socalfunplaces Chapter 497 I was too late to be unrestrained
Chapter 497 I was too late to be unrestrained
"Nonsense! My birthmark was caused by a burn!"
"Okay, okay, so you are the bastard of the Shou King! Ji Lan, you bitch!"
"Decree that Zhao Yao confuse the royal bloodline and seduce the current princess. Immediately throw her into the death row and execute her on a chosen day!"
"I understand that her young daughter has done a great service. I will not argue with her. Please kneel down and greet her!"
Zhao Yao seemed to be stupid and let the guards drag her away.
Emperor Jianxi reprimanded Concubine Ge briefly, and when Concubine Ge started crying, Emperor Jianxi softened his attitude and let Concubine Ge help him leave.
Zhao Xi, Zhao Ying, and the Queen walked out of the Yangxin Palace.
The queen felt it was a pity. "Alas, your mother didn't have the chance to show her skills, and it's all over. Huai'an is so stupid, he wanted to frame you, and he didn't even shut the mouth of the witness, and Wang Po actually went back on her words, hahaha..."
However, Zhao Ying did not feel the joy of victory at all. She was secretly observing Zhao Xi the whole time. She found that after Zhao Yao's failure, Zhao Xi did not look frustrated at all. Instead... it seemed as if it was expected.
Zhao Ying suddenly stopped.
"Ying'er?" asked the Queen.
Zhao Ying suddenly had an idea in his mind.
If Zhao Xi was really behind this, when he found Zhao Yao and heard about Zhao Yao's birthmark, he would definitely be able to see through it. Zhao Yao could be fooled by this matter, but Zhao Xi could not be fooled.
But Zhao Xi is her biological brother!
Since he knew it was fake, why did he still...
What is his purpose?
Originally, she used this plan to deceive Shangguan Shu...
He wouldn't also...
At this moment, Zhou Ji ran over from afar, looked at Zhao Xi and shouted, "Oh no, Your Highness! Shangguan Shu has broken into the palace!"
boom!
Zhao Ying's heart suddenly sank to the bottom.
However, this was not the end. Immediately afterwards, another guard came running over with blood on his face. Zhao Ying's eyes went dark when he saw this, and his legs inexplicably went weak.
The guard's eyes were red and he was a little timid. After paying his respects, he was about to go see Emperor Jianxi, but the empress stopped him and asked, "What happened?"
The guard lowered his head and cried, and Zhou Ji, who was standing next to him, was also startled when he saw this.
Then the imperial guards said, "Grand Tutor Shangguan...is dead."
"Ying'er!" Zhao Ying collapsed in the Queen's arms.
Zhao Xi grabbed the guard's collar in disbelief, "What did you say?"
"Your Highness, Grand Tutor Shangguan forced his way into the palace and was shot through the chest by Shangguan Zhu. His body is now lying at the Shenwu Gate..."
Zhao Xi closed his eyes, looking forbearing, as if he was suppressing his anger.
Shangguan Shu is actually dead!
He clenched his fists and suddenly didn't dare to look at Zhao Ying behind him.
Zhao Ying felt as if someone had pinched her throat. She felt dizzy and dark. She gasped for air with difficulty. After a while, she uttered a sharp cry from her throat, "I don't believe it!"
After saying that, he fainted.
Zhao Ying was taken back to Kunning Palace.
When she woke up, she looked fine, which frightened the queen. She hugged Zhao Ying and said in a trembling voice, "Ying'er, don't scare your mother..."
Zhao Ying threw back the quilt, got out of bed, and put on her shoes. "Mother, I just heard Shangguan Shu coming to pick me up. I want to go home with him..."
The Queen said sadly, "Ying'er, he...is dead."
Zhao Ying sneered, then lowered her head, tears streaming down her face. It seemed like she could not stop crying, and soon her clothes were soaked. She weakly retorted, "He is not dead."
The Queen held her tight.
Zhao Ying suddenly lost all her anger. She whispered softly, "Mother, I don't blame him anymore. I don't blame him anymore. I love him and I want to be with him. I really don't blame him anymore. Why should I care about these things... He must be blaming me, blaming him for being so good to me, but I still don't forgive him..."
"Why am I so cruel to him?"
"I didn't even want to wish him a happy birthday... Mother," Zhao Ying said with tears in her eyes, grief-stricken, "Is it because I didn't wish him a long and healthy life this year that he... Ahhhhhh!!!"
Zhao Ying raised her neck and screamed in pain, "Why didn't I say it... Why didn't I say it..." She pounded her chest hard. She wanted to take her heart out so that it wouldn't hurt.
The Queen hugged her distressedly, unable to utter words of condolences, as those were too powerless. She could only tell her over and over again that Shangguan Shu did not blame her.
In fact, he died for her.
Zhao Ying noticed something was wrong, and she asked, "Mother, what do you mean?"
The Queen sighed and said in a complicated tone, "Your father has already finished investigating this matter, and he got really angry with Xi'er. He was so angry that he almost died!"
"Xi'er..." The Queen's voice sank, "He designed a plan to force Shangguan Shu to break into the palace, intending to accuse him of treason. But Shangguan Shu was alone on horseback, so even if he broke into the palace, he would not be charged with treason."
Zhao Ying listened with indifference.
"But this incident exposed Zhao Xi's intentions. This is actually nothing. What's important is Shangguan Shu's death."
"Zhao Xi explained that he didn't want to kill him, but... Shangguan Zhu stood up and insisted... that he was instructed by Zhao Xi."
"As for Shangguan Shu's death, your father...still suppressed it and had his body secretly sent back to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, saying only that he died suddenly."
A moment later, Zhao Ying broke into the imperial study.
Emperor Jianxi was writing something when he heard the noise outside. He looked up and said coldly, "Let her in!"
