Volume 6: Demons Rise from the East Sea Chapter 395 The Best Result
"However, considering his meritorious service in saving the emperor from the catastrophe," the young eunuch finally continued after a pause, "his merits can offset his faults and he can be spared the death penalty. Xu Zun is now dismissed from all his posts and expelled from the court."
Having said this, the young eunuch put away the imperial edict.
And Xu Zun realized then that there was no "秦此" after the imperial edict, so this could only be regarded as the Empress Dowager's decree, not a real imperial edict.
However, in this situation, the power of the imperial decree is obviously greater than that of the imperial edict.
So Xu Zun hurriedly said: "Xu Zun accepts the order and thanks God for His grace!"
Unexpectedly, as soon as Xu Zun finished speaking, a man stood up from the crowd, bowed to Empress Dowager Lin and said:
"The Queen Mother is very perceptive. Although Xu Zun was not in a good position to protect the Crown Prince, he was able to investigate the major case of the attack on the East China Sea delegation. He went deep into the tiger's den and took risks. He also captured the wanted criminal Kong Zhen, which can be regarded as a great achievement.
"Also, Xu Zun is loyal and intelligent, a rare talent. I hope the Queen Mother will show mercy and retain his official position, allowing him to make up for his crime and make meritorious contributions, and then we can see the results!"
this……
Xu Zun looked and saw that the person who pleaded for him was the current Chief of the Internal Guards - Cai Kun!
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
Two more people came out from behind, they were Chen Taiji and Dongfang Yaorao.
“Alright!” Queen Mother Lin glanced at Xu Zun, a sharp gaze flashed behind the jade pendant, and then said, “You all don’t have to plead for Xu Zun anymore. Failure to do one’s duty is failure to do one’s duty. The death of the crown prince has damaged the dignity of our Great Xuan nation. Sparing his life is already a mercy beyond the law!”
"Yes," Xu Zun quickly agreed, "I am deeply grateful and thank God for His grace. The Queen Mother is in harmony with the heavens and will be blessed forever!"
Seeing that Xu Zun had accepted reality, Cai Kun could only sigh helplessly and retreat silently...
After dealing with Xu Zun, the Queen Mother immediately announced the adjournment of the court. Next, she invited the cabinet members and the six ministers and others to the back hall to discuss the matter of pacifying the East China Sea.
The rest of the civil and military officials left the Golden Palace one after another, and as they left, they all cast various glances towards Xu Zun.
There are those who sympathize, those who lament, but there are more who gloat over the misfortune...
"Alas!" After leaving the palace gate, Huo Anu and others were inevitably depressed. Huo Anu sighed, "We went through life and death several times and spent so much effort, but in the end, not only did we not get any praise, but we were dismissed from our official positions. It's really..."
"Huh..." Zhao Yu sensed something and quickly blocked Huo Anu's mouth and glared at him, "We have just left the palace. Do you want everyone to die with you?"
Hearing Zhao Yu's warning, everyone quickly looked around vigilantly.
Fortunately, officials at all levels were relatively far away from them and all got on their respective sedan chairs.
"open!"
Huo Anu lifted Zhao Yu's wrist in disgust, but even though she was full of resentment, she knew that talking too much would lead to mistakes, so she stopped talking immediately.
Xu Zunze signaled with his eyes, and then several people got on the carriage tacitly and entered the same compartment.
Ah Xiu drove the car himself, while the other guards followed on horseback.
"It's really interesting," Ani said as she looked outside the carriage after entering it. "Isn't the Queen Mother's decree to dismiss you a bit vague? Since you've been dismissed, shouldn't we guards be unemployed as well?
"It goes without saying that we followed the adults, but they..." Ani looked at Hou Zhen and the others and said, "Why are they still following?"
At this time, Hou Zhen waved the whip and the carriage slowly moved forward.
"Old Zhao," Xu Zun asked Zhao Yu without any expression on his face, "What did the Queen Mother say before I entered the Golden Throne Hall? Why are you all kneeling in the hall?"
"No way? You don't know?" Huo Anu suddenly widened his eyes. "The Queen Mother is asking us about the attack on the delegation and asked us to tell the story in front of all the civil and military officials in the court."
"Ah?" Xu Zun was shocked and asked hurriedly, "How...how did you answer?"
