Chapter 144 Palace Women

The purpose of these dozen or so groups of people was only one: to make Wu Zuo release the captured rebel kings.

Wu Zuo knew Jiang Chen's character very well, and he also knew that he, the Minister of Justice, had risen to his position by guessing Jiang Chen's thoughts. Naturally, he also knew that Jiang Chen would definitely not pardon these vassal kings.

Therefore, after receiving these relatives of the emperor, whom he had to receive, he could only grit his teeth and pretend not to understand.

At first, it was still okay. The people who came to plead for mercy all expressed their intention to release the prisoners in a roundabout way. Wu Zuo simply pretended to be deaf and dumb, as if he didn't hear it.

But later, some people saw that he was deliberately pretending to be stupid, so they directly asked him to release the prisoners.

Wu Zuo saw that he couldn't fool them, so he asked the other party for Jiang Chen's imperial decree.

How dare these people go to Jiang Chen to ask for an imperial decree? After making some harsh remarks, they left in a disheveled manner.

After that, although these imperial relatives did not come again, the concubines of these vassal kings, and even the Grand Concubines in the capital, came.

After these people came, they did not beg for the release of the prisoners, but just stayed outside the Ministry of Justice yamen and cried loudly.

Wu Zuo couldn't drive these people away, and he lived in dire straits every day.

Although the other ministers were a little better than Wu Zuo, they were not much better off.

Now that they had finally waited for Jiang Chen to come back, they were naturally all smiles.

After welcoming Jiang Chen back to the palace, the ministers immediately jointly requested Jiang Chen to temporarily add a court meeting to discuss the rebellion.

Jiang Chen did not refuse; this farce should also come to an end.

While waiting for the ministers to arrive, Feng Jin hurriedly trotted in and reported to Jiang Chen: "Your Majesty, Grand Concubine Yu and a group of the late emperor's concubines request an audience."

Jiang Chen knew that these people would come, and he knew their purpose even more clearly.

"Summon them."

Feng Jin looked at Jiang Chen in surprise. He didn't expect that Jiang Chen would be willing to meet these people.

In his opinion, Jiang Chen should have refused.

After all, everyone knew the intentions of Grand Concubine Yu and the others.

But Jiang Chen had already spoken, and Feng Jin did not dare to question him, so he quickly conveyed Jiang Chen's order.

Soon, Grand Concubine Yu led several mothers of the vassal kings and hurried to Jiang Chen.

After standing still, they knelt on the ground without saying a word.

Grand Concubine Yu said: "Your Majesty, Tang Wang and others listened to the slander of villains and thought that Your Majesty had been harmed by treacherous villains before they led their troops to come to the aid of the king! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy."

The other concubines followed suit: "Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Jiang Chen looked at these people with a cold expression and did not speak for a long time.

Treacherous villains?

They really knew how to find excuses!

Jiang Chen didn't speak until Grand Concubine Yu and the others were about to lose their patience.

"Grand Concubine Yu, since you said they were deceived by villains, then who are these villains?"

Grand Concubine Yu said without even thinking, "The one who deceived Tang Wang was Wang Yaohui! This villain is so hateful. For his own selfish purposes, he had been plotting for a long time, using his daughter to get close to Sheng'er, and then taking the opportunity to slander him. Sheng'er was careless for a while and was blinded by this villain before committing his mistake!"

The other Grand Concubines had also found scapegoats a long time ago and followed suit.

Jiang Chen couldn't help but sneer in his heart as he listened.

It is said that emperors are ruthless, but in fact, when it comes to their own interests, few people are not ruthless.

When Tang Wang was in Phoenix City, Wang Yaohui treated him with great respect.

But now that the major event had failed and there was a danger to his life, Wang Yaohui had become a scapegoat instead.

Jiang Chen felt sorry for Wang Yaohui.

"Grand Concubine Yu, do you remember what I said to you last time I went to Ziyu Palace?" Jiang Chen said coldly.

Grand Concubine Yu was stunned and looked at Jiang Chen blankly.

