Chapter 48: How do you want me to punish Cheng Jiao?
Zhangtai Palace.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng wore a Tongtian crown and a black robe embroidered with a mythical black bird.
Sitting at the desk, holding a brush, he was correcting memorials. He would never finish correcting all the memorials in front of him.
"Your Majesty, Queen Mother Han is here to see you."
Gai Nie walked in proudly and reported to Ying Zheng in a cold and stern voice.
If Ying Zheng had not known Gai Nie's personality and expressionless face, he would have thought that Gai Nie was dissatisfied with him.
Upon hearing that Queen Mother Han came to Zhangtai Palace to look for him, Ying Zheng did not ask Gai Nie to pass the message. Instead, he immediately put down the brush in his hand and went to the door to greet Queen Mother Han in person.
"Greetings, Queen Mother." Ying Zheng went out and bowed deeply to Queen Mother Han. He supported Queen Mother Han with one hand and stretched out the other hand to lead Queen Mother Han into the palace.
"Yes." Queen Dowager Han nodded without returning the greeting, and followed Ying Zheng into Zhangtai Palace.
It was not that she was impolite, but that Ying Zheng asked for it himself - how could parents in the world be polite to their sons?
"Your Majesty."
After Concubine Zheng saluted Ying Zheng, she followed the two men into the room.
She noticed that there was a hint of suspicion in Ying Zheng's eyes when he looked at her just now, and she couldn't help but regret having followed Queen Mother Han to Zhangtai Palace.
Entered Zhangtai Palace.
Because the main hall of Zhangtai Palace is used for reviewing memorials, it is not suitable for rest.
So Ying Zheng led Queen Dowager Han into a side hall with a soft couch where they could take a short rest.
He helped Queen Mother Han sit in the upper seat, and sat down at the lower seat himself, smiling and saying, "How come Queen Mother has the time to come and see me today?"
Since Queen Dowager Han entered Zhangtai Palace, her eyes have been scanning the surroundings, and she did not stop looking until Ying Zheng asked questions.
"What is the Queen Mother looking for?" Ying Zheng asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing." Queen Mother Han said perfunctorily.
She couldn't say that she was looking for some guy.
Queen Dowager Han did not find Ying Chengjiao, and did not know whether Ying Chengjiao had come or not, but she had already sat here with Concubine Zheng, and she could not drag things on any longer, so she had to pretend to be here with Concubine Zheng to stand up for Ying Fusu, and her eyes lit up.
"I came here today to ask your majesty why Fusu was confined to his house!"
Ying Zheng frowned.
After he left his son to Ying Chengjiao, he specifically instructed Zhao Gao and Gai Nie not to report anything about Ying Fusu in the next two days.
Therefore, Ying Zheng had no idea that Ying Fusu was confined to the Zheng Palace. Upon hearing what Queen Mother Han said, Ying Zheng blurted out, "I did not confine Fusu."
When Queen Dowager Han heard what Ying Zheng said, she knew that Ying Chengjiao had never been there, and she couldn't help but curse in her heart.
He usually comes and goes without a trace, as fast as a ghost. Why is he running so slowly today?
"Your Majesty, don't you know that Fusu is under house arrest?" Concubine Zheng, who had found a place to sit down, couldn't help but ask, her face full of hope.
"I don't know." Ying Zheng shook his head.
Concubine Zheng couldn't help but be overjoyed, but then she became resentful towards Ying Chengjiao.
This brat actually lied to me? I will take Fusu to Chang'an Junfu to settle accounts with him soon!
"Your Majesty, please release Fusu!"
Concubine Zheng knelt on the ground and begged, tears streaming down her face.
"Okay! How dare this brat lie to me!" Queen Mother Han was furious and stood up to leave.
Ying Zheng spread out his wide sleeves and stopped Queen Mother Han, saying with a wry smile: "Wait a minute, Queen Mother. You need to explain what's going on."
