69novels Chapter 379 A Generous Faith in Death
Chapter 379 A Generous Faith in Death
The Empress Dowager was so angry that she vomited blood.
Seeing the red stain on the white handkerchief, the Empress Dowager's heart sank. She lay down on the couch and said to the Emperor, "I can't control you two brothers even if I wanted to. Your Majesty, I'm afraid my days are numbered. The only thing I can't let go of is Tingyu. You are also Tingyu's cousin. You can't abandon him."
Yang Tingyu is Yang Tingyue's younger brother and the heir of the Duke of Ying's mansion.
Li Yuanke replied perfunctorily, "Don't worry, Mother, I will take care of him."
The Empress Dowager's disappointment turned to anger. "How do you intend to take care of him?"
Li Yuanke was puzzled and said, "Naturally, he will inherit the title in the future."
Overwhelmed with grief, the Empress Dowager asked, "Is that all you can think about?"
Li Yuanke was also angry. "What does Mother mean? How does Mother expect me to take care of him? He's bad at studying and bad at martial arts. Does Mother really hope that I can make him a high-ranking official?"
The Empress Dowager retorted, "Why not? You've abolished the three provinces, and now you have a cabinet, and within that cabinet, there's a potential prime minister. Let Tingyu enter the cabinet as a potential prime minister, gain experience for a few years, and what won't he be able to do in the future?"
Li Yuanke looked at the Empress Dowager, equally disappointed. "Is this the will of the Duke of Ying's mansion, or your will, Mother?"
The Empress Dowager avoided his gaze, saying, "Naturally, it is my will."
Li Yuanke didn't care whose opinion it was. "Those who are not Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are not allowed to enter the Hanlin Academy, and those who are not Hanlin Academy members are not allowed to enter the Grand Secretariat. This rule will be established as the rule of my Great Zhou Dynasty. Starting with me, future generations must also abide by it."
"If Your Majesty wishes for Yang Tingyu to enter the Grand Secretariat and become a prime minister, then let him first participate in the imperial examinations. If he can become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in both the provincial and municipal examinations), then he may have a chance in the future."
The imperial examination system of the Great Zhou Dynasty is now on the right track. Mathematics, as a basic subject, has become an essential part of the examination under the strong promotion of the Empress, and it carries a very high weight.
If someone fails the mathematics exam, they will not be admitted no matter how well they pass the general examination.
After the imperial court employed those who excelled in mathematics, it also realized the value of such talent; being able to calculate quickly gave one a significant advantage.
The Empress Dowager was truly disappointed in both of her sons, and Yang Tingyu became her obsession. She discussed with Qingruo, "After I pass away, who will he rely on?"
She then asked, "The eldest princess must be fourteen or fifteen years old this year, right?"
Qingruo said, "The eldest princess is fifteen years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning)."
"It's time to arrange a marriage."
So when Yang Tingyu came to the palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager had the eldest princess summoned and asked her to entertain Yang Tingyu.
The eldest princess was so angry that she wanted to smash the fruit platter on Yang Tingyu's head. Yang Tingyu was seventeen or eighteen years old this year and knew the Empress Dowager's intentions. Naturally, he hoped to become the emperor's son-in-law.
Now that the Emperor has become his father-in-law, can't he just walk around the capital like a madman?
"Your Highness, I've heard that the Empress is not kind to you, is that true?"
Upon hearing this, the eldest princess had an idea and asked, "What, do you have some other way to help me vent my anger?"
Yang Tingyu then said, "My dog had a puppy. Once trained, it's very obedient to its master. Would the princess like to keep one?"
"You mean you want to bite her with a dog?"
Yang Tingyu said, "My dog is extremely handsome; no child dislikes him."
The next time Yang Tingyu entered the palace, he tried to bring a dog, but was stopped by the guards who wouldn't allow it in.
Shen Shixi naturally had someone report to her. She instructed, "Tell Consort Du that the Empress Dowager intends to marry the eldest princess to the heir of the Duke of Ying, and let her know."
Bai Ping was extremely shocked. "How could the Empress Dowager have such thoughts? The heir of the Duke of Ying is an incompetent and ignorant man. I've heard that he has quite a few concubines and maids in his household. Moreover, Prince Min died at the hands of Consort Ping. How can he be a good match for him?"
