After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 745 - 744: Asking for It

How could Duke Chong not be angry?

How could he not hate?

In an unguarded moment, he fell into Marquis Dongxiang’s trap, cut off the antidote for his biological mother, leading to her death from poisoning in prison.

If it weren’t for the Emperor’s royal pardon, it might have been fine.

But just as the Old Madam Duke Chong breathed her last, the Emperor issued a royal pardon.

This was undoubtedly a vicious blow on Duke Chong’s wound.

The news of the Emperor’s royal pardon spread, and the people all shouted long live the Emperor.

The royal pardon freed those ordinary criminals, while those who committed capital crimes were exiled a thousand miles.

Those pardoned and returned home, if they reoffend, would be dealt with severely.

This gave those imprisoned a chance to reform, but only this once.

On the day of the Princess Consort Zhenbei’s birthday, the Emperor held a lantern festival and granted a royal pardon, all to accumulate merit for his daughter and Consort Yun in the afterlife.

A father doing this much for his daughter is truly enviable.

Especially since this father is the ruler of the world, and despite Consort Yun’s death over ten years ago, he still treats her with the same affection.

Such a passionate man must certainly be a diligent and benevolent ruler.

As the people were discussing this, the news of the Old Madam Duke Chong dying from poisoning in prison spread.

Everyone sighed with emotion.

She was about to leave the prison yet died.

This is truly dying an unfulfilled death.

But thinking of all the deeds of the Old Madam Duke Chong, even if recorded on bamboo, it’s no wonder the Emperor granted the royal pardon, and even King Yama didn’t spare her, taking her prematurely.

Upon learning of the Old Madam Duke Chong’s death, the Duchess felt her heart tremble.

She isn’t foolish, just a bit of thought enabled her to grasp the entire scenario.

The words from the prison guards that day were clearly meant for her to hear.

The aim was to confuse them and cut off the antidote for the Old Madam Duke Chong!

They had been careless, falling into the trap set by others!

Marquis Dongxiang did this to frighten them or did he already know they possessed the antidote?!

But this doesn’t matter anymore.

Their actions have already admitted everything to Marquis Dongxiang. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The memorial hall for the Old Madam Duke Chong was set in the main hall of the Duke Chong’s Mansion.

The Duchess stood at the entrance looking in, feeling the warm sunlight on her body yet she felt entirely cold.

If she hadn’t heard the prison guards’ words, if she hadn’t hesitated, and hadn’t withheld that piece of cake, the Old Madam wouldn’t have died...

Duke Chong’s Mansion was hung with white silk on one side, while removing the lanterns on the other.

Though Shangguan Feng’er refused to celebrate the Lantern Festival, with the Emperor’s permission, other mansions were lively while Duke Chong’s Mansion was desolate, which was inappropriate.

Pitiful are the maids and servants, for the grievances between Duke Chong and Marquis Dongxiang have little to do with them. Rarely can they hold a lantern festival, and they also wish to go out and see the festivities.

Now, with the Old Madam Duke Chong’s passing, not a soul dared laugh on the entire street, let alone step out to see the excitement.

While Duke Chong’s Mansion was filled with sorrow, in the palace, the Empress fainted, and the Empress Dowager was furious.

Although the Old Madam Duke Chong held no further value, the Empress Dowager disliked hearing that the Old Madam Duke Chong died during the royal pardon.

This was a severe blow to their dignity!

The Empress Dowager had the Emperor summoned, and berated him harshly.

If the Emperor cherishes his daughter, he can very well bestow more lands and shops. It’s unbecoming that a mere princess’s birthday should cause such a sensation, especially when this princess hasn’t even been formally titled!

Such a precedent has never existed across generations!

In her anger, the Empress Dowager’s words became quite strong.

The Emperor did not refute a word, only after the Empress Dowager caught her breath did he frown and say, "Wasn’t the royal pardon at the Empress Dowager’s request?"

"When did the grieving family request the Emperor to grant a royal pardon?!" the Empress Dowager’s face twisted in wrath.

"Then I misunderstood, I thought the Empress’s wish was the Empress Dowager’s wish," said the Emperor indifferently.

The Empress Dowager’s face froze, her voice trembling slightly, "What does the Emperor mean by this?"

"It was the Empress who suggested granting the royal pardon," said the Emperor.

"...!!!"

The Empress Dowager’s face stiffened further, while the Emperor said, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to the Imperial Study to review memorials."

The Emperor turned and left.

After walking a few steps, Eunuch Fu looked back at the Empress Dowager.

Looking at the Empress Dowager’s purple face and labored breath, Eunuch Fu thought that even without hosting a lantern festival, the court couldn’t welcome Princess Duanhui back properly.

Duke Chong’s Mansion has brought this upon itself.

