After the daughter was treated harshly by her family, everyone knelt down and begged for forgiveness

Gu Mengzhen returned to the North Hall in high spirits.

"Look, my dear brother, what gift have I brought you?"

Zhuang Wei and Zhuang Rui were both unconscious and were dragged into the room by the guards, where they had their limbs tied up and were locked in a box bed.

Gu Mengzhen pretended to be alert.

"You're being polite and pretending to be tired, wasting your breath. I feel sorry for you, my dear brother, so I summoned Lord An, drugged them both, and brought them to you."

"My dear brother, how is it? Am I considerate?"

Fang Zhixuan turned a deaf ear and did not respond.

For a moment, Gu Mengzhen stood there awkwardly.

Thinking back to the good old days, he barely suppressed his anger, pulled the corners of his mouth together, and raised a stiff smile.

"My dear brother, my patience is limited. Please don't force me to treat you roughly."

After a pause, there was still no response, and he couldn't help but get angry.

"Daughter, you don't care."

"Son, you ignored it too."

"How could there be such a cruel father like you in this world?"

"Do you want me to use a trick to capture all your family members before you let me go?"

He was worried and depressed.

"I know that you are thinking of sacrificing your life for the Emperor Yan and leaving a lasting legacy. As for me, evildoers will be punished, and my reputation will be infamous for eternity."

"You've spoken so much about reason before, but why are you throwing it out now? I had no choice but to conquer the world, and it was all reasonable. What are you dissatisfied with?"

"Isn't my kindness to you and my infinite tolerance of your faults enough to make up for the slight trace of disloyalty in my heart?"

"Even now, I am still willing to trust you. Even if you are Duke Jingshan, I would not be so affectionate."

"I only want you to show weakness, even just one word, or you can just talk to me and have a heart-to-heart talk."

"How can you be so stingy as to leave me alone all the time?"

Fang Zhixuan sneered.

"You thought you had defeated the Fang Clan and were invincible, but you didn't realize you had already fallen into our trap. You've lost the people's support, your power has been eroded, and you've ended up in a desperate situation. Your Majesty must be outmaneuvered and feeling deeply frustrated, right?"

Gu Mengzhen frowned angrily.

"That's not what I want to hear."

Fang Zhixuan was sarcastic and unscrupulous.

"Your role as emperor is ridiculous to begin with. When Prince Dijin announces the Fang clan's grand plan and exposes your true colors, the emperor will look even more like a clown."

"Others leave their names in history, either with honor or infamy, but you leave behind only a joke."

"The Emperor will not be infamous for eternity, but will be ridiculed for eternity."

Gu Mengzhen was furious.

"Fang Zhixuan!"

"Do you have any manners? I am your elder brother!"

Fang Zhixuan replied with the original words.

"Your Majesty has had too many good days, and you can't even handle a few simple words?"

Gu Mengzhen was so angry that he lost his mind.

"you!"

"Someone is coming..."

The palace maids came over upon hearing the noise, took out all kinds of dangerous objects, and punished Fang Zhixuan according to the emperor's order.

It was not until Fang Zhixuan was dying that Gu Mengzhen regained some of his sanity, stopped the palace servants, and left the North Palace.

Late at night, Gu Mengzhen took a bath, changed his clothes, and rested in his bedroom.

He tossed and turned, having difficulty falling asleep, so he got up from the bed and asked a palace maid to pass on a message to call Xiao Shenzi.

Xiao Shenzi was careful and went quickly to the imperial kitchen to get some lily pastries to present to the emperor.

"Lily is refreshing and calming, Your Majesty, please enjoy it."

Gu Mengzhen smiled with satisfaction.

"Lily pastry is the most delicious night snack. I guess you asked the imperial chef to prepare it."

He picked up a piece of dessert and took a sip.

"Not bad, reward."

Xiao Shenzi was delighted.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

Gu Mengzhen was restless and tied to the North Palace.

"My dear brother, how is Lord An's treatment going?"

Xiao Shenzi answered respectfully.

"I just heard that Master's injuries are not serious and he is out of danger."

Gu Mengzhen emphasized.

"Eat your food, don't be slow to treat it."

Xiao Shenzi reported meticulously.

