speaking, I should be the one vying to be your father! Let's just skip the formalities." 。Li Lao'er also laughed, this matter is over. 。Mr. Wen and several friends had a hearty lunch, even drinking...After all, the Yaochi incident back then was quite a stir. Everyone speculated that the person behind it had immense power and great audacity.
And considering the entire new capital, he was audacious and had no bottom line, wanting to control the lifeblood of each family. Besides the Empress Dowager, there was no one else who could do it.
Even when she conspired with the barbarian tribes during her relocation, everyone knew it. Many people cursed Empress Dowager in private. Otherwise, after more than ten years in Jiangnan, she wouldn't have slowly faded into obscurity, losing most of her power because she lost the hearts of the people.
The reason why Tai Hou has never been punished is simply because there is no evidence.
The emperor on the Dragon Throne, seeing that everyone had gone off-topic, cast a glance at Yi, the chief eunuch.
Yi Zongguan immediately flicked his dust whisk and shouted, "Silence!"
The courtiers hastily put out the blazing gossip fire and huddled closer, continuing to watch the "performance."
"Duke Dingbei, do you know how grave a crime it is to falsely accuse the Empress Dowager You make such accusations without evidence If there is none, for speaking recklessly, I will not spare you!"
"Your Majesty!" Dingbei Hou knelt on the ground, kowtowing with a loud thud, his expression resolute. Seeing him like this, everyone felt that he had suffered a great injustice.
"Your Majesty, as a subject who eats the food provided by Your Majesty and owes loyalty to Your throne, today I would rather be punished by You than remain silent.
As the Empress Dowager, she not only failed to contribute to the Heavenly Martial Empire but also secretly colluded with enemies, damaging its foundation and causing the people to be displaced and families to be separated. The hasty relocation of the capital almost led to the nation's destruction. Her crimes are truly heinous.
And that Fuhong Ointment nearly dragged all the young talents of our Heavenly Martial sect into hell, making them pawns of the devils.
"The Emperor, moved by filial piety, valued family ties. But the Empress Dowager did not care for the Emperor at all; otherwise, how could she have caused him such heartache and distress"
It has to be said, the Marquis of Dingbei's words were quite insightful. The Emperor sighed and nodded slightly upon hearing them.
Then, the Marquis of Dingbei pressed his advantage and finally brought out his trump card.
“I have irrefutable evidence, including letters proving the Empress Dowager's treason and information from the former steward of Yaochi Palace. I await Your Majesty’s questioning to reveal the truth. Please give the people an explanation and a chance for the prosperous reign of Tianwu!”
The Marquis of Dingbei spoke, then began to bow his head.
The officials were stunned for a moment, then looked up to see the Emperor staring at them. They finally realized it was time for their acting performance!
Then, everyone knelt down together and shouted loudly, “Please give the world an explanation, Your Majesty, give Tianwu Shengshi a chance!”
Everyone's forehead was pressed against the icy stone floor, even a fool could tell what that meant.
Perhaps the evidence that Duke Dingbei possesses was given to him by the Emperor.
All the groundwork laid before was for this fatal blow today!
Li Lao Er couldn't hear the murmurings of the crowd. If he had, he would have certainly asked them to take away the words "perhaps".
Because that evidence wasn't given by the Emperor, it was obtained by their family. It was Jiaxi and Ji'an who traveled thousands of miles from overseas to find it!
But this day's great merit, the Li family did not want to take, so they handed it over, benefiting the Duke of Dingbei...
The Emperor, with a look of shock and finally resolute determination, stood up directly and said, "Since things have come to this, if we don't investigate further, I will lose the trust of the people and might even become an unfilial son today."
Having said that, he commanded, "Surround Shou Kang Palace, I want to ask the Empress Dowager personally why she did this!"
As a result, at this time Feng Gonggong rushed over from the back hall in a hurry and shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, something has happened! The Empress Dowager... she committed suicide!"
"What!"
Everyone was taken aback, and the Emperor frowned even deeper, looking at Yi, the head steward.
