Zhao Bi never expected that Wei Zhongshi and Wei Yunshu would die.
There's a saying in the world: "offering charcoal in snowy weather," and another: "kicking someone when they're down."
However, Zhao Shu neither offered help in his time of need nor took advantage of his misfortune. She simply stomped on him twice, and with Sun Yun's two stomps, Zhao Bi immediately plummeted from the clouds to the bottom of the valley—no, to the very core of the earth. To climb out, he would have to become an immortal!
After the Wei family's incident, all sorts of rumors circulated, such as Zhao Bi being a jinx to his wives, or that Zhao Bi forced his wife into marriage, and so on.
Sun Yun controlled public opinion in the capital. When Yi De got into trouble, the people cursed Yi De and Jiang Ying was brought up in the discussion. People felt that Yi De was not so bad. But as Jie Cao was exposed, people began to feel sorry for Jiang Ying.
Later, Sun Yun appeared in the spotlight, and everyone gradually forgot about the matter of the grass knot. Now, Zhao Bi's matter has been brought up again as a topic of casual conversation, and everyone seems to be focusing their efforts on bombarding him.
Stacks of silver were handed to Zhao Shu and Sun Yun, who accepted the money and then watched as Zhao Bi's reputation declined day by day.
His advisors suggested that he stay home and refuse visitors until things calmed down, and he listened.
But Emperor Mingde was in a bad mood. Who would come to bring him good luck?
However, no one paid attention to this matter at the moment, because news of victory came from Chu County: Shu had surrendered.
"Ah Jun, I heard that the young emperor of Shu has been sent to the capital. He's just a child. Who could be so heartless as to send a child to his death?" Sun Yun said indignantly.
Zhao Shu smiled and said, "This child is very clever. I'm sure the Emperor would be happy to let him be the scapegoat. Even if he doesn't become emperor, as a direct descendant of the Prince of Shu, he can't escape it."
“You can’t say that. They’re just kids. A little trickery will do the trick.” She then turned to ask, “Do you want to go to the palace to take a look? I heard they brought a lot of beautiful women as tribute.”
Zhao Shu frowned. What was the King of Shu doing? Offering beautiful women as tribute.
"It's been a long time since I've seen my grandmother. I should go see her. I'm going to the palace today. Are you coming?" She was afraid that Emperor Mingde would be criticized because of Yide's affair and would become obsessed with having more women.
Although his character wasn't great, he was still my uncle, and he used to love me. I couldn't just watch him die. I made him the retired emperor because he was always in my way, but my original intention wasn't to kill him.
"I'm not going." She still had lingering fears about Emperor Mingde.
Zhao Shu did not force her. That same day, she secretly left the city and pretended to be returning to the capital. As soon as she entered the city, she went to the palace.
They went directly to Cining Palace. When they arrived, the young Emperor Zhao Zhang was paying his respects to the Empress Dowager. He had changed out of his dragon robe and was wearing a very ordinary plain scholar's robe. His hair ornament was also white. He was dressed very simply. Accompanying him was the old Princess Consort of Shu, who was wiping away tears.
Upon seeing Zhao Shu, the Empress Dowager immediately smiled. "Yesterday I was telling Zhang Chu that you had gone off to have fun somewhere, and you're back today. You really are something else. Come here quickly, come to your grandmother. Look at you, you're all so dark. Which girl isn't kept fair and delicate? Only our family has raised a little monkey like you."
Zhao Shu is no longer a child. She originally wanted to throw herself into the Empress Dowager's arms, but then she thought that the Empress Dowager was not young either, and she was heavy, so she didn't want to hurt the old lady.
He hurried to the Empress Dowager, preparing to pay his respects, but was stopped. "You've lost weight again."
"Grandmother, you're lying! I'm not thin at all. Everyone says I'm as fat as a pig, and they all look down on me, Ah Jun." She pouted and whined, secretly glancing at Zhao Zhang kneeling on the ground.
Zhao Zhang seemed to be secretly watching Zhao Shu, his eyes shining with extreme envy.
The Empress Dowager pulled her to sit on the phoenix chair. "You didn't even send anyone to inform me before you came back. I could have had Jinxi cook your favorite dishes. Since you're not here, I eat very little, and Jinxi has been complaining that she has no use for her skills."
"So, in Aunt Jinxi's eyes, Ajun is a foodie. It's a shame that Ajun misses her so much."
Ji Yun and the others covered their mouths and chuckled. It was fortunate that Jin Xi wasn't there, otherwise they would have argued with Zhao Shu.
After exchanging pleasantries, the grandmother and granddaughter knelt on the ground for quite a while. The Empress Dowager was happy to see Zhao Shuzhen, but she also wanted to put them out of the cold.
"Grandmother, who are they?" she asked knowingly, playing her part perfectly.
The Empress Dowager's smile faded. "From Shu (Sichuan)."
"Oh, this must be the young Emperor Zhao Zhang." She pointed at Zhao Zhang.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhang immediately kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I deserve to die ten thousand times over."
"Get up. We are all of the same clan. If you have made a mistake, correct it. I am not the kind of person who will not give you a chance. Guards, build a Shu Prince's Mansion for the new Shu Prince to move into. As for those beauties, send them back." The Empress Dowager had already planned ahead. Zhao Zhang and his grandmother had probably expressed a lot of loyalty before, which was why she reluctantly agreed not to kill them.
In fact, Zhao Shu understood the Empress Dowager's approach. Now that the reduction of the power of the princes has caused widespread unrest, it is precisely the time to use a policy of appeasement. If they are all kept in the capital and kept under control, generation after generation, they will become useless.
In his previous life, Emperor Mingde was quite ruthless, and almost none of the vassal kings had a good ending. Now that the Empress Dowager is in power, it is a good change, at least it will look better in the history books.
Zhao Zhang and his grandson kowtowed, and Ji Yun took them away to settle them in.
Treating the descendants of the King of Shu with kindness would likely deter other vassal kings from resisting. They might surrender if they felt they couldn't win, sometimes simply to save their own lives.
After talking with the Empress Dowager for a while and inquiring about her health, she was relieved to hear that she was much better. At dinner time, Zhao Shu took the opportunity to tell the Empress Dowager about Lin Dongxue.
The Empress Dowager was quite surprised, "Is this really true?"
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