After the Ban Family's property was confiscated, several debauchees who had a good relationship with Ban Heng tried to secretly give him some gold, silver, and other valuables. However, when they learned that Rong Xia didn't turn against them because of the collapse of the Ban Family, and instead took the Ban Family away, they gave up on the idea. Novel chapters updated the fastest.
Later, after the Fengning Emperor put the three members of the Ban Family under house arrest, these debauchees jumped up and down to think of a way. However, they didn't have time to jump up and down for long before their family was also confiscated. These hereditary nobles didn't have any real positions in the court. Fengning Emperor didn't like them and insisted on confiscating their family, so there was nothing they could do.
After the Rong Family's army entered the capital, these debauchees were happy to watch the fun. Although these nobles weren't able to restore their titles, the court returned their confiscated family property. For them, this was an unexpected surprise.
In particular, the debauchees who had helped Rong Xia in the court were now given a few titles that weren't too big or too small.
These debauchees were also tactful. They knew that they were too embarrassed to go to the palace to thank the Emperor. Therefore, in front of the eunuchs, they kowtowed a few times in the direction of the palace and said a bunch of flattering words. The next day, they went to the Jingting Gongfu with gifts.
The new Emperor had just been appointed, so the elders in the family didn't dare to form factions at this time. Therefore, the people who came with gifts were the younger generation. They found an excuse to go to the Ban Family's door.
Because of this coup, the younger generation's debauchees were more restrained than before. As they talked, they talked about the old scholars who thought of themselves as noble and virtuous.
"What do you mean by refusing the court's offer of enlistment?" Ban Heng said without any trace of politeness, "His Majesty wants people who have ability, talent, and care for the people. How could His Majesty like these people? They say they look down on the court and don't associate themselves with riches and honor. They say it as if they have the opportunity to associate themselves with riches and honor. How shameless. "
They didn't expect such a thing to happen, so they asked curiously, "Is there really no such thing?"
"There really isn't." Ban Heng shook his head with certainty. "His Majesty values people with both ability and integrity. I heard from my sister that if there really is a capable official who is unwilling to be recruited by the imperial court, His Majesty will personally invite him. When did the imperial court pay any attention to these people that you're talking about? "
"So they're feeling jealous, but they still have to pretend to be aloof?" A certain playboy sneered. "I hate this kind of person the most. When they sleep at night, they might even dream of being summoned by the imperial court. When they wake up in the morning, they pretend to be disdainful and write poems to flaunt themselves. Can't they be a little more honest?"
"It's easy to deal with this kind of people," another dandy said. "Don't they want face? Then we won't give them face."
"I have a good idea." Ban Heng slammed the table. "Let's invite some actors to perform in the downtown area. Make it funny and embarrass them."
"Let's do that. They don't want face, so we won't give them any face."
Just as these self-proclaimed scholars were being flattered to the point that even he himself thought that he had really refused to meet with the Emperor, some dandy who had nothing better to do suddenly started to invite people to listen to books and watch plays for free.
What did the plays and books say?
It was probably some people who didn't have any talent, but still thought they were better than others. They looked down on the common people and envied some of their classmates who had entered the imperial court. They hid in their beds and secretly cried. The next day, they went out with an aloof expression.
Some of the scholars did indeed think that they were superior to others. They looked at the commoners with slanted eyes. Therefore, this humorous play caused the commoners to roar with laughter. Especially those clowns who acted as scholars, they received a lot of rewards from the commoners.
In an instant, they became famous in the capital.
Scholars and dandy couldn't be reasoned with. You said they were insulting people, but they said they were just bored and casually invited the common people to watch a few plays.
Why were you, a scholar, so agitated? You were an upright person and didn't pretend to be aloof. Why would you speak up for these hateful scholars? Wouldn't that tarnish your reputation?
What else could these scholars say?
Say that they were poked at where it hurt, or pretend to be magnanimous and hold back their anger?
After being tormented by Ban Heng and the other dandy, these scholars immediately stopped. Not only did they stop writing poems, they also hid in their rooms for a long time and didn't go out. They were afraid that others would say they were such people.
But their actions had already offended the scholars who had entered the imperial court. If not becoming an official was considered noble, then what were they in the imperial court? Some people didn't say anything because they didn't want to ruin their own reputation. Now that the situation was good, of course they wanted to take the opportunity to step on it.