This was completely unexpected. Did someone make a move beforehand, or did the Empress Dowager find out about the arrangements made by the former court and took her own life in anger
Yi Zongtang immediately took people to Shou Kang Palace.
In the court, everyone bowed their heads and shrunk their necks for fear of being implicated.
Perhaps General Yi had whirled his legs like a whirlwind, as he didn't make everyone wait too long. He rushed back, bringing with him the Empress Dowager’s final letter.
The Emperor quickly opened it and took a careful look, his expression very complicated.
The Empress Dowager had been confined in Shoukang Palace for so long, isolated and with no hope.
Moreover, over these days, officials have been purged one after another, all orchestrated by her people.
She couldn't have guessed that the Emperor would make a move against her today!
Thus, she tried to escape her predicament, wrote a farewell letter, and hanged herself from the ceiling.
He not only failed to give the Emperor a chance for revenge, but also left himself a complete corpse as a face-saving measure…
The Emperor seethed with rage. He had been oppressed for half his life, enduring humiliation and hardship. How could he possibly allow the culprit to die so easily
He wanted her to be tormented and tortured, driven mad, unable to live or die.
But his plans...were dashed again!
After enduring much, he finally calmed down and said, “The Dowager Empress’s final letter, admitted to all her crimes and then she committed suicide out of guilt.”
The courtiers erupted in a chorus of agreement and continued their discussion.
The Empress Dowager was like a sword hanging over Emperor Taizu's head. Although she had retreated from the court for a decade, everyone knew she could stir up politics at any moment.
Even today, as the Emperor repeatedly removes many of the Empress Dowager's people, those who remain neutral still feel that the Empress Dowager is not necessarily losing.
But now such a person suddenly died!
The sword hanging above Tianwu's head was gone just like that!
Everyone was unsure how to react.
Easy Regretful Disbelief Joyful
At this moment, Dingbei Hou unexpectedly shouted again, "Your Majesty, although the Empress Dowager committed suicide out of fear, those ministers who previously helped the Empress Dowager meddle in state affairs and communicate with enemy countries should not be let go. They still need to be thoroughly investigated."
And I have evidence here that someone else conspired with the Empress Dowager at the time, an incredibly important person who was even in the palace!
The moment those words were spoken, it was like throwing oil on a fire, ready to explode the entire court!
An aged official, his vision dimming with age, strained to hear more.
The rest of the civil and military officials also didn't know what to say.
They expected today's meeting to be interesting, but they didn't expect the pace to be so tight!
The Emperor slammed his fist on the table, seemingly angered as well, and questioned, "General Dingbei, make it clear! If you dare to slander me, I will surely punish you severely!"
Lord Dingbei was usually timid and withdrawn, but today he seemed to have taken some medicine. He actually lifted his head and chest, with a look of righteousness on his face.
“As a loyal subject to the Heavenly Martial Dynasty, and for Your Majesty’s well-being, I dare not deceive you in the slightest. The person I speak of is none other than Imperial Noble Consort Rong Hua of the Glorious Palace! Empress Dowager's correspondence with barbarians was all facilitated by the Noble Consort sending them out of the palace! Most of the contacts with purged officials were also made through the Noble Consort receiving emissaries!”
The Noble Consort is deeply beloved by the Emperor, yet she betrays him in such a way, displaying disloyalty and injustice. I implore the Emperor to punish her severely, so that others may learn from her example!
Is the Noble Consort a servant of the Empress Dowager
The Imperial Noble Consort was also involved in colluding with barbarians and forming factions for private gain
If it's true, the Noble Consort is finished. Losing favor is small; being sent to the cold palace or even executed would be normal.
Could the second prince be made crown prince with such a mother
The ministers who had openly supported the second prince by chariot and horse were the first to panic.
I'm sorry, my little ones, the update is late. I had a slipped disc and went for an injection, which delayed things. I'll try to be on time tomorrow!at frequently travels between Xin Du and Quanzhou, transporting seafood and such.“Our family has plans to let me and Li Ge'er go south this time to broaden our horizons. The headmaster of the academy...