Chapter 165: The Princess's Reply: Treason
Everyone was shocked and knelt down and kowtowed, holding their breath, fearing that the emperor would be angry.
Emperor Chengming personally led the army to quell the invasion, but upon returning, gravely wounded, he discovered that the power of the imperial relatives had become even more rampant. In a rage, he slaughtered people throughout Kyoto, leaving rivers of blood. For over six months, he was branded a tyrant, and even the suppression of his actions was unbearable. This incident was known to everyone in Dayu. Since the extermination of the Shang family, Emperor Chengming had rarely shown anger, and this time... it was because of "Shang."
“…” The front hall was dead silent, even the breathing became much lighter.
Emperor Chengming looked at Shang Yuwan and vaguely saw her thin spine protruding under her plain clothes.
He remembered that the child had two broken ribs at Langjiang's place.
The Shang family was destroyed by him last June. It was only because of Yue Zhu's kindness that she was able to escape death. She had to endure countless hardships before she was able to turn around.
It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. The injuries she received along the way were of varying depths and sizes... Had she never had a good rest?
"Everyone, get up. Today is the day of Gu'er's assessment. Wait quietly for me."
"Thank you, Your Majesty—" Everyone stood up, wiped the cold sweat from their sweat, and returned to their seats.
Shang Yuwan stood next to Xiao Qingxu again, secretly glanced at Bailipu, and saw that his gray beard was about to stand up with anger.
Her eyes flickered slightly, and after paying her respects to Emperor Chengming, she quietly retreated.
Shang Yuwan didn't know what he was going to do. In a moment, Xiao Qinggu, Eunuch Kang and the invigilators all came back.
The question that Emperor Chengming agreed to answer from Xiao Tong was delivered to Emperor Chengming by Eunuch Kang, while the original answer sheet was taken by Baili Pu and he took a quick look at it.
A look of surprise flashed across Bailipu's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
Emperor Chengming lowered his eyes to look at the answer on the rice paper and said, "Censor Baili."
Bailipu put the answer sheet away, stood up and saluted, "Your humble servant is here."
"Go check the answers. I want a result in one hour."
"yes."
Bailipu called away all the people from the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy. A group of people locked themselves in the room and gathered around Xiao Qinggu's answers to carefully consider them.
The front hall suddenly felt empty. Xiao Qinggu knelt in the center, his head pressed to the ground, a subtle tremor hidden within his respect.
Xiao Tong suppressed the pain in his eyes, smiled faintly and asked Emperor Chengming: "Royal brother, is there anything wrong?"
Emperor Chengming did not respond to her, but stared at Xiao Qinggu with sharp eyes.
Emperor Chengming said in a deep voice: "Is this your answer?"
Xiao Qinggu mustered up the courage: "Yes..."
"Raise your head and answer, look at me."
Xiao Qinggu's body shuddered, and Xiao Qingxu watched from the side, but remained indifferent.
There will be more obstructions and pressure like this in the future, and Xiao Qinggu will have to bear it alone. No one can shield her from the storm every moment.
It was precisely because Xiao Qingxu and Shang Yuwan understood this truth that they did not stop Xiao Tong from asking that extremely sharp question.
Emperor Chengming also wanted to train Xiao Qinggu, so he went along with it.
But now look...
Xiao Qingxu observed Emperor Chengming's expression calmly.
It seems like the answer is “wrong”?
Xiao Qinggu felt like a huge rock was pressing on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.
She slowly raised her head, mustered up great courage, and looked directly at Emperor Chengming.
There was fear of imperial power in the still young Danfeng's eyes, but more of it was the unyielding determination that was unique to a teenager.
Her voice was trembling, yet powerful and resounding: "Yes—everything written on the paper, word for word, is my son's reply!"
Emperor Chengming lowered his eyes and looked at her for a long time. The suffocating feeling almost drove Xiao Qinggu crazy.
Xiao Tong frowned, interrupting Emperor Chengming's gaze on Xiao Qinggu.
"Royal brother, what did Gu'er answer? Can I take a look?"
