Chapter 231: Counterattack, Must Win
Yun Zheng cleared her throat and stared at the imperial concubine with her sharp eyes.
"Maybe it's intentional. After all, this amulet is so useful. Whenever I encounter difficulties, I push my young daughter out to plead for mercy. It always makes big problems small, and small problems disappear. It works every time."
"As a concubine, relying on this method to control the former court and the harem is disloyal to the king."
"As a mother, taking advantage of your children is unkind."
As soon as these words were spoken, the imperial concubine was in despair. She was accused of being unfaithful and unkind, and every word she said was against the king's bottom line.
She deliberately let the princess take action to completely enrage Yun Zheng and intensify the conflict.
If Yun Zheng attacks the young princess, the emperor, who is very protective of his daughter, will never sit idly by.
As a result, a gap was created between the emperor and his subjects.
Unexpectedly, Yun Zheng made a feint and pointed the spearhead at the imperial concubine.
"My Lady, am I right?"
The emperor narrowed his eyes dangerously, smiled coldly, and picked up the confession to read it.
Seeing this, the imperial concubine closed her eyes and felt her heart sink.
It’s over. The emperor heard it all and held a grudge against me.
Yun Zheng, you are just a minister! Why don't you abide by the rules of a minister? No matter how young the Fifth Princess is, she is still the ruler!
Why won't you just sit back and let me scheme against you? How can you fight back? Why don't you just die?
There were confessions from many parties, including the head of the Lei family, Cao Dewen, the maid, and Li Wuyang's men.
The head of the Lei family wanted to endure it, but he had lived a life of luxury and could not withstand the torture at all, so he quickly confessed.
The head of the Lei family is the mastermind, Cao Dewen is his accomplice, and this banquet was specially prepared for Yun Zheng.
He and Cao Dewen carefully planned this incident in order to pull Yun Zheng to their camp.
As a result, Li Wuyang accidentally broke in and ruined the situation.
Cao Dewen's limbs were severed by the furious Li Wuyang.
The emperor went through the confessions but could not find any evidence that the third prince and the imperial concubine were involved.
He tapped the table lightly and pondered for a while.
If someone said that there was no order from the imperial concubine, he would not believe it!
He then issued an order, "Lei Wentao and Cao Dewen colluded to frame officials in the imperial court and obtain the official salt. The evidence is irrefutable. They are now stripped of their title of Earl of Annan and demoted to commoners."
"Search the Lei family, confiscate all their property, and exile all males over the age of seven three thousand miles."
The Lei family was devastated, as if the sky had fallen. Their property was confiscated and they were exiled?!
Their legs went limp and they collapsed to the ground, crying, "Your Majesty, please have mercy on us. We know nothing."
The imperial concubine fell to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down her face.
"Your Majesty, please give them some respect for the sake of your two children. They cannot afford to have a family member who has committed a crime, which would make them lose face."
The emperor frowned, and the fifth princess rushed over, hugged his thighs and cried for mercy.
Li Wuyang said coldly, "Brother, it seems that in the eyes of the Imperial Concubine, the dragon sons and phoenix daughters of our royal family are not noble enough, and we need an outside family to add glory."
"The Third Prince and Little Five don't have respectable in-laws, so they can't even show their faces to the public."
In terms of nobility, who is as noble as the royal family? Who dares to laugh at the royal family members?
The emperor's heart hardened, "Your Majesty, your words are not joking."
Xiao Wu glared at Li Wuyang angrily, "Uncle Jiu, why are you helping that evil woman?"
She was young and had little contact with Li Wuyang, so she had no idea of his power.
Li Wuyang's eyes were slightly cold, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, "That's your Ninth Aunt. I don't help my fiancée, but I help my brother's roommate? That's a huge joke."
"Xiaowu, your future husband is only helping his brother's family, giving you the cold shoulder, beating you and scolding you. Are you happy with that?"
The Fifth Princess: ...Kill the prince consort!
The imperial concubine still wanted to save the situation. "The third prince just got married and a little grandson is about to be born. Consider this as accumulating merit for the child. Please spare the Lei family. My father is old and can't endure the three thousand miles of exile."
The emperor glanced at her, and his cold eyes made the imperial concubine tremble all over.
"Yangzhou salt merchant Cao Dewen has harmed an official appointed by the imperial court. His property is confiscated and his entire family is executed. This is my imperial decree."
"yes."
In comparison, the Lei family was relatively lenient, sparing the lives of the Lei family members and children under the age of seven.
What else is there for the Lei family to be dissatisfied with?
The emperor's heart moved, "Prince Rui, you go to Yangzhou in person to confiscate the Cao family's property. I don't trust others."
Li Wuyang responded without hesitation, "I obey your order."
He did not hesitate at all, and the emperor was very satisfied, as there was no sentimentality involved.
Li Wuyang bowed, "However, before I go, I am worried about Princess Jinyun, so I ask the emperor to grant us a marriage."
The emperor's expression froze. "We'll discuss this matter after you return. I will keep silent about what happened here."
Li Wuyang's face was filled with worry. "Someone is always trying to harm her. I'm worried."
The Third Prince said indignantly, "Why do others always harm her? This shows that she has a big problem herself."
Li Wuyang looked at him as if he were a fool. How dare he jump out and act like that? Didn't he know what his own father's temper was like?
"Depriving someone of their wealth is like killing their parents. Her only fault is that she is too capable and good at making money, which makes mediocre people crazy with jealousy. Your Majesty, she is making money for you."
The emperor immediately promised, "I will protect her."
Li Wuyang sighed softly, "You said this before, but it still happened. Those conspirators won't listen to you. I decided to protect her myself."
Emperor: ...My brother is a good brother, but he is too willful and doesn’t listen to advice!
Li Wuyang pulled a jade pendant from his neck and said, "Yun Zheng, this is the Mandarin Duck Heart Pendant. I'm giving it to you as an engagement token. When I come back, I'll marry you in style."
The emperor stared at the jade pendant blankly, his eyes dazed. The heart-shaped pendant was actually in his hand.
Yun Zheng was stunned for a moment. Is he crazy?
But seeing the determination in his eyes, courage suddenly arose. He was not afraid of death, so she would accompany him!
"good."
The imperial concubine was stunned and shocked by Li Wuyang's recklessness.
"Your Majesty, does this count as unmediated adultery?"
Li Wuyang took a few steps back, looking very cautious. "Royal brother, she can't help but pay attention to me again."
Those who are favored are fearless.
The emperor came back to his senses and looked at the jade pendant deeply again, full of regret.
"The Imperial Concubine offended the Emperor and was banished to the Cold Palace. The Fifth Princess was sent to the Shufei Palace for upbringing."
No one can escape. The emperor is such a vengeful person.
The imperial concubine was struck by lightning, her face as pale as paper, "I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on me."
The Fifth Princess burst into tears, "Father, I don't want to go to Concubine Shu's palace. I'm scared."
The Third Prince was also anxious, "Father, please don't separate Mother from Xiaowu. Xiaowu is still young and she needs Mother."
The Emperor's gaze swept over. "The Third Prince is unruly and has defied the Emperor. As a punishment, he will be sent to the Imperial Household Department to serve in the Treasury Department. He must obey the orders of the Chief Officer in all matters."
The Third Prince:……!!!
"Father, you want me to be Yun Zheng's subordinate? Did I hear correctly?"
Everyone was shocked. What did the emperor mean?
Then, the emperor said something incredible, which also made the third prince dumbfounded...
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