mesbooks Chapter 281 Spare Them
Chapter 281 Spare Them
At this point, Zhang Damei touched her neck in fear.
The Imperial Concubine at the side urged: "Go on."
Zhang Damei swallowed her saliva and continued:
"I took the opportunity to mark the child while I was sending the maids to see their masters. I put a drop of blood on the collar of my grandson and another drop of blood on the sleeve of the child of the lady who was dressed most gorgeously. The other child was not marked at all.
After I finished marking, I moved the unmarked child inside. At this time, the children cried faintly, and the people outside heard the crying and urged to see the children.
I said to the two maids, "Take your children and go out."
Upon hearing this, the two maids hurried over. The maid who was dressed most gorgeously asked, "Who is our young master?" I pointed at my grandson.
Then I pointed out the child with the mark on his cuff to another maid. Soon, they got up and left the Hidden Spirit Temple. We took the child born by the lady who was dressed a little more simply back home.
After Zhang Damei finished speaking, the emperor's expression became more and more unsightly. He still remembered clearly what happened back then.
He was wondering why Empress Sun was so kind as to let the Imperial Concubine go to Yinling Temple to pray for blessings. It turned out that she was planning to kill his beloved concubine and the child in her womb. Her intention was too vicious.
After hearing this, the Imperial Concubine felt very complicated. She looked at Ren Jingzhi who was standing beside her, then looked at Zhang Damei who was kneeling, and for a moment she could no longer hate him.
She thought to herself, if Zhang Damei had not been selfish for a moment, her Xian'er would have really died. So, she had to thank this coincidence.
"Your Majesty, this couple deserves to die, but it is precisely because of this strange combination of circumstances that our Xian'er is still alive and well, and their grandson is also dead. This can be regarded as their retribution. Please spare them!"
The Imperial Concubine looked at the Emperor with a hint of pleading in her eyes.
The Emperor gently embraced the Imperial Concubine and said softly, "My beloved, you are so kind. I will listen to you."
The emperor then ordered the guards beside him: "Throw them out of the palace!"
Upon receiving the order, the two guards stepped forward immediately, one on the left and one on the right, supporting Wang Dashu who was lying on the ground, and then pulled Zhang Damei who was still kowtowing and begging for mercy, and walked out of the dining hall without mercy.
Zhang Damei was still muttering "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty..." but the voice was gradually drowned out by the dragging footsteps of the guards.
Prime Minister Ren was watching this scene from the side, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.
Suddenly, he knelt down with a plop. The sound was particularly abrupt in the already quiet dining room.
He first turned to the direction of the emperor and the imperial concubine, and said with a guilty look on his face: "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine, please forgive me. I didn't know that Zhier was the eldest prince, and he suffered a lot."
As he spoke, his eyes became red, tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement.
Then, he hurriedly turned towards Ren Jingzhi, stretched out his hand to grab the corner of Ren Jingzhi's clothes, and said anxiously: "Zhi'er, no, eldest prince, it is this old minister who made you suffer."
He looked as if he had committed a huge mistake and was filled with guilt towards Ren Jingzhi.
Upon seeing this, Ren Jingzhi hurriedly stepped forward, helped Prime Minister Ren up, and held his hand tightly, his eyes full of emotion and respect.
"Father, what are you talking about? Thank you for your careful cultivation of me over the years. If you hadn't searched for famous doctors all over the world for me when I was poisoned by the prince, I wouldn't have survived until Ran Ran appeared.
It is you who gave me a second life. In my heart, you and the Emperor will always be my father. I will never forget this love. "
The emperor was quite moved when he saw this scene. He walked forward, patted Prime Minister Ren on the shoulder, and said:
"Lord Ren, I have seen how well you have nurtured Jingzhi over the years. He is brave and resourceful, and has the world in his heart. This is all thanks to your contribution. I really want to thank you."
The Imperial Concubine also said, "Yes, Prime Minister Ren, thanks to you, our virtuous son can be so outstanding. I am grateful to you from the bottom of my heart." There was a sincere smile on her face and her eyes were full of gratitude.
After hearing what the emperor and the imperial concubine said, Prime Minister Ren was deeply moved and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine, this is what an old minister should do."
At this moment, Prime Minister Ren seemed to suddenly remember something. He turned his head and looked at Wang Lei beside him. With a complicated look in his eyes, he slowly grasped Wang Lei's hand with trembling hands and said in a choked voice, "Child, you have suffered these years."
Wang Lei's eyes suddenly turned red when he heard this. He knelt down with a plop and held Prime Minister Ren's hand tightly. Tears flashed in his eyes and he said excitedly: "Father, I finally recognize you. All the sufferings over the years are nothing now."
For a moment, the atmosphere in the dining hall was filled with the emotion of relatives recognizing each other, as well as regrets about past experiences. Everyone's emotions were immersed in this complex atmosphere.
Then, the emperor seemed to have made some kind of decision, and said solemnly: "I will make a decision today. Change Ren Jingzhi's name to the eldest son's original name, Yu Gongxian, and Wang Lei's name to Ren Lei, so that everything can return to normal."
The emperor paused for a moment and continued, "Lord Ren, thank you for raising a good son. The throne of the crown prince will be passed to Ren Lei. This will make up for the suffering he has endured over the years."
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, Prime Minister Ren hurriedly pulled Ren Lei over and knelt down, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
"Get up quickly. You and your son will have to continue to support the new emperor in stabilizing the country in the future." The emperor's words were full of profound meaning, leaving everyone present puzzled.
Yu Gongxian and Yu Gongyu secretly felt that an invisible pressure was coming towards them. They looked at each other and couldn't help but feel panicked.
After the emperor finished speaking, he looked at the imperial concubine affectionately.
Then he spoke again slowly: "Father is no longer in good health, and can no longer manage the country. The talents and courage you two brothers have shown in quelling the rebellion at the border are enough to show that you are capable of governing the country. Now, you two decide for yourselves who will take over the throne."
After hearing what his father said, Yu Gongxian was startled at first, and then he said hurriedly:
"Father, what are you talking about? Your good health is a blessing for our dynasty and the world. You have managed this country in an orderly manner over the years, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. This is all thanks to you.
After hearing what Yu Gongxian said, the emperor just waved his hand gently, with a firm and slightly yearning expression on his face, and then slowly said:
"My dear son, your father understands your thoughts, but he has made up his mind. I have been busy fighting in the court and managing the country for the first half of my life, and I do owe your mother something."