I studied in modern times

Chapter 788: Death of the Prince Consort (3)

By the time the two palaces arrived, Zhao Xu had already put on a sullen look, as if he was about to take Yu Yu away.

Even the greeting seemed a little absent-minded.

"I send my regards to the Queen Mother and the Dowager Mother..."

Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Zhao Xu's expression and felt so distressed that she just helped the child up and held him in her arms. She gently patted Zhao Xu's back and comforted him: "Sixth brother, don't be sad..."

"It's not worth it for such a villain who betrays the Holy Grace!"

Zhao Xu nodded, looked at Empress Dowager Xiang, and said, "Mother, I know!"

"I am the emperor, the Son of Heaven. I should put the world first and think about the ancestors and the country..."

The words were spoken harshly, but the grievance on the little face was clearly visible.

Even though you are obviously very sad, you still have to pretend to be cheerful and open-minded.

When Empress Dowager Xiang saw this, she felt very distressed.

Even the Empress Dowager felt somewhat guilty and ashamed.

This child... is so sensible that it makes people feel distressed!

Zhao Xu continued: "But...but..."

"Ask yourself, have you treated your husband well?"

"Why is the prince consort so cruel?"

"Is it because it would be better for me to meet Wang Liuhou (Wang Shiyue)?"

"But the successor is my eldest aunt's husband...my eldest aunt passed away on the same day as the Emperor...it's normal for me to be treated a little better!"

As he spoke, Zhao Xu's tears fell in big drops.

The tear glands of teenagers are more developed than those of adults.

What's more, Zhao Xu has studied in modern times!
Moreover, he has also worked as an anchor!
Although he is proud of his status, he is ashamed to rely on playing the victim to gain traffic when he is a host.

But, I have seen it after all.

Know the tricks too!
Later, when he arrived in the imperial capital, as he came into contact with more and more high-level circles, he had to learn to flatter and flatter people and compete with them in acting.

no way!
The best actors are all in the political and business circles.

Compared with these people, let alone the young and handsome actors, even the veteran actors will be turned into ashes in seconds.

As the saying goes, those who are close to vermillion are red and those who are close to ink are black.

Following these people, even if it is just in the corners where these people radiate, what Zhao Xu learns will be enough for him to benefit for the rest of his life!

Listening to Zhao Xu sobbing and watching the child crying.

Empress Dowager Xiang couldn't help shedding tears. She just hugged Zhao Xu and said softly, "Sixth brother, don't cry... Sixth brother, don't cry..."

The Empress Dowager beside him sighed when she saw this and said, "How could Zhang Dunli deserve such great love and care from the Emperor?"

"This evil creature received such a great favor, but he let it down!"

"This is truly unacceptable, and we must punish him according to the law to thank the world!"

Zhao Xu listened, and then he bowed to the Empress Dowager and said, "Grandmother, please don't do that..."

"The consort is Princess Shoukang's consort after all!"

Mingzhengjian punishment?

How can it be!

At that time, Zhao Shiju was not executed according to the law, but was only given the death penalty.

It is even more impossible for Zhang Dunli now.

Not to mention others, even Zhao Xu himself was unwilling to send a son-in-law to the vegetable market.

This is the butt that determines the head!

We cannot let the common people see that the royal family members are just ordinary people like them.

The Empress Dowager looked at Zhao Xu and thought to herself, "The Emperor is still protecting that evil creature..."

"That evil creature really deserves to die!"

At this time, Feng Jing came to report that Guo Zhongxiao had sent the opinion of the capital hall regarding the matter of the son-in-law Zhang Dunli "cursing the emperor and his father".

Empress Dowager Xiang immediately ordered Guo Zhongxiao to bring it to the palace.

She hugged Zhao Xu, sat on the cushion and comforted him.

The Grand Empress Dowager also came over and offered comfort together with Empress Dowager Xiang.

With their comfort and persuasion, Zhao Xu finally stopped sobbing.

When the memorial from the capital was delivered, Empress Dowager Xiang read it immediately. Looking at the ministers' suggestions for how to deal with the matter, Empress Dowager Xiang felt quite pleased.

However, she knew that it was actually impossible to deal with it according to the ministers' opinions.

That would scare other relatives and nobles.

It will also set an unprecedented precedent!
So, after a little thought, she handed the note to the Grand Empress Dowager and said, "Your Majesty, the public opinion of the ministers is..."

"The prince consort shall be beheaded, and his parents and brothers shall all be punished and hanged!"

"The princess and her son will be decided by the palace..."

"What do you think?"

It seems to be asking for opinions, but in fact it is a test.

The Empress Dowager understood, so she hardened her heart and said, "I respect the public opinion of the ministers!"

"Just do as the ministers wish!"

She no longer cared about rules and ancestral regulations.

There was only one thing she was nervous about now - the little emperor's opinion.

She couldn't take the risk of putting the Gao family in danger.

As a result, she even ignored the ancestral rules and regulations that she had always respected the most.

Gao's in-laws would be at risk of being convicted in the future as a result of this.

