ebookland Chapter 301: Jealousy and Ability Killing Loyal and Good People
Chapter 301: Jealousy and Ability Killing Loyal and Good People
The emperor looked embarrassed and felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
He wanted to find a reason to punish the Ge family, but he didn't want to punish them for such a small matter, otherwise he would be known as a violent person. So he pretended to be lenient: "My dear, you have drunk too much. How can I blame you for this?" Then he ordered Peng Hui: "Have someone help Duke Dingguo to take a seat and give him some sobering soup."
Several eunuchs and palace maids wanted to help the couple to sit down at the table, but Ge Hanzhang was in tears and was unwilling to stand up. He kowtowed to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty... I beg you..."
He cried mournfully and said seriously, "My little daughter Yuan Hui has been spoiled since she was young... She is ignorant. If she has offended Your Majesty in any way, please... Don't blame me!"
When they heard Ge Yuanhui's name, the guests dared not speak and only exchanged glances silently.
The court had heard something about how Ge Yuanhui entered the palace, but the royal family said that she was favored by the emperor and was given a position and stayed in the palace to serve him. No one dared to speculate about the hidden truth.
But Ge Yuanhui was so young and had a distinguished family background, so how could she be willing to be a concubine of the aging emperor? Even though she had made some foolish mistakes in the past, it was still a pity. However, no one dared to express such regret, and they could only tacitly agree that it was His Majesty who favored Ge Yuanhui, and this was a happy event and honor for Ge Yuanhui and the Ge family.
As for Ge Yuanhui's favor, it must be that he did not have it, otherwise he would not have remained at the position of a noble, nor would he have announced to the public that he was ill shortly after entering the palace and was kept in the palace to recuperate, and even failed to attend today's banquet.
But Ge Hanzhang was seen crying, as if he really wanted to plead for Ge Yuanhui, but he also seemed to be pleading for the Ge family. In public, he asked the emperor to show mercy and let the Ge family go, based on his past merits in following the emperor.
The emperor was not in a position to refute him in public. After all, Ge Hanzhang only asked the emperor to treat Ge Yuanhui well and did not point out anything. If the emperor reacted too much, it would seem that he did not sympathize with the old ministers who helped him to ascend to the throne, which would discourage other ministers.
Sitting at the table, Gu Shichong frowned as he watched all this, vaguely sensing that something was amiss… Especially when he saw Gu Shiying still sitting there in good health, without any signs of the poison taking effect, he became increasingly uneasy.
At this moment, the emperor's eyes were cold, as if he was very dissatisfied with Ge Hanzhang, but he still smiled and said, "Don't worry, my dear. I watched Concubine Shun grow up. How can I bear to blame her? Concubine Shun is virtuous and intelligent, and she serves me well. I am very satisfied with her. I am preparing to promote her position after the new year. My dear, you are also my right-hand man. I have also asked someone to prepare a reward. After the banquet, I will send someone to deliver it to the Duke Dingguo's Mansion."
Ge Hanzhang placed his palms on the ground with a respectful attitude, but in the eyes of Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou, Ge Hanzhang's body had almost reached its limit and he had already exhausted all his endurance.
Under the table, Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou's intertwined hands tightened due to nervousness.
Hearing this, Ge Hanzhang slowly raised his head, his eyes full of eagerness: "I... am willing to serve Your Majesty like a dog or a horse! Your Majesty and I have known each other since we were young, and I have followed you loyally. Fortunately, Your Majesty has shown me great love, which reminds me of the past. Your Majesty knew that I loved fine wine, so he often gave me wine. I am grateful to this day, and I hope Your Majesty will give me some wine, so that I can punish myself with three cups to apologize for disturbing Your Majesty today!"
The emperor just wanted to shut Ge Hanzhang's mouth. How could a man who was always thinking about how to seize power and the throne pretend to be loyal?
He raised his glass and said, "My beloved minister and I should be of one mind and one heart, ruling the Yong Dynasty together."
After saying that, he signaled to Peng Hui, and Peng Hui asked someone to pour three glasses of wine for Ge Hanzhang. Ge Hanzhang raised his glass and drank them one by one.
Beside him, Madam Ge's eyes were filled with grief that could not be suppressed. Gu Shichong saw this expression and his heart skipped a beat. In an instant, a guess flashed through his mind...
He stood up suddenly: "Father..."
Before he finished his words, Ge Hanzhang's hand holding the wine cup softened, and the golden cup fell to the ground with a bang. Suddenly... a mouthful of dirty blood spurted out of his mouth!
"Master!" Madam Ge's voice was heartbreaking, and everyone was stunned.
Xue Zhiyi and Huo Wuyou looked at each other silently: she guessed right, Ge Hanzhang saw through Gu Shichong's plan and knew that they wanted to poison the ninth prince and put the blame on the Ge family so that the emperor could have a legitimate reason to attack and the Ge family would be guilty. Realizing that the emperor's murderous intention had reached such a point, and also realizing that the Ge family would either rebel or die, Ge Hanzhang decided to put the blame on the emperor with his own life, so that the Ge family members far away in Yueling Pass could rise up in the name of "the emperor is jealous of talented people and kills loyal and good people indiscriminately."
The emperor also stood up in shock, but Peng Hui was the first to react: "Call the imperial physician!"
Madam Ge was holding Ge Hanzhang's body and crying. Ge Hanzhang looked at the emperor tremblingly, his eyes full of astonishment and sadness: "Your Majesty has given me wine. Thank you for your majesty's grace! Your Majesty's grace is so great that I am deeply grateful... The Ge family has been loyal for generations. I beg your majesty to forgive me!"
As he said this, his eyes turned black and he fainted.
"Master!" Madam Ge cried bitterly, as if she had made up her mind. She glared at the emperor, "Your Majesty! My husband has been loyal to you for many years, and our children have been fighting against the Northern Di at the border. My son Ge Jingyang also died for Dayong. Why did your majesty kill them all?"
Without waiting for the emperor to explain, she stood up and said resolutely: "Your Majesty is suspicious of the Ge family. I have nothing to say. I can only sacrifice my life to preserve the reputation of the Ge family as a loyal hero!"
After she said that, she ran towards the pillar of the hall without hesitation.
With the sound of a skull breaking, Mrs. Ge fell in the hall with blood splattered.
There were screams in the Linhua Palace in an instant, and some timid ones were even frightened to death on the spot, especially the Ninth Prince. Faced with this sudden change, he was stunned for a long time before he fainted. People from the Imperial Medical Bureau rushed over and took him away for treatment.
For the first time, the emperor felt that he had no way to defend himself... He really didn't give Ge Hanzhang the poisoned wine! How could he do such a stupid thing in public!
Facing the anxious ministers, he wanted to explain, but he felt that he was the emperor, so why should he explain to his ministers something he had not done? This was simply too absurd!
Suddenly, a voice sounded outside the hall.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I beg to see you!"
The emperor's face turned even darker: "Who is making a noise?"
The eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, it was Concubine Shun who said she knew who poisoned Duke Dingguo."
Ge Yuanhui? The emperor was surprised: How could the news reach Ge Yuanhui so quickly?
There are too many things wrong with this matter that need to be investigated in detail, but since Ge Yuanhui has something to say, it doesn't hurt to bring it to the palace. Especially at this time, everyone thinks that he has ordered the death of Ge Hanzhang. If he ignores Ge Yuanhui again, people will think that he is dissatisfied with the Ge family, which will further confirm his reputation for indiscriminate killing.
He said coldly: "Pass it on."