Chapter 65 [VIP]
The emperor was dumbfounded and looked utterly embarrassed.
He settled himself on the dragon throne, his voice trembling, "You...you..."
"How dare you!" the Prince of Jin roared. "This is the Imperial Palace! You brought this...this kind of thing into the Imperial Palace! Your intentions are utterly sinister, and you deserve to die! Guards, drag him away!"
“Uncle Jin,” Xie Yingchen said unhurriedly, “the Emperor is still here, and you have no say in this matter.”
Prince Jin looked at Xie Yingchen, pointed at Gu Zhizhuo with one finger, and said hatefully, "This man has no respect for the emperor, he is truly hateful! Does Prince Chen intend to plead for him?!"
“Prince Chen,” Prince Jin sneered, “I’ve forgotten that Miss Gu is your fiancée. These disloyal and untrustworthy people from the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion, who are so defiant and rebellious, could it be that you, Prince Chen, have already colluded with them and are plotting something sinister?”
"My marriage was bestowed by the Emperor. Is Uncle Jin implying that the Emperor is plotting something? You'd better explain yourself."
"A cunning liar..."
"Your Majesty, please calm down." Chief Minister Song stepped forward and said, "Miss Gu is still young and inexperienced; perhaps she has overlooked some things."
He glared at Gu Zhizhuo and snapped, "Get out of here right now!"
After saying that, he avoided the emperor and winked at her.
When the Gu family went to the Western Frontier to escort the coffin, the emperor had already announced to the world that the remains of the Duke of Zhenguo would be returned to Xiliang.
Prince Chen even asked if the body of the Duke of Zhenguo was intact. At that time, the emperor angrily scolded the Liang people for being untrustworthy, destroying the Duke of Zhenguo's remains, and only returning the head, etc.
Later, Prince Jin even impeached Miss Gu, saying that she behaved inappropriately and acted recklessly in the Western Frontier, and that in Aur City, she held the head of the Duke of Zhenguo in her arms, inciting the people and almost causing a great upheaval.
She even dares to hug someone's head!
The wooden box I have in my hand now is quite intriguing, making me think a lot.
Chief Minister Song felt a chill run down his spine.
After the Duke of Guo's great victory in Xiliang, he died mysteriously. There were many people in the court who had doubts, and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was certainly no exception.
Now that the Duke's remains are incomplete, it's normal for the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion to harbor resentment and hatred. However, no matter what, Miss Gu should not have brought the Duke's head to the Golden Palace!
This will only bring trouble to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
"Get down quickly."
"Take it down!"
The Grand Secretary Song and the Prince of Jin spoke up almost simultaneously; the former wanted to defend him, while the latter wished he could plunge him into the abyss.
"Guards!" the emperor finally spoke, his eyes bloodshot. "Bring..."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"Prince Jin," Gu Zhizhuo said with a sneer, "I wonder what I have done that makes you so insist that I have ulterior motives?"
Her piercing eyes were fixed on Prince Jin: "Our Zhenguo Duke's Mansion is wholeheartedly devoted to the country and loyal to the Great Qi. Your Highness is spouting nonsense, making baseless accusations, and trying to frame the Gu family to death. Your heart is despicable, and your actions deserve to be punished!"
Undisguised chuckles broke the unbelievably quiet atmosphere of the imperial court.
In an instant, all eyes turned to him, and upon seeing that it was Shen Xu, they quickly lowered their heads, afraid of being discovered by him.
Shen Xu subtly curled her red lips, stood to the emperor's right, looked down at the court, and looked down on everyone with disdain.
This laughter fueled the burning passion in the Prince of Jin's heart even more.
He pointed at Gu Zhizhuo and said angrily, "You brought this kind of thing, this kind of thing? Is it a gift for the Emperor?"
The Grand Secretary frowned and rebuked, "Prince Jin, watch your words!"
"This kind of thing?"
Gu Zhizhuo's face was grim, and he said in a cold voice, "You mean..."
She placed the wooden box on the ground, lifted it up, and her voice suddenly rose: "...This one?"