Zhao Ying walked in like a wandering soul, her voice hoarse, "Greetings, Father."
But his body did not move at all.
Emperor Jianxi frowned and sighed, "It's so late, why are you standing at my door instead of your mother's palace?"
Zhao Ying felt no wavering when she heard the cold tone of her father, who had doted on her in the past. Instead, she wanted to laugh.
Her heart was already broken, this little pain was really nothing.
Seeing the smile on her lips, Emperor Jianxi's brows furrowed even more.
Perhaps because he couldn't bear to see her on the verge of collapse, Emperor Jianxi stood up and advised, "You should be more open-minded about Runzhi's matter."
"Hahaha..." A low, hoarse laugh came from Zhao Ying's throat, and she suddenly laughed so hard that her body was shaking.
As she laughed, her eyes became brighter and brighter, and the sarcasm in them became deeper.
She and Emperor Jianxi looked at each other without flinching.
"Father, I didn't know the emperor's cruelty today, but today I finally accept it."
"Shangguan Shu died unjustly at Shenwu Gate. Why did you deal with it so hastily, cover up the incident, and secretly send his body back?"
"Are you afraid too?"
Emperor Jianxi narrowed his eyes and stared at Zhao Ying, saying in a very secretive way, "What am I afraid of!"
"What are you afraid of? The Shangguan clan is a prestigious family with a history of thousands of years. They have deep roots. Zhao Xi killed their heir. If this matter gets out, will the clan let it go?"
"Shangguan Shu has been in charge of the army for many years, and his achievements are so great that they frighten the emperor. If the millions of soldiers in the Southern Region knew that their general was killed by Zhao Xi, would they let it go?"
"Shangguan Shu was a man of great power, and he had done nothing wrong, but he was plotted against and killed by Zhao Xi. Wouldn't the whole court be filled with grief?"
"Shangguan Shu served as an official for many years. Although he was devoted to his work, he was also diligent and caring for the people. How will the people feel if such a good official with both reputation and prestige is unjustly killed?"
"What is father afraid of? I'll tell you what to be afraid of!"
"You are afraid that your beloved Xi'er will be held accountable by them! You are afraid that Zhao Xi will lose his prestige and the support of the people. You are afraid that the country you have handed over to Zhao Xi will be unstable!"
"So you are willing to save Zhao Xi even if it means Shangguan Shu's death!"
"In the Shenwu Sect Rebellion, the only person who died was my innocent husband, but the culprit was protected by someone, and the person who protected him was none other than my father!"
"Father, am I right?"
Snapped!
Zhao Ying covered her burning face with her hands, her eyes bloodshot, and looked towards Emperor Jianxi with ferocity.
Emperor Jianxi's chest rose and fell violently. He stared at her for a long while and said coldly, "You are getting more and more presumptuous! You actually dared to contradict and question me. I have spoiled you!"
Zhao Ying stiffened her neck, the sparkling light in her eyes became brighter, and the cold and powerful aura on her body could no longer be suppressed. She stood there, confronting the most noble and powerful man in the world. Not only did she not feel the slightest fear, but she became stronger when facing a stronger man.
She wanted to destroy it all!
At this moment, she no longer has to worry about anything.
"I was presumptuous? I was just presumptuous too late." Zhao Ying was calm and indifferent.
Her peripheral vision suddenly caught a glimpse of a bright yellow spot on the table. Inexplicably, she walked over, looked down, and then smiled sarcastically.
"Since I ascended the throne, I dare not claim that I can change the customs and habits and provide food and clothing for the people. I have been like the wise and holy ruler of the past three generations, and I want to make the country peaceful and the people happy. I have worked diligently, carefully and prudently, day and night, and have never slacked off... If you can be vigilant and take care of yourself after I die, I will also die with joy, Queen..."
Zhao Ying looked at Emperor Jianxi and chuckled, "It seems that I have prevented you from writing the edict of succession. How about I write it for you?"
Zhao Ying muttered to herself, looking extremely exhausted, "The Queen's eldest son Zhao Xi will succeed to the throne, and... heh."
"Father, I also want to be the emperor, why don't you give it to me?"
"In fact, you have long disliked Shangguan Shu, right? Because he is blocking the path of your heir."
"What's the difference between me and them?" Zhao Ying asked, his fingertips pressing heavily on the imperial edict.
Emperor Jianxi closed his eyes and let out a long breath, "Cheng Qian, you are not in your right mind. I will forgive you for your disrespect for the fact that you have been shocked tonight."
"Someone, send Princess Chengqian back to the Princess Mansion!"
Wu Yonggui was standing guard outside the door, already frightened, and immediately came in upon hearing the noise, advising, "Princess, please follow me..."
Zhao Ying ignored him and continued to look at Emperor Jianxi, sad and desolate, "Father, tell me, what's wrong with me?"
Her voice was tinged with tears, "If you didn't mean to give it to me, then why did you give me hope since I was a child?"
She swept everything on the table to the ground. She was cold and fierce, like an enraged beast. She gnashed her teeth and said, "You want Zhao Xi to step on me to get to the top? Don't even think about it!"
"Father, I have followed your wishes for half my life, but today I am going to be disrespectful for once!"
"This throne is for me!"
"No one can stand in my way!"
After saying that, Zhao Ying turned around and left.
Wu Yonggui was so frightened that he was at a loss what to do. He glanced at Zhao Ying who was leaving, then looked at Emperor Jianxi, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, the princess...she was so shocked, don't blame her..."
Emperor Jianxi had a sullen face the whole time. Hearing the voice, he made no response but walked forward with heavy steps, bent down, and found the bright yellow imperial edict from the mess on the ground.
Wu Yonggui stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I will help you find..."
Emperor Jianxi waved his hand gently at him.