Like Empress Dowager Chen, Empress Dowager Li was horrified and moved after hearing these words, got up and walked out.
When I arrived at the entrance of the palace, I saw the emperor kneeling in front of his head, the queen kneeling beside him and a little behind, and the two daughters kneeling side by side in the back row.
Zhu Yijun didn't do much exercise at ordinary times, and the stone slabs outside the hall were hard. By the time he knelt down, his face had already turned pale, and his knees hurt so much that sweat dripped down his cheeks.
The two daughters were not only pale, but also on the verge of collapse. Their two little faces that were either happy or angry were already covered with fine beads of sweat, and their lips were also a little dark.
The queen's face looked a little better, but after hearing what Queen Mother Chen had just relayed, Queen Mother Li was particularly concerned about her and said: "Queen, you get up first."
Queen Wang bowed her head and said: "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your kindness, but the Emperor is still kneeling, how can I get up? Queen Mother, please allow your daughter-in-law to be punished for the same crime as her husband."
Queen Mother Li knew what she meant by putting the words "daughter-in-law" and "husband" in front of her. She was talking about Gang Chang, so she could only sigh: "Since the queen said so, let's all get up."
"Thank you, Queen Mother, for your grace." Now the four of them said in unison.
But Empress Dowager Li's face was still cold. She glanced at Zhu Yijun and Zhu Yao'e. Zhu Yao'e glanced at her, then turned her eyes to the empress and softened a little.
Don't ask any more questions, just go back to Kunning Palace now... stay in peace."
Queen Wang was a little worried that once she left, her mother would continue to punish the emperor to kneel down and think about his mistakes. She was a little hesitant and did not understand the deep meaning of Queen Mother Li's words. She hesitated and planned to speak again.
Empress Dowager Li stretched out her hand to stop her: "Xi'er, the Ai family doesn't want to talk about it again."
Queen Wang was extremely filial and did not dare to say anything more. She had to take a deep look at the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, I, my concubine, retire."
Zhu Yijun nodded: "It's the beginning of autumn and the night is cold. You should go back to the palace to rest early."
The queen turned to Queen Mother Li and saluted, saying: "My daughter-in-law, please retire."
Empress Dowager Li's face softened a little bit more, and she nodded: "There's no need to go into the palace. Empress Dowager Rensheng will let the Ai family convey it to you."
After the queen left, Queen Mother Li's face turned serious again. She glanced at her son and two daughters again and said coldly: "For the sake of the queen, I will spare you the trouble of kneeling."
The three brothers and sisters did not dare to contradict and bowed silently.
Empress Dowager Li glanced at Zhu Yijun again and asked, "Do you know you are wrong?"
Zhu Yijun felt in his heart that he was only doing it for his sister's good and didn't do anything bad, so what was wrong? Besides, she has been kneeling for more than half an hour, and the queen mother still doesn't feel relieved?
He was definitely dissatisfied, but he also knew in his heart that it would definitely not work to contradict his mother in person, so he could only say in a low voice: "I know I was wrong."
Queen Mother Li knew that he was dissatisfied when she heard this. However, Zhu Yijun was her biological son after all. He looked pale at the moment, and Queen Mother Li couldn't bear to punish her any more. She was just afraid that she would show her weak side and make her son lose fear in the future. The more he behaved, the more he behaved.
He was lawless and had no choice but to harden his heart and say: "Since you know your mistake, you can come in and wait for me to discuss with your aunt and Mr. Guo how to punish me, and then we can make further arguments."
Zhu Yijun still replied angrily: "My son, I obey."
Empress Dowager Li did not argue with him, and said to the two princesses Zhu Yao'e and Zhu Yaolao: "I will argue with you about your affairs tomorrow. Let's go down."
The two princesses endured the pain in their knees and the numbness in their legs, bowed to their mother, and then left.
Queen Mother Li then turned around and returned to the main hall, and Zhu Yijun followed in silently.
