mtlumby2d Chapter 468: Living Together
Chapter 468: Living Together
After receiving the emperor's order, Su Peisheng quickly took people to Prince Guo's mansion. However, he did not send people to arrest Prince Guo as the emperor requested. Instead, he persuaded Prince Guo to come to the palace with kind words.
It was impossible for Prince Guo to refuse, but he was also asking in his words what the emperor wanted him to do.
Su Peisheng had done this many times, so he simply brushed Prince Guo off with a few words, making him think that he was going to the palace to accompany the emperor to appreciate paintings.
But the people on Zhen Huan's side were not so polite. Xiao Xiazi led his men straight to the nunnery of Prince Guo's mother, Concubine Shu, and wanted to take Zhen Huan away without giving any reason.
Concubine Shu wanted to stop it, but she only had status but no power. Xiao Xiazi and others were not worried about getting into trouble, so they did not give Concubine Shu face. They just said a few polite words and then asked people to step forward and hold Zhen Huan down.
"What are you doing, you daring servants? This is Prince Guo's biological mother, the former Concubine Shu. How dare you humiliate the Concubine like this?"
"We are also following the emperor's order to escort this criminal back to the palace to await punishment. Your obstruction is against etiquette and law, and you will be punished with the same crime as Zhen."
Xiao Xiazi was so imposing that the little nun who had just spoken was startled. She hurriedly took two steps back and looked at her master, Concubine Shu.
"Although I am the former imperial concubine, I am still a master. You have completely forgotten the etiquette of respect and inferiority by bringing people into my nunnery. It is not against the rules to punish you with twenty strokes of the cane."
“What the Concubine said is that even if you beat the servant to death, it is not considered a violation of the rules.
But the Queen Mother did not know that this woman was the daughter of a criminal. She was exiled to Ningguta along with Zhen Yuandao and his wife and became a slave to the armored men.
Zhen Yuandao and his wife died of an epidemic on the way, but the girl survived and was sent to Ningguta to atone for her mistakes.
But he never expected that this woman had a vicious mind, killed the daughter of an official who was also exiled and disguised herself as herself, so as to sneak back to the capital."
Xiao Xiazi glanced at Zhen Huan beside him and said, "As for how this woman entered the Ganlu Temple, which only the royal family can enter, I would like to ask the Queen Mother.
Did she escape in alone, or did someone help her get in?
If the former is fine, I will escort her back to the palace and let the emperor decide on the punishment.
But if it is the latter, the person who helped Zhen escape here and took her in would be guilty of the same crime as Zhen and would have to follow me back to the palace to beg for forgiveness from the Emperor.
Your Majesty, before you send someone to beat me with twenty strokes of the cane, please tell me how this Zhen came into your nunnery.
So that I can have a good reason for the beating I get.”
After Xiao Xiazi finished speaking, he stood by with his hands clasped, waiting for Concubine Shu to tell him the reason.
"You are a slave, how dare you speak to the Concubine Dowager in such a tone!" The little nun shouted angrily, stepping in front of the Concubine Dowager, "Since you said you were ordered by the Emperor to arrest Zhen, then show me the Emperor's decree. Otherwise, who can prove that you are not faking the decree?"
"You are so brave that you dare to question the emperor," Xiao Xiazi took out the imperial edict, "Since you want to hear the emperor's will, then kneel down and receive it."
The little nun had no choice but to kneel down, and Zhen Huan, who was silent beside her, also had to kneel down and wait for the order.
Concubine Shu was also helpless. Even though she was the concubine of the previous emperor, she could only stand up and accept the emperor's order.
After Xiao Xiazi finished reading the edict, he immediately stared at the little nun, "How do you understand, nun? Is the emperor's edict written clearly?"
"It's clear now."
"How dare you! Do you think you can casually comment on the emperor's order?" Xiao Xiazi shouted, "Come here, drag him out and give him twenty lashes of the cane!"
Two guards received the order and immediately dragged the little nun out. They allowed her to scream and shout without any mercy.
When the fight started in the courtyard, Xiao Xiazi bowed again and said, "Madam Dowager, please think carefully about how this Zhen entered your nunnery."
Unexpectedly, Concubine Shu was just chanting scriptures and counting her Buddhist beads, turning a blind eye to everything in front of her. Even when Xiao Xiazi scolded the little nun serving her and even ordered people to take the little nun to be beaten with twenty boards, Concubine Shu did not show any reaction.
