Chapter 1239: Chapter 1239: Tracing Back
The drafts for urging selection remain unanalyzed, and the court officials are increasingly dissatisfied; those drafts are flooding in like a multiplication of paper sheets.
The emperor has no household matters.
Furthermore, the selection process has been a tradition of the royal family for over a hundred years, how could it be easily violated?
Therefore, both civil and military officials along with the censors have sided with the Empress Dowager this time.
Facing the rampant rumors, Zhao Junyao was not flustered but remained very composed and silent.
Until...
Rumors about the Empress began circulating in the Capital City.
"Hey, have you heard? The current Empress is a seductress! Ever since she entered the palace, the emperor hasn’t favored any other ladies!"
"Huh? Impossible, then where did the other princes and princesses come from? Could they all be illegitimate children?"
"Ah! Even if they aren’t illegitimate children, that was years ago! You calculate if our emperor has had any dragon sons or daughters in recent years?"
"You must know, our emperor is in his prime!"
After thinking about it, that person nodded.
"True!"
"Even if the Empress can’t have children, other ladies surely can!"
"Seems like the Empress herself can’t bear children and won’t let others have them either!"
"Isn’t that right! Truly a seductress that brings disaster to the nation!"
The common people one by one were brainwashed, gathering to discuss fervently.
Within days, such rumors pervaded every corner of the Capital City!
Zhao Junyao initially paid no attention, only attempting to suppress with full effort.
Yet, it was futile.
As if there were people secretly fanning the flames, they showed no intention of dying down at all.
Over time, not only did rumors refuse to fade.
But they also implicated the families of Xia Tingfeng and Xia Jingfeng.
"That so-called Marquis Zhongyong, tsk tsk! Just a son born of a concubine from a small household, what qualifications does he have to be marquis and minister, if not for the Empress’s skirt-tail relationship!"
"Also, that Prefect Xia, simply absurd; our Great Chu Dynasty has never had such a young prefect!"
"Our emperor is truly blinded by a seductress!"
"Indeed!"
"In my opinion, even the Empress’s qualifications are lacking! She was originally from a small household, not even a delicate beauty, merely a country bumpkin!"
"Her father is still stuck at the position of Seventh Rank County Magistrate!"
"How could our Great Chu Dynasty let a County Magistrate’s daughter become Empress? It’s too absurd, would only elicit ridicule!"
"Exactly!"
Such rumors thrown among the common folks, like sparks falling into dry hay, instantly ignited into an uncontainable blaze.
Zhao Junyao still remained silent.
He continued his daily routine, attending and dismissing court, reviewing memorials as usual.
When officials advised, he scolded them.
When censors submitted memorials, he withheld them.
It appeared identical to usual, except...
Only Li Shengan knew, the emperor’s complexion grew increasingly grave, the surrounding atmosphere colder.
Zhao Junyao saw the situation before him clearly, he understood the truth entirely.
Yet...
He stared at the stack of memorials piled up like a little mountain before him, eyes cold, heart burning, the feeling like oil cooking over a fierce fire, pierced by a thousand arrows.
He rose without a sound and walked to the window.
Zhao Junyao stood with his hands behind his back, squinting slightly to gaze at the distant sky, involuntarily clenching his fists hidden in his sleeves.
Why? Why on earth?"
He couldn’t understand!
Throughout his life, he acted with a clear conscience, never committing a single unjust act, even if occasionally involved in manslaughter, it was forced and unintended.
He revered filial piety to his superiors, showed brotherly friendliness to his peers, never harsh or insulting to officials below.
To the Harem, whether favored or not, he endeavored to protect all women.
Externally, governing the state with care, he also held no guilt.
He asked himself, he had lived uprightly, cherished loyalty and righteousness. To the heavens and ancestors above, to the common people below, he was without regret.
He puzzled over where he had gone wrong?
Why did the Empress Dowager harbor such major grievances, to a point beyond reconciliation?"
The more Zhao Junyao pondered, the more he felt a fiery discomfort in his heart.
The sage once said: A parent’s benevolence surpasses the heavens.
He however disagreed.
He failed to perceive any benevolence from the Empress Dowager, other than giving him this body.
He closed his eyes, tilting his head back, heart-rendingly.
’Since you treat me so intolerably, why give birth to me then?’
Zhao Junyao was lamenting skyward.
Suddenly his chest ached dully, a metallic taste surged from his throat, a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed on the floor.
Reflected in the bright light streaming from the window, vibrant and glaring.
Looking down frightened, Zhao Junyao’s heart startled.
Not far away, Li Shengan had long collapsed in fright.
"Emperor!"
He quivered, climbing up.
"Servant... servant will fetch the Imperial Physician immediately!"
Feeling slightly chilled, Zhao Junyao quickly raised a hand to stop him.
"No need!"
Perhaps it was a psychological effect.
He felt a degree of relief after purging the blockage of blood from his chest.
"No need for an Imperial Physician, call Zhou Lin instead!"
"Emperor!"
Li Shengan knelt in advocacy.
Zhao Junyao turned, casting a cold glance.
"Get going now!"
Reluctant yet unmoved, Li Shengan stood.
"Emperor, despite any difficulty you still must safeguard your health!"
"Let me summon an Imperial Physician to examine!"
Zhao Junyao was fiercely angered.
Stepped forward and kicked him aside, swiftly grabbing another little eunuch at the door to communicate.
Li Shengan, left with no choice, hastily summoned people inside to clean up the blood.
Then he called for two palace maids to help the emperor change attire.
After these tasks, he didn’t forget to pull those palace maids and eunuchs outside the door to sternly warn.
"What happened in the hall today, if you dare disclose even a tiny bit, your whole family will die!"
With cooled backs, the group shrank their necks.
"Yes! Servants obey!"
Li Shengan examined these individuals, always trusted aides of Zhaochen Palace, thus eased his mind.
...
Zhou Lin, upon receiving the decree, swiftly rushed to the Imperial Study Room.
Zhao Junyao dismissed all servants, leaving only him to speak.
"That affair I asked you to investigate in Guangnan, how has it progressed? What are the findings?"
Zhou Lin recalled the instructions from the emperor.
There were three tasks.
The first was to uncover the affair between the Empress Dowager and Prince Yan.
The second was to find Zhao Junqi’s whereabouts.
The third was to investigate the discord between the Late Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
Until now.
Zhao Junqi was dead, Prince Yan’s line was extinguished, the second matter naturally needed no further mention.
As for the first and third matters.
Zhou Lin thought briefly and reported on bended knee.
"Returning to the emperor, after such a long time, coupled with the Harem matters, investigation has been truly difficult!"