She couldn't remember it very well.

"It seems that Grand Concubine Yu is too old and can't remember."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly: "I talked about the assassination in Shangdu."

Grand Concubine Yu finally had some impression and quickly said, "That must be Wang Yaohui's order!"

Jiang Chen could only laugh at this.

Grand Concubine Yu was really pretending to be confused when she knew the truth. Could Wang Yaohui have been the only one to make the decision to assassinate him?

After a pause, Jiang Chen suddenly smiled: "Grand Concubines, in fact, I have already shown leniency outside the law."

The Grand Concubines were stunned and looked at Jiang Chen in confusion.

Could it be that His Majesty had already released their sons?

But how could they not know?

Jiang Chen said lightly: "The crime of treason is an unforgivable crime. Although they are vassal kings, according to the laws of my Great Wei, they must be executed and their families exiled."

"The fact that you Grand Concubines can still live in the palace is already a concession from me."

The faces of the Grand Concubines immediately changed, especially Grand Concubine Yu, who was a concubine who was quite favored by the late emperor. She was furious when she heard this.

"Your Majesty, could it be that you still want to exile this old woman?"

Jiang Chen smiled: "Did Grand Concubine Yu not hear what I said clearly? I said that I have already pardoned you Grand Concubines."

Seeing that Jiang Chen was not going to be persuaded, Grand Concubine Yu finally couldn't help but angrily said: "Your Majesty, are you not afraid of bearing a bad name?"

Fratricidal strife, regardless of who is right or wrong, will leave a bad reputation in history.

Bad name?

Jiang Chen sneered.

"Grand Concubine Yu, you seem to have misunderstood one thing."

"My reputation is already a bad name, so what is there to fear?"

Grand Concubine Yu looked at Jiang Chen in shock and disbelief.

As the late emperor's concubine, she had naturally seen how much the late emperor had compromised in order not to be stained with the slightest infamy.

She thought she could use this weakness to force Jiang Chen to give in, but she didn't expect that Jiang Chen didn't care at all!

"If there's nothing else, please go back and rest, Grand Concubines. I have to discuss matters with the ministers." Jiang Chen directly issued an order to send them away.

Grand Concubine Yu wanted to say something more, but Jiang Chen didn't give her a chance.

"Feng Jin, you send the Grand Concubines back."

After saying that, Jiang Chen stood up and left directly.

In the Qianqing Palace Hall, the ministers knelt to Jiang Chen, shouting his name, with excited expressions on their faces.

Although they already knew that Jiang Chen was fine, they were still excited when they saw Jiang Chen come back with their own eyes.

"Rise."

Jiang Chen smiled: "I have been away for a while, and I have troubled you ministers."

The ministers immediately felt a great honor.

To receive praise from His Majesty Jiang Chen was no easier than leaving a name in history.

After saying a few words of encouragement, Jiang Chen got down to business.

Jiang Chen first looked at Yao Shouxin, the Minister of War: "Minister Yao, what is the result of this suppression of the rebellion?"

Yao Shouxin stepped forward and said: "There were a total of thirteen vassal kings who rebelled, leading more than 30,000 troops."

"In the battle outside the city, eleven vassal kings were captured, 800 enemy soldiers were killed, and more than 10,000 were captured."

Jiang Chen nodded, then looked at Wu Zuo, the Minister of Justice: "Minister Wu, is there still room in the prison?"

Wu Zuo instantly understood what Jiang Chen meant and said, "Your Majesty, I was just about to report this."

"These more than 10,000 rebel soldiers have already filled the prisons in the capital and the surrounding counties. Please, Your Majesty, make a decision."

Jiang Chen waved his hand: "The Great Wei has long had laws for this, kill them!"

"Yes!" Wu Zuo immediately responded.

A sound of gasping for air suddenly echoed in the hall.

This was more than 10,000 people!

Some ministers felt that it was too cruel and stepped forward to say: "Your Majesty, it is said that those who surrender should not be killed. Please, Your Majesty, think twice!"