RPAGF Chapter 204 Begging for mercy
Chapter 204 Begging for mercy
Emperor Jingxuan turned around and strode out of the Cining Palace, leaving the empress dowager alone to face those shocking letters.
The Queen Mother picked up the letter with trembling hands. Looking at the familiar handwriting on it, her heart was filled with despair and regret.
She never imagined that Prince Shun would do such a heinous thing.
He colluded with the Rong and Di tribes with the intention of sharing the world, and also brought the plague into the capital. Each of these crimes is truly unforgivable.
But, that was her son, her first son, and it was because of him that the late emperor promoted her to the position of concubine.
The Queen Mother slumped on the bed, tears streaming down her face.
At this time, the Cining Palace was filled with a heavy atmosphere.
Aunt Zhao beside the Queen Mother came forward cautiously and said softly,
"Queen Mother, please don't be too sad. Your Majesty is also thinking about the great Wei Dynasty. Prince Shun... has indeed gone too far."
The Queen Mother shook her head and said, weeping,
"It was my fault. I shouldn't have always favored Prince Shun. I have displeased His Majesty. If he gets the chance this time, he will definitely not let Prince Shun go."
Zhao Ma sighed helplessly. If His Majesty knew what the Queen Mother said, he would be even angrier. She had no choice but to continue to persuade him.
"Queen, now that things have come to this, you should take care of yourself. Although His Majesty is angry, he is your son after all, and he will not really ignore the relationship between mother and son."
However, the Queen Mother was disheartened.
She knew that Emperor Jingxuan would not easily forgive her this time.
But......
"You went and invited the Queen in person."
Madam Zhao's heart tightened, and she looked at the Queen Mother with a puzzled look.
"Queen Mother..."
"Go ahead. No matter what, I can't watch Prince Shun die in front of me."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhao dared not persuade her any further. She sighed inwardly and had to bow and leave.
Emperor Jingxuan had been in a very heavy mood since leaving the Cining Palace.
Although he was angry at what Prince Shun had done, he still had mixed feelings towards the Queen Mother.
After all, the Queen Mother was his biological mother. If possible, even just for the sake of filial piety, he would let her spend her old age in peace.
"Have you confirmed that the news of General Xiao's departure from the capital has been spread by Prince Shun's people?"
Emperor Jingxuan's voice was cold and silent. Eunuch Li was shocked when he heard it and quickly replied,
"Your Majesty, according to the secret guards, the information about that person has been intercepted, but I'm not sure if there are other spies in the capital. I'm afraid this matter can no longer be concealed."
When Emperor Jingxuan heard this, he secretly hated Prince Shun, a fool, for actually wanting to take advantage of a tiger.
General Xiao's trip to the northwest was carried out in secret. If Langchuan of Rongdi knew about it, the sneak attack would probably fail.
Emperor Jingxuan paced back and forth, thinking about how to deal with the situation.
Regardless of whether other news has reached Rongdi or not, the best way now is to stabilize Rongdi and create the appearance that Xiao Mu is still in the capital.
"Eunuch Li, immediately convey my order to strengthen the guard of the capital and strictly investigate suspicious persons. Especially those who have had contact with Prince Shun, they must be investigated one by one."
Eunuch Li quickly responded,
"I obey, Your Majesty."
Emperor Jingxuan sat on the dragon throne, lost in thought.
There was an idea that had been lingering in his mind for a long time, and it came to his mind again at this moment.
In the Cining Palace, the Queen Mother was anxiously awaiting the Queen's arrival.
She knew that now only the Queen could persuade Emperor Jingxuan to let Prince Shun go.
Finally, the Queen hurried to the Cining Palace. When she saw the Queen Mother's haggard face, her heart tightened and she hurried forward to pay her respects.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Queen Mother. What is the important matter that the Queen Mother has summoned me for?"
The Queen Mother held the Queen's hand and cried,
"Si'er, you must help me. Prince Shun has committed a serious crime, and His Majesty wants to execute him. I really can't bear to watch him die, so please go and persuade His Majesty to spare Prince Shun's life."
The Queen was in a dilemma. Although she didn't know what crime Prince Shun had committed, since His Majesty wanted to execute him, it must be a disaster that would bring disaster to the country and the people.
"Queen Mother, I don't know what happened. If I rashly try to persuade Your Majesty, I'm afraid it will make Your Majesty angry. Please don't panic. What happened?"
The Queen Mother looked at the Queen in despair and said,
"Queen, you are the mother of the country and the person His Majesty trusts the most. Only you can persuade His Majesty. If you are unwilling to help, then Prince Shun will really have no way to survive."
The queen was helpless.
"Your Majesty, please tell me what happened?"
If possible, the Queen did not want to get involved in Prince Shun's affairs at all, but looking at the Queen Mother's expression, she was afraid that she would not let her off easily.
The Queen Mother was hesitant, but finally told the Empress what Emperor Jingxuan had said. However, she said that Prince Shun must have been framed, and the handwriting might have been imitated by someone around him to deliberately frame him.
When the queen heard this, she didn't know how to face the queen mother.
"Aunt, you are my real aunt. In your eyes, my life and the future of the Shen family are not worth telling the truth? Is Prince Shun really wronged?"
The Queen Mother's eyes flickered. She held the Queen's hand tightly and said in a trembling voice,
"Si'er, I'm not sure if Prince Shun was really wronged, but you know that he has always been timid and would never dare to do something like treason. He wouldn't dare to do that, and I can't watch him being executed. Even if there is only a glimmer of hope, we must fight for it. Go talk to His Majesty and ask him to re-investigate the matter. Maybe there will be a turning point."
After all, she was her aunt. The queen felt extremely sad when she saw her holding her hand and begging.
Although she once resented the Queen Mother for always favoring Prince Shun and making it difficult for her to behave in front of His Majesty, she could not bear to see her usually arrogant aunt begging her niece for the sake of her beloved son.
After a moment's silence, she said,
"Queen Dowager, I can go and persuade Your Majesty, but I cannot guarantee that Your Majesty will listen to me. Moreover, if Prince Shun really committed an unforgivable crime, I cannot go against the law to plead for him. I can ask Your Majesty, but I can only ask Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the truth and not wrongly accuse Prince Shun. As for the rest, it depends on whether Prince Shun himself is innocent."
The Queen Mother nodded, her eyes full of anticipation.
"I understand. Just do your best. As long as you go and persuade His Majesty, there is a glimmer of hope."
After leaving the Cining Palace, the queen returned to her own bedroom with a heavy heart.
Qing Wu slowly stepped forward, waited for the Queen to sit down, and gently consoled her,
"Your Highness, please relax. Just do your best as far as His Majesty is concerned. Don't make His Majesty unhappy because of the Queen Mother. We still have the Crown Prince. The Queen Mother is old after all. The future will depend on the Crown Prince."