Spring Drunk Chang'an

Emperor Yingwu spoke in a deep voice. He looked at Xiao Chuo with an almost pleading look in his eyes. His wrinkled face forced a smile. He said, "Chuo'er, I have secretly thought that when your father is relieved of his important duties, I will retire to the garden on Xiaotan Mountain. There are beautiful mountains and clear waters there, and I will feel comfortable there!"

"You don't have time to accompany me, so your brother can do it for me. He can live with me in the garden and serve me for a hundred years. Then I will give him the garden as a reward."

"It's great that he lives a safe and happy life with his wife, children and grandchildren!"

The meaning of Emperor Yingwu's words was very clear. He was willing to abdicate honestly and not cause any trouble to Xiao Chuo. After abdicating, he would not stay in the capital, but go to the garden to recuperate, so as to avoid the "two emperors facing each other" and the court officials causing trouble.

The old emperor was willing to sit quietly on the throne as the retired emperor, which was good for Xiao Chuo and the country. However, it was always difficult for an elderly emperor to suppress his emptiness and desire for power when he was forced to abdicate.

Emperor Yingwu was willing to restrain himself. As long as Xiao Chuo was willing to spare Xiao Xun, he would take his son and "disappear" and live in seclusion in the garden from then on. After his death, Xiao Chuo would also allow Xiao Xun to continue living in the garden and live a peaceful life.

His request...

Honestly, it's not that simple, but it's not too much either.

Xiao Chuo's emotions were stable. He glanced at Xiao Xun, whose face was covered in snot and tears. He lowered his brows slightly, his lips curled into a sarcastic arc, and said, "Father, I have already checked. The Prince of Yan was indeed unaware of the rebellion. Your request is indeed not excessive."

"I can agree to your request, but the King of Yan is fine, but the Qu family is undoubtedly plotting treason!"

"Treason and assassination of the emperor is the most serious of the ten evils. According to the law, the entire clan should be exterminated. Huo Jing's clan has been exterminated, and the Jinyiwei who participated in the incident have also been dealt with."

"But the evil leader, the Qu family, is still being held captive by the Ministry of Punishment."

Xiao Chuo paused, looking up at Emperor Yingwu and Xiao Xun with a half-smile. He said, "The Qu family was wiped out twenty years ago. Only a few people have escaped..."

For example, the people who were rescued by the former Concubine Qu and Xiao Xun, and those who were in the same group as Qu Qiutong.

Those 'slaves' lurking around the Song family...

"I have already apprehended them all and now they are only waiting to be beheaded..."

Emperor Yingwu turned his eyes away guiltily.

Xiao Xun was trembling all over and his teeth were chattering.

Xiao Chuo acted as if she hadn't noticed and continued, "Those who followed the rebellion have already been punished. The ringleader will naturally have nowhere to escape. Qu's crime is unforgivable. According to the law, he should be sliced ​​with three thousand knives."

"Father, when do you think the execution would be best?"

He raised his eyebrows with a look of evil amusement.

Emperor Yingwu was trembling all over, with beads of cold sweat dripping down his forehead. His lips were pale and his eyes were dry. "Chuo'er, Chuo'er, since you promised to spare Xun'er's life, then Aqu, she, she..."

"Could you please show some mercy, please?"

The dignified emperor pleaded humbly.

Xiao Chuo's face was cold, and her smile was sarcastic. "Father, Xiao Xun did not join the rebels. He was indeed implicated by his mother in the rebellion, but it was a crime of association. I am willing to help him resolve the matter and persuade the court officials to let him go..."

"Besides, have you forgotten what the conditions were for releasing him?"

It's the throne, it's about abdicating honestly and enjoying a peaceful retirement.

"I, I am also willing to use this to save Aqu..." Emperor Yingwu said hurriedly, his face full of anxiety.

Xiao Chuo's smile grew even colder, and he shrugged slightly. He curled his lips and said with a smile, "Father, you only have one throne, so why are there two people?"

"One price, two benefits. Nothing is so cheap in the world."

"Then, what should I do? A-qu, my A-qu..." Emperor Yingwu burst into tears. Ever since Qu entered the Ministry of Punishment, he has been worried and unable to sleep day and night. He wants so much to rescue her.

Even in his dreams at midnight, he wanted to rush to Xiao Chuo and Queen Song, roll on the ground and act like a spoiled child, even crying bitterly, and was willing to exchange himself for Qu.

If this works, he really can stop caring about his face.

It's a pity that Qu's rebellion was too strong, and she and Huo Jing could not be separated. She even took a knife to kill the prince. It was a foregone conclusion that she was plotting a rebellion.

The only point that can be made up is that Qu was bewitched by Huo Jing. However, Huo Jing was a minister, not even a member of the royal family. If he wanted to rebel, he must have a master behind him.

If this master is not Qu, then who could it be?

Apart from Xiao Xun, there is no one else!

If he wanted to commute Qu's sentence, he would have to include Xiao Xun in the case, but how could Emperor Yingwu be willing to do that? Moreover, even if Xiao Xun was spared, Qu would still be guilty of treason and attempted murder of the crown prince, which he could not completely shed.

Even if he threw his son in, he couldn't save his wife. Emperor Yingwu then painfully "ignored" the situation that Qu was imprisoned in the Shenxing Division.

Even so, he tried his best, mobilized all his connections, and threatened everything he could, so that Qu would not be tried or punished in the Shenxing Division, and would have no worries about food and clothing. Even the cell where he was imprisoned was a single room.

"Chuo'er, what do you want me to do to let Aqu go?" Emperor Yingwu covered his heart with his hands, his old face pale.

The tears in my eyes were almost about to burst out.

Xiao Chuo remained calm, his eyes swept over lightly, and he said, "Father, you can only save one person at a price."

"Someone must give an explanation to the world for the rebellion. Huo Jing's weight is not enough, so you must sacrifice one of Qu and Xiao Xun."

"Who do you choose?"

Between true love and the offspring of true love, you choose one to die, and the remaining one can be saved.

"I will keep my promise. He will be able to spend your old age with you in peace. In the future, if you live to be a hundred years old, I will also fulfill your wish and let him live peacefully in the garden until he grows old."

"I keep my word."

Xiao Chuo smiled, his eyes filled with, uh, how should I put it? It was definitely not a kindly amusement. He tapped his fingers and said meaningfully, "Father, what do you choose?"

How to choose?

How to choose this thing?

How could Emperor Yingwu be chosen?

The woman he truly loved all his life held a position in his heart that was only slightly less important than the country. He had been partial to the only son born to him by his beloved woman for half his life, and the son was more important to him than all his children combined.

How to choose Emperor Yingwu?

He definitely won’t be able to choose!

Whoever you choose will mean letting another person die. Such pain doesn't even need to be faced in real life. Just thinking about it can make Emperor Yingwu heartbroken.

In an instant, he had difficulty breathing, saw stars, and couldn't speak. He looked at Xiao Chuo almost pleadingly.

Xiao Chuo remained silent, with a sneer on her lips.