The prince is more stable

Chapter 625 The Spouse's Breakup
Throughout Chinese history, many emperors have been believers in Taoism.

However, while the emperor believed in Taoism, Taoism was highly taboo within the palace.

This is not a contradiction.

The emperor's belief was purely religious, mostly for the purpose of seeking longevity, and perhaps also for the purpose of curing diseases and praying for blessings. In short, the emperor could be the one, but others could not. Monks could touch it, but Ah Q could not.

But the reasons why others in the palace practice Taoism are hard to say.

As is well known, Taoism has both beneficial practices for longevity and blessings, as well as harmful practices of witchcraft and sorcery.

If the people in the palace believe in Taoism, who would know what you're doing with these Taoist secret techniques?
Do you think you can just draw a circle and curse the current emperor as you please?

Zhang Dun's method of deposing the empress was fatal; he directly pinned the most taboo crime on Empress Meng.

Rumors say that Empress Meng set up an altar in her palace, and her own sister even brought Taoist talisman water into the palace. But the truth of the matter is hard to say.

Especially since the ritual and the talisman water were performed during the sensitive period when the young prince was seriously ill, Zhang Dun's attack was almost fatal.

What is the first reaction of outsiders when they hear this rumor?
Was the young prince killed by Empress Meng through a ritual?

It's inexplicable, after all, Empress Meng didn't give birth to any children for the Emperor, while Consort Liu gave birth to the only prince. Empress Meng's position was precarious, so it's reasonable for her to have the idea of ​​murder in desperation.

As the rumors spread throughout the court and the public, becoming increasingly believable, Empress Meng was unable to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Prime Minister Zhang Dun was indeed ruthless. After Zhao Xu ordered him to investigate the case, Zhang Dun immediately ordered all the eunuchs and palace maids in Empress Meng's palace to be arrested and imprisoned.

At this point, Empress Meng finally realized that she was trapped in a vortex from which there was no way to escape.

So while the eunuchs and palace maids in the Empress's palace were being questioned, Empress Meng appeared alone outside Zhao Xu's palace, Funing Hall.

Zheng Chunhe stopped her outside the palace, looking troubled and saying that the Emperor did not want to see her. However, Empress Meng stubbornly refused to leave, and refused to eat or drink outside the palace, kneeling for a long time.

Helpless, Zheng Chunhe went back and forth to the palace to report several times. Zhao Xu was probably worried that if the empress died at his door before being deposed, it would inevitably cause controversy and turmoil in the court and among the people. After all, the empress was a person of great importance, and even Zhao Xu would not dare to kill her without warning.

Therefore, Zhao Xu had no choice but to summon Empress Meng.

When Empress Meng entered the palace, she saw Zhao Xu sitting expressionlessly behind the table, staring at her with cold eyes. Empress Meng felt a pang of sadness and tears immediately fell from her eyes.

The imperial couple lived together in the palace, but ironically, Empress Meng had almost forgotten when she last saw Zhao Xu.

This couple, whose relationship was so strained that they appeared to be together in name only, rarely saw each other in the palace except for important royal and court ceremonies where the emperor and empress had to attend together to put on a show of affection.

Zhao Xu only doted on Consort Liu. Although Empress Meng was said to live in the Empress's Palace, it was practically the same as being banished to the Cold Palace. There was no way Zhao Xu would go there.

The fact that the couple has become so estranged and even hateful is truly a tragic fate in this life.

To be fair, Empress Meng was excellent in both appearance and character. Throughout her marriage, she always kept to her proper place and never overstepped her bounds. She was as quiet as an orchid in a secluded valley. If you come near, I will spread my fragrance; if you don't come, I will appreciate my own beauty in solitude.

Even though Zhao Xu harbored deep prejudice against this woman, honestly, he couldn't find any fault with her.

Sometimes Zhao Xu couldn't help but sigh in disappointment, wishing that she hadn't been betrothed to the Empress by the Empress Dowager.

Unfortunately, this rift between husband and wife is like an insurmountable barrier that can never be eliminated in a lifetime.

Empress Meng, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, knelt before Zhao Xu, bowing her head and sobbing.

Zhao Xu frowned impatiently, his tone icy: "You've been kneeling outside the palace for so long, just so I could see you crying like this?"

Empress Meng paused in her sobs, then slowly bowed to Zhao Xu and whispered, "If Your Majesty wishes to depose me, you can simply issue an edict. Why make such a fuss and implicate so many innocent people?"

Zhao Xu's gaze grew colder: "When did I ever say I wanted to depose the Empress?"

Empress Meng smiled sadly: "Does Your Majesty take me for a child? What Taoist talisman water, what rituals and incantations? Isn't it all just to smear me and conveniently depose me as Empress?"

As she spoke, Empress Meng suddenly raised her head, her expression revealing unprecedented agitation: "Your Majesty, you may depose me, but why blame me for the death of the young prince? Since entering the palace, I have always upheld the virtues of a woman and never overstepped my bounds. I have lived a peaceful life and never caused any trouble. Please forgive me for daring to bear the crime of murdering the young prince!"

Zhao Xu was shocked by Empress Meng's unusually agitated appearance. He stared at her for a long time before slowly saying, "Everything has been investigated by Chancellor Zhang. Without any real evidence, I will not wrong anyone."

