtains, but instead of cold wood, she felt soft fabric.
"My lady, you're awake?" The maid had lit candles in the room, filling the surroundings with a rustic charm.
"Is this the underworld?" Jiang Jin touched her face and looked at her hands. They weren't as transparent as described in the stories.
"This is the realm of the living." A familiar voice came from outside the door, and Emperor Wende walked in, dressed in a black robe.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Jiang Jin was about to get off the bed and bow when Emperor Wende stopped him.
"Jiang Jin, you have rendered great service, but you are too upright. You dared to threaten court officials and send Wei Shu away with poison, leaving a sword hanging over everyone's heads." Emperor Wende's words pierced Jiang Jin's heart.
"Your Majesty, I know it's impossible to eradicate the aristocratic families, but we can reduce their bargaining chips in marriage alliances. Once women are freed from the confines of the inner palace and see the wider world, they won't be willing to become tools for marriage." Jiang Jin lowered his head, and after a long while, a sigh was heard.
"Come with me to the palace." Emperor Wende said nothing more, but led Jiang Jin into the palace in a carriage. Inside the Zichen Hall, Lou Xuan sat on the throne, while Lou Zuo was tied to a chair by her.
"Lou Xuan, how dare you usurp the throne!" The Imperial Guards outside the gates completely surrounded the Zichen Palace, not allowing even a mosquito to get in.
"Xuan'er, stop making a scene!" Zheng Xi was holding a dagger to Dou Gong's throat.
"Grandpa, the petition written in blood accusing my brother of defiling the Third Prince's wife has already reached me. Do you think the people of the world would want a shameless ruler? If he ascends the throne, will he just seize any woman he fancy?" Lou Xuan clapped his hands, and then Wang Wu Niangzi's body was carried in.
"The Third Prince rebelled, and his wife, unable to bear the humiliation inflicted by the Crown Prince, committed suicide. Bury her properly." Lou Xuan waved his hand, and men carried the body away.
“Grandfather, you simply want the Dou family bloodline to remain on the throne. But with A-Zuo's limited intelligence, even if the concubines have affairs, would he know? I, however, am different. I can always guarantee the Dou family bloodline.” Zhai Wan picked up the jade seal and admired it.
"Xuan'er!" Dou Gong was utterly bewildered as to when Lou Xuan had harbored such rebellious thoughts.
"Grandfather, I imagine you've lost quite a few books at home. If you're missing anything, please let me know." Lou Xuan placed the imperial seal on the desk and looked at the officials below.
"My beloved ministers may raise objections. Of course, I will reward those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for righteousness. For example, how about granting a title and honor to my ministers who refused to submit to the Third Prince's rebellion?" Lou Xuan drew a dagger from Jia Yi's body and played with it.
"You..." An elderly minister with white hair was about to rebuke Lou Xuan when he was intimidated by her overwhelming aura.
"Which prince is capable of shouldering great responsibilities? They will only bring about their own destruction if they ascend the throne. Zuo'er, you don't want to tarnish your brother's wife and cause the rumor of your brother's rebellion to spread throughout every inch of Great Yan, do you?" Lou Xuan glanced at Lou Zuo, who was slumped in his chair.
"Of course, my esteemed ministers are free to object. I am quite reasonable. The Imperial Guards are right outside; you are all welcome to die. If you die, I will immediately issue an edict of reward." The crowd felt a chill run down their spines as they looked at the Imperial Guards standing guard outside, swords drawn.
"Princess Zhaoyang, how are you any different from the Third Prince!" The Imperial Censor looked up and stared directly at Lou Xuan.
"Alright, what's all this noise about?" Emperor Wende appeared before everyone, and Lou Zuo, as if seeing a glimmer of hope, roared, "Father, Father, Lou Xuan is ruthless! Father, save me!"
Lou Xuan, annoyed by his noise, crumpled up a piece of Xuan paper and stuffed it into Lou Zuo's mouth.
"Shut up! If I were truly ruthless, I would have killed you first. Why would I leave you here wailing?" Lou Xuan, still not satisfied, kicked Lou Zuo.
"I protected you when you were little, and now that you're grown up, you're scheming to get me married. You're incompetent, so you're trying to ruin my future!" Lou Xuan stormed up to Emperor Wende.
"Father, my third brother was killed by Fu Ci, Fu Ci was killed by A Jin, A Jin, she..." Lou Xuan's eyes reddened again as he spoke of Jiang Jin.
"Your Highness, I'm here..." Jiang Jin stepped out from behind the maid, startling the officials so much they almost couldn't catch their breath.
"You, you, you..."
It's haunted!
"What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket?" Emperor Wende was speechless, looking at the terrified expressions of the crowd.
"Ministers of the Three Departments and Six Ministries, please stay behind. The rest of you may return home. I do not wish to hear a single word about today's events from anyone else." Emperor Wende sat on his dragon throne and gave them a further reprimand.
"Jiang Luo, you should stay here too." Emperor Wende sighed, looking at Jiang Luo who kept turning back to look at him.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your mercy." Jiang Luo breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at Jiang Jin's rosy face. He had just seen her vomit blood and then watched her being dragged away into the coffin. Everything had happened so fast that he couldn't see Jiang Jin's last moments clearly.
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