Chapter 157: Chapter 157 Lady Wang, Execution After Autumn

“Making sugar? Ah Jiu knows this too?”

General Fu was very curious.

It was known that ordinary commoners could not afford sugar, which was even harder to buy than salt, due to its limited production.

If sugar could indeed be produced on a large scale, just for the population of millions in Great Yan alone, the demand for sugar was immeasurable, not to mention the purchasing by foreign merchant convoys.

Murong Jiu nodded, but didn’t know how to explain.

Jun Yuyan, aware that she harbored secrets, covered for her, “Let’s not talk about that for now, the food is getting cold, and you have a delicate stomach during pregnancy, so you must eat while it’s hot.”

Right, right, eat while it’s hot.”

General Fu and the three brothers, Fu Heng, were all eagerly using serving chopsticks to put food in her bowl.

This meal, Murong Jiu ate with extreme happiness.

After the meal, General Fu and the others wanted Murong Jiu to stay for a few days.

Jun Yuyan said, “Father-in-law, today’s affairs are not yet concluded, and I’m afraid you will need to go to the palace once more.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the palace officials arrived at General’s Mansion, summoning General Fu, Prince Ling, and Murong Jiu to an audience with the Emperor.

Murong Jiu was somewhat nervous.

She knew the Second Prince was crafty and was worried he might interfere, causing unexpected trouble.

She was also concerned the Emperor might oppose General’s Mansion due to her identity as Prince Ling’s wife, for if her true identity was restored, it would mean a union between General’s Mansion and Prince Ling’s Mansion.

“Don’t worry, there will be no more changes,”

Jun Yuyan gently comforted her.

Once on the carriage, Jun Yuyan explained to her,

“Before the Emperor ascended the throne, he encountered mountain bandits on the way to his feudal estate. It is said that his brothers colluded with the bandits in an attempt to kill him, even disguising guards as bandits. That clash was devastating, and my father nearly lost his life, leading him to have a deeply rooted hatred for mountain bandits.”

Murong Jiu’s eyes brightened.

She understood.

Lady Wang and Marquis Murong colluded with mountain bandits to harm the General’s wife and confuse the bloodline of the General of the Northern Command. The key point was their collusion with bandits!

The Emperor loathed bandits and highwaymen and despised those who colluded with them. The Emperor himself had narrowly escaped death in the past and now cherished his life dearly. Reflecting on his past, he would only deal harshly with Lady Wang and Marquis Murong to set an example.

The situation unfolded as Jun Yuyan had predicted. When they arrived at the palace, the Emperor had already drafted the charges and determined the punishment for Lady Wang and Marquis Murong.

Lady Wang, vile and ruthless, faced the ultimate penalty: her execution by beheading after the autumn to appease the public’s anger.

Upon hearing this verdict, Murong Jiu let out a long sigh of relief.

Mother, your spirit in heaven can now rest in peace. Lady Wang, she got what she deserved and will soon descend to the eighteenth level of hell, never to be reborn.

Marquis Murong, though a secondary offender in colluding with bandits, was stripped of his title in the Emperor’s furious rage, his property confiscated for the state treasury, and the entire household of Yongning Marquis Manor was demoted to commoners.

It was immensely satisfying.

Had it not been for the Emperor’s previous experience of nearly being killed by bandits, Marquis Murong’s offense might have been dealt with lightly. After all, he was a noble and related by marriage to the Second Prince, the future father-in-law; he could have claimed to have been deceived by Lady Wang and gotten off with a fine.

To this, Murong Jiu was also very content.

To demote the extravagant Murong family to commoners, confiscating all their property, leaving them penniless, was actually more agonizing than killing them.

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to return to frugality from luxury.

Especially the Old Madam, who always insisted on drinking only the finest new teas. Murong Jiu was curious to see what she would drink after the family assets were confiscated.

Next was the matter of dealing with Murong Man, the Second Prince’s fiancée. The Emperor originally wanted to annul the engagement outright, but the Second Prince pleaded for leniency, and Noble Consort Qi also came forward to plead on her behalf. As a result, the Emperor decreed a new marriage, making Yun Weiwei, who was to be a concubine, the Principal Consort and Murong Man the Concubine.

