166. Bandit Emperor (12) (1/2)

Jin State has changed.

In just three days, the blood on the execution platform in the capital flowed layer after layer. On the third day, the sky above the entire capital seemed to be filled with a thick smell of blood.

This new lord, who has always been benevolent and righteous, showed no mercy to those corrupt officials who committed heinous crimes. He confiscated their homes and beheaded them. After killing batches of corrupt officials, the originally empty treasury actually became full.

The soldiers who were ordered to confiscate the property carried out boxes of property from the corrupt officials' houses, especially the imperial concubine's family. Treasures that ordinary poor people would never see in their lifetime were carried out. Boxes of gold, the imperial concubine's family was confiscated for a whole day, and the objects that accumulated the blood and tears of countless people were moved to the treasury.

Although the new lord was a peasant, he did not completely change the ideas of the civil and military ministers in the court. It was just that after the corrupt officials left by Emperor Tianshun were killed, there were only a few civil and military officials left in the court.

On the third day, the new master dropped some important news.

Open the imperial examination, reduce taxes, and send officials back to Beijing to report on their work.

The people who were originally worried were finally calmed down after knowing the tax reduction.

Although they were still afraid of the mighty soldiers patrolling the city, at least they would not hide at home and dare not go out like before.

Those who had been persecuted by corrupt officials would have the courage to go to the execution ground to watch the corrupt officials beheaded.

Those officials who used to treat them as human lives and beat them wantonly finally knelt on the ground at this moment, waiting for the machete to fall with snot and tears on their faces.

The royal families who used to run rampant in the countryside did not directly eradicate them, but first investigated their crimes, and those who committed crimes were sentenced to death. Those who really did not commit any crimes were directly demoted to paupers and all their property was confiscated.

Ji Xiawan's stepsister, the princess consort, who arranged her marriage, was driven out of the palace. Her husband, the King of Liang, had killed many people and had been beheaded.

Wei Mingyan's kindness in treating these people might be to not implicate the female relatives. The King of Liang was beheaded, and the wives, concubines and children in the palace were demoted to civilians. Almost every woman who had been high and mighty and jealous of the King of Liang was driven out.

They were unfortunate and lucky. At least, the crimes committed by their husbands did not fall on them. Although the soldiers were rude, at least they did not do anything terrible to them.

Outside the gates of the mansions of dignitaries in the past, the female relatives cried outside. Those who had their mothers' families could go back to their mothers' families, and those who did not have their mothers' families could only survive on their own.

Ji Xiating found herself back. When she was pushed out, all the gold hairpins on her head were taken away. She was really penniless.

Crying and begging, she saw the concubine who was the most favored by the King of Liang because of her beauty, with messy hair, trying desperately to return to the palace, but was pushed away impatiently by the soldiers. The woman who relied on her favor to mock her several times cried very embarrassedly.

Ji Xia Ting couldn't help but feel a little more happy.

She looked at the other concubine who was sitting on the ground blankly, and the contempt in her eyes became even more serious.

The King of Liang liked beauty, as long as she was good-looking, he would pamper her to the sky. This concubine was born in a peasant family. She was just a maid. Later, she was favored by the King of Liang and was first taken in as a concubine. After she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, she was named a concubine.

Ji Xiating, the princess, had not given birth yet, so how could she be willing to see the blood of the King of Liang alive? She only used a little trick, and the child who had just been born was gone. It was unknown how the concubine found out that it was her. After she complained to the King of Liang but failed, she had been eyeing Ji Xiating covetously and did everything she could to oppose her.

She was beautiful. Although she had a bitter face every day when she was forced by the drunken King of Liang, and refused to serve the King of Liang, which made him disgusted, she cheered up after the child died and tried her best to please the King of Liang, causing him to not go to Ji Xiating's room once a month.

Ji Xiating hated her to the bone. Of course, she would not think that it was she who killed the concubine's child first, which made her, who originally just wanted to live a good life, hate herself and call her a bitch behind her back.

