Emperor Xuan didn't care about the question marks on the minds of the civil and military officials in the court, and he just left with the four of them.
The remaining court officials looked at each other, and only then did they understand how important Fu Xiaoguan was to His Majesty!
Last night, the pleasure boat Hongxiuzhao on the Qinhuai River was set on fire by bandits. It is said that many people died. It is said that these people came to assassinate the low-ranking official.
After a detailed investigation by the Jinling government office, it was discovered that these assassins were all members of the Moon Worship Cult. Subsequently, many people died throughout the capital. The lights of the Jinling government office remained on all night. Thousands of detectives from the northern and southern government offices searched the entire city for the killer to no avail. However, they discovered a clue among the 109 dead people.
These people are actually the bandits of the Moon Worship Sect hiding in Jinling City!
This damn Moon Worship Sect, why couldn't you mess with anyone else? Why did you have to mess with Fu Xiaoguan?
Is that guy so easy to mess with?
Now, His Majesty has started a war because of this matter, and the western border troops have invaded the Western Rong. If this war continues, how can the already empty national treasury support it?
The officials looked panic-stricken, but Qin Huizhi lowered his head and thought of another possibility - the Fourth Prince might have enough evidence in His Majesty's hands!
…
…
The grand court meeting in the Juhua Hall of Guanyun City in the Wu Dynasty has just begun.
Queen Mother Xi came out from behind the curtain for the first time. She was dressed in her empress dowager's formal attire and sat directly on the dragon throne.
Nangong Yiyu was startled, but Queen Mother Xi had already begun to speak:
"I am a miserable person."
"Since Emperor Wen's death, I thought my grandson, Fu Xiaoguan, was also dead. I had no choice but to let my granddaughter, Wu Zhao, ascend the throne."
"But I never expected that Fu Xiaoguan is still alive. This is a great blessing. The Wu Dynasty finally has a legitimate successor."
"Ahem..." Empress Dowager Xi covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed a few times before slowly glancing at the ministers. "You all want to welcome the Crown Prince back. This is a sign of your loyalty to the Wu Dynasty. If I were to return home, I would definitely take him to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to our ancestors and have him inscribed on the Imperial Canon. But why didn't I bring me back? Do you think I didn't want to?"
Queen Mother Xi paused, her face full of sadness as she heaved a long sigh:
"You are wrong. I have so much pain to endure."
"Yesterday, the left and right prime ministers jointly signed a petition with all the officials, asking me to bring back the prince. I have carefully considered this all night and feel that keeping this secret any longer will not benefit the Wu Dynasty. Today, in this court, I will explain it clearly to you."
When the ministers heard this, they were suddenly shocked. Could there be some hidden secret?
Queen Mother Xi glanced at the ministers with her cloudy eyes again, and the ministers all raised their heads and looked at her, all wanting to know the reason behind this.
"This is a royal scandal. I have always wanted to keep it secret because once it is revealed, the royal family's reputation will be completely destroyed."
"I will ask you one last time. Do you really want to know why I didn't welcome the prince back?"
Zhuo Yixing and Nangong Yiyu looked at each other, both confused.
This matter involves a royal scandal, what else could it be?
Could it be that Fu Xiaoguan is not the late emperor’s son?
This is impossible, because this was an imperial decree issued by the previous emperor, and Fu Xiaoguan grew up in Linjiang, Yu Dynasty since he was a child. With Wu Dalang by his side, there is no way he could have been replaced.
What else could there be?
At this moment, dull footsteps were heard outside the Juhua Palace.
Nangong Yiyu and the others looked back and were suddenly shocked——
Thousands of Blood-Clothed Guards were standing in neat rows outside the huge Juhua Palace!
They all had gloomy faces, held long swords in their hands, and stared at everyone in the hall with indifference.
"Don't panic..." A smile appeared on Empress Dowager Xi's old face. "Since this involves a royal scandal, it naturally cannot be spread outside. After you have heard it... I will satisfy your curiosity. Of course, you will have to pay a small price."
"What exactly do you want?" Nangong Yiyu stepped forward and asked.
He didn't use honorifics, but "you", and it had reached the point where neither of them needed to act anymore.
"I have toiled my entire life for the Wu Dynasty. I originally thought I would enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life in my old age, but... unfortunately, things don't go as planned. I still have to continue to rule the Wu Dynasty for a few more years. Please don't look at me like that. This is not what I want."
She stood up shakily, leaning on her dragon-headed cane. The two palace maids beside her supported her. She waved her hands and said, "I can still move. Please move aside."
She took two steps forward, raised her head and looked at the dome of the Juhua Palace. After a few breaths, she lowered her head and looked at Nangong Yiyu and Zhuo's group.
"Wu Zhao, Her Majesty, did not have smallpox."
The ministers were in an uproar, and seemed to have forgotten the fear brought by the thousands of Blood-Clothed Guards surrounding them. They all looked at Queen Dowager Xi.
"Could it be that Her Majesty the Queen is imprisoned by you?" Nangong Yiyu asked. This was the worst outcome he could think of.
If Her Majesty the Queen is imprisoned by this old witch, she will be able to rightfully take control of the Wu Dynasty.
But Empress Dowager Xi shook her head and sighed, "What do you think of me? In my entire life, I only committed the tragic incident of Shili Pinghu eleven years ago. That was for the stability of the Wu Dynasty."
"Wu Zhao is safe and sound in Jinghu Villa, but... she's pregnant!"
The ministers were shocked. After hearing the news, the huge hall suddenly fell silent.
Her Majesty is pregnant?
But Her Majesty the Queen is not married!
No wonder she stayed in Jinghu Villa without showing up even once.
Who the hell did this?
Nangong Yiyu suddenly thought of something and his face turned pale.
Queen Mother Xi was enjoying watching the ministers at the moment. What a bunch of scum, they have no ability at all and yet they want to fight with me!
"Mr. Fu, it was Wu Zhao who saved you that day at the foot of the Snow Mountain."
She said this slowly, and the ministers widened their eyes again. It was self-evident that the child Her Majesty was pregnant with was Fu Xiaoguan's!
What the hell!
This is truly the biggest scandal in the royal family!
When Fu Xiaoguan first came to Guanyun City, Wu Linger's love for him was well known to everyone.
If it weren't for the fact that Fu Xiaoguan became Emperor Wen's son, everyone in the court would believe that Her Royal Highness the Princess would marry Fu Xiaoguan.
But fate played a trick on him, and Fu Xiaoguan became Wu Linger's brother. But fate played a trick on him again, and this time it caused a life, and it was the prince's child!
The prince and the princess... this was really too shocking, and the ministers didn't even dare to think about it.
Zhuo and his group quickly calmed down and asked, "Do you have any evidence?"
"I knew you wouldn't believe me... Someone, bring the witnesses to court!"
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