Chapter 462 A Tough Battle
"I heard everything outside just now, so there's no need to hide it from me."
Princess Chengyang, supported by her maid, walked in unsteadily, her face full of anger.
"Mother-in-law".
"grandmother."
The Li family's wives gathered around, their expressions a mixture of worry and barely concealed anger.
Princess Chengyang waved her hand and sat down at the head of the table.
Although her complexion remained normal, her lips were tightly pressed together, and her hand holding the dragon-headed cane trembled incessantly, revealing her extreme anger.
The ladies of the Li family couldn't help but sob softly.
A painful and sorrowful atmosphere filled the entire hall.
Shen Chu felt extremely distressed.
Eighteen years ago, in the war in the southern border region, Princess Chengyang lost her husband and five biological sons.
The wives of the Li family also suffered the pain of losing their husbands and sons.
Only Li Chengxuan, still an infant, remained.
The entire family was orphaned and widowed, but they gritted their teeth and persevered to support the Duke of Huguo's mansion, carefully raising Li Chengxuan to adulthood.
When outsiders mention the Duke of Huguo's mansion, they all give it a thumbs up and say that the whole family is loyal and righteous.
But who knows the torment and suffering they endure?
After a long while, the Grand Princess of Chengyang was the first to wipe away her tears, and a cold glint flashed in her somewhat cloudy eyes.
"In the end, we were blinded by a beast that was disguised so well."
Stop crying, everyone. Wipe away your tears. We must seek justice for our lord and the generals.
Most of the wives in the Li family had served on the battlefield alongside several generals and were all resilient individuals; otherwise, they would not have been able to endure eighteen years of widowhood.
Upon suddenly hearing the truth about the tragic deaths of their husbands and sons, they were overcome with grief and needed to vent their emotions.
After listening to the words of the Grand Princess of Chengyang, everyone gradually composed themselves and regained their composure.
Only Li Chengxuan remained standing there, his eyes filled with confusion, grief, and a hint of anger.
Shen Chu could understand his pain and confusion.
He lost all his male elders at a young age, and the Longqing Emperor doted on him.
Li Chengxuan regarded the Longqing Emperor as a family member or elder and relied on him.
He was suddenly told that the relatives and elders he relied on and trusted were the murderers of his grandfather, father and several uncles.
He found it hard to accept at first.
"Ah Chu, could there be a mistake? Should I go to the palace and ask His Majesty?"
"It was your grandfather and father who helped Your Majesty ascend the throne. How could Your Majesty be so ungrateful as to poison them?"
"I don't believe it. I'm going to the palace to ask."
Bang.
The Grand Princess of Chengyang slammed her cane on the ground and hissed, "Stop right there."
Li Chengxuan turned around, his eyes reddening.
"Grandmother, do you believe what A-Chu said? What if she's wrong?"
The Grand Princess of Chengyang tapped the ground again with her cane.
"You're being silly. Back then, your grandfather led 50,000 personal troops and routed the people of the southern border."
After winning the battle, all that was left was to take stock of the casualties and let the soldiers rest. Why did they have to get infected with miasma at this time?
Even if we were infected with malaria, what a coincidence that our entire family—father, son, grandfather, and grandson—were all infected?
I was puzzled back then. Although our family's sons have always been the ones charging ahead, I know your grandfather.
Even though he was filled with patriotic fervor, he wouldn't let all his grandsons be at the forefront; he would definitely leave your eldest brother and the others behind to hold the line.
Firstly, it's to leave the rear to our most trusted family members, and secondly, it's to prevent any unforeseen circumstances from causing our family line to end.
But all the soldiers who returned at that time, including the old man and the others, looked as if they had been poisoned by miasma.
Therefore, although I had my doubts, I did not dare to voice them.
But I never imagined that my father-in-law, my children, and my grandchildren would die unjustly for eighteen years.
Princess Chengyang burst into tears as she spoke.
