ebookland Chapter 311: Severely Rebuked
Chapter 311: Severely Rebuked
"Tingzhi, when should we set out and where should we set up our ambush?"
Wang Zongyuan's expression changes so quickly that no one can compare. He was angry just now, but in the blink of an eye he and Shen Tingzhi are close again.
"Let's set off tomorrow. I'll lead my men to wait in the Ten Thousand Bamboo Forest, and you lead your men to ambush at Eagle's Beak Cliff. The two places are not far apart, so it will be convenient for rescue if something unexpected happens."
"Once we arrive at the location, we must first send someone to investigate the surrounding environment and eliminate any suspicious individuals."
Shen Tingzhi lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said worriedly, "We'll have secret sentries along the way. If anything happens, we'll know in advance and be prepared to deal with it."
"No matter what, we must ensure Madam Wang's safety this time. If anything happens to her, it will affect the development of the entire situation."
"I understand. Don't worry, these things are nothing to us."
"I dare not say anything else, but I can still assure you that Madam Wang's people are safe."
Wang Zongyuan has fought for so many years, and now his only task is to protect Madam Wang and ensure her safe return to Shangjing. He still has some confidence in this.
"We must not be careless. The situation is tense right now. Wang Yunzhi's every move affects many people's hearts. How he chooses to side this time is related to the stability of the court."
"So Madam Wang's trip this time is of great importance. I wonder how many people are watching her from behind the scenes, and quite a few are hoping something bad happens to her."
Shen Tingzhi already had a very bad premonition in his heart at this moment, and always felt that things would not go smoothly this time.
"I understand. I will take this matter seriously."
Wang Zongyuan was also able to distinguish the importance of things. His distant cousin, as the head of all officials, his attitude influenced the attitudes of many officials in the court.
Li Chaohui must be eliminated, but the court cannot be in chaos. If Li Chaohui is eliminated but chaos occurs in the court, it will be a loss.
When Shen Tingzhi received Shen Tianjiao's instructions, it was already dawn and he was ready to take his men out.
Shen Tingzhi knew about his sister's concern and worry, but he didn't go. If he was asked to stay and wait for news, he would go crazy.
So he acted like a hypocrite, agreeing verbally but turning around and leaving with his men.
After Su Chang got the news that Mrs. Wang was going to Huguo Temple, he immediately called Lao Lu over.
"Hurry up and arrange for someone to ambush us on the road to Huguo Temple. This time, we must capture Madam Wang at all costs. If anything unexpected happens along the way, kill her and bring her back."
"Seal the news and don't let any of it leak out."
"We also need to send people over to Quzhou quickly. We must do it quickly. This matter cannot be delayed for too long. If the Wang family is prepared, it will not be so easy for us to take action."
"Master, don't worry. I will arrange for someone to go to Quzhou right away. I will go to Madam Wang's place myself."
Lao Lu's drive for action is beyond words. She will never leave until tomorrow what needs to be done today.
"Okay, go ahead. I'm more relieved."
Su Chang looked up at Lao Lu and asked, "Where is Ayang? Hasn't he accepted it yet?"
"Second Master is in his courtyard, Master. Second Master is a kind-hearted man. What we are doing is difficult for him to accept for the time being."
"You have to give him some time and let him take his time. Second Master is also a smart man. As long as he thinks it through, he will do it willingly and spare no effort."
Su Yang's lineage is now the only hope that can support the Su family. As a loyal servant to the Su family, Lao Lu will naturally say more good things about Su Yang.
"Oh!" Su Chang sighed and said, "It's not his fault, it's all my fault."
"I placed all my hopes on Ke Wenzhi before, neglecting both him and his father, and this led to the child becoming such a coward."
Su Chang lowered his head and thought for a while, then said, "Don't worry, let him think about it slowly. You should not go this time. Send someone capable."
"You stay and try to enlighten him. He'll be willing to listen to you."
Being partial is the biggest mistake Su Chang has made in raising his children. He regrets it now, but it's too late.
"Okay, I'll stay here and let Heisha go. He's very capable and has good kung fu skills."
The Heisha mentioned by Lao Lu was a gangster killer in the past. Because he committed a crime and offended someone he shouldn't have offended, he was issued a gangster killing order, so he had to join the Su family and get the protection of the Su family.
