Vice Minister of Censor Song Jing strode out and protested, "Your Majesty, even if Zhang Changzong had told you about this, he did not accuse Li Hongtai of lying. As a result, Li Hongtai was still able to escape Chang 'an three days after the incident. This was obviously Zhang Changzong's way of getting lucky and leaving an excuse. According to the law, he is still guilty. "
"Your Majesty!"
Prime Minister Feng Quanzhen also jumped out and shouted, "From this point of view, Zhang Changzong's so-called surrender was forced by the situation and not his original intention. Moreover, he is guilty of treason and will bring disaster to the country. It is not appropriate to use the rule of surrender. Zhang Changzong is so rebellious. If he does not receive the punishment, how can he use the law? "
"Your Majesty!" Imperial Censor Zhou stepped out and said loudly, "If Zhang Changzong is not punished for his crimes, he will condone the world's evil!"
Supervising Censor Ma Huaisu followed and said loudly, "Zhang Changzong has betrayed kindness and conspired to rebel. He should be sentenced to death."
These people jumped out one by one. Even Wu Zetian's expression changed.
The high and mighty Emperor was not without fear. She lived high up in the Imperial Palace. She relied on these ministers to exert influence on the world. If all the ministers opposed her, she would naturally feel fear. She could not cut off all her hands and feet at once.
Even the Emperor's regenerative ability was not so strong and fast. It was impossible to find a group of suitable people to replace her immediately. But she still wanted to protect Zhang Changzong. This was not only because of her love for Zhang Changzong, but also because of her dignity and unshakable authority.
However, what saddened her was that even though Er Zhang seemed to have grasped great power under her deliberate indulgence and had many Prime Ministers as his disciples, not a single person jumped out to speak for them. These two little lovers who only knew how to flirt were even worse than Xue Huaiyi. At least when Xue Huaiyi was about to die, he still had two loyal disciples by his side to accompany him to the underworld.
Wu Zetian could not forcefully reject the advice of so many ministers. She still wanted to maintain her image as a fair and just ruler, so she looked at Prime Minister Yang Zaisi. Yang Zaisi understood and could only bite the bullet and step forward. He said solemnly, "His Majesty already knows. You can all leave first. If His Majesty has further instructions, I will pass it on to you!"
Song Jing said coldly, "The Emperor is very close to me. I have to listen to the Emperor's orders personally. There is no need for His Majesty to announce it for me!"
Yang Zaisi's face froze. He did not expect Song Jing to not even give him face. He did not expect Song Jing to not even him. The court was completely silent. The officials held their breath and quietly observed the Emperor's reaction.
Wu Zetian sat on the high throne. She tried hard to see the expressions of the officials. But there was a blur in front of her. She could not see anything.
Wu Zetian felt a heavy pressure on her chest, as if she couldn't breathe. She didn't know if she would faint on the spot if this continued. She only knew that she had to hold on no matter what. If she fainted on the throne today, it would be an irreversible blow to her authority. The unparalleled prestige she had built up over the years would collapse in a single night.
"Since the officials insist that Changzong is guilty …"
Wu Zetian pursed her lips and took a few deep breaths without anyone noticing. She was already a little suffocated. "Then, Wei Chengqing, hand Zhang Changzong over to the Censorate for Zhongcheng Song's review!"
After Wu Zetian said this, she immediately stood up. The eunuch hurriedly waved his horsetail whisk and loudly announced, "Court dismissed!" Finishing, he rushed forward and supported Wu Zetian.
The officials did not shout "Farewell, Your Majesty" like they did in the past. Everyone stood there and quietly watched the old woman walk with difficulty. She was supported by the eunuchs and slowly moved to the rear palace. Their gazes became extremely complicated. They suddenly realized that there were times when the person who was like a supreme god in their hearts would yield and lower her head.
A thought flashed in many people's minds at the same time. "The Empress's era is about to end …"
…
However, Wu Zetian was, after all, Wu Zetian. She entered the palace at 13. From a small talent, she fought with Consort Xiao Shu, with Empress Wang, with Zhangsun WuJi, with Shangguan Yi, with her husband, children, and the countless civil and military officials loyal to Li Tang. She fought until today. From a talent, from a woman, all the way to the highest position in the Empire. She would not easily admit defeat.
The reason she had lowered her head in court today was because of the sudden change. Her extremely old body could no longer withstand such a powerful mental blow. If the stalemate had continued, she would have fainted on the spot. If the Emperor had fainted on the spot under the pressure of the officials, it would have forced the power she still had to immediately find another way out. Then she would truly be alone.
Wu Zetian was supported back to the rear palace. She immediately summoned the imperial doctors to treat her. After the court session ended, Vice Minister of the Imperial Censor Song Jing immediately entangled Wei Chengqing. He wanted to immediately escort Zhang Changzong to the Imperial Censor.
Wei Chengqing naturally did not want to hand Zhang Changzong over so easily. He delayed it all the way until evening, but he did not receive any further orders from Wu Zetian. Seeing that he was about to be dismissed, he did not have any reason to continue dragging things out. Only then did he reluctantly hand Zhang Changzong over to Song Jing.
It was already late, and Song Jing could not hold a night trial. The relevant witnesses were all nobles and officials. He could not invite them to the Imperial Censor in the middle of the night. So, he threw Zhang Changzong into prison to await a trial the next day. Early the next morning, Song Jing escorted Zhang Changzong to the main hall and personally tried him.
Zhang Changzong was filled with despair and fear. He thought that Wu Zetian had abandoned him. When he was escorted to the main hall, his face was pale and his legs were trembling. He had completely lost his original arrogance.
Song Jing sat down with a solemn expression and ordered the trial to begin. However, just as he verified Zhang Changzong's identity according to legal procedures and before he could summon all the witnesses, Wu Zetian's counterattack began.