“It is because I respect Her Majesty the Dowager Concubine that I wanted to ask about the whole story in advance, so that Prince Guo would not be completely clueless in front of His Majesty.
But the Concubine Dowager kept her mouth shut. Is there some unspeakable secret?"
"That's enough." Zhen Huan, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up. "I escaped to Ganlu Temple on my own. It has nothing to do with the Concubine Dowager. Eunuch Xia is so aggressive. Don't you know that he has lost the dignity of respecting the inferiors?
The Concubine Dowager is the master after all, and Eunuch Xia should be more respectful."
Seeing Xiao Xiazi lowered his head, Zhen Huan said nothing more, "Eunuch Xia, don't waste time. I will go back to the palace with you to meet the emperor."
Xiao Xiazi ignored Zhen Huan and turned to look at Concubine Shu. "If the Concubine has no objection, I will take Zhen back to the palace." Xiao Xiazi flicked his whisk and motioned for everyone to leave. "The Emperor has already told me that this matter has nothing to do with the Concubine. Naturally, the Concubine will not be held responsible for harboring a criminal.
However, Prince Guo still had to be asked to come to the palace to explain this matter. After all, Prince Guo was bewitched by Zhen and even helped her escape from Ningguta back to the capital.
Not only that, when Prince Guo went to the border to escort the princess to marry, he also took Zhen with him. He even fled to Jiangnan with Zhen and refused to return to the palace for a long time.
Before doing such a thing, has the prince informed the Concubine Dowager?
The emperor said that even if the friendship between the two was deep, it could not be above the rules of etiquette. There were also Prince Guo's wife and Yuan Che in the capital, and Prince Guo should not let go of his responsibilities because of a woman.
The Concubine Dowager must think these things through clearly so that she can better consider things for Prince Guo."
After Xiao Xiazi finished speaking, he bowed to Concubine Shu and ordered his men to take Zhen Huan away.
Concubine Shu still kept her eyes closed quietly, and only after a long time did she let out a sob.
No one could hear her sadness. Xiaoxiazi had already closed the door and left. The group escorted Zhen Huan and hurried back to the palace before dark.
The Emperor and Prince Guo had been waiting for a long time. When Su Peisheng saw Xiao Xiazi, he scolded him repeatedly, "You dragged your feet on such a small matter for so long that the Emperor got very angry in the Yangxin Palace. You should be careful when answering, lest the Emperor vent his anger on you. Do you understand?"
"I see. It's Concubine Shu who is trying to stop me from taking Zhen away.
There was no other way, I could only mention Prince Guo’s wife and descendants, and then Concubine Shu nodded.
If I had known it would be so difficult, I should have let you go, so you can come back faster."
Su Peisheng swung up the whisk and slapped Xiao Xiazi on the back sternly, "Why are you talking so much? You will never do this kind of thing in your life if you don't do it. What time is it now? I don't have so much time to guide you through it step by step!
Well, we can talk about it in private. Now hurry to the Yangxin Palace to report to the emperor and let him know how difficult your mission is. "
"Oh, I know, I know." Xiao Xiazi patted Su Peisheng on the back and said, "Master, don't be angry. I'll go right away."
Xiao Xiazi coaxed Su Peisheng and then got up to go to the Yangxin Palace to report. He did not exaggerate but only mentioned Concubine Shu briefly.
The emperor dreamed of Xiao Xiazi saying this, so he knew what was going on. He immediately glanced at Prince Guo and said, "Put Zhen into the cold palace. I don't want to look at her any more."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiao Xiazi responded and went down, leaving Prince Guo and the two men staring at each other.
"The Emperor really won't ask...won't ask her to come along."
"Why did you ask her to come with you?" The emperor said in a serious tone, "She is in Ningguta to atone for her mistakes. Whether you send people to help her or take care of her, I will turn a blind eye and pretend I don't know.
But you two have gone too far and even forgotten my orders.
You shamelessly live together in Jiangnan, where do you put the dignity of me and the royal family?"
"This..." Prince Guo also knew that this was wrong, but he felt that he and Zhen Huan were truly in love, and the emperor's face and the royal family's majesty were just obstacles.
But he naturally didn't dare say these words in front of the emperor, so he could only stammer, which made the emperor see it and feel angry.
