A blood-clothed guard walked into the hall with a woman. She was Yun Niang. She had originally moved to Fanning City and lived a secluded life.
But I didn't expect that my daughter Xiaoxiao would talk about her father while playing with other children.
"I have a father. He's amazing. He can read, write poetry, and even farm!"
"So what's your father's name?"
"My father's name is Fu Erdai!"
These words fell into the ears of someone with ulterior motives, and then were known by the people of the Hidden Sect, and the mother and daughter were taken into the palace.
Empress Dowager Xi held Xiaoxiao in her arms and looked at Yunniang with a smile, but Yunniang clearly saw Empress Dowager Xi's hand fall on Xiaoxiao's neck.
She had no other choice but to tell Xiaoxiao about the incident in order for her to survive.
"You can live peacefully in this palace. When you are needed, you can appear in the court. If the ministers ask, you can tell the truth. After that, I will naturally make you and your daughter rich and prosperous."
At this time, it was time for Empress Dowager Xi to use her.
But she could not refuse to be used by Queen Mother Xi because her daughter Xiaoxiao was still in their hands.
"This is Yunniang, a former member of the Women's Army. If you still don't believe me, feel free to ask someone from the Women's Army."
"Yunniang retired from the Women's Army and married into Linjia Village. After the Great Snow Mountain Incident, Wu Zhao rescued Fu Xiaoguan and sent him not to Guanyun City, but to Yunniang's home in Linjia Village."
"Then naturally, this scandal occurred. So, Fu Xiaoguan returned to the Yu Dynasty incognito, and Wu Zhao ascended the throne, but went to Jinghu Villa and no longer attended court."
Empress Dowager Xi returned to the throne and sat down. "The affair between these two siblings is naturally shameful. Fu Xiaoguan has done something worse than an animal, so he naturally dares not return to the Wu Dynasty to ascend the throne. Wu Zhao's pregnancy is growing, and it is impossible to conceal it. She has no choice but to hide it in Jinghu Villa under the pretext of smallpox."
"Is this a royal scandal?"
"If you still don't believe me, I will send soldiers to capture Wu Zhao and bring her to the court to show you whether her belly has swelled up."
The ministers were already stunned, their minds were in a mess and they couldn't make any sense at all.
Even Nangong Yiyu and Zhuo's group were also confused at this moment. They were caught off guard by the killing move launched by Queen Mother Xi and had no power to resist.
They no longer needed to doubt this matter. Empress Dowager Xi's words basically set things right, explaining why Fu Xiaoguan did not return to the Wu Dynasty, and why Wu Zhao had not attended court for several months.
If Empress Dowager Xi lied, the lie would be easily exposed. As long as Wu Zhao came out and her belly was not bulging, she would be deceiving the emperor and slandering the reputation of the royal family.
But Empress Dowager Xi was so confident, and Wu Zhao absolutely did not dare to show up, so this must be true!
So what now?
Empress Dowager Xi spoke again, "So what should we do now?"
"I've been thinking about this day and night. This scandal has already happened. For the sake of the royal family's reputation, Fu Xiaoguan is naturally not qualified to return to the Wu Dynasty and ascend the throne. And Wu Zhao...is not worthy of the position of monarch either. So I am the only one who can take over the Wu Dynasty. Although I am a little old, I have assisted two emperors and know a little about state affairs."
"But now I have to inconvenience everyone. After all, I don't want this scandal to be known to the world, so... from now on, you will not be able to return home. This palace is empty, so you will live here for the time being and celebrate the New Year here. As for your families, I will send people to deliver news one by one, saying that..."
"Just say there's a battle on the front lines and go back after it's over."
Nangong Yiyu was startled and asked, "Why is there a war?"
"Oh, then, let's start a war... I will immediately ascend the throne and deprive Empress Wu Zhao of her title. However, considering that she is my granddaughter, I will confer the title of Princess Taiping on her and allow her to rest in peace at Mirror Lake Villa."
"You... don't have any objections, right?"
"Minister, I have an opinion!"
Queen Mother Xi didn't even look at him, and lightly spat out two words: "Kill him!"
A blood-stained guard raised his sword and slashed it down. With a snap, a head fell to the ground.
"Anyone else have any comments?"
Nangong Yiyu suddenly remembered the imperial edict of succession hidden behind the plaque in the Yangxin Palace, and the tiger talisman for mobilizing troops placed there. He suppressed his impulse and lowered his head.
Zhuo and his group naturally wouldn't show up at this time, so they also lowered their heads.
When the anxious ministers saw that neither the left nor the right prime minister expressed their opinions, they all lowered their heads.
"Then everyone has no objection. I have succeeded the Wu Dynasty as emperor. I am not in a hurry to confer the title of the country. Now, I will issue four edicts."
"First, the post of Commander of the Blood Robe Guard will be held concurrently by the Minister of War, Qi Ren."
Nangong Yiyu was shocked again. The Minister of War, Qi Ren, was actually the man of this old witch!
The Qi people stepped forward, bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, the Qi people obey your command."
"Secondly, the Left and Right Prime Ministers are already advanced in years. I believe they have served the country so diligently and deserve to retire. Please submit your resignations. This is an emergency, so I will make the necessary arrangements. I will appoint the Left and Right Prime Ministers later. For now, please submit all your petitions to me for approval."
The ministers were shocked again. She actually dismissed the two prime ministers!
Is this to concentrate all power in one's own hands?
Nangong Yiyu and Zhuo's group did not look up, nor did they step forward to express their gratitude. They just looked at the smooth ground in silence, and no one knew what they were thinking at the moment.
Empress Dowager Xi did not take it seriously, but instead issued a third decree:
"Third, order the Blood-Cloaked Guards to capture the traitor Zhou Tongtong, regardless of life or death!"
This time, Zhuo Yixing raised his head and asked, "What crime has Zhou Tongtong committed?"
Empress Dowager Xi stared at Zhuo and his group. "Zhou Tongtong has been in charge of the Tianji Pavilion for decades. He colluded with the Yu Dynasty and sold intelligence from the Wu Dynasty, making a profit of over three million taels of silver. If he's not a traitor, what is he?"
"Oh, by the way, I'm getting old and almost forgot one small thing. Lord Qi, listen to my command. I order you to immediately reorganize the Northern Garrison. Isn't a war necessary? Once the food and fodder are distributed, the Northern Garrison will march out of the Qishan Corridor and engage the Yu Dynasty."
Just a few words fell on the ground and created a huge hole!
She actually wants to start a war with the Yu Dynasty!
The Qi people were also stunned. To mobilize the army, they needed half of the tiger talisman in the emperor's hand, but Empress Dowager Xi only issued such an imperial decree without giving him the tiger talisman...
He gritted his teeth and accepted the order, "Your Majesty, I obey."
Empress Dowager Xi stood up and said, "That's all for today. I'm tired. All of you should return to your offices and rest in this palace tonight. Please do not discuss state affairs. This is not what I wish. If you want to blame anyone, blame those unruly brother and sister."
She left Juhua Palace and did not return to the empress dowager's bedroom, but came to Yangxin Palace.
"Have you found the military token?"
"Your Majesty, the eunuch Zhao, the chief eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, said that the military talisman is not in this palace."
"Where is that?"
"I'm afraid it's on the eighteenth floor of Tianji Pavilion."
“…Go tell the people of Qi that Zhou Tongtong must live!”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
