With a bitter laugh Dorgon said, "Noble Consort Yun and I are sinners of the same rank. What did Cheng Wang say just now, 'the prime culprit is the chief evil'? I don't expect Your Majesty to forgive me. You are still willing to call me 'Imperial Father Regent' for the last time, I am content. "
Shunzhi's expression showed a hint of pain. "Zhen is not referring to that," he said, "I have not treated you well. However, We have never treated you unfairly. Whether you were instigated by someone or acted on your own accord, We do not wish to pursue the matter. Zhen only wants to ask you, do you have the least bit of remorse? "
"Remorse?" Dorgon said, "Remorse? So what if I do? So what if I don't? Could it be that if I say 'it's too late for regrets', you will pardon my sins? That won't be necessary, even I feel that it is too fake. If you go through this kind of formality, you will leave your subordinates with a lot of things to talk about, which will be … unfavorable to your rule in the future. "
Shunzhi sighed and said, "For the past seven years, Zhen does not care who you are doing it for. But you have assisted Zhen, you have established a great undertaking for the Great Qing, you have done your utmost. Our dynasty can achieve what it is today, we cannot do without your painstaking efforts. Zhen is very grateful to you. "Dorgon said," Looking at this, when the time comes, please give me a quick death. I'm not young anymore, so I can't bear such physical pain. I am also very grateful to you. "
Right this moment, a young girl suddenly burst in from outside the Palace. Her hair was disheveled as she knelt in front of Dorgon. "Yifu!" She called out, "Yifu, you … why do you have to do this?" Shangguan Yaohua cast a sidelong glance at her and shouted, "Xiao Xuan, don't make trouble, quickly get out!" But Cheng Jiaxuan was still kneeling in front of Dorgon, with tears streaming down her face.
Dorgon sighed in his heart. He gently stroked Cheng Jiaxuan's hair and said, "Xiao Xuan, what are you doing? Are you here to laugh at me? "
Cheng Jiaxuan wept and said, "No … no … Yifu, you ordered me to hide in the Palace and collect intelligence. That's right, I once resented you. Many times in the middle of the night, I wanted to go back to the Palace to reject you, to tell you that I don't want to do it anymore. But … your daughter has always been incompetent and has caused you trouble again and again. When I might have starved to death on the streets, it was you who took me in. Even if all the feelings were just for show, at least your kindness in raising me for so many years was genuine … Your daughter is still very grateful to you. "
Dorgon let out a long sigh and said, "Fate makes fools of people. Perhaps you should rejoice that I failed. All these years, I've been climbing up the ladder without a care for anything, and I've resorted to all sorts of methods. In order to prevent others from discovering what I did before I ascended the throne, you, as an internal spy, are naturally the first to be eliminated. I don't know if it's not your time to die, or if it's the heavens that don't bless me … "
Cheng Jiaxuan anxiously said, "No! Don't give up so easily. His Majesty is a reasonable person. He can forgive all crimes. If you beg him again, he won't sentence you to death! Don't you want your daughter anymore? You won't give me another chance to be filial to you? "
Dorgon said, "You're really a silly girl. Everyone has their own dignity to live in. The higher the position and power, the more supreme this dignity is, and it cannot be subverted by anyone. After that incident, if he didn't kill me, the dignity of the imperial family would forever be left with a shameful page. When we get along in the future, both sides will feel even more embarrassed because of that incident. Absolute obedience under the imperial power, ending with death was the most appropriate thing to do. After all, I've worn the imperial robe, and I've also threatened His Majesty face to face. I've been in the limelight, and I've had my fill … That's enough. As for power and position, I've been assisting His Majesty for seven years. His power is my power, and I've also enjoyed it. Ever since I followed the late Emperor to the north and the south, I've seen all kinds of big scenes. To be honest, I don't have any regrets in this life. In the laws of the Great Qing Dynasty, the heaviest punishment is to implicate the nine generations of the family. But His Majesty can't use this move on me. Isn't this enough to prove that this prince's identity is special? What's more, I've sworn that I'll never beg other people for help. Don't break my rules. I'm already very satisfied that you've come to send me off. "
Shen Shiyun suddenly laughed sinisterly and said, "You said you don't blame your adoptive father, then have you ever hated this consort?" Cheng Jiaxuan said, "So what if I hate it? So what if I don't hate it? That's all in the past, isn't it? "Shen Shiyun said angrily," Hate is hate, resentment is resentment, what can't I say? This consort hates people who pretend to be a saintess in front of me the most! It's obvious that you hate me to death, but you still have to put on a fake smile on your face. Hypocritical to the extreme! "
Cheng Jiaxuan said softly, "Noble Consort Yun niangniang, in fact, you've never liked me very much. You've also known my identity for a long time, haven't you? You can tolerate me playing tricks under your nose, just because I'm still of some value for the time being … that you can use? "
Shen Shiyun said coldly, "That's right. A few days ago, this consort did have the intention to kill you. I don't know who you're loyal to, but how many boats do you have under your feet? I think your adoptive father's biggest mistake in his life was that he didn't kill you as soon as possible. He's still relying on the information you provide. "
It's said that when a person is about to die, his words are kind. But Shen Shiyun was trying to sow discord in every possible way. She wished she could drag a few more people to accompany her to hell. This statement was nothing more than hinting that Cheng Jiaxuan's loyalty was not focused, that he didn't know how many of his masters he had been a secret informant. Moreover, he had bad intentions, deliberately misleading people to step into a trap with false information. These few words made it so that she couldn't even easily defend herself.
