Chapter 211: The only one favored, holding the wrong person
There was no anger in Emperor Wu Su's tone.
There was a barely perceptible hoarseness in the clear voice.
"Beili values martial arts, hoping to intimidate other countries in troubled times, not to force you to fight."
This time, before Zhao Minghong could speak, Wei Ting spoke first.
"I am guilty, please punish me, Your Majesty."
Prince Yong cursed this man in his heart as an old fox, and said half a beat later: "I know I am wrong, please let my brother punish me."
Ji Qingwu, who was standing on the other side of the curtain, felt a little hungry. She looked at the various sweet cakes in front of her but did not dare to move. She held her breath and listened to the voices in the hall.
After hearing the two men admit their mistakes, Emperor Wu Su said, "General Wei, you get up first."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wei Ting stood up and glared at Zhao Minghong, who was still kneeling on the ground.
Emperor Wu Su tapped the table with his long fingers and said leisurely, "My useless brother has always liked to stir up trouble since he was a child. He was wrong to provoke you first today."
Wei Ting noticed something, paused, and replied with a folded hand: "Your Majesty, although the prince was the one who started this matter, I am also wrong. I shouldn't have attacked the prince."
Wei Ting had a way to avoid the fight, but he heard Prince Yong shouting that Ji Qingwu was not allowed to marry him and that he was not worthy of his fifth cousin.
All the gloomy mood he had accumulated over the past few days was triggered by Prince Yong.
Emperor Wu Su nodded, with a smile on his lips.
But he said with a deep chill in his eyes: "General Wei knew he was wrong, but he knowingly committed the crime and attacked the royal family. What was his intention? Are you dissatisfied with me too?"
Wei Ting knelt down again, with surprise flashing in his eyes, and said: "I dare not."
The two looked at each other, and Emperor Wu Su said sternly: "You said you didn't dare, but you dared to fight with the prince in front of the Golden Palace. You are so brave!"
Ji Qingwu, who was in the inner room, heard his cold tone and the hairs on his back stood up.
Wei Ting lay on the ground, his palms resting on the gold bricks, his fingers making tapping sounds.
Emperor Wu Su's gaze moved from his bent back to his hands.
Wei Ting said: "Your Majesty is wise and must know that I have no dissatisfaction with Your Majesty. What happened today is not my fault alone. It was Prince Yong who went too far. He led people to surround me after the court session. I was also trying to protect myself and had no intention of disrespecting Your Majesty."
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Wu Su threw the plate of snacks on the corner of the table to the ground.
The celadon plate broke into pieces, and the cakes and pastries rolled to Prince Yong's feet.
Zhao Minghong saw the piece of Longjing tea cake with the skin broken off from the corner of his eye, and instantly lowered his head even lower.
Wei Ting remained calm and said nothing more.
"Li Yuzong, draft an edict!"
The only sounds in the hall were Emperor Wu Su's suppressed angry voice.
When Ji Qingwu heard clearly what the emperor had ordered, she sat up from the couch, her eyes wide open in shock.
The tea on the large rosewood table in front of the emperor was still warm.
In just a short period of time, Wei Ting, the great general Zhenbei with outstanding military achievements, was demoted and demoted twice to the commander of the vanguard battalion.
However, Prince Yong gave him a lighter sentence by only fining him half a year's salary.
Ji Qingwu found it most shocking that rewards and punishments were so unclear, which was not like Emperor Wu Su's style.
Even a woman like her who knew nothing about state affairs could foresee that this decree would surely cause an uproar in the court.
Maybe people would even accuse the emperor of favoring his own brothers and criticizing General Zhenbei, or that the emperor was afraid that Wei Ting would become too successful and was using this opportunity to suppress him.
But no matter what, the result will chill the hearts of the soldiers in the North.
Wei Ting and Prince Yong were driven out of the Qinzheng Hall together.
Zhao Minghong did not feel gloating about Wei Ting's demotion, but was still surprised.
As far as he could remember, his royal brother had never been so "favored" to him. If he caused trouble, he would always be punished most severely.
Wei Ting accepted the order calmly in the palace and did not argue any further.
But after leaving the palace, he pointed at Prince Yong's nose and said sarcastically, "Your Majesty, you better be careful next time."
Zhao Minghong: "What do you mean?"
Wei Ting said: "Every time I see you next time, I will beat you up!"
In the eyes of the palace servants passing by, the two of them had a big grudge against each other, and General Wei was dissatisfied with the way His Majesty handled the matter.
Tao Wanyin was still standing at the steps at the door.
Zhao Minghong shouted at Wei Ting's back, "I'm not afraid of a mere vanguard battalion commander like you!"
Wei Ting's back stiffened and his fists clenched, but he did not cause any trouble at the gate of the Qinzheng Hall and strode away.
Zhao Minghong walked a few steps in the direction of Tao Wanyin and asked, "What are you doing standing here?"
Tao Wanyin said: "The emperor summoned me, but he hasn't allowed me to go back yet."
Zhao Minghong stared at her face intently, but he said sarcastically, "In front of this king, I come and go as I please. Is this the rule that the princess has always been proud of?"
Tao Wanyin avoided his gaze and said softly, "The emperor did not blame me for the Tao family's affairs and spared my life. I am content."
Zhao Minghong frowned and said, "The emperor spared your life because you are my princess and you are pregnant with my child. Do you understand this?"
Tao Wanyin waited outside the hall for so long, but didn't see Ji Qingwu come out.
Women have delicate and sensitive minds. This is the Qinzheng Hall where the emperor handles government affairs and summons court officials. Even the ladies in the harem cannot stay there for long.
She said impartially: "I think it's Qingwu's credit."
Prince Yong was completely focused on Tao Wanyin just now and didn't even notice Ji Qingwu who was deliberately avoiding them.
Zhao Minghong felt pain all over his body. His knees, which had been kneeling for so long, were the least of his injuries. His serious injuries were all caused by Wei Ting's beating.
That damn vanguard battalion commander! He was a cunning man, and all the beatings he received were hidden injuries.
Zhao Minghong was beaten and forced to kneel, but he didn't get any good results from Tao Wanyin.
He yelled angrily, "What does it have to do with her!"
Feeling his anger, Tao Wanyin's face turned even paler. Emperor Wu Su asked her to restrain Prince Yong, how could she do it?
She had never done this before.
Now, without the support of her family, she felt even less confident in front of Prince Yong. She lowered her eyes and remained quiet.
Li Yuzong came out of the hall and walked in front of the two people.
"Greetings, Your Majesty and Princess."
Seeing that it was the eunuch Li in front of the emperor, Zhao Minghong regained his composure and said, "No need to be polite. What can I do for you, Eunuch Li?"
Li Yuzong said, "I am here to convey the Emperor's order. From now on, the Princess of Yong can move out of Anle Hall and return to the Prince of Yong's Mansion to wait for the birth of her baby."
The anger in Zhao Minghong's eyes was instantly replaced by joy, and he excitedly held Li Yuzong's hand.
Li Yuzong: "Did your Highness hold the wrong person..."
Zhao Minghong looked back at Tao Wanyin and found that she did not share the same joy as him, so the smile on her face faded.
Li Yuzong added: "The emperor also said..."
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