Everything starts from Menghualu

Chapter 439 Attack and Counterattack

It turned out that he had overlooked so many things. Fortunately, he called Cao Cheng over today, otherwise, something really bad would have happened. The loophole here is so big.

"My dear, I really have to thank you this time. If it weren't for you, I might have been tricked. My dear, I remember all your contributions. When this is over, I will not treat you unfairly." Shen Lang said
"Your Majesty, this is what I should do. I dare not ask for your reward. Your Majesty, if you have no other instructions, then I will take my leave first." Cao Cheng said
Shen Lang did not object to Cao Cheng's resignation. After all, he really didn't have much time to waste with Cao Cheng anymore. He had to quickly arrange his children's affairs.

When Cao Cheng came out of the palace, he happened to run into Xue's father and daughter and Shen Jie.

"Foster father, judging from your expression, this time it should be smooth, right?" Cao Cheng said with a smile

"Hahaha, that's right, the Queen Mother has issued an imperial decree to grant the marriage, and His Majesty has agreed. Now we are just waiting for the specific wedding date to be set." Xue Yuandao
"Oh, that's such a happy event. Congratulations to my godfather for finding a good son-in-law, and congratulations to my sister for finding such a good marriage." After hearing this, Cao Cheng naturally gave his blessings with a smile on his face.

Xue Yuan and Xue Shu naturally responded with smiles. As for Shen Jie? Cao Cheng didn't care about his expression at all. After all, there was no possibility of easing their relationship.

If that was the case, why would he bother to look at Shen Jie's expression? Of course, he followed his own wishes.

Afterwards, the father and his two sons walked out of the palace gate chatting and laughing. Cao Cheng declined his adoptive father's invitation, got on his own carriage and headed straight for his own mansion.

At this time, Xue Yuan was also riding in the same carriage with Shen Jie. The two of them tacitly did not mention Cao Cheng, but talked about what happened today.

"Your Majesty, although His Majesty agreed today out of helplessness, it is clear that His Majesty does not agree to this marriage, so Your Majesty, you must be careful tomorrow." Xue Yuandao
"Yeah, how could I not know this? But since I decided to visit, I already thought it would be like this, so it's okay, I will be careful tomorrow." Shen Jie said
After hearing this, Xue Yuan nodded directly. In fact, he knew very well that no matter what His Majesty said tomorrow, he would not be able to help.

After all, he was very aware that he had thought some things were simple. This matter was not that simple and there were still accidents.

For example, the extra baby in Concubine Qin's belly was the biggest surprise.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall what he said to the Queen Mother last time. He didn't know whether he would be shaken or take action after hearing this news.

Shortly after they left the palace, a major purge took place in the palace. First, people in Concubine Qin's palace were found to have problems one after another, and were basically replaced.

There are almost no people related to Prince Pingnan among them, and most of them are related to the Queen Mother. Naturally, all of this benefits Shen Lang.

After these were dealt with, the case began to expand again soon. All those whose identities were questionable and those who had any connection with the Xue family were found out and beaten to death.

The Imperial Guards were also purged at the same time. Anyone who had too much involvement with the Xue family was directly exiled from the Imperial Guards and sent to the camp outside the capital to await orders. It can be said that they were directly demoted.

After doing all this, Shen Lang was not happy at all, because at this moment, he was accompanying his beloved concubine. Anyone who has been pregnant knows that emotions are particularly unstable during pregnancy.

If it were any other emperor, who would have the time to coax him? But Shen Lang had to coax him, because this was his only hope.
If this baby is a prince, Shen Lang can immediately show his power. He will then deal with all those in the court who threaten his son's status.

But if it was a princess, then all his plans and preparations would be in vain, and he would now have no choice but to try his luck.

While he was coaxing the woman, the Queen Mother in the Cining Palace unexpectedly made a decision. She naturally knew that such a big thing had happened in the palace today.

She had been hesitating before. After all, whether it was Shen Lang or Shen Jie, they were both her sons, and no matter who held this position, it would not affect her status.

Before, it was because Shen Lang had no son and she had no grandson, so she chose to stand with the Xue family, hoping that Jie'er would ascend the throne smoothly when the time comes.

