52. The Traitorous General

"Old Madam Yan, First Madam, Second Madam, Third Madam."

When the female members of the Yan family followed the eunuch through the front hall, they were suddenly stopped by a pretty girl about fifteen or sixteen years old.

"Meet Princess Pearl."

Several people looked at the visitor and quickly saluted. Among them, Mrs. Yan San, Yan Chu's biological mother, had the most complicated feelings for the princess.

If this incident hadn't happened, the person in front of her would not only be the most noble princess of Zhou Kingdom, but also her future daughter-in-law.

The wedding of the princess and her son was supposed to be held at the end of this year.

It's a pity that the princess won't get married if something like this happens.

However, Mrs. Yan San had some hope in her heart. Princess Mingzhu had always liked her son, and maybe he would be willing to intercede on his behalf.

"Are these ladies going to plead for Brother Yan?"

Zhou Mingzhu is the youngest daughter of the Queen of Zhou, and her elder brother is the crown prince of Zhou. As the only two princesses in the palace, she is the direct descendant of the Queen and is loved by all.

She has a gentle nature and never gets arrogant due to favors. Compared with the princess who was born from a foreign race, has an eccentric temperament and always treats others with a cold face, she is even more appreciated both inside and outside the palace.

When Princess Mingzhu was born, five sons of the Yan family died in the Yan Kingdom. In order to express his kindness and comfort to the loyal Yan family, the emperor of the Zhou Kingdom assigned this daughter to Yan Chu in marriage. , Princess Mingzhu often went to Yan's mansion, or the queen summoned Yan Chu into the palace. It is not an exaggeration to say that the two were childhood sweethearts.

However, as the two grew up and Yan Chu began to join the Yan family army, the contact between the two gradually diminished, and their relationship was no longer as close as it was when they were children.

"I just begged my father, but my father was very angry about what Brother Yan did and couldn't listen to anyone else. Madams, even if it's for the sake of Sister Ying and the others, please don't ask me for help anymore. ”

Zhou Mingzhu's expression was very embarrassing, but she took the initiative to intercede with His Majesty at such a time, which made the Yan family very grateful. After thanking him again and again, the female family members of the Yan family followed the eunuch to the Xuanshi Hall where the emperor received the courtiers. Go.

"Mom, in fact, what the princess said may not be unreasonable. I know that Yan Chu's child is innocent, but now the proof is irrefutable. You also love Yingying and the other granddaughters."

Mrs. Yan begged softly in the ear of the old lady. She had been married to the Yan family for many years and was the earliest daughter-in-law in the Yan family. However, she was useless. She only gave birth to three daughters for the Yan family and left no incense for her husband. She was wrong about this, so over the years her parents-in-law sent all the good stuff to the third bedroom instead of their first bedroom, and she tolerated it, because who could let her have a son?

But now it is Yan Chu who is causing trouble, and there is no reason for her poor daughters to get involved. The eldest daughter Yingying was abandoned by her husband's family because of Yan Chu, and the second daughter Qianqian and the third daughter Weiwei were also divorced one after another.

But no matter what, there is still life, and the wealth that the Yan family has accumulated over the years, even if they lose their current status, they can still start over as long as they find a place where no one knows them.

If her natal family hadn't been defeated long ago, at this time, she really wanted to follow the example of her second siblings and take her children back to her natal family.

"Sister-in-law, the Yan family is both prosperous and devastated. Since you also think that my son is innocent, then as long as your majesty is allowed to investigate this matter thoroughly, we will definitely be able to give justice to our Yan family."

Mrs. Yan San is Yan Chu's biological mother, how could she be willing to give up her son.

Mrs. Yan didn't say anything when she saw this, because she knew in her heart that her mother-in-law would not agree with her words, so she could only lament for herself and her three women in her heart.

When they entered, the eldest princess Zhou Mingli came out of the Xuanshi Palace. When she saw the female family members of the Yan family, her expressions were still cold, she slightly raised her forehead to them, and left with her maid without waiting for them to salute.

There are two princesses, one named Mingli and the other named Mingzhu, which shows how favored they are.

The eldest princess’s biological mother is a dancer from a foreign race. Even her eye color is not like that of people from the Zhou Dynasty. Her brown eyes, fairer skin than ordinary people, too deep eye sockets, and a high nose bridge have made her receive a lot of strange comments. vision.

As the emperor's eldest daughter, marrying into a high family might not necessarily be willing to marry a daughter-in-law with impure blood. Marrying into a lower family would not be in line with the status of a princess. The same is true. The eldest princess is eighteen years old this year, but she has not been married yet.

At this time, Mrs. Yan and the others no longer cared about the cold and arrogant princess, and walked directly into the Xuanshi Palace, where King Zhou was sitting on the dragon chair waiting for their arrival.

"Old madam, there is no need to say it. My princess has already begged me for love. The Yan family is full of loyal and loyal people. I have also looked up to Yan Chu's child since he was a child. I detained him before just to stop the world from talking about you. , I will try the case to determine what is right and what is wrong. Please don’t embarrass me when the time comes.”

