RPAGF Chapter 289 Getting Ready to Leave
Chapter 289 Getting Ready to Leave
"Nobody cares about my feelings, so why should I care about the court? I was bedridden for five years before, and the court was still fine, wasn't it?"
"But……"
"My mind is made up, my wife, please don't try to persuade me anymore."
In fact, he had long been fed up with this position where he did his best but was not valued by the emperor. The emperor's demotion of Lan Zhi to the rank of concubine only strengthened his determination to leave.
Lan Zhi knew that he was truly disappointed in the Emperor and the court this time. If she tried to persuade him, something else might happen next time. She didn't want to see him work in vain and be framed repeatedly, while the Emperor didn't care about him at all.
Thinking of this, she simply hugged him tightly and nodded, saying:
"Whatever decision you make, I will support you without hesitation."
He lowered his lips and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"With you and the children, that's enough. I'll go to the palace now to resign. Go and tell everyone to pay their wages and let them go!"
Although Lan Zhi felt reluctant, she still decided to do as she was told.
No sooner had Wei Jianning left than Madam Lin arrived, carrying the bundle from yesterday, and asked with difficulty:
"Um... has your older brother... come back?"
Lan Zhi shook her head.
"He hasn't come back yet, but we might go look for him. If you're in a hurry, come with us!"
'Looking for him? Where should we look?'
Since she would find out sooner or later anyway, Lan Zhi didn't want to hide it, so she simply said:
“We are going back to the countryside, the place where Wei Jianning and I used to live. If my older brother comes back, we will run into him on the way.”
Mrs. Lin looked at her with disbelief.
"You're going back to the countryside? Because of that imperial edict?"
She had already heard about the imperial edict from others, and she thought that when she came to find Lan Zhi, she would see her crying and sobbing. Unexpectedly, Lan Zhi was quite composed.
Lan Zhi nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, ever since Wei Jianning returned to the capital, he has devoted himself to the affairs of the court, but he has not received any respect he deserves. He is tired, and when he is tired, he should take a good rest."
Mrs. Lin nodded in deep empathy.
“You’re right. The Emperor has always been a fickle person, but in previous years he at least knew how to manage state affairs. In recent years, he has become increasingly lazy in governing. If you really leave, what will happen to the court?”
“Wei Jianning is right. The court has been doing quite well during the years he’s been away. The Northern Wei Kingdom will function normally no matter who’s gone. Madam Lin, there’s no need to worry. If you want to get those silver bells back, then come with us. If you don’t want them back, then please do.”
After hesitating for a moment, Madam Lin nodded and said:
"Anyway, I don't know where I should go. I'll bother you for a few days. I'll leave as soon as I get the things."
"Please wait here for a moment, I need to go out and inform the servants in the manor."
"Shouldn't we wait for the Crown Prince to return? What if things change?"
Lan Zhi shook her head and smiled.
"Nothing will change. Some people are even hoping we'll leave sooner."
Her guess was correct. When Wei Jianning entered the palace and presented his memorial requesting to resign and return to his hometown to Qin Shun, asking him to convey it to the Emperor, the Emperor was instantly furious after reading it.
"I just issued an imperial edict to him, and he actually came to resign. Is he trying to embarrass me on purpose?"
Sitting beside him, Consort Jin seemed to realize something. She immediately rolled her eyes a few times and then said softly:
"Your Majesty, I think that since the Crown Prince often threatens you with his desire to return to his hometown, you might as well go along with it this time and grant his request. However, you should not let him take any money with him. That way, he will not be able to make a living outside. I believe that before long, he will obediently come back and apologize to you. I believe that he will never dare to threaten you with this matter again."
At this point, Consort Jin, fearing the Emperor might be overthinking things, quickly waved her hand to explain, "
"Your Majesty, I am only thinking of you. You are the ruler of the country, how can you always allow your son to threaten you like this?"
Perhaps it was Consort Jin's words that had an effect, for the Emperor immediately nodded, then threw the memorial aside and angrily rebuked it.
"Granted. Issue my decree to demote Wei Jianning to a commoner and forbid them from taking away a single blade of grass or tree from the Crown Prince's residence."
Qin Shun stood there, somewhat embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, is this...is this appropriate?"
The Emperor immediately questioned him with a cold face.
"What's wrong with him? If we don't teach him a lesson this time, next time the entire Northern Wei Kingdom will dare to disobey my imperial edicts. What's the point of me being the emperor then?"
Seeing the Emperor's displeasure, Qin Shun, though feeling it was inappropriate, still bowed and agreed, then left.
Wei Jianning, who was waiting anxiously at the door, rushed forward to greet Qin Shun when he came out.
"Eunuch Qin, what did the Emperor say?"
Qin Shun shook his head and sighed:
"His Majesty has granted permission."
Upon hearing these words, Wei Jianning nodded happily.
"That's good……"
"But……"
Qin Shun looked at him with some difficulty, which made Wei Jianning's brows furrow instantly. He asked in surprise,
"But what?"
"His Majesty said that you may leave, but you are not allowed to take a single blade of grass or tree from the Crown Prince's residence."
At this point, he slapped the back of his hand with a rather helpless expression.
"Your Highness, in my humble opinion, you should speak to the Emperor and ask him to make Lan Zhi a concubine for now. Once her true identity is discovered, you can restore her to the position of Crown Princess!"
Although Wei Jianning hadn't expected the Emperor to go to such extremes, he still nodded solemnly.
"Since the decision has been made, there is no going back. Please thank the Emperor for me."
He left those words behind and strode away.
His steps were firm, unwavering without the slightest hesitation.
Qin Shun could only stand there, sighing and muttering to himself:
"The Northern Wei Kingdom is truly doomed..."
Although these words were treasonous, he still wanted to say them because he knew that once Wei Jianning left, if the emperor continued like this, the empress would definitely make her son the crown prince in the shortest possible time. Such a young child didn't even know what court politics was, so how could he handle court affairs?
As a result, no one really knows how long the Northern Wei Dynasty can last.
But who can change any of this?
Moreover, Wei Jianning was truly aggrieved. Ever since he returned to the capital and became the crown prince, he had been enduring grievances that ordinary people could not bear.
He should be given his freedom.
As Qin Shun shook his head and sighed, Wei Jianning's figure had already disappeared from his sight.
Prince's Mansion
The servants in the manor were all somewhat incredulous after hearing Lan Zhi's words.
They couldn't accept it. One moment they were working in the Crown Prince's residence, bringing glory to their family, and the next they were to be dismissed and sent home. How could they tell their families about such a sudden change?
But facts are facts. Looking at everyone, Lan Zhi instructed Tang Jun:
"I'll give everyone an extra month's wages. Pack your things and go home. If you hesitate any longer, you might not even get your wages."