The summons from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager came far sooner than Qu Jinshu had expected.
Still, this would save her the trouble of switching identities with Qu Zhao, making her next plans much easier to carry out.
All the other ministers and their family members had also been summoned, so a large crowd soon gathered.
Meanwhile, He Xiujun was still kneeling.
His father was seriously ill and had therefore not come to Yunwu Mountain. As a result, He Xiujun was the only member of the He family present.
Quite a few people were whispering among themselves, wondering what offense the young general had committed. He had just won a great victory and was at the height of his fame, so what could have compelled him to kneel here and beg forgiveness?
Before long, the Emperor arrived with the other members of the imperial family.
Standing among the crowd, Qu Jinshu bowed along with everyone else.
They were all familiar faces from her previous life.
Back then, Qu Zhao had already switched back to his own identity. She could only follow at the very back of the Qu family as a concubine born daughter, watching from a distance as the Emperor rewarded those who had distinguished themselves.
Unexpectedly, despite the distance, the Empress Dowager had spotted her. Mistaking her for the Qu family’s legitimate daughter, she had even asked whether she was engaged or had any marriage plans.
This time, He Xiujun must have given Qu Ya advance instructions, because she had not come to attend the imperial audience.
He Xiujun had certainly gone to great lengths to prevent Qu Ya from marrying Prince Jing.
Qu Jinshu raised her head slightly and looked at the people before her.
Something was different.
There was one more person in this life!
Zhao Jingxing!
He followed closely behind the kind faced Empress Dowager. Looking frightened, he could only keep tugging at his sleeves.
She remembered that he had not appeared in her previous life.
But since she had already changed the path of events, it was only natural that many other things would change as well.
Her gaze shifted to the side.
The Emperor sat in the center. He was in his fifties, with a solemn expression and eyes that carried the authority of someone who had weathered many years.
She had interacted with him before while pretending to be Qu Zhao. The Emperor was suspicious by nature and skilled at putting on a public show. He was the sort of ruler who appeared benevolent on the surface.
To his right sat Empress Cui, dressed in her phoenix robes. Fine lines had appeared at the corners of her eyes. Her hair ornaments were understated, and her expression was cold.
On the other side was undoubtedly Noble Consort Gao, who had enjoyed the Emperor’s favor for more than twenty years. He had continually doted on her as a means of keeping the Empress in check. Although she was getting on in years, her face still looked no older than thirty. Her brows and eyes were as captivating as peach blossoms in spring.
Below them stood the princes and princesses, led by the Crown Prince, Zhao Bocheng.
Qu Sheng stood with the rest of the Qu family not far away, warning Qu Jinshu with his eyes to behave herself and watch what she said.
The Emperor took his seat on the throne, followed closely by the Empress, Noble Consort Gao, and the others.
After sitting down, the Empress Dowager beckoned to Zhao Jingxing.
He walked over slowly and took the seat beside her, lowering his head to fiddle with his wine cup.
Quite a few people looked at him with disdain.
In such a state, he still had to come out and embarrass himself.
They had heard that he had been attacked by assassins. What kind of foolish culprit would target a fool?
“Autumn hunting should have been a joyous occasion. Yet assassins appeared in the forest, and Prince Jing nearly lost his life.”
The Emperor’s furious voice rang out.
“Today, it was Prince Jing who was attacked. Does that mean I will be their next target?”
Everyone was so intimidated that they hardly dared to breathe.
” Crown Prince! You were responsible for security during this autumn hunt. Is this how you carried out your duty?”
The Emperor fixed his sharp gaze on Crown Prince Zhao Bocheng.
Zhao Bocheng immediately stepped forward and pleaded guilty. “This son was negligent. I beg Father Emperor to calm his anger.”
The dignified Crown Prince was actually being reprimanded by his own father over a fool.
Seeing this, Empress Cui’s eyes filled with resentment.
However, the Cui family had already been greatly weakened by the Emperor. They no longer wielded the power they once had. No matter how resentful she felt, she could only endure it.
At that moment, Noble Consort Gao covered her mouth and chuckled. “Your Majesty, please calm down. The Crown Prince has many responsibilities to attend to, so it is understandable that he cannot manage everything at once. If he finds it difficult to oversee matters, Yuan’er could always lend him a hand.”
Yuan’er was the Third Prince, Prince Yuan.
He was Noble Consort Gao’s eldest son and the candidate the Gao family was determined to support for the throne.
“The harem must not interfere in government affairs. Noble Consort Gao, mind your words.” The Empress Dowager suddenly turned her gaze toward Noble Consort Gao.
At those words, the smile on Noble Consort Gao’s face faded.
The Empress Dowager continued, “Since this has already happened, Emperor, there is little point in arguing over which prince is at fault. It would be better to have them investigate the matter thoroughly and capture the assassins as soon as possible.”
The Emperor had always maintained an outward image of filial piety.
Faced with the Empress Dowager’s suggestion, he immediately yielded.
“Mother is right. We shall do as you say. Crown Prince, Prince Yuan, I order you to identify the culprits as soon as possible.”
“We obey Your Majesty’s command.”
“General He, have you thought of how you intend to explain yourself to the Emperor?” The Empress Dowager’s usually gentle expression turned stern when she saw He Xiujun kneeling in the distance.
The Emperor’s expression also darkened. “Indeed, General He. I am still waiting for your explanation. What could possibly have been more important than Prince Jing’s safety?”
Yet He Xiujun remained unmoved.
He could not expose the woman he loved. What if the Empress Dowager held a grudge against her?
He would bear the Emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s wrath himself!
Why aren’t you pleading for him? The Qu family members warned Qu Jinshu with their eyes.
Just then, the Emperor called her name. “Lord Qu, how do you think he should be punished?”
In an instant, everyone’s gaze fell upon Qu Jinshu.
She raised her head slightly, her expression perfectly calm. “Your Majesty, every nation has its laws, and every family has its rules. If someone has committed a wrong, they must bear the consequences. Although General He and I share a bond as close as brothers, I cannot agree with what he did today. As a general, he has a duty to protect the imperial family and the people. Yet he abandoned his post in the middle of battle. Such conduct is truly disgraceful.”
Her words only made the Emperor angrier.
Remembering Lin Zhong’s report, he wished he could go down there and kick He Xiujun himself.
Who had given this man the audacity to disregard a prince’s life?
What if, one day, he decided to disregard the life of the Son of Heaven himself?
Could it be that Lin Zhong’s warning had been right after all? “He is arrogant and ambitious. One day, his achievements may become so great that he threatens the throne.”
“Guards! He Xiujun is suspected of plotting against a prince and should be imprisoned. However, in consideration of his outstanding contributions to Xiling, his punishment shall be reduced. Give him one hundred strokes of the cane, demote him by three ranks, and withhold three years of his salary!”
What?!
He Xiujun abruptly raised his head, staring at the Emperor in disbelief.
He had never expected to receive such a severe punishment.
He was Xiling’s God of War! How many great achievements had he made for the country?
Prince Jing was nothing but a useless fool. What did it matter if something happened to him? Besides, he had returned safe and sound, hadn’t he?