Lin Jue was startled, then bowed and said, "I don't know what my crime is."
Guo Chong said coldly and angrily: "Are you still pretending? Lu Wu is my daughter. Don't you know about Concubine Rong's plan to switch things around?"
Lin Jue hurriedly said: "I know, but I don't know where the crime comes from?"
Guo Chong banged the table and shouted angrily: "If you knew the information and didn't report it, you would be deceiving the emperor. If someone hadn't reported this matter, would you have to hide it for the rest of your life? It's a big crime to deceive the emperor, but you say you don't know?"
Lin Jue said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I only found out about this matter later, and I don't know the merits of it. This matter is related to the majesty of the royal family and the reputation of the emperor. Even if I know it, I cannot tell it. I will not interfere with the affairs of the harem.
, it is an act of disloyalty to ruin the dignity of the royal family and the reputation of the emperor. The reason why I do not report it is because I do not want to be regarded as such a disloyal person."
Guo Chong laughed angrily, glared at Lin Jue and said: "You are right. You deceived me, kept me in the dark, and protected Concubine Rong for the treasonous and unethical things she did. How can you still be so righteous? I'm really open to you.
Eye-catching."
Lin Jue said quietly: "Your Majesty's words are serious, what kind of treason and injustice are you covering up? Your Majesty must not forget that I am only twenty-three years old, and I was only two years old when Lu Wu was born. Your Majesty insists on settling this matter on me.
What else can I say? Who can a two-year-old child protect? I don’t understand."
"You!" Guo Chong was extremely angry. Although he thought this was sophistry, he seemed speechless to refute.
Lin Jue was unmoved and continued: "What makes the emperor angry is that I didn't report to the emperor after knowing Lu Wu's life experience. I didn't report to the emperor because I didn't intend to deceive, but because I had concerns. In other words, I chose the best option.
The best solution.”
Guo Chong sneered and said: "Okay, okay, I will listen to you talk about your reasons. I know you are good at arguing, and I want to see how you talk about a flower. I tell you clearly that it is a grave sin to deceive the emperor.
The crime cannot be forgiven. You'd better convince me that you have nothing to do with this matter and convince me not to punish you. Otherwise, you won't be able to pass this test tonight."
Lin Jue bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. After Wei Chen found out about this, he was actually very confused. Wei Chen has been hesitant about whether to report it to the Emperor. In fact, reporting to the Emperor is not bad for me personally. Do you think about it?
Think about it, Lu Wu is the princess, I am his husband, and I am the consort. This is not a bad thing for me. Besides, I can avoid being accused of concealing and not repaying, so why not do it?"
Guo Chong frowned and said nothing, but Lin Jue's words were indeed the truth.
Lin Jue continued: "However, if I weigh this matter based on my own gains and losses, I will have read so many sages' books in vain, let down the cultivation and trust of the emperor and the court, and become a villain who acts for my own selfish interests.
I have thought about it over and over again, and there are several concerns that have forced me to conceal the matter. The first concern is the reputation of the emperor and the dignity of the royal family. This incident is shocking to the world, and people will definitely talk about it if it is spread, and the face of the emperor and the royal family will be ruined.
This is a great disloyalty to the emperor and a great disrespect for the imperial power. Secondly, the imperial court has been in an eventful period of turmoil and change in the past two years, with internal and external troubles, and people's peace of mind. This incident
Things will greatly damage the stability of the court. Chaos in the palace often creates opportunities for people with ulterior motives to create chaos. For the sake of the overall situation, I cannot add fuel to the fire and add chaos to the chaos. Thirdly, I cannot say that I have no selfish motives at all.
The selfishness is because of Lu Wu. After knowing his life experience, Lu Wu was very frightened and uneasy. If I reported this matter to the emperor, would Concubine Rong be punished for it? Didn’t I say that Concubine Rong should not be held responsible for this?
But she is Lu Wu's mother after all. I told this matter, but it hurt Lu Wu's biological mother. What does Lu Wu think of me? I am her husband, and I should protect her and prevent her from being hurt. Instead, I hurt her.
What? I really can’t do it.”
Lin Juekan talked about these three concerns. Although he put them together temporarily and did not mean them sincerely, they were also clear and well-founded.
Guo Chong frowned and pondered. He had to admit that what Lin Jue said made some sense. For Lin Jue, it was indeed a dilemma and it was difficult to make a choice. If he changed places, he would have to hesitate again and again.
.
Seeing Guo Chong pondering, Lin Jue knew that his words had an effect, so he continued: "Of course, it is wrong for me not to report what I know. If the emperor punishes me for this, I have nothing to say. After all, the laws of the Zhou Dynasty are here.
I can't argue with it. But if I equate this with disloyalty, I can't accept it. I still say the same thing. Saying everything does not necessarily mean that you are loyal. Instead, it may be an act with ulterior motives. It may not be convenient to conceal it.
It is disloyalty, but it may be an act to safeguard the emperor's face and the stability of the court. At least my original intention is not to be disloyal to the emperor. I can accept the punishment, but I will never accept the charge of being disloyal to the emperor."