Now that the King of Liang has fallen, she is in a panic, looking at the crying women on the ground, and she feels a little proud of being high above.

She is different from them.

She was loved by her father and mother at home, and her father was the governor. Although she was implicated by the imperial concubine and the King of Liang in the palace, she could not be the same as before, but with the care of her mother and father, she would still be the daughter of the Ji family.

The pain of having no children in the past was better now, at least no one was burdened, and her appearance had never changed, and she was still so attractive. As long as she returned home, she could still marry again.

Ji Xia Ting gently raised her chin, looking at the group of crying women with some pity, more of a gloating look, just thinking that their pitiful appearance made people happy.

The arrogance in her eyes was stopped when she saw a couple coming with a carriage, carefully arranging the soldiers, and thanking them profusely and walking to the concubine whose child she killed.

"Qiniang, don't cry, go home with your parents quickly, and your father will find a good husband for you."

After the old man with gray hair on his temples finished speaking, the concubine's mother also said, "Yes, Qi Niang, we saved enough money to redeem you, but we couldn't redeem you. Now it's good. You can go home without spending a penny."

As she spoke, she wiped her tears, and her wrinkled face was full of tears and joy, which was very complicated.

At that time, her head of the family was seriously ill, and the family really had no money. They had no choice but to sell their little daughter to the palace as a maid. Originally, everything was fine. Although the master in the palace had a strange temper, Qi Niang was just a little maid and could not get close to the master. Every month, she would ask someone to bring back the monthly silver for them.

After the head of the family recovered from the illness, their family worked hard, and with the silver that Qi Niang asked someone to bring back, they finally collected enough money to redeem themselves, but they were told that Qi Niang was favored by the prince and had been taken into the room.

If this news was changed to a family who wanted to rely on their daughter to get rich, they would be happy, but for the couple, it was like a bolt from the blue.

They knew their daughter and knew that she had always wanted to leave the mansion to marry the boy from the neighbor's family. This was why the old couple was so anxious to take their daughter home.

Outsiders said that their Qi Niang was a concubine and how glorious it was, but only Qi Niang's mother, who had been to the palace once, knew how hard her daughter had been.

"It's good now. Thanks to your care over the years, the family has some foundation. When we return home, we will prepare the dowry well. Zhuzi has never married..."

The family cried and laughed with tears, supporting each other and walked away.

Not everyone in the Liang Wang Mansion was willing to stay.

Now that they were set free, they could not shed a single tear when they heard the news of their former husband's death, and returned home happily.

Ji Xia Ting stood there and looked around. She saw that people had come to pick her up one after another, but only she had no news at all.

Didn't her mother receive the news she sent?

Or did the slut who took her money keep it for herself?

She kept waiting, maintaining her dignified posture, until sunset.

Finally, Ji Xia Ting couldn't wait any longer and went back home by herself.

When she went back, the door of the Ji family was closed. Ji Xia Ting looked a little uneasy, but she still went forward and knocked on the door in person.

In the house, Ji's father, who had rushed back to the capital, was frowning while sipping tea and thinking about something. The servant came over and said, "Master, the second young lady is back."

Ji's father frowned more and more, and he slammed the teacup heavily on the table, "What second young lady? That's the abandoned princess."

The servant was frightened and trembled all over, "Yes, master, it's the abandoned princess..."

"The abandoned princess is back now, master, there are many people watching outside..."

The implication is that it is not good to just let Ji Xia Ting knock on the door.

Ji's father's eyebrows were frowned so much that he could almost pinch a fly to death.

He said with a cold face, although he was reluctant, "Put it in."

"Send it directly to the lady."

"Yes, sir."

Father Ji stood up and went to the study. His heart was not calm, and his writing was not stable. He looked at the handwriting on it and sighed.

How could such a thing always happen to him so unlucky?

Ting'er must not be left. If such a princess of the former dynasty lives in his home, wouldn't it remind the current emperor all the time that he was once a relative of the former emperor?

After all, they are father and daughter, so let her end it herself.

Ting'er has always been sensible and will definitely go on the road obediently.

