12dz Chapter 35 Huizhen! Get down here right now!
Chapter 35 Huizhen! Get down here right now!
Luqiao suddenly burst out laughing.
Qin Yi looked at her strangely: "What are you laughing at?"
Green Qiao shook her head: "This servant was just thinking that if the Marquis heard such words, he would be so happy."
Even though Qin Yizhen said she had no romantic feelings for Cheng Yan, she still said she was willing to stay by his side, which shows that she cared about him very much.
If you care, then there are many possibilities.
"However, Princess, what if Consort Wang is like this and tries to harm you? Although you have so many people around you, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. If she has such intentions, she is a potential threat."
Qin Yizhen frowned: "To plot against the princess, if it comes to light, is a crime punishable by the confiscation of one's property and the extermination of one's entire clan. If she had any sense at all, she wouldn't dare to do it."
Because of her different status, she sometimes had to consider the concubines' feelings, but these concubines dared not harm her.
In other families, it's just a power struggle between wives and concubines. Even if the mistress is harmed and the matter comes to light, it's only one person's fault and has nothing to do with innocent people. But if the princess is harmed, the matter becomes much bigger.
Even if it doesn't involve the extermination of nine generations of one's family, it is still a serious crime that results in the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan.
Who would dare to risk the lives of their entire clan?
"But you never know." Qin Yizhen muttered to herself, "There are men and women in the world who are infatuated with love and would do anything for it. I should be more careful in the future."
"Oh, right, she left too quickly. Have someone send the ginseng back to her."
"Also, take three thousand taels of silver notes and send them to Steward Zhou. He knows how to arrange them."
After arranging all these things, Qin Yizhen went to bathe and change her clothes, putting on her princess-style long-sleeved dress. Once she was all ready, she set off for the palace.
.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Cheng and Emperor Jing'an were receiving the victorious soldiers in the Taiji Hall.
The officers and soldiers discussed their military achievements and received rewards accordingly.
Empress Dowager Cheng was a woman who always clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment, and she remained so even after she came to power.
She was always ruthless in dealing with treacherous and rebellious people, eliminating them quickly, but she treated loyal ministers and generals well, never skimping on their honors or actual rewards.
After the rewards were conferred, the punishment for the rebels was announced.
These matters were discussed in the court after Cheng Yan returned, and there was even a quarrel about it. Now a conclusion has been reached.
Prince Rui was a son of Emperor Taizong. Out of consideration for Emperor Taizong's reputation, his life was spared, but he was spared the death penalty but could not escape punishment. He was demoted to a commoner and his family was moved to the imperial mausoleum to guard Emperor Taizong's tomb. They were not allowed to leave the imperial mausoleum without an imperial edict.
As for Prince Cheng, he was not even a son of Emperor Taizu, but rather the descendant of Emperor Taizu's younger brother. Therefore, he had no such concerns. The entire Prince Cheng's household was ransacked and the officials were executed. The execution was carried out three days later as a blood sacrifice to the heroic spirits.
The conflict between the two kings thus came to an end.
As for the generals and advisors who followed them, they were judged according to their crimes.
"Please stay, Lord Xie." As the crowd dispersed, Empress Dowager Cheng asked the Grand Secretary Xie to stay.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Cheng asked him, "Regarding Xie Wenqu, does Lord Xie have anything else to say?"
Xie Wenqu is Xie Qu.
He was a direct descendant of the Xie family, the son of Xie Zhongshu's deceased younger brother.
Xie Qu was a strategist of King Cheng. He was escorted back to the Qin capital and sentenced to be executed in three days.
Xie Zhongshu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, he has done something wrong, and the Xie family has nothing to say about it. We are extremely grateful that Your Majesty and Your Majesty do not doubt the Xie family's loyalty."
"If the Empress Dowager and His Majesty would grant this old minister permission to see him, I would be eternally grateful."
After Xie Zhongshu finished speaking, he bowed his head and kowtowed.
