Chapter 424 I Intend to Make You My Crown Prince

The ministers were all there, and they all knew what the crime of rebellion was.

Even though Emperor Wen had always been kind and lenient with his sons before, and could not bear to do it, this time was different.

Without the military seal, the Eighth Prince bribed the Jingji Guards by some unknown means - this was itself a conspiracy, and those bribed generals were also guilty of capital crimes.

And the Eighth Prince directly transferred the Jingji Guards to the palace, and even the Imperial Guards directly under the emperor were constrained, which was basically trampling on the emperor's dignity and life.

Who would believe that he did not plot treason, had no rebellious intentions, and was just trying to clear the emperor's side?

The palace was suppressed and silent.

After talking about the treatment of Concubine De, Emperor Wen's eyes flashed with disappointment and chill, but he was extremely tired and sat in the chair for a long time without saying anything.

This emperor suffered many hardships when he was young. The old prince's mansion suffered heavy casualties and psychological trauma. After ascending the throne, he especially cherished the queen who saved the situation and the only remaining Defei in the palace.

Perhaps he also had some intention of looking down on the world and did not want to turn the harem into a mess, so he directly cancelled all the selection decisions and gave up the benefits of the three palaces and six courtyards.

For so many years, only the queen and Defei accompanied him in the harem.

The queen acted decisively and held the power of regent; Defei was gentle and often took on the responsibility of serving the emperor.

Emperor Wen respected the queen and had always been kind to Defei.

In the past, even if she made a mistake, as long as it was not too excessive, he could mostly turn a blind eye, but this time... the mistakes made by the mother and son this time could not be pardoned no matter how tolerant and generous he was.

Emperor Wen sorted out the fleeting disappointment in his heart and said in a cold voice: "Please ask the Prime Minister and General Xuan to go to the suburbs together and convey my decree. All the generals of the Capital Guard who participated in the rebellion, the whole family of those above the thousand households will be executed, and those below the thousand households will be executed. Those who participated without official positions will be ordered to be beaten with 80 military sticks each. Whether they live or die depends on their own luck."

"Yes." Prime Minister Ji and General Xuan bowed together to accept the order, "Your Highness obeys your order."

After speaking, the two took their leave first.

Emperor Wen was a little tired: "It is said that 'generals are not subject to the orders of the king when they are away from home', but they are so good that a prince can make them forget their duties and military rules. There is no need for these people to live."

Emperor Wen has hardly been involved in government affairs for so many years. All major government affairs are decided by the queen. He has only started to attend court in the past six months, not to mention how long it has been since he got angry and dealt with so many people.

So that the imperial censors who used to talk freely in the court were completely speechless today.

In all dynasties, as long as there was rebellion involved, there was always a river of blood. There was no such thing as a lighthearted cover-up. It would rather kill a thousand people by mistake than let one go.

Emperor Wen was so kind and tolerant for so long that many people forgot that he was also an emperor. He could be tolerant, but he always held the power of life and death in his hands.

If the emperor's bottom line was touched, it would be difficult to eliminate the hatred in his heart without killing.

"Your Majesty, calm down." Jiang Yi said in a light tone, "We have survived so many days. Today, Li'er returned safely, which is a happy event for us. Since Defei and her son did something they shouldn't have done, they should have anticipated such a result in advance. Your Majesty doesn't need to get angry about it."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wen was silent for a long time, and the anger on his face gradually dissipated: "The Queen is right."

We have survived so many days, and the situation will only get better little by little in the future.

He has tried his best to save his four sons, but they don't cherish themselves and always seek death. Even gods can't save them.

Emperor Wen sorted out his emotions a little, raised his eyes and looked at Yan Li: "Mu Cang didn't come back with you?"

"He is in the military camp outside the imperial city." Yan Li said, "We took control of the military camp yesterday, counted the number of rebels in the middle of the night, and drew up a list. This morning, Yang Yi sent the military token of the Jingji Guard out of the imperial city. He will temporarily take charge of the military camp and calm the morale of the army."

Emperor Wen nodded slowly: "You did a good job."

"The Ninth Prince is a god of war. Naturally, he is better than ordinary people at controlling the military camp and calming the morale of the army." Jiang Yi's face was full of A little relieved, "He is indeed very suitable to be Li'er's husband."

Emperor Wen nodded and looked at the ministers present: "The martial law at the palace gate has been relaxed, everyone can go away. You have been worried these days. Tomorrow, there will be no court, and you can all have a good rest at home for a day."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Queen." The ministers saluted, "I will take my leave."

The officials walked out one after another, with a little fear of surviving a disaster. When they stepped out of the hall, they saw Yan Yun, who was being tortured, lying on the spring stool without any reaction. I don't know if he fainted from the pain.

But his body could clearly see waves of twitching, and his back and buttocks were bleeding, which was horrible.

The ministers felt mixed emotions and didn't know what to say, so they quickly left.

In the next few days, the imperial city is destined to be restless.

I don't know how many people will be implicated and become souls under the knife of the executioner outside the Meridian Gate.

Only Emperor Wen, the Queen and Yan Li, as well as a group of palace maids, were left in the hall.

"This time when I come back, I plan to make you the heir." Emperor Wen motioned Yan Li to sit down, and the palace servant poured her tea, "Li'er, do you have any ideas?"

Yan Li sipped her tea silently: "Let's make you the heir."

Anyway, the four princes were dead or injured, and the emperor and the queen had no other candidates.

"Is that your reaction?" Emperor Wen looked at her silently, always feeling that her reaction was too bland.

Yan Li raised her eyebrows slightly and put down the teacup: "Do you want me to kneel down to thank you, and then say with fear and trepidation that I can't take on the responsibility?"

Emperor Wen: "..." Logically speaking, there should be such a process.

Jiang Yi: "..."

"Those are all empty words." Yan Li smiled faintly, "I don't like empty words, yes is yes, no is no."

Emperor Wen's expression was a little subtle.

Although he knew that Yan Li wanted to be straightforward and honest, he didn't expect that he would be so straightforward and honest.

But it's better this way, much better than those false feelings.

Yan Li's tone is calmer: "Besides, the regent princess and the crown prince are actually similar, it's not worth being ecstatic."

"Much worse." Emperor Wen retorted, "The regent princess is just powerful, and the crown prince is qualified to inherit the throne."

Yan Li hummed, without commenting.

"Then..." Emperor Wen hesitated for a moment, "What do you plan to do with your relationship with Mu Cang?"

Yan Li was silent for a moment, raised his hand and pointed outside the palace: "There is no sound outside."

Emperor Wen frowned: "Don't pay attention to him."

"How does the emperor plan to deal with Yan Yun?" Jiang Yi asked calmly, "If you want him to die, don't pay attention to him, or let the guards in front of the palace add another fifty sticks and beat him to death directly."

On the contrary, if you don't want him to die for the time being, send him back to the palace for treatment and see when it is appropriate to kill him.

"I'll go back to the Princess's Mansion first." Yan Li stood up, not caring whether Yan Yun was alive or dead, "I won't have lunch in the palace. There is a mess outside and I have to clean up. I don't have the mood to eat for the time being. I will go to the palace with Mu Cang in the evening. Now I will go back to take a shower and change clothes."