In this case, she would still be the queen mother, but later she saw hope again. Her eldest son actually had a child. Although the child has not been born yet, it is still hope, isn't it?
That was why she refused last time. After all, there was no need for her to make such a fuss. But what happened today made her completely determined. The behavior of her own prince made her realize that her prince had completely alienated herself from her, even if she did nothing from now on.

The relationship between her and her son would never be the same as before, so she decided to abandon her eldest son and help her second son ascend the throne.

After figuring this out, he called Huang Renli over and gave him detailed instructions. After Huang Renli left, she said to herself, "My son, you forced me to do this."

Time quickly came to the next day, and Shen Jie left the house early in the morning. After all, his royal brother said yesterday that he would give him something, so he certainly couldn't be late.

After all, no matter whether these words were true or false, he had to listen to them as the truth, so it wasn't long before he arrived at the palace and followed Wang Xinyi to the imperial study.

For some reason, Shen Jie always felt that there was something strange in the palace today, as if something was a little different, but he quickly put it behind him and followed into the imperial study.

"Second brother, you are here. Come on, sit down and let's talk slowly." Shen Jie said with a smile.

After hearing this, Shen Jie naturally sat down obediently.

"Second brother, why do I look a little nervous when I see you? Why? Am I scary?" Shen Lang asked back.
"No, no, I was just thinking about what gift you, my royal brother, would give me. I've been thinking too much at this moment, so I can't help but be distracted. I hope you will forgive me." Shen Jie said hurriedly.
"Oh? I see. I thought it was something else. It's okay. It's normal for you to be curious. After all, some things are really hard to guess." Shen Lang smiled indifferently after hearing this.
Shen Jie felt that the situation was not good, but he had no way to leave now, so he could only bite the bullet and said, "Brother, please don't keep me in suspense. Can you tell me what it is?"

"Haha, speaking of this thing, it was you who gave it to me when we were little." After Shen Lang finished speaking, he took out a bamboo dragonfly from a box on the table.

Second brother, do you still remember this? This is what you gave me when you were a child. If I remember correctly, you made two in total and gave me one.

"I was very happy at that time, so I agreed to one of your conditions. Second brother, do you still remember what that condition was?" Shen Lang said directly.
Facing his royal brother's question, Shen Jie showed confusion on his face, but he was very clear in his heart. After all, he was a very sentimental person, so of course he would remember it.

But in the current situation, he couldn't say it, he could only pretend to have forgotten it.

"It seems that you still haven't remembered it. It doesn't matter if you don't remember it. It's okay as long as I remember it. You can take this bamboo dragonfly back. I promised your conditions and I have done it today." Shen Lang said
After hearing this, Shen Jie could only step forward with a puzzled look on his face, and then took the bamboo dragonfly back. Then he saw Shen Lang, who waved his hand with a tired look on his face, and asked Shen Jie to go back.

After Shen Jie left, Shen Lang's face showed a gloomy look. He wanted to consider the brotherhood, but now it seems that his second brother obviously does not appreciate it. In this case, it is no wonder that he is cruel. Second brother, this is your own choice.

At this time, Shen Jie, after sitting in his carriage, took out the bamboo helicopter from his arms, and then slowly recalled what happened at that time.

That was when he was very young. The rebellion of Prince Pingnan had just happened and Prince Pingnan had just evacuated the capital. At that time, he saw that his elder brother was in a bad mood, so he turned into two bamboo dragonflies that he had just learned.

I remember that my brother was very happy when he received it, and asked me what I wanted. At that time, I casually said that I wanted to fulfill a wish of mine, but I didn't say it out loud at that time.

Today, my royal brother told me that this wish would come true, and from now on, the relationship between the two brothers would never be restored.

At this moment, Shen Jie couldn't help but feel confused. He didn't know if what he was doing was right or not. He suddenly didn't know whether he should continue.

So after he returned to his mansion, he locked himself in the study, then picked up a small box from the bookshelf. When he opened it, there was a bamboo dragonfly inside.