First, they wanted to vent their anger. Second, they wanted to curry favor with the Emperor.
When the actions of Ban Heng and the other dandy reached Rong Xia's ears, Rong Xia said to Ban Han: "Brother Heng's method is still the best."
"His brain can only be used at times like this. Don't praise him," Ban Han said unhappily, "This method is nothing. They have a lot of bad ideas. In the past, Xie Qilin was considered a distinguished scholar in the capital. Later, his reputation was ruined."
"What kind of distinguished scholar is he?" Rong Xia said without hesitation, "Is he better looking than me? Is he more talented than me?"
"One is in the sky, one is on the ground. What is there to compare?" Ban Han pinched his face, peeled a longan and stuffed it into his mouth, "I haven't compared myself to Miss Shi, Miss Lin, or any princess."
Rong Xia spat the longan into his hand and laughed: "The people you mentioned, I can't even remember what they look like. If you ask me which one of them is better looking, I can't answer."
"You men can even coax a sparrow down from the sky."
"What's so good about a sparrow? I'll be satisfied if I coax a phoenix like you down."
The husband and wife chatted through the night. It was another warm night. When Ban Han woke up from the bed, Rong Xia had already gone to court.
He heard a eunuch from the Department of Household Affairs report that Empress Dowager Fuping was leaving the palace today to live in another palace outside the capital. He asked if she had issued a decree.
Empress Dowager Fuping was the birth mother of the Crown Prince and Jiang Luo. Even though the previous dynasty had fallen, Rong Xia had received her favor. Therefore, she still retained the title of Empress Dowager. Her maternal family's titles also remained unchanged, giving the Empress Dowager enough face.
"Leaving today?" Ban Han paused slightly. He stood and said, "I'll go take a look."
"Niangniang." Ruyi looked at Ban Han with some worry. Last time, Empress Dowager Fuping had asked niangniang to help the tyrant. After niangniang had refused, the Empress Dowager and niangniang had not seen each other again. If she went over now, she was worried that the Empress Dowager would give niangniang a hard time.
Ban Han said calmly, "Let's go."
Empress Dowager Fuping stood to one side expressionlessly. She watched the eunuchs and palace maids move out the boxes that had been sorted out. She said to the nanny who was looking around, "What are you looking at?"
Being discovered by the Empress Dowager, she was embarrassed and didn't know how to answer. She thought that the Empress would send someone to see her off. At least this way, the Empress Dowager's life would be better after she went to another palace.
The Empress Dowager of a fallen country, even though she was called Empress Dowager, who would take her seriously? But if the Empress gave her face, the servants of the other palace would not dare to mistreat the Empress Dowager. She was a palace maid. How could she not know the thoughts of the servants? But how could she say these words to the Empress Dowager?
In reality, Empress Dowager Fuping knew what she was thinking. But at this time, she could only pretend not to know. She had thought of killing herself. But if she died, what would happen to her eldest son and daughter? She didn't teach her second son well. Did she have to commit suicide to make the new emperor unhappy and implicate her eldest son?
Also, she owed Rong Xia a favor. If she was still alive, Rong Xia would treat her eldest son and daughter better.
Therefore, she had no choice but to live on, to live on honestly and peacefully.
Just as she was about to step onto the carriage, she suddenly heard the nanny's surprised voice.
"Empress Dowager, it's the Empress!"
Empress Dowager Fuping turned around. It really was Ban Han. She paused and turned to face Ban Han.
"Niangniang," Ban Han handed a wooden box to the nanny next to the Empress Dowager. "Take care of yourself in the other palace. If there is anything you are not used to, send someone to the palace to say. If I have free time, I will visit you. "
Empress Dowager Fuping's lips trembled. A moment later, she said, "You shouldn't have come."
She was the Empress Dowager of the previous dynasty. Ban Han was also a princess of the previous dynasty. She also had the blood of the Jiang Clan. It was not good for her to be too close to people of the previous dynasty.
"Niangniang, don't worry. I understand." Ban Han personally helped Empress Dowager Fuping onto the carriage. She stood outside the carriage and said in a small voice, "Niangniang, don't worry when we reach the other palace. His Majesty is a generous person and will treat Prince He and Princess An Le well."
Tears flashed through Empress Dowager Fuping's eyes. She bowed to her and lowered the curtain of the carriage.
