At this critical moment, a guard suddenly emerged from the shadows and swiftly pushed Zhu Yao away, causing him to fall heavily to the ground.
"This Zhu Yao...sigh..."
Zhuo Yi, no longer caring about the entertainment, hurriedly walked out of the private room. Seeing this, Wei Ruo's eyes darkened, and she followed Zhuo Yi out of Lingyun Garden.
"Why does Lord Zhu do this?"
Guo Siyuan was so frightened by the scene before her that she froze on the spot. It wasn't until Zhuo Yi's voice rang out that Guo Siyuan came back to her senses, her legs went weak, and she took a few steps back.
"Prime Minister Zhuo, this humble official... no, this sinful subject has failed to properly educate his son, causing trouble for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and disgracing the reputation of these female scholars. This sinful subject has no face to live in this world."
Every word Zhu Yao spoke was deeply etched in Zhu Cheng's heart. Zhu Cheng, who had been keeping his head down and silent, slowly raised his head.
"Previously, because the female scholar from Lingyun Garden did not accept my apology, I dared not die." Zhu Yao glanced at the dozens of clansmen behind him. "Now I offer my death to atone for my sins, so that my clansmen may be spared from this world."
Looking at Zhu Yao like this, Zhuo Yi didn't know what to say for a moment.
"His Majesty merely decreed that you be demoted and forced to leave the capital, yet you have chosen to seek your own death. Is this not defying the imperial decree?"
As soon as Wei Ruo finished speaking, a carriage slowly drove up from around the corner. Ying Zhi stepped down from the carriage and said, "Lord Zhu, His Majesty invites you."
Zhu Yao trembled upon hearing this and followed behind Ying Zhi.
"Miss Guo has been frightened today. This matter has come to an end today. His Majesty will make the decision on what to do next."
Zhuo Yi spoke to Guo Siyuan, who was clearly not in a hurry to react. She nodded blankly and entered Lingyun Garden without even bowing.
Zhuo Yi and Wei Ruo were left to look at the dozens of Zhu family members, and they exchanged helpless glances.
"Prime Minister Zhuo, my father did it to protect me... right?"
Zhu Cheng spoke with trembling voice, "If that weren't the case, why would Father choose to smash his head against the pillar at this time?"
"Zhu Cheng, you've come of age, there's no need for me to say more." Zhuo Yi looked at Zhu Cheng, his anger rising. "In the past, I only knew that you were straightforward and that you always caused trouble, but this time, you've made a big mistake."
"What kind of skill is it to slander others out of thin air?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Cheng crawled to Zhuo Yi's feet on his knees and grabbed Zhuo Yi's leg. "Prime Minister Zhuo, please allow me to enter the palace to see the Emperor. I have very important news to report to the Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Yi's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Important news?"
......
The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
When Zhu Cheng arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony and saw Zhu Yao's appearance, tears immediately streamed down his face.
Zhu Yao's forehead was stained with blood, clearly from kneeling and kowtowing.
A man in his twenties was crying his eyes out. Even Gu Qingyan, who was sitting on the dragon throne and was full of anger, couldn't help but say, "Alright, what kind of behavior is this, crying and sobbing?"
"Your Majesty, I...I was really wrong. I never thought things would escalate to this extent," Zhu Cheng said, crying. He never imagined that his father would have to atone with his death.
"I've heard you have important news to tell me."
Zhu Cheng immediately nodded. "Your Majesty, on the day the results of the imperial examination were announced, I saw that I had not passed and was worried about being scolded by my parents when I returned home, so I secretly went to a tavern to drink."
Zhu Cheng still vividly remembers the scene from that day.
"While I was drinking...drinking, I overheard two people at the table next to me saying something about thirty women making the list, implying it must be cheating. I was a bit tipsy, so I..."
“But I really didn’t let those people cause trouble on the Empress Dowager’s birthday. I regretted it after I sobered up, but I didn’t dare to tell my father, so I had to hide in my own house.”
"Foolish!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao's eyes turned red. "Why did that person sit next to you for no reason and say that you were so foolish as to become someone else's pawn?"
"I really... I really was drunk. I know I was wrong, Your Majesty. If you must punish someone, punish me. Kill me instead of dismissing my father from his post."
At this point, Zhu Cheng broke down in tears.
“My father would get up before dawn every day to go to the Dali Temple to handle official business. He would take every commoner who came to report to the authorities seriously, and he would often miss lunchtime.”
"I was foolish and fell for the wicked scheme. How could I be so stupid!"
As he spoke, Zhu Cheng began to slap himself repeatedly.
"Guards, take Zhu Cheng away."
As soon as Gu Qingyan's voice rang out, Imperial Guards came and took Zhu Cheng away. Gu Qingyan slowly stood up and walked to Zhu Yao.
"I understand now. Those people not only want to smear the innocence of those thirty female candidates, but also want to get rid of you, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Therefore, your son has become the most suitable candidate."
"emperor!"
Zhu Yao couldn't quite grasp Gu Qingyan's meaning, and large drops of sweat dripped down his forehead.
“You don’t need to seek death. My mother did not fall into a coma because of this matter, and my father will not cause trouble for the Zhu family.”
Upon hearing Gu Qingyan's words, Zhu Yao seemed to lose all his strength and collapsed to the ground.
As an official of Dayu, how could he not know the Emperor Emeritus's methods?
He had previously thought that Cheng'er had angered the Empress Dowager into a coma, and given the Emperor Emeritus's temperament, he would definitely have used a knife.
That's why that scene outside Lingyun Garden happened; he wanted to use his own life to protect the lives of his clansmen.
"Your Majesty, this sinful subject..."
"I have something even more important to entrust to you." A secret letter was handed to Zhu Yao. "I have been staying in the palace for many years, and I have no idea what is going on outside the palace."
"From this day forward, you will be my eyes."
The apparent demotion was actually a promotion, leaving even Zhu Yao stunned.
"As for what Zhu Cheng just said, I will continue to investigate. However, the treatment of Zhu Cheng will remain unchanged. His personality is not suitable for taking the imperial examination to enter officialdom."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty."
This means saving one's life.
Tears welled up in Zhu Yao's eyes. "Your Majesty, I will certainly be your eyes, even at the cost of my life."
"How can you manage alone? I will give you a valiant general."
That same day, Zhu Yao led his entire clan away from the capital. Accompanying Zhu Yao and his entourage was a man dressed in extremely simple clothing.
"Zhu Cheng, I never thought you could be as stupid as a pig, and that your whole family would suffer because of you."
Chang Ke said sarcastically as he walked.
"Chang Ke, you have clearly passed the imperial examination, so why don't you stay in the capital to participate in the spring imperial examination next March, but instead leave the capital with us?" Zhu Cheng asked, puzzled. In his view, Chang Ke's future was bright.
"I have important business to attend to."
Chang Ke gripped the scabbard at his waist, determined to protect Zhu Yao, investigate major and minor cases in other parts of Dayu, and act as the Emperor's eyes and ears.
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