Guo Chong sneered and said: "You are really tongue-tied. Those who are honest with me are criticized by you. Isn't this confusing right and wrong? Do you think I am so easily deceived by your sharp tongue? I can't.
I’m not that old yet.”
Lin Jue shook his head and said: "Your Majesty thinks I am talking nonsense, but it is not the case. Let me give you an example. Everyone knows that lies are hateful, concealment and deception are hateful, but under certain circumstances, it is a kind act. For example, if a person is terminally ill.
There is no cure, and only a few years or months to live. If people around him directly tell him that he can only live a few months, then this person must be full of worry, sadness and fear. Those are the last few months.
They all lived in fear and pain. Is this a good thing or a bad thing for the patient? If everyone around him told him that he was not sick at all and did not need to worry about life or death, this person would live happily until the end.
At that moment. Although the ending is the same, isn't it the purpose of people to enjoy life and pursue happiness in this world? Dying crying and dying with a smile may seem like death, but in fact they are completely different. So what can the emperor do?
Is it a great evil to say that family members conceal their illness? This is just a white lie, but it is a kind of love."
Guo Chong thought for a long time after hearing this, and finally nodded slightly.
"What you said makes sense, but don't you know the serious consequences of this matter? This is to change the cage for a bird and seize my country. This can be said to be a serious crime of treason. You have not considered the strangeness in it.
"Huh?" Guo Chong said solemnly.
Lin Jue bowed and said: "I understand what the emperor means, but in fact... this is just a possibility. Moreover... the fake prince Guo Hao has already died, and it is no longer possible to create the situation that the emperor said. Precisely because the danger has already been
Eliminate it, I dare to conceal it without authorization. If Guo Hao is still alive, then I will risk my life to reveal the truth, otherwise it is very likely that my country of Great Zhou will be stolen by others. This is a major matter related to the survival of Great Zhou Sheji. In this matter
, everything can be abandoned.”
Guo Chong nodded and said: "According to what you say, the evildoers don't need to be punished? There was no need to pursue them back then? Although the danger of this matter was eliminated because of Guo Hao's death, the initiator's intention was to commit treason.
The heart should be punished."
Lin Jue nodded and said: "I agree, if someone is indeed plotting secretly at this time, the person who plotted it must be investigated, and it would not be an exaggeration to kill the nine tribes. But the question is, is there someone plotting at this time? Could it be that Concubine Rong admitted her
Is this true? Or is it possible that Concubine Rong confessed that there was someone behind the scenes?"
Lin Jue dared to ask this question because he judged that it was impossible for Concubine Rong to confess to Prince Liang. The biting at this time was actually meaningless and of no benefit to herself. To her, it was a serious crime of treason with ulterior motives.
Not only can't she be exempted, but the crime will be increased. Moreover, if Concubine Rong has confessed to Prince Liang, then it is impossible for her to stand here and speak. The emperor will immediately control all the people in Prince Liang's house and related people.
, interrogate and ask for confessions, and then kill everyone without leaving any trace. Since the situation has not reached that point, it can only mean that all this is the emperor's own speculation, and Concubine Rong did not reveal a word.
Thinking of this, Lin Jue glanced at Concubine Rong. Concubine Rong stood with her head lowered and covering her waist and abdomen, her body trembling slightly, not looking at anyone.
Guo Chong did not answer Lin Jue's question, but said in a deep voice: "I ask you, in your opinion, is there any possibility of someone else instigating the plan?"
Lin Jue was keenly aware of the trap in these words. Guo Chong wanted to test whether he would conceal it. In fact, normal people can think of the serious consequences of this matter. If he ignores this and defends it, then Guo Chong will immediately
Doubts will arise.
"I think this matter needs to be thoroughly investigated. I think this is most likely a conspiracy designed by someone. If so, the person behind the scenes must be found out. Of course, this is not absolute. I think it can be investigated, but there is no need to dig into it. I think it's okay.
Concubine Rong should not be so confused. I still think that her move of changing heirs is just to win favor and to find a place for herself in the harem. It is just that she went too far. Concubine Rong will not want to subvert
I am Dazhou." Lin Jue said in a deep voice.
Guo Chong frowned and said, "Why do you think she can't possibly want to overthrow my empire? You're not her. Did she tell you about this in detail?"
Lin Jue hurriedly said: "Of course not. The reason why I think so is based on some basic facts from ancient times to the present. Throughout the dynasties, there have been constant battles in the harem. There is an unbreakable truth, that is, the mother is more valuable than the son. I believe
It seems that the Queen Concubine Mei has children, but Concubine Rong has no heirs, so it must be difficult for her to gain a foothold. Even though she has the emperor's favor, she will feel uneasy. I just guess that Concubine Rong's move is
In order to be on an equal footing with the Empress and Concubine Mei, I would believe her if she said she wanted to compete for the master of the harem. But if she said she wanted to use this opportunity to vacate the cage for a bird and subvert the great Zhou Dynasty, I would feel reluctant. Of course,
This is all speculation. I cannot guarantee that it is correct. It is just based on the purpose and reasons of the harem battles in the past dynasties. I would rather believe that Concubine Rong was temporarily confused and did not expect such serious consequences."
