latelenovela Chapter 473 Plowing the Fields
Chapter 473 Plowing the Fields
After a moment's thought, the younger sister understood what had happened.
She said, "So, the late Empress Dowager couldn't bear to see the late Emperor exterminate the Shao family, so she secretly kept a bloodline. And that bloodline was taken away by Chang Kan by chance? But I remember that when the late Emperor dealt with the Shao family, he was ruthless. Almost all the military officers associated with the Shao family were executed and their property confiscated. Why wasn't Chang Kan among them?"
Feng Ziheng paced back and forth in the hall for a long time before finally saying, "Your Majesty, the events of that year were not as simple as they appeared on the surface. I firmly believe that Duke Shao is loyal and steadfast, but General Shao... I cannot be certain."
"You mean, the Shao family's crime of treason might not have been fabricated?"
Feng Ziheng hesitated and refused to say more.
The younger sister knew his concerns, after all, General Shao was her maternal uncle.
She said, “As I hold a high position, what I need is the stability of the Great Zhou, not to reopen this nearly twenty-year-old case. That Shao family member is my cousin. If he is sincere and willing to do good, I can be lenient with him. But if he has ulterior motives, how can I tolerate him?”
Feng Ziheng cupped his hands and said, "It was my shortsightedness."
He added, “The events of that year were not clear because Chang Kan was not on good terms with either of the previous emperors. The previous emperor faced difficulties after ascending the throne, and General Shao, as the previous emperor’s maternal relative, should have supported him. However, General Shao was far away on the frontier and refused to return to the capital for a long time. He even sent letters back to the capital several times, asking the previous emperor to send more than 100,000 elite troops.”
"However, at that time, the Shao family army already numbered 400,000, the largest number of soldiers in the entire Great Zhou. The late emperor was displeased and refused to allow it, issuing an edict ordering him to immediately lay down his arms and return to the capital, replacing him with General Cao to guard the border. But General Shao refused to obey the order and even killed Yu Huai, the deputy general sent by the late emperor..."
"After a series of events, the late emperor was furious. He tricked General Shao back to the capital by using the seriously ill Duke Shao. Then, in a fit of rage, he ordered the execution of the entire Shao family."
Hearing this, the younger sister felt a tightness in her chest: "So the execution of the Shao family wasn't because the late emperor was suspicious, but because the Shao family... was too reckless."
Feng Ziheng replied, "Your Majesty, these are facts that I know. But I dare not conceal them from Your Majesty. Based on my understanding of General Shao, he is not an unfaithful or unfilial person. I am afraid that he was instigated and used by others, which is why he did those treasonous and foolish things."
The younger sister said, "Do you think the person who took advantage of him is Chang Kan?"
Feng Ziheng nodded: "That's right. Chang Kan is more than ten years older than General Shao. General Shao has been learning martial arts from Chang Kan since childhood. They are both teacher and friend. Moreover, Chang Kan once had a fierce argument with Duke Shao. Of course, these are all my speculations. Whether General Shao has been misled or truly harbors rebellious intentions, I cannot know."
The younger sister had never inquired about those past events in detail. Now, upon hearing this information, she was speechless for a long time.
After a long pause, he finally said, "So, back then, you supported the late emperor? Even though the Shao family is related to you?"
Feng Ziheng sighed softly, "Does Your Majesty know that the late Empress Dowager broke with the late Emperor because of the Shao family matter? It wasn't that the Empress Dowager didn't know how to distinguish right from wrong, but that she believed the late Emperor hadn't investigated the truth before hastily convicting the Shao family."
The younger sister stroked the letter in her hand, looking at it again and again, and said coldly, "If this child is really from the Shao family and was indeed raised by Chang Kan, then he cannot be kept."
“Yes, Your Majesty is wise,” Feng Ziheng said. “But should we inform the Princess?”
The younger sister shook her head: "No need. Look at her letter, it shows that she dotes on this cousin she has never met. She is prone to acting on impulse. If she finds out that I want to exterminate the last member of the Shao family, she may not agree."
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. But what we need to think about now is how to find that Shao family scion."
The younger sister raised her head: "The Shao family believes that the Shao family was harmed by the late emperor, but now the late emperor is dead. Now he wants revenge. Do you think he will seek revenge against me?"
Feng Ziheng carefully deduced and said, "Since the princess believes this boy is kind-hearted and even took the initiative to seek her out, it is clear that this boy has no intention of seeking revenge against His Majesty."
"If he doesn't seek revenge against me, what will he do?"
“Your Majesty, I believe that his target for revenge is me,” Feng Ziheng said. “I was the late Emperor’s right-hand man, as everyone knows. Moreover, I am a member of the Feng family and related to the Shao family. Perhaps in Chang Kan’s eyes, I am a complete sycophant who disregards personal relationships for the sake of power.”
Upon hearing this, the younger sister couldn't help but laugh: "Don't even mention Chang Kan, even I used to think that way too."
Feng Ziheng smiled as well: "Fortunately, Your Majesty understands me."
The younger sister shook her head: "I don't understand. I hated you so much back then, but my eldest sister said that you were wise in disguise and not someone to be underestimated. Later, the late emperor also told me that you were trustworthy."
Thinking of the past, Feng Ziheng couldn't help but look up at her, then quickly lowered his head and knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your appreciation."
After calling out to her younger sister, she stroked her chin and thought for a moment before saying, "They are certainly not as familiar with the capital as you are, and you are heavily guarded. It will probably not be easy for them to deal with you. Moreover, I do not know what the Shao family is thinking, but Chang Kan probably has other ambitions besides revenge."
Feng Ziheng interjected, "I think so too. If that's the case, they can only make their move when they can enter the palace to see Your Majesty, or when Your Majesty leaves the palace. I believe that for them, the chances of making their move are greater after Your Majesty leaves the palace."
The younger sister laughed and said, "Personal plowing two months from now is a good opportunity."
Feng Ziheng understood immediately: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will make the arrangements properly."
Two months later, before the autumn harvest, every emperor would personally plow the fields with his empress and crown prince.
Now that my younger sister is the emperor, there is no empress or crown prince in the palace, and she is the only one personally tilling the fields. But all the civil and military officials must also go along.
With so many people and so many eyes, things are bound to change.
It's not surprising that Chang Kan found that opportunity to act.
Before she knew it, the day of her personal plowing arrived. The younger sister dressed up and went out, closing her eyes to rest along the way, while guards stood guard around her to ensure her safety.
But she remained uneasy. Feng Ziheng was not far behind her, following on horseback. She had deliberately created an opening, giving the boy an opportunity to attack.
The younger sister couldn't bear it. In her second sister's letter, she said that the child was still just a child. Although he was already seventeen, he had probably been raised in a locked-up environment and didn't know much about the world. His hatred was mixed with unclear and ambiguous feelings.
It would be a real pity if he died like this.
But even if he doesn't die, he can only be a menace.
The younger sister's fingers curled slightly, a sliver of hope remaining, wishing that the child would not appear.
But just as I finished thinking, I heard a commotion behind me.
"Assassins! Watch out for assassins! Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor now!"
The carriage came to a sudden stop. The younger sister lifted the curtain, but there were too many guards outside, so she couldn't see what was happening.