Ji Xiaoxiao climbed the pole quickly and accurately, and in no time she reached the top of all the ministers' heads, where she threw a tantrum and committed all sorts of evil deeds.
"Hahaha, this is my territory." He put his hands on his hips and grinned wickedly.
Some were happy, some were sad. Lu Guiting was just going through the motions, but Ji Xiaoxiao shamelessly pushed all the blame onto her. Ironically, she brought it on herself, faithfully taking the blame in front of everyone.
"Your Majesty, I sob sob sob..."
Like a skilled actress, Lu Guiting can laugh when she wants to laugh and cry when she wants to cry, having honed her ability to portray a child's face in June to a level of consummate skill.
An old woman with disheveled hair, weeping and wailing in the imperial palace—what kind of decorum was that? Ji Xiaoxiao didn't care about that; she propped her chin up with one hand, squinting as if dozing off.
When Lu Guiting cried until she was hoarse, Ji Xiaoxiao spoke up at the right moment, "I was just joking, Prime Minister, why take it seriously?"
Ascent: High-speed artillery shells rise. Descend: Meteorites crash down. A day filled with ups and downs, joys and sorrows, was too much for the elderly woman, Lu Guiting, to bear.
"Your Majesty, you are so magnanimous, I...I have no way to repay you." Lu Guiting was moved to tears, clutching her heart, her face filled with overwhelming emotion.
"Without rules, there can be no order. The Left Prime Minister has failed in his duty to educate his son and deserves punishment. However, considering the Left Prime Minister's hard work and great achievements, let the Right Prime Minister and his entire family be released without charge!"
The nonsensical rewards and punishments shocked everyone present.
"Your Majesty, Xue Fei has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country; the evidence is irrefutable. He cannot be released!"
Lu Guiting was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized that she already understood Ji Xiaoxiao's previous actions and the deeper meaning behind them.
"I am the emperor. I can release whatever I want. How dare you point fingers at me?" Ji Xiaoxiao deeply realized that emperors in feudal times had many privileges.
Lu Guiting lay face down, her face filled with resentment. She had gone to great lengths and exhausted all her efforts to cast Xue Feishuang into an inescapable hell. Now, all her hard work was in vain because of Ji Xiaoxiao's casual remark. Why should she accept this? She was unwilling to give up.
"Your Majesty, if Xue Feishuang, such a heinous villain, is not executed, how can we appease the grievances of the people, and how can we answer to the officials who have worked diligently to protect our country?"
As Lu Guiting spoke with conviction, the officials who had been living off her came forward one by one, each shouting louder than the last, demanding an explanation from Ji Xiaoxiao.
"Prime Minister, you want me to punish Xue Feishuang, is that not possible?"
"Your Majesty!" Lu Guiting almost jumped up and cheered, ready to start dancing the Yangko.
"I released Xue Feishuang only out of respect for you, Prime Minister Zuo. Since you, Prime Minister Zuo, wish to put Xue Feishuang to death, I am prepared to do the thankless task as well. Xue Feishuang? As previously sentenced, execute him by slow slicing in two days!"
Ji Xiaoxiao waved her hand weakly and continued, "Beauty is often short-lived, and talent is often envied by heaven. Prime Minister Zuo, you can die now too."
Lu Guiting's smile froze on her face. Her handsome features twitched uncontrollably, contorting into a grimace.
"Stop calling me 'Your Majesty,' it's like calling back a ghost! People might think I'm about to pass away." Ji Xiaoxiao interrupted Lu Guiting as she opened her mouth to speak.
"You've failed to raise your son properly and now you're tired of living. You can die now." Ji Xiaoxiao sighed. "Prime Minister Zuo, you are a talented person. I don't want to lose you, so I've been so lenient in your punishment. Xue Feishuang has been released without charge, so you haven't lost anything. Alas, you don't understand my good intentions. Guards, drag Lu Guiting away and behead her as a warning to others."
Ji Xiaoxiao wasn't joking; she genuinely intended to kill her. In a moment of quick thinking, Lu Guiting weighed the pros and cons and ultimately agreed to Ji Xiaoxiao's request. After all, she was in the wrong first, having given birth to a brainless son like Lu Zhixuan.
"This is truly my good prime minister!"
Ji Xiaoxiao offered Lu Guiting a few words of encouragement, then chatted with the ministers about trivial matters in the court before slowly leaving the Golden Palace.
When Lu Guiting returned home, she was so angry that she smashed things everywhere.
"I'm so angry! I'm so angry!"
Having vented most of her anger, Lu Guiting took a sip of cold tea and sat down listlessly. Her former vigor was gone; she hung her head, sighing repeatedly.
"Mother, I heard your sighing from afar. What's wrong?" A string of pearls, round and melodious, spoke in a young girl's voice, pleasant and melodious.
The young girl stepped over the threshold and came towards us. Her demeanor was graceful and gentle, like a spring breeze. Her clothes were simple yet dignified, exuding elegance and nobility while also carrying a touch of girlish charm and innocence.
"Yalan, what brings you here?"
A daughter is a parent's little angel, and this saying couldn't be more fitting for Lu Guiting. Just moments ago, Lu Guiting was frowning, but seeing Lu Yalan gracefully approaching, she immediately beamed with joy, patted the seat next to her, and gestured for Lu Yalan to sit down.
"I just missed you, Mother!" Lu Yalan sat down, leaned half her body over, and gently hugged Lu Guiting's arm, shaking it occasionally.
As she grew older, Lu Guiting, like many elderly people, enjoyed having younger generations around her. When Lu Yalan gently shook her, her temper, like water meeting fire, hissed and rose into the sky, disappearing without a trace.
"You know how to care for your mother; it's no wonder I dote on you."
After exchanging a few private words with Lu Guiting, Lu Yalan asked Lu Guiting again why she had gotten angry and why she was so upset. Lu Guiting looked around, dismissed the servants, and then explained everything to Lu Yalan.
Lu Yalan's face turned grave upon hearing Lu Guiting's words. "Mother, hasn't His Majesty always acted on your advice before? Today, His Majesty has acted completely out of character. Not only has he imprisoned Zhixuan and pressured you in court, but he has also used the excuse of your improper upbringing of your son to release Xue Feishuang without charge. Mother, has Lü Ying discovered what our Lu family has been doing behind the scenes? Is she going to…?" Lu Yalan made a throat-slitting gesture.
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