Chapter 79: Summoning Prince Yong, Punishment with Golden Juice
The Empress Dowager had already thought of what Old Madam Ji said.
But Prince Yong is her biological son, and she knows clearly who to protect.
The Queen Mother's fingers tapped lightly on the armrests of the throne, and her gaze through the beaded curtain seemed increasingly indifferent.
"You are wrong, old lady. What does this have to do with my son?"
Hearing that she even changed her address, the old lady's face darkened.
He said in a sad tone: "Xu Wen died early, leaving behind only a pair of children and a widowed mother. I will protect Chang Yan's life even if I die. Your Majesty wants to distance yourself from him, so from now on, I will not nag you anymore."
Qiao sat aside and watched, shaking his head imperceptibly.
The mother-in-law was speaking rashly and it is not wise to blame Prince Yong. Regardless of whether Ji Changyan was instructed by Prince Yong, the crimes he committed are already proven beyond doubt.
Old Madam Ji stood up slowly, the disappointment in her eyes could not be hidden, her grandson's life was in danger, and she, as an aunt, was so cold-blooded.
She tremblingly bowed deeply to the empress dowager. Under normal circumstances, the empress dowager would have gone over to help the old lady.
But this time, the Queen Mother had to harden her heart.
She knew clearly that her second brother Ji Xuwen died of illness in his early years, so the family took good care of the second branch. Old Madam Ji doted on Ji Changyan, which was why she cultivated him into such an impulsive person who only cared about the present and not the future.
No matter what the truth is, since they are of the same blood, the Ji family should suffer this for Prince Yong.
The Queen Mother twisted the Buddhist beads in her hand, closed her eyes and sighed softly: "Shixi, send the old lady and the others back."
Just as he finished speaking, Miao Guangcai, the chief eunuch of the Cining Palace, suddenly rushed into the hall, looking panicked and speaking in a hurried tone.
"Empress Dowager, something terrible has happened!"
Shi Xi hurriedly stopped him: "Eunuch Mu, you must not be disrespectful in front of the Queen Mother."
Miao Guangcai fell to his knees, his voice trembling, "Your Highness, the Emperor issued an order a quarter of an hour ago. Prince Yong has been summoned to the Imperial City Prison."
The Buddhist beads in the Queen Mother's hand fell to the ground, and the wide sleeves of her crimson-purple robe trembled continuously.
"I have to go to the Imperial Prison."
Shi Xi, the palace attendant in charge, advised calmly, "Empress Dowager, this is against the law. The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. If the emperor and all the ministers know that you went to the imperial prison, you will definitely be criticized. Please think twice."
Worry makes one confused. When it came to Prince Yong's matter, even though she was the Queen Mother, she almost lost her mind.
The Queen Mother walked down the steps in a confused manner, and held Madam Ji's hand. She lost her previous indifference and said anxiously, "Mother, Minghong has been taken to the Imperial Prison. Will he be punished?"
Madam Ji was equally shocked.
Prince Yong was a prince, and there had never been a precedent of a prince being imprisoned. They were always detained in the Ministry of Justice first, and would only be convicted after a joint trial by the three courts.
The emperor's actions made these people panic.
Qiao, who had been sitting next to him and remained silent, frowned and asked, "Eunuch, can you tell me why Prince Yong left?"
Miao Guangcai replied: "The decree did not specify, it only said to send the prince over."
Mrs. Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since it is a summons, not a detention, I think the situation is not serious. Empress Dowager, the people of the Ji family cannot be dispersed. We should think of a way to deal with it together."
Wu got up from the ground and said quickly, "Changyan went out with Qingwu yesterday. She must know what happened. Empress Dowager, please summon her to ask her!"
Madam Ji also said, "Yes, the second daughter-in-law is right. We must first understand what happened last night before we know what to do next."
When she heard that Xiaowu was going to be called over, Qiao's expression changed.
