Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Even if the prince can suppress one supervisory censor, what about the other supervisory censors? If they also report on this matter, the court officials will definitely not sit back and watch. How will the prince respond then?"

"Could it be possible for him to humiliate Junzhu like this! Ma'am, although Junzhu is not born to the lonely king and his wife, the lonely king treats her as his own daughter just like Ling'er, not to mention that she is the granddaughter recognized by Emperor Taizu. You are a member of the royal family, how can you allow others to despise and humiliate you!"

"All the concubines understand that Junzhu is our daughter, and the concubines don't want to see Junzhu suffer for it."

Defang clenched her fists tightly, "The Lonely King will never sit idly by, and will definitely make His Majesty take it back!"

"Your Majesty!" Concubine Di said while holding De Fang's hand, "Your Majesty's decision is also for the sake of the Cao family, and even more for the sake of Junzhu and the lord."

"For the Cao family? For Jun Zhu and Gu Wang? How do you say that?"

"Old General Cao was an important official of the three dynasties. He made great achievements. Although he is dead, his seven sons are all officials in the court. Cao Can's second son, Cao Wei, is not inferior to his father in military exploits. Now Cao Can is appointed as an envoy and enters Beijing as an official. Cao Wei won the trust of His Majesty even more, and served as a general of the Zhenrong Army, and was granted military power to take charge of military affairs. Although Cao Jue was difficult to compare with his two elder brothers, he was granted an official position because he married the princess and became a royal. Xuan, Cao Xuan, Cao Xun, and Cao Cong have all been appointed officials. How many people in the court are jealous of the Cao family, and they wish the Cao family had some troubles. Now the courtiers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the matter of Cao Xuan. Playing this matter will inevitably cause some courtiers to use this to suppress the Cao family, and other courtiers will also agree with this matter because of Cao Jue's absurd move. At that time, His Majesty will definitely be in a dilemma. I will definitely not give up, and the court will be in chaos at that time."

Defang frowned, "Is that really the case?"

"My lord, the seven sons of the Cao family are all loyal to the emperor. If the ministers report on Cao Yu's affairs and His Majesty protects him, Cao Can and Cao Wei will definitely punish themselves. Cao Xuan, Cao Yu, Cao Xun, and Cao Cong will also follow the example of their elder brothers. , In this way, the Cao family will be in trouble, does the prince want to watch the Cao family suffer such an indiscriminate disaster?"

Defang thought of Cao Can kidnapping his younger brother to plead guilty, and knew in his heart that members of the Cao family would definitely do this. Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth, "Even if Cao Sui is severely punished, then the Xingping County Lord, He Gu, will be convicted."

"Princess Xingping is not of royal blood. She only got the title today because the emperor Taizu and the prince recognized each other. Now that she is married to Cao Jue, the Cao family has become a foreign relative. Those who are dissatisfied with the Cao family will also be dissatisfied with this. Cao Jue is absurd The move was also caused by Princess Xingping's laissez-faire, and these things are even more disrespectful to the royal family, so according to the law, Princess Xingping and the county horse cannot be acquitted."

"Ma'am, is Junzhu's kindness a crime?"

Concubine Di patted Defang's hand, "Would it be sinful to be kind, but please forgive my concubine, if it wasn't for Jun Zhu who was too protective of Cao Jue, always pleading for him when punishing Cao Jue, and letting his absurd behavior go It wouldn’t be what happened today.”

"Then how will His Majesty punish Junzhu and Cao Jue?"

"Your Majesty said that he would attribute all the faults to Cao Jue's misconduct, but because he had asked for punishment before and felt repentant, so he was demoted two levels and assigned to Junzhou Tuanlian Deputy Envoy. It is a crime to connive at the county horse's improper behavior, and she will be imprisoned for five days as a punishment, but His Majesty said that it is only a symbolic punishment and will not really make her suffer, so let the prince be at ease."