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Chapter 711 Cutting the Flesh (Part )

When Lady Anguo woke up, her first question was, "Where is the Duke?"

When she heard that Duke Anguo was writing a memorial, his wife struggled to get up and went down to the study with the help of her maid.

"My Lord! You must not write this memorial!" Lady Anguo cried non-stop: "If you submit this memorial, you will lose your position as Minister of War, your title of Duke, and you will have to give away 50% of your family property... This is like plucking our hearts out."

"From now on, how can our Zheng family have the face to go out?"

Compared to his tearful wife, Duke Anguo was much calmer: "It is a blessing to be able to save the lives of the Zheng family, young and old. If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's efforts to protect the Zheng family, I would have been dragged to the execution ground and beheaded. Don't cry and make a fuss. Money is only external, and official positions and titles are empty. Compared with the lives of the whole family, they are not worth mentioning."

Lady Anguogong's eyes were blurred with tears, and she was full of resentment and unwillingness: "The Duke has worked hard these years, and it's all for the Empress Dowager. Of the silver obtained from the Ministry of War, our Zheng family received less than 30%. Most of it was sent to the storehouse of Jingyang Palace. Why do you want us to give up 50% of our family property now!"

Duke Anguo's face turned cold and he glared at him: "You are getting more and more outrageous! Without the Grand Empress Dowager, our Zheng family would not have been so powerful and glorious over the years! It is our duty to respect the Grand Empress Dowager!"

Madam Anguo wiped her face vigorously and gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, we benefited from the help of the Grand Empress Dowager! But how much have you done for the Grand Empress Dowager over the past few decades? She is honored and wealthy in the palace, but she only needs to ask for help and it's all you who has to work hard for her, isn't it?"

"Without you, where would the Empress Dowager's party come from? How did she get to be so powerful and feared by everyone in the palace? You gave her advice and worked hard for her, but in the eyes of everyone, you are still the one who got the credit."

"And Zixian, who was taken into the palace by the Grand Empress Dowager when he was five years old. Our good son was corrupted by her, and now he has come to this point. Isn't it her fault?"

"Before, the Empress Dowager's party and the Prime Minister's party were fighting each other. If you hadn't wanted to suppress Prime Minister Wang, why would you have thought of attacking the border troops? In the final analysis, Zhao Wu's abandonment of the city and the defeat of the border troops were the fault of the Empress Dowager."

"She wants to protect the Zheng family, not just for you and me. It's for her own face. As the dignified Empress Dowager, her family was labeled as traitors and nine clans were executed. Does that mean she will be proud of it?"

"After all, it's all for her own good. If you want to acknowledge this kindness, then do so. I won't."

Duke Anguo was so angry that he raised his hand and swung it down.

With a snap, five finger marks appeared on the face of the wife of Duke Anguo, and the corner of her mouth was broken.

Lady Anguo covered her burning face with her hands, tears streaming down her face.

The couple had lived in harmony for many years, but this was the first time that Duke Anguo had hit her.

The cold warning of Duke Anguo rang in his ears: "If such words were to spread to the palace and to the ears of the Grand Empress Dowager, the Zheng family would lose even its last support."

"Zheng Chen is a rebellious son who has no respect for his father and his lord. He is now a traitor to Daliang. I have severed all ties with him! If you want to acknowledge this son, you will die with him. If you want to die, you can find a white silk to end your life yourself, and don't drag down the entire Zheng family."

"Get out! Don't disturb me while I'm writing my memorials!"

Lady Anguo staggered out of the study.

The door of the study was closed, and the crying voice of Lady Anguo could be faintly heard through the thick door.

In fact, Duke Anguo was not as calm as he appeared. His hand trembled, and a drop of thick ink fell, ruining the memorial that had been written for the most part.

Duke Anguo expressionlessly changed a clean sheet of paper and rewrote the memorial. The feeling of being cut by a soft knife was certainly very uncomfortable.

But as long as I can survive, I don’t care about the pain.

……

That evening, Duke Anguo submitted a tearful and eloquent memorial of several thousand words to the Empress.

Jiang Shaohua sat on the bed, covered with bedding, leaning against Cui Du's warm and thick flesh cushion, and slowly read the memorials.

Cui Du had nothing to do, so he stretched his neck to read along. He was shocked after reading it: "This Duke Anguo was really cruel to himself. Censor Cao listed ten major crimes against him, and he admitted them all, and even added ten more. In the memorial, he took the initiative to resign from office, asked to be stripped of his title, and even offered 50% of his family property as military expenses for the Yingwei Camp."

Jiang Shaohua pulled the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of sarcasm: "Taking the initiative to resign and requesting to be stripped of the title is better than me issuing an order."

"Donating 50% of my family property as military expenses sounds much better than filling the gap in the military arsenal."

"Treason plus rebellion are enough to punish Zheng's entire clan twice. He is still able to live peacefully and keep 50% of his family property. What else is he not satisfied with?"

Cui Du felt a little unfair: "Are you really going to let the Zheng family off like this?"

Jiang Shaohua said calmly, "Don't worry. The Zheng family is known as the first foreign relative of Daliang, with deep roots and amazing power. With the support of the Grand Empress Dowager in the palace, it is indeed not easy to uproot them, and it is easy to cause turmoil. Like now, cutting flesh and bleeding step by step will make the Zheng family weaker day by day."

"The Empress Dowager's protection of the Zheng family means she is standing against the righteousness of the court, which is a fatal blow to her reputation and prestige. The Empress Dowager's original followers will gradually see the situation clearly, slowly defect, and completely join my side."

"In short, I can make money without losing anything."

After saying that, Jiang Shaohua turned around and glanced, and saw Cui Du looking at him with admiration.

Jiang Shaohua was amused: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Cui Du sighed sincerely: "You are so smart and amazing! Wouldn't it be amazing for me to be your husband?"

Jiang Shaohua burst out laughing and reached out to pinch his cheeky skin. Cui Du grinned and bit her finger between his lips and teeth.

The couple joked for a while, and soon got down to business: "I can go to court now. You don't have to stay with me all day, go back to the imperial farm and do your business. Next spring, the prefectures and counties near the capital will be able to grow new grain, and the people will be able to get high-quality and high-yield grain seeds from the government. This is a matter of great concern to people's livelihood!"

Cui Du frowned, "I am worried about you. I will stay with you until you give birth safely. I will ask the head of the Lin Manor and my cousin to keep an eye on the imperial manor. If there is anything, they will send someone to the palace to send me a message."

"They are no match for you..."

"In my heart, nothing is more important than you." Cui Du stared at Jiang Shaohua and said softly but firmly: "Shaohua, I will stay by your side."

Jiang Shaohua felt as if the tip of his heart was scratched, a little itchy, but more of a sweet feeling.

She and Cui Du looked at each other for a moment, and she compromised and gave in: "Well, if you want to stay, then stay."