"Ruyi," Ban Han turned to look at Ruyi. "See the Empress Dowager out of the palace."
"Yes."
When Ban Han returned to the Great Moon Palace, Rong Xia had not yet left court. Chang Mama, who had entered the palace with her, walked in front of her and presented Ban Han the nourishing soup she had personally made. "Niangniang, what is wrong? Did the palace people make you unhappy?"
"No." Ban Han drank the soup in silence. After rinsing and wiping her mouth, she said, "I just went to see the Empress Dowager out."
Chang Mama smiled very kindly. "Niangniang, you did the right thing by seeing her out."
"First, you can maintain your private relationship. Second, you can show your magnanimity as the mother of the nation." Chang Mama had been with Princess Royal De Ning for many years and was also the confidant of the Princess Royal, so she had heard a lot of shameful secrets.
Except for some hardships when she first married Emperor Yunqing, the Empress Dowager had been living a happy life. Men respected her the most. The sons and daughters of concubines were not worthy of her attention. She was much less worrisome than the previous empresses. The more worrisome a life was, the more innocent one's character would be. The Empress Dowager was such a person.
"What magnanimity?" Ban Han lowered her eyelids and said with a smile, "Mama, you don't have to describe me so well."
Chang Mama smiled and shook her head. "Niangniang is very good, just like Her Highness."
"I'm not as good as grandmother."
Chang Mama patted her hand kindly. "Niangniang, you don't have to think about it anymore. Why don't you take a look at the clothes and jewelry at the coronation ceremony? If there is something you are not satisfied with, you can ask the embroiderer to change it."
Ban Han nodded. "Okay, let them present it to me."
"Your Majesty, this is not appropriate!" The official of the Ministry of Rites knelt in front of Rong Xia. "The rules of the coronation ceremony of Chunming Empress are the old rules from 800 years ago. After that, the coronation ceremony of the previous empresses has never been so grand. How can we set a precedent in our dynasty?"
"How can a rule that has been in existence since ancient times be a precedent?" Rong Xia didn't look at the official of the Ministry of Rites kneeling on the ground. "The Empress has done a lot for me to conquer the world. It is not a disgrace to her to hold the coronation ceremony according to this rule."
The official of the Ministry of Rites hadn't thought that Rong Xia would say such a thing. The Empress' military exploits were important, but she was still a woman. It wasn't a good thing to hold a woman so high. What if …
"Zhen understands your concerns, but the Empress is not such a person. Zhen." Rong Xia put down the brush in her hand and looked steadily at the officials in the room. "Believe her."
Seeing that Rong Xia had already said so much, the officials knew that if they continued, His Majesty would be displeased. They could only agree.
"Since none of you have any objections, then we will follow the rules." Rong Xia nodded slowly, finally showing some satisfaction on her face.
"Official Zhou, Lord Yao." The official of the Ministry of Rites stopped the two people who hadn't said anything from beginning to end. "Do you two not feel that there is something wrong with this coronation ceremony?"
"What is wrong?" Zhou Bingan's face was innocent and confused. "Isn't His Majesty satisfied?"
"His Majesty is satisfied, but this ceremony is too grand …"
"Lord Wang." Yao Peiji patted the shoulder of the official of the Ministry of Rites. "For things like rules, as long as there is evidence, they are not out of bounds. In my view, the Empress is brave and skilled in battle. She has gone through thick and thin with His Majesty and has given a lot. According to these rules, it is not too much. "
The official of the Ministry of Rites heard Yao Peiji say the same and allowed him to pat his shoulder in a daze. He suddenly felt that he was making a fuss over nothing.
The important officials of court had no objections to the coronation ceremony, and no one else dared to have objections. The present Emperor didn't just have the means to govern, he also had the military power in court in his hands. Therefore, the officials of court were exceptionally obedient.
In any case, His Majesty was going to treat his first wife well, not some concubine or concubine. Adding on that there were precedents in history, the coronation ceremony could be as grand as it wanted.
The officials of the Ministry of Rites were busy with the coronation ceremony. The provinces and counties that had been through the chaos of war gradually returned to normal. The court bulletins about Rong Xia's coronation were sent to the provinces and surrounding countries.
When the people of the provinces and counties heard that the new Emperor was a very good Emperor, they all clapped happily.
