Chapter 160 The Li Family's Destruction
After asking a few more questions, Emperor Zhao of Qi asked Lu Yuanshou to go down and prepare a prescription for tonic.
When there were no outsiders in the palace, Emperor Zhao of Qi looked at Dongfang Qi with regret and heartache, just like an ordinary father:
"Why are you so worried for no reason? Is it because I'm putting too much pressure on you? Or is it because of your mother's matter that you're feeling overwhelmed?"
Dongfang Qi inevitably felt a little guilty about the deception and tried his best to comfort his old father: "Father, don't worry too much. Perhaps he will get better slowly in the future."
Emperor Zhao of Qi sighed, thinking about how he had failed his wife in the past and how his son was now suffering. He felt really distressed:
"Don't worry, Qi'er. Father will definitely heal you no matter what the cost."
He paused and asked, "Lu Zheng said that heart disease needs to be treated with heart medicine. You have no feelings for other women, but you have a special regard for Prince Chao Lan. So she is your medicine?"
Dongfang Qi didn't dare to reveal too much, for fear that Emperor Zhao of Qi would notice something.
"Chao Lan saved my life, and we've been together for months. When I'm with her, I feel incredibly relaxed. When I walk with her on the grasslands of the northern border, looking at the starry sky and stepping on the soft grass, I feel the tranquility of time."
"At that time, I thought, if there could be a couple in this world who would be together for life, perhaps this would be it."
"I don't know if there's a cure for my hidden illness, but if there is, it must be her."
He said this, but with a helpless smile: "But she has always regarded me as a friend, and has not given me any extra thoughts for now. If your Majesty insists that she and I are not suitable, your Majesty is willing to listen to your words and let this go."
"Father, you should be more open-minded. It doesn't matter if you have children or not. You still have many cousins. At worst, you can adopt a child from them in the future. After all, they are of royal blood, so it makes no difference to our ancestors."
"How can there be no difference?" Dongfang Qi retreated to advance, and Emperor Zhao of Qi became anxious.
"If a descendant of a branch of the family were to inherit the throne, his biological father would be honored as the Supreme Emperor while he's still alive. Even if he's no longer alive, he'd be posthumously honored as the Emperor. By then, within the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the tablets of you and me, father and son, would be relegated to the very back corner, and even the seasonal incense offerings would be diluted!"
Dongfang Qi sighed: "It's my son's fault for not living up to expectations."
At this point, even if Emperor Zhao of Qi was reluctant, he could not use tough measures to force his son, lest it backfire.
He waved his hand and said, "Forget it, forget it. Your father can temporarily ignore your marriage. But your health concerns the country, so you must cooperate with the imperial physician!"
Dongfang Qi said obediently: "Yes."
Putting personal matters aside, Emperor Zhao of Qi asked about Duke Li.
"You're really messing around this time! Duke Li has many followers in the court, and you actually dared to frame him and accuse him of treason!"
Dongfang Qi asked, "Father, have you figured it out? Then how did you..."
Emperor Zhao of Qi snorted coldly, "What can I do? My son is so capable, yet he dares to attack the aristocratic families. If I don't help you, do I have to wait for the Li family to counterattack?"
"It's just a matter of time. If the Li family falls, the other families will be in danger. If those aristocratic families unite, even we, as the royal family, will find it difficult to resist."
Dongfang Qi said: "Don't worry, Father, they won't join forces."
Emperor Zhao of Qi asked, "Oh, why are you so sure?"
Dongfang Qi then gave him his analysis: "Among the eight great families, the Cui, Li, Zhao, Gu, and Luo families are the largest. The other three families are all fence-sitters. The head of the Luo family is my uncle, so he will naturally support me."
"Once the Li family falls, the only ones left are Cui, Zhao, and Gu."
"Duke Cui supports the royal family. Duke Gu's stance isn't entirely clear, but the Gu family has a branch. While not considered a top-tier clan, it's a major merchant of Da Qi, boasting impressive financial resources. Over the years, the Gu family has relied on the financial support of this branch."
"The current head of this branch is Gu Nian'an, who previously received favors from Prince Chao Lan. Therefore, we can use his power to win over Duke Gu. At the very least, we can get him to remain neutral in the Duke Li incident."
"In this case, if the Luo, Cui, and Gu families don't cause trouble, the Zhao family alone won't be a threat."
Emperor Zhao of Qi thought carefully and nodded: "Father thought you were just impulsive and attacked the Li family. I didn't expect you to have considered it so carefully. Not bad!"
But in the blink of an eye, he frowned and scolded his son: "I heard that you actually bet your future with the Li family?"
"No matter how confident I am, I shouldn't use your future as a bargaining chip!"
"What would you do if something unexpected really happened? Would you really issue an edict of repentance and abdicate over such a small matter? Absurd!"
Dongfang Qi said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Since I dared to bet with them, I must be sure of winning. The Li family is already a cancer. The sooner we eradicate it, the better. If we hesitate and allow the cancer to grow, the harm will be even greater. Of course..."
He smiled and said with a hint of pride, "Of course, the most important thing is that I have the Emperor as my backer. No matter what time it is, the Emperor will always solve all the worries for me!"
"You just rely on my favor!" Emperor Zhao of Qi rolled his eyes at him and waved his hand impatiently: "Now that things have come to this, I will naturally help you finish it. But remember, never take such risks again!"
"Yes, Father!"
Emperor Zhao of Qi wanted to clean up the mess for his son and had already thought of a plan.
He first issued an order to encourage the people to report the crimes of Duke Li.
As a result, those officials and people who were deeply bullied by the Li family submitted reports to expose the situation.
From corruption and land grabbing to disregarding human life and then to buying and selling official positions, the crimes committed are heinous.
How many people in high positions of power are clean? If the emperor is determined to eradicate the Li family, he will naturally crush them completely and not give them any chance to turn things around!
Especially in recent years, Emperor Zhao of Qi has been repeatedly constrained by the aristocratic families, so naturally he has to settle both new and old grudges together.
As a result of multiple punishments, the Li family was either killed or exiled. The family that had stood for thousands of years was scattered in just a few months.
Although the major families were skeptical about the Li family's rebellion.
However, the two aristocratic families, led by Duke Cui and Duke Luo, remained silent. Even Duke Gu acted as if he had nothing to do with the matter.
Although Duke Zhao wanted to sow discord, other noble families did not dare to act rashly for fear of bringing disaster upon themselves.
In addition, the spies arranged by the Li family in Xuanjingsi were also found out.
The man's name was Wang Xian. He was originally a folk demon catcher. He had some skills, so he was selected to work in the Xuanjing Division.
Wang Xian was bribed by the Li family and became a pawn of the Li family.
Xie Shouzheng was very angry about this. He personally arrested the man and conducted a thorough investigation of the Xuanjing Division to prevent such traitors from appearing again.
Hong Yao once again made a contribution in this incident.
Dongfang Qi did a favor, offsetting Hong Yao's merits and demerits, and forgave her for her previous crimes.
Although Hongyao has completely regained her freedom, she has no relatives left in the world and has nowhere to stay in the vast sea of people.
Finally, she came to Lin Qingyue and offered herself: "Please, young lady, please keep Hongyao by your side. Young lady has saved me many times, and I cannot repay you for your kindness. I only hope that I can serve you tea and water in the future as a token of my gratitude."
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