Emperor Ming Yuan sneered, "Suicide? I'm afraid not. What's the inside story? I've learned everything. Chu Mingcui confessed in prison, saying that Chu Shoufu was the instigator behind the scenes. Lao Wu killed her and refused to allow her to go to court for fear of confessing Chu Shoufu.
.”
Yuan Qingling held her sleeves with both hands, her fingers turning white, "Father, do you believe it? Do you really believe that the Chief Assistant is the envoy?"
"It's one thing whether I believe it or not. It's one thing if Chu Mingcui confesses. They can't be confused. No matter what Chu Mingcui said, it's a fact that Lao Wu killed her."
Yuan Qingling looked directly at Emperor Ming Yuan, and she understood in her heart.
The emperor knew Lao Wu's intentions, and he also believed that it was not Chu Shoufu who did it. However, he wanted to use this to blackmail her or Lao Wu into doing something that neither of them were willing to do.
She took a deep breath and said: "Father, Lao Wu is your son. Whether he is a murderer or not is up to you. However, my daughter-in-law is very sure that everything he did was for the court and the country.
He has no selfish motives, please be aware of this."
Emperor Ming Yuan smiled slightly, looked at her clear and resolute eyes, and said: "Well, let's put this matter aside for now. There is one more thing I have to talk to you about first and ask for your opinion. If you don't agree, I won't
I will force you."
Yuan Qingling knew that the topic was entering, straightened his body and said: "You tell me."
Emperor Ming Yuan seemed particularly kind and gentle, and said: "It's like this. General Hu has been stationed in the north of Zhenbei and has made great contributions to the court. A few days ago, good news came that he had wiped out all the bandits in the north of Zhenbei. I gave him the title of
The Marquis of Zhenbei, please give me a reward, but the Marquis of Zhenbei doesn’t want a reward, he just wants me to complete one thing for him.”
Yuan Qingling's eyes flashed,
Could it be that the Marquis of Zhenbei has a daughter...
Sure enough, Emperor Ming Yuan smiled and said: "The Marquis of Zhenbei has a son and a daughter. Major General Hu is already married, but the daughter is eighteen years old and has been stationed with the Marquis of Zhenbei, which delayed the marriage. The Marquis of Zhenbei once brought the fifth child, and he
He praised Lao Wu very much, so he inquired about my opinion. He wanted to betroth Miss Hu to Lao Wu as his concubine. Of course, I have to ask you about this first. If you agree, I will talk to Lao Wu.
"
Sure enough, it's all a routine.
Yuan Qingling sighed in her heart, is it over yet? Chu Mingcui died, Chu Mingyang was married, and now there is Miss Hu.
Looking at Emperor Ming Yuan's earnest but oppressive eyes, Yuan Qingling shook her head gently and said: "Father, if you ask me for my opinion, I will definitely disapprove."
Emperor Ming Yuan seemed to have expected it, and said: "Well, I'm just asking as a rule. If you don't agree, I will refuse the matter."
Yuan Qingling knew that things would not be that simple, so she stood up and said, "Thank you, Father, for your consideration."
Emperor Ming Yuan pressed his hands and said, "Sit down first, I have something else to say."
Yuan Qingling sat down and looked at him.
Emperor Ming Yuan said: "This matter is just mentioned in passing. It was not the main reason why you were admitted to the palace. What do you think I should do with Lao Wu who killed Chu Mingcui?"
Yuan Qingling said softly: "Father, you are his father, and you can deal with him as you say."
Emperor Ming Yuan thought about it for a moment, then looked up at Eunuch Mu Ru and ordered: "Muru, please convey my order and ask Gu Si to take people to the Prince of Chu's Mansion, imprison the King of Chu to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, and let the Ministry of Punishment hear the case.
.”
Eunuch Mu Ru was startled.
,"emperor……"
Emperor Ming Yuan looked cold and said, "Go."