That’s right, he has kept this thing all the time. Looking at the bamboo dragonfly in front of him and then at the one in his hand, he felt very uncomfortable.

Time passed slowly. After an unknown amount of time, he finally made up his mind. He smashed the two bamboo dragonflies to pieces with an inkstone and made his choice.

At the same time, the empress dowager finally put the prepared measures into practice. Outside Concubine Qin's bedroom, a little maid who was standing on duty outside tiptoed into the small kitchen.

Then he secretly put something in his arms together with those things, and then quietly left here, waiting until the next morning when people started to enter the small kitchen.

Normally, they would clean up everything carefully, but today, one person did not do that, or he intentionally left out some things.

Then everything went on as usual. In the morning, Shen Lang sent someone to deliver dishes from the imperial kitchen and did not use the small kitchen. At noon, because Shen Lang came, dishes from the imperial kitchen were served again.

Until the dinner in the evening, because she didn't want to make a fuss, she simply asked someone to tell the small kitchen to make him some of her favorite snacks.

Now the small kitchen was in full swing, and no one dared to be lazy, because the baby in the belly of the woman in front of them might very well be His Majesty's last child.

How could they dare to neglect it? If they were not careful, all nine clans would lose their heads.

The food was ready soon, but whether it was by coincidence or intentional, Concubine Qin fell asleep shortly after giving the order, so the food was naturally not eaten.

Then these snacks naturally ended up in the mouths of some maids, and the next morning, the entire palace exploded because someone had died.

When Concubine Qin heard the news, she was so frightened that her face turned pale. She locked herself in the room and refused to see anyone, fearing that someone would try to kill her.

Naturally, Shen Lang soon learned about this matter, so he left without caring that the court was not over yet, and went straight to the harem.

When he arrived, someone naturally told him the full news. After hearing it, he flew into a rage, "Damn it, damn it, bastards, bastards, they are all a bunch of bastards!"

"Investigate, investigate for me, no need, all the people in the small kitchen, all three clans will be exterminated! No, exterminate all nine clans! Exterminate all nine clans! Exterminate all nine clans!"

"By the way, those who are responsible for checking the dishes should also be killed! Kill them all!"

"Your Majesty, calm down. Your Majesty, calm down. If you continue like this, the ministers will sue you to death." Wang Xinyi advised.
"Dying to remonstrate? All right, pass on the decree. Anyone who dares to submit a petition to beg for mercy in this matter will also be executed along with his entire clan. No, execute all ten clans, including his students and former officials!" Shen Lang said angrily.
Wang Xinyi really didn't dare to persuade you of these things. He had followed His Majesty for so many years and had never seen His Majesty lose such a temper. Even if it was you, he wouldn't dare to persuade you.

As a result, the palace was purged and the imperial guards were dispatched to arrest people. In a short period of time, people were killed in large numbers, and more than two thousand people were affected.

If it had been such a big thing in the past, it would have inevitably attracted criticism from court officials, but this time, the court was surprisingly quiet. After all, it was an unprecedented act of killing ten generations of a clan.

Even if there are people who are not afraid of death, are their families afraid? Even if he doesn't care about his family, he still has to take his students and former officials into consideration.

In fact, it’s not that they are not afraid of anything. It’s a pity that their memorials cannot be submitted at all. All the requests from the censors are invalid at this time.

Because of the tacit agreement among the three judicial departments of the Censorate, the three provinces and six ministries, no one was able to submit a memorial of advice to the emperor.

Therefore, no matter how loud the voices from the people were, they would never reach Shen Lang's ears. After all, no one among the ministers said anything, so he naturally thought that the court officials were really scared.

And in fact, it was indeed so. How could they, who were all in high positions, be willing to die with an emperor who was about to die?
The emperor is obviously crazy now, so they naturally won't make things difficult for themselves.

Even though such a big commotion had occurred, Shen Lang had no intention of settling down the matter peacefully.

After comforting his concubine, he sent someone to call Xue Yuan over.

When Xue Yuan learned that the emperor called him over at this time, he knew that something might happen, so he wanted to pay some money to find out more, as usual.

But what was easy in the past was not possible this time because no one wanted to accept it.

(End of this chapter)