The speed of their movements surprised everyone.
ah!
Some timid civil officials were terrified and immediately raised their sleeves to cover their eyes.
"Take it away!"
"Miss Gu, how dare you!"
"Boss, boss..."
Chaos reigned in the imperial palace.
The Prince of Jin was greatly alarmed. He grabbed the arm of an official beside him and held on tightly, his forehead covered in beads of sweat.
The Xie family conquered the world on horseback. All the Xie family members, whether princes or members of the imperial family, grew up practicing martial arts and archery from a young age. Prince Jin was no exception. He was strong and pinched the official so hard that the official's hand was almost broken, but he didn't dare to make a sound.
The emperor trembled violently, shaking like a leaf.
Li Deshun quickly stepped forward half a step to block the emperor, lest he lose his composure in front of his ministers.
He looked cautiously at the wooden box on the ground.
Huh?
Li Deshun rubbed his eyes, looked more closely, and leaned down to say with a smile, "Your Majesty, it's armor."
Armor?
"It's a helmet!"
The emperor paused for a moment, then slowly raised his eyelids and looked down.
The wooden box on the ground was fully opened. Gu Zhizhuo bent down and took out the contents, holding them respectfully with both hands.
The emperor squinted and finally saw clearly that it was obviously a helmet.
A somewhat worn-out helmet with a dark color.
A helmet covered in scratches, instantly suggesting the intensity of a battle.
A helmet, mottled and worn, as if stained with blood.
There were also some bold people in the court. The Duke of Wei stared intently at the helmet, took two steps forward subconsciously, and then stopped abruptly, his tiger-like eyes turning red.
"Ah Tao. Sigh."
He shook his head. His long sigh seemed to carry endless unspoken words.
helmet?
The Prince of Jin's face turned ashen; he suddenly felt that he had been tricked.
In the Golden Palace, the civil and military officials had different expressions, and in an instant, they fell into an eerie silence.
Shen Xu crossed his arms over his chest with great interest, his bright red robes shimmering.
A wooden box and a helmet were all it took to outwit the entire court, making them look foolish in every way. Interesting.
He glanced sideways at the young woman standing in the center of the court. She was calm and composed, her phoenix eyes slightly upturned at the corners, carrying an undisguised sharpness and brilliance.
"emperor."
Her voice was clear and resonant, like pearls falling onto a plate.
"This helmet was bestowed upon my late father by the late emperor and has always been with him."
"When my father went to war, he said that even if the battlefield was stained with blood, we would win a great victory and live up to the expectations of the Great Qi Dynasty."
My father failed to return three years ago.
"Now three years have passed, and by the grace of His Majesty, I have been granted permission to travel to the Western Frontier to bring him back to the capital."
"My late father did not fail the Emperor's grace! He did not fail the people."
Her words were high-pitched and heart-wrenching, like thunder in the ears.
Four generations of the Gu family have lived up to the expectations of Daqi.
Gu Zhizhuo stood upright, his heart aching as if it were being stabbed.
The hatred of losing his entire family to death tormented him in his previous life, causing him unbearable pain in his midnight dreams.
She stared at the emperor and could even see the cold sweat still clinging to his forehead.
In her previous life, she traveled all over the country with the young master, and she witnessed firsthand how barbarians left nine out of ten houses empty and mountains of bones in the places they passed through.
The young master told her that if it weren't for Gu Jia, at least hundreds of thousands more people would have died in the Western Frontier.
Without the protection of their families, Han Chinese in the northern frontier would be worse off than pigs and dogs.
The Gu family used their own flesh and blood to protect the people of the world.
For the sake of the world, Father deserves it.
For the sake of "the emperor's favor," my father is not worth it.
Gu Zhizhuo raised her head and said, "My father spent a year and a half in the Western Frontier without suffering any defeats. Now that the war in the Western Frontier has ended, I am escorting his coffin back to the capital. I am using this helmet as a substitute to report to the Emperor."
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!"
