Chapter 366 Zhang Guifen's Enlightenment
"Then let's go together."
Zhao Xing asked someone to bring a sedan chair, and the two of them got on it and went to Xingming Palace.
When they arrived at the palace where Zhu lived, Zhao Xing helped Zhang Guifen into the palace.
When I entered the bedroom, the imperial physician was taking Zhu's pulse, and my father was standing beside her.
"Father!"
"No gift!"
"Father, is mother okay?" Zhao Xing asked worriedly.
"He fainted due to anger, he shouldn't be seriously injured, but if you don't handle this matter well, it's hard to say what will happen to your mother." said the retired emperor.
Zhao Xing was silent for a while and said, "Father, I will take care of this matter."
"Or I can issue an edict to pardon Zhu Shiquan's death sentence. Then the court officials will have nothing to say." said the emperor.
"No need, father. I can handle it." Zhao Xing said.
In fact, if Zhao Xing really wanted to protect Zhu Shiquan, he was not completely without a solution.
The reason why things have come to this point is because Zhao Xing never thought of protecting him.
What Zhao Xing had been worried about before was not how to protect Zhu Shiquan, but how to comfort his mother after killing Zhu Shiquan.
Zhao Xing also understood that his father's decree to spare Zhu Shiquan's life would not have much impact on him.
But if this is the case, what will happen if the officials come to him for help when he deals with them in the future?
My father did not interfere in this matter and could even shirk his responsibility by saying that he did not care about state affairs.
Once you intervene, you will be passive in the future.
The most important thing is that Zhao Xing also needs someone of sufficient status to intimidate and show his determination.
"His Majesty!"
At this time, the imperial physician finished taking the pulse and bowed, saying, "The concubine is just angry and anxious. As long as she takes care of herself, she will be fine. But she can't be exposed to too much stimulation in the near future."
"I understand. You may leave now!" the emperor waved his hand.
"I'm leaving!" The imperial physician bowed and left.
"Let the Queen stay here to take care of us, and you come with me to talk." said the Emperor.
"Yes!"
Zhao Xing responded and followed his father to the outer hall.
"sit down!"
The emperor took a seat on the main throne, and after Zhao Xing sat down, he asked, "What are you going to do?"
"I originally wanted to let my uncle commit suicide in prison, but the imperial physician just said that my mother cannot stand the stimulation, so we can only wait for now." Zhao Xing said.
"Fuer!"
The Emperor looked at his son and said, "I know you have great ambitions and want to solve the court's long-standing problems. I support you. But the ice is not formed in a day, and haste makes waste. Although your mother is not your legal mother, she is your biological mother after all. If she is too sad because of this matter and something happens to her, can you be at peace? How will the people of the world view you?"
Zhao Xing fell silent after hearing this.
Although Zhao Xing was under the name of Empress Dowager Cao, there was no difference between a biological mother and a stepmother in terms of filial piety.
It is also a great act of unfilial piety to anger your biological mother to death.
Although he believed that ancient filial piety was somewhat extreme and harsh, it did not mean that he denied filial piety.
He had no feelings for Zhu Shiquan, but he did have feelings for Zhu.
Moreover, the concepts and ideas 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 will issue an edict to pardon his death sentence," said the emperor.
"I'm sorry to have caused trouble for you, father!" Zhao Xing said apologetically.
In ancient times, exempting the powerful from death penalty was actually nothing.
It is enough to say that princes are subject to the same punishment as common people when they break the law. Except for a few crimes, officials have privileges compared to common people for most crimes.
But if Zhao Xing treats corrupt officials harshly in the future, his father's decree may leave a stain in future history books. "You and I, father and son, why are we talking about this?"
The emperor said indifferently, "I'm leaving first. When your mother wakes up, you can tell her that you had no choice but to say that you had asked me to pardon Zhu Shiquan's death sentence. However, his death sentence can be pardoned, but his crime is unforgivable. He will be exiled to Lingnan and will not be allowed to return to Bianjing in this lifetime!"
"Father, there is no need to do this. I will just speak frankly." Zhao Xing shook his head.
Seeing Zhao Xing's determined expression, the emperor said, "It's up to you."
After seeing his father off, Zhao Xing entered the bedroom.
"His Majesty!"
When Zhang Guifen saw Zhao Xing coming in, she stood up and wanted to salute, but was stopped by Zhao Xing.
"Is mother not awake yet?" Zhao Xing glanced at his mother who looked pale.
"Not yet." Zhang Guifen shook her head, seeming to be hesitant to speak.
"The matter has been resolved. Father will issue an order to pardon uncle's death sentence."
Zhao Xing saw Zhang Guifen's worry and told her the whole thing without hiding anything.
Zhang Guifen heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that mother cannot be stimulated in the near future. If you stay here, mother will wake up soon and will definitely be angry if she doesn't know the situation. Otherwise, you can go and do your work first. I will stay here and explain the situation to mother when she wakes up."
Zhao Xing thought about it and said, "Alright, if I stay here it will only irritate my mother. When my mother wakes up, remember to send someone to inform me."
"Yeah!" Zhang Guifen nodded.
Zhao Xing looked at his mother again and turned away.
Not long after he left, Zhu woke up.
"Mother, how do you feel?"
Zhang Guifen was sitting beside the bed and noticed it immediately.
"Official...cough...cough..."
As soon as Zhu opened her mouth, she started coughing violently.
"Someone, go and call the imperial physician." Zhang Guifen said anxiously.
"I...I'm fine!"
Zhu waved her hand and said, "Where is the emperor? Doesn't he dare to come and see me?"
"Mother, His Majesty..."
"That's his uncle. He has such a cruel heart."
Zhu didn't see Zhao Xing and didn't hear what Zhang Guifen said, so she burst into tears.
"Mother, please listen to me first. His Majesty has asked the Supreme Emperor to issue an edict to pardon my uncle." Zhang Guifen said.
"Really?" Zhu grabbed Zhang Guifen's hand with surprise.
"Yes!" Zhang Guifen nodded and told Zhu what Zhao Xing had said to her.
"That's good, that's good." Zhu cried with joy.
"Mother, please don't get too excited."
Zhang Guifen calmed Zhu's emotions and waved to the palace maids in the room, saying, "All of you leave."
After everyone in the room left, Zhang Guifen said, "Mother, you should understand that His Majesty cannot be blamed for what happened this time."
"I know, but he is my only brother after all. I can't just watch him die, can I?" Zhu wiped her tears and said.
"You are right, mother."
Everyone is selfish. Put yourself in her shoes. If she were faced with this situation, would she be able to just ignore it?
"But Your Majesty is the official of the whole country. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, he punished corrupt officials. My uncle is corrupt and everyone in the court knows about it. What do you want Your Majesty to do?
Your Majesty cannot show favoritism while in power and can only deal with it according to the law.
Don’t blame your Majesty for this.”
"I don't blame him. I also understand his difficulties," said Zhu.
"It's good that you understand His Majesty's difficulties. This time, my father issued an edict to save my uncle's life. However, even if the death penalty is spared, exile is inevitable for the crime he committed, and he will never be pardoned. Your mother should be mentally prepared and don't make things difficult for His Majesty anymore." Zhang Guifen said.
(End of this chapter)