Princess Yongjia never expected that Li Yunzhou would kneel in front of her at the critical moment.
Li Yunzhou knelt seriously, and every gesture he made seemed like he was performing some kind of pious ceremony.
Shen Zhixiu even thought that the maids who taught etiquette in the palace should be of this level, right?
Li Yunzhou kowtowed heavily to Princess Yongjia, and he also heard footsteps approaching from afar and the sound of people kneeling and paying respects.
Before everyone could shout "Long live the emperor", Li Yunzhou had already spoken.
"Please get up quickly, mother. Your son cannot bear this."
"My third brother almost killed me and caused the deaths of more than ten Northern Frontier soldiers in Quanyan Valley. I was furious and felt sorry for myself. He was my own brother. I didn't die at the hands of the Tartars or the Liao people, but I almost died at the hands of my own brother."
"I also feel sorry for the generals of the Northern Frontier. They left their homes and careers to fight on the battlefield just to preserve the territory of the Great Zhou and protect the safety of the people."
"If they really died on the battlefield, it would be a worthy death. But they were plotted against by me, and they will never rest in peace in their grave."
He suddenly raised his head and looked at Princess Yongjia with red eyes, and he also saw the bright yellow figure out of the corner of his eye.
"Mother doesn't know about the generals who died in Quanyan Valley. Chen Da from Xuanping Prefecture was already a lieutenant general. His wife just gave birth to a son for him last year, but he didn't even get to see the child..."
"There's also Zhao Qingming from Yunzhou Prefecture. His family was massacred by bandits, leaving him alone. Fortunately, his uncle took him in and arranged a marriage for him and his cousin. He's also waiting to be crowned on his return to the capital to honor his cousin."
"Mother, they were also raised by their own parents. How could they be innocent?"
"But I understand my mother's kindness, so I am willing to receive a hundred strokes of the cane in exchange for my third brother's life."
Li Yunzhou's words brought tears to everyone present. This was especially true for the several officials from the Ministry of War, who had all been on the battlefield. They knew better than anyone what it felt like to have your head stuck in your belt.
Thinking of those soldiers who died in battle, who did not die at the hands of the enemy but were betrayed by their own people, a surge of anger suddenly welled up in my heart.
Someone whispered, "Princess Yongjia is forcing General Li. Poor General Li has gone through life and death, been schemed against by his brother, and even been harshly criticized by his stepmother."
"Isn't it? If General Li doesn't agree, he might even be hated."
"They say they treat us like their own children, but I think it's just a facade."
Everyone present heard these words, including Princess Yongjia.
She secretly cursed Li Yunzhou for having bad intentions. Aren't these words equivalent to saying that she is biased?
Afraid of being misunderstood, Princess Yongjia raised her hand and tried to wipe the moisture from the corners of Li Yunzhou's eyes.
She said, "That's not what Mother meant. You and your brother are both Mother's children..."
Before he finished speaking, his hand reached Li Yunzhou's cheek.
Li Yunzhou looked terrified and subconsciously shuddered and dodged.
Then he realized it belatedly and said awkwardly, "No need to bother mother."
Emperor Xuande saw this scene clearly. Li Yunzhou was the god of war who swept across Mobei, so why did he react so strongly to Yongjia's action?
It’s definitely not because I’m timid, it’s just... a habit I’ve developed since I was a child.
Of course, Emperor Xuande was not the only one who witnessed this scene. Many people were surprised and looked at Princess Yongjia with puzzled expressions.
Emperor Xuande spoke at the right moment, "You two, mother and son, are kneeling here. What are you doing?"
While speaking, his eyes were always on Li Yunzhou.
Is this Princess Yongning's child? Emperor Xuande tried to find his sister's shadow through Li Yunzhou. Unfortunately, Li Yunzhou and Princess Yongning did not look alike.
It is said that nephews resemble their uncles. As Emperor Xuande looked at Li Yunzhou, he really felt that there were similarities between him and Li Yunzhou in his eyes and eyebrows.
This kind of psychological self-suggestion made Emperor Xuande feel more and more distressed about Li Yunzhou, and he even felt a blood connection with him.
When Li Yunzhou heard Emperor Xuande's question, he bowed deeply and replied, "Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I've made my mother sad."
"I beg the Emperor to show mercy and forgive my third brother. I am willing to bear the punishment for him, even to the point of death."
Li Yunzhou took the entire responsibility and even pleaded for mercy. This was clearly what Princess Yongjia had hoped for, but it only made her even more panicked. She felt vaguely that this was a wrong move, and perhaps she shouldn't have forced Li Yunzhou in public.
But she still had some hope in her heart, hoping that the emperor would spare Li Yunhuai for Li Yunzhou's sake.
But Li Yunzhou's words made Emperor Xuande feel angry.
Who the hell was Li Yunhuai? He almost killed his own nephew, and he even wanted his nephew to take the blame for him?
In his heart, ten Li Yunhuais are not as good as a hair of Li Yunzhou.
At this moment, Emperor Xuande transferred all his love for Princess Yongning to Li Yunzhou.
He personally stepped forward, helped Li Yunzhou up, patted him on the shoulder, and said only: "It's good that you're back."
Everyone present could tell that the emperor's words were deeply moving. A hint of sob could be heard in his deep voice.
Li Yunzhou took a step back, trying to avoid his support, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Xuande smiled and said, "From now on, you should call me uncle. Do you know everything? Your biological mother is my sister Yongning."
Li Yunzhou nodded, then hesitantly said, "I have heard about it, but I dare not believe it. The royal bloodline cannot be taken lightly. It is better to investigate it more carefully. If I am wrong, I deserve death."
He was not suddenly happy about becoming the emperor's nephew. Instead, he was cautious and looked incredulous.
But the more he did this, the more moved Emperor Xuande was. He whispered to Li Yunzhou, "You can't be wrong. From now on, you can call me uncle."
After comforting Li Yunzhou, Emperor Xuande looked at Li Jingchuan again and his voice became deeper.
"In Prince Shan's opinion, what is the punishment for colluding with bandits and plotting to murder frontier commanders?"
Princess Yongjia looked up and said, "Royal brother..."
Emperor Xuande scolded him coldly: "You have no right to speak here. I'm asking Li Jingchuan."
He rarely embarrassed Princess Yongjia in front of others, and just because Yongjia's eyes and eyebrows were so similar to his sister's, he was infinitely tolerant of her.
But what happened today touched his bottom line, and this harsh rebuke made Princess Yongjia shudder.
Li Jingchuan stole a glance at Emperor Xuande's expression, then gritted his teeth and replied, "He should be executed if he is guilty."
Emperor Xuande nodded. "So you know, then why are you all crying and making a fuss?"
Li Jingchuan said with a bitter face, "Your Majesty, Yongjia is also...protecting his son very much. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Xuande disagreed and said coldly, "Are you so eager to protect your son? Does that mean Li Yunzhou is no longer your Li family's son?"
"Or...adopted children are not as good as biological children after all."
When asked the latter question, Emperor Xuande spoke in a calm tone. However, Shen Zhixiu, a close minister to the emperor, could hear the anger in his words.
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