Empress Dowager Li seemed to be kind, but her words made one's hair stand on end. Zhu Yijun, who was wolfing down his food, was stunned. His hands loosened, and the rice bowl fell to the ground. The vegetables spilled all over the floor.
Then, Zhu Yijun seemed to have thought of something. His eyes widened in fear. His hands clutched at his neck and he crazily vomited out what he had just eaten. Zhu Yijun's eunuch, Wang De, was already pale with fright. He was almost scared to death. Holding the Emperor, he was out of his wits and did not know what to do.
"Your Majesty! Master! What's wrong with you? Empress Dowager! Empress Dowager! This … this … "
"Why are you panicking?"
Empress Dowager Li's tone was very indifferent. The expression on her face disappeared completely, and she became very calm, as if nothing had happened. However, a trace of sadness flashed in the depths of her eyes. Then, she picked up some green leafy vegetables with her chopsticks and put them into her mouth. She slowly chewed and swallowed.
"Your Majesty, do you think that I want to poison you to death? Even a vicious tiger won't eat its cubs. Why would I do such a thing to my own son? Your Majesty, don't forget that 30 years ago, you were my flesh and blood. No matter how cruel I am, I can't do what Wu Zetian did … "
Zhu Yijun stopped vomiting and raised his head. His face was covered with tears and snot, and he had never been in such a sorry state ever since he had taken over the government. At this moment, Zhu Yijun's anger surpassed his own imagination, surpassed the sum of his past anger. Facing Zhang Juzheng, facing Feng Bao, facing the successive cabinet secretaries, and those shameless officials, he had never felt such anger and sorrow. In the past, when he was angry, he would want to roar, want to smash things, want to kill people. But this time, he did not want to do that. He felt that he had never been so calm before.
"Mother."
Zhu Yijun hastily wiped his face and stood up. He pushed away Wang De's support and returned to his seat. He stared at his biological mother, who was eating as if nothing had happened.
"Why have you come here today?"
Empress Dowager Li was neither happy nor sad. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and wiped the corners of her mouth.
"I'm here to save the emperor's life."
"Mother wants to save my life?"
While Zhu Yijun found it funny, he also felt a deep sense of unease. He was acutely aware that his plan might have been leaked, and his mother knew about it. He forced himself to calm down, but he still could not suppress the suspicion in his heart. He did not know if this news had already been leaked. If it had, his reign as emperor would come to an end.
The enraged officials would rise up and demand the Emperor to abdicate in order to quell the public anger. This time, it would really be the end of him.
Zhu Yijun's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
What went wrong? Where was the secret leaked? From the beginning to the end, he had only used the servants by his side. Unless the servants leaked the secret, there was no reason for him to be taken by someone else, not to mention that the person was his mother.
"I don't know what you mean."
Zhu Yijun was still struggling.
Empress Dowager Li sighed. She took out a blood-stained letter from her sleeve and threw it in front of Zhu Yijun. Zhu Yijun's pupils shrank. He was very familiar with this letter. He had personally written it, sealed it, and personally handed it to Liu Wei to deliver. The blood on the letter proved that Liu Wei did not betray him. It was someone else who betrayed him, and Liu Wei should be dead.
"I have taken care of the young eunuch who delivered the letter for you. Now, in the entire palace, only I and the Emperor know the specific contents of this letter, and there should be only five people who know the specific contents of this matter. The Emperor, I, Cabinet Elder Wang, the East Depot Master and the Commander of the Brocade Guards under the Emperor, and the Emperor, who else knows the details? If you tell me now, I can still save your life. "
Zhu Yijun's brain worked quickly. In just a moment, he knew who ruined his plan — Wang Xijue.
Wang Xijue! Wang Xijue! Wang Xijue!
Although he didn't know how Wang Xijue let Empress Dowager Li know about this matter, Zhu Yijun didn't need to care anymore.
"Luo Sigong! Zhang Jing! Get out here!!! "
Two people quickly rushed out of the palace and knelt in front of the emperor.
"You two immediately take the Imperial Bodyguard and the experts of the East Depot and split up! Go all the way to Wang Xijue's mansion and kill all the people in his mansion! Lock down the palace and search for Wang Xijue! Chop him into meat sauce and feed him to the dogs!!! After that, go to his hometown and execute his entire family!!! "
Zhu Yijun roared as if there was no one else around. Even Zhang Jing and Luo Sigong, whose hands were stained with blood, couldn't help but be shocked.
The punishment of executing nine generations of one's family was the most terrifying punishment in the world. Only a person named Fang Xiaoru had his entire family executed, which also left Yongle Emperor Zhu Di with eternal infamy. Normally, an emperor would not execute nine generations of one's family even if he was dealing with an official who had rebelled. Executing three generations of one's family was already earth-shattering enough, but executing nine generations of one's family would implicate many innocent people who did not know the truth. In the past, only those who had committed heinous crimes would be punished with this punishment.
And Wang Xijue …
Zhang Jing and Luo Sigong hesitated, looked at each other, and then lowered their heads.
"What are you still standing there for?! Immediately mobilize men and horses for me to handle this! It's too late! I want to put you to death by a thousand cuts!! "
Zhang Jing and Luo Sigong trembled and realized that the emperor was not joking. The situation forced them to bow their heads and accept the order.
"Yes!"
The two got up and were about to leave, but Empress Dowager Li suddenly stopped them.
"I want to see who dares! Zhang Jing! Luo Sigong! If you two dare to take a step out of this palace, I will make you die without a burial place! "
Empress Dowager Li stood up and confronted the emperor with great momentum. The momentum of the core figure of the Daming Iron Triangle from more than ten years ago seemed to return to her. Zhu Yijun was afraid for a moment, but he quickly remembered that Zhang Juzheng was dead, and so was Feng Bao. Empress Dowager Li was just a woman, what could she do?!
"I am the Daming Emperor! I want you to do it! Just do it! As for the rest, you don't have to worry about it! If I can't even protect you! Is there any need for me to continue being an emperor?! "
Zhu Yijun's words made Zhang Jing and Luo Sigong feel a little relieved. Just as they were about to step away, Empress Dowager Li spoke again.
"I can help you to the throne, so naturally, I can also abolish you! Emperor, don't force me to abolish you! I don't want to do that! "
Zhu Yijun looked at his biological mother in disbelief. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and finally, they turned into deep sorrow and determination.
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