Today's weather was clear and bright, but it was very cold.
The people of the capital were waiting for today to send Cheng Zheng on his final journey. They were all waiting on the street for the funeral procession to come out of the palace. After waiting for half a day, they didn't even know how much time had passed. Instead, they heard the sound of fighting.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. It seems to be coming from the palace."
"Go and find out what's going on."
"… …" The people were all discussing, trying to guess the cause of the fighting.
Not long after, the person who went to investigate came back. He seemed to be in a panic and his face was pale. "The Third Princess and the Third Prince Consort brought troops to force the Emperor to abdicate. The Emperor is going to change."
These words scared everyone into a daze.
The originally bustling street turned into a whoosh as everyone ran back home.
Inside the palace, blood splashed all over the ground. The originally white palace was now dyed a startling dark red.
There was almost no suspense. Just like Zhao Rao had ordered, besides Zhao Lan, everyone else was beheaded on the spot.
Zhao Lan coldly looked at Song Hongrao, "After you die, how will you face the previous Emperor?"
"I will face him openly." Song Hongrao said, "I did not do anything wrong to the previous Emperor."
"Helping Zhao Rao steal the Fifth Prince's throne, is this not wrong to my Imperial Father?" Zhao Lan's voice was hoarse. She saw that her Prince Consort had been stabbed several times, but he was still bitterly holding on.
Song Hongrao said, "The Fifth Prince was the first to betray the Emperor. If the previous Emperor was still alive and knew that he was such a person, he would not have given the throne to him."
"Hehe." Zhao Lan coldly laughed, "If he did not give the throne to the Fifth Prince, could it be that Imperial Father would pass the throne to Zhao Rao?"
"Perhaps, but he would never give it to you." Song Hongrao said.
Zhao Lan's eyes turned cold, "Could it be that this Princess cannot compare to Zhao Rao?"
"Third Princess, why would you ask such a humiliating question?" Song Hongrao lightly said. Just based on Zhao Lan's actions today, it already proved that she was far from being able to compare to Zhao Rao.
"Song Hongrao!" Zhao Lan was furious.
"His Majesty has ordered that we will not harm you. Third Princess, you have already failed. You should come with me." Song Hongao said calmly.
Zhao Lan suddenly turned around and saw that almost all of their people had been slaughtered. Only a few people who chose to surrender were left alive, but what difference did it make? "Aren't you afraid that my men will break into the city?"
"Third Princess, there have never been any of your men," Song Hongao said. "His Majesty's elite soldiers are everywhere outside the capital city."
"You already knew … …" Zhao Lan suddenly realized that her plan today had already been exposed. Otherwise, Zhao Rao would not have been prepared.
Song Hongao said, "I don't know, but Her Majesty has known for a long time. You underestimate Her Majesty. Her Majesty was able to become Empress not only because of Cheng Zheng."
Zhao Lan resentfully stared at him, "Zhao Rao wants to torture me, I will not let her succeed."
"Don't do anything stupid, Third Princess." Song Hongao quickly grabbed Zhao Lan's hand to prevent her from committing suicide. "Let's wait for His Majesty's judgment."
"I won't let her torture me." Zhao Lan cried.
Song Hongao was afraid that she would hurt herself, so he raised his hand and hit the back of her neck. Then he called Ling Jian over, "Send the Third Princess back to the Princess Palace. Find someone to keep an eye on her, don't let her commit suicide."
Ling Jian complied.
"Lock up the people who surrendered and immediately clean the floor." Song Hongao ordered, "Lock up the Third Prince Consort in the dungeon and find an imperial doctor to treat him."
"Yes."
… …
… …
In the main hall, Zhao Rao closed her eyes to rest. Listening to the sounds of fighting outside gradually subsiding, she did not even open her eyes.
The only ones who were anxious were the ministers in the main hall.
"Your Majesty, Third Younger Sister is not sensible, please don't bother with her." Zhao Xiang handed a cup of hot tea to Zhao Rao, pleading for Zhao Lan.
"She's old enough to be a mother, how can she not be sensible." Zhao Rao lightly said. "If she's not sensible, how can she bring troops to force the Emperor to abdicate?"
Zhao Xiang said, "She might have been bewitched."
"Regardless of whether she was bewitched or not, this one has no intention of killing her. You can rest assured." Zhao Rao glanced at her. She knew the reason why Zhao Xiang said so much. Wasn't it to plead for Zhao Lan?
"Your Majesty, if Zhao Lan does not die, I'm afraid there will be endless troubles in the future." A middle aged man standing on the lower left side of Zhao Rao said.
Zhao Rao lightly smiled, "She's just one person, where can she go?"
She had a way to make Zhao Lan's life worse than death.
At this time, Song Hongao strode in and knelt down on one knee to pay his respects to Zhao Rao, "Your Majesty, the rebels have been suppressed. The funeral ceremony can continue."
Sure enough, it was straightforward!
Zhao Rao looked at Song Hongao with appreciation, "Good job, Zhenguo Hou."
"The Third Princess has been locked up by this minister, waiting for your Majesty's trial." Song Hongao said.
"No hurry, first send Cheng Zheng to rest." Zhao Rao said. Right now, there was nothing more important than sending Cheng Zheng to rest in peace.
The ground outside the palace gate was covered with water. The blood had just been washed away. If one looked carefully, they would be able to see some blood stains in the corners.
Zhao Rao sent Cheng Zheng to the city gate. It was against the rules and was stopped by the minister of the Ministry of Rites. Otherwise, she would have sent him to the Imperial Tomb.
"Let's return to the palace." Zhao Rao said. She should make time to deal with those people who wanted her to be unable to recover from this setback and even wanted to take the opportunity to seize the throne.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Xiang replied in a low voice. She wanted to plead for Zhao Lan, but she knew that the more she pleaded, the more Zhao Rao would not let Zhao Lan off.
"With so many people sending off Cheng Zheng, it can be seen that in the eyes of the people of Qi, he is already a god-like existence." Zhao Xiang said.
Zhao Rao coldly smiled, "I don't need him to be a god, as long as he can return to my side."
Back in the palace, everything had calmed down. Zhao Rao was about to let someone bring Zhao Lan into the palace when the messenger who went to the Jin Country returned.
"What did the Jin Emperor say? Did he agree to hand over Lu Yaoyao? "Zhao Rao asked the young man who came to reply.
The man hesitated, "Replying to Your Majesty, the Jin Emperor sent a message saying that Lu Yaoyao is no longer the Empress of the Jin Country. If Your Majesty wants to take revenge, you should look for Yuan Country. Lu Yaoyao is the Heavenly Consort of Yuan Country."
"…" Zhao Rao's face turned gloomy. She asked the messenger to pass the letter to her immediately.
Seeing this letter, Zhao Rao was so angry that her face turned white and then red, "Who wrote this letter?"
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Zhao Xiang asked in a low voice.
Zhao Rao threw the letter to Zhao Xiang, "It's all Murong Ke's excuses. He wants us to go to Yuan Country to get her."
"It seems that the Jin Country does not want to be enemies with us." Zhao Xiang said.
"He wants to draw a clear line!" Zhao Rao snorted, "It's not that easy!"
(Nine-headed Bird Academy)
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