Chapter 366 Zhang Guifen’s solution
"Then let's go together."
Zhao Xing asked someone to bring the chariot, and the two of them got on the chariot and went to Xingming Palace.
Arriving at the palace where Zhu lived, Zhao Xing helped Zhang Guifen into the palace.
Entering the bedroom, the imperial doctor was taking Zhu's pulse, and his father stood aside.
"Father!"
"No gifts!"
"Father, is mother and concubine okay?" Zhao Xing asked worriedly.
"I was so angry that I fainted. It shouldn't be a serious problem, but if you don't handle this matter well, it's hard to say what will happen to your mother and concubine." The Supreme Emperor said.
Zhao Xing was silent for a while and said, "Father, I will take care of this matter."
"How about I decree that Zhu Shiquan should be spared the death penalty? In this case, the courtiers would have nothing to say." said the Supreme Emperor.
"No need, Father, I can handle it." Zhao Xing said.
In fact, if Zhao Xing really wanted to protect Zhu Shiquan, it was not completely impossible.
The reason why it got to this point was that Zhao Xing never thought about protecting him.
What Zhao Xing had a headache and struggled with before was not how to protect Zhu Shiquan, but how to free his mother and concubine after killing Zhu Shiquan.
It would indeed not have much impact on Zhu Shiquan if his father issued the decree to spare him from death, and Zhao Xing also understood it.
But in this case, when he deals with hundreds of officials in the future, what will he do if the officials come to see his father?
If the father does not interfere in this matter, he can still evade it on the grounds that he does not care about the government's affairs.
Once you intervene, you will be passive in the future.
The most important thing is that Zhao Xing also needs someone with enough status to intimidate and show his determination.
"Your Majesty!"
At this time, the imperial doctor checked her pulse and bowed: "The concubine is angry and attacking her heart. As long as she calms down and recovers, she will be fine. But she can't be too stimulated in the near future."
"I know, stand down!" The Supreme Emperor waved his hand.
"I take my leave!" The imperial doctor bowed and left.
"Let the queen stay here and take care of her, and you can go out with me to talk." The Supreme Emperor said.
"Yes!"
Zhao Xing responded and followed his father to the outer hall.
"Sit down!"
The Supreme Emperor sat down on the main seat. After Zhao Xing sat down, he asked: "What are you going to do?"
"My son originally wanted his uncle to commit suicide in prison, but the imperial doctor just said that the mother and concubine cannot bear the stimulation, so we can only wait." Zhao Xing said.
"Fu'er!"
The Supreme Emperor looked at his son and said: "I know you have great ambitions and want to solve the long-standing problems in the imperial court, and I support it. But it won't take a day to freeze three feet, and haste makes waste. Although your mother-in-law is not your legitimate mother, after all, It's your biological mother. If she is too sad because of this, will you feel at ease? How will the world view you?
Zhao Xing fell silent upon hearing this.
Although Zhao Xing is in the name of Empress Dowager Cao, there is no difference in filial piety between the biological mother and the legitimate mother.
It is as unfilial as to be angry with your biological mother.
Although he believed that ancient filial piety was somewhat extreme to the point of harshness, it did not mean that he denied filial piety.
He has no feelings for Zhu Shiquan, but he does have feelings for Zhu Shi.
Moreover, the concepts and thoughts of this era also attach great importance to filial piety.
As an official, he naturally has to set an example for the world in this regard and cannot leave any stain.
"I decree that he should be exempted from the death penalty." said the Supreme Emperor.
"My son has caused trouble to my father!" Zhao Xing apologized.
Exempting the powerful from death penalty was nothing in ancient times.
Just listen to the fact that the prince is guilty of the same crime as the common people. Except for a few crimes, for most crimes, officials have privileges compared with the common people.
But if Zhao Xing later treats corrupt officials without mercy, his father's decree may leave a stain on future history books. "You and I, father and son, why are you talking about this?"
The Supreme Emperor said indifferently: "I will leave first. When your mother and concubine wake up, you will say that there is nothing you can do about what you said in court before. You have asked me in private to exempt Zhu Shiquan from the death penalty. But he can be punished by death. Excuse me, you will be sentenced to Lingnan, and you will not be able to return to Bianjing in this life!”
"Father, you don't have to be like this, just say so." Zhao Xing shook his head.
Seeing Zhao Xing's firm expression, the Supreme Emperor said, "It's up to you."
After seeing his father off, Zhao Xing entered the palace.
"Your Majesty!"
When Zhang Guifen saw Zhao Xing coming in, she stood up and wanted to salute, but was stopped by Zhao Xing.
"Is the concubine not awake yet?" Zhao Xing glanced at the pale concubine.
"Not yet." Zhang Guifen shook her head, hesitant to speak.
"The matter has been resolved. My father-in-law will issue a decree to exempt my uncle from the death penalty."
Zhao Xing saw Zhang Guifen's worry and told Zhang Guifen the matter without hiding it.
Zhang Guifen breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and said: "Your Majesty, the imperial doctor said that the concubine should not be stimulated in the near future. If you stay here, the concubine will definitely be angry when she wakes up and does not know the situation. Otherwise, you should first Go and get busy. I will stay here and wait for my mother to wake up. I will explain the situation to her first. ”
After hearing this, Zhao Xing thought for a while and said, "It's okay. If I stay here, it will only irritate the mother and concubine. When the mother and concubine wakes up, please remember to send someone to inform me."
"Yeah!" Zhang Guifen nodded.
Zhao Xing glanced at his mother again, turned and left.
Not long after he left, Mrs. Zhu woke up.
"Concubine, how are you feeling?"
Zhang Guifen sat guarding beside the bed and noticed it immediately.
"Official...cough...cough..."
As soon as Zhu opened his mouth, he coughed violently.
"Come here, call the imperial doctor quickly." Zhang Guifen said urgently.
"I...I'm fine!"
Mrs. Zhu waved her hand and said: "Where is the official family? Doesn't he dare to come to see me?"
"Mother, Your Majesty, he..."
"That's his uncle, he's so cruel."
Zhu didn't see Zhao Xing and didn't listen to what Zhang Guifen said, so she burst into tears.
"Mother, please listen to me first. Your Majesty has asked the Supreme Emperor to issue a decree to pardon my uncle." Zhang Guifen said.
"Really?" Mrs. Zhu grabbed Zhang Guifen's hand with a look of surprise.
"Yes!" Zhang Guifen nodded and told Zhu what Zhao Xing told her.
"That's good, that's good." Mrs. Zhu cried with joy.
"Concubine, don't get too excited."
Zhang Guifen calmed Zhu's emotions and waved to the maids in the room: "You all stand down."
After everyone in the room left, Zhang Guifen said: "Mother, concubine, you should understand that your Majesty is not to blame for this incident."
"I know, but that is my only brother after all. I can't watch him die, can I?" Zhu said, wiping her tears.
"Mother, you are right."
People are selfish and compare their feelings to their own. If she faced this situation, could she ignore it and not ask?
"But your Majesty is an official in the world. After your Majesty takes the throne, he punishes corrupt officials. The whole court knows that his uncle is corrupt. What do you want your Majesty to do?
Your Majesty has no way to show favoritism in court and can only deal with it in accordance with the law.
Don't blame His Majesty for this. ”
"I don't blame him, I also know his difficulties." Zhu said.
"It's good that you understand His Majesty's difficulty. This time, my father issued a decree to save my uncle's life. However, even if the crime committed by my uncle is exempted from the death penalty, his exile is inevitable, and he can never be forgiven. Mother and concubine must be mentally prepared. , don’t embarrass Your Majesty,” Zhang Guifen said.
(End of chapter)