In just one afternoon, the reputation of the Third Prince Shang Rui plummeted.
Murong Yu was a cunning old fox. Upon hearing the news, his first action was to send people to stir up trouble.
This move was extraordinary.
Not only the people in the capital city, but also those in the surrounding cities, knew about it.
Moreover, these kinds of stories, which spread from one person to ten and from ten to a hundred, become more and more outrageous and exaggerated as they are told.
Some say that the Third Prince's proposal to surrender was solely to win the heart of a beautiful woman, and he had no regard for the lives of ordinary people...
Some people say that the Third Prince, having spent too much time in the martial arts world, has picked up the habits of a villain.
Perhaps Shang Rui was involved in one of the many evil deeds committed in Gejiazhuang...
There were even rumors that the Third Prince held a martial arts contest to choose a wife in Ge Family Village, and speculation that Shang Rui and Ge Yunshu had already tied the knot.
This so-called offer of amnesty is actually just a pretext to bring the father-in-law to the capital...
Among them was a work by Murong Yu.
They publicized the fact that Shang Changze immediately stood up to oppose Shang Rui's offer of amnesty that day, clearly stating that the Ge family was not a benevolent group.
Good heavens, this is going to be even more exciting and lively!
The people not only had grievances against Shang Rui, but also against Emperor Mingde.
Of course, the emperor, princes, and common people would not dare to say it openly, but in private, all sorts of voices were swirling around.
Public resentment and anger
It's never easy to suppress, especially when someone is clearly wrong and has no grounds for argument.
The Princess's Residence, courtyard, under the paulownia tree.
Shang Changge woke up from a nice afternoon nap and was leisurely enjoying her afternoon tea.
Flower tea, which warms the body and beautifies the skin, has a mellow and fragrant taste, and seasonal flower cakes also taste quite good.
Qingyao, standing beside Shang Changge, explained the various sounds from outside one by one:
"A few common people also spoke out on behalf of the Third Prince, bringing up several Jianghu forces that had committed evil deeds in recent months."
It is said that the Third Prince's proposal to offer amnesty was out of good intentions, as he wanted to do something for the people.
"He was just young and new to court, which is why he meant well but made a mistake."
"It's utterly absurd to try and win a smile from the beauty. It's clearly the eldest daughter of the Ge family who's in love with the Third Prince and is staying at his residence."
"This servant suspects that these are the Emperor's attempts to exonerate the Third Prince."
Shang Changge: "No."
She didn't think the old emperor would be that stupid, but Shang Rui might be.
But the tone of his words didn't sound like Shang Rui's; it sounded more like...
"I think it is the Imperial Concubine."
They are overprotective of their own, belittling and disliking their daughters-in-law.
"Indeed, it is the Imperial Concubine." A warm voice came from behind him; it was Shang Changze.
Shang Changze ordered his guards to stand a few steps away, and walked over alone.
Shang Changze sat down, and Qingyao walked to the side and methodically served him tea and water.
Shang Changze looked Shang Changge up and down, already knowing beforehand, yet still personally inquiring: "Did you get injured on this trip, sister?"
Shang Changge shrugged, indicating no.
Shang Changze took the flower tea that Qingyao handed him and took a sip, the fragrance lingering on his lips and teeth:
"Father originally ordered a thorough investigation into the Ge Family Village case, but because of my elder sister's actions, the people began to question my third brother."
Many officials in the court were urging the emperor to retract his decree. The emperor initially refused and even flew into a rage.
Unfortunately, the local government officials arrived just in time to deliver the bodies of the three leaders of Gejiazhuang to the Dali Temple by fast horse.
Lord Feng presented the blood-written letters from those martial arts figures who had left their names and sects to the palace, and several officials used this as an opportunity to make a big fuss.
Some adults even threatened to kill themselves by banging their heads against a wall to show their resolve. The Emperor, left with no other option, had to agree to cease the investigation into the Ge Family Village matter.
The blood oath actually refers to a sect with a deep-seated grudge against Ge Family Village.
