AWB Chapter 294 Proposal
Chapter 294 Proposal
The emperor's agreement to this matter was a pleasant surprise.
Both Madam Chu and General Chu bowed to the Emperor, but because the Emperor was watching them intently, they did not kneel down, but only made a bow.
The emperor raised his hand: "No need for formalities, elders. You two have made countless sacrifices for the Great Li and its people. I will never let Duke Wen and Zhang off easily."
"Yixianhong..." He paused for a moment, then said, "I believe Chief Physician Zhou can prepare it. I hereby issue you a decree. Take it to the Imperial Hospital and retrieve Yixianhong from there."
"As for those two criminals," the Emperor and Empress exchanged a glance and said in unison, "they are to be dealt with by you."
Nothing is more satisfying than killing one's enemy with one's own hands. Since he was going to have to feed him poison anyway, he decided to grant General Chu and his wife's wish.
Upon hearing this, the two were overjoyed and repeatedly expressed their gratitude.
Watching the two leave, the emperor sighed: "If I had listened to them back then and punished the Duke of Wen... I wouldn't have made them run around for so many years."
He could clearly see the gray hair of Old Madam Chu and General Chu. In the past fifteen years, they seemed to have aged decades. Only today, when the crimes of the Duke of Wen and his wife were exposed, did they regain some vitality.
Thinking about this, it would be a lie to say that I don't feel guilty.
Hearing the emperor's words, the empress smiled and reassured him, "Your Majesty, those two elders were just acting on impulse back then. If they had really calmed down, they would never have killed Duke Wen."
"They are the ones who care most about you and Dali," the Empress said meaningfully. "Otherwise, why would they have come to you? Back then, you could have just stabbed the Duke of Wen to end it all. The border needs the Chu family, and you couldn't have dealt with them anyway."
"In the end, they are still thinking of you."
The Empress's words struck a chord with the Emperor.
The emperor nodded: "Indeed, it is my good fortune to have such loyal ministers and generals as the Chu family."
Hearing the emperor's words, the empress breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She smiled at the emperor: "In that case, Your Majesty should treat the Chu family with great favor. Loyal ministers and generals like the Chu family deserve no amount of preferential treatment."
Upon hearing this, the emperor readily agreed: "That is exactly what I intended, however..."
"The Chu family has already received enough honor, and I have often bestowed gold and silver upon them. What should I reward them with this time?"
The emperor pondered for a moment and realized that he could not think of any other reward.
The Empress smiled and said, "Your Majesty, these rewards you bestow are merely superficial. The Chu family is not lacking in such things now. You should reward the two elders of the Chu family according to their preferences."
"Preferences?" The emperor frowned. "But over the years, I have never heard of them having any particular preferences."
"You may not have anything you love, but you do have someone you cherish," the Empress said meaningfully. "Have you forgotten Shu Yao?"
"Shuyao is Wanqing's child, and she has also personally caught the murderer who killed Wanqing." The Empress sighed. "General Chu and Madam Chu love this child terribly and wish they could give her all the good things in the world."
"Most of the rare treasures you gave them were also given to Shu Yao by them," the Empress reminded her. "The gifts you bestowed upon Shu Yao made them happier than the gifts you gave them."
The emperor stroked the stubble on his chin and glanced at the empress: "You're helping Wen Shuyao."
As her husband of many years, the emperor realized the empress's intention when she mentioned Wen Shuyao.
Upon hearing this, the Empress smiled slightly: "I like Shu Yao, so naturally I want to consider her well-being."
"Although Shu Yao has severed ties with Duke Wen, she still carries his bloodline, and her relationship with him can never be completely severed."
"However, Duke Wen committed a capital crime, and the person he poisoned was Shu Yao's mother. Once this matter gets out, those with ulterior motives will definitely target Shu Yao."
"I cannot bear to see Shu Yao targeted by these people, nor do I wish to see the woman Jing Han loves become the target of everyone's criticism."
"Therefore, Your Majesty, I humbly request that, for the sake of the Chu family and for the sake of Jing Han, you grant Shu Yao a means of support."
"rely?"
The emperor's heart skipped a beat when he heard the empress's sudden change in self-address.
His intuition told him that the Empress's request must be something that would put him in a very difficult position.
Otherwise, after being husband and wife for so many years, why would the Empress suddenly refer to herself as "your concubine"?
It should be noted that the Empress only speaks like this in front of outsiders or when someone asks her for a favor.
The emperor's expression changed several times, but before he could agree, the empress knelt down before him.
"I will grant your request!" Upon seeing this, the emperor quickly helped the man up. "We have been husband and wife for many years. What do you want that I won't grant you? Why should you wrong yourself?"
"I know this will put Your Majesty in a difficult position," the Empress said in a low voice. "But I have no choice but to do this for the sake of Shu Yao's future."
"You speak first." The emperor rubbed his temples; he really couldn't do anything with the empress. "I'll make a decision after I hear your answer."
"Your Majesty, I was thinking..." the Empress lowered her voice, "Why not give the title of Duke of Wen to Shu Yao? Logically speaking, Shu Yao is the best candidate to inherit the title."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression changed: "But she is a woman, Da Li..."
“But Dali has also had a female emperor,” the Empress said solemnly. “Your Majesty, Shuyao has the ability.”
"In terms of talent, she is far superior to Duke Wen. Haven't you noticed yet? The one who can expose Prince Xin's conspiracy and make the Northern Di princess return to Northern Di happily is Shu Yao."
"In terms of courage and insight... she was able to stand against Prince Xin on her own, and she remained calm in the face of overwhelming forces, sharing Jing Han's burdens while away from home."
"With such talent and courage, she is the most capable person to inherit the title of Duke Wen."
"I have already sent people to inquire about and have seen several children from the collateral branches of the Duke of Wen's family. None of them are of any use. Rather than letting such people inherit the title, it would be better to give the title directly to Shu Yao."
The Empress's words softened the Emperor's previously resolute expression.
The emperor frowned and pondered for a moment: "Let me think about it."
Such an important matter would probably not be approved by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
The emperor rubbed his furrowed brow: "You've really given me a difficult problem."
Upon hearing this, the Empress chuckled and smoothed the wrinkles on his forehead: "Your Majesty, but only you can accomplish this. We can't let Jing Han lead troops to surround the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and force the officials there to grant him this title."
Hearing this, the emperor laughed out loud: "You know what, when it comes to matters concerning his princess, he cares more than anyone else. He might actually do it."