"According to the emperor's instructions, this servant repeatedly reminded the palace servants that, apart from the imprisonment, everything else should remain the same. They should respect the uncle's family and no one should be disrespectful."

Gu Mengzhen continued to taste the snacks.

"Well, well done."

Xiao Shenzi is flattering.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your approval."

Fang Zhixuan's cold words kept echoing in his mind, and Gu Mengzhen was worried and depressed.

"Brother, you're so stubborn and won't give in. What can you do?"

"Does it mean that I must take action, hurt Wei'er and the others, and torture my brother physically and mentally, before he will surrender?"

"I was deceived by him for twenty-two years, yet I chose to forgive him. Why is it so difficult for him to help me achieve great things?"

Xiao Shenzi tried hard to empathize with the other person and comfort him with kind words.

"The Second Young Master and the Third Young Master were raised under the Emperor's watch, not to mention the Eldest Young Master. I understand that the Emperor is kind-hearted and cannot bear to hurt them."

"Your Majesty, please don't be impatient. You can't eat hot tofu if you are impatient."

"The Earl may seem stubborn, but he is truly loyal and steadfast. He is a man of great virtue and integrity. The Emperor has abandoned his relatives and favored him alone because of his combined virtue and talent."

"The Emperor's righteousness is so moving that it moves heaven and earth. How could Lord Bo remain indifferent? Everything is just a matter of time."

"As time goes by, Lord Bo will surely abandon his old ambitions and side with the Emperor."

He gave advice.

"Now there is a man who may be able to force the Earl to surrender quickly, and the Emperor will be able to take action."

"Your Majesty, do you intend to give it a try?"

Upon hearing that there was a way to break the deadlock, Gu Mengzhen immediately became interested.

"Who?"

Xiao Shenzi grinned.

"Supervisory Minister, Lord Yun."

Gu Mengzhen was suddenly shocked.

"Oh, yes, Yun Boyu!"

"He keeps a low profile and rarely appears in public except when busy with official business. I almost forgot that he returned to the capital and resumed his status as a member of the Yun Clan."

"Bringing him into the palace, using the North Palace's possessions, and destroying his body, my dear brother will certainly not be able to bear it."

"Ning Erlang is used as a hostage, and the Yun family can do whatever they want with him. Good, very good. This way, I can control the third daughter of Ning and teach the evildoers a lesson, killing two birds with one stone."

"Go quickly and find Lord An Pengyi, and have him capture Yun Boyu."

Xiao Shenzi responded.

"The slave obeys the order."

Step by step, walking out of Disheng Palace, Xiao Shenzi suddenly had a lot of thoughts, wondering where to go next.

The current situation is different from usual. If Lord Zhuang refuses to obey, the Emperor will certainly kill him.

This matter is extremely risky. If the aftermath is not handled properly, the emperor will be ruined.

As the emperor's confidants, Eunuch Fu and I think it's a pipe dream to just live in a corner. How can we stay safe from disaster?

Only by surrendering to King Dijin can I have a chance to survive, and even better, to be honored and wealthy.

But if the Emperor succeeds, successfully avoids the blame, and enjoys the throne, then I, a traitor, may be retaliated by the Emperor.

Given the bond of sworn brotherhood, Prince Di Jin will surely sacrifice me to please the Emperor. How can a mere servant like me withstand the Emperor's majesty?

If the emperor can sit firmly on the throne, I will abandon it and my life will be in danger.

Otherwise, why not stay with the emperor openly and secretly do something that would benefit Prince Di Jin? Hmm, that's a good idea.

He was loyal to his old master and was determined not to abandon his will. However, he had a sense of justice and could not help but stand up for the weak. All the people of Emperor Jin admired this hypocritical and cunning person.

It seems easy to think, but how should I do it specifically?

The emperor's order cannot be disobeyed, and nothing can happen to Lord Yun.

I cannot enter Beizhaotai casually; if I visit the residences of the gentlemen, they may not allow me to see them.

Ning Mansion is a good place. It is far to the north, and it is not easy for the emperor to notice my visit.

Aunt Pan, a common woman, has no right to refuse my presence. I can use her to inform Prince Di Jin...