Others might not know, but surely the Empress Dowager and the Empress understand the place Consort Yun holds in Marquis Dongxiang’s heart?

For Consort Yun, Marquis Dongxiang dared to beat the Emperor, and more than once.

On the anniversary of Consort Yun’s death, stabbing Marquis Dongxiang’s heart, wasn’t this asking for trouble?

Just as the Emperor left, the Empress Dowager clutched her chest and said, "Summon the Empress to see me!"

The eunuch hurried to Phoenix Palace to deliver the message.

Unfortunately, the Empress had fainted.

Knowing the Empress Dowager was angry, Nanny Zhou accompanied the eunuch to see the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager trembled with rage, "Is it true that the Empress suggested the Emperor pardon the realm?!"

Nanny Zhou didn’t want to nod, but it was the truth.

The Empress Dowager was filled with intense anger, so much so that she couldn’t muster the energy to curse the Empress.

"Empress Dowager, calm down; the Empress was manipulated," Nanny Zhou quickly said.

Yesterday evening, a palace maid from Phoenix Palace incidentally overheard Eunuch Fu and the little eunuch chatting.

They were discussing the matter of tax exemption.

The Emperor had decided to exempt taxes for a year, praying for Consort Yun’s happiness in the afterlife.

After hearing this, the palace maid hurried to report to the Empress.

It was getting late; the palace gates had been locked, making it impossible to send messages outside. The Empress had to personally go to Hanyuan Hall to urge the Emperor.

But before reaching Hanyuan Hall, she heard Eunuch Fu sighing.

The little eunuch asked him, "Why is Eunuch sighing?"

"The Emperor, so noble and sovereign, now humbling himself to recognize the Princess; it pains me to watch," Eunuch Fu replied.

"Marquis Dongxiang is ruthless, aggressively pressing; in fact, praying for Consort Yun and Princess Consort Zhenbei doesn’t necessarily require a tax exemption; pardoning the realm could also be an option..."

"Why doesn’t Eunuch suggest it to the Emperor?" the little eunuch asked.

"You’re foolish! The Old Madam Duke Chong is still locked in the Ministry of Justice Prison; if the Emperor pardons the realm, she’s the Empress’s birth mother, so she’ll undoubtedly receive special favors."

"The Old Madam Duke Chong murdered the mother of Prince Zhenbei, and if I suggest the Emperor pardons the realm, will Prince Zhenbei give me a good look?"

"No official is mentioning it; if I, a eunuch, propose it to the Emperor, it would be my impeachment for meddling in politics."

Eunuch Fu sighed twice, then said nothing more.

The Empress, however, took his words to heart.

She hurried into the hall, failed to convince the Emperor to exempt taxes, and suggested pardoning the realm instead.

The Emperor gazed at her in silence for a moment.

The Empress lowered her eyes and said, "Emperor, please don’t look at me like this; I have no personal motives."

"Though my mother is held in the Ministry of Justice Prison, the poison she consumed is incurable, and she won’t live for many days; even if the Emperor graciously lets her out, she won’t survive for long."

"Nanliang has not besieged the city; the Emperor exempting taxes for a year benefits the poor folk, I have no objections, but now isn’t the right time to exempt taxes..."

"Princess Consort Zhenbei celebrates her birthday annually, why must the Emperor rush this year? There are many days ahead."

The Emperor didn’t immediately agree, "Let me think about it."

At the end, Nanny Zhou felt sorry for the Empress.

A daughter’s suggestion for the Emperor to pardon the realm couldn’t save her own mother.

Even if the Old Madam Duke Chong were to die at Duke Chong’s Mansion, it would be better.

Marquis Dongxiang intended for the Emperor to pardon the realm, yet didn’t wish to spare the Old Madam Duke Chong, seized the opportunity to poison her, knowing the Empress Dowager would scold the Emperor afterward, hence making the Empress bear the brunt of the Empress Dowager’s anger.

This forced the Empress Dowager and Duke Chong to swallow this insult.

How could he be so ruthless?!

Nanny Zhou’s spine chilled.

Nanny Zhou believed the Old Madam Duke Chong was killed by Marquis Dongxiang.

After all, she is the Empress’s confidant, knowing quite a lot, Duke Chong has the antidote, the Old Madam Duke Chong wouldn’t die.

Someone who wouldn’t die from poisoning and yet dies in prison, what other reason could there be but being poisoned?

She didn’t know Marquis Dongxiang not only set a trap for the Empress but also for Duke Chong.

This is a chain trap, and masterfully crafted.

Duke Chong, for the sake of power, abandoned saving his birth mother, he couldn’t bear to tell the Empress.

And when the Empress fell into the trap, the palace gates were locked, and she couldn’t pass the message to Duke Chong, and the Emperor hadn’t given his word.

The lack of communication between both sides caused the current situation.