"Don't worry, sir," Zhao Yu said quickly, "I have already discussed the words with everyone in advance. I will just say that all these conspiracies were planned by Kong Zhen and Xuanmen together!
"The assassins who killed the prince were all Kong Zhen's men..."
"Ah?" Huo Anu grabbed Zhao Yu by the collar, "Zhao Yu, didn't you say that it was Lord Xu's order? Are you lying to us?"
"Sister," Ani was quick-witted and immediately stopped Huo Anu and said, "Don't worry, I think it makes sense for Lao Zhao to let us say that."
oh……
At this time, Xu Zun and Zhao Yu exchanged glances.
Looking at Zhao Yu's affirmative look, Xu Zun immediately understood what had happened.
It seems that when he was waiting for the Queen Mother in the Baihua Hall, the Queen Mother had already called Zhao Yu to her side and asked him about the details.
According to Xu Zun's instructions, Zhao Yu, as a spy, should tell the Queen Mother all their experiences in the East China Sea without reservation.
The Queen Mother was really resourceful. She knew that if she asked herself directly, she would exaggerate, so she deliberately transferred herself away and then asked Zhao Yu and other spies who were planted around her.
Therefore, Empress Dowager Lin was able to understand the entire situation and all the details of the East China Sea at the first possible moment.
She knew that the prince was a senior leader of the Xuan Sect and was involved in the heavenly calamity incident; she also knew that the prince and Kong Zhen had conspired to plan the attack on the delegation; she knew even more that the person who killed the prince must not have been sent by Kong Zhen...
Therefore, it can be seen that the one who ordered Zhao Yu to arrange Huo Anu and others to tell lies should be the Queen Mother.
Therefore, Xu Zun now basically understands the Queen Mother's attitude. Just as he expected, the Queen Mother will absolutely not expose the Prince's scandal.
That would cause endless trouble and would do more harm than good to the Queen Mother.
"Yes," Xu Zun nodded and said, seeing Huo Anu still insisting on Zhao Yu, "I told Zhao Yu to say that. This is the best way for us to protect ourselves at the moment."
"The Queen Mother is not a fool," Huo Anu frowned and said, "Sooner or later she will find out that we are lying! How can she let us go for the crime of deceiving the emperor?"
"Don't worry," Xu Zun comforted him, "No, this is what the Queen Mother wanted in the first place, and we both know it.
"On the contrary, if the prince's scandal is exposed, we will be in great trouble!"
"Oh? What does the Queen Mother mean?" Huo Anu finally came to his senses and felt a little more at ease.
"But, Master Xu..." However, Ani's words made everyone's heart rise to their throat again, "Even if the Queen Mother doesn't want to expose the scandal, we are all insiders! Isn't she afraid that we will leak the news?"
"This..." Zhao Yu thought about it carefully, and suddenly a dark cloud came over his heart. He felt that Annie's worries were not unreasonable.
"No way?" Huo Anu said, "If the Queen Mother wanted to silence us, why did she summon us to the palace? Wouldn't it be better to just charge us with protecting the Crown Prince and execute us all?"
"No," Ani said, "If that were the case, it would force us to tell the truth and end up in a dead end.
"There are too many people who know about the Crown Prince's case. I think... if the Queen Mother really wants to silence us, she should do it like this, first stabilize us, and then take it slowly."
"Anuqie!" Huo Anu cursed angrily, "That's too cruel, isn't it? No wonder Hou Zhen and the others were not allowed to leave. Could it be that they want to wipe us all out?"
Such an analysis made everyone present nervous and the atmosphere was depressing.
"Haha, hahaha..." However, after seeing everyone's expressions, Xu Zun suddenly laughed heartily and said to everyone, "You don't have to worry about it anymore! We have already got the best result for the East China Sea matter!"
"Ah?" Everyone was puzzled.
"Next," Xu Zun said, "we just need to control our mouths and behave ourselves, and everything will be fine!"
"Ah? Really?" Huo Anu asked, "Are you sure the Queen Mother won't deal with us?"
"Yes! Absolutely sure!" Xu Zun nodded affirmatively.
However, the way everyone looked at him was still full of deep suspicion.
Seeing this, Xu Zun took out something from his arms with a smile and said to everyone:
"Let me ask you something. Since the Queen Mother has dismissed me from my post, why don't you take this thing back?"
ah?
Everyone looked at what Xu Zun was holding, and saw that what he was holding was the exquisitely crafted Lily Token!!!
