dkrc Chapter 270 None of these methods were used by the concubine.
Chapter 270 None of these methods were used by the concubine.
"Get up, come back to the palace with me!" Shen Shixi said as she walked past him.
Pei Yanli was extremely grateful. He still had soil on him from planting cotton, and his toes were sticking out of his cloth shoes, making him look like a poor beggar as he walked beside the carriage.
But the whole city saw it and guessed it: the Imperial Noble Consort was going to pardon Pei Yanli.
The fact that Pei Yanli was pardoned despite committing treason cannot be attributed to Pei's good fortune, but rather to the Emperor's leniency towards those willing to follow him.
Shen Shixi spoke to him in a side hall of the Taiji Palace, "You should have guessed that this day would come, otherwise you wouldn't have worked so hard these past two or three years! The Empress and the Emperor have both seen it, and the eyes of the people of the world are even more discerning."
Pei Yanli said, "Your Majesty and Your Highness are grateful for the chance to live. I am born out of wedlock in the Pei family. My aunt is not favored by my father, and I have always been neglected. If it weren't for Your Highness, I really don't know what I would have done today."
Shen Shixi said, "Some people shine in the imperial court, while others save the world in the countryside. I want you to go to Quanzhou, which will become a window for our Great Zhou to reach the sea in the future. You will work in the charity there. If anything happens, you can report it back to me through the charity's channels. What do you think?"
Pei Yanli was extremely grateful, "To be able to follow Your Highness is enough for this humble subject in his lifetime!"
"That's excellent. You can take your aunt with you when you leave."
Pei Yanli was terrified, unable to believe it, and said through tears, "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty! This humble subject is willing to serve Your Majesty with his life, even unto death!"
"I don't need you to do anything for me. I only hope that you have the people in your eyes, the country in your heart, and do everything with a clear conscience. That would be enough to repay this imperial favor!"
Before you leave, I allow you to take anything from the Pei family.
Seeing Pei Yanli's confusion, Shen Shixi didn't explain further, but simply said, "Go, and be careful what you do in the future!"
"This humble subject takes his leave! He only wishes that Heaven would bless Your Majesty with lifelong peace and health!"
He bowed and kowtowed three times before leaving.
The Imperial Noble Consort could have said these words to him at the Pei family's doorstep, but she insisted on making him come to the palace. Pei Yanli knew her intentions.
He still remembered many years ago, on a mountain outside Beijing, the Emperor carried the Imperial Concubine up the mountain. They met on the mountain, and the little girl with her hair in a small bun looked up at him and asked, "Big brother, why are you crying? What in the world is worth crying like this for?"
He remembered those words from that moment on!
A true man will pave a way through mountains and build bridges over rivers; there's nothing that can make him shed tears!
That night, Li Fude reported that the thing Pei Yanli took from the Pei family was a baby that Pei Xunli's concubine had just given birth to, which was not even a month old. He carried the baby on his back and took his concubine with him as he walked out of the Pei family's gate.
"knew!"
Shen Shixi knew that this person would not disappoint her. With Pei Yanli in Quanzhou, she didn't need to worry too much.
The next day, there will be a meeting.
After discussing the punishment of the Pei family, the Gao family, the Prince of Jin's mansion, Xue Shunde, and all those involved in the rebellion, Shen Shixi handed the matter over to the three judicial departments for deliberation, with only one condition: no one should be let off the hook, and no one should be implicated.
"Not letting anyone go" means not letting go of anyone who intends to rebel; "not implicating others" means not allowing those with ulterior motives to make baseless accusations and slanders.
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, no one was in the mood for the holiday this year. Starting from April 26th, the execution grounds in the capital city were never empty, with people losing their heads every day.
The stench of blood lingered in the air, and the sun appeared blood-red when you looked up, its rays tinged with a crimson hue.
By the end of July, the verdict was finalized, and all those who needed to be dealt with were dealt with.
All male members of the Pei family, Gao family, Prince Jin's mansion, Xue family, and their followers' families were beheaded, and all female members were sold into slavery. However, people like Pei Gaoshi were sure to be beheaded along with them.
