Chapter 31 Imprints of the Times
Zhao Youchen is not a good person.
Not to mention that these palace servants dared to say such treasonous things, such casual private discussions about the royal family are already a serious crime.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration for Zhao Youchen to kill them on the spot.
However, Xiao Qing did not have this kind of thinking at this time.
She thought to herself, "General Zhao is really murderous. These two palace servants look like weaklings. Which one of them doesn't talk about others behind their backs? Drawing their swords at each other like this will scare them to death, won't it?"
Moreover, within just two sentences, they started using knives and guns, acting like they were about to kill someone... This...
Zhao Youchen was quick; when he rushed out, he already had his eyes wide with rage and a knife held to the palace servant's neck.
If Xiao Qing hadn't shouted, that palace servant would probably have been beheaded by now.
However, the situation is not much better now.
The palace attendant was initially stunned, but when he realized that this was their young emperor and Lord Zhao, the commander of the Imperial Guard who was said to have killed countless people, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
His teeth were chattering, his face was clearly losing coordination, and half of his body was about to collapse.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, please...please spare my life..."
Another palace servant was so frightened that he fell to the ground, his forehead hitting the ground directly, his whole body trembling, unable to utter a single word.
Xiao Qing strode out, followed by Mei Shu and others.
"General Zhao, please show mercy."
Xiao Qing did it simply because she didn't want to watch Zhao Youchen kill people.
But Zhao Youchen stared wide-eyed, wondering if Xiao Qing was too young to understand how serious it was for an emperor to be discussed in private like this, and for his imperial power to be violated.
Just as he was about to speak, Mei Shu took half a step forward and said calmly, "The palace servants have committed treason and should be killed and punished. This servant can send these two to the palace prison to make them confess and sign their confessions, and then have them beaten to death according to the law."
Hearing this, Zhao Youchen calmed down.
Yes, these palace servants are indeed despicable, but whether they are human or ghost, they are all under the jurisdiction of the Inner Palace Bureau. Although he can end them with a single sword strike so easily, it is actually against the rules.
Moreover, he secretly glanced at Xiao Qing, thinking that it was too cruel to let the young emperor, who had already suffered so much, see such a bloody and filthy scene again.
And wouldn't that affect His Majesty's healthy growth?
Zhao Youchen really hoped that Fu Mingyi would come back soon.
When Fu Mingyi was around, he seemed to never have to consider these issues. He also rarely experienced such strong emotional fluctuations.
He kicked the palace servant to the ground and returned to Xiao Qing's side with a cold face.
Xiao Qing seemed to want to say something more, but Mei Shu said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, they have committed a capital offense. Although Your Majesty is benevolent, if you forgive them this time, the law will be unrestrained, the people will have no place to go, such things will only increase in the palace, and it will not help Your Majesty's dignity."
Xiao was actually slightly shocked when he heard these words.
She wouldn't find it strange at all if someone like Fu Mingyi or Zhao Youchen said such a thing.
But the one saying this now is a palace maid who has lived deep within the palace for a long time.
This made her glance at Mei Shu a few more times.
Mei Shu remained calm and indifferent. After saying this, she looked at Xiao Qing's expression and felt that she understood. Only then did she ask Ma Hong and Liu Yi to call someone over.
When the two palace servants heard that they were to be beaten to death, they were terrified. They cried out that they were innocent and that they needed help, their faces covered in snot and tears, and they kowtowed until their foreheads were covered in blood.
Even so, Zhao Youchen and the others remained cold and did not respond at all.
A palace attendant noticed that Xiao Qing seemed somewhat reluctant, so he gritted his teeth, mustered his courage, crawled over on his knees, and cried very pitifully.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this servant knows he was wrong. This servant should not have said such things. This servant will be leaving the palace next month. There is an elderly mother at home waiting for this servant to support her. This servant... this servant deserves to die!" He began to slap himself, once on each side, the sound of the slaps echoing loudly, his two faces turning so red that they seemed to be bleeding.
"Your Majesty, please spare this servant! Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
The other one, seeing this, also realized what was happening and crawled over, crying out.
Xiao Qing felt somewhat conflicted.
She knew that according to the social norms and laws of this world, what they had done was a crime punishable by death, but the thought of their situation and the fate that awaited them made her feel uneasy.
To be honest, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
“Mei Shu, they only said a few careless words. Although it is a capital offense, considering it is their first time, is there a rule that they should not be beaten to death?”
She looked up at Mei Shu, blinked, and clearly still couldn't bear it.
Zhao Youchen frowned, "Your Majesty, this matter..."
But Mei Shu quickly said, "His Majesty's decision is the rule we servants must follow. If His Majesty wishes to pardon them, there is a way. However, they may escape death, but they cannot escape punishment. The palace prison will handle the rest."
Xiao Qing knew there couldn't be a better way.
Although Zhao Youchen was not entirely satisfied with this approach, it was a matter for the Inner Palace Bureau, and Mei Shu had already agreed, so he didn't say anything more.
This world has no freedom of speech, a rigid class system, and human life is worthless.
This wasn't caused by any one person; it's a mark of an era.
The joy of listening to gossip was completely gone, replaced by the heavy feeling of a boulder pressing down on me.
Soon, two teams of palace attendants arrived. Led by their leader, they hurriedly ran over, knelt down, and apologized to Xiao Qing. Then, looking fierce, they dragged up the two kneeling attendants.
Seeing a glimmer of hope, the palace servant, who was about to leave the palace next month, thanked Xiao Qing with gratitude and joy. However, Xiao Qing couldn't bear to see this and silently turned her face away.
In modern times, most people wouldn't be able to handle being begged like that by just anyone.
Xiao Qing felt that she was just an ordinary person.
As the cries faded into the distance, Xiao Qing's mood sank even lower.
Mei Shu said, "Is Your Majesty tired? Would you like to return to Chengde Palace to rest for a while?"
Xiao Qing shook her head, then suddenly remembered something else.
She turned to look at Zhao Youchen, "General Zhao, Grand Tutor... are you in danger?"
Zhao Youchen was taken aback.
"I have not received any news."
He thought for a moment, "Counting the days, we should be able to enter Beidu safely in five more days."
Xiao Qing frowned, "Then why are these people so secretive when they talk about the Grand Tutor...?"
Zhao Youchen was furious, thinking that these lackeys were opportunistic, but he was also absolutely certain that the Grand Tutor would return and there would be no danger.
Although the Grand Tutor is strict, how could he bear to leave His Majesty here alone to struggle?
"Does Your Majesty believe that the Grand Tutor will return?" He suddenly wondered what the young emperor thought.
Xiao Qing nodded, somewhat solemnly.
Even though she was initially tempted by the desire to escape and had many speculations about the Grand Tutor's journey north, Xiao Qing knew after returning from Yu Junting that since the Grand Tutor had gone so boldly, he must be confident of returning safely.
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