dognovel Chapter 134 The Emperor's White Moonlight 16 (End)
Chapter 134 The Emperor's White Moonlight 16 (End)
"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: Prime Minister Zhangqiu, as a high-ranking official, should have set an example and supported the country. However, he has acted with audacity and recklessness, disregarding the laws of the land. He interfered with the imperial examinations, causing countless talented individuals to be buried and the nation to lose its pillars. This is an act that has brought shame upon the country. He has embezzled and perverted the law, enriching himself, and exploiting the people's wealth, causing suffering and despair among the people. Worse still, he has committed murder, treating human life as worthless. His actions are unacceptable to Heaven and condemned by both humans and gods.
Such scoundrels have tarnished the court and harmed the nation like a cancer. With the authority of the Son of Heaven and the utmost justice, I have now imprisoned them, awaiting their fate, to demonstrate the rigor of state law, to appease public anger, and to bring peace to the world.
Admire this! "
After hearing this, the Prime Minister was struck by lightning. His legs went limp and he sat down on the ground, muttering to himself, "Impossible, this is impossible." His eyes were full of fear and confusion. He had clearly destroyed everything that could serve as evidence, so how could it be discovered?
Commander Wei waved his hand and said in a cold and ruthless tone: "Take them all away!"
The prime minister suddenly came to his senses at this moment, struggling and shouting: "Someone must have framed me! Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" However, the imperial guards ignored his cries, stepped forward to subdue him, and escorted him out of the palace.
The news of the Prime Minister's arrest spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys, shaking the entire capital. People rushed to tell each other, and many people who had suffered persecution from the Prime Minister and his followers rushed to the scene from all over the country.
An old man in ragged clothes, his face covered in tears, pulled the official who came to handle the case and cried, "Sir, please help us! The Prime Minister sent people to seize my land, and my family can hardly survive now."
The official quickly supported the old man and said, "Old man, please don't be anxious. Speak slowly."
Another scholar-like man said indignantly, "Sir, I should have been able to display my talent in the imperial examination, but because of the Prime Minister's cheating, I failed. He has ruined my future!"
As more and more victims came forward to report the crime, the evidence snowballed. Each piece of detailed evidence was a powerful accusation of the Prime Minister and his gang's crimes.
In the court, the ministers looked at the mountain of evidence and shook their heads.
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has committed so many sins that they are unforgivable," said a minister.
The emperor's face was gloomy. "The Prime Minister's crimes are extremely serious. According to the law, he should be executed to uphold the law of the land."
In the end, due to the irrefutable evidence, the prime minister was sentenced to death by beheading. Those who had colluded with the prime minister were also sentenced to death or exile according to their crimes.
A minister advised the emperor: "Your Majesty, this severe punishment of the Prime Minister's party demonstrates your justice. It will surely reassure the people and keep the court clean and upright."
The emperor nodded slightly and said, "I hope that all the ministers will take this as a warning and not make the same mistake again in the future."
"I will remember this."
With the Prime Minister's accomplices apprehended, the shadowy influence that had enveloped the imperial court finally dissipated. However, within the harem, the thorny figure of the Empress remained undeterred. The Empress's poisoning of Jiu'er was irrefutable, and if Jiu'er hadn't been so shrewd and clever as to decipher the plot, she would have perished long ago. Ji Heng, mindful of the Empress's status, decided to personally journey to Zhengyang Palace to settle the matter.
The Zhengyang Palace is now deserted, a stark contrast to its former bustling splendor. In this vast palace, there's only one maidservant serving. The Queen's life is extremely difficult, and her former glory seems like a passing cloud. Seeing Ji Heng enter the palace, she forced herself to smile, bowed slightly, and whispered, "Your Highness, why did you come so suddenly today? You didn't even send someone to inform us in advance. I look so disheveled. If I had known Your Highness was coming, I would have dressed up properly to avoid being impolite."
Ji Heng stood there, looking at her with a sharp gaze, and said coldly: "Your father has committed many crimes and has been sentenced to beheading. At noon today, the executioner will bring down the fatal knife."
The Queen's face remained expressionless, her smile frozen. She simply replied, "Your Highness, since you're here, would you like some snacks?" Then, she slowly stood up and began searching around the table in the hall, muttering to herself, "Huh? Where are the snacks? I clearly left them here."
"Why are the snacks gone? They were carefully prepared for Your Highness." There was a hint of anxiety in her tone, and a bit of panic in her eyes.