Dorgon suddenly said, "Prince Cheng, even if you have a blood feud with Noble Consort Yun, it's understandable that you want to take revenge on her alone. But why involve this prince? Although this prince has already decided to die, after thinking about it, it's still uncomfortable to be implicated by a fish in a pond like you. " This sentence was hinting that Shangguan Yaohua had the intention to use public office to avenge private wrongs, not because he was loyal and devoted as he claimed, but because he wanted to seek justice for his own family.
The speaker had a heart, the listener had an even more heart, immediately it attracted Shunzhi's attention. Frowning, he asked, "Oh? Noble Consort Yun, what deep enmity do you have with you? "
Shangguan Yaohua frowned slightly. Naturally he understood Dorgon's intention by mentioning this matter at this juncture. One wrong answer, not only he would completely erase his meritorious service, he would also incriminate himself. Inwardly he cursed him for being really crafty. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Forget it. Since the main culprit has already received the lesson she deserves, seven years have passed. No matter how big the storm, it can sink to the bottom of the sea. Wei Chen is not willing to pursue the matter further. I am also asking Your Majesty not to blame me for this matter. "
Shunzhi said, "No matter what kind of serious crime Noble Consort Yun has committed, Zhen will not blame her. After all, what crime can be compared to forcing the emperor to abdicate? There's no harm in speaking frankly. "
Shen Shiyun laughed coldly in a sharp voice and called out, "Your Majesty, since he doesn't dare to speak, chenqie will cry injustice on his behalf! Do you know what kind of person he is? He and this girl — "Pointing to Cheng Jiaxuan, she said," — are the orphans of the Chen family who should have been exterminated that year! They have always harbored resentment for what happened that year. They used every possible means to sneak into the Palace, just to take revenge on chenqie and also on you. Just look at them, since they entered the Palace, they have stirred up a lot of trouble, stirring up the Palace until even chickens and dogs are in chaos. Of course chenqie was the one who planned today's matter, but it was also the brother and sister who added fuel to the fire! If you want to take my head, I have no complaints. But if you want the Palace to have a peaceful day, you must first get rid of all future troubles. The root of this future trouble lies with these two people. Do you dare to admit it? The former second-in-command of Qing Tian Village, Cheng Jiahua gongzi? "
It should be known that what Shunzhi had always been on guard against was precisely the son of his enemy coming to seek revenge. In order to prevent future troubles, he would rather mistakenly kill a hundred people than let one of them go. These words undoubtedly touched the bottom of his heart.
He raised his head to look at Shangguan Yaohua, thinking that Cheng Jiaxuan was not enough to worry about, but the person in front of him was too shrewd, and the situation had changed very quickly. How could he not know that Shangguan Yaohua saw the situation change, so he turned to the Imperial power at the last moment? To employ such a "clever" subordinate, one had to ensure that one's own power would not decline. If there was a slight trend of decline, he would immediately turn to the enemy camp and give one a fatal blow.