Prince Jin, being a member of the royal family, died with much more dignity. He was given a cup of poison in his cell and passed away, wrapped in a tattered mat. Shen Shixi issued a decree, bestowing upon him a simple coffin, and he was buried in a random place on the outskirts of the capital.
Prime Minister Pei was given a grand funeral.
As for the others, they weren't so lucky. No one came to collect their bodies. They were all dragged to a mass grave and buried on the spot, and that was how their lives ended!
As for Yang Baishi, who had made great contributions, Yang Shougui submitted a memorial requesting an official appointment, which Shen Shixi readily approved, granting her a formal position.
The entire court was filled with admiration for Shen Shixi's efficiency and strictness.
Such a major case would have taken at least half a year to resolve in any dynasty, if not a year. But the Imperial Noble Consort swiftly resolved the situation in just three months, quickly bringing peace to the court.
As she said, "Don't let anyone go unpunished, and don't implicate others."
In everything she did, she only looked at the evidence and never let anyone off the hook or implicated anyone.
The plot to rebel has come to an end.
Shen Shixi also issued an edict lifting the restrictions on the inner palace, allowing the concubines to move freely.
As soon as the Emperor left, they were all confined. Every day, their meals were carried to the palace gate by the imperial kitchen. No one in the palace was allowed to leave the palace. Now, three whole months have passed, and the concubines have been imprisoned for three whole months.
Shen Shixi was also worried that if they stayed in jail any longer, they might develop mental illnesses. These days, there aren't any psychologists available, and it would be difficult to explain if a couple of them went insane.
"Your Majesty, Consort Xu requests an audience!"
Shen Shixi had just looked up from the mountain of memorials when Li Fude whispered beside him.
"Who?" Shen Shixi was still in a daze.
Li Fude reminded her, "It's Xu, who entered the palace through this year's imperial concubine selection. She's the niece of Pei Gao and the daughter of Xu Cong, the former governor of Muzhou. She was initially granted the title of Lady of the Palace, and after serving the emperor, she was promoted to Imperial Attendant."
Shen Shixi said "Oh," indicating she didn't recall, and then said, "Let her in!"
A pretty young woman walked in; she was five months pregnant and quite noticeable. She looked at Shen Shixi with her big, watery eyes, which made Shen Shixi feel rather uncomfortable.
The phrase "I feel pity for him" is probably what this means, right?
Shen Shixi quickly reminded herself that this was Li Yuanke's concubine, not hers.
"No need for formalities, please take a seat!" Shen Shixi said.
"I dare not!" Consort Xu cried. "I wanted to come and beg forgiveness from Your Majesty long ago, but I was confined to my quarters and could not leave the palace. Your Majesty, my family has suffered such a fate; I am truly ashamed before Your Majesty's grace. I do not know what to do; please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"
What do you mean? Are you begging me to kill you?
Shen Shixi rubbed her temples. "Don't cry. My head hurts whenever I see someone cry. Aren't you pregnant? What can I do with you?"
Or are you saying that the Pei and Xu families sent you to the palace to murder the emperor or assassinate me? Confess honestly, so I can convict you!
Xu Xuanshi was terrified upon hearing this and quickly knelt down again. "Your Majesty, no, I wouldn't dare! No one asked me to come in and kill anyone. They only said that if I came in, I should help the Empress... No, I deserve to die. I'm just helping Consort Jing. They didn't say anything about me being able to do anything to Your Majesty!"
Shen Shixi was just teasing her, "I already told you how you'd help Consort Jing?"
Consort Xu said sincerely, "They said they wanted me to help Consort Jing secure the Emperor's favor, and they even asked someone to teach me some techniques so that I could use them when I served the Emperor. If I could get the Emperor to take notice of me, they would let me speak well of Consort Jing in front of the Emperor."
I'll talk more bad things about you!
She still had some sense; she didn't say the next sentence.
After saying all that in one breath, she realized she had made a mistake and couldn't help but cry again, "Your Majesty, I didn't use any of those methods, Your Majesty, I'm telling the truth!"
I never expected her to be such a naive and innocent girl!
Shen Shixi was quite interested and asked, "Didn't you serve the emperor in bed before? Why didn't you get to use it? Tell me about it!"
[Damn, if Li Yuanke knew I was asking him about this, would he kill me?]