RPAGF Chapter 448 The Gui Family is Pardoned
Chapter 448 The Gui Family is Pardoned
On the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, the investigation into the fire at Prince Chen's residence was still ongoing, but Prince Xian was gone.
When he heard the news of his younger sister's ascension to the throne while he was in prison, he was initially indignant and insulting, believing that he was the son of the late emperor and that his younger sister was a usurper and a traitor.
He hoped that those upright and incorruptible old ministers could resolve all of this for him.
However, the emperor's will clearly stated that after his death, Si Muwan would be the Empress Dowager Regent, Prince Ning would be the Prince Regent, and five other regent ministers would also be appointed.
Now, the Regent and other regents support Si Muwan's ascension to the throne as Empress, and Kuang Tiansong is dead. After the turmoil, the other court officials have also calmed down and accepted reality.
Whether she genuinely accepted it or was forced to accept it to save her life, the discussions in the court about the Empress's succession to the throne have become much quieter.
When the wise king received this news, he was filled with despair. He lay on his bed looking at the top of the prison cell, not understanding why he, who was clearly the chosen one of heaven and whose brothers were no longer a threat, would end up like this.
I couldn't figure it out, but I didn't give him a chance to think about it.
He was a loser. His father had always wanted to depose him and install his third brother as the crown prince. Later, he was forced to accept him, but he never trusted him.
Even before his father passed away, he was thinking of adopting a son from the imperial clan and entrusting him to that woman, Si Muwan, to raise; he had not considered him at all.
How pathetic, how pathetic!
The wise king committed suicide.
Upon hearing this news, the younger sister quickly demoted him to a commoner and forbade him from being buried in the imperial mausoleum after his death.
All the noble families associated with the wise king were exiled, and the Duke of Zuo was stripped of his title, his property confiscated, and executed.
After issuing the decree, the younger sister suddenly laughed and said to Feng Ziheng and Prince Ning, "I didn't know before why the late emperor was so ruthless. He not only wiped out the Shao family, but also couldn't spare the innocent Si family. Now that I'm in the late emperor's position, I feel the same way."
Feng Ziheng said, "Your Majesty, the late Emperor was indeed somewhat impulsive in dealing with the General's Mansion back then, simply because he was young and impetuous at the time."
“You’re right, so I should learn from this lesson and not repeat the same mistake,” the younger sister said. “Remove the Gui family from the list of those whose property has been confiscated and who have been exiled.”
The Gui family was about to have their property confiscated and be exiled. Everyone looked ashen-faced and had lost all their vitality.
Lady Gui sobbed, "After Shanshan married into the Eastern Palace, our Gui family received no benefit whatsoever. Now that the Prince Xian's mansion has fallen on hard times, our Gui family is destined to suffer the same fate..."
Master Gui thought the same way, but he was too timid to show the slightest dissatisfaction.
Aunt Gui couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister-in-law, are you blaming Shanshan now? The Prince Xian committed suicide, how good can the situation in the Prince's mansion be? Shanshan is still your own flesh and blood, how can you not care about her at all?"
Madam Gui was stunned for a moment, then her tears flowed even more freely.
In the eyes of the Gui family, Gui Shan was probably already a victim of the knife.
Before the people who came to confiscate the property could even begin, a palace eunuch arrived with a new imperial edict.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty remembers Gui Shan, the daughter of the Gui family, who was very helpful when she was young. After marrying into the Eastern Palace, she did not collude with the late Crown Prince. Moreover, when Prince Ning was arresting the criminal Xiao Jingxu, Gui Shan assisted him and made meritorious contributions. His Majesty has ordered that the Gui family need not be confiscated or exiled."
The Gui family was overjoyed and couldn't contain their happiness.
Uncle Gui glared at his elder brother and sister-in-law, urging them to quickly take out silver to bribe the eunuchs and the officials.
After everyone left, Madam Gui breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little smug: "Shanshan is smart. She knew that man was unreliable and climbed up to His Majesty early on. Otherwise, our family would have really been doomed this time."
Uncle Gui wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “Brother, sister-in-law, now that we no longer hold official positions, why don’t we go back to our hometown as soon as possible and see if we can find a way to make a living?”
Lady Gui was displeased: "Second brother, what are you saying? You don't have official positions, but we still have Shanshan, don't we? His Majesty values our Shanshan, and will have her plead for official positions for you and her brothers..."
Aunt Gui teased, "Now you're thinking of Shanshan? Sister-in-law, did you ask the person who issued the decree if Shanshan is safe and sound?"
Madam Gui's expression changed, and she suddenly remembered that the eunuch had come to deliver the imperial decree, only saying that the Gui family would be spared because of Shanshan, but he had not said how to deal with Shanshan.
Does this mean that Shanshan is gone?
Lady Gui burst into tears again: "My poor daughter!"
Aunt Gui couldn't stand her attitude and said coldly, "Shanshan is really unlucky to have parents like you! Husband, although the eldest brother is like a father, if he is useless, you don't have to listen to him. Your parents are still in our hometown, let's go back."
Uncle Gui thought so too. He nodded and said, "These are turbulent times. There's no point in staying in the capital. It's better to go back sooner. I can't control whether you want to stay or not, but my parents are alive and well, so I'm going back."
After hesitating for a moment, Uncle Gui San and several of his cousins decided to listen to Uncle Gui Er.
"Second brother, a new emperor brings a new court. We used to be the men of the disgraced official Xiao Jingxu. Although the emperor has spared us, he probably won't be very happy to see us. It would be better to go back soon."
The family has made up their minds.
Uncle Gui said again, "Let someone go and inquire. If Shanshan is still alive, see where she is and see if we can use money to bring her back to our hometown."
This displeased Lord Gui: "I can't stop you from going back, but Shanshan is my daughter. Why should you have the right to decide?"
Uncle Gui glanced at him, then turned and called out, "Go and inquire about Shanshan first."
The sign for the Prince Xian's residence was removed, and Hu Manman followed him to his death on the day she learned of his suicide. Zuo He was sent back to the Zuo family, where their property was confiscated and they were executed.
Even the servants in the Prince's mansion who were close to the Prince could not survive; the others were considered criminal servants and could only go elsewhere to do the most arduous work.
Gui Shan protected her mother and maid, preventing them from becoming criminal servants or being sent to the brothel.
Moreover, she personally arranged for Song Yin's coffin to be delivered to Xiao Jingxu so that the two could be buried together.
Although Xiao Jingxu was demoted to a commoner and could not be buried in the imperial mausoleum, he was still of royal blood and was buried in the Xiao family cemetery. However, his tombstone only had his name on it, without any other titles.
Gui Shan sat in front of Xiao Jingxu and Song Yin's graves, burning paper money for them.
“Things have changed. It seems like just a short time ago, we were still in the Eastern Palace. I was thinking about how I should be a good empress after Your Highness becomes emperor. You are planning to have Song Yin give birth to a child and entrust it to me to raise.”
"Each has their own thoughts, but they all think in the same direction. I don't know when things changed... It's good that you two couldn't share a bed in life, but you can share a grave in death."
"I hope that in your next life you will be reborn as ordinary people, continue to be husband and wife, and live a loving life together."
"I won't be coming anymore. Goodbye."