So what is the point of ancestral rules and regulations even if they can be preserved?
"As for Princess Shoukang..."

"Although she is my daughter, the law is ruthless, so let's just do what we have to do!"

Just a daughter...

And she is a married daughter!

The day she got married, she was already someone else's wife!

How can I compare to my precious nephew?
Those are the only two children in her family!

It's the blood of her father and brother!
So, when it is time to sacrifice, you can sacrifice.

Since even the princess was to be brought to justice, her son, the teenage Zhang Bingyuan, could not escape the fate of imprisonment.

Zhao Xu listened and immediately said, "No!"

"Although the prince consort is guilty... his crime does not warrant death... why would he be beheaded?"

"Besides, if the prince consort is guilty of a crime, what does it have to do with his parents and brothers?"

Although, this matter involves both rights and responsibilities.

Since, if one person succeeds, all the people around him will benefit.

Then it is only natural that if one person is convicted, the entire family will be killed.

This is simple social justice.

however……

Royal family members are royal family members after all!

It is not possible and we must not face punishment like ordinary people.

Things like the Five Dynasties, where the bones of nobles were trampled on the streets and the inner treasury was burned to ashes, must not happen again.

During the chaotic Five Dynasties, everyone from top to bottom had their lives treated as worthless.

As an autocratic emperor, Zhao Xu had a very clear mind.

If possible, he would even like to learn the practices of the three generations of generals known in modern times.

Spread the kindness of Emperor Zhao to hundreds of millions of people.

Let the whole world remember his kindness!

Descendants and grandchildren, forever and ever!
However, he couldn't do it! It was impossible for him to do it!

"Then what does the emperor want to do?" asked the Empress Dowager after hesitating for a moment.

Zhao Xu pondered for a moment, wiped his tears, and said: "Grandmother...Mother..."

"Taizu gave up his military power over a cup of wine, and shared the wealth and honor with his meritorious officials, which led to today's success!"

Publicly executing a consort's son-in-law would destroy his reputation.

A brand will be worthless if it loses its class.

Of course, Zhao Xu couldn't do such a thing that would destroy his own Great Wall.

"How about this..." Zhao Xu sighed, "Zhang Dunli was demoted from the post of Imperial Concubine's Commander and Mizhou Surveillance Commissioner, and was dismissed from his post. He was appointed as the Deputy Commander of Dengzhou Tuanlian and was sent to live in Guangzhou!"

Today's Guangzhou is not the modern metropolis.

Today's Guangzhou is located in Lingnan. Although its business is developed, its natural environment and climate are very harsh.

This is especially true for people in the North.

Besides, it’s a long way from Bianjing to Guangzhou.

Zhang Dunli was lucky to be able to reach Guangzhou alive!

"As for our other parents and brothers..." Zhao Xu said, "Let's show them mercy for the time being and exile them to Jiaozhou, and hand them over to the Youjiang Pacifier for strict supervision!" What kind of place is Jiaozhou?
The land is full of sugarcane plants!
There is a lack of labor!
Zhang Dunli's parents and brothers arrived at the local area and worked in a sugarcane plantation. Given their pampered physical conditions, they were lucky to have survived for more than a year!

Anyway, in Jiaozhou, it is said that several thousand Jiaozhi prisoners of war captured last year have died.

They all died of exhaustion or illness.

This is much more torturous than hanging the entire Zhang family.

But the people in Bian Jing would not know the situation in Jiaozhou.

The two palaces had no idea.

So, the look he gave Zhao Xu became even more gentle and loving.

"As for Princess Shoukang..."

"The princess is the daughter of the Grandmother, the younger sister of the Emperor, and also my aunt..."

"The princess has done nothing wrong, she just met the wrong person..."

"Then I was ordered to divorce and continue to live in the princess's residence to raise my only son!"

"The princess is my mother's grandson and my cousin, so she should not be convicted..."

"Then order him to change his clan name and choose a childless relative from among his maternal relatives to raise him!"

Empress Dowager Xiang listened. She knew that Zhao Xu's decision was in line with tradition and rules.

Although she felt a little uncomfortable, she thought the punishment for Zhang Dunli was too light.

But he looked at the Empress Dowager and then at his beloved son.

She still nodded and said, "Sixth brother is kind and generous, and will surely make the country prosperous!"

The Empress Dowager opened her mouth, wanting to add something, but in the end, she said nothing.

Because no matter what she said about this matter, it seemed inappropriate!
So, the matter was settled.

Immediately, Empress Dowager Xiang issued an order to summon Hanlin scholar Fan Chunren, and ordered him to draft an imperial edict to remove Zhang Dunli from the position of imperial consort and governor of Mizhou, and to divorce Princess Shoukang.

Fan Chunren was a man of quick wit. After arriving at the palace, he wrote an imperial edict of criticism and demotion based on the royal family's standpoint in just half an hour.

After reading it, the two palaces and Zhao Xu had no objection, so they used their seals and sent Feng Jing to Princess Shoukang's residence to convey the imperial edict.

……

Princess Shoukang's residence.

Feng Jing's ups and downs of voice echoed in the courtyard.