After the three leaders of Gejiazhuang died, they voluntarily wrote down their names or sects and left them next to the three Ge brothers.
Firstly, it signifies that a great revenge has been achieved.
Secondly, it shows that he also contributed to the killing of the Ge Family Village group, which will spread his fame far and wide in the martial arts world.
Shang Changge inhaled the fragrance of the paulownia trees in the air, and watched the paulownia leaves turn yellow and fall day by day since autumn began, and joked:
"Weren't those officials who went to the palace to persuade Father Emperor and that adult who wanted to kill himself arranged by Grandfather?"
She had met her adoptive grandfather, Shang Changge, a few times, and her impression of him... well, how to describe it...
You might call him a little old man, but he's also a cunning and shrewd old fox.
You might call him a cunning old fox, but he's also somewhat like a sharp-eyed and shrewd old rascal.
Shang Changze chuckled, not denying it.
"At the morning court tomorrow, my maternal grandfather will probably lead the way in criticizing my third brother again."
For a long time afterward, my third brother will behave himself in court and dare not stand out again.
The autumn wind sweeps away the fallen leaves; the few remaining withered yellow leaves on the sycamore tree drift down with the wind. Shang Changge, moved by this, wrote:
"It's getting cold." It's time to change the person sitting on the throne.
But it's not that simple.
First of all, Emperor Mingde was not a foolish ruler; he was just reluctant to relinquish power and was biased.
Secondly, most of the guards in the capital and the tens of thousands of imperial guards in the palace were also under the command of Emperor Mingde.
Therefore, directly forcing the emperor to abdicate, while not entirely unrealistic, is certainly a poor strategy.
Moreover, emperors who seize power through coercion not only bear infamy, but also face numerous other troubles stemming from the aftermath of such coercion.
We still have to assassinate him and make the old emperor die suddenly.
The method of assassination and the manner of death are unimportant; what matters is that the old emperor is dead.
With the beauty's younger brother as the crown prince, he can rightfully ascend the throne and become emperor.
Shang Changge turned his head and waved.
Shang Changze understood immediately and moved slightly closer.
The siblings began whispering to each other. Shang Changge asked, "Have you sent anyone through the palace's secret passages yet? When are you planning to send people into the palace?"
Shang Changze: "They're gone, they've been packed up. Not many, just three."
Shang Changge wanted to ask why there were only three; she suggested being bolder and stuffing in more.
Upon thinking of the strict palace rules, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
Too,
The imperial palace is full of hidden talents; who knows if there are any other masters besides Emperor Ying?
Thinking about these things,
Shang Changge was completely dejected; it's true that ideals are lofty but reality is harsh.
That man was an emperor, not a tyrant. Could the emperor of a powerful country really just kill himself so easily?
Ultimately, it comes down to insufficient strength and limited influence.
Realizing this,
Shang Changge's desire to have a group of people who belonged entirely to her grew even stronger.
Without taking concrete action, wishes will forever remain just wishes.
So Shang Changge expressed her wish to Shang Changze, hoping to find out from the beautiful younger brother where she could recruit soldiers.
Shang Changze didn't quite agree: "What's mine is my sister's. If she needs it, she can take it. Why bother..."
Shang Changge interrupted, "Alright then." Shang Changge didn't like to force people; rather than wasting time persuading the beautiful younger brother, she preferred to go directly to Xiao Ji.
General Xiao said, "Yes, I understand her."
Since Emperor Mingde was no longer investigating the Ge Family Village case, he naturally wouldn't be in a hurry to summon Xiao Ji, who had official duties to attend to, back to the capital.
Therefore, Xiao Ji will not be back until tomorrow evening at the earliest.
Shang Changge wasn't in a hurry. He wasn't in a rush to see Xiao Ji, nor was he in a hurry to do anything else. He had just resolved the trouble with the Ge Family Village.
She chose to laze around in the princess's palace for a day, enjoying the scenery, listening to music, and feeding the fish. How leisurely and delightful!
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