"Yes!" Immediately, the imperial guards came in and dragged the kneeling palace maid out with a gag. The remaining two confidants in the room trembled and didn't even dare to breathe.
"If mother is angry, just take it out on your son. Why do you have to involve other innocent people?"
The Crown Prince had been kneeling for a while and spoke for the first time.
The Empress' sharp eyes suddenly locked onto him. "You think mother doesn't dare? Tell me, what did that little bitch GongYimo feed you to make you help her to this extent! "
When Gong Che heard this, he raised his head and looked at her. "This son wants to know why Imperial Mother is so angry over this matter."
His words made the Empress choke. Seeing her dodge, Gong Che couldn't believe it.
"Mother is confused! Do you think we can touch the relief supplies?! "
His accusation made the Empress angry. "Since others can touch it, why can't I? As my son, how can you not understand my difficulties?
Do you know how many resources are needed to take care of all this? In terms of birth, my mother's family is declining and can't compare to Concubine Li Xian. In terms of favor, I can't compare to Concubine Long! My position as Empress is precarious. If I don't plan, I will be replaced sooner or later. What's wrong with me?! "
"But you can't touch the relief materials!" Gong Che's expression gradually became anxious.
"The significance of this trip to the west is far greater than before. In order to solve the problem of the drought in the West Province once and for all, father is determined this time. If it wasn't for the importance, do you think he would have allowed the Chaoyang Princess to come out?
If it wasn't for the importance, do you think father would have turned a blind eye to the Ministry of Revenue's extra 300 carriages? It's fine if you didn't succeed this time! If it had succeeded, mother wouldn't have been able to punish me now. "
His words were like a heavy hammer that struck the Empress hard. She slumped onto the phoenix couch, her eyes filled with panic.
"Are you speaking the truth? Does your father really value this matter that much? "
Gong Che nodded. "When the Chaoyang Princess told me about this, I didn't give the order without thinking. She's a woman who's never left the palace, but she sensed the movements in the capital a few months ago and even came to me for help. She must've received Imperial Father's tacit approval, so I went with the flow and helped her. I originally wanted to gain a favor, but I didn't expect this strange movement and Imperial Mother's involvement … Why didn't you tell me?!"
The Empress became flustered and evasive. "This … how can I let you interfere in this matter? You are the Crown Prince! But … if it's really as you say, what should we do now? "The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Her forehead was covered with cold sweat.
The Empress was like a bird that was startled by the twang of a bow. Although she had failed to achieve her goal, as long as her plan was exposed, Imperial Concubine Long and Imperial Concubine Liu Xian Fei would not let go of this opportunity to attack her!
The more the Empress thought about it, the more scared she became. Cold sweat kept falling from her forehead. Seeing her like this, Gong Che couldn't bear it and softened his voice, "Mother, don't be afraid. This matter will be done, nothing will happen."
If it was just ordinary corruption, as long as there was no one behind it, there shouldn't be a problem.
Thinking of something, Gong Che hurriedly said, "This matter is of great importance. Now that Ninth Brother has successfully left the capital, Mother should quickly withdraw the people to avoid exposing the truth."
Hearing Gong Che's words, the Empress's eyes gradually regained their spirit.
"You're right, you're right …"
Seeing Gong Che still kneeling on the ground, she personally helped Gong Che up and said with shame, "This matter is Mother's fault. Mother didn't want you to be involved in these trivial matters, so I didn't tell you. It's Mother's fault …"
As she spoke, her phoenix eyes were filled with tears. She really regretted it.
In the end, she did all this for him. Gong Che thought about it and his heart softened. He comforted her again and again, "Mother, don't be afraid, nothing will happen."
But he didn't know why he felt uneasy …
Sure enough, when the Empress asked her trusted female official to inquire about the situation, a guard hurried over. The news he brought made the Empress's heart turn to ashes!
How could it be?!
It's over! Her heart was beating like a drum!
She could only blame her cousin for thinking that he was smart and didn't withdraw in time when he saw the abnormal situation … It turned out that other than the South Gate, the carriages in the East and West Gate were actually the Emperor's imperial guards!
As one could imagine, when a group of black-clothed people wanted to take advantage of the situation and take advantage of the shoddy goods, the imperial guards that came down from the carriages scared them out of their wits!
They obviously received the Emperor's secret order to capture the leader alive and kill the rest!
So they didn't have time to come back and report to the Empress because they were already on the road to the netherworld.
The Empress fell to the ground!
All of this … was most likely a conspiracy!
First, they instigated the Liu Family to move the relief supplies. Then, they informed the Emperor. Otherwise, how could they explain the Emperor's early preparation and then a thunderous strike?!
Who was it? Who instigated behind the scenes and forced her to a dead end?
GongYimo? Impossible, that little bitch didn't have such means … The Empress couldn't help but think of Gong Che's words that the Ministry of Revenue had an extra 300 silver carriages.
The Ministry of Revenue … Imperial Concubine Long!
Cold sweat covered the Empress's forehead …
She panicked. She didn't expect that a simple disaster relief would be aimed at her death! That woman, Long Xiangxiang, didn't make a move, but once she did, she was so decisive!
It was all over now!
Gong Che was also shocked by the news. He was only thinking about who was so greedy this time and whether or not the Emperor would catch them, but he didn't expect it to be his mother! And this was obviously not an ordinary case of corruption, but a conspiracy that had been planned for a long time!
At this time, he closed his eyes and turned to walk out of the palace!
"Where are you going!" At this time, the Empress' hair was a little messy. Her confidant hurried to help her. She staggered a few steps forward and grabbed Gong Che's sleeve.
Gong Che didn't even turn his head. "I'm going to confess to my father before he acts out …"
"No!"
The Empress screamed! "You'll really be finished if you go!" She dashed in front of Gong Che in a few steps and grabbed his collar tightly! "You're our Liu family's only hope. Nothing can happen to you, nothing can happen to you!"
Gong Che held her trembling hand.
"Mother, I'm already sixteen years old. I shouldn't be protected by you anymore. This time, let me bear the responsibility!"
"No!" The Empress watched as the Crown Prince strode away. She fell to the ground!
Looking at his back, the Empress was stunned for a moment as if she had gone crazy. Then, she hurriedly screamed.
"Why are you still in a daze … Why are you still in a daze! Quickly stop His Highness! "
*
At this time, the Imperial Court was also in a turbulent situation.
The Empress's father, the Right Prime Minister, was kneeling in the hall. All kinds of eyes were looking at him! The malicious intentions and vicious calculations made the fifty-something year old official's hair stand on end. The Emperor in the lead was silent, and with every second he was silent, the Right Prime Minister found it harder to breathe.
It's over, it's all over. Who knew that every year, the Emperor would act out this year? Although this was a risky move, the Emperor was so vigilant. If the Emperor said that Long Guifei and Liu Xian Fei were not involved, he would never believe it. This was clearly a conspiracy!
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