latelenovela Chapter 205 You Are All Running Dogs
Chapter 205 You Are All Running Dogs
Chapter 205 You are all running dogs
"It wasn't just your grandfather who was naive, I was too. I thought that after being exiled here, I'd have no chance of ever entering Kyoto or the officialdom. With your eldest brother by my side, I could always get by, and that staying in the countryside and living in peace with my family would be enough. But then, disaster struck, and your eldest and second brothers met with misfortunes one after another. At home... it was because of your father's uselessness that he couldn't support the entire family. It was also thanks to your sisters' cleverness that we were able to survive."
The younger sister gritted her teeth and said, "What's the use of being smart? Big brother is the smartest, but what awaits him is still being framed and framed... Dad, the deaths of big brother and second brother were caused by the emperor, right?"
It wasn't that she was overthinking it, but the facts were right in front of her. Dad had told others that the eldest and second brothers had become ill from overwork, and that their bones would turn blue-black after death. This was not a problem for those who didn't know the truth, so how could he have fooled his own people?
If they were killed by ordinary people, then no matter how much Feng Ziheng looked down on them, he was an official appointed by the court. How could he just let it go? It can only be said that he was an insider, or even one of the perpetrators. Who else but the royal family could make the Feng family take action against them?
Si Xingzhi did not answer and continued, "The current Empress Dowager and your grandmother were sisters from the same mother. Your grandmother suffered a serious illness when she was young, and she only had a daughter, your mother, who passed away early. Your grandfather was away on military campaigns for many years and was very attached to his first wife, refusing to remarry. Your uncles were all adopted from the family. The Empress Dowager loved your mother and treated her like her own daughter. It was thanks to her efforts that our Si family was able to safely reach this place of exile..."
"Then why, after all these years, hasn't the Empress Dowager shown any interest in taking care of us?"
Si Xingzhi was silent for a moment before he said, "I didn't understand it before, but now that I've met Feng Ziheng, I finally understand. Only by letting it go can we save our lives. The Empress Dowager has many families to protect besides us. If she acts recklessly, I'm afraid His Majesty will not only be abandoned. The Empress Dowager is not His Majesty's biological mother. After returning power to His Majesty, it will be difficult for her to move forward in the harem."
When Si Muyan heard the key point, she realized that the mother and son in the palace were not biological mother and son. They had different thoughts in their hearts. Whoever made the first move would lose.
She said, "But, since we were exiled, why did those people want to take the lives of our eldest and second brothers? Our last name is Si, not the Shao family."
"Your eldest brother has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, skilled in both literature and martial arts. Everyone in Kyoto says that although your grandfather had no biological sons, this eldest grandson bears a striking resemblance to him in his youth. And your second brother is incredibly strong. He grew up with your three uncles. Your eldest uncle often jokes that your second brother and I don't look like father and son, but rather that they are."
Si Muyan understood that the emperor had framed a loyal minister and was naturally afraid of his retaliation, so he wanted to kill them all. However, the queen mother suppressed him with filial piety, so he could only eliminate the Shao family, but it was not easy to take action against the Si family openly.
The younger sister asked anxiously, "Is Xiao An okay?"
Si Xingzhi thought for a moment before saying, "Feng Ziheng tested Xiao An last time probably just to see what Xiao An was capable of. Fortunately, Xiao An has no foundation, so he'll probably be able to escape."
Si Muyan thought to herself, it wasn't that her younger brother was bad, but that even though he was still young, he already knew how to read people's expressions. He probably had guessed some of the truth, so he was deliberately hiding his weakness in front of Feng Ziheng. However, Feng Ziheng had a sharp eye, and she didn't know if he really didn't see it.
The younger sister was indignant: "How could Feng Ziheng become the emperor's lackey? We still call him cousin."
"If a man does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth." Si Xingzhi was very calm about this. "The Feng family contributed a lot to the emperor's succession to the throne, and Feng Ziheng is the emperor's confidant. Otherwise, how could the Feng family escape unscathed when our Si family is in such a state? Good birds choose trees to roost in. We can't blame him for this matter."
It’s no wonder, but it’s impossible to forgive.
Feng Ziheng had no idea what the Si family had guessed, nor did he care. On the way, Feng Zizhou made a few noises, and he was severely whipped with a whip. Other officials could not bear it and came to his defense.
"Sir, the young master is still young and ignorant, why are you so angry?"
Feng Ziheng sneered repeatedly: "When I was his age, I had already followed His Majesty to handle many court affairs. How could I be as ridiculous as him?"
Lord Kuang said, "The Crown Prince is a world-class genius, and the young master cannot compare to him. However, the Empress Dowager and the Duke both love the young master. If he is injured, the Empress Dowager and the Duke will only worry about him."
Feng Ziheng then stopped and said to the people around him, "Keep him under good care. Imprison him immediately after returning to the capital. If my mother disagrees, just let her come and talk to me!"
"Yes."
Feng Zizhou was beaten to a pulp, with not a single piece of healthy flesh left on his body, but he still insisted, shouting, "Even if you beat me to death, I'll still speak up. I'm going to complain to my great aunt about how you treated the Si family... The Si family has been treated like this, and my aunt has become demented, and you're still just thinking about opening the coffin to see if they're really dead. You have such a cruel heart. If anything happens to me, will you treat me the same way?"
When Lord Kuang heard these words, he felt his forehead throbbing. He thought to himself that although his brothers and nephews loved to stir up trouble, they would not be so ignorant of the seriousness of the matter.
He hurried forward to persuade him, "Young Master, you are the Crown Prince's brother. How could the Crown Prince treat you badly? When the Crown Prince heard the news that you were in Lingnan, he immediately came to pick you up. This shows how much he values you..."
"Bah! He didn't come to see me. Did he think I didn't know? He used the excuse of picking me up to spy on me..."
Lord Kuang was startled and quickly covered Feng Zizhou's mouth: "Little ancestor, there are too many people and too many mouths. Are you going to get us all into trouble?"
Feng Zizhou struggled, but could only find time to spit in Lord Kuang's face: "Running dog, you are Feng Ziheng's running dog!"
After returning to Kyoto, Feng Ziheng did not go back to the Duke's Mansion. He asked someone to send the tied Feng Zizhou back, and then he brought Lord Kuang and others to the palace to meet the emperor. He told them everything that had happened along the way, but he did not elaborate on the affairs of the Si family.
"Your Majesty, before I left, the Empress Dowager learned that I was going to Lingnan and asked me to visit Shao. I ask Your Majesty's permission to let me report to the Empress Dowager later."
The Emperor said, "Your Majesty, your mother is concerned about Zizhou. Why don't you bring him into the palace as well?"
Feng Ziheng's face showed anger: "My brother is really outrageous. I am afraid he has disturbed Your Majesty and the Queen Mother."
Hearing this, the emperor's expression brightened. He waved his hand and said, "Since there's nothing else to do, let's go. My mother has been feeling unwell these past few days, so it would be a good idea for you to go and see her. Kuang Tiansong, please stay and tell me about your experiences along the way."