Chapter 157 Everyone, go out and let me be alone
Many ministers left.
Wang Decai called Xun Mingzhi and said, "Sir Xun, the emperor wants you to go to the imperial study."
…
The atmosphere in the imperial study was solemn.
Zhang Chengyan sat on the dragon throne, looking coldly at Xun Mingzhi who was kneeling on the ground, and said in a cold and hard voice, "Do you admit your guilt?"
Xun Mingzhi slammed his forehead heavily on the ground, his body trembling slightly, "I acknowledge my guilt!"
"You are an official appointed by the court, but you have done such a wrong thing. Now everyone in the court is talking about your behavior. If I don't punish you severely, how can I convince the people?"
Zhang Chengyan became angrier and angrier as he spoke, "Originally, I was planning to promote you for Concubine Zhao's sake, but at this critical moment, you caused such a thing. I can't protect you even if I want to! I'm giving you one last chance now. You go to Yujiang in person to control the flood. I'll find a counselor to accompany you. If you can make a contribution by then, our merits and demerits will be offset."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will definitely not let you down."
Zhang Chengyan waved his hand helplessly, "Go out."
"Yes, I'll take my leave." Xun Mingzhi bent his body and left quietly.
"This Xun Mingzhi is really causing trouble for me." Zhang Chengyan was in a bad mood. After thinking about it, he felt that only Zhaochun Palace could make him feel at ease.
He stood up, "Wang Decai, accompany me to see Yun and Yunxi!"
…
Different from the solemnity in the court, the years in Zhaochun Palace are as peaceful as ever.
Except when breastfeeding, Bai Wutong would keep the two children by her side and watch them at all times.
In the past, she could place her affection on her father and mother, but now she places it on her children. These two people are her only two concerns in this world.
"Yunhe is so well behaved, and Yunxi is also well behaved." They had just finished feeding, and Bai Wutong personally helped them wipe the milk stains from the corners of their mouths.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived."
"Yeah." Bai Wutong responded lightly without standing up to greet him.
There were footsteps.
Zhang Chengyan walked quickly into the hall.
Bai Wutong picked up the two children at the right time and said, "Look who's here? It's our father."
They laughed in great applause and waved their chubby little hands in the air.
Zhang Chengyan's originally heavy mood suddenly improved. He stepped forward and hugged Yunhe, "Little guy, do you miss your father?"
Bai Wutong smiled and said, "Of course I did. Didn't you see that when Your Majesty came, they laughed happier than anyone else? I am really jealous. Yun and Yunxi have never laughed so happily in front of me."
Zhang Chengyan raised his lips and sat beside her. His tone, which should have been cold and hard, softened. "I came here today to tell you something important. The flood in Tongzhi, Yujiang River is serious. Now there is no one to manage it. It is very chaotic. Even the granary has been robbed. Originally, I shouldn't tell you this, but the newly appointed county magistrate of Tongzhi was sent by Xun Mingzhi."
Bai Wutong froze, "Your Majesty, but didn't the magistrate do what he should have done?"
"Not only that, he ran away as soon as the flood occurred, leaving the people behind, and we haven't found him yet. If he had done something, the situation wouldn't have become so bad."
"Your Majesty, since my father has done something wrong, then he must be severely punished." Bai Wutong hugged Yunxi tightly, her face a little pale, "I am your concubine first, and then my mother's daughter. My father did something wrong, and he should be punished. Please, Your Majesty, for the sake of me and my child, don't implicate other people in the Xun family."
"Of course, everyone is responsible for their own actions, but..." Zhang Chengyan looked at Bai Wutong hugging the child tightly and sighed, "It's just that now the court doesn't want you to continue raising the two princes, but to hand them over to the queen."
Bai Wutong's heart sank, and her face turned even paler. "Your Majesty, what do you mean? Are you saying that I should give the child to the Queen to raise? I have been pregnant for ten months, and I have suffered so much. I almost died during childbirth, and I only gave birth to Yun and Yunxi. Even now that I am in confinement, I have never asked others to take care of me myself!"
"I know, but Xun Mingzhi has made a huge mistake. First, he sold official positions, and then he caused the chaos of Tongzhi. Even if I am biased, I cannot ignore the opinions of the court. Now almost all the ministers want me to hand the child over to the queen. If I don't do it, I am afraid that there will be trouble again."
Judging from the situation in the court, if he did not agree, someone might threaten to die in protest, and the matter would be recorded in history.
If Zhang Chengyan wants to be a wise ruler, he absolutely cannot have such a big stain!
Let's put this matter aside for now and find a solution later.
"Wutong, send a prince to the queen first. I have given Xun Mingzhi the opportunity to make merit. As long as his merits can offset his demerits, I can take the child back then."
Bai Wutong looked at him and refused to give in. "Your Majesty, I don't want to!"
This is her own flesh and blood, how could she let someone else raise her?
What's more, the queen is a vicious person who appears kind on the surface but is actually a cruel and vicious person!
Yun and Yunxi are not her biological children, how could she treat them as her own!
Once you really give it away, it will be difficult to get it back!
Zhang Chengyan rarely put on a serious face, "Wutong, stop making trouble. I will keep my word and will definitely let them come back to you when the time comes. It's just a temporary grievance. Do you want to make things difficult for me?"
In his heart, he loved Bai Wutong more. As for the queen, she was just the queen.
He understood Bai Wutong's kindness and excellence better than anyone else, so he was naturally willing to give his two children to her to raise.
But those ministers did not know that for the sake of stability in the court, he still needed to take this step back.
"No, I don't want to!"
Zhang Chengyan lost his patience and made the decision, "Send Yunhe to the Queen and bring her back later. It's settled."
He handed Yunhe over to the palace attendant beside him and said, "Send her to Fengyi Palace."
"Your Majesty!" Bai Wutong looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "You are tearing out my heart!"
Zhang Chengyan's expression softened, and he gently held the person in his arms, "I know, don't worry, it won't be long."
Seeing that he had really made up his mind, Bai Wutong had no choice but to accept it.
The tears fell on my lips, salty and bitter.
"Okay, I'll go take care of government affairs first, you take a good rest and don't think too much."
This time, Bai Wutong did not try to keep him, but just watched him leave.
Yunhe also went with them.
Yunxi seemed to realize something and started crying loudly.
He, who had always been quiet, cried so sadly for the first time.
However, Zhang Chengyan never looked back and did not send Yunhe back.
"Oh... Queen!" Bai Wutong clutched the handkerchief tightly, "Chan'er, go, send someone to inform Cao, and ask her to come to the palace to see me!"
If she had known that the Xun family was like this, she should have spent more time and chosen a new candidate!
Yingchun wanted to comfort her, but didn't know how to start.
"Everyone go out, I'll be alone for a while!"
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