Mrs. Wang, who was packing her things at home and preparing to go to Huguo Temple to pray for the safety of her two sons, would never have imagined that she, who had been low-key for half her life, had become a hot figure at this moment.
Let Shen Tingzhi and Su Chang fight for the object. I wonder what Mrs. Wang would think if she knew it?
"You can handle these things." However, after just one night, Su Chang looked much older and haggard.
"Get ready, get ready, I'm going to the palace to plead guilty."
Shen Tianjiao refused to see Su Chang last night, but that doesn’t mean the matter can just end like that.
Even if you lose the substance, you still have to save face.
Shen Tianjiao, who had almost no sleep last night, went back to take a nap after breakfast.
Since I won't be attending court today, I can put all my worries aside and reward myself with a nap.
So, Shen Tianjiao ordered that even if the sky fell, no one could disturb her until she woke up.
She had completely forgotten that Su Chang would definitely come to the palace to apologize again.
So when Su Chang came to the palace and the eunuch came to report that Su Chang came to apologize, Chunchao and the others were dumbfounded.
Shen Tianjiao had instructed that no one should disturb her until she woke up.
Even if Shen Tianjiao doesn't confess, Chunchao and the others will not let anyone disturb you, Shen Tianjiao, to rest.
After all, apart from herself, Chunchao and the others are the ones who have the most say in how tired Shen Tianjiao is now.
But if Su Chang was waiting outside now, he had already been rejected once when he came to the palace to apologize last night. It would be inappropriate to refuse again at this time.
After all, Su Chang has a certain status. It was his family members who did something wrong, not him.
It was completely reasonable for him to come to the palace to apologize. If Shen Tianjiao refused again and again, it would seem that Shen Tianjiao was narrow-minded.
Su Chang came to the palace to apologize for his crime, originally to do it for Shen Tianjiao and the court officials to see. If Shen Tianjiao did not see him, it would cause criticism from those gossipers.
At this time, too much criticism is not a good thing for Shen Tianjiao.
"Why don't we go and wake up the master?" Xia He was still able to distinguish the importance of things. Although she felt sorry for Shen Tianjiao, she had to make concessions for the sake of the overall situation.
Xia He and Chun Chao were still discussing when Ruan Yuhu arrived.
"You two little girls, why don't you go serve your master? Instead, what are you whispering about here?"
Ruan Yuhu looked at Chunchao and Xiahe who were discussing something together, and couldn't help but joke with them, wanting to tease them.
"Ancestor, you are here." Seeing Ruan Yuhu coming, Chunchao and Xiahe suddenly felt relieved. The person who could make decisions for them was here.
"Grandfather, we are not gossiping. We are in a difficult situation."
"Su Chang wanted to come to the palace to apologize last night, but was rejected by the master. He was not even allowed to enter the imperial city. Today he came again."
"It just so happened that the master dealt with some things last night and almost didn't sleep the whole night."
"It just so happened that today was not the day for court meetings, nor was it the time for the Imperial Study to hold meetings, so the Master instructed her to go and rest, and no one was allowed to disturb her."
"Now, what do you think we should do about this?"
If Ruan Yuhu were to see it, then Ruan Yuhu would naturally let Su Chang wait outside for death without even seeing him.
But is Ruan Yuhu the kind of person who can't figure things out and acts recklessly for his own selfish reasons?
She frowned and thought for a moment, then instructed, "Jiaojiao'er is working hard, it's well known. She stayed up all night last night tending to the Emperor. It was very tiring."
"In that case, the emperor is no longer seriously injured. Let the emperor handle this matter."
"The Emperor is the ruler of a country. When others insult the Empress's sacred name, he should stand up for her both publicly and privately."
"Otherwise, what's the point of having him as the emperor?"
Chunchao immediately understood the meaning of Ruan Yuhu's words. As the queen and now the regent, Shen Tianjiao is now establishing her prestige in the court.
Now that Su Cheng has openly slandered him in Zuiyue Tower, this is no longer an ordinary family matter. It has risen to the level of a national affair.
If the emperor does not ask at this time, it means that he does not care, and his attitude will directly affect the attitude of those court officials towards Shen Tianjiao.
