Chapter 214 She had opened her heart to him long ago
"It is said that the wise king has gathered an army of 100,000." The young eunuch, carrying an urgent message from the military, was sweating profusely as he ran.
Upon hearing this, everyone present changed their expressions drastically.
Dou Wenyi couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Could it be that when the Prince Xian learned that the Grand Preceptor had been captured, he had already run away on his own, and then left Pei Shaoqin and Zhang Jieyu in Tianning City to do whatever they wanted in order to divert attention?
Emperor Muzong's face was contorted with rage, and his eyes flashed with intense killing intent. "Guards, send Prince Rui and Consort Tan on their way! Anyone who dares to leak out what happened today will be executed on the spot!"
"Your Majesty!" Pei Siyan coldly watched the farce and interrupted him directly.
“Since the rebel king has already started his rebellion, he must have been prepared in advance. He may even be secretly in contact with other members of the imperial clan. I think it would be a pity to kill Pei Shaoqin like this... We can use him and Consort Tan to restrain the rebel king!”
Emperor Muzong clenched his fists, his face contorted with embarrassment, and gritted his teeth as he said, "Don't you think I've been humiliated enough? Crown Prince, I am the true emperor!"
She was defiled in the harem by her own brother and even raised his son for over twenty years.
The emperor's dignity has been thoroughly trampled on. Does he still want to make this scandal known to the whole world and leave a bad name for himself for eternity?
Pei Siyan has never been on his side, but now that he has lost feeling in both legs, he is a cripple and not an emperor with real power at all.
Pei Siyan raised an eyebrow, a flash of disdain in his eyes, "Then Your Majesty may issue the decree."
No one in this world dares to challenge the emperor. Emperor Muzong suppressed the crown prince for his entire life, but times have changed. The aging emperor and the young crown prince have quietly changed their positions.
Emperor Muzong could no longer maintain his composure; his anger surged like a raging storm. "Bring Shen Yanzhou here!"
Pei Siyan suddenly grasped Dou Wenyi's hand, "Your subject shall take his leave now, as I still need to discuss with the prime ministers how to deal with the Prince Xian's uprising."
A warm, tingling sensation came from her palm. Before Dou Wenyi could react, he led her away from the eye of the storm of power drama.
As Feng Dajian watched the two figures walk away, his eyelids twitched violently. He knew in his heart that even if the emperor was still the emperor in name, things were about to change.
After leaving Funing Palace, Shen Yanzhou, dressed in a scarlet official robe, rushed over. He stopped, bowed respectfully and obediently to them, and then hurried away.
Pei Siyan withdrew his deep gaze from him. "If the Great Zhou Dynasty could have a few more Shen Yanzhous, it would be a blessing for the country. It's a real pity to waste such a talent!"
Dou Wenyi pursed her lips. "Your Highness, do you think he shouldn't also be in charge of the Imperial City Guard?"
"Such a virtuous minister has been used by the emperor as a treacherous minister. This is a failure of the ruler. His talents should not be buried like this."
Dou Wenyi was slightly taken aback, suddenly recalling Shen Yanzhou's fate in his previous life, and she truly felt sorry for him. She had originally thought that Pei Siyan had always harbored prejudice against Shen Yanzhou, but she had been too naive.
If he could have maintained such a clear-headed approach to politics, perhaps his ideal of a peaceful and prosperous society wouldn't have been so far out of reach.
"Then in the future..."
"What about later?"
Will he be given an important position?
Pei Siyan glanced at her sideways. "What? You want to speak up for him again?"
Dou Wenyi shook her head helplessly and laughed out loud, "Your Highness, you are supposed to be tolerant of all under heaven in the future, why are you always so stingy with me?"
Because there is only one her in this world, only she can make him yearn for her day and night.
Pei Siyan remained silent for a moment, avoiding her gaze, his voice warm and mellow, "You've always been so composed, but how can I be as composed as you when I'm with you? I often feel sorry for you, always worried that I might wrong you."
After all, the methods he used to marry her were far from honorable.