Her voice was passionate and resounded throughout the Golden Palace.
Countless people were stirred with emotion, recalling the scene of Gu Taotao leading his troops into battle back then.
The imperial carriage saw them off at Shili Pavilion. Gu Taotao offered three cups of strong liquor to the spirits of the fallen heroes and vowed to defeat Daliang and live up to the emperor's grace.
The emperor and his ministers parted with deep reluctance, and the emperor promised that he would reward him with the finest wine when he returned to the capital to report back.
"Prince Jin, have you seen this clearly?!" Gu Zhizhuo stared intently at him. "You are spouting nonsense and uttering rubbish. You are insulting and slandering the things bestowed upon you by the late emperor. Can't I also say that Prince Jin is disrespectful to the late emperor, has wicked intentions, and deserves to be executed?!"
The King of Jin was both surprised and furious.
A junior, not even as old as his son, dared to be so arrogant in front of him.
The Prince of Jin was furious. He lifted his robe, knelt down, and said, "I misspoke. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
What's wrong with admitting a mistake?
They've all been tricked by Gu Zhizhuo! Not only him, but even the emperor probably wishes he could drag that damned girl out and beat her to death.
If he kneels down, the emperor will only think that he is taking the blame for the emperor.
The emperor stared expressionlessly at the helmet, waved his hand, and said, "Don't be so impulsive next time. Just punish him with a year's salary."
Prince Jin quickly expressed his gratitude, forcing a smile: "Miss Gu, I misspoke."
He's quite the man of flexibility. No wonder he rose from a remote member of the imperial clan to become the emperor's trusted confidant and right-hand man. Gu Zhizhuo said in the gentlest tone, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formality. Next time, you'd better look carefully. If your eyesight isn't good, then it's better to just gouge out your eyes."
"you!"
"alright."
The emperor interrupted impatiently, his vision blurred as if shrouded in darkness, sometimes even unable to see Gu Zhizhuo below.
His dragon robe was soaked with sweat, clinging damply to his back.
He sighed, "It is truly a pity that the Duke of Zhenguo has lost such a valiant general. Every time I think of it, my heart aches."
"Gu Qing and I are on good terms as ruler and subject, but he ultimately did not get to drink that bowl of fine wine."
"Your Majesty's favor towards my late father was as vast as the sea, and I am deeply grateful."
She lowered her eyes, and beneath her long eyelashes seemed to lie endless sorrow.
"But it was only after I went to the Western Frontier that I learned that some people were spreading the word that it was Prince Jin who quelled the war and that it was Prince Jin's heir who guarded the border and looked after the Western Frontier. Such merits are truly unparalleled."
Prime Minister Song frowned and asked, "Miss Gu, is this really true?"
“Of course.” Gu Zhizhuo sneered repeatedly. “This is what Liu Nuo, the military supervisor of Aur City, said himself. Liu Nuo is a retainer of the prince, isn’t he?”
"Your Highness is truly shrewd."
"Not only did they take credit for my father's military achievements, but they also want to erase his accomplishments."
Prince of Jin: !
She came here specifically for me today, didn't she?
What did I do to offend her?
For military merit? Gu Taotao is dead, so what if he gets the merit?! It can't be wasted.
"Your Majesty, I..."
The Prince of Jin knelt down once again, his voice stuck in his throat.
Everyone in the court and the public knows how the title of Prince Jin was obtained.
After the pacification of the western frontier, the chief minister of the Song Dynasty petitioned to posthumously confer the title of Duke Zhenguo and bestow generous rewards upon the Duke Zhenguo's mansion. The emperor replied that the conferment and rewards would be given after the peace talks concluded.
Afterwards, before the spirit tablet of the Duke of Zhenguo, the emperor betrothed Miss Gu to the Third Prince Xie Jing.
Xie Jing was the eldest son of Empress Yuan and had always been the emperor's preferred crown prince. This promise was like a promise that the bloodlines of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the Xie family would be intertwined, and that the throne of the future Daqi would be occupied by an heir with the bloodline of the Gu family.