Eunuch Mu Ru responded, then looked at Yuan Qingling.
Yuan Qingling said helplessly: "Father, you are forcing me, risking Lao Wu's life to force me."
Emperor Ming Yuan suddenly changed his face, "Bold!"
When Yuan Qingling heard these words, she knew that she was going to kneel down. She stood up slowly while holding on to the table, and then slowly knelt down again. She couldn't help but speak with resentment, "Father, please calm down."
.”
Emperor Ming Yuan said sternly: "Yuan Qing Ling, I respect you and will discuss it with you when you accept a concubine. If you don't agree, I won't force you. You don't want to be grateful and dare to speak rudely to me? You are committing a crime."
The crime of treason and injustice!"
Yuan Qingling was so angry that she couldn't help but breathed out. "Father, if you really respect your daughter-in-law, you shouldn't have repeatedly mentioned marrying a concubine when your daughter-in-law is pregnant.
You know clearly why Lao Wu killed Chu Mingcui. Do you think he did something wrong? Wasn't he thinking about the court? If Chu Mingcui really went to court to testify and confessed to Chu Shoufu, although Chu Shoufu would not be convicted in the end,
He always has a way to prove his innocence, but if Chu Shoufu follows the clues and the person behind this comes to light, won't it hurt your father's heart? Does your father really not understand Lao Wu's hard work? Why do you want to do this?
Have you repeatedly made things difficult for him? Hasn’t he suffered enough injustices? Father, you are so partial!"
"Bold!" Emperor Ming Yuan was furious and slapped the table, causing the tea cup on the table to rattle.
Eunuch Mu Ru was so frightened that he knelt down quickly and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. The princess is angry for a moment.
Calm down your anger!"
Emperor Ming Yuan's face was livid, "Angry? How did the royal family treat her badly? She will be forced to become angry? Have I argued with her about the matter in the princess's house in the past? You said that I made things difficult for Old Five, but don't forget that you are the initiator of this.
, it was you who got him into trouble, but now you have become a legitimate Princess of Chu, but you have made it clear, Yuan Qingling, I tell you, if I really want to settle old scores, you, Princess of Chu, must first go back to your parents' home!"
He ordered, "Come here, take her down, lock her up first, and then tell the King of Chu to enter the palace."
There were imperial guards guarding the door for a long time, and upon hearing Emperor Ming Yuan's order, they immediately came in.
Yuan Qingling knelt straight, stretched out her hand to support her waist, took out an IOU from her sleeve pocket, put it on the ground, then bent down and asked, "Father, do you still remember this IOU?"
Emperor Ming Yuan stared at her coldly, "What? Do you want to use this IOU to excuse your treason or to excuse Lao Wu's murder?"
Yuan Qingling was silent for a long time, and then said slowly: "Please give me a decree to divorce me."
Emperor Ming Yuan's last words actually made his attitude clear.
If he was unwilling to let Miss Hu in, he would imprison her for treason and force her to submit.
Rather than putting Yu Wenhao into that dilemma, she might as well put it forward.
She felt that at least Emperor Ming Yuan would not divorce her for the sake of her unborn child. At most, he would drive her back to her parents' home to live.
Emperor Ming Yuan's eyes were cold and he scolded angrily: "I have chosen an easy path for you, but you insist on being smart. Do you think you can really pry into my thoughts? For the sake of Lao Wu, you are not willing to give in even a little bit.
, you are not willing to sacrifice, but you say
Isn't it ironic to keep saying that you are protecting the fifth child? In this case, you should go back to your parents' home. When the child is born, I will order someone to take him back."
Yuan Qingling smiled miserably, "My daughter-in-law thanks my father for his kindness!"
Emperor Ming Yuan ordered Eunuch Mu Ru, "First order someone to tell the King of Chu to enter the palace, then send her out of the palace and return to the palace. Watch her pack her things and leave the palace, and do not allow her to meet the King of Chu."