Emperor Chengming glanced at her and said with an ambiguous tone, "Seventh sister, do you want to see it?"
Xiao Tong didn't quite understand what he meant by that look, but nodded nonetheless. Xiao Qinggu had run away when she was a little older, and had rarely lived in the palace for long. She had no sense of superiority about her status, let alone enduring the gaze of Emperor Chengming for so long.
If you keep staring at him, the child will faint.
Emperor Chengming suddenly smiled faintly and handed the rice paper to Eunuch Kang.
"Then let Seventh Sister read it out."
Xiao Tong sensed something was wrong and hurriedly asked, "What do you mean, brother? If I read it out loud, I'm afraid..."
"It's okay. Didn't Seventh Sister say that the extermination of the Shang family is an irreversible result? What is there to hide?" Emperor Chengming looked gentle and raised the corners of his lips.
Seeing that he looked normal, Xiao Tong became extremely alert in his heart.
She took the rice paper from Eunuch Kang's hand and opened it.
"......" Xiao Tong's pupils suddenly shrank into two small dots.
"......" Xiao Tong's brows twitched and he looked at Xiao Qinggu in disbelief.
Xiao Qinggu stiffened his neck and looked at her.
"Treason!!!!" Veins popped out on Xiao Tong's forehead and neck, and his ten fingers tightly grasped the rice paper, which wrinkled into a ball.
If she hadn't been concerned about Emperor Chengming being here, the moment Xiao Tong saw the two lines of words clearly, the mark of her slap would have instantly appeared on Xiao Qinggu's face.
"You are the princess of Dayu, you are... your father's most beloved daughter!! If it weren't for your father, how could you live so freely among the common people?! How could you do this!!!"
What's written on that paper? What's written on it?!
[A loyal minister sheds his blood to defend the country, but the king turns against his own people and exterminates them. This is 'repaying kindness with hatred'. How can one be a king?]
[The Spring and Autumn Annals emphasizes virtuous people and despises cruelty. Now you have brutally murdered loyal and virtuous people. The Spring and Autumn Annals will surely record your cruelty, leaving a lasting infamy!]
Xiao Tong glared at Xiao Qinggu with gritted teeth.
Emperor Chengming is dying, isn’t he already dead? Doesn’t this damn kid want to die?!
Xiao Qinggu clenched his back teeth, his cheeks tense, and said nothing.
Xiao Qingxu was puzzled. What had Xiao Qinggu written that could have made Xiao Tong so angry?
Emperor Chengming came out with a smile to smooth things over, "Seventh sister, why are you more excited than I am? You must be careful not to hurt yourself."
At this moment, Xiao Tong couldn't see the murderous intent hidden behind his smile, but now he could only suppress his anger and reveal a gritted teeth smile.
"I'm sorry, my royal brother, I've lost my manners."
Emperor Chengming seemed to be in a good mood and waved his hand, "Just don't hurt yourself, Seventh Sister."
Xiao Tong's veins were still furious, and he suppressed the anger in his heart and sat back in his seat. Eunuch Kang took the rice paper back.
Xiao Qingxu: “…?”
Aren't the two people's situations reversed?
Ji Suxian: "..." Why did he go crazy after reading a few words? What did Xiao Qinggu write?
At this time, Shang Yuwan brought her servants to bring Biluochun to calm everyone down. Emperor Chengming saw her at a glance and his eyebrows curved slightly.
Shang Yuwan's heart trembled: "?"
Xiao Tong glared at her fiercely.
Shang Yuwan was confused: "?"
Xiao Qinggu turned his head and looked at her, with fear and fearlessness in his eyes.
Shang Yuwan: “???”
Why did it give her the feeling of risking her life?
Shang Yuwan signaled the servants to serve Biluochun to everyone and returned to Xiao Qingxu.
While walking, she and Xiao Qingxu exchanged glances.
Xiao Qingxu glanced at the rice paper in Eunuch Kang's hand.
Shang Yuwan's heart sank suddenly.
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