The actions of hundreds of officials to force her to abdicate was a heavy blow to Wu Zetian. Her old body could not endure such a heavy blow. She fell ill, but after a night of treatment and using an old ginseng over five hundred years old to nourish her energy, her energy had recovered greatly by the next morning.
Thus, she weakly and calmly gave her first order. Following her order, a Vice Minister suddenly appeared in front of the Imperial Censor with eight internal attendants. Behind them stood sixteen internal guards.
The Vice Minister slowly unfurled the imperial edict and loudly announced in a reserved and arrogant tone, "Special pardon! The Emperor has decided to pardon all of Zhang Changzong's crimes! Vice Minister Song, please immediately hand over Duke Ye! "
Finishing, he didn't wait for Song Jing to react before waving his hand. Two tall and strong internal attendants rushed up, picked up Zhang Changzong, and turned to leave. Song Jing stood up from behind the table, dumbstruck.
Special pardon had existed since the Xia Dynasty. This was the privilege of the monarch. Even in the modern era, the power of special pardon still existed. Even though no monarch had ever used this power in the last several thousand years, it had always been preserved in the law.
It was completely in accordance with the law!
Didn't Song Jing and the officials of the court say it was based on the law? Good! If you want to fight, then I, Wu Mei, will fight with you! As the Emperor, I have the power of special pardon! I cannot stop you from convicting Zhang Changzong, but I have the power to pardon all of his crimes, even if they are crimes that require death!
There was no need for Song Jing to continue the trial because even if he put all of Zhang Changzong's heinous crimes on him, Wu Zetian could still use the Emperor's ultimate weapon to pardon all of his crimes. Wu Zetian's counterattack began. It was still filled with the unique fighting style of the Wu Clan — domineering! Swift and fierce!
And this was only the first punch of Wu Zetian's counterattack!
"I should have immediately used the punishment! I should have taken him to the main hall and immediately beaten him to death! At most, it would have been an improper punishment. As long as I can get rid of this evil, I will not fear the future! " It was not until the Zhongguan left with Zhang Changzong that Song Jing finally reacted. He pounded the desk and cried out loudly.
Although Zhang Changzong had only been in prison for one night, he was already disheveled and disheveled. After returning to Fengchen Prison, he tearfully complained to Zhang Yizhi and was urged by Zhang Yizhi to take a bath and change clothes. Then, Zhang Yizhi took him to give thanks to the Emperor. When they arrived at Changsheng Courtyard, the two didn't dare to enter like before. Instead, they first ordered the internal attendants to report.
In the bedroom, Wu Zetian was awake for a while in the morning. Then, she began to have a headache and nausea. Her chest felt stuffy. She had just summoned the imperial doctor to administer medicine and acupuncture before falling into a deep sleep. In her sleep, the corner of Wu Zetian's mouth would occasionally twitch. Wan 'er and Fu Qingqing, the two most important female officials of the internal court, stood to her left and right. Looking at Wu Zetian's condition, they were secretly worried.
Even though Wan 'er didn't agree with all of Wu Zetian's actions, the two of them had lived together for such a long time. Even though Wu Zetian was the murderer of her grandfather and father, at that time, Wan' er was still a baby in swaddling clothes. She didn't have any feelings for her father and grandfather. Seeing Wu Zetian grow old like this, she still felt a faint sadness in her heart.
An internal attendant tiptoed in and whispered a few words into Wan 'er's ear. Wan' er nodded and turned to walk out of Wu Zetian's bedroom. As soon as Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong saw Wan 'er, they quickly came to greet her. Wan' er said, "The Saint is not feeling well and has just fallen asleep. We can't wake her now. Wulang, Liu Lang, you don't have to worry. The Saint has absolute trust in you and will protect you. "
Wan 'er paused and then said to Zhang Changzong, "Before His Majesty went to sleep, he said that if Liu Lang comes back, please go to Prime Minister Song's manor and thank him for being merciful."
Zhang Changzong suddenly said, "It was the Saint who saved me. Song Jing was afraid that I wouldn't die. How could he be merciful? He … "
Zhang Yizhi pulled his sleeve and nodded to Wan 'er. "Yes! Yizhi will go with Liu Lang now. "
After a moment of silence, he sadly sighed and said, "We two brothers have never had any ambition. Why do the officials have to see us as a thorn in their side? I hope this time … Song Zhongcheng can accept our sincerity. We … we don't want to fight with anyone. We just want to live well …" At the end, his voice was choking.
In the evening, Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong came back. After the two returned to the palace, they immediately went to Wu Zetian's bedroom. Wu Zetian had already woken up. Hearing that they were back, she let them in. Wu Zetian smiled and said, "You're back. Did Song Jing see you?"
Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong stood in front of Wu Zetian with their hands down. Zhang Yizhi sadly said, "We two brothers are under Song Zhongcheng's tutelage. We begged for four hours, but he refused to see us. It was getting late. If we were late, we wouldn't be able to return to the palace. So … we came back. "
The corner of Wu Zetian's eyes twitched, but she still had a smile on her face. She weakly waved to them. The two immediately rushed to her side and knelt down. With tears in their eyes, they held her old and cold hands.
"As long as I am still alive, I can always protect you."
Wu Zetian gently said. Then she gently sighed and said, "But … I don't know how long I can live, and you are still too young …"
She gently stroked Zhang Changzong's young and firm cheeks. She softly said, "Don't worry. I will arrange everything. Everything will be arranged …"
Her cloudy eyes surged with confidence and unyielding light. She knew that she was old, and she knew that she was about to die. But she still believed that as long as she had one breath left, everything in the world would continue to be in her hands!
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