Murong Jiu remembered in her past life how Murong Man and Bai Weiwei fought each other viciously in the shadows, with Murong Man clearly having the upper hand at the time. Now Murong Man had become nothing more than a commoner, with a mother who was a condemned criminal awaiting execution, Lady Wang. Having fallen from grace like a cloud cast into the mire, she would likely stand no chance against the cunning and deep schemes of Yun Weiwei.

Of course, Murong Man wasn’t someone to be underestimated either; both would only turn the Second Prince’s inner court into a place filled with strife and dark smoke.

However, Murong Jiu hadn’t expected that Noble Consort Qi would actually go and plead for Murong Man.

How utterly nonsensical.

Even the Empress did not show up, nor did the Fifth Princess, who was on good terms with Murong Man. But there was Noble Consort Qi, eagerly attempting to provoke the Emperor’s disgust.

After hearing the charges and the verdict, General Fu immediately knelt down and said in a loud voice:

“Your Majesty is wise and martial, fair in judgement; this humble servant is endlessly grateful! Finally able to be reunited with my biological daughter, this humble servant wishes only to make amends to Ah Jiu and to enjoy the happiness of family from now on. Therefore, this humble servant requests to resign from my duties and retire to my hometown. I assure Your Majesty that if a war arises, I will respond to the call to arms at a moment’s notice!”

The tone of General Fu was earnest beyond measure, his voice seeming to age several years, and in his hands he held up a military Tiger Talisman.

Hearing this, Murong Jiu instantly understood that her father also feared his contributions might overshadow the ruler, worried that the Emperor would become suspicious, suspecting the General of the Northern Command’s Residence of taking sides with Prince Ling, and fearful that Prince Ling might rebel with his support.

The Emperor’s decree did not mention the injustice faced by the General’s Mansion, which validated this concern.

The Second Prince, standing on the sidelines and seeming unremarkable, but upon seeing the Tiger Talisman, his gaze sharpened, revealing a gleam of astuteness.

The Emperor had always been wary of the General’s Mansion and, seeing General Fu returning the Tiger Talisman, contemplated for a moment before ordering an eunuch to collect it.

However, he spoke thus:

“General Fu, you are a meritorious servant of ours, and the Imperial Court still needs you. The two hundred thousand troops stationed outside the capital also need your training. Handing over command to someone else, we cannot rest assured. How could we allow you to retire? We shall keep the Tiger Talisman for you for now, but in the future, it must be returned to you. Nonetheless, Ah Jiu has indeed suffered a great deal of injustice, and we feel compassion for this child. Therefore, ten days from now, we ourselves will hold a grand palace feast for her return, so that the whole world will know she is your, Fu Zheng’s, biological daughter, won’t that be acceptable?”

General Fu was overwhelmed with emotion, bowing his head repeatedly in gratitude: “Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live, long live, forever and ever!”

Murong Jiu also prepared to kneel to express her thanks.

The Emperor gestured with his hand, “As you are pregnant, I permit you not to kneel from now on.”

“Thank you, Father Emperor.”

Jun Yuyan supported Murong Jiu, and the two of them thanked the Emperor in unison.

“That will be all, I am tired. You all may leave now,” said the Emperor, waving his hand.

The Emperor did not even glance at the Second Prince, who appeared to have something to say but wanted to remain. With an indifferent expression, the Second Prince had no choice but to follow General Fu and the others out of the Imperial Study Room.

“Father-in-law, you go ahead and accompany Ah Jiu out of the palace; I will take my mother back,” said Jun Yuyan to General Fu.

General Fu smiled and nodded, delighted at the prospect of spending time alone with his daughter.

Murong Jiu knew that Jun Yuyan had things to discuss with Noble Consort Qi.

Noble Consort Qi was not a fool, but sometimes she acted foolishly, simply being too naïve. Despite her age, she still acted like an ignorant young girl at times.

Because of fear that she would cause trouble, many things were never discussed with her. But now they could not stay unspoken. However, Murong Jiu needn’t worry; Jun Yuyan would surely handle the situation and prevent Noble Consort Qi from being overly impetuous.

Jun Yuyan led away the sour-faced Noble Consort Qi.

General Fu, while making conversation, slowly left the palace with Murong Jiu.

“General Fu, one moment, please. This palace has a few words to say to the Eldest Imperial Sister-in-law, may I…”

The Second Prince’s voice emerged from behind them.

But before he could finish, General Fu interrupted with a firm, “No!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com