I studied in modern times

Chapter 787: Death of the Prince Consort (2)

The capital hall.

Lü Gongzhu looked at the governors sitting in the hall and said softly, "Gentlemen, the guilty minister Zhang Dunli and Princess Shoukang have both signed their confessions!"

"I admitted that I spoke out of turn after drinking..."

"Tell me, how should we report this matter to the Dutang?"

To be honest, all the rulers are still in shock at this time.

What Zhang Dunli had done was really beyond everyone's imagination.

Before the servants in the princess' residence came forward to report the incident, no one had thought that the dignified imperial son-in-law, the emperor's uncle, the empress dowager's son-in-law, and the husband chosen by the late emperor for Princess Shoukang was the real husband.

How could you say such head-losing words!
That’s enough!
I actually said this in front of other people...

What else can one say?

Therefore, everyone believed the confessions of the princess and Zhang Dunli.

Just ...

A new question began to linger in their minds.

That is - is this matter really a sting operation by someone in the palace?
Before this, everyone had almost the same expectations.

Because a lot of evidence shows that the son-in-law Zhang Dunli has interfered with and influenced the major policies that are being promoted today.

However, when the fact that Zhang Dunli cursed his emperor and father was exposed, everyone became uncertain again.

Obviously, the current situation has gone beyond the scope of "punishing the prince consort".

Zhang Dunli’s guilt has been confirmed!
Certain death!

How old is the current emperor?

No matter how intelligent and wise he is, no matter how talented he is in politics.

It's impossible that he is so ruthless at this age, right?
Right! ?
Besides, the current emperor is not a bloodthirsty ruler.

The rulers can feel it.

His Majesty is sensible, goal-oriented, and has a bottom line in what he does, and he is also warm and affectionate.

In their impression, His Majesty has never crossed any bottom line since he ascended the throne.

For example, the scouts of the Investigation Department only operate in the marketplace.

The ministers' own private space has never been violated.

At the same time, his respect for veteran ministers and his generosity towards clan elders were obvious to all.

Grand Tutor Wen Yanbo, Military Governor of Zhangde Army Zhang Fangping, Military Governor of Baoning Army Feng Jing...

As well as the late Sima Guang and the retired Han Jiang.

Even former rulers such as Zhang Xu and An Tao who were convicted and dismissed from office.

Who, when talking about His Majesty, does not praise him and pay homage to him?

It's impossible that everyone has made a mistake, right?

Moreover……

Even if he was pretending, he had been pretending for so long, how could he be exposed because of Zhang Dunli?
and so……

impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Unlike his colleagues who are quick-witted, Fu Yaoyu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, has never thought about things that are not related to his job.

Therefore, while others were still thinking, he had already answered directly: "Reporting to the Left Prime Minister, I think that the son-in-law cursed the emperor and his father, which is an unforgivable crime. According to the law, he should be beheaded!"

This is inevitable.

That's what the law says!
However, considering that the son-in-law is a royal relative, he must remain somewhat respectful.

There will definitely be preferential treatment in the end.

Granting death is the best option.

But these decisions should not be made by them.

All these ministers do is shout for war and killing.

In the end, how to extend the favor is up to the palace to decide.

"What about the princess?" Lu Gongzhu asked, "And what about the princess's son and the princess's husband's parents and brothers? How should we deal with them?"

Fu Yaoyu said: "The princess is the daughter of the Grand Empress Dowager, the aunt of the Emperor, and the sister of the late Emperor. She should be determined by the two palaces and His Majesty the Emperor..."

"As for the princess's son, he is just average!"

"As for Zhang Dunli's parents and brothers... they should be punished together with him according to the law... they should be hanged according to the law!"

"Is it too harsh?" asked Lu Gongzhu.

Fu Yaoyu replied: "That's how it should be!"

In fact, according to the law, if Zhang Dunli was convicted of such crimes, he would at least be sentenced to death by lingchi, and his immediate family members would not be able to escape beheading.

But who says they are royal relatives?
Therefore, even for such a serious crime, the punishment should be downgraded to a lower level.

Lu Gongzhu pondered for a moment and thought about it. He felt that there seemed no need for him to insist on this matter.

In order to avoid giving others an opportunity to attack him, he asked others, "What do you think?"

"We, your humble servants, will obey you, sir!" All the officials stood up and bowed.

"Good!" Lu Gongzhu nodded, ordered someone to bring paper and pen, wrote down the opinions of the governor, signed his own seal, and then bowed to the other officials: "Gentlemen, come and sign!"

"promise!"

……

After obtaining the confessions from Princess Shoukang and Zhang Dunli, the Empress Dowager went to Baoci Palace.

When Empress Dowager Xiang heard that the Grand Empress Dowager had come in person, she hurried out to greet her.

But there is no longer the respect and intimacy of the past.

When the Empress Dowager saw this, she wanted to tear Zhang Dunli into pieces in her heart.

The Gao and Xiang families have been a close cooperative alliance during the past two years of the Yuanyou era.

Whether it is Xihe or Jiaozhou.

Whether it is the southeast or Bian Jing.

Whenever Gao's in-laws made money, they would give a share to Xiang.

And vice versa.

even……

The Gao family also took the initiative to give up many benefits to the Xiang family. This is because the Gao family knew that the Queen Mother Xiang was still young and the emperor would grow up sooner or later.

But she - the current Empress Dowager - is already fifty-five, and will be fifty-six after this year.

The longest-lived empress of the Song Dynasty, Zhangxian Mingsu, lived only sixty-three.

If calculated based on Zhangxian Mingsu's life span, the Empress Dowager can only protect the Gao family from wind and rain for a few more years.

