Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

The hall was silent. Qian Hui and the others stood silently behind Prince Ding. Gradually, more and more civil and military officials came. The Grand Master walked towards Prince Ding, saluted, and said, "Prince Jialu, you must not be pardoned!"

"Yes, unforgivable!"

"The sin is unforgivable!"

At this moment, regardless of political differences or mortal enemies, they all stood on the united front.

Prince Kang turned to Prince Ding and asked, "Third brother, fourth brother... Prince Jialu still refuses to give up?" He did not witness the assassination attempt that day.

Prince Ding glanced at him, his handsome face unusually cold. "It's just a desperate struggle, a last-ditch resistance. Second brother, you should be thankful that you only teased me when we were children, and didn't bully me like the Deer King did. Otherwise..." That vicious mother and son had nearly killed him several times. If it weren't for...

His eyes became even colder, and King Kang shuddered: "I was just ignorant as a child, ignorant..." After saying that, he slowly moved back to his seat.

Zhou Qizheng was renamed the House Deer King by the emperor himself, and a wanted order was issued throughout the city. Zhou Qizheng was now in a dark and damp basement, which was exactly in line with his new name of the House Deer King. He was so angry that he was mad and mad that he actually called him the House Deer King and the Rat King!

He smashed everything in the room to the ground. Why? After half a lifetime of fighting, the eldest son was abandoned by them, and the second son was violent and cruel, easily provoked. He thought he had it all figured out, but who knew... that man returned from the border with outstanding military achievements. As long as he was there, his brilliance overshadowed the other brothers. His father and his ministers no longer had any other princes in their eyes. How could he accept this? How could he not resent it?

In the Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Li was shocked and furious when she heard the news. She first looked Emperor Shenwu over from head to toe. Emperor Shenwu said, "Don't worry, mother. Xiao is so small that he can't hurt me."

Empress Dowager Li angrily exclaimed, "How dare he! Even after being demoted to a commoner, he's still so dishonest. He's truly despicable."

Emperor Shenwu said, "Mother, I have renamed him the Family Deer King and issued a nationwide wanted notice. I believe his arrogance will not last much longer. There is no need to be angry with him. I am responsible for everything in the previous dynasty."

Empress Dowager Li nodded. Emperor Shenwu was now the pillar of the entire Dasheng, the sky of Dasheng, and her greatest support. Even though they had never been close, she had to admit that this son was better than her other sons. With him around, she, the empress dowager, felt at ease.

Although Empress Dowager Li was relieved, her anger did not subside. She brought Nanny Li and others to the cold palace. Nanny Li pushed open the door of the cold palace, and Empress Dowager Li walked directly into a room.

Inside the dilapidated room, an old woman with gray hair was curled up in a quilt with black cotton peeking out. She kept coughing. She raised her cloudy eyes, and suddenly they widened: "It's you!"

Empress Dowager Li looked at this woman, once the most beautiful and favored of the six harems, and sneered, "I can't believe Concubine An has become like this now. Even in this state, she's still struggling to survive. Is she waiting for your son?"

Concubine An was startled and coughed, "What are you doing here?"

Empress Dowager Li said, "I have come to tell you with good intentions about your son. Zhou Qizheng has dared to defy Heaven. My son has renamed him Jialu and crowned him King Jialu. He can no longer be a commoner; he is now a criminal."

Concubine An couldn't believe it. The Deer King? This was a great humiliation! She opened her mouth, but a heart-wrenching cough erupted. "No... Impossible... Impossible... The late emperor has decreed that my son's life must not be taken!"

Empress Dowager Li said cheerfully, "The late Emperor issued an edict sparing his life but demoting him to a commoner. What a pity, he ignored the late Emperor's kindness and committed the heinous crime of regicide. This time, even the royal family and ministers of the previous dynasty are shouting that his crime is unforgivable! Oh, and he even ignored the fact that his biological mother, the Consort, is still in the Dasheng Palace. He's truly a good son of yours, to have such a disregard for your life!"

Concubine An seemed to be struck by a blow and was silent for a few breaths. "Yes, I am not as lucky as you. My eldest son is disabled, and I still have my second son, who is crazy, and my youngest son. If I had known earlier, I would have given birth to more children..."

Empress Dowager Li sneered: "You don't need to provoke me. You are right. You are not as lucky as me. I have many sons, and one of them is promising. You may still be fantasizing about what if. Let me tell you, there is no what if. The late emperor never thought of enthroning your son!" She only figured it out later.

"The late emperor looked at you differently. Do you think it was because of you? Don't dream. It's just because you resemble the late emperor's beloved. Even so, the late emperor prioritized me, the first wife, over you. He never considered letting your son become the crown prince. This is all your self-righteous fantasy!"

Concubine An was stunned and didn't move. After a while, she said, "Impossible, impossible, you lied to me! You lied to me! The late emperor couldn't have done this to me..."

Empress Dowager Li replied, "The late emperor's beloved passed away young. He prioritized Dasheng, and his legitimate sons were unparalleled. Even with those few similarities, you can't compare to me. Otherwise, how could I have had so many legitimate sons? Wake up! The late emperor never considered making your son the heir, so how could you possibly succeed? By the way, my son has issued an arrest warrant. It's public knowledge. King Jialu's crimes are unforgivable. Upon capture, he will be beheaded!"

Empress Dowager Li no longer looked at the woman's dejected appearance and turned away.

March is a special month, as the tenth day of the month marks the anniversary of the death of the late Emperor Jingwen. Not only is Empress Dowager Li in a state of dismay, but the emperor, for several years after ascending the throne, has observed a vegetarian diet for the entire month of March and has not summoned his concubines. On the tenth day, the emperor would visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices and mourn the late emperor, and afterward, he would take time to visit the Guoan Temple to refuel the emperor's eternal lamp and pray for blessings.

This month, the six palaces will be very quiet. Under the leadership of the three concubines, all concubines will eat vegetarian food, copy scriptures, pray for blessings, and wear plain clothes. All small activities will be stopped to please the emperor.

In the past few days, a rumor has been quietly spreading among the palace maids and eunuchs: Concubine Yi was once engaged, and the six rituals have been passed for several years. Although Lin Jiazi was ungrateful first, in the Da Sheng Dynasty, a woman cannot marry two husbands. For the sake of His Majesty's reputation and Da Sheng law, Concubine Yi should also shave her head and become a nun.

In Suowu Palace, Ru Han's face flushed with anger. "Nonsense! It's just a verbal engagement. There hasn't even been a ceremony. Without a ceremony, the law can't do anything about it. Besides, Lin Shaojie went back on his word first."

Lan Qingwu said coldly: "Then don't be angry. The government will register the ceremony, not even the first ceremony. The law really can't do anything to me, so there are these rumors, but..."

Ru Ping continued calmly, "However, Your Majesty knows the entire story. No one dares to spread rumors in front of Your Majesty, and we can't control other people's mouths. But who spread these rumors? And who is fanning the flames?"