Yesterday, Ji Changyan said that Xiaowu wanted to go to Yucui Tower. This building was owned by Prince Yong and specialized in women's clothing and jewelry business. Qiao didn't think it was wrong when she heard it.
But it was getting late and Ji Qingwu had not returned home yet. Qiao sent someone to inquire about it again, and Ji Changyan's servant replied that the fifth young lady was in high spirits and had drunk some wine, so she rested in the private room of Yucui Tower.
Qiao still doesn't know what happened that night, but the two imperial edicts this morning show that what happened last night was not simple.
Qiao had been suspicious for a long time, so it was best not to involve Xiaowu at this time.
She pretended to sigh and said, "Xiao Wu was confined to her house because she offended the emperor. She cannot go out now. There are guards guarding the gate of the courtyard."
The Queen Mother said dejectedly: "The Emperor has done such a good job of blocking the news. He is determined to make life difficult for the Ji family."
Before the people in the Cining Palace could come up with a countermeasure, a cup of tea time had passed when a young eunuch in blue clothes appeared at the door.
Shixi recognized him as Hu Guizi, who was beside Prince Yong, and quickly let him in.
Everyone looked anxiously at the young eunuch who came to deliver the message.
Hu Guizi was out of breath, her face turning blue: "Empress Dowager, Prince Yong..."
Since this matter concerned Prince Yong, and he had such an expression, the Queen Mother urged him angrily, "Hurry up and tell me, don't hesitate, what happened to Minghong?!"
Hu Guizi cried and said, "Prince Yong fainted in the imperial prison."
Something happened to Prince Yong...
The emperor's move was so ruthless that the empress dowager fell down on the throne.
Madam Ji asked, "But who is so bold as to torture Prince Yong?"
Hu Guizi said, "Your Highness, Madam, there was no torture. The Emperor summoned Prince Yong to supervise the punishment."
Supervise the execution?
The Queen Mother breathed a sigh of relief and pointed at the young eunuch with her red nails: "Who is the one being punished?"
"It's the third son of the Ji family."
Wu's eyes were red as she said, "It's Chang Yan..."
"The execution scene was extremely brutal, and Prince Yong couldn't bear it and fainted," Hu Guizi explained.
Just a dozen or so words terrified Mrs. Wu and Old Madam Ji. What kind of horrible punishment could make Prince Yong, who was watching the execution, faint from fear?
Madam Ji asked, "What kind of torture was used?"
"Yes, yes, it is the punishment of golden juice."
It was the first time that those present had heard of this kind of punishment.
Wu asked hastily, "What is the Golden Juice Punishment?"
Hu Guizi did not see the execution process. It was Lord Duan Mingfeng of the Imperial City Bureau who ordered people to carry the unconscious Prince Yong out.
He was able to enter the imperial prison on the underground level and secretly take a peek at the scene inside.
The tortured man was so disfigured that he looked unrecognizable, his brocade clothes were covered in filth, and his screams of agony echoed throughout the prison.
When he dragged Prince Yong out, the screaming continued. It was obvious that he was in extreme pain every minute and every second, but he couldn't stop.
Hu Guizi was still at the prison gate. When he heard the jailer's casual words, he realized what methods were used inside to torture a person into a state of being neither human nor ghost in an instant.
"This is an extreme measure used when defending a city on a battlefield."
He took a breath and said, "It's urine and feces mixed with boiling hot oil, poured on people."
Urine, feces, hot oil.
None of them is something that ordinary people can afford, let alone a young man who grew up in luxury.
Just by listening, Mrs. Wu couldn't bear it and let out a series of sharp screams.
Shi Xi stepped forward and covered her mouth, frowning and saying, "Second Madam, I'm sorry, loud noises are not allowed in the palace."
The Empress Dowager's intention to visit the Imperial Prison to see Prince Yong suddenly disappeared. She did not want to witness such a cruel and filthy scene with her own eyes.
When Mrs. Ji thought of her grandson's disfigured body and covered in feces, she felt so heartbroken that she vomited.
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