kvmb Chapter 371 Destruction of the Family
Chapter 371 Destruction of the Family
Shen Qingtan frowned. Jiang Chengfeng was secretly rescued, and then news spread that Consort Shu had kidnapped him.
It all seems rather strange, as if someone deliberately leaked the information.
Suddenly, Shen Qingtan thought of the palace banquet tonight, where Jiang Jianzheng presented the prophecy of the nation's fate to the Emperor of Northern Qi, who then used it as an excuse to expel Consort Shu from the banquet.
Could it be that prophecy is related to Consort Shu?
Shen Qingtan connected all the details and deduced a rough estimate.
Consort Shu kidnapped Jiang Chengfeng to threaten Supervisor Jiang, but Supervisor Jiang was not threatened by Consort Shu and even confronted her directly. As a result, Consort Shu poisoned Jiang Chengfeng.
Jiang Jianzheng did not remain silent; instead, he secretly released the news, hoping it would reach the ears of the Northern Qi emperor through public opinion.
However, this information alone is probably not enough to get the Northern Qi Emperor to punish Consort Shu. Other matters concerning the Northern Qi Emperor's vital interests are needed to provoke him into taking action.
Shen Qingtan always felt that the prophecy was the key.
If so...
"The fate of Consort Shu and her son is truly coming to an end," Shen Qingtan said. "Consort Shu's current predicament is basically of her own making."
It was probably because Consort Shu's favor with the emperor remained undiminished that she became arrogant and presumptuous. Because no matter what mistakes she made, the Emperor of Northern Qi would turn a blind eye.
As a result, Consort Shu acted without restraint, doing whatever she wanted without ever thinking about who she could offend or who she couldn't.
When the emperor withdraws his favor towards her, she will fall from grace.
Jiang Chao deeply agreed. If Consort Shu didn't cause trouble and just lived her life as a favored concubine, her days would be incredibly carefree.
If you're bored and want to find something to do, why not whisper sweet nothings in the ear of the Northern Qi emperor and ask him for some favors?
Why bother causing trouble?
"The Northern Qi Emperor's favor fostered Consort Shu's ambition, and she coveted the position of Crown Prince. However, the Crown Prince favored by the Northern Qi Emperor was not Prince Xian." Zhao Yi said gently, "Her fate was sealed from the very beginning."
Shen Qingtan couldn't help but think of the empress who kept a low profile but firmly controlled the six palaces, and she wholeheartedly agreed with Zhao Yi's words.
Consort Shu was no match for the Empress.
"It's a pity that Consort Shu doesn't see the situation clearly. Let's not talk about the distant past, but just look at what's happened recently. The Lin family has already lost power, and not only do they not know how to restrain themselves, but they also keep doing things that offend people. That's fine, it saves us from having to think of ways to deal with her."
Shen Qingtan felt a little relieved, then thought of Jiang Jianzheng's son: "When I came to Northern Qi, my cousin prepared a bottle of life-saving pills for me. I gave a few to Jiang Chengfeng. If they can help, it will also be a way to win over Jiang Jianzheng. I might need his help in the future."
Zhao Yi nodded slightly.
Shen Qingtan personally took out a few pills, put them into a small porcelain bottle, and instructed Jiang Chao to arrange for a stranger to deliver them to the Jiang family.
-
Meanwhile, the Northern Qi emperor sat in his study, listening to Eunuch Liu report on the rumors circulating outside the palace.
"Your Majesty, rumors are circulating that Consort Shu captured Jiang Jianzheng's son, tortured him until he was on the verge of death, and then threw him back into the Jiang family."
Eunuch Liu lowered his voice: "Jiang Jianzheng has sent a notice to the palace, requesting the on-duty imperial physician to treat his son."
The Emperor of Northern Qi narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering, "Consort Shu and Supervisor Jiang have no grudge against each other, so why would she arrest his son..."
At this point, her voice abruptly stopped.
The Emperor of Northern Qi suddenly remembered something. At the palace banquet today, Supervisor Jiang gave him a prophecy. He took his anger out on Consort Shu and expelled her from the banquet.
When Consort Shu was struggling with him, the letter with the prophecy on it fell to the ground, and Consort Shu picked it up and gave it to him.
So, did Consort Shu see the prophecy and even decipher its meaning, which is why she harbored resentment towards Supervisor Jiang and launched her revenge?
If that's the case, then it all makes sense.
Eunuch Liu asked, "What are your plans to do?"
The Northern Qi emperor also did not know how to deal with Consort Shu and her son.
During this time, he had been hesitant about whether or not to slaughter the entire Lin family.
If the entire Lin family is executed, then no one will be able to rival the Prince of Qi.
He planned to behead Old Madam Lin to give the officials and the people an explanation, and then release the rest of them.
However, the prophecy we received today hints that the wise king is suspected of usurping the throne.
He was undecided.
The Emperor of Northern Qi instructed, "Go and invite the Imperial Tutor to the palace. I have important matters to discuss with him."
Eunuch Liu was ordered to leave the palace to invite the imperial tutor.
The Emperor of Northern Qi held the prophecy given to him by Jiang Jianzheng, and the more he looked at it, the more his expression darkened and became unreadable.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, a series of chaotic footsteps came from outside the hall.
The Northern Qi emperor looked up and saw Eunuch Liu push open the door and enter, then turn around and close the palace door.
He asked, "Where is the Imperial Tutor?"
Eunuch Liu reported, "The Imperial Tutor has gone to the State Temple and is not in the mansion."
Emperor Bei Qi then remembered that the Imperial Tutor would stay at the National Temple for a few days every year and would not return until the third day of the first lunar month.
"We need not pay attention to the rumors outside the palace for now," the Emperor of Northern Qi said, rubbing his throbbing head. "We'll talk about it after the Imperial Tutor returns to the capital."
Eunuch Liu said nothing more, but asked again, "Are you going to Chang Le Palace tonight?"
The Emperor of Northern Qi was about to nod when he remembered that the Empress was very cold towards him. On the first and fifteenth of each month, the days when it was his turn to go to Chang Le Palace, she never waited for him and went to sleep on her own.
They didn't even leave a light on for him.
When he brought it up, the Empress said, "I am weak and sickly. After taking the medicine, I can't resist the drowsiness. I was afraid of spoiling your mood, so I didn't leave the lamp on. You will know that I have gone to bed and can go to another sister's place."
Since the empress was so sensible, the emperor of Northern Qi couldn't say anything, but he visited her less and less.
The Emperor of Northern Qi said cryptically, “The Empress has gone to bed at this hour. If I go and wake her up, she won’t sleep well tonight and may fall ill again tomorrow.”
Eunuch Liu dared not respond.
The Emperor of Northern Qi stood up: "Let's rest here."
Eunuch Liu hurriedly helped the Northern Qi Emperor to sleep in a side hall.
The snow that had fallen for almost the entire winter has stopped, and every household has lit lanterns, creating a brilliant and magnificent scene.
As midnight passed, the noise subsided, and the entire capital was filled with peace.
The next morning, the Northern Qi emperor opened his eyes and looked out the window, only to see that the sky was dark and there was not a ray of light.
"Boom-"
The solemn and distant sound of bells and drums came, a deep and muffled sound that seemed to strike the heart of the Northern Qi emperor.
He sat up abruptly, belatedly realizing that it was the New Year's blessing bell ringing.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door, followed by the voice of the Imperial Guard Commander: "Your Majesty, the entire Lin family hanged themselves in the Imperial Prison last night."