Chapter 87 The Dust Settles
"What do you mean?"
The emperor was a little confused. Before Duke Cheng'en could open his mouth to argue, Lord Qin took the opportunity to kindly explain a little about the high-quality goods of the aristocratic families to the country bumpkins present.
"As the name suggests, the spring breeze has a warming effect."
Taking into consideration the presence of children, Lord Qin explained the cheap aphrodisiac very elegantly.
"It's a secret imperial medicine from the previous dynasty. It spread, and any family with connections, big or small, could get their hands on some. Well, it just adds a bit of elegance. After all, it's harmless to the body or mind, and it also has an excellent sleep-inducing effect afterwards, allowing those who are infected to wake up the next day refreshed and have a good night's sleep."
If he and Jin Jie'er hadn't been young and inexperienced and hadn't fallen into the trap due to their carelessness, they wouldn't have...
After taking a very subtle glance at the bright and outspoken little face, a complex light flashed in Old Qin's eyes.
"So, how many years ago did your Zhao family start plotting against me? Oh, good, very good!"
The country bumpkin emperor had learned something new this time, and the sneer on his face was terrifying. He had never been a fool, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to climb to the throne step by step.
As long as you have a direction of suspicion, you can come to a conclusion by simply thinking about it.
"Since you have such a good aphrodisiac, it makes sense that you also have a good poison! Let me guess, the Gelsemium elegans poison that the Sixth Brother gave the First Brother was also obtained from your uncle, right?"
"No! I really don't know!"
Duke Cheng'en's face was pale. After all, he had served under the emperor for so many years, so he knew exactly what kind of ruthless character the other party was.
If the emperor doesn't care about the old friendship, then the Zhao family's immense wealth will just be an empty dream!
"Don't rush to complain, I'll help you sort out the relationship first."
The emperor looked at the sixth son who was struggling desperately under the hands of the fourth son. There was coldness in his eyes, and no trace of father-son love could be seen.
"Sending people to Maocheng to kill the boss was a desperate and self-destructive tactic. Worried that the boss wouldn't be able to make it to the end, you hurriedly pushed the sixth one out.
It's a pity that the idiot Lao Liu didn't understand your good intentions. Before he even had a firm foothold, he attacked the boss and tried to replace him. He also put the blame on the person he wanted to put the blame on and pulled down the person who was blocking his way.
This is the situation from the beginning to the end. Am I following the right path?"
"Oh my god!"
Li Chengxiu suddenly screamed, released his claws that were covering Li Shenxiu's mouth, and shook them hard a few times.
"You are a dog, and you bite people?"
Li Shenxiu didn't care about anything else and seized the opportunity to plead his case.
"Father, it's not me! It's the Jiang family..."
Bang!
The teacup in the emperor's hand flew over and instantly hit the dog's head, making it burst into pieces.
"You are raised by the Zhao family and are as daring as them! How dare you treat me as a fool? I have never seen that kind of poison before, and Jiang Huailiang has seen even less than me. Where can he get it?
If you put some arsenic or something to put the blame on the Jiang family, it would be fine, but what's the point of using that kind of expensive poison? You think you are a country bumpkin and ignorant to bully us, right?"
The emperor is furious!
He was already quite depressed because of his poor family background and the secret disdain he received from the noble families in the imperial court. Now, they were lashing out at him, pointing at the monk and calling him a bald donkey. How could he be capable of that?
"Li Shenxiu's background is illicit, unworthy of the throne. He was so audacious as to attempt to murder the crown prince that he must be executed! Also, Zhao Heran's title of Duke of Cheng'en must be stripped from him, and the Zhao family must be thoroughly investigated. If any other shameful activities are uncovered, the entire Zhao family will be exterminated!"
"I obey the decree."
"I obey the decree."
Old Jiang and Old Qin stood side by side and responded respectfully to the king.
"Please calm down, Your Majesty!"
The queen, who had been silent for a long time, knelt at the emperor's feet, her face pale and shaky. She did not cry, but raised her hand with a numb look in her eyes and slowly took off the phoenix crown on her head.
"I am guilty. I have failed to manage my family properly, and I have not fulfilled my duties as the Queen Mother. My virtue is truly unworthy of the position of Empress. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
"Queen!"
The emperor's eyes were full of disappointment as he pointed at Zhao Heran who was kneeling in a mess, his tone filled with frustration and anxiety.
"How many times have I spared him for your sake over the years? You must remember that you are not just a daughter of the Zhao family!"
Zhao raised her eyes and looked at her husband. She was not crying, but the sadness and embarrassment in her eyes were so distressing.
"I am guilty and unfit to be the queen. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
This means using oneself to protect the family.
The emperor stared at the queen, this gentle and easy-going woman who had been virtuous by his side for half her life. But in the end, she was still the most qualified girl from an aristocratic family.
"Do you know what you're talking about?"
"I know."
"In order to protect your mother's family, you don't care anymore, boss?"
Zhao did not answer her husband. She just turned to look at Qiao and tears fell down.
"Mother Yun, can you help me take care of Yuan Xiu from now on? He is not in good health and can't handle the heavy responsibility. Can you ask the third brother to pity his eldest brother from now on? I beg you..."
A weak woman, a strong mother.
"good."
Qiao Yunshu stepped forward to support Zhao Yu'e's forehead, and tears welled up in her own eyes. She cried not only for Zhao Yu'e's embarrassment, but also for the sadness she had felt over the years.
"Don't worry, sister. As long as I'm here, I won't let Yuan Xiu suffer any end."
Two pairs of delicate hands clasped together. Zhao Yu'e wouldn't say thank you. There was a kind of rivalry where you couldn't even open your mouth to say thank you, but you understood each other. Qiao Yunshu didn't plead for Zhao; she simply agreed to a small request.
Li Changhuai looked at the two women he had owed half his life and closed his eyes fiercely. Well, let's fulfill her wish one last time, and consider it a fulfillment of their love for each other.
"The Zhao family must relocate from the capital immediately. Three generations of the Zhao family must not enter officialdom, and five generations must not hold power in any region! Furthermore, Zhao Yu'e's phoenix crown and seal must be confiscated, and she must be appointed Consort Rong, and relocated to Jing'an Palace."
The emperor's words were golden, and everything was settled.
Following these decrees, the capital city was in turmoil for quite some time.
Especially after the Crown Prince woke up, asked to abolish the title of Crown Prince and be named Prince An, and was willing to take his biological mother to Guangping Prefecture to be enfeoffed. Everyone in the capital knew who would sit on the throne.
As expected, on the auspicious 18th day of the winter month, near the end of the year, Queen Mother Qiao held the Phoenix Seal and sat in the Central Palace. Along with the grand ceremony of conferring the title of Queen, the imperial edict was also issued, appointing the Queen's legitimate son, Li Yan, as the Crown Prince.
The entire court was united in their opposition, as if everything was as it should be. No one intervened to plead for the Zhao family. Sometimes, escaping unscathed was a truly fortunate outcome. Had they encountered a more ruthless emperor, who knows how disastrous the outcome would have been.
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