After entering the main hall, Guo Pu stood up again and saw the Queen Mother and the Emperor.
Although Zhu Yijun felt aggrieved, he still respected Guo Pu. However, he was a "criminal" at the moment and could not say much. He just nodded and said: "Yuan Fu does not need to be polite."
Empress Dowager Li said politely: "Yuan Fu, please sit down."
Empress Dowager Li sat down by herself, but did not say to prepare a place for the emperor to sit. Zhu Yijun had no choice but to stay in the middle of the hall, and was treated no differently from ordinary children who were taught a lesson by their parents.
Seeing that the situation was a little awkward, Queen Mother Chen was about to speak first and use gentle words to set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Unexpectedly, Queen Mother Li suddenly asked Guo Pu sadly: "Yuan Fu, you are the Prime Minister of the Three Dynasties. You are above all national affairs."
Your views are far better than those of us women. Tell me, now that the emperor has lost his virtue, is he still fit to rule the world?"
This is truly shocking!
Not only was Guo Pu shocked, Zhu Yijun and Queen Mother Chen were both stunned for a moment.
But Guo Pu reacted quickly at this time, but he did not lose his composure, nor did he kowtow in fear. Instead, he stood up, respectfully took off his official hat, held it in both hands, and bowed: "The Queen Mother said,
I blame the old minister for his ineffectiveness in assisting education and incompetence in assisting the emperor. I would rather live up to the shame of the old minister? The old minister has betrayed the great trust of the late emperor and has no face and dignity to occupy the position. He begs for his bones and returns to his hometown as an official."
Zhu Yijun also reacted at this time. He was so shocked that he knew that this was not the time to save face. He knelt down on the ground and kowtowed: "Mother, please calm down. I know you are wrong. I am really
I know I was wrong!"
Then he turned to Queen Mother Chen, kowtowed and said: "Queen Mother, save your son!"
Empress Dowager Chen thought about how the emperor, even though he was young, would come to Ciqing Palace to pay his respects every day regardless of wind or rain, and his respect for her was no worse than that of his biological mother. The child was always filial, and she suddenly couldn't bear it.
, comforted: "Don't be afraid, Jun'er. You are still young, and sometimes you will inevitably need to think more. It's not a big deal if you make a mistake occasionally. Just correct it in the future."
Empress Dowager Li ignored Zhu Yijun and just comforted Guo Pu: "Yuan Fu made harsh remarks. The Ai family is not blaming you. You should put your hat on first."
Who would have thought that Guo Pu was determined this time, and said in a deep tone: "The Queen Mother has clearly learned that although the emperor made a mistake this time, it is not considered a delinquency."
The three are: king and minister, father and son, husband and wife, brothers, and friends. The fifth is the greatest virtue in the world. Wisdom, benevolence, and courage are the greatest virtues in the world, so those who practice them are the same.
also."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "The emperor is knowledgeable, pragmatic and has broad contacts, so he leaves the selection of his consort in his hands. This is wisdom; the emperor cares about the love between brother and sister and will serve the princess for life."
Running for happiness is benevolence; the emperor knew that this was against the ancestral system, but still performed this kind act, which is courage. With such three virtues, I don’t know why the queen mother said that the emperor was unvirtuous? If this move is unvirtuous,
There must be no way to teach me, so I can only ask for a retreat. I hope the Queen Mother will think twice."
Zhu Yijun felt reassured and burst into tears of gratitude for Guo Pu's "righteous speech".
After hearing this, Queen Mother Chen also nodded secretly and thought to herself: Mr. Guo is indeed a responsible person.
Only Empress Dowager Li was sensitive enough to discover an important doubt. She frowned and said, "Yuanfu said that he did this because of the love between brother and sister, and for the lifelong happiness of the princess. Where did he start from, and how did Yuanfu know?"