As to the smaller countries, they didn't dare to move during the civil war, much less now that the new Emperor had ascended the throne. The only thing they could think of was to send envoys to congratulate the new Emperor and use this as a pretext to find out what the new Emperor thought about the surrounding countries.
If the one who ascended the throne had nothing better to do and liked to fight in the surrounding countries, they wouldn't be able to live.
"Your Majesty, watch your step."
Jiang Luo, who had been locked up in the Celestial Prison, heard voices coming from outside and excitedly rushed to the prison door. In these days, no one had spoken to him and he had almost been driven crazy. Now that he finally heard voices, he felt like he was still alive.
Even if it was Rong Xia who came in, it didn't affect his excitement.
"Rong Xia, let me out, let me out."
"King of Violence, receive the decree."
This decree listed Jiang Luo's crimes in detail and finally gave him the title of King of Violence and imprisoned him for life.
"You can't do this to me, I'm the Emperor." Jiang Luo frantically pulled at the prison door. "You can't do this to me!"
Rong Xia calmly admired Jiang Luo's crazy appearance and sat down on a chair. When Jiang Luo shouted himself hoarse, he said, "King of Violence, you're heartless. I'm already sparing your life for the sake of Empress Dowager Fuping. Otherwise, I would have already taken your head to comfort the people."
Jiang Luo leaned against the prison door and looked at Rong Xia in despair. "Rong Xia, you hypocrite."
Wang De opened the prison door and slapped Jiang Luo's face a few times. Then he wiped his hands with a handkerchief and smiled. "King of Violence, you can't be disrespectful to His Majesty. Although I'm missing three fingers, I still have the strength to hit people."
"What kind of dog are you? You're not qualified to bark in front of me. Bah!" Jiang Luo spat out a mouthful of blood. "Everyone says that I killed my father with poison, but you didn't take the bottle of poison that day. It's ridiculous that everyone praises Rong Xia for his benevolence, but they don't know that my father's life was taken by your hands. "
Rong Xia listened to his curses and didn't say anything.
Wang De gave Jiang Luo another two slaps. After that, he bowed respectfully to Jiang Luo who was still lying on the ground and said, "Your Highness Prince of Violence, I've told you not to be disrespectful to His Majesty. Although I didn't take the bottle of poison, the other eunuchs did. You can't let His Majesty take the blame for your sins. "
"Haha," Jiang Luo awkwardly lay on the ground and didn't get up. "You colluded with Rong Xia to deceive the world. Why are you still pretending in front of me?"
"King of Violence, you're wrong again," Wang De said with a fake smile. "It's because His Majesty misses the late Emperor and appreciates my loyalty to the late Emperor. That's why he kept me by his side to serve him."
"Hahahaha," Jiang Luo laughed heartily. "How laughable. You murdered the Emperor and rebelled for profit, yet you speak of it in such a dignified manner. Everyone in the world must be blind and deaf to praise you for your benevolence."
Wang De didn't want to vent his anger. He kicked Jiang Luo a few more times.
"That's enough," Rong Xia interrupted Wang De and said to Jiang Luo calmly. "If you didn't do something to make me unhappy, you could still have a quick death today."
"Bah!" Jiang Luo spat in Rong Xia's direction.
"Du Jiu, break one of his arms," Rong Xia said lightly, as if he was talking about pouring a cup of tea.
Du Jiu, who had been standing behind Rong Xia, stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Which arm, Your Majesty?"
Rong Xia was silent for a moment, then said with certainty, "The left."
Du Jiu walked into the cell and stepped on Jiang Luo's left arm. With a crack, Jiang Luo's arm broke.
"Ah!"
Jiang Luo was in so much pain that his face turned white. He looked like a frog with a bulging stomach. He looked ridiculous and terrifying.
Rong Xia admired his painful expression for a while, then stood and said, "Don't let him die. Let's go."
"Crazy, crazy," The Changqing Of Gojoseon, who had been brought in at some point, was pale. "Rong Xia, you said that Jiang Luo is tyrannical. How are you any better than him?"
Xie Qilin, who was also being held, was also pale. However, he didn't speak as he looked at Jiang Luo, who was crying in pain.
Rong Xia glanced at him indifferently, his eyes full of indifference.
The Changqing Of Gojoseon noticed this gaze and felt a chill in his heart. He forced himself to say, "You torture people like this. Why don't you give him a quick death?"