King Zhou's words made the female members of the Yan family cry with joy. They were so grateful to Princess Mingzhu. Just now, she said that her Majesty did not agree to her request. She must be being modest. I am afraid that His Majesty had already been persuaded by her and was willing to re-examine the case. Case closed.

Especially Mrs. Yan San, she felt both grateful and regretful.

I am grateful for Princess Mingzhu's deep love for her son, but it is a pity that the two of them are not destined to get married, because not long ago, the emperor had given an imperial edict to betroth Princess Mingzhu to the chariot general Fu Cong.

However, it was a pleasant surprise to be able to make His Majesty relax. As long as her son could be cleared of the injustice, Madam Yan San had nothing else to ask for.

The King of Zhou was also relieved when he saw this. He was not the kind of tyrant who was jealous of talents, nor did he fear the Yan family and doubt their loyalty.

He was just angry at the time. After all, those were ten cities. Because of Yan Chu's reckless behavior, Zhou suffered huge losses. Even if he was not guilty of treason, he would punish him.

Yan Chu spent half of his childhood in the palace and received the same enlightenment as the prince. The King of Zhou could still recognize the other party's handwriting. He knew that there were very few people in the world who could imitate other people's handwriting, but some of the special words on the letter had some small mistakes and habits that were the same as Yan Chu's, which made the King of Zhou doubtful.

It was also because of this that he did not reject the proposal of the court officials to torture Yan Chu.

This retrial was to let the people of Zhou know that he was not such a heartless person, and to give Yan Chu a chance. If he could prove his innocence, perhaps he could also save a loyal general for the Great Zhou.

King Zhou looked at the happy and moved women of the Yan family, but he was not optimistic about this retrial. After all, the evidence was really irrefutable.

*****

"Princess, is it worth it?"

A crisp little girl's voice came from a secluded palace.

"I don't have you in my heart at all. Even if you do a lot for him, I don't know who will be credited for this favor." A little palace maid in a green skirt pouted, still looking childish.

"It's worth it, I think it's worth it."

By the window, a slender woman in palace dress stood in the slanting sunlight. In her hand, she held a small wooden bow that had become particularly smooth due to long-term caressing. Her smile was bitter and had a few traces of nostalgia.

A pair of rare brown eyes seemed to flow in the sunlight.

*****

In this cell where only he was imprisoned, Yan Chu could hardly tell day from night. In the past two days, no matter how he called 007, he did not get a response from the other party.

Yan Chu did not know if he would be punished if he performed the wrong mission because of such an accident.

According to his observations in the past two days and the roar that just possessed the original body, he felt vaguely that this was the wish of a general who died unjustly, and his wish was to avenge the royal family and the ignorant people and overthrow this vast country?

But thinking about it, it seemed that there was something wrong, and Yan Chu had not thought of it yet.

"You are lucky. The emperor actually asked about the words of your old woman in the Yan family and re-examined your case. Humph, a traitor like you, with conclusive evidence, what else is there to try."

The old jailer opened the door with the key, followed by a long line of guards.

"I am innocent."

Since Yan Chu crossed into this body, the only words he repeated were these three words.

The old jailer curled his lips. His sister's only son died in Bianzhou. If Yan Chu had not started the war, he would not have died. He would have been a sinner.

The people behind him were all dressed as the imperial guards. Seeing the once majestic General Yan, now bloodied and collapsed on the haystack, made those people sigh and sympathize.

Most of the imperial guards were from aristocratic families. They did not believe that the Yan family would collude with the Jiang Kingdom. After all, this was of no benefit to them, and many of the Yan family's ancestors died at the hands of the Jiang people. It was not possible for both sides to unite.

But they did not understand why Yan Chu took the initiative to attack the Ming Kingdom. This was unreasonable.

He issued the military order, which was one of the reasons why everyone believed that he was a traitor.

Now many aristocratic families speculated whether His Majesty could not tolerate the Yan family. Perhaps His Majesty also had his hand in this, but it really wronged King Zhou.

The guards wanted to pull Yan Chu up, but found that his hands and feet seemed to be limp and he had little strength. Even if he was tortured, it shouldn't be like this with the ability of the Yan family.

Several sharp-eyed guards immediately saw the obvious and terrifying scars on Yan Chu's limbs. Who was responsible for the torture? He actually cut Yan Chu's hands and feet.

Even if Yan was re-examined this time and the young general was cleared of the crime, his life would be ruined.

Can a useless person still lead the Yan family army?

Several people looked at each other, looking at the calm and undefeated General Yan, whose eyes were still firm. For some reason, those children of the noble families who had always been dissatisfied with the other party's reputation, at this moment, developed some admiration for him.

They lifted Yan Chu up. His Majesty and the ministers were already waiting in the palace. They only hoped that Madam Yan and the others would not faint when they saw General Yan in this state.