Then he pulled Concubine Zheng up with a look of impatience on his face and said, "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't cry."
After settling the two women, Ying Zheng called Gai Nie in loudly and asked, "Why is Fusu under house arrest?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" Ying Zheng was surprised, somewhat unbelievable, and somewhat unable to understand.
When Zhao Gao was in charge of issuing seals and decrees, he asked Zhao Gao what happened in the palace, and Zhao Gao knew everything.
"I don't know." Gai Nie answered again, his tone the same as before, without any shame.
Seeing Ying Zheng's puzzled and questioning eyes, Gai Nie also had doubts in his eyes: "Should I know?"
In addition to issuing seals and decrees, do you also have to monitor matters in the palace?
The tears on Concubine Zheng's face stopped.
The shock in her heart suppressed her sadness for a moment, and she looked at Gai Nie with doubt and uncertainty, with a cold and hard face.
Hasn’t Zhao Gao always been by your Majesty’s side?
When did the person change?
How dare he stare into Your Majesty's eyes while speaking?
His face was cold and hard. How dare he treat Your Majesty so badly?
How could he dare to ask His Majesty a question in return when he failed to answer the question?
A series of question marks in Concubine Zheng’s mind almost made her head explode!
She really didn't understand where Gai Nie got the confidence to treat the First Emperor like that.
Queen Mother Han looked at Gai Nie suspiciously, feeling puzzled.
Why is the tone so similar to Cheng Jiao's? Could this person be someone Cheng Jiao had sent for?
Ying Zheng was silent for two breaths, then said, "Call Zhao Gao in."
Gai Nie responded: "Yes."
Both of them felt somewhat relieved.
Soon, Zhao Gao replaced Gai Nie and stood in front of Ying Zheng with his head bowed respectfully.
"What's the matter with Fusu being under house arrest?" Ying Zheng asked the same question to Zhao Gao, who had not yet recovered from his injuries.
Zhao Gao did not hesitate for a moment and said respectfully, "The evening before yesterday, Lord Chang'an confined the eldest son to the Zheng Palace and beheaded the eunuchs who had served the eldest son for more than ten years. He also told the eunuchs and maids of the Zheng Palace that if the eldest son set foot outside the Zheng Palace, they would all be killed. To this day, the eldest son has not set foot outside the Zheng Palace."
"I understand. You can go down." Ying Zheng waved his hand.
"I'll take my leave."
Zhao Gao continued to speak respectfully, then turned to Ying Zheng, hunched over, and walked away from the side hall in small steps.
When Zhao Gao was reporting the matter of Ying Fusu to Ying Zheng just now, he never raised his head during the whole process.
"Shan'er, why do you look so bad?" Ying Zheng said as he looked at Concubine Zheng, whose face had turned pale without him noticing.
Concubine Zheng's name was Zheng Shan.
"Your Majesty, I was shocked when I heard that Chang'an Jun killed Director Zhao, who had served Fusu for many years, in front of Fusu. Chang'an Jun not only confined Fusu for no reason, but also committed such an evil act in front of Fusu. He should be severely punished!"
"You care about Fusu so much that you even know the surname of the eunuch who served Fusu." Ying Zheng asked, "How do you want me to punish Cheng Jiao ?"
Queen Mother Han, who had been concerned about Ying Chengjiao , was no longer anxious after hearing what the First Emperor said.
The only empress dowager in Xianyang Palace threw all her body weight onto the tiger skin on the couch and said angrily, "Severe punishment! Must be severe punishment! This brat is so rampant! This time he must suffer a great loss and learn a lesson! Zheng, you decide! I'll make the decision for you!"
Before Concubine Zheng could finish her words, tears started falling again.
"Everything is up to your majesty. I dare not speak rashly. I just hope that Chang'an Jun will not hurt Fusu again."
"This is easy to handle. Shangjun is a thousand miles away from Xianyang. Even if Cheng Jiao wants to, he can't hurt Fusu."