Guo Pu said calmly: "Gao Jingshi is a disciple of the old minister. The old minister knows that he has been looking for good-looking young students in Daxing County for the past six months. Later, it was said that he selected a man who was seventeen years old and his name was Hou Gongchen. These days,
He often takes this person with him, explaining his studies and teaching him etiquette. After today's incident, the old minister guessed that he must have been ordered by the emperor to select a consort for the princess."
As he spoke, he turned to Zhu Yijun and asked, "Excuse me, Your Majesty, but is this the case?"
Zhu Yijun knew that Guo Pu was helping him, so he naturally nodded quickly: "Yuan Fu is right in seeing things, that's it."
Empress Dowager Li frowned, thought for a moment, and then asked, "When did Yao'e and Yao Lao meet Hou Gongchen?"
Zhu Yijun said quickly: "It was after my son and Gao Pingshi returned from visiting the mausoleum that they arranged to meet at the Nansha River Imperial Mansion." He paused and then added: "It's just that Yao'e met Hou Gongchen.
, Hou Gongchen did not see Yao'e."
Empress Dowager Li calmed down a little, but realized something was wrong and asked, "What happened to Yao's concubine?"
Zhu Yijun complained in his heart and thought to himself: I don't know what happened to Yao Yu!
He did not dare to lie any more at this time, so he could only tell the truth, saying that Yao Nai knew that Hou Gongchen was the consort chosen for his sister Yao E. As for why she secretly wrote love poems, he did not know.
Empress Dowager Li recalled the recent state of her two daughters for a while, her face changed, and she suddenly said resolutely: "Yuan Fu, I'm afraid something may wrong you."
Guo Pu was stunned and had no idea what he meant. He could only respond in the usual way: "The Empress Dowager is serious in her words. I am nearly 70 years old, so I don't care about any grievances. If there is something wrong with the Empress Dowager, please tell me directly."
Empress Dowager Li nodded, but first said to Zhu Yijun: "Emperor, since Yuan Fu said that you are not immoral, the Ai family will not care about what happened before, but you violated the ancestral rules and left the palace. Can you admit this mistake?
"
Zhu Yijun did not dare to argue anymore and could only say: "I know I was wrong."
Empress Dowager Li said again: "Well, tomorrow you will issue an edict to offend yourself, stating that you left the palace without permission and violated the ancestral system. You will issue an edict to offend yourself, but don't mention Yao'e and Yao's concubine. At the same time, although Gao Pragmatic had no idea at the time
Although he is your official position, he is your companion and is familiar with the laws. However, he knows that you have violated the ancestral system without admonishing him. If you have failed to entrust him to the late emperor, his crime will be increased by one level. He will be demoted to three levels and transferred out of the capital as soon as possible. Before you
The two sisters are not allowed to return to Beijing to serve before they get married."
Zhu Yijun was very unhappy when he first heard that he was going to issue an imperial edict to offend himself. He was even more unhappy when he heard that Gao Jingshi would be demoted to three ranks and transferred out of the capital. He said anxiously: "Mother, my sons and ministers can issue an imperial edict to offend themselves."
, but this matter has nothing to do with Gao Pragmatic, he just followed the order of his son..."
"Don't the Ai family know?" Empress Dowager Li was furious and scolded: "Or do you want him to stay in the capital and be your brother-in-law?"
Zhu Yijun was stunned for a moment, and after a while he suddenly said in horror: "What? Yao's poem was about pragmatism?!"
Queen Mother Li snorted coldly and said with great dissatisfaction: "Now you know what good thing you have done?"
Zhu Yijun was speechless and murmured: "How could this happen..."
Empress Dowager Chen sighed in her heart and thought to herself: Gao Jingshi was delayed by this, and I don't know if it will have any impact on the future?
She thought for a while and said to Guo Pu: "Yuanfu, this matter may be unfair to your disciple, but this is also the best way to deal with it... You make arrangements well. Even if you demote him to three levels, don't do it."
It’s such a mistreatment, the emperor will definitely still use him in the future.”
Guo Pu didn't know what to say, so he could only smile bitterly and said: "Old minister, I understand. Thank you Queen Mother for your kindness."