While everyone was silent, the eunuch outside announced that Commander Luo had arrived with the Zhao father and eldest son in custody. Hearing this, Yu Xiaoxiao tattled, “Zhao Beicheng even wanted to take Little Sixth and run. If I hadn’t stopped him, they would have left the city by now!”
Eldest Young Master Gu realized that he was the one who didn’t need to say a word. Her Royal Highness was perfectly capable of toying with the Zhao Clan until they died
“Bring the Zhao father and son here,” Xianzong ordered.
The eunuch outside said, “To reply Your Majesty, Zhao Beicheng is currently unconscious. Shall we bring him to meet Your Majesty too?”
Xianzong thought of his daughter at once. That was you, right? You must have done it?
Yu Xiaoxiao replied as a matter of course. “He wanted to take Little Sixth and flee. Could I not beat him up?”
Xianzong waved a hand at her to be quiet, then told the eunuch, “Have Commander Luo bring Zhao Qiumng here.”
“Then can we leave?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. Now that they’d sent the little beansprout home and knew the fatuous ruler wouldn’t execute the little biyatch Consort Zhao, she didn’t see any point in sticking around.
Xianzong glanced at his son, who had clutched Gu Xinglang’s hems as soon as he heard they were leaving. Xianzong asked Yu Xiaoxiao, “You beat up Zhao Beicheng in front of Yu Ziming?”
“Yeah,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied.
Xianzong understood. His son had been scared by the brutality of his daughter thrashing Zhao Beicheng! (Author: Our emperor is very wise and brilliant, oh!)
Yu Xiaoxiao said, “So can we leave or not?”
Gu Xingnuo took this chance to speak up. “Your Majesty, this commoner sees that His Sixth Highness is still frightened. If Her Royal Highness and Royal Son-in-Law spends more time with His Sixth Highness, perhaps they could calm him down.”
Xianzong glanced at his son again, who didn’t have any mind to release Gu Xinglang, and relented. “Linglong and Qinghui1 should send Ziming back to Brightness Palace.”
Gu Xingnuo signaled Gu Xinglang with a look to hurry up and leave with the prince. Although Gu Xinglang had no idea what his big brother was planning, he accepted the imperial decree. Yu Xiaoxiao had no objections. Sending little beansprout to his room after bringing him to the palace was just a little extra walk. By the time the couple withdrew, Zhao Qiuming had arrived with Commander Luo in front of the emperor.
After he paid respects, Xianzong didn’t tell him to rise, but asked Commander Luo, “What happened at the Zhao Estate?”
Commander Luo didn’t want to offend Prime Minister Zhao, but didn’t dare to lie to the sovereign. Thus, he revealed how Zhao Beicheng had been carrying the sixth imperial prince and yelling about not letting him leave for Zhuri and taking him away. In the end, it was Princess Linglong who knocked him unconscious with a slap.
Gu Xingnuo was amazed by the account of events. It was clearly the princess who brought the sixth imperial prince for a sleepover at the Gu Estate, but how did it change into Zhao Beicheng trying to run away with his nephew? He couldn’t make heads or tails of it all.
Xianzong was so furious he couldn’t sit still. Standing up with his hands behind his back, he walked around Zhao Qiuming a few times before stopping in front of him. “Does your Zhao Clan think Zhen is easy to bully?!”
Zhao Qiuming kowtowed to Xianzong like a pestle grinding garlic. “Your Majesty, this subject deserves death!”
“Privately taking an imperial prince out of the palace,” Xianzong said as he kicked him aside, “That’s a capital offense! Who gave you such gall?!”