Empress Meng sneered: "You are the emperor. If you are determined to slander me, why worry about not having evidence? But I must tell you, I may tolerate other things that are framed against me for the sake of Your Majesty's reputation, but if you insist on blaming me for the death of the young prince, I have no choice but to die to prove my innocence!"

Zhao Xu was taken aback, then flew into a rage: "Insolence!" Empress Meng had come today to confront him, and now she no longer maintained any dignified demeanor as an empress. Upon hearing this, she stood up directly and stared at Zhao Xu without any fear.

"I won't be Empress for long, so what's wrong with letting me be presumptuous just this once? I've been married to Your Majesty for many years. Although Your Majesty has no romantic feelings for me, at least we have the title of husband and wife!"

"If I were the one who plotted to harm the young prince, would Your Majesty feel any pride? You are the emperor, and it is only natural for you to be heartless and ruthless. I will accept whatever treatment you give me, but do not forget that I am also the empress of a nation!"

"You've framed the Empress as a murderer. Aren't you afraid of bringing shame upon the entire Zhao imperial family, or that your ancestors in heaven will be ashamed? Or are you willing to pay any price to depose me as Empress, even if it damages the prestige of the Song Dynasty?"

Zhao Xu was dumbfounded. This was an unfamiliar empress, one he hadn't seen in many years.

Empress Meng's expression was resolute. She knew that her fate was sealed, so she might as well go mad for once and vent her resentment at being neglected and ignored for so many years.

After gritting her teeth and letting out a few cold laughs, Empress Meng continued, "Furthermore, if Your Majesty insists on pinning the crime of murder on me, I will prove my innocence with my death. At that time, I wonder how the history books will judge Your Majesty. You have worked so hard to fabricate this case, but in the end, I don't know whether it will be a gain or a loss."

Zhao Xu's face grew increasingly grim, and he said coldly, "Empress, you're going too far!"

Empress Meng said fiercely, "I don't have many chances to speak anymore. Doesn't Your Majesty want to depose me? There's no need for Your Majesty to hypocritically investigate any cases and implicate so many innocent palace women. I will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to our ancestors and request to be deposed. That would be my last act of good deed for Your Majesty."

The more she spoke, the more grief-stricken she became. Empress Meng cried out, "Since my marriage to Your Majesty, I have been neglected. Do you think I wanted to be Empress? Every day is unbearable for me, and each day feels like a year. It's laughable that you still try every means to depose me. From the first day you took power, I have been waiting for you to depose me."

Zhao Xu suddenly stood up, grabbed a Duan inkstone from the table, and smashed it hard on the ground.

With a loud crash, the Duan inkstone shattered into pieces, like crystal falling to the ground, sparkling and fragmented.

"That's right, I want to depose the Empress. From the very first day of our marriage, I wanted to depose her! So what?" Zhao Xu roared, "Why can't I depose the Empress? I have already assumed power. Do you think I am still the puppet I was back then? Who will be my Empress is up to me, and you, I must depose you!"

Empress Meng smiled sadly: "Very well, Your Majesty, I've been waiting for you to say those words, waiting for you to depose me."

"I'll say it again: pin any other charges on me, but I will never admit to murdering the young prince. Please, Your Majesty, grant me, the Empress of the Great Song Dynasty, my dignity is also your dignity!"

After speaking, Empress Meng straightened her clothes, regained her graceful and dignified demeanor, and bowed deeply to Zhao Xu.

"Chen and concubine retire."

After saying this, Empress Meng turned and left. After many years of marriage, she couldn't even be bothered to look at him one last time.

Zhao Xu sat in the chair, panting heavily. His face turned from pale to white, and then gradually turned purple.

After a heated argument with the Empress, Zhao Xu felt extremely angry and breathless. Suddenly, he felt a sweet taste in his throat and involuntarily coughed up a mouthful of blood. His face turned ashen, and his whole body began to tremble violently.

Empress Meng was nowhere to be seen outside the Fu Ning Palace.

Zhao Xu's vision gradually blurred, and a bitter smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

By severing this ill-fated relationship with my own hands, am I being displeased by Heaven and forced to pay the price?
…………

The rumors in the court spread far and wide. When Zhang Dun sent people to question the palace servants in the Empress's bedroom, many court officials gradually understood what was going on.

Whether it was a ritual, a talisman, or a plot to harm the young prince, it was hard to tell what was true and what was false, but the only thing the court officials were certain of was that the Emperor was going to depose the Empress!

Rumors don't arise out of thin air; they are ultimately spread and incited by people with ulterior motives.

The dignified and virtuous Empress has inexplicably been caught in a storm of public opinion, and the Emperor's intentions are already obvious.

Meanwhile, news came from the Imperial City Guard's Ice Well Office.

Among the many officials and eunuchs of the Imperial Pharmacy arrested and imprisoned by the Imperial City Guard, Zhang Xiang recognized them from beginning to end, but ultimately did not find that familiar voice.

In other words, the person who bribed Zhang Xiang to obtain the young prince's prescription was very likely not from the Imperial Pharmacy.

However, the Imperial City Guard discovered a new clue. After interrogating the palace servants of the Imperial Pharmacy for a long time without any results, the Imperial City Guard expanded the search area and found that a junior supervisor of the Palace Secretariat had mysteriously disappeared three days ago when it was time for roll call.

The news quickly reached Zhao Xiaoqian, who immediately ordered the Imperial City Guard to conduct a full-scale search for the missing junior supervisor.

The case of the young prince's murder will likely be traced back to this person.

(End of this chapter)