"Why? You know that what you did was wrong, but you can't say anything in front of me?"
"I have never felt that what I did was wrong," Prince Guo thought about it and finally told the truth, "The emperor has abolished Zhen's position, so she is no longer a member of the emperor's harem, and I naturally have the right to pursue her.
Why did Your Majesty force me to take her away in front of my mother?"
"She has indeed lost her status as a concubine, but she committed a serious crime and was exiled to Ningguta by me.
Without my order, she is absolutely not allowed to leave Ningguta. Even if you have a deep love for her, you should not use any tricks to take her out of Ningguta.
Knowingly committing a crime will be punished even more severely, but you are my brother. The Thirteenth Prince is in very poor health and has not entered the palace for a long time.
You are the only brother who is close to me."
The emperor sighed deeply. He tried to use the brotherhood to make Prince Guo feel ashamed, but unfortunately Prince Guo was unaware of it. He even knelt down and begged the emperor to show mercy and release Zhen Huan.
“Your Majesty, she has suffered enough in Ningguta. The last time I visited her, she was lying on the bed, dying, and could only vaguely call for her father and mother.
Her life was already about 70% gone, and it was my brother's fate that I found someone to snatch her life back from the gates of hell.
The emperor really didn't know that she had been lying in bed for two months before she barely woke up.
My brother helped her recuperate for another three to five months before she was able to walk like a normal person.
In this way, she has already used her life to atone for her mistakes. I took her out of Ningguta because I couldn't bear to see her continue to suffer."
"Ningguta is a bitter and cold place. She is not the only one who has suffered for her sins. If you like to save people so much, why don't you save everyone?"
Prince Guo raised his eyes and looked at the emperor without fear, "Your Majesty should be very clear that the relationship between me and Zhen has long been tested in times of adversity.
As for the others, even if I have compassion, I will not rescue them.
Only Your Majesty can love all of your subjects equally, and I, your humble servant, cannot even begin to compare to you."
Prince Guo was talking about his feelings for Zhen Huan, and when he realized something was wrong, he did not forget to compliment the Emperor.
It’s a pity that the emperor was unhappy at the moment. When he heard the words “a friend in need is a friend indeed”, he could no longer control his anger.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed!" The emperor almost gnashed his teeth, "It seems that you have really forgotten why Zhen was driven out of the palace by me.
You two had an affair when you were in the palace, and completely forgot how to write the four words "propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame".
Now you treat me like a fool and still want me to fulfill your private feelings. If such a joke spreads among the people, how can I still have the dignity to sit on the throne!"
“Your Majesty, I did have feelings for Zhen in the past, but because she was your concubine, I did not do anything inappropriate.
They confirmed their feelings for each other only after he saved her life in Ningguta.
Your Majesty, please do not believe the words of those villains. When Zhen was in the palace, she really loved Your Majesty with all her heart."
The emperor was almost laughing at Prince Guo's words. Instead, he relaxed and asked, holding the beads in his hand, "I can release Zhen from the palace, but the premise is that you give up your position as a prince, leave the capital with her forever, and never come back.
Are you willing to give up the splendor and wealth of being a prince?"
Prince Guo had almost no hesitation. He immediately nodded and kowtowed loudly, "Your Highness... No, I am willing. Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that Prince Guo had spoken like this, the Emperor no longer had any intention of teaching him a lesson. He raised his hand and asked Meng Jingxian and Huanbi to come out from behind the screen.
Meng Jingxian was still holding Yuan Che in her arms. As soon as she saw Prince Guo, she collapsed and knelt on the ground.
She was hiding behind the screen, having heard Prince Guo's words long ago. She had a lot to say, but at this moment, she had nothing to say except tears.
"Jingxian..."
Prince Guo didn't know what to say at this moment, as if the person who had just decided without hesitation to live with Zhen Huan was not him.
"Your Majesty, do you really want to abandon me and Yuan Che and leave the capital with that Zhen?
Yuan Che is still so young. Has Your Majesty ever thought about how much suffering he would have endured if he hadn't had his father by his side since childhood?
Without his father to accompany him in his studies and learning to read and write, without his father to personally teach him how to ride a horse or shoot an arrow, he had to rely on others for everything.
It would have been fine if his father had died early, but the prince was in good health and had no illness at all.
Your Majesty, compared to Yuan Che and me, is that Zhen really that important?"