Chapter 113 Chapter 113: Banished to the Cold Palace, Concubine Dong Lost Her Love Before the Emperor...
Dong Songfeng knelt on the ground in fear, his previous arrogance completely gone.
"I, I dare not..."
Yan Yu withdrew his gaze and looked at Dong Maoyan, one of the parties involved.
"Do you admit what Cui Cen just said?"
Prime Minister Dong and Concubine Dong cast their expectant gazes at him, hoping that if he just said no, everything would be over. Unfortunately, they waited patiently for Dong Maoyan's rebuttal, but in vain.
Dong Maoyan's lips, which had turned purple, trembled slightly, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time: "I, I..."
He was already feeling guilty, so how could he dare to make up any more lies under the Holy Majesty?
Seeing Dong Maoyan hesitating and unable to say a complete sentence for a long time, Dong Songfeng felt a pang in his heart.
No one knows a son better than his father. Although he was reluctant to admit it, he already knew in his heart that what Cui Cen said was true!
What a sin this is!
When he saw the wound on his youngest son's face, he was so focused on complaining that he forgot to ask for details. He didn't expect such a big mistake to happen. If he knew that Dong Maoyan was beaten for this reason, he would never have come to the emperor to complain! The sin his son committed today was, at the very least, inappropriate words, and at the most, ill intentions!
Although Dong Songfeng dotes on his son, he will never sacrifice his own future or the future of the Dong family for him!
He quickly winked at his son. Even if he said these words, he couldn't admit it in this situation! But Dong Maoyan was like a quail caught in the rain, not even daring to raise his head. How could he receive the eye signals from Dong Xiang?
Dong Maoyan, who had been stuttering for a long time, could only bite the bullet and say under the emperor's icy gaze: "I, I was just joking."
Hearing this, Dong Songfeng stumbled and almost lost his balance. What's the difference between saying this and directly admitting it! Isn't this just giving yourself a handle to talk about?
As expected, the emperor sneered upon hearing this, "What a joke! Then do I still have to call you brother-in-law?"
When his name was called, Qi Maoyan was terrified. He didn't care about the wound on his face and started to kowtow repeatedly.
Dong Songfeng also knelt down and echoed, "Your Majesty, calm down. Yan'er is still young and children's words are innocent. Your Majesty, please forgive him this time."
"We're all family, why do you kneel so easily? Hurry up and help your father-in-law up!"
A eunuch came forward to help him, but Dong Songfeng didn't dare let him help him, so he knocked his head against his head loudly.
"Your Majesty, I am sorry to trouble you."
The emperor was probably going to take advantage of this situation. Dong Songfeng took one last look at his good-for-nothing son, gritted his teeth and said cruelly, "This rebellious son actually said such outrageous words. Your Majesty should give him fifty lashes to teach him a lesson!"
The reason why he dared to say this was that he was sure that the emperor would not really take Dong Maoyan's life. Instead of waiting for the emperor's decree to decide his fate, it would be better for him to express his position first to appease the emperor's anger.
As expected, the emperor's expression softened considerably after these words were spoken. Dong Songfeng continued, "When I return, I will keep this rebellious son under strict supervision and will not allow him to leave the house for six months."
The Autumn Examination is about to begin. Being confined to the house at this time means missing the exam, and the next exam will have to wait another three years. Prime Minister Dong has spent a lot of money to persuade the emperor.
Yan Yu suppressed the urge to raise the corners of his mouth and nodded slightly.
"It was just a joke. It's not a big deal. But since Prime Minister Dong has said so, let's do as you say. I agree."
What he meant was, look, I didn't intend to punish you, it was you who asked for it.
"By the way, don't use a hundred lashes. I think Mr. Dong's body can't bear it. Let's change it to fifty lashes." Yan Yu said very considerately.
Dong Songfeng was so angry that he almost fainted on the spot. The emperor's words sounded like he was determined to beat his own son! He even pretended to be kind and reduced the punishment, which made him a nobody. Yan Yu was the good guy!
He looked towards his two children, and sure enough, he was met with two pairs of resentful gazes.
Dong Maoyan hadn't expected his father to actually suggest that the emperor give him fifty lashes of the cane and confine him to his room for six months, causing him to miss the Autumn Examination. He had been preparing for this Autumn Examination for a long time, eager to showcase his talents, but now, nothing was left. Thinking of this, Dong Maoyan couldn't control his resentment, blaming his father for everything, forgetting that it was his fault in the first place.