If she refuses and still wants to live in this world, then we can only let people do it like they did to Wan'er's mother.

It's a pity that if he knew that this day would come, he would not force Wan'er's mother to die.

The kind-faced man thought, and sighed with kindness again, and the brush fell, and the ink dripped gently on the fine paper.

Ting'er is not the only one in this family who has a relationship with the royal family of the previous dynasty. Well, let them go together.

On the road to the underworld, they will not be lonely.

***

In the small courtyard

Ji Xiawan wore loose clothes to cover her protruding belly. Fortunately, the weather is cold now and everyone wears more clothes. After she covered it, she was not so conspicuous.

"Miss, His Majesty is probably busy enough, and it's time to pick you up."

Qing Ziru looked at the girl in front of her, her eyes full of joy for her, "From now on, you don't have to hide anymore."

Ji Xiawan's expression was still a little dazed, and she subconsciously stretched out her hand to protect her belly.

Once when Wei Mingyan was uncertain about winning or losing, she could rely on his proper arrangements for her and was willing to go with him, but now, he has won.

That man has become the emperor who is high above everyone else. Even if he takes her into the palace, how will they get along with each other in the future with such a relationship?

Ji Xiawan never thought that she could become the queen. When the new emperor ascended the throne, it was impossible for him to marry a queen with no family background, or even a stepmother who was a noble concubine of the previous country.

She was pregnant, so that person should be given a concubine title.

In the future, that man will have three thousand beauties in his harem, what should she do?

Ji Xiawan did not tell Qing Ziru about these thoughts. She was not very old and could handle things properly, but in some ways, she seemed to trust the man's feelings for her too much.

Ji Xiawan could see that Ziru thought they were in love, so they had this child.

But who knew that this child was just an accident.

At night, Ji Xiawan lay down carefully protecting her abdomen, and suddenly said to Qing Ziru who was about to turn off the lights, "If I enter the palace, I can also protect the people around me."

Qing Ziru smiled and replied, "Of course, don't worry, Miss, His Majesty will not watch those people bully you."

"My brother is next to His Majesty, he told me that His Majesty is protecting her."

Looking at the trusting expression on her face under the light, Ji Xiawan closed her eyes.

But, she is not his shortcoming at all.

After closing her eyes, the darkness was all over her. Ji Xiawan couldn't help but picture the man's appearance in her mind, just like she had done in the past few days.

He was wearing dirty and ragged clothes. When they first met, he had a big beard. Later, he went to shave it as if he was afraid of scaring her. After shaving, he lost the savagery that made people afraid, as if he had become a different person.

Ji Xiawan still remembered that she was full of fear at that time. She thought that this man was sent by her stepmother to deliberately humiliate her. She was relieved until he was sent to the room.

She also remembered that he skillfully climbed over the wall under her surprised eyes. Later, before they parted, he took her hairpin and forced a piece of jade into her hand. When he was comparing the jade, his eyes were bright and he was ruffian. He looked unreliable.

But such an unreliable person had thought of a way out for her long ago.

Ji Xiawan didn't know what she felt in her heart. She couldn't even tell what kind of emotion she had for that man.

She could die together with him because of his friendship, but she was afraid to get along with him.

In the dark, the girl reached out and took out the jade pendant from under the pillow.

This was a rough jade pendant, and even a corner was missing.

At that time, she didn't know what kind of mood she was in, and she just brought the jade pendant back. Maybe it was because the man said he would marry her and take responsibility.

It may also be that his eyes were too bright, and he didn't look like a ruffian at all, and he looked serious.

Ji Xiawan stroked the jade pendant in her hand, and let herself fall asleep in thousands of thoughts.

What will happen in the future, let's think about it in the future.

Anyway, it's not as bad as before.

The next day, when it was just dawn, the eunuch who was not released from the palace but continued to serve came to the Ji family.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict arrived but was not in a hurry to open the imperial edict and read it out. Instead, he looked at the Ji family members kneeling below and said, "Master Ji, is Miss Ji here?"