"That's your highness's favorite snow pear cake. Do you remember it?"
As she searched, she seemed to be lost in deep memories, "That year at the palace banquet, when I first met Your Highness, he was eating snow pear cake. He looked so beautiful."
"I thought to myself, what a wonderful thing it would be to be able to make something that Your Highness would like to eat. Later, I spent a long time asking many royal chefs for advice before I finally learned how to make this snow pear cake. After Your Highness ate it that time, he praised my cooking for being delicious. Your Highness, do you still remember?"
Ji Heng snorted coldly, his eyes full of disdain: "Queen, you are still infatuated with the former prince. When he was alive, you two could not become husband and wife. Now, why don't you go down to accompany him? I believe that in the underworld, the emperor will be happy to see you."
A glint suddenly flashed in the Queen's eyes, an almost fanatical anticipation. She eagerly took a few steps forward and asked, "Your Highness, is what you said true? Can I really see Your Highness? But...but how can I find him?"
Ji Heng expressionlessly took out a small, delicate porcelain bottle from his bosom, which contained deadly poison. He handed it to the queen and said coldly, "Drink this, and you will be able to see the person you have been thinking about."
There was no hesitation in the queen's eyes. She took the porcelain bottle as if she had taken the key to happiness, raised her head and drank the poison in one gulp, muttering, "Your Highness, I'm coming..." Soon, the queen's face turned black and she fell to the ground without a breath.
Ji Heng looked at her body without a trace of pity in his eyes, and said coldly: "You should never have attacked Jiuer. This is your end. It's a bargain for you to treat others in their own way."
After saying this, he walked out of Zhengyang Palace without looking back and headed towards Guangling Palace. From now on, no one could influence him and Jiuer.
Recently, due to various reasons, the number of officials in the court has decreased, and the situation in the court has undergone subtle changes. After careful consideration, Ji Heng resolutely decided to start the imperial examination early.
After the news came out, it spread quickly to all places as if it had wings, like dropping a blockbuster bomb on a calm lake, causing an uproar in an instant.
"Have you heard? The scientific expedition will be brought forward!"
"Really? This is really great news!"
When scholars across the country heard the news, their blood boiled. Like seedlings that had been droughted and finally received a downpour, their eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation.
"I've finally waited for this day. I've studied hard for so many years, just looking forward to this opportunity!" a young scholar said excitedly.
"Yes, we have to pack up and go to the capital quickly. We can't miss this opportunity." Another scholar responded while packing his bags.
For years, they had studied diligently under the solitary lamp, poring over their studies in their humble homes, enduring countless days and nights, all waiting for the opportunity to showcase their talents on the stage of the imperial examination and realize their ambitions. Now, the news that the examination had been brought forward was undoubtedly great news for them. So, they dropped everything, packed their bags, and rushed to the capital without stopping.
In this busy and bustling time, Lingjiu's birthday arrived. The sun seemed to be especially bright on this day, as if the heavens were also adding brilliance to this special day.
Ji Heng stood in the palace and solemnly issued the imperial decree: "I issue an edict today to promote the noble concubine to the rank of queen, to share the purview of the palace with me and to be the mother of the country." As soon as the news came out, there was jubilation inside and outside the palace.
Lingjiu's palace was filled with people offering congratulations. Among the crowd, two figures stood out: Lingjiu's two brothers, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Sister, congratulations. Today you become the queen. Father and mother are so happy." Ling Yizi said with a smile.
"Yes, sister, fortunately Ji Heng is a man of his word." Ling Chengyu agreed.
Xiao He and Xu Jingyan also came hand in hand. They both always remembered Lingjiu's kindness in their hearts.
"Your Highness, congratulations." Xiao He said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, may you and His Majesty be together forever. We will never forget your kindness to us." Xu Jingyan, wearing a veil, had tears of emotion in her eyes.
Xu Jingyan had now become the Crown Princess, a distinguished figure. Looking back, on that thorny road to succession, it was thanks to Lingjiu's help that Xiao He was able to move forward smoothly.
Now, the situation is becoming clearer and clearer. As long as his father abdicates, Xiao He can smoothly inherit the throne.
Lingjiu knew that Ji Heng did not like to be trapped in this place, so when their eldest son came of age, she handed over all government affairs to him. The two of them stayed away from the government and traveled around. They traveled all over the country, experiencing different customs and cultures, and they lived a very happy life.