And what about Empress Dowager Xiang?
She is not yet forty, and still has at least twenty years to live.

The most important thing is that, although the emperor present was not his biological son, he had been counted as his biological son both in terms of clan law and in reality.

The relationship between mother and son is very harmonious.

Therefore, the current situation is not that the Xiang family needs the Gao family, but that the Gao family depends on the Xiang family.

In particular, the two nephews that the Empress Dowager cared about the most.

The brothers Gao Gongji and Gao Gonghui are now almost completely tied to their family.

Therefore, when the Empress Dowager saw Empress Dowager Xiang's expression, although she was unhappy, she chose to turn a blind eye.

"Queen Mother..." She took the initiative to say to the Queen Mother: "I am sorry this time... I did not teach the princess and the prince consort well..."

"Causing that evil creature to do such a rebellious thing..."

"It makes the emperor sad, and even the empress dowager worried..."

Empress Dowager Xiang asked quickly, "What does this have to do with you, Your Majesty?"

"Zhang Dunli was rebellious and lawless, disturbing the yin and yang and causing the five elements to lose order..."

"The law of the country will handle it..."

"How dare the bride blame the queen?"

"It's just..." Empress Dowager Xiang sighed, "What did Sixth Brother do to deserve such injustice?!"

The latest news from Funing Palace is that Sixth Brother has locked himself in the study room in the East Pavilion and has not eaten or drunk anything.

I guess he was deeply heartbroken by that evil creature!
Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Xiang wished she could send someone to arrest Zhang Dunli and bring him to the palace, bring him before her Sixth Brother, and have him beaten to death in the Funing Palace!

The Empress Dowager said: "This is also the reason why I came to find the Empress Dowager..."

"Guan Jia, you are the King of my family, the Lord of the land..."

"How can you ruin your body because of a bad thing?"

"I would like to invite the Queen Mother to come to the Funing Palace to comfort and console the emperor..."

Empress Dowager Xiang could not refuse this reason, so she bowed and said, "I will obey your order!"

The Empress Dowager moved her mouth, but no sound came out.

She knew that because of Zhang Dunli, there was a rift between Baoci Palace and her.

Even if we can find a way to make it right, the mirror is already cracked. Even if it is repaired, can it still be the same as before?

Besides, this was not the first time she had touched Empress Dowager Xiang's reverse scale.

What worries her even more is what if, a hundred years after her, someone tells the government about what happened in the eighth year of Yuanfeng.

Just like the unusual movements in the court after Zhangxian Mingsu passed away.

Zhangxian Mingsu was almost about to be deposed by Renmiao!
Fortunately, Empress Zhang Hui (Empress Dowager Yang of Baoqing) had always spoken well of Zhang Xianmingsu.

Fortunately, Zhangxian Mingsu listened to Lu Yijian's advice and buried Renmiao's biological mother, Li Chenfei, with great honor. She filled the coffin with mercury, wore the empress dowager's crown and clothes, and buried her in Hongfuyuan in Bianjing.

otherwise……

The Liu family’s in-laws had long been exterminated!
And now, although there is a son of Lu Yijian as prime minister in the court, Empress Zhang Hui in the palace is going to distance herself from her!
How is this possible?

The Empress Dowager was a little panicked.

She knew that she had to win over Empress Dowager Xiang!

Otherwise, if a villain tried to alienate the royal family, her beloved son Zhao Hao and his family, her two beloved nephews, and even the entire Gao family’s in-laws would be in danger.

But for a while, she really couldn't figure out how to restore the relationship between her and Empress Dowager Xiang.

I could only sigh in my heart: "Is it true that the Gao family, who are so rich and powerful, will die of old age?"

How could she accept this?!

Thinking of this, a flame of hope ignited in her heart.

"The emperor is a pure and filial saint. He will definitely not be alienated by villains like the emperor!"

"Yes...it will definitely be so!"

In her heart, her grandson is filial and close to her.

He will surely understand the difficulties faced by her as the grandmother, and will surely be able to distinguish between loyalty and treachery!

……

Funing Hall.

Zhao Xu drank the iced drink and felt the cool breeze from the imperial garden.

There is nothing more relaxing than this on a hot summer day.

Especially since there were some ice cubes in the drink he drank.

These ice blocks were taken from the deep well in Bianjing last winter and have been stored in the ice cellar of the imperial palace.

After being put into the drink, it tastes icy and refreshing. After drinking it in one gulp, it feels like you have arrived at the North Pole.

This is one of the few things that Zhao Xu has now that can remind him of his modern life.

Other royal treats...

Get rid of those things that are not suitable for children and can only be enjoyed after he reaches adulthood.

There is really no one who can catch up with his quality of life in modern times.

Therefore, when he first woke up from Qingning Palace, he was still a little uncomfortable.

Even after more than two years, he still misses modern life and entertainment from time to time.

Fortunately, he is the emperor.

It is possible to lead the direction of the entire country and gain a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that is unavailable in modern times.

While drinking the cool drink, Feng Jing's voice came from outside the palace: "Everyone, the ceremonial procession of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager has arrived in front of the East Shanghe Gate..."

Zhao Xu quickly handed the drink in his hand to Meng Qingqing beside him, and then instructed Wen Xunniang and Di Qiang: "Hurry up and clean up this place for me. Don't let the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother see it!"

"Yes!" The three girls agreed.

Zhao Xu looked at the obedient appearance of the three women. He knew that whether it was Meng Qingqing who was beside the Empress Dowager, Wen Xunniang who was beside Empress Dowager Xiang, or Di Qiang who rotated back and forth between the two palaces and Funing Palace.

They will keep their mouths shut and supervise each other.

(End of this chapter)