I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

"In my opinion, the Empress is the mother of the nation, and choosing Consort Shu would not be convincing to the people."

Upon hearing this, the officials in the palace who were loyal to the emperor all showed joy in their eyes.

They quickly chimed in agreement.

Yuwen Jian's face darkened as he watched these Gu faction members sing a different tune along with the Crown Prince.

"Oh?"

"In your opinion, Your Highness, who is capable of this task?"

Yuwen Quan replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your subject believes this matter requires further consideration."

"Your Highness."

Yan Donglou suddenly shouted, his voice like thunder.

"Think about it with your hand on your heart. You gathered up a group of ministers to defy the emperor and father, just to postpone the matter of establishing an empress."

"You've studied under the great Confucian scholar Lu Shiyu for over a decade. Where have you even learned from him?"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Quan's expression hardened, and he straightened his back and said solemnly.

"Everything I have said today is for the sake of the nation and its people; I have no selfish motives whatsoever."

"Lord Yan, the selection of an empress is a matter of paramount importance concerning the foundation of the nation; how can such a decision be made so lightly?"

Yan Donglou was even more furious.

"In my opinion, is this your excuse for stirring up trouble in court, Your Highness?"

"And you people, you're just trying to use this opportunity to hinder the Emperor."

The courtiers in the hall were immediately in an uproar upon seeing Yan Donglou speak so boldly.

Several Gu Party officials' expressions changed drastically, and they hurriedly stepped forward to refute.

"Lord Yan, you are mistaken. His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the nation; offering advice is his duty..."

fart!

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Donglou unleashed his full fury, launching into a tirade of insults.

"Go ahead and stir it all up!"

"It has caused our Chu Kingdom to lose its queen, making us a laughingstock."

"If you cause unrest in the harem and throughout the land, and even lead to the downfall of the Chu Kingdom, I'll just risk my life alongside you."

"That's enough."

At this moment, Yuwen Jian suddenly slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

He coldly swept his gaze over the two arguing parties, finally fixing his eyes on Yuwen Quan.

"The Crown Prince has been studying recently; he should focus more on the *Classic of Filial Piety*."

"To speak ill of one's ruler or father is the way of a subject; to speak ill of one's father is the way of a son."

"Father, Father Emperor..."

The crown prince suddenly realized that his words and actions had crossed the line.

He has lost the sense of propriety that a crown prince should have.

“From this day forward, the Crown Prince shall remain in seclusion to reflect on his mistakes until he has copied the Classic of Filial Piety one hundred times.”

Upon hearing Yuwen Jian's account of his punishment, Yuwen Quan's face turned pale.

His father used the title of emperor to pressure him, and he could not refute it.

"Your subject... knows his mistake."

"alright."

Yuwen Jian continued, "There's no need to discuss the matter of establishing an empress again; my mind is made up."

"The Ministry of Rites shall immediately begin preparations for the investiture ceremony, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau shall select an auspicious day."

"As for the specific regulations, let the Grand Secretary and all my beloved ministers discuss them together."

Zhu Houcong coldly observed the drama unfolding in the Southern Chu court through the eyes of the Azure Dragon, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of his lips.

Yuwen Jian entrusted Yan Donglou with the entire matter of establishing an empress, and the deeper meaning behind this is self-evident.

He wanted to act swiftly and decisively, before Gu Siling could react, to solidify Consort Shu's position as Empress with overwhelming force.

This also means that Gu Siling can no longer stay in Yuezhou.

Without his powerful uncle's support, Yuwen Quan, the weak crown prince, would have been completely powerless.

As expected.

Within just a few days, the ceremony for Consort Shu's investiture as Empress was prepared at an astonishing speed.

Consort Shu was successfully made empress.

However, just before the Ghost Festival, a startling piece of news suddenly spread.

Gu Siling has returned to Beijing.

This news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves in the government and among the people.

The official news was that the emperor had summoned him back to the capital to report on his duties, but it was clear to everyone that this was just an excuse Yuwen Jian came up with to save face.

Yuwen Jian would love for Gu Siling to stay in Yuezhou forever, so why would he suddenly issue an edict summoning him back to the capital?

This person was ostensibly there to report on his duties, but in reality, he was in a hurry to return to the capital to support his nephew.

Qinglong, dressed in imperial guard armor, stood with his hands behind his back on the battlements, looking down at Gu Siling at the city gate.