This silenced many people's complaints.
Even later, when the emperor used the success of the peace talks as a pretext to give the credit for "pacifying the war" to the Prince of Jin, there were not many voices of opposition in the court.
Even Chief Minister Song was one of them.
The current emperor is of poor quality and is also suspicious and distrustful.
He did not trust these veteran ministers of the late emperor and was determined to support his confidants.
Since the tripartite balance of power in the court reassured him, Chief Minister Song tacitly approved his support of Prince Jin, allowing Prince Jin to claim the military merits of the Duke of Zhenguo.
The Duke of Zhenguo's family has achieved great merit, overshadowing the emperor, who is not one to tolerate such behavior. With the Duke of Zhenguo gone, it would be better for the Gu family to keep a low profile. However, the Prince of Jin has taken credit for the Duke of Zhenguo's achievements; how can the emperor allow the heir apparent to sow discord and distort the truth in the western frontier?
He exchanged a glance with the Duke of Wei, who was standing on the opposite side, and his gaze gradually turned cold.
"Your Majesty, my late father's achievements were world-renowned. He conquered the northern frontier and pacified the western frontier. He never suffered a defeat in his life and guarded the territory of the Great Qi for more than twenty years."
"How can such unparalleled achievements be plundered by others and forgotten in the long river of history?"
"Your Majesty," Chief Minister Song stepped forward and said, "The Duke of Zhenguo died in the Western Frontier. His achievements cannot be erased as well. This will only destabilize the army and cause discontent among the people! Please, Your Majesty, consider this carefully."
The emperor disliked this feeling of being coerced and remained silent.
Duke Wei sneered, "Your Majesty, are you going to protect such an incompetent person as Prince Jin?"
"How could I be so incompetent?!" the Prince of Jin said angrily. "Duke of Wei..."
Gu Zhizhuo proudly declared, "My late father, Gu Taotao, made outstanding contributions and deserves to be admitted to the Purple Extreme Pavilion!"
Her voice drowned out the Prince of Jin, causing an uproar throughout the court.
The chief minister looked horrified, and the Prince of Jin gasped, turning back to look at her in disbelief.
In the temple, all eyes were on her.
At the very heart of this great power, Gu Zhizhuo was fearless and undaunted.
She knew Xie Yingchen was there, but she didn't go to see him.
Her resolve was firm, so she didn't need anyone to give her courage.
Xie Yingchen smiled. The young girl was dazzling, as radiant as the sun, and as brilliant as the brightest star in the night sky, always the most eye-catching one.
Gu Zhizhuo repeated, word by word, "Your Majesty should proclaim to the world that Duke Zhenguo Gu Taotao has made outstanding contributions."
"We should enter the Purple Extreme Pavilion!"
After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne, he issued an edict to open the Ziji Pavilion.
The Ziji Pavilion is located next to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Emperor Taizu once said that the spirit tablets of famous ministers throughout history who had made extraordinary contributions to the world could be placed in the Ziji Pavilion, where they would forever receive imperial incense offerings and be worshipped by all people! The Xie family, who have been in charge of the Great Qi Dynasty, have been worshipping the pavilion for generations.
The Ziji Pavilion now houses the 12 founding ministers; since the founding emperor, no ministers have had their memorial tablets enshrined there.
The Gu family can be described as incredibly bold.
To actually say such a thing in front of the emperor!
The emperor gripped the armrest of the dragon throne and blurted out, "No!"
Gu Zhizhuo wouldn't budge an inch: "Why not?"
His face turned cold. The Gu family was becoming increasingly arrogant, using their small contribution to coerce him in front of everyone.
The emperor said without room for doubt: "Although the Duke of Zhenguo has made contributions, they are far less than those of the founding of the nation. This matter is unacceptable."
How could he possibly agree to something like that?
The Gu family has been deeply rooted in the Great Qi Dynasty for a long time. The name of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion is too prestigious. Who in the Great Qi Dynasty doesn't know the name of the Gu family? He went to great lengths to suppress the Gu family's momentum. If he were to let Gu Taotao into the Ziji Pavilion now, wouldn't that be acknowledging the Gu family's immense contributions?