Shangguan Yaohua was not afraid in the face of danger, he coldly said, "Noble Consort Yun, so you knew my identity long ago, yet you can still face me so calmly. It seems that in your heart, you really don't have the slightest bit of guilt. That year, you killed my cousin. This matter, you seem to have done as if it were right and proper? "
Shen Shiyun said, "What's wrong with exterminating the Chen family, cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots? If you were in this consort's position, what would you do? Presumably, 'His Highness Prince Cheng's' methods would not be much gentler than this consort's, right? If it were you, I'm afraid that you wouldn't let any of the remaining evildoers stay, right? "
When Cheng Jiaxuan heard Shen Shiyun expose his identity in front of everyone, he anxiously said, "No … no, Your Majesty, although I want to seek justice for my family, every injustice has its perpetrator, every debt has its debtor. I never wanted to vent my anger on you …"
Shangguan Yaohua secretly cursed, "This idiot! His Majesty is suspicious, and you still say those words at this time, aren't you just throwing yourself into the muzzle of a gun? " He said with a dignified expression, "May Your Majesty examine it clearly. If this humble subject was really disobedient and a traitor, why would I come to rescue you today? If you say that I was trying to curry favor with you, the situation at that time was clearly unfavorable to you. Why would I abandon the masses and follow the widows, wholeheartedly serving you with all my heart? Could it be that after the enemy, one must rebel, and after the loyal, one must be cautious? There are no absolutes in all things. If this humble subject is a threat to you, as long as I choose to hit a person who is down, I can just go with the flow, isn't that right? I think my choice is enough to prove my position. May Your Majesty make a clear decision. "
Shen Shiyun said, "That was just you putting on an act." But the firmness in her voice was clearly not as strong as before. Shangguan Yaohua said, "Haven't you heard that if you want to condemn someone, why worry about the pretext? Since you said that I am a lowly person who seeks to curry favor with those in power, I think that no one would choose the side that is obviously weaker. If you say that I am making a bet, why is it that Your Majesty's eyesight is not as good as mine? "
The two continued to argue. Shun Zhi sighed and said, "He is right. Yun 'er, look at these few short sentences, how many crimes have you added? Tell me, how do you want Zhen to deal with you? "
Shen Shiyun looked as if she was not afraid of death. She raised her head and said, "If Your Majesty is willing to kill me, no matter how much chenqie pleads and pleads, it will be useless. In that case, I will just listen to Your Majesty's order. In any case, since I have chosen this path, I have already been prepared to lose my head. "With a cold laugh Shun Zhi said," Listening to your tone, you sound like a righteous warrior who is ready to die. It's a pity that your purpose, is it really that noble … hmm? "
Shen Shiyun slowly stepped forward. Like a feather, she lightly stood in front of him, as if any light breeze could blow her away, as if a pinky finger could crush her into powder.
Shun Zhi looked at her in front of his eyes, he was silent for a long time. Suddenly he grabbed her wrist and said, "Behind Zhen's back, you played politics, deceived and toyed with Zhen in the palm of your hand. You were just using Zhen to pave the way for your evil ambition. Anybody who hindered your path, you could use Zhen's hand to get rid of them easily. It's a pity that Zhen did not know the inside story, so from beginning to end I was under your control, creating a lot of unnecessary enemies for no reason. You turned the palace upside down, so Zhen could still deal with you leniently. But you committed all kinds of evil outside, ruining my Great Qing's reputation, causing the ignorant commoners to think that my Great Qing is a cruel ruler who inverts right and wrong, who kills the loyal. Not for Zhen's own sake, but for the sake of the ancestral family law, for the sake of my Great Qing's tens of thousands of years of foundation, this crime is absolutely unforgivable! Not only that … You also forced Zhen to kill my beloved Concubine Dong 'e with my own hands. In the future, Zhen will be ashamed to face her in the underworld. How will Zhen have the face to see her again? You are truly the perfect example of a peach-plum beauty with a heart as venomous as a scorpion. To this day, your various actions have already incurred the wrath of the heavens and the resentment of the people. Not killing you will not appease the anger of the common people. Zhen will not tolerate you anymore! "
He fiercely flung her hand away and turned around, unwilling to look at her tear-stained face. It was as if he was worried that if he looked at her one more time, his heart would soften. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Pass Zhen's decree, the guilty woman, Madam Shen, will be stripped of her title as Noble Consort. From today onwards, she will be moved out of the Snow Song Palace and be banished to the Cold Palace to reflect on her mistakes. Without Zhen's decree, she is not allowed to take a single step out of the door! Someone, take her away and carry it out immediately! "
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