Ji Xia Ting was so scared that her whole body was stiff. She knelt down and took a few steps forward. "I am here."

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict was satisfied, but still said, "Master Ji's family members are all here. If they are all here, we will start."

Now that the new master has just ascended the throne and slaughtered the capital, it can be seen that he is a petty person. Ji's father was trembling with fear and dared not relax. He hurriedly said, "There is another daughter who is seriously ill. I will let her out now."

When he asked someone to invite Ji Xia Wan out, he remembered that he had not seen this daughter since he returned to Beijing.

Just heard from his wife that she fell ill after returning from the temple. She couldn't even get out of bed all day and could only take medicine every day to prolong her life.

Thinking of this, Ji's father added to the servant who was delivering the message, "If the young lady is not feeling well, have someone help her out."

After he finished giving the order, he quickly took out the silver note and handed it to the eunuch delivering the imperial edict. Seeing that he took it calmly, he felt relieved.

The attitude of the eunuch delivering the imperial edict generally represents the attitude of the emperor. Now that he is willing to accept the silver note, it at least shows that this time it is not a bad thing.

"Eunuch, I just returned to Beijing. Does His Majesty have any instructions for me?"

The eunuch took the silver note, and his expression was no longer official, but revealed, "Master Ji, this is a great thing."

The new lady and Ji Xia Ting, who were kneeling on the ground, had slightly fluctuating eyes, and they all listened to the eunuch's words with their ears perked up.

Father Ji was delighted at first, then he tried to keep his expression on his face, "May I ask what good news it is, sir?"

"In the future, you will be the father-in-law of the emperor, which is a great thing."

The eunuch who delivered the decree also smiled, "It is said in this decree that His Majesty wants to marry the daughter of the Ji family as the empress."

Empress!

Father Ji's pupils suddenly shrank. He, he actually wanted to be the father-in-law of the emperor?

Ji Xia Ting on the ground was shocked at first, and then her heartbeat accelerated.

The Ji family only had two daughters. The sickly Ji Xia Wan had not appeared in the capital since seven years ago. After returning, she fell seriously ill and never appeared in front of people.

When she went out to socialize, some ladies didn't even know that she had a sister.

But she herself was different.

Rather than looking like her mother, she looks like the imperial concubine of the previous dynasty. According to the words of the King of Liang, one look at her would make her bones soft.

Before she got married, her mother promoted her appearance to make her favored as soon as she entered the palace.

Otherwise, the King of Liang would not have had no objection to her marrying for Ji Xiawan.

As the Princess of Liang, she went in and out of various occasions, behaved in a dignified manner, and all these were visible to everyone.

Could it be that the new king wanted to take her into the palace...

Not only Ji Xiating thought so, but even the new wife thought so.

In fact, she was more certain than Ji Xiating.

In her eyes, men all cherish beauty. Her Ting'er was so beautiful and had such good character, but she was not as good as the sickly girl who was pale and couldn't even stand up on the bed?

Thinking of the several times she went to visit Ji Xiawan with good intentions, and seeing her face as pale as a ghost and unable to speak, the new wife was even happier.

Among the three, only Ji's father was still a little sober.

Which man would be willing to marry a married woman, let alone a queen? A niece who was designated as a demon concubine by the current emperor, no matter how beautiful she is, can never be the queen who rules the country.

Ji's father came back to his senses and asked, "Eunuch, did His Majesty say which daughter of mine it was?"

"Of course he did."

The eunuch who delivered the edict smiled and replied, looking at the two women on the ground who were almost stiff and waiting for his answer.

He saw Ji Xiawan who was supported out in heavy clothes from the corner of his eye, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"His Majesty said in person that he would welcome the daughter of the Ji family, born to the previous wife, into the palace as the queen."

Ji Xiawan heard such a sentence as soon as she arrived, and her steps stopped immediately.

Queen, he actually agreed to make her the queen.

The author has something to say: I will give out red envelopes to the first ten little angels, and there will be another update at 11 o'clock.