Gu Siling also reined in the horse and looked up at the figure on the city wall.

The moment their eyes met, it was as if invisible sparks flew through the air.

"You are the Azure Dragon?"

Qinglong chuckled and bowed with clasped hands.

"I am Qinglong, and I greet General Gu."

Chapter 136 Your Majesty, I Will Accuse Consort Hua of Adultery

On the night of the Ghost Festival, the royal family held a banquet.

Royal relatives and concubines took their seats in order.

Gu Siling arrived at the banquet in a black brocade robe, the tiger-head copper buckle on the jade belt at her waist displaying the majesty of a great general.

As a member of the imperial family and a powerful general who governed the Southern Chu, he was naturally qualified to attend the banquet.

Moreover, his seat was specially arranged to be next to Crown Prince Yuwen Quan.

Yuwen Jian looked at Gu Siling, raised his wine cup, and laughed.

"Si Ling's return to Beijing this time is quite opportune."

"It's been a long time since the two of us had a drink together, hasn't it?"

Upon hearing Yuwen Jian's words, the entire room fell silent.

All eyes were on Gu Siling.

Gu Siling didn't even lift her eyelids, but instead used her silver chopsticks to stir the sea bass sashimi in front of her.

"The emperor said so."

"During the time I've been guarding the border, I've been living a life of hardship with my men, and I've never had a chance to drink any good wine."

"Having seen such fine wine today, I am almost reluctant to drink it."

This statement put pressure on Yuwen Jian, expressing their dissatisfaction.

Secondly, it's clear they're not giving Yuwen Jian any face.

He looked at Yuwen Jian calmly, his face revealing five unspoken words.

What can you do with me?

Upon seeing this, Yuwen Jian abruptly stopped holding the golden goblet, and the smile on his face instantly froze.

The muscles in his face were also twitching slightly.

The atmosphere in the entire hall suddenly plummeted to freezing point, and even the palace maids playing music were so frightened that they stopped playing their sheng and xiao.

"General Gu is joking."

The newly crowned empress suddenly chuckled.

"His Majesty is most concerned about the hardships of the soldiers on the frontier."

"The day before yesterday, the Imperial Household Department was ordered to specially make three thousand cotton-padded coats and send them to Yuezhou."

Then she took the wine cup from Yuwen Jian's hand, stood up and looked at the people present.

"Since General Gu is reluctant to drink, why not try this newly tribute shad?"

"I would like to offer you all a toast first."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank the wine in one gulp.

Only Gu Siling remained motionless.

This blatant contempt caused a sudden surge of murderous intent to appear in Yuwen Jian's eyes.

The Azure Dragon stood still at the corner of the palace like a sculpture.

He crossed his arms and looked at Gu Siling's domineering appearance, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

No wonder the emperor wanted to kill him.

Anyone would find it hard to bear such an insult!

Meanwhile, the White Tiger on the other side also began to take action.

He had already drugged Consort Hua's food during the day by having a palace maid from the Hua tribe sneak into the palace. As a result, Consort Hua felt unwell and did not appear at the banquet.

Now he is about to welcome another master.

Baihu has already changed into the uniform of the Imperial Guard and is guarding the palace gate.

Qinglong simply gave a brief instruction; there was no need for explicit instructions, and his subordinates took care of the matter.

Not long after, Crown Prince Yuwen Quan's carriage arrived.

Through the white tiger's gaze, Zhu Houcong kept watching as Crown Prince Yuwen Quan's carriage slowly entered the palace gate.

According to the rules of Southern Chu, once someone enters the palace, they are all taken over by the Imperial Guards.

The one who took over was Baihu.

He knocked Yuwen Quan unconscious, carried him on his back, and swept across the palace wall like a ghost.

They headed towards Consort Hua's palace.

At this moment, in Consort Hua's palace, she leaned against a soft couch, her fingertips gently stroking the feathers of a canary, her face full of sorrow.

On the Ghost Festival, I unexpectedly fell ill.

They missed another opportunity to attract the emperor's attention.

Just as he was sighing, the palace doors opened silently.

Baihu secretly carried the unconscious prince into the inner room.

Consort Hua thought it was a palace maid and lazily raised her eyes.

The next second, a strange man burst in carrying the unconscious prince.

She was immediately terrified and her face turned pale.

"Come…"

Just as she was about to cry out in alarm, the white tiger appeared in front of her like a ghost, and a large hand covered her mouth tightly.