met free Chapter 358 Husband, you're going to be a father!
Chapter 358 Husband, you're going to be a father!
"Mother, I remember that it was you who strongly advocated for Prince Li to marry Miss Jiang?" Emperor Changlong asked.
The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow. "What? Does the Emperor think that Jiang Zhen's rebellion is related to me?"
"I was just asking. After all, Your Majesty likes Miss Jiang. Now that Miss Jiang is the daughter of a disgraced official, she can no longer be the Princess Consort of Li." Emperor Changlong said coldly.
"I stopped interfering in the affairs of the previous dynasty long ago. The emperor can do whatever he wants with them without informing me."
The Empress Dowager said, "I am tired. If the Emperor has nothing else to attend to, he may return."
"Yes, Your Majesty, please rest well." Emperor Changlong got up and left Cining Palace.
After Emperor Changlong had left, the Empress Dowager spoke, "Wujing, what do you think was the meaning of the Emperor's visit just now?"
"Your Majesty, such a big thing happened in the palace today. The Emperor must be worried about you, so he came to see you specially." Wujing said insincerely.
"Nonsense!" The Empress Dowager said sternly. "He cares about me? He's more likely here to laugh at me, to laugh at my poor judgment of people. I favored Jiang Yu, but it turns out Jiang Yu is a remnant of the previous dynasty, while he favored Song Siyao, who has repeatedly performed great feats!"
"Your Majesty, Jiang Yu has been demoted to a concubine. What if she comes to you to plead for her to become the Princess Consort of Li, based on the life-saving grace she received years ago?" Wu Jing asked with a worried expression.
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, "Being the Princess Consort of Li is not so easy. If she is smart enough, I can help her. If she is stupid, I will abandon her. There are plenty of pawns."
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is wise," Wujing complimented.
In the evening, Song Siyao entered the palace to report, "Your Majesty, the Jiang and Zhang families have been executed, and all their property has been confiscated."
"Yaoyao, you've worked hard." Emperor Changlong asked Song Siyao, "Yaoyao, what do you think should be done with the Minister of War?"
Previously at Fengshadu, General Chen said that the imperial court was withholding their military pay.
Later, after Song Siyao returned to the capital, she investigated and found that the Minister of War had falsified documents and deceived his superiors.
In addition, Jiang Xiang used tricks to get the military pay that should have gone to the soldiers on the frontier into his own pocket.
Unaware of the situation, the soldiers on the frontier harbored deep hatred for the imperial court, thus becoming the sword in Jiang Xiang's hands.
“Father, the Minister of War is involved in treason and should be executed.” Song Siyao showed no mercy.
The Minister of War once said in court that sending her to quell the rebellion without giving her military power was tantamount to sending her to her death.
How could she let someone who wanted her dead live?
"Just as Yao Yao said, although Jiang Zhen is dead, he served as prime minister for many years and had many followers. His power is deeply entrenched. Yao Yao, let's eliminate him completely."
Emperor Changlong's eyes showed signs of fatigue; he felt that he was getting old and his mental state was declining year by year.
The throne of this Great Zhou will eventually be handed over to Shen Pei, so we might as well take this opportunity to clear away any obstacles for him.
"As for the vacant position in the court, Yaoyao, you and the Crown Prince should discuss whether you have a suitable candidate."
With the addition of Minister Jiang, Minister of War, and Minister of Works, along with the five other high-ranking officials who died tragically, there are now many vacant positions in the court.
Emperor Changlong was intentionally having Song Siyao and Shen Pei cultivate their own people.
“Father, you…” Song Siyao felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.
She knew that Emperor Changlong truly loved Shen Pei. Other emperors, even on their deathbeds, would not relinquish power and would never allow their crown prince to cultivate his own power base before his death.
"Your Majesty, I am old and powerless to do many things. I am very pleased with your excellent cooperation with the Crown Prince in suppressing the rebellion this time."
Emperor Changlong smiled slightly. "Alright, you may leave now. Remember what I told you."
"Yes, Father." Song Siyao left.
She was already aware of Emperor Changlong's physical condition. If it weren't for her meticulous care for his health over the years, Emperor Changlong might have already passed away.
Emperor Changlong was very sentimental, and the death of Consort Rou was a great blow to him.
Moreover, he was a diligent emperor, and his tireless work day and night caused his health to deteriorate further.
No sooner had Song Siyao left than Shen Pei arrived.
"Father, the rebels within the Imperial Guards have been eliminated, and the cooks in the Imperial Kitchen have committed suicide. Apart from these, I have not found anything else," Shen Pei reported.
"Very well, Your Highness, you have worked hard. Go back and rest," Emperor Changlong instructed.
"Yes, Father, I take my leave." Shen Pei found Emperor Changlong somewhat strange.
It seems I need to go back and discuss this with Song Siyao.
The imperial study fell silent.
"Wang Fu," Emperor Changlong called out softly.
The eunuch answered softly, "This servant is here."
"The person behind this is hiding too well. Even the Crown Prince and Crown Princess haven't been able to find out his identity. Where do you think this person could be hiding?"
Emperor Changlong's tired eyes suddenly flashed with a cold light, sending chills down one's spine.
"This servant does not know," Eunuch Wang replied truthfully. How could a servant like him know something that even Song Siyao and Shen Pei did not know?
However, Emperor Changlong did not expect to get an answer from him.
Emperor Changlong continued, "Wang Fu, I am old. I am at ease handing over the country to the Crown Prince. Let me do one last thing for the Crown Prince."
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" asked Eunuch Wang.
"Use yourself as bait to lure the snake out of its hole." Emperor Changlong's gaze was fierce, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Prince's Mansion.
"The Crown Princess is back!" The guards at the gate saw Song Siyao and immediately went inside to report.
"Welcome home, Crown Princess." The steward led everyone in the manor to greet Song Siyao.
The Crown Prince's residence was unaware that Song Siyao had faked her death, and they were saddened for a long time.
When everyone saw Song Siyao return safely, they were all overjoyed.
"Get up, everyone," Song Siyao said. "Everyone has worked hard these past few days. Steward, everyone in the manor will be rewarded."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Everyone expressed their gratitude.
"Your Highness, I have already had the meal prepared," Yu Xiang said.
"Has the Crown Prince returned?" Song Siyao asked.
Yu Xiang replied, "His Highness has not yet returned."
"Then let's wait for him to come back and eat together. Could you get me a bowl of soup first so I can have something to eat?" Song Siyao walked towards the front hall.
"Yes."
Song Siyao hadn't even finished her bowl of soup when Shen Pei arrived home.
"Husband, you're back. Come and eat." Song Siyao served Shen Pei a bowl of ginseng and black chicken soup.
"I'm really hungry." Shen Pei drank half of the chicken soup and asked Song Siyao, "How's things going on your end?"
When the two began discussing confidential matters, all the servants withdrew.
"Everyone who needed to be arrested has been arrested. We'll interrogate them after dinner," Song Siyao said. "What about your side?"
"They were too well hidden, there were no clues, and they only arrested people in the public eye." Shen Pei frowned.
"No rush, take your time," Song Siyao comforted her.
Shen Pei placed a piece of fish on Song Siyao's plate, but Song Siyao gagged. "I don't want to eat it, it's too fishy."
He quickly picked it back and put it in his own bowl, looking at him with concern, "What's wrong? Isn't this fish your favorite?"
Suddenly, he remembered something, "Isn't your period due?"
"I can't come for the time being," Song Siyao said.
"Why?" Shen Pei didn't react for a moment, looking worried.
Song Siyao smiled faintly, "Because you're going to be a father."