"Yes, I hereby order you to divorce me! I will demote him to the position of the Commandant of the Imperial Concubine's Horse and the Governor of Mizhou, and expel him from the post. I will also demote him to the Deputy Commander of the Tuanlian of Dengzhou and banish him to live in Guangzhou..."

After hearing this, Zhang Dunli heaved a sigh of relief and bowed with tears in his eyes, saying, "I, your humble servant, thank God for His grace..."

He looked at his wife, who was kneeling on the ground in silence and just crying.

He knew that he still had hope.

Even if he was to be exiled to Guangzhou, even if his entire family would be implicated and exiled to Jiaozhou.

But he still has hope!
This hope is - his wife!
Even now, he and Princess Shoukang were forced to divorce and end their marriage.

But there is still hope!
Back then, Princess Fukang, the beloved daughter of Emperor Ren Miao, also divorced her husband Li Wei.

But in the end?

Under pressure from both the government and the opposition, they had no choice but to remarry!
So he was escorted out of the princess's residence by soldiers with hope, and then sent to a house specially used to imprison guilty relatives.

However, Zhang Dunli's hopes were blown away by the wind and rain the next morning.

……

Boom!

Zhao Xu heard the sound of rolling spring thunder while he was sleeping.

He climbed up from the bed.

Meng Qingqing, who was guarding him in the bedroom, was startled.

"The official family..."

Zhao Xu asked, "Was there thunder just now?"

Just as he finished speaking, another muffled thunder sounded in the distant sky.

Zhao Xu didn't need to ask any more questions, he already knew the answer.

So, she put on her clothes and walked out of the inner chamber, surrounded by the female officials led by Meng Qingqing.

Boom!

A louder rumble of thunder was heard.

The doors and windows of the Funing Hall were all closed.

But the lightning that emitted from the torn clouds in the sky still illuminated the front hall of the Funing Palace.

When Zhao Xu walked out of the inner chamber, the sound of the sobbing wind also reached his ears.
"It's going to rain..." Zhao Xu murmured.

"Yes……"

Boom!

There was another loud bang, and soon, a patter of rain fell from the sky, completely washing away the drought that had lasted for nearly two months.

……

Qingshou Palace.

The Empress Dowager was standing in front of the palace of Qingshou Palace, holding her cat in her arms, looking at the heavy rain pouring down outside the palace.

“The sweet rain has fallen…” She sighed, “What a curse!”

Zhang Dunli was dealt with just yesterday.

Today, before dawn, God sent down a belated rain.

What does this mean?
The censors are right!

The source of the disaster was the evil intentions of the imperial concubine Zhang Dunli!

The Empress Dowager looked at Liang Weijian who was beside her and said softly, "Liang Weijian..."

"We can't keep that evil creature any longer!"

Liang Weijian looked at the lightning, thunder, wind and rain outside the hall.

Some awe and fear also arose in his heart.

Is the current emperor really a king appointed by heaven?

Otherwise, why have there been so many treacherous people who have harmed the country in every dynasty, and God has not given any warning.

Why did God start to take the initiative to warn people when it comes to the current emperor?

As we all know, the eunuchs are the most superstitious group.

none of them!

……

"Amitabha!" Empress Dowager Xiang was also awakened by the spring thunder.

She put on her clothes and walked out of the bedroom, watching the lightning and thunder outside the Baoci Palace and listening to the howling wind and rain outside the palace.

"God bless my family, God bless my sixth brother!"

As she spoke, she said to the palace lady Zhang beside her: "Madam, tomorrow please go to Kaibao Temple, Taipingxingguo Temple, Zhongtaiyi Palace, and Yuqing Palace on my behalf to offer incense and tribute to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Three Pure Ones!"

Although, Empress Dowager Xiang was a devout Buddhist.

but……

As for worshipping gods...since ancient times, people have never been afraid of worshipping too much, but they are afraid of worshipping too little!

Therefore, we must not only worship the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

We also have to ask the Ministry of Rites to choose an auspicious day to go to Jingling Palace to thank our ancestors for their blessings, especially the late emperor!

Zhang nodded and whispered, "Madam..."

"Then do you want to..."

The Queen Mother shook her head: "No need!"

"Qingshou Palace will take action!"

As she spoke, she looked at the palace at the other end of Baoci Palace, across from Funing Hall.

Amid the thunder and lightning, the outline of the Qingshou Palace was vaguely discernible.

……

Boom!

The spring thunder rolls and explodes in the sky.

It also brought Zhang Dunli into a nightmare!

Outside the door, the guards who were responsible for watching him were already talking without restraint.

"It turns out that the lack of rain in Gyeonggi for more than a month was really caused by this treacherous villain!"

"Yes... yes... it was this treacherous minister who caused it!"

Zhang Dunli listened and trembled.

He wanted to defend himself.

But the lightning, thunder, wind and rain outside the door could not be faked, and he could not refute it.

He knew that he was going to die!

Someone would be here soon to take him on his way.

Even if the palace is lenient, no one in the court, in or outside Bianliang, can tolerate him!
(End of this chapter)