Zhao Beicheng had been caught in the act by the imperial guards, so Zhao Qiuming knew it’d be useless to cry injustice here. He could only say with a tearful face, “Your Majesty, the esteemed consort was only impatient at heart because she loves her son. His Sixth Highness is only three years old this year. If he goes to Zhuri, would the consort be able to see him again? Your Majesty, this subject deserves death for being unable to see the consort and His Sixth Highness separated as mother and son. For the sake of His Sixth Highness, esteemed consort has been crying day after day while still severely injured. Your Majesty, this subject’s heart, this subject…” Zhao Qiuming broke into bitter sobs, unable to keep on. His head kowtowed as he knelt, staining the ground with tears.
Gu Xingnuo watched Zhao Qiuming playing pitiful and only wore a cold smile internally. That sinister, petty little man who covets power like his own life can still pretend to be a loving father? Zhao Qiuming’s acting skills are on par with those popular opera players in the playhouse.
Xianzong sat on his chair, his weak heart turning sentimental again once Zhao Qiuming started crying about Consort Zhao’s motherly love. If not for Eldest Prince Jing discovering the matter of the secret tunnel connecting Complacent Winery to the Zhao Estate, His Sixth Highness wouldn’t have been selected as a prince hostage. In the end, he was the one who let down Consort Zhao and Zhao Qiuming’s dedication to the country.
Gu Xingnuo took this time to speak up. “Prime Minister, you say Consort Zhao couldn’t bear to part with His Sixth Highness. Isn’t that true for His Majesty as well? Putting it your way makes His Majesty seem too heartless.”
Zhao Qiuming’s eyes flashed with loathing. He just knew the eldest son of the Gu Clan was no good seed.
Hearing Gu Xingnuo’s words, Xianzong’s expression darkened again. That’s right. Consort Zhao as a loving mother and Zhao Qiuming as a loving father leaves me the ruthless party that tried to send off my own son to be a hostage? If it wasn’t for the wellbeing of Fengtian and its people, would I have the heart to sacrifice my child?
“If anything grieves Consort Zhao, she should tell His Majesty,” Gu Xingnuo murmured. “How could His Majesty bear to send His Sixth Highness off to Zhuri? By secretly taking His Sixth Highness out of the palace, prime minister, you fulfilled esteemed consort’s wishes, but where does that leave His Majesty?”
Zhao Qiuming stole a glance at Xianzong. Well, well, it feels like Xianzong’s face could rain by how stormy it looks. “Your Majesty,” he said with a sound kowtow almost hard enough to take his life in front of Xianzong’s eyes. Admitting his guilt, he continued, “This subject was momentarily muddled by impulse and has disappointed Your Majesty. This subject deserves death! Your Majesty, Consort Zhao only loved her son too much and didn’t want to trouble Your Majesty, which is why she never shared her sorrows with you. Your Majesty, this is all this subject’s fault. This subject is willing to accept death to apologize for the offense. I only ask that Your Majesty doesn’t blame esteemed consort.”
“Prime Minister, how could you force His Majesty with the threat of death?” Gu Xingnuo asked. He refused to believe that Zhao Qiuming was really willing to die.
Zhao Qiuming privately cursed Gu Xingnuo as a son of a b***ch before suddenly rising to his feet and running headfirst to a pillar, ostentatiously to smash his skull to pieces. Gu Xingnuo dearly wished he succeeded, but Jing Zhong couldn’t stand by and watch Consort Zhao’s father die via suicide. He quickly flashed to the side and stopped Zhao Qiuming with a cry. “Prime Minister, how could you treat your life so lightly in front of His Majesty?”
Zhao Qiuming sobbed as if he wished nothing more than to die. Seeing this, Xianzong’s heart softened again. This man had assisted him in ruling the country for many years. To force such a hardworking minister to his own death would make him nothing better than a scoundrel.
When Gu Xinguo saw the tears gathering on the edges of Xianzong’s eyes, he knew it was all over. Once again, His Majesty had been touched by Zhao Qiuming’s wicked acting!
“You…” Xianzong wanted to tell Zhao Qiuming to rise and speak.
“Your Majesty, the imperial physicians have awakened Zhao Beicheng,” another eunuch announced from beyond the doors.
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