The emperor looked embarrassed and felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
He wanted to find a reason to punish the Ge family, but he didn't want to punish them severely for such a small matter, otherwise he would only be known as a tyrant. So he pretended to be lenient: "My dear, you have drunk too much. How can I be so harsh with you for this?" Then he ordered Peng Hui: "Have someone help Duke Dingguo to a seat and give him some sobering soup."
Several eunuchs and palace maids tried to help the couple to their seats, but Ge Hanzhang, tears streaming down his face, refused to stand. He kowtowed deeply to the emperor, "Your Majesty... I beg..."
He wept bitterly and said seriously, "My little daughter Yuan Hui has been spoiled since she was young... and is ignorant. If she has offended Your Majesty in any way, please... do not be harsh!"
When they heard Ge Yuanhui's name, the guests dared not speak and only exchanged glances silently.
The court had heard some things about how Ge Yuanhui entered the palace, but the royal family said that she was favored by the emperor and was given a position and stayed in the palace to serve him. No one dared to speculate about the hidden truth.
But Ge Yuanhui, young and from a distinguished family, how could she have volunteered to be a concubine to an aging emperor? Even if she had made some foolish mistakes in the past, it was still a cause for regret. Of course, no one dared to express this regret, and they could only tacitly agree: His Majesty had favored Ge Yuanhui, and this was a joy and honor for Ge Yuanhui and the Ge family.
As for Ge Yuanhui's favor, it must be that he did not have it, otherwise he would not have remained at the position of a noble, nor would he have announced to the public that he was ill shortly after entering the palace and was kept in the palace to recuperate, and even failed to attend today's banquet.
But Ge Hanzhang was seen crying bitterly, as if he really wanted to plead for Ge Yuanhui, but it also seemed like he was pleading for the Ge family. In public, he asked the emperor to show mercy and let the Ge family go based on his past merits in following the emperor.
The emperor was not in a position to refute him in public. After all, Ge Hanzhang only asked the emperor to treat Ge Yuanhui well, and did not point out anything. If the emperor reacted too much, it would seem that the emperor did not sympathize with the old ministers who helped him to ascend to the throne, which would discourage other ministers.
Sitting at the table, Gu Shichong frowned as he watched all this, vaguely sensing that something was amiss... Especially when he saw Gu Shiying still sitting there in good health, without any signs of the poison taking effect, he became increasingly uneasy.
At this moment, the emperor's eyes turned cold, as if he was very dissatisfied with Ge Hanzhang, but he still smiled and said, "Don't worry, my dear. Concubine Shun grew up under my watch. How could I bear to criticize her harshly? Concubine Shun is virtuous and intelligent, and she serves me well. I am very satisfied. I am planning to promote her position after the new year. My dear, you are also my right-hand man. I have also had rewards prepared. After the banquet, I will send someone to deliver it to the Duke Dingguo Mansion."
Ge Hanzhang's palms were placed on the ground with a respectful posture, but in the eyes of Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou, Ge Hanzhang's body had almost reached its limit and he was now enduring to the utmost.
Under the table, Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou's intertwined hands tightened due to nervousness.
Hearing this, Ge Hanzhang slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with eagerness. "Your Majesty... I am willing to serve you with all my heart! Your Majesty and I have known each other since childhood, and I have followed you loyally. I am fortunate to have received your kindness, which reminds me of the past. Your Majesty knew that I loved fine wine, and you often gave me wine. I am grateful to you to this day, and I hope Your Majesty will give me some wine. I will drink three cups as a punishment to apologize for disturbing Your Majesty today!"
The emperor just wanted to shut Ge Hanzhang's mouth. How could a man who was always thinking about how to seize power pretend to be loyal?
He raised his glass and said, "My dear minister, I and I should be of one mind and one heart, ruling the Great Yong Empire together."
After saying that, he signaled to Peng Hui, who then asked someone to pour three glasses of wine for Ge Hanzhang. Ge Hanzhang raised his glass and drank them one by one.
Beside her, Madam Ge's eyes were filled with grief, which she could no longer suppress. Gu Shichong saw clearly and his heart skipped a beat. In an instant, a guess flashed through his mind...
He suddenly stood up: "Father..."
Before he finished speaking, Ge Hanzhang's hand holding the wine cup softened, and the golden cup fell to the ground with a bang. Suddenly... a mouthful of dirty blood spurted out of his mouth!
"Master!" Madam Ge's voice was heartbreaking, and everyone was stunned.
Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou looked at each other silently: she guessed right, Ge Hanzhang saw through Gu Shichong's plan, and knew that they wanted to poison the ninth prince and put the blame on the Ge family so that the emperor could have a legitimate reason to attack and make the Ge family guilty. Realizing that the emperor's murderous intention had reached such a point, and also realizing that the Ge family would either rebel or die, Ge Hanzhang decided to use his own life to put the blame on the emperor, so that the Ge family members far away in Yueling Pass could rise up in the name of "the emperor is jealous of talented people and kills loyal and good people indiscriminately."
The emperor also stood up in shock, but Peng Hui was the first to react: "Call the imperial physician!"
Madam Ge supported Ge Hanzhang's body, tears streaming down her face. Ge Hanzhang looked towards the emperor, trembling, his eyes filled with astonishment and sadness. "Your Majesty has given me this wine. Thank you for your grace... Your Majesty! Your grace is so great, I am deeply grateful... The Ge family has been loyal and righteous for generations. I beg Your Majesty to forgive... me!"
As he said this, his eyes went dark and he fainted.
"Master!" Madam Ge burst into tears, as if she had made up her mind. She glared at the emperor, "Your Majesty! My husband has been loyal to you for many years, and our children have fought at the border against the Northern Di. My son, Ge Jingyang, also died for Dayong. Why is Your Majesty so determined to kill us all?"
Without waiting for the emperor to explain, she stood up and said resolutely: "Your Majesty is suspicious of the Ge family. I have nothing to say. I can only sacrifice my life to preserve the reputation of the Ge family as a loyal hero!"
After she said that, she rushed towards the pillar of the hall without hesitation.
With the sound of a skull breaking, Mrs. Ge fell in the hall with blood splattering.
There were screams in the Linhua Palace in an instant, and some timid ones were even frightened to death on the spot, especially the Ninth Prince. Faced with this sudden change, he was stunned for a long time before fainting. People from the Imperial Physician's Office rushed over and took him away for treatment.
For the first time, the emperor felt he had no way of defending himself… He really hadn't given Ge Hanzhang the poisoned wine! How could he do such a foolish thing in public?
Facing the anxious ministers, he wanted to explain, but he felt that he was the emperor. Why should he explain to his ministers something he had not done? This was simply too absurd!
Suddenly, a voice sounded outside the hall.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I beg to see you!"
The emperor's face darkened a little: "Who is making a noise?"
The eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, it was Consort Shun who said she knew who had poisoned Duke Dingguo."
Ge Yuanhui? The emperor was surprised: How could the news reach Ge Yuanhui so quickly?
There are too many things wrong with this matter that need to be investigated in detail, but since Ge Yuanhui has something to say, it doesn't hurt to bring it to the palace, especially at this time, everyone thinks that he has ordered the death of Ge Hanzhang. If he ignores Ge Yuanhui again, people will think that he is dissatisfied with the Ge family, which will further confirm his reputation for indiscriminate killing.
He said coldly: "Spread it."
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