Concubine Dong couldn't understand her father's plan and thought he was trying to punish her brother. After hearing this, she raised her head in disbelief while holding her brother and sobbing softly, grabbed her father's robe and wailed:
"Daddy! How can you be so cruel? My health is not good to begin with. Fifty lashes would kill me!"
The stupid behavior of his two children made Dong Songfeng's temples throb. He didn't just raise a pair of children, he raised two enemies!
Dong Songfeng's face darkened as he forcefully pulled the robe from his daughter's hands, his expression somewhat sinister. He had a lifelong reputation for his achievements, yet how could his two children be so foolish?
Not to mention that it was just a beating now, even if the emperor wanted Dong Maoyan's life, he would hand it over! What else could he do if he didn't hand it over? Would he protect him and watch the entire Dong family be buried with him? He was thinking about the overall interests of the Dong family!
Concubine Dong stumbled a bit. This heartless father in front of her made her feel so unfamiliar. Was this still the father who had loved them since childhood? She felt powerless, yet unwilling to accept it. Why should her brother be punished while the culprit stood by and watched them laugh?
Thinking of this, Concubine Dong couldn't help but vent her anger and resentment on the young man. She pointed at Cui Cen and screamed, "You are a jinx. It's not enough that you killed your own parents, and now you are trying to kill my brother!"
When she said this, she didn't even think that this was happening in front of the palace, not in her own Yuntan Palace. By the time she realized that this was extremely disrespectful, it was too late. Two cold gazes shot towards her, and the air around her was so cold that she didn't even dare to look at the expression on the boy's face.
The young man half-closed his eyelids, letting his black eyelashes hide the emotions in his eyes.
This wasn't the first time he'd heard the term "jinx." It had been ringing in his ears since the day news of his father's death on the battlefield, and it had become even more frequent since his mother's passing. His former classmates at the Imperial College, who had once been friendly and harmonious, seemed to have changed their demeanor. They didn't say anything to his face, but behind his back, they kept calling him a jinx.
What did he do at that time?
He pinned those who called him a jinx to the ground and beat them mercilessly, until his fists were raw and the skin was broken, until they admitted their mistakes. He beat them every time he encountered such a thing, and gradually those people no longer dared to say such things.
Not long after, another rumor spread in the capital, saying that he was a playboy in the capital, a little bully that no one dared to mess with.
If his grandmother hadn't stopped him, he would probably have beaten those people up.
He still remembers what his grandmother said:
"They don't understand you, nor do they want to understand you, so they give you these undeserved accusations. But you must know who you are, and never forget who you are, and who you want to be in the future. That's all that matters." The old lady counseled him earnestly as she applied ointment to his wounds. "As for what others think of you, you don't need to pay attention to it."
Cui Cen lowered his clenched fists and let those people go.
But when he turned around, he heard that those people had been punished to varying degrees, and the suffering they endured was much more severe than a few punches from him.
It turned out that it was Mrs. Cui who came to the house in person and told the elders of the family what they had done. Mrs. Cui said that she taught her grandson to be a wise ruler, not to allow others to bully him!
In this way, those rascals who are worse off than those who have mouths will naturally be punished. They will be punished according to the family rules and confined to their homes.
From then on, those voices were completely blocked out.
Cui Cen opened his eyes, his eyes were clear and bright.
When he heard the title of "jinx" again, he was able to remain calm and didn't want to pay any more attention to it, but then he heard the sound of a porcelain cup hitting the ground and cracking.
"Old Marquis Cui spent his entire life guarding the frontier. The Marquis Zhenguo sacrificed his life for his country, and the eldest princess followed him in grief. The Cui family is full of loyal and brave people, and you can't just talk nonsense!"
The emperor's voice was cold and sharp, and broken porcelain pieces flew towards Concubine Dong, causing her to shudder. But this was not the end. Yan Yu continued, "The 'jinx' you mentioned was the one who brought people from thousands of miles away to deliver food to the people of Yanzhou when they were suffering from drought. What were you doing at that time?"
Concubine Dong was stumped by the question. How could she remember those little things?
"If you don't remember, then I'll tell you." Yan Yu stood up and walked in front of Concubine Dong, saying condescendingly, "Yanzhou is suffering from a severe drought, and the people are suffering, but you only want to escape the heat by going to the palace. The court is currently short of food, and the Empress has admonished the palaces to reduce their food, clothing, and expenses and practice frugality. But not only did you not listen, you also beat the palace maid who was responsible for the communication with a stick!"
The Queen must have gone to the Emperor to complain!
