Chapter 177: Prince Zhenbei Meets Emperor Jing'an
Zhu Yu heard some rumors and brought people to the study in the front yard.
The study in the front yard was an important place in the mansion, and she, a concubine, was not allowed to enter. As soon as she arrived at the gate, she was stopped by a servant.
Shen Shaoheng happened to pass by here and came to her rescue, so she could successfully reach the study.
The person Zhu Yu hated the most was Madam Shen. Ever since she was carried into the mansion in a sedan chair, she had been tormenting her every day under the pretext of setting rules.
"Second Master, your mother cares most about you. She won't let your reputation be damaged." Zhu Yu said casually, "Unless it's a matter of life and death, she won't care so much. But, it's also human nature."
Shen Shaohuai paused and looked at her coldly: "Is that what you think?"
Zhu Yu's heart skipped a beat, and she trembled as she spoke, "My... my father always said, 'If you don't work for yourself, you'll be punished by heaven and earth.' He sold me to a matchmaker for gambling money. Fortunately, a kindhearted person saved me, and I didn't end up in prostitution."
She clutched her handkerchief tightly and said nervously, "Your mother doesn't care much about her other children, but she values you the most. She shouldn't...she shouldn't be like my father, who disregarded his own daughter for his own sake."
Shen Shaohuai did not respond. He thought about how Madam Shen abandoned his uncle and aunt and betrayed his father.
Now, in order to survive, he completely disregards his reputation.
Who knows, one day, she might push him to hell with her own hands?
-
Yuwangfu.
After bathing and changing his clothes, Prince Yu put on clothes scented with sandalwood and came to the Buddhist shrine.
He cast the Buddha statue out of pure gold, and every day he would use a soft silk handkerchief to carefully wipe the dust off the statue.
His movements were gentle and meticulous, wiping back and forth three times before he washed his hands, replaced the offerings with fresh ones, and lit a few incense sticks and inserted them into the incense burner.
When Prince Yu smells the scent of sandalwood, he feels peaceful in his heart.
Even if only for a moment.
To this end, he would clean the Buddha statues, change the offerings and burn incense every day.
Prince Yu stood in front of the Buddha for a long time until he heard footsteps outside the door. He then slowly walked to the door and opened it.
"Your Highness, the spy you placed in the Marquis' Mansion has sent back news." The Secretary reported unsteadily, "Madam Shen was about to expose Shen Qingtan's background. Shen Shaohuai received the news and rushed back to the Marquis' Mansion. He ordered Madam Shen to be locked up in the study in the front yard, and the people around her were also put under guard."
Prince Yu raised an eyebrow, not surprised at all. "As expected, we are of the same bloodline, equally heartless and disloyal. I just wonder if the wife of the Marquis of Cheng'en died at the hands of Shen Qingtan, or at the hands of the son she risked her life to protect."
Upon hearing this, the Chancellor looked up at Prince Yu.
Prince Yu was seen standing at the door in a long white robe. The cold evening breeze blew his sleeves, making them flutter without a trace of worldly filth.
But beneath this elegant and noble appearance, he hides a black heart and a rotten mind.
Prince Yu's eyes were cold and murderous, "If you look at me like that again, I'll gouge your eyes out."
Zhan Shi's legs went limp and he fell to his knees with a plop.
"Your Majesty... Your Highness..."
"roll."
Zhan Shi didn't dare to stand up. He knelt on the ground and rolled away.
Prince Yu exuded a terrifying murderous aura. If the Chancellor had not been able to use it easily, he would have ended his life long ago.
He suppressed the anger raging in his heart, wrote a few letters, and asked the guards around him to deliver them.
-
The next day, morning.
Prince Yu stood in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and glanced at all the officials.
Several officials lowered their heads slightly when they met Prince Yu's gaze.
Prince Yu calmly withdrew his gaze.
Eunuch Cao said loudly: "If you have a petition, please submit it. If you don't, please leave the court."
"Your Majesty, when the war in the north was critical, you ordered the dispatch of the Prince of Zhenbei to the north. The first battle was a victory, and the morale of the soldiers was greatly boosted. Since then, they have been even more powerful, with victory after victory."
A minister stepped forward and said, "The Prince of Zhenbei is valiant and skilled in battle, invincible. He is a formidable general of the Great Zhou. Such a rare talent should be generously rewarded by the court as a token of the royal family's kindness."
Emperor Jing'an looked at the Minister of War with some surprise, as if he had not expected that he would speak for the Prince of Zhenbei.
A thought flashed through his eyes, and he asked calmly, "Thank you, my dear minister. In your opinion, how should I reward the King of Zhenbei to show my grace?"
"This..." The Minister of War continued, "I dare to say that Liangzhou is a bitterly cold place. Your Majesty can relocate the Prince of Zhenbei's family to the capital."
As soon as he finished speaking, an official seconded the motion.
"Your Majesty, the families of military commanders from all dynasties must remain in the capital, and the royal family will take care of them. Only then can the generals fight outside with peace of mind."
To put it bluntly, this sentence means that the family of King Zhenbei will be detained in the capital as hostages, and King Zhenbei will not dare to have any thoughts of treason.
Emperor Jing'an's face darkened. If he did so, he might force Prince Zhenbei to rebel.
When the Prince of Zhenbei was young and frivolous, he dared to challenge the late emperor. Don't expect that the Prince of Zhenbei will become docile as he grows older.
A stubborn person will be stubborn until death.
"Your Majesty, I was once the Censor-in-Chief of Liang Province, and I have a good understanding of the situation there. The Prince of Zhenbei was a valiant and skilled warrior, a loyal and capable general to the imperial court. However, since ancient times, heroes have been tempted by the temptation of beauty. Even a man of integrity, after marrying, became completely absorbed in his wife and children, seeking only to maintain a stable life, completely ignoring his mission. This is why the war in Liang Province broke out fourteen years ago, and he was nearly crushed by the Northern Qi cavalry."
Emperor Jing'an's eyes moved slightly, as if he understood something profound.
He continued to ask, "Could it be that there is some other hidden story behind the war fourteen years ago?"
Prince Yu lowered his eyelids, waiting for the official to tell him that fourteen years ago, the daughter of Prince Zhenbei was lost. In order to find his daughter, Prince Zhenbei relaxed the border defense and almost let the Northern Qi break through the city gate.
This led to the story that the daughter of King Zhenbei left Liangzhou and went to Nanlingzhou to visit relatives.
When the official saw that the emperor had taken up the conversation, he quickly said, "Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty, victory report from the North has arrived—"
The loud singing of eunuchs could be heard outside the hall.
Prince Yu suddenly raised his eyes, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.
After a moment's pause, the official finished speaking.
Just at this critical juncture, good news from the North arrived!
At such a critical moment, officials naturally did not dare to interrupt.
Prince Yu's face suddenly darkened. He missed the opportunity again with just one or two words left.
When Emperor Jing'an heard that the war in the north had been won, his face, which had been gloomy for several days, finally showed a smile and he summoned the soldiers who brought the victory news into the hall.
There were steady footsteps and surprised cries from the officials at the palace gate.
Prince Yu looked up and saw a tall and majestic figure walking towards the front of the hall with steady steps.
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