How can we get rid of the Gu family in the future with a legitimate reason?
As long as the Gu family remains, he will be a major threat to Daqi.
"This matter is not open to further discussion, withdraw..."
Snap!
Gu Zhizhuo raised his hands high and smashed the helmet hard against the kneeling Prince Jin.
Caught off guard, the King of Jin's helmet struck his shoulder and fell to the ground.
She clenched her fingers and pointed at Prince Jin, saying, "He was able to become a prince by stealing military merits, while my father, with his real achievements, couldn't even get into the Ziji Pavilion?"
The Prince of Jin was practically going mad.
Because he truly took credit for Gu Taotao's work, he had no right to speak at this moment.
He had already stopped talking, so why was this Miss Gu still staring at him so intently?
Is he easy to bully?
"Miss Gu!" Prince Jin clutched his throbbing shoulder, his anger blazing. "Whether or not one enters the Purple Pavilion is determined by the Emperor's own will. Gu Taotao is not worthy..."
"Your Highness Prince Jin, would you dare say that again while looking at the helmet?!"
The helmet rolled down in front of him, its mottled bloodstains and numerous scratches reflected in his pupils.
He went to the Western Frontier when the war was drawing to a close, carrying a secret imperial edict instructing Gu Taotao to hand over all matters concerning the Western Frontier to him. However, Gu Taotao did not agree.
At that time, Gu Taotao was wearing this helmet.
He looked at himself, his sharp gaze seeming to see right through his thoughts.
The Prince of Jin shivered, his lips parted and closed, but he could not utter a word.
The emperor flew into a rage: "Does the Gu family not even respect me?"
He suddenly stood up and stepped down from the imperial platform.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Song, the chief minister, said repeatedly.
He had been amazed by this Miss Gu countless times, his heart pounding.
If this were a crime of disrespecting the emperor...
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Gu Zhizhuo's tears suddenly well up. She was still young and had not yet reached marriageable age, and the tears flowing down her face were as if she had suffered endless grievances and injustices.
The Prince of Jin claimed the military merits of pacifying the western frontier, erasing all the achievements of the Duke of Zhenguo.
She was avenging her father's wrongdoing, and even if she was momentarily agitated, she only directed her anger at the Prince of Jin, without committing any act of insubordination.
If we insist on pursuing this matter, it will only make the emperor appear narrow-minded.
The Grand Secretary's anxiety eased slightly.
First, he distracted the emperor with a helmet, then brought up the merits of Zhenguo Pingxi, and accused the Prince of Jin of stealing military credit.
The Prince of Jin was the emperor's true confidant, but he had seized the military credit first, leaving him with no grounds to speak, which was tantamount to cutting off the emperor's mouth.
They then pressed on relentlessly.
All for the sake of entering the Purple Extreme Pavilion.
When the emperor was about to adjourn the court session, she threw her helmet at the Prince of Jin.
She would cry whenever the emperor got angry.
She was not yet of marriageable age and was still considered a child. Who could argue with a child over such trivial matters?
This Miss Gu is truly remarkable.
How did Gu Taotao raise his daughter?
The emperor felt a lump in his throat, unable to breathe.
Gu Zhizhuo walked over and picked up the helmet again. Holding it in both hands, she faced the Emperor and said with tears streaming down her face, "Your Majesty, my father has made great contributions and should be admitted to the Purple Palace Pavilion!"
My senior brother said that to break the curse, we need to let Father enjoy the incense offerings of the people.
Whether it was to reclaim the credit that belonged to Father, or because of this damned blessing curse.
She wanted to get her father into the Purple Palace so that he could enjoy the offerings of the people of Daqi and the fortune of the royal family.
This matter must be accomplished, whether it succeeds or not.
Her gaze swept across the court.
"Does anyone have a problem with this?"
She raised her hands slightly, as if anyone who said "no" would be hit by the helmet.
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