Shen Shixi said, "In the Empress Dowager's eyes, Yang Tingyu is naturally perfect. Regardless of whether the Empress Dowager has such intentions, it is a fact that she summoned the eldest princess to Cining Palace after Yang Tingyu entered the palace."
Now that she can no longer torment Zhu Shi, she always finds time to think of other things to spar with Du Shi.
On Du's side, Jin Tao told her what had happened, "I heard that as soon as Prince Yang entered the palace, the Empress Dowager sent the eldest princess to talk to him. I don't know what that means, but now everyone inside and outside the palace is saying that the Empress Dowager intends to marry the eldest princess to Prince Yang. I'm terrified when I hear that!"
She reminded him, "If it weren't for Consort Ping that day, Prince Min would still be the eldest prince today."
Du was seething with hatred. "It was the Empress Dowager who brought Consort Ping into the palace and insisted on giving her to the Emperor. The Duke of Ying's family wanting to marry a princess is simply dreaming."
Regardless, the eldest princess is the emperor's eldest daughter; how can her marriage be so perfunctory? I only regret... I only regret my current state... What can I do now?
Du sent Jin Tao to deliver a message to the eldest princess, telling her not to listen to Yang Tingyu, whose sister was the murderer of the eldest prince.
Yang Tingyu didn't have the ability to bring a puppy into the palace, so the eldest princess was too lazy to deal with him. However, she still kept the matter in mind and had someone go to the animal park to bring a puppy back to the palace to raise.
Shen Shixi naturally learned of this news as well, and also heard that she specifically trained the puppy to attack people.
Shen Shixi then said to Bai Ping, "The eldest princess is beyond saving! Have someone keep an eye on Dongjun and Xihe, and send people to follow them when they go out to play, so that they don't run into the eldest princess."
"yes!"
Chao Yu came to report that Princess Guo was not well. "I heard that she means she does not want to live anymore. I heard that she cannot be given medicine. The imperial physician said that she is conscious, but she refuses to open her eyes."
Shen Shixi thought it was possible.
Zhu cannot die for the time being. If she dies, the Empress Dowager will easily persuade Prince Guo to come over again, and who knows what kind of trouble he will cause in the future.
"Have someone send a message to Princess Guo, saying that since she's not afraid of death, why is she afraid of living?"
Princess Guo gritted her teeth and refused to drink the medicine or open her eyes, as if she were bravely facing death, which broke Prince Guo's heart.
Back then, Xie Tingwan only said she wouldn't go to the palace, but she did. Even Prince Guo felt incredibly guilty after she did. Now, Zhu Shouchun is truly suffering at the hands of his mother. He lost his child and was nearly killed by a stepping stone.
Prince Guo stood by, wailing like he was mourning, "Chun'er, open your eyes and look at me! As long as you get better, from now on, you don't have to go to the palace if you don't want to. Wherever you want to go, I will go with you."
Zhu Shouchun felt that she could live two more days if she didn't look at Prince Guo.
When Prince Guo was away, Fei Hong whispered in Zhu Shouchun's ear, "Princess Consort, Her Majesty the Empress sent someone to question you, saying, 'Since you're not afraid of death, why are you afraid of living?'"
Zhu Shouchun opened his eyes, his eyeballs slowly rolling around, his voice hoarse, "Where...where is he?"
With tears streaming down her face, Scarlet said, "He just asked me to deliver a message, and then he left."
After a long while, Zhu Shouchun smiled, tears streaming down his face. "Yes, I'm not afraid of death, so why would I be afraid of living?"
When Prince Guo heard that the Princess Consort had woken up, he rushed over and threw himself at the bedside. "Chun'er, Chun'er, you're finally awake! You almost scared me to death!"
Zhu Shouchun's tears streamed down her face as she grasped his hand. "Your Highness, I almost never saw you again! I'm useless. I failed to protect your child. I deserve to die. Your Highness, why don't you just let me die, you useless person?"
(The book must have been reported for containing explicit content, so it was put on hiatus. After it was edited, I've applied for its release! Please continue to support me and stay with me until the end.)
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