Empress Dowager Cheng looked at Emperor Jing'an, who said, "Teacher, please rise. The loyalty of the Xie family is evident to both me and the Empress Dowager, as are the civil and military officials. Besides, Xie Wenqu has long been expelled from the Xie family, and everything he did has nothing to do with the Xie family."
If Xie Qu hadn't been expelled from the Xie family long ago, Qin capital would probably be in chaos.
The Wang and Xie families were the most prestigious families of scholars in the land. Not to mention Empress Dowager Cheng and Emperor Jing'an, even Emperor Taizong and Emperor Taizu dared not easily touch them.
If the Xie family were involved, that would be one thing, but it's just a Xie family member who was expelled from the family who's being implicated. It's not legitimate for them to do anything, and it's even more difficult to take action.
Therefore, we can only maintain the current balance and stability for the time being.
"Since the teacher wants to see Xie Wenqu, then go ahead."
"This old minister thanks Your Majesty for your understanding."
Xie Zhongshu bowed respectfully before turning to leave.
After everyone left, Emperor Jing'an stepped down from the dragon throne and stood beside the Empress Dowager. Seeing her sitting there watching Xie Zhongshu leave, he asked her, "Mother, when will the court be able to break free from the control of the Wang and Xie families?"
Empress Dowager Cheng said, "A two-hundred-year-old family is like a towering tree, with lush branches and intertwined roots. It is not easy to move it. If it is moved, even our newly established country may be overwhelmed by its residual power."
"Is there really no other way?"
"There is a solution, of course."
"any solution?"
"Wait." Empress Dowager Cheng looked at the vast Taiji Hall. "As long as the Xie family doesn't rebel, we will keep waiting. Time will pass slowly, and we will eventually get what we need."
What if we can't wait?
"That would be the best. The Xie family has always been loyal and capable ministers of our dynasty. It is a blessing for His Majesty and for Eastern Qin."
Emperor Jing'an was taken aback, but instantly understood: "Mother, I understand."
If the Xie family does not rebel, they are loyal subjects of Eastern Qin. If the Xie family rebels, the court will purge the rebellion, and which scholar in the world will dare to speak out?
Empress Dowager Cheng nodded: "You've been busy all day, you should rest too. You're still young and need to grow taller."
Emperor Jing'an blushed, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but after moving his lips, he didn't know what to say.
Should the emperor relinquish his imperial authority or maintain it?
Empress Dowager Cheng stood up and said, "It's time for your mother to return to the palace. Your two elder sisters should be arriving soon. By the way, where is your uncle?"
"They must have gone to see Xie Qu."
Empress Dowager Cheng recalled how dashing and unrestrained the famous Prince Wenqu was in Qin Capital a few years ago, and she sighed with regret: "Your uncle used to drink and chat with him, and they had some friendship. What a pity..."
A perfectly good young man, yet he has embarked on a dead end.
Empress Dowager Cheng parted ways with Emperor Jing'an at the Taiji Hall, and then returned to her residence, Xingning Palace. As she approached, she heard Princess Huizhen's goose-like calls.
"Hahaha, let us drink and sing, for life is short, like morning dew, and the days gone by are full of bitterness! So much bitterness!"
When Empress Dowager Cheng approached, she saw that Princess Huizhen had ordered someone to bring a ladder and climbed up a pomegranate tree in front of the palace to drink. She was already half drunk and was babbling incoherently.
Empress Dowager Cheng's face immediately darkened.
"Huizhen! Get down here right now!"
What a piece of trash she gave birth to!
She keeps complaining that her mother treats Yizhen better than her. If she were even half as obedient and sensible as Yizhen, would her mother have laid a hand on her?
"Hmm?" Princess Huizhen turned around at the sound and saw Empress Dowager Cheng standing not far away, looking at her with a dark face. She was so frightened that she trembled and fell directly off the pomegranate tree.
"Ahhh—Mother, save me—"