Concubine Dong lowered her head, a hint of resentment in her eyes. As a concubine in the harem, she was supposed to enjoy every bit of wealth and luxury. What business did it have for her that the refugees couldn't get enough food? She had simply ordered twelve courses as usual and a bowl of bird's nest and white fungus soup, only to be lectured by the Empress's maid. How could she tolerate this?
Although she did not think she was wrong, under the current circumstances, it was better for her to admit her mistake and ask for the emperor's forgiveness. Concubine Dong bit her lower lip and said with a hint of grievance:
"Your Majesty is right. I didn't mean it. I won't do it again in the future."
After regaining her senses, Concubine Dong began to regret why she had said those words. She was sure to be punished. Would she annoy the emperor because of those words?
At most, I will be confined to my house for a period of time, right?
Since entering the palace, she has been under house arrest many times. At worst, she can just stay quietly in Yunchen Palace for a while. Thinking of this, Concubine Dong secretly looked up and met a pair of cold eyes.
"Concubine Dong has been disrespectful in front of the emperor. I hereby decree that she be banished to the cold palace."
The emperor's decree came suddenly. Concubine Dong stood there with her limbs stiff, looking at the emperor in disbelief.
Did she fall out of favor just like that? Just because of a careless remark from her?
Concubine Dong was filled with regret and burst into tears, "I, I know I was wrong! Your Majesty!"
Concubine Dong, who had always been arrogant, burst into tears, and her tears washed away the makeup on her face, making it look horrible.
Prime Minister Dong was also stunned. What happened today? He just lost a son, and now he lost a daughter. He could beat his son, but his daughter's position as a concubine was the basis for him to consolidate his position in the court. He couldn't just throw it away like this!
Dong Songfeng quickly spoke up to dissuade the emperor, trying to get him to revoke his decision.
"Your Majesty, calm down! I was just too anxious and said something without thinking. I definitely didn't say it on purpose. I hope Your Majesty will show some leniency for the sake of our long-standing friendship."
It would have been fine if he hadn't spoken, but once he did, it was as if he was reminding Yan Yu of how he had endured all these years. Yan Yu sneered. When he was still a prince, the Dong family hadn't taken him seriously at all. But when he was crowned Crown Prince and on the verge of ascending the throne, the Dong family took advantage of the situation and clung to him like flies. They even went so far as to force their daughter, who was already engaged to someone else, into the Eastern Palace for the sake of wealth and glory.
At that time, in order to balance the forces of all parties, he could only endure it silently.
Thinking of these bad things in the past, Yan Yu's eyes became even colder, and he immediately issued another decree: "Prime Minister Dong has failed to educate his son properly. He is punished by confinement to reflect on his mistakes for one month."
He knew what the Dong family had done over the years, but he just had no chance. Although this opportunity could not bring down the Dong family all at once, he could still bite off a piece of flesh from them and hurt their bones.
Dong Songfeng almost lost his composure. He had never expected that such a small incident would lead to such a disaster today. The current situation in the court was changing rapidly. If he could not attend court for a month, wouldn't it be clear that he had lost the emperor's favor? How could those old foxes still be so comfortable with him?
Even Dong Songfeng himself couldn't guarantee the answer.
"emperor......"
Dong Songfeng wanted to make some further excuses, but Yan Yu frowned, and the eunuchs and guards beside him immediately got the signal. They stepped forward and took the three members of the Dong family away from the palace. Those who needed to be confined were confined, those who needed to be sent to the cold palace were sent to the cold palace, and those who needed to be punished were punished.
With the speed at which news spreads in the capital, everyone will probably know that the Dong family has fallen from power within an hour.
The three people went in different directions, but the future direction of the Dong family is the same. You can see how the building rises and falls.
Concubine Dong, her hair disheveled, was carried to the cold palace alone. Because she was so harsh to the palace servants, no one was willing to follow her there. She sat in a daze on the cold palace floor, the chilly autumn wind rushing in through the cracks in the window. Her brother's screams could still be heard in her ears. Remembering her father's admonition to win the emperor's favor, Concubine Dong couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly.
No matter how clueless she was, she understood now that the emperor had long wanted to target the Dong family, and now the Dong family had handed him the knife. Who else could he kill if not you? Furthermore, it wasn't because of what she had just said that the emperor had lost his heart. It should be said that the emperor had never had his heart with her from the beginning. Everything in the past was just self-deception!
Looking around at this desolate cold palace that even birds were unwilling to set foot in, Concubine Dong murmured in despair:
"How can someone who has never received the Sacred Heart regain it?"
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