If the emperor personally inquired into and handled the matter of humiliating the queen at this time, it would be equivalent to the emperor expressing his attitude.
The Queen is the mother of the country. It is absolutely intolerable for her to be humiliated.
After this incident, those restless courtiers in the court will certainly restrain their behavior and become more obedient because of the emperor's attitude.
"Okay, I'll go to Taihe Palace right away." Chunchao retreated from Ruan Yuhu and hurried to Taihe Palace.
Su Chang was waiting outside, but instead of being summoned by Shen Tianjiao, he was summoned by Li Rui.
Su Chang, who never expected that he would be summoned by Li Rui, couldn't help but groan in his heart when he heard that the emperor wanted to see him.
His Majesty the Emperor, who now stays in Taihe Hall all day to recuperate, is not in the court, but his influence remains, and his methods can still make the court officials tremble with fear.
If Shen Tianjiao had handled the matter of Su Cheng humiliating the queen, the problem would not have been too big.
As the person involved, Shen Tianjiao will also make a big deal out of a small matter and handle it leniently in order to show her open-mindedness and magnanimity.
But if this matter is handed over to Li Rui, then if Su Chang doesn't spend some money today, it may not be so easy to resolve.
Seeing Su Chang standing still, the eunuch urged, "Master Su, where is the emperor waiting for?"
"Oh, please lead the way, sir." Su Chang came back to his senses, smiled reluctantly, and behaved humbly.
"Let's go." The eunuch led the way in front, and Su Chang followed listlessly behind.
When he arrived at the gate of Taihe Hall, Su Chang, who was used to the bloody and violent world, felt a chill for no reason when he looked at the unopened door.
The eunuch inside opened the door. Su Chang sighed silently in his heart and walked in with great reluctance.
As he entered Li Rui's bedroom, a faint, almost imperceptible smell of medicine entered Su Chang's nostrils.
"Your old minister Su Chang kneels to wish the emperor good health." Su Chang knelt down to pay his respects to Li Rui.
But Li Rui did not respond to him and ignored him for a long time.
As time went by, Su Chang, the old fox known as the nine-tailed fox, could no longer hold back the fear in his heart and broke out in a cold sweat.
"Su Chang, do you admit your guilt?"
Just when Su Chang was about to collapse in fear, Li Rui spoke.
"This old minister acknowledges his crime and asks Your Majesty to punish him severely."
Su Chang, knowing that he could not escape severe punishment today, took the initiative to request severe punishment before Li Rui even opened his mouth to say that he and the Su family would be punished.
"Hmph!" Li Rui's voice came through the curtain, expressing his extreme dissatisfaction at the moment.
"Su Chang, Su Chang, oh, what can I say about you?"
"You are an unethical official. You have embezzled bribes and embezzled other people's land. You have done so many bad things."
"I have turned a blind eye to all this out of your and the Su family's unwavering support in the past, and have never held a grudge against you. If I had held a grudge against you, your entire Su family would have been executed long ago."
"But instead of being grateful and repenting, you've become even more evil."
"Why, I'm just recuperating in Taihe Palace, and you just treat me as if I'm dead and don't exist?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I would never dare to have such thoughts. I beg Your Majesty to understand."
"Although I have made many mistakes in the past, I have never had the slightest thought of disrespecting Your Majesty. The loyalty of this minister and the Su family is evident to all."
At this time, Su Chang was lying on the ground, his whole body shaking.
Li Rui never shows mercy to those who betray him. He looks like a normal person, but in fact he is a complete lunatic.
Many times, we do things unconventionally, but follow our heart and do whatever we want.
As Su Chang has witnessed Li Rui's crazy moments countless times, he has the most say.
If Li Rui's anger didn't subside, he would not be able to leave Taihe Palace alive today.
"Loyalty is known to heaven and earth? Pah! Am I so easily fooled? Can you fool me with a few lies and sweet words?"
"It's all right that you're an unethical official, and I tolerate that, but you're also incompetent at managing your household."
"The grandson you taught me actually dared to run into the harem to sleep with my concubines and cuckold me. The descendants of your Su family are really promising."
"I admire you guys so much that I bow my head to you. I am ashamed of myself."