"I didn't bring you here for you to watch a play," Rong Xia suddenly laughed. "If you didn't speak, I would have forgotten about you."
His smile disappeared. "Tie him up."
Soon, the Changqing Of Gojoseon was tied to the wall with his arms and legs spread out. Rong Xia walked to the wall and took a bow that was hanging there. He pulled the bowstring and suddenly took out an arrow. He put it on the bowstring and flew it towards the Changqing Of Gojoseon.
The arrow brushed past the Changqing Of Gojoseon's arm, leaving a wound that was neither deep nor shallow.
Another arrow flew out. This arrow brushed past the Changqing Of Gojoseon's other arm. Another wound appeared on the Changqing Of Gojoseon's body.
The Changqing Of Gojoseon, who had the courage to talk back to Rong Xia, was now shaking with anger.
"Bring Gao Wangsheng over." Rong Xia threw the bow in his hand to the ground.
Gao Wangsheng was quickly brought over by the personal guards. Rong Xia pointed at the Changqing Of Gojoseon who was tied to the wall. "I'll give you two choices. One is to stay in prison for the rest of your life. The other is to shoot ten arrows in his body and not die."
Seeing the Changqing Of Gojoseon tied to the wall, Gao Wangsheng was so scared that he knelt in front of Rong Xia.
He was only an archer who was good at archery. He was lucky enough to be praised as having the style of Marshal Ban. But he knew very well that he wasn't even fit to carry Marshal Ban's shoes, let alone talk about the style of Marshal Ban.
Although the Great Ye Dynasty no longer existed, he didn't have the courage to hurt a member of the imperial family. He knelt on the ground for a long time. Rong Xia didn't move at all. He understood.
He didn't have a choice.
His hand trembled as he shot the first arrow. The arrowhead was a bit crooked and hit the other party's thigh. After the first arrow was shot, he didn't feel so nervous anymore. Soon, he finished shooting the remaining nine arrows.
He looked at the Changqing Of Gojoseon who was covered in blood and realized that he was covered in cold sweat.
Rong Xia turned and looked at Xie Qilin for a long time. Suddenly, he said to the personal guards, "Let these two people go."
Xie Qilin looked at Rong Xia in disbelief. Rong Xia actually let him go?
After Rong Xia left, the personal guards took the key and unlocked his handcuffs. "Young Master Xie, please."
Xie Qilin looked back at the dying Changqing Of Gojoseon and Jiang Luo who was wailing in a low voice. He turned and hurriedly left this dark and bloody place.
The Changqing Of Gojoseon who was hanging on the wall looked at Xie Qilin's hurried back and chuckled. "Crazy, crazy, Rong Xia is crazy."
When Xie Qilin heard this, his steps quickened until he ran out of the door and into the crowd. The warm sunlight fell on his body and he finally dared to gasp for breath.
"Mother, what does that person do? He's so dirty."
"Go quickly, don't point fingers."
Hearing the whispers around him, he finally remembered that he was in a sorry state. The outer robe he was wearing was what Rong Xia had worn the day he entered the city. It was still stained with blood.
He walked towards the fu of the Count Of Zhongping. When he came to the door, he saw that there was a seal on it. This was no longer where he lived.
"Qilin," an old man holding a walking stick called him from nearby. "Is this Qilin?"
He turned to look at the old man. "Father?!"
Why was Father so old?
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." Xie Jinke walked shakily in front of Xie Qilin. He wiped his tears and said, "Go, go back with Father."
Xie Qilin supported Xie Jinke and nodded silently.
"Wang Fei?"
Shi shi put down the curtain and said expressionlessly, "Where is the Xie Family living now?"
"They seem to be living in a house on Octagon Alley."
Shi shi suddenly smiled coldly. "If Xie Qilin had married Ban Han in the past, there wouldn't be so many problems today."
Without Ban Han, Rong Xia wouldn't have the Three Army Tiger Tally, and wouldn't have received the support of the generals. All the mistakes started from when Xie Qilin and Ban Han broke off the engagement.
But in the past, it was the Shi Family that broke the engagement between Ban Han and Xie Qilin.
If she had known that there would be today's consequences, she would have stopped her sister's idea.
If she had known … … if she had known … …
She looked at the bustling Jing. It had only been a few days, and these people had forgotten about the dynasty and continued to live their lively lives?
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