“Chengxuan, your mother, your aunt, and I have never asked anything of you. We only hope that you can live a peaceful and happy life.”
But right now...
A strong glimmer of hope shone in the eyes of the Grand Princess of Chengyang.
"Right now, your grandmother hopes that you can uphold the honor of the Duke of Huguo's mansion and join me in seeking justice for your grandfather, your father, your uncles, and your brothers."
Li Chengxuan stared blankly at the Grand Princess of Chengyang, then turned to look at his mother and aunts.
They all looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Their gazes, like sunshine, instantly dispelled the confusion in his heart and filled him with boundless courage.
He clenched his fists. "Grandmother, I will never let you down. But what should I do now?"
The Grand Princess of Chengyang looked at Shen Chu.
"I think you and His Highness Prince Rui have already started taking action. Tell me about your plan?"
Shen Chu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She made the right bet.
If she could gain the support of the Grand Princess of Chengyang, her and Pei Yuan's chances of winning would increase.
"Grand Princess, it's like this..."
------
The grand court assembly in the palace was exceptionally lively today.
Just as the Longqing Emperor sat down on the dragon throne, a palace attendant reported this.
"Your Majesty, someone outside is beating the petition drum, claiming to be Chen Mo, the son of Shen Zhixing, the former prefect of Liangzhou."
When the Longqing Emperor heard the sound of the Dengwen Drum, his eyelids would twitch.
Upon hearing that it was Shen Zhixing's son, his expression turned even more unpleasant.
The Flying Eagle Guard has its own secret agents. He knew about Zhou Weizong's disturbance at the Flying Eagle Guard a few days ago, his silent recovery of his memories, and his reunion with Shen Chu.
Therefore, when he heard the silent man beating the petition drum outside, his heart sank.
Previously, Shen Chu had beaten the Dengwen Drum, and not long after, her brother came.
These brother and sister are really annoying.
But with everyone watching, he couldn't lash out, so he had no choice but to instruct the eunuchs.
"Go and bring the person in."
Silence quickly followed.
The Longqing Emperor's first words were a rebuke.
"You are Shen Zhixing's son, Chen Mo? Then you must be Shen Chu's elder brother. Shen Chu is currently serving as a female official in the court and is also the sixth prince's wife."
Why do you have to beat the petition drum when you can't report your matter through the sixth brother?
"If all the common people were like you, constantly banging on the petition drum, wouldn't I have no time to handle state affairs every day, just dealing with your trivial and insignificant matters?"
These words were tantamount to including Pei Yuan in the criticism.
Pei Yuan stood on the left, looking down at his nose, seemingly oblivious to the unspoken meaning in Emperor Longqing's words, and even calmly looked at the silent Emperor.
"Why have you come to beat the petition drum? Tell me what grievances you have."
Silently kneeling on the ground, he kowtowed heavily and said loudly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. The reason I struck the Dengwen Drum is to seek justice for the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the 50,000 Lu family soldiers."
Thirteen years ago, it was the Duke of Zhenguo who led 50,000 Lu family soldiers to fight to the death and repel the Northern Rong people's attack.
It is Marquis Zhou Qi of Anding....."
He raised his hand and suddenly pointed at the Marquis of Anding, who was standing in front of the ministers, his eyes filled with resentment.
"It was Zhou Qi who claimed to have been ordered by His Majesty to lead troops into the city and massacre the Lu family army and the people in the city."
Finally, he claimed that he had repelled the Northern Rong people and fraudulently claimed the military merits of the Lu family army.
Silently, her eyes red-rimmed, she looked up at the Longqing Emperor, her voice tinged with a tragic air.
"I personally witnessed the Duke and his wife, along with countless members of the Lu family army, including my brothers, die in that massacre."
"This humble subject wishes to ask today: Was it truly His Majesty's order to strangle us, or was it a forged edict issued by Zhou Qi?"
Emperor Longqing's expression changed drastically, and he was so shocked that he almost jumped off his dragon throne.
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