Dou Wenyi was both satisfied and astonished, as if she were hallucinating, and she couldn't believe that he had said those words.
Is he still the same arrogant, conceited, capricious, and domineering Crown Prince Pei Siyan who has long held a high position?
She finally realized that Pei Siyan was somewhat humble in front of her.
Previously, Emperor Muzong seemed to have a knife hanging over his head, but now the situation is much better, and he has almost grasped the highest power of the Great Zhou Dynasty. How could he be so insecure in front of her?
Dou Wenyi's eyelashes trembled, and a surge of bitterness welled up in her heart, almost overwhelming her like the sea.
She grasped Pei Siyan's hand in return and said solemnly, "Your Highness, you don't need to belittle yourself. You've always been a good person, and we're like-minded partners. Haven't you always been helping me pursue my ideals?"
"I do dislike the Crown Prince's Palace because I dislike intrigue and scheming, and even more so because I dislike getting caught up in the power struggles within the inner quarters. But you have always protected me and treated me with genuine sincerity; how could I not know?"
“I have always felt that I am too insignificant, like a speck of dust or a firefly, but standing by your side, we can work together to do practical things for more people. Isn’t this also contributing to the glory of the sun and moon?”
"As long as you stay true to your original intentions, you are the man I can entrust my life to."
Pei Siyan felt a surge of sweet, bittersweet, and indescribable emotions that kept swelling and spreading throughout his heart.
He pulled the person tightly into his arms, saying, "You said those words yourself. You are not allowed to lie to me, and you cannot pretend to be friendly with me because of imperial power."
Because he already took it seriously!
Dou Wenyi met his burning gaze, her lips twitching slightly. "Okay, I wouldn't lie to you, okay?"
She suddenly stood on tiptoe, cupped his face in her hands, and gently kissed his lips. "Your Highness, I've already opened my heart to you, didn't you feel it?"
Pei Siyan's breathing suddenly quickened, and he could hardly contain his joy.
Just then, they saw Eunuch Anxi coming over.
He raised his hand and pinched her rosy cheeks. "Yi'er, the matter of the Prince Xian is a bit tricky. I have to go to Chongzheng Hall to discuss it with them first. I may not be back until very late tonight. You should get some rest."
"good!"
——
That night, Consort Tan was given a cup of poisoned wine, while Prince Rui, Pei Shaoqin, was imprisoned in the Imperial City Guard's prison.
According to a secret report, the Wise King had indeed joined forces with the Prince of Chen and the Prince of Qi to rebel. After discussing the matter with the court officials, Pei Siyan immediately issued a proclamation.
Ultimately, it was decided that Zhang Chengxian would lead the Xuanjia Army to persuade the imperial family to surrender, while Pei Siyan would personally lead an army of 100,000 to suppress the surging rebels.
Yin Congjian, the Minister of Revenue, was extremely busy and worried about raising military provisions, but still achieved very little.
With the day of the army's departure fast approaching, he came to the Eastern Palace with a bitter face.
Inside the Chaohua Hall.
Yin Congjian, his face etched with worry, sat down and cut to the chase, “Your Highness, these powerful and noble families are truly despicable! The dynasty lent them so much money back then, and even Prince Rui only recovered a small portion. Now I've asked them to pay off their debts with grain, but they're all turning a deaf ear and refusing to repay at all…”
The Great Zhou Dynasty was in decline and decay, but the powerful and noble families indulged in pleasure and extravagance, completely disregarding the lives of the people.
Even if the wise king succeeds in his rebellion, they will only kneel and welcome the rebels to become the new emperor.
How absurd!
Dou Wenyi paused in pouring tea.
She suddenly remembered the extravagance of the Princess's palace banquet. She was not Emperor Muzong's biological sister, but she was related to Prince Xian by blood. So what was her attitude?
Pei Siyan took the teacup and pondered for a while. "Take out the ones with the largest debts first and spread the word that if they don't repay the debts to the court, the court will definitely take back their titles. If they don't want their families to be wiped out, they'd better pay back the money to me honestly!"
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