Although he doted on Concubine Dong, he did not want to be accused of being a tyrant. He raised his hand and tugged at his clothes, and the hem of his robe slipped out of Concubine Dong's hands. She looked at Murong Zheng nervously, and saw him speak calmly.
"Dong Guifei has become arrogant because of her favor and has destroyed the peace between the Great Zhou and Bei'an. I will not let her off easily. From today on, she will move into the Qingliang Palace and cannot leave without my order."
After Murong Zheng finished speaking, he looked at Qu Jingze. He wanted to know whether Qu Jingze was satisfied with the result.
Murong Zheng felt that this was his bottom line.
What he saw was Qu Jingze's mocking smile, which made him feel guilty and even more flustered.
"Does the Bei'an envoy think that my handling of the matter is reasonable?"
Murong Zheng seemed not to notice the smile on Qu Jingze's lips and asked softly, but his words clearly meant that he wanted him to stop.
"I don't quite understand the laws of the Great Zhou. Arson and wounding people only require confinement."
Qu Jingze seemed not to understand Murong Zheng's meaning. His words were soft, but they struck the hearts of everyone in the court.
After Murong Zheng finished speaking, the court officials were indeed relieved, because the emperor actually punished Concubine Dong unprecedentedly.
But now, Qu Jingze's words made them understand that the emperor was shielding a criminal, and compared with the crime of arson and injuring people, the punishment of house arrest was insignificant.
"What do you want?" Murong Zheng felt that his patience was almost exhausted by Qu Jingze. If Qu Jingze was a minister of the Great Zhou, he would definitely deal with him, but...
"The ministers have already said that the noble concubine's honor, fine clothes and delicious food are not suitable for an arsonist."
Qu Jingze finally couldn't help himself and clearly stated his request.
Because he knew that if he didn't explain clearly, Murong Zheng would pretend to be confused and bargain with him.
Murong Zheng was stunned. He didn't expect Qu Jingze to directly state Bei'an's request. Of course, his clear words also messed up all his plans.
"Your Majesty, destroying the peace between the two countries is the most punishable."
"Your Majesty, banishing Concubine Dong to the cold palace is not enough to punish her. I request that you kill Concubine Dong to serve as a warning to others."
"… "
Although the court officials were extremely indulgent to the emperor, most of them were ministers trained by the Empress Dowager and the late emperor. They knew very well what they should do, so they all pleaded.
Compared with death and dethronement and imprisonment in the cold palace, the cold palace is obviously a better choice.
"Then depose the imperial concubine and let her stay in Qingliang Palace." Murong Zheng glanced at Imperial Concubine Dong who was kneeling on the ground with tears in her eyes, and finally said through gritted teeth.
"Your Majesty, I don't want to go to Qingliang Palace. You promised me that you would accompany me for the rest of my life. You..."
After hearing Murong Zheng's words, Concubine Dong's body became weak. She forced herself to kneel on the ground, hugged Murong Zheng's legs tightly, and cried bitterly, with despair and reluctance in her eyes.
"I..." Murong Zheng couldn't bear to see Concubine Dong's heartbroken look. He was about to comfort her, but Qu Jingze shouted again: "I hope that the emperor will keep his word. Don't wait until I leave Da Zhou before the concubine leaves Qingliang Palace. If that's the case, I don't mind letting our Emperor Bei'an know what your beloved concubine has done."
Qu Jingze's meaning was very clear. Concubine Dong was sent to the cold palace and would never be able to come out in this lifetime, unless Murong Zheng wanted to go to war with Bei'an.
Murong Zheng was about to touch Concubine Dong's hand, but it fell dejectedly.
"Your Majesty, I don't want to. You just don't care about me. And our child, he..."
Concubine Dong looked at Murong Zheng blankly. She didn't know how to get a chance of survival. What she knew most clearly now was that if she was really locked up in Qingliang Palace, then her child would be further and further away from the supreme position.
(End of this chapter)