While being threatened might be praised for being kind and compassionate, what do personal desires matter in the face of the empire that our ancestors fought so hard for? What does a mere descendant matter?
Does this descendant possess the talent of the founding emperor to make the world belong to the Zhao family? Not necessarily.
Will this descendant ensure the prosperity of Dayong for generations to come? Not necessarily.
Conversely, if threatened and given in, there will be a second time, and a third time. After that, she is the Empress Dowager, and not just anyone can cross her bottom line.
Even if aristocratic families look down on the royal family, they will only seize on their mistakes and suppress them with reasons such as righteousness, etiquette, and the fate of the country. They will never be foolish enough to threaten them.
"Sister A-Jun." Before Jie Cao Jushi could reply, Zhao Bi appeared again, "You think Grandmother loves you the most, and loves your nineteenth uncle the most, don't you?"
He didn't need Zhao Shu's answer, but immediately said, "Why don't we make a bet that the Empress Dowager only loves her position as Empress Dowager and the empire of Dayong?"
This is psychological warfare. Zhao Bi's temper is quite agreeable to me. Zhao Shu couldn't help but smile. "If I were the Empress Dowager, I would definitely avenge my son and grandson."
Zhao Bi was speechless; the Empress Dowager was capable of such a thing.
"Fourth brother, you don't need to stir up trouble. Even if the Empress Dowager doesn't compromise or accept the threats, it doesn't mean she doesn't love me and Father. I don't know if you're using this to blackmail the Empress Dowager into doing anything for you, but I guess she might be able to coerce her once or twice into petty squabbles among the women in the harem, but I advise you to save your mind about matters of state."
Speaking of her brother, she was actually very curious. Combining her memories from both lifetimes, she didn't know that her brother was alive. However, since her focus in her previous life wasn't on this matter, it was understandable that she didn't know many things.
Thinking of this, she asked with a smile, "You say my brother is still alive, why don't you call him out so I can see him? I've heard that twins have a telepathic connection, so if he really is my brother, I'm sure I'll recognize him at a glance."
Is it possible to get something for nothing without seeing anyone?
She had just lured them in with a feigned reluctance, hoping to trap them like turtles in a jar, but she hadn't succeeded. Now, the outside was full of her and Wei Tingsi's people, so getting out probably wouldn't be so easy.
"The person is naturally not here, but Sister Ajun, please do not take any risks, or your brother's body will appear before your eyes tomorrow. Back then, your mother was willing to give up her own life so that your brother could live."
Zhao Shu only knew that her mother died in childbirth, and that the childbirth was caused by Jiang Yue, with the aristocratic families adding fuel to the fire. However, she never knew that her mother chose to die so that her brother could live.
Of course, it's impossible to completely reconstruct the past. It's impossible to tell how much is true and how much is false. But the truth and the falsehood don't matter. Those who harmed her family will not live a good life!
"I believe that once I capture the Fourth Prince, my brother's men will appear before me. The Fourth Prince should not take any risks, because I will definitely avenge my brother whom I have never met. As his twin sister or younger sister, I missed his childhood and his adolescence, but I will never miss his revenge!"
She mimicked the way Zhao Bi had acted with his hands behind his back when he appeared, strolling leisurely in the courtyard, every expression perfectly relaxed. "If His Majesty knew that Fourth Brother had left the capital without being summoned, he would surely greatly admire your intelligence and wisdom."
"Sister A-Jun is just like the Empress Dowager, both of them are equally ruthless. Then I guess Sister A-Jun must not know that the death of your mother was tacitly approved by the Empress Dowager. If it weren't for her tacit approval, who would dare to touch Uncle Nineteen's woman? Don't you think so? You are so smart, you can't be unaware of the truth of this."
He remained calm and continued to play psychological warfare with Zhao Shu, "And the Crown Prince you've helped so much, is his mother really so clean?"
This is a cruel guess; it is said that the most ruthless family is the imperial family.
Zhao Shu thought for a moment. If her father wanted to implement reforms back then, but the emperor was not ready, under pressure from all sides, what would need to be sacrificed to quell the anger of the ruling class? Sacrificing Jiang Ying, who did not have a strong background, would be the most appropriate choice.
That's not surprising.
"I've said it before, even if my grandmother tacitly approved the sacrifice of my mother, I won't blame her!" She's not Zhao Shu if she's so easily swayed!
She scoffed at this kind of either-or question.
I may disdain it, but it will still hurt.
It is reasonable for the grandmother to disregard the mother's misfortune and for the mother to resent her.
Similarly, if a mother ignores her grandmother's misfortune and feels that her mother is wrong, that is also not wrong.
However, if Zhao Bi thought that this would throw her into disarray, then he would be wrong.
"Sister A-Jun is so kind-hearted, I truly admire her!" Zhao Bi said sarcastically. "What about your father? Would you not care whether he lives or dies?"
“I believe Father will be alright, and Fourth Brother won’t let anything happen to him either, right?” After probing around, Zhao Shu lost patience and turned to Su Xiu, saying, “Please invite Fourth Brother to have some tea! Fourth Brother has never tasted the tea in the prison before, and the taste is quite unique.”
Su Xiu led a group of soldiers and instantly surrounded Zhao Bi and Jiecao Jushi, but the two remained calm and unperturbed, letting the soldiers bind them tightly with ropes.
Wei Tingsi frowned, took Zhao Shu's hand, took several steps back, and said softly, "There's something wrong with these two."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shu said, "I know they're stalling for time." How could she not know that Zhao Bi and Jiecao Jushi were stalling for time? But what else could she do but play along?
Furthermore, she was very curious about what kind of tricks Zhao Bi and the Hermit of Jiecao could pull. Besides, how could she not care about her own brother? They were blood relatives!
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