Zhou family
Zhu Jingchen looked down at Zhou Zhonghe, then glanced at Xu Heming.
“Zhou Zhonghe, you have failed to raise your son properly, and there is discord in your family. How can you manage the affairs of the court?” Zhu Jingchen said unhurriedly.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty!" Zhou Zhonghe's back was covered in cold sweat.
“You are indeed guilty.” Zhu Jingchen looked at Xu Heming, as if asking him how the Zhou family should be punished.
If Xu Heming is willing to plead for the Zhou family, he is still willing to let them off the hook.
Xu Heming, however, looked at Zhou Zhonghe, showing no intention of pleading for the Zhou family.
"Prince An, please, for Yu Xin's sake, plead for the Zhou family!" Zhou Zhonghe had also realized that the Emperor's look at Prince An just now was asking for Prince An's opinion. If Prince An was willing to plead for their Zhou family, then he would definitely be able to get through this calamity.
"I'm pleading for you out of respect for Yu Xin?" Xu Heming looked at Zhou Zhonghe with sarcasm.
"Your Zhou family, have you ever treated Qingshi well for Yuxin's sake? How heartless is your Zhou family that you can't even bear to give Qingshi a bite to eat!" Xu Heming said, his teeth itching with hatred.
He couldn't bear to see his son suffer even the slightest injustice, yet the Zhou family had gone so far as to do this.
Zhou Zhonghe was speechless for a moment.
This was indeed a mistake.
However, he was no longer able to reverse the situation.
Now, all he can ask is for the Emperor to show mercy to the Zhou family and punish them leniently.
"Your Highness, it was the women in the manor who acted improperly," Zhou Zhonghe said after a moment of silence.
Now that things have come to this, he no longer hopes that the Emperor will let the Zhou family off the hook. However, after all, Wu not only offended the Third Prince, but also insulted the Emperor. This crime could be considered punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family.
“Since Lord Zhou also feels guilty, he may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment.” Zhu Jingchen looked at the Zhou family members kneeling below.
He gently opened his mouth.
This house belonging to the Zhou family was originally bestowed upon them by the late emperor.
Unexpectedly, the Zhou family's prosperity lasted only a few decades.
"Zhou Zhonghe has failed in his duties, allowing his wife and daughters to injure others without cause and insult the imperial family. He deserves to be executed! Considering his many years of service to the court, even if he has not made any great contributions, he has still worked hard. Effective immediately, he is dismissed from his official post and sent back to his hometown. For three generations, Zhou's descendants are barred from taking the imperial examinations. This Zhou family residence was originally bestowed by the late emperor. You shall move out within five days!"
As Zhu Jingchen finished speaking, Zhou Zhonghe collapsed to the ground. Their Zhou family had been driven out of the capital.
Returning to his hometown, his father had desperately climbed from Beiyang to the capital, but now, they had fallen back to Beiyang from the capital in just one day.
"Zhou Zhonghe, why aren't you thanking the emperor?" Eunuch Wu said to Zhou Zhonghe with displeasure.
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" Zhou Zhonghe kowtowed to Zhu Jingchen with tears in his eyes to express his gratitude.
He knew that the Emperor had already shown extraordinary mercy.
However, Zhou's descendants were forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations for three generations, and his grandchildren would have little chance of success afterward.
Zhou Yuying looked at the Emperor in disbelief. "You want the Zhou family to return to their hometown, that poor village?"
She doesn't want to go back.
"Father, I don't want to go back to Beiyang," Zhou Yuying pleaded, tugging at Zhou Zhonghe's clothes.
"Stop fooling around, the Emperor is still here!" Zhou Zhonghe frowned and scolded, thinking that his youngest daughter was also clueless.
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