Chapter 551 Wei Dongzhu admits to his relationship with Qiaoniang and her son!
It was indeed Wei Dongzhu's handwriting, a statement that was somewhat difficult for Che Mingyuan to utter.
Shen Lanxi took the letter and glanced at it, her face expressionless, her eyes calm yet dangerous.
Where are they?
The guard replied, "We were worried they might be assassins, so we didn't let them in."
So, the person is still at the palace gate.
"Issue the decree that we shall have a day or two of rest today. Summon General Wei!"
"yes!"
Shen Lanxi then ordered, "Send the imperial physician to take a look."
It goes without saying who it's for; Che Mingyuan immediately ordered someone to make arrangements.
...
Wei Dongzhu returned to the general's mansion yesterday and ordered people to prepare many festive items, as well as many red envelopes and copper coins.
The purpose was to distribute the imperial edict to the messenger and to the onlookers when the edict arrived.
Even in the morning, the Wei family was still preparing things.
This is a major event for the Wei family, and a few copper coins are not enough to express their joy. The Wei family are from the Northwest, so they must follow the customs of the Northwest and prepare wedding cakes and pastries.
The wedding cakes and pastries cannot be stale; they must be new to show respect to the person on the dragon throne.
So the Wei family went to various pastry shops to place orders before dawn.
Wei Dongzhu had already changed into his newly made, bright clothes and was happily waiting.
Unexpectedly, what arrived was not an imperial edict, but a hasty summons.
Why is it a guard instead of an imperial eunuch who delivers the decree?
On such a day, shouldn't the imperial edict be delivered by the eunuch to show how much importance he attaches to this matter?
"Guard Qian, has something happened in the palace?" Wei Dongzhu asked with a worried expression, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.
Qian Li gave Wei Dongzhu a strange look. Thinking that he would know the details after entering the palace, he didn't hide anything and told him about the mother and daughter in the carriage.
As Wei Dongzhu listened to Qian Li's description, the color drained from his face little by little.
"How are the mother and child now?" he asked with difficulty.
Qian Li replied truthfully, "His Majesty has already given them medical treatment tomorrow. His Majesty also said that regardless of whether they are real or not, they are all subjects of the Great Zhou!"
As long as they are subjects of the Great Zhou, His Majesty will not take action against them.
Looking at Wei Dongzhu's reaction, Qian Li had a vague answer in his mind.
"General, please hurry back with me to report!"
Wei Dongzhu was like a walking corpse, not even knowing how he got to the palace.
...
Officials who were already halfway there and had been forced to take a day off were all speculating.
"Isn't today the day His Majesty is to give a reply?"
"Could it be that something has changed again?"
"Is the person who submitted the petition yesterday still alive?"
"I'm alive, and I haven't heard anyone say there was a murder today."
"That's strange. Could it be that His Majesty wants to follow the example of men and have three palaces and six courtyards, but a certain general refuses?"
"Shut up! How dare we speak ill of His Majesty? Don't you want to die?!"
They had rushed to court, and now that everyone was resting, they naturally took their time, talking as they walked back.
Royal Palace
"General Wei, I ask you, do you recognize this mother and child below?"
After receiving medical treatment, Qiaoniang and her son have regained consciousness. At this moment, they are kneeling tremblingly outside the hall, not daring to lift their heads.
Wei Dongzhu felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and his whole being exuded a sense of depression.
"Your Majesty, I know him."
Shen Lanxi had someone deliver the letter to Wei Dongzhu.
"This letter says that these two people, one is your woman and the other is your child, is that true or not?"
Wei Dongzhu exuded an air of finality and clarity, as if everything had been settled and the matter was now concluded.
He turned and glanced at Qiaoniang, his eyes revealing struggle, determination, hesitation, and doubt.
Shen Lanxi didn't urge her, and just waited calmly.
It wasn't until half a cup of tea had passed that Wei Dongzhu slowly revealed the answer.
"yes!"
Shen Lanxi slowly closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her expression was cold and solemn.
"Why are they, mother and son, at the palace gate? Is it related to you?"
Wei Dongzhu looked up abruptly, meeting her dark eyes.
"No, I didn't send them."
Shen Lanxi: "Then why are they here?"
Wei Dongzhu fell silent.
"I was just about to finalize our relationship the day before yesterday, and they showed up at the palace gate today. Are they doing this on purpose?"
Wei Dongzhu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I sent them back to the Northwest two days ago. I don't know why they are here, and the mother and child are innocent."
Shen Lanxi slowly curled the corners of her lips into a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"General Wei, are you afraid I will kill them?"
Wei Dong clenched his fists tightly. Although he didn't want to admit it, that was indeed what he had been thinking just now.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to explain..." He recounted how Qiao Niang and her son escaped death, settled in the Northwest, and then mysteriously reappeared in the capital.
Shen Lanxi stared intently at Wei Dongzhu, their gazes clashing in mid-air.
Both wanted to see through each other's thoughts, but unfortunately, eyes could not express what was in their hearts.
"Your Majesty, neither I nor my child ever considered returning to the Northwest. I never intended to compete with Your Majesty for the position of general. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
"General, my child and I fell asleep halfway there, and when we woke up, we were already in the palace. We really don't know what happened during that time. Please, General, investigate!"
Qiaoniang, with her child, kept kowtowing to the two men.
Shen Lanxi gave a sarcastic smile: "Her behavior makes me look like a wicked woman who steals other men's husbands."
Wei Dongzhu's gaze turned cold, and he immediately rebuked Qiaohe.
"Do not speak nonsense in the imperial palace."
Seeing this scene, Shen Lanxi understood.
"You may all leave. I have something to say to General Wei in private!"
Che Mingyuan gestured to the palace servants inside the room, and they immediately stepped forward to pull Qiao Niang and her child away.
"General, your servant and the child do not want to be separated from you."
"General..."
Wei Dongzhu looked at Qiaoniang, who kept pulling at him, and felt impatient.
"Quickly drag them away."
"Father, Yan'er doesn't want to be separated from you..."
"Father, Mother..."
Che Mingyuan frowned deeply and couldn't help but reprimand him.
"General Wei, this looks as if His Majesty is trying to separate your family of three!"
General Wei, how could you make such a foolish mistake at a time like this?
Doesn't he know His Majesty's temper?
Since you are so indecisive and want both sides, have you asked His Majesty if he is willing?
Don't even mention His Majesty's unwillingness; those who follow him also don't want it!
Wei Dongzhu seemed to wake up from a dream, suddenly realizing what was happening, and immediately shouted, "Qiaoniang, take the child away immediately, otherwise His Majesty will punish you for causing a disturbance in the Golden Palace, and this general cannot protect you!"
Startled, Qiaoniang lost in thought and accidentally loosened her grip on Wei Dongzhu's robe.
As the palace maids led Qiaoniang and her son away, Wei Yan continued to call out for his father.
As the palace doors closed, Wei Dongzhu turned around and met Shen Lanxi's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
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