Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 243 - 241

Xiao’er internally rolled her eyes at Consort Yang’s words: How could you not say that you were willing to die as an apology for your transgression? That really would prove your regret sincerely.

You don’t seem to grasp the enormity of your crime!

Poisoning the Emperor, the Empress and the numerous civil and military officials. This is a capital offense!

"Mother, why are you being foolish, they deserve their punishment." The First Prince understood that Consort Yang wanted to protect him.

The only thing for him to do now was to bear the inconvenience of seeing his mother punished. After all, one still has firewood to burn as long as the green hills remain.

When he ascends to the throne in the future, she would be the Empress Dowager, brighter days are still to come.

Xiao’er disdainfully glanced at the First Prince.

Remaining silent instead of proclaiming his grandfather deserved punishment would have been more respectable!

Regardless of how the Minister of the Right was embezzling and using his power for personal gain, he was mostly paving the way for his very grandson. By that account, the First Prince had no right to criticise him!

Because if the Minister of the Right deserved punishment, the First Prince deserved nothing less than death.

"Poisoning the Emperor, the Empress and the officials, planning to frame the loyal and good, hiding in the Cold Palace performing a vegetarian fast and chanting scriptures won’t absolve you of your sins!" Shangguan Xuanyi enjoyed permanently solving problems.

"What do the ministers think?" The Emperor asked the ministers present after hearing this.

"A capital punishment!" General Di declared without hesitation.

"I concur!" the Minister of Works had just thought he was on the brink of death! Such a poisonous woman, leaving her alive would just lead to more chaos!

"This humble official concurs!"

...

The people who had just been poisoned all expressed their opinions one after another.

Even the ministers appointed by the First Prince didn’t dare to plead on his behalf. This matter was far too great and serious. Although no lives were lost, this didn’t change Consort Yang’s malicious intentions!

As soon as they try to intercede, the Emperor would begin suspecting them in the future.

Not to mention, even if they did plead, it would be no more effective than ants trying to shake the trunk of a tree — it couldn’t change anything!

After all, who could forgive someone who tried to murder them?

The Emperor pondered for a moment: "Grant Consort Yang a cup of poisoned wine, as for the First Prince... starting tomorrow you will devote yourself to religious practices at Puning Temple, consider it a way to reduce your...." The Emperor sighed in the middle of his sentence: "sins."

As for which sins, the Emperor didn’t fully clarify.

Upon hearing this, the faces of Consort Yang and the First Prince became extremely pale.

The Emperor had completely cut off the First Prince’s chances of ascending to the throne.

"Your Majesty! Please forgive me, I really realize my mistake now! Didn’t you say you will banish me to the Cold Palace just now? This was all my doing, my son knew nothing!" Consort Yang quickly kowtowed.

She couldn’t die just yet! The First Prince hadn’t ascended to the throne, she hadn’t become the Empress Dowager - she couldn’t die! She shouldn’t die before the Empress!

"Father, I could go to the Danxia Temple in the suburb to meditate and learn about Buddhism often. I’m unable to let you go and want to stay by your side to share your burdens! Father, please don’t send me to Puning Temple!" The First Prince also hurriedly knelt down.

The moment he heard he was to be sent to Puning Temple, he even forgot about his biological mother’s imminent death.

Puning Temple was a thousand miles away from the Imperial Capital, far away from the Imperial Capital, far away from the officials. What chance would he have to compete for the position in the future?

"My final decision is made, no need to say more!"

"Father, I am wronged. You must believe me." The First Prince just couldn’t give up, thinking the Emperor was blaming him for the poisoning.

"Your Majesty, please spare me, I dare not disobey! Your Majesty! Please forgive the two of us, mother and son!" Consort Yang wailed.

"Dear eldest brother, I believe you are innocent because you are inherently kind-hearted, benevolent, and dutiful. How could you commit the act of poisoning our own father! But the sins of your birth mother and maternal grandfather are indeed horrendous. By going to Puning Temple and becoming a monk, you would not only be atoning for their sins but for yours as well. Additionally, the incense at Puning Temple burns brightly; you can pray for our father’s blessing and for the blessings of the people. As the most filial son in the world, surely you won’t refuse?" Shangguan Xuanhao couldn’t help but trap him in his own words! What a disgusting thing for them to put up with!

"You..." The First Prince looked gloomily at Shangguan Xuanhao.

"Enough, say no more!"

The Emperor watched these two, his mother and son. They were involved in smuggling private salt, illegally mining gold, nepotism, allowing relatives to kidnap peasant women, bullying men and women... Now they even dared to deal in poison. No, it was wrong. Even when Yi’er was still in his mother’s womb, this woman dared to use poison!

He closed his eyes. They must not remain by his side!

The Emperor waved his hand, signaling for someone to take the two away.

...

That night, a fire broke out in the Cold Palace. Despite everyone’s efforts, the blazing fire could not be extinguished until dawn, leaving only flickering embers.

The guards found two female corpses in the rubble, both were unrecognizable. After examination, one was found to have been poisoned. The body shape resembled that of Consort Yang and the ornaments on the body were also hers.

The Emperor waved his hand to dismiss the person who reported, then walked to the window, his hands clasped behind him, his right hand continually playing with a jade finger disk on his left thumb, his gaze cast into the distance, unmoving for a long time.

Xiao’er’s family naturally heard about the incident. As Mrs. Liu was making clothes for Shen Chengyao, she chatted with the two daughters by her side.

"Why would the Cold Palace catch fire? Could it have been set by Consort Yang herself?"

"Why would Consort Yang want to start a fire?" Xiao’er finished the last stitch, then turned over the little chicken doll in her hand. Good, it’s cute.

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"To take revenge, I suppose?" Mrs. Liu said without much thought.

"If she really wanted revenge, what’s the use of setting the Cold Palace on fire? If she really wanted to burn something, it should be the Zichen Palace." Yun’er shook her head, disagreeing.

"Can you watch what you say, child!"

Mrs. Liu looked around before continuing her whisper:

"Who in this world could burn down the Zichen Palace! I guess she set the Cold Palace on fire out of frustration because she couldn’t start a fire at the Zichen Palace."

"Just a dilapidated palace, what’s the big deal if it burned down? What’s there to vent about? Mother, you’re oversimplifying things." Yun’er shook her head lightly.

Hearing this, Xiao’er laughed. "Our Yun’er has become smarter. Brother Ri must have taught her well!"

"My sister always likes to tease me." Yun’er blushed unconsciously after hearing this.

After moving to the Imperial Capital, the family still kept their old habits at night. They would study together in the study room.

Yun’er’s knowledge was always personally instructed by Brother Ri.

"So, what’s the reason?"

"Someone took advantage of this big fire, fabricated the truth, and saved Consort Yang." Xiao’er responded in a voice only the three of them could hear.

"What! Consort Yang..."

"Mother, lower your voice!" Yun’er quickly reminded her mother.

Mrs.Liu reacted and quickly covered her mouth.

"We should keep this to ourselves and not let it slip. The Emperor won’t believe it either, but he is sure to pretend not to know and secretly search."

Consort Yang and the First Prince weren’t smart, but with their clever father and sly maternal grandfather, the nails planted by the Minister of the Right were too deeply rooted!

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