novelhk Chapter 283 Old Friend
Chapter 283 Old Friend
Because of Consort Zhang's favor with the emperor, the Zhang family rose to the top of the second-class aristocratic families through numerous marriages, and their arrogance became very high.
Zhang Guogong looked down on people, but Consort Zhang was still enjoying the Emperor's favor in the palace. As a result, many noble families had to swallow their anger.
The Zhang family is currently surrounded by the Imperial Guards, and the imperial edict ordered the entire Zhang family to be executed. This news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
When Lord Zhang was pinned to the ground by Commander Leng, it felt like a dream.
He struggled desperately, shouting, "My daughter is an imperial concubine! How dare you arrest me? Are you insane?"
The world still belongs to His Majesty; how could he possibly be treated this way?
However, Commander Leng gave him a pitying look.
It was this one glance that sent a chill down Zhang Guogong's spine.
That's the look you give a dead person.
The arrogance of the Duke of Zhang vanished completely. He stared intently at Commander Leng: "His Majesty's decree? This is impossible! My daughter..."
The emperor's favor is at its peak...
However, before he could finish speaking, he heard Commander Leng whisper in his ear, "Consort Zhang is having an affair with the Second Prince."
With just one sentence, Zhang Guogong swallowed back all the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He opened his eyes wide, wanting to speak, but out of fear, he could only make rapid, panting breaths.
Seeing this, Commander Leng sighed and shook his head: "His Majesty was furious and ordered that, except for the married daughters, the entire Zhang family be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison and beheaded at the Meridian Gate on a chosen day."
Duke Zhang was completely drained of strength. He murmured, "How could this be... how could this be!"
"She alone... ruined the entire Zhang family!" Duke Zhang shouted hoarsely. "She's gone mad! Doesn't she know this is a heinous crime deserving the execution of her entire family?"
"Did she think of her family when she did all this?" Duke Zhang asked through gritted teeth, but no one around him could answer him.
Even the matter of Consort Zhang's affair with the Second Prince was only revealed by Commander Leng so that Duke Zhang could die knowing the truth.
The fewer people who know about the scandalous affairs within the palace, the better.
Zhang Guogong's vision went black, his head was buzzing, and he collapsed to the ground.
The Zhang family owes its current status to marriage alliances. Now that its biggest in-law backer has disappeared, all that remains for him are his married daughters, among whom the one who married into the highest social class is Madam Wen.
Thinking of this, he grabbed Commander Leng's sleeve and said, "I want to see Lady Wen!"
If we can pull some strings, we might be able to preserve the Zhang family bloodline.
Once this thought arose, Zhang Guogong couldn't help but want to make it happen.
Commander Leng glanced at him again, but did not answer.
That look filled Zhang Guogong with fear.
"What do you mean? Even if you want to execute me, can't I even see my own daughter one last time?"
He asked the question with a trembling voice, his unease and fear almost overwhelming him.
Commander Leng shook his head: "It's not that it's impossible, but... now that all fifty-six members of the Zhang family are on record, even if you meet Lady Wen, it won't be of any use."
"If even one of these fifty-six people were to be missing... I'm afraid even the daughters who are about to get married would be lost."
Commander Leng's last words left Duke Zhang feeling utterly hopeless.
"That……"
"I advise the Duke to abandon those inappropriate delusions," Commander Leng warned in a sinister tone. "His Majesty has already shown leniency by allowing all the servants and guards of the Zhang family to leave, and even sparing the life of the married woman."
"You should know the crimes that Consort Zhang committed..." Commander Leng reminded him at the end.
Upon hearing this, Duke Zhang closed his eyes completely.
Is there really no possibility for him anymore?
Commander Leng gave a wink to his subordinates behind him. The Zhang family had more than two hundred servants. They compared each of them to the portrait and, seeing that they matched the portrait, they sent them away.
The other members of the Zhang family also carefully examined each other, determined to prevent the substitution of the prince for a swindler.
Upon seeing this, Duke Zhang knew that he had no hope whatsoever.
He lay on the ground, his mind filled with many thoughts, which ultimately turned into a wail.
How could he have raised such an audacious daughter?
As Madam Wen walked to the door, she overheard Duke Zhang's insults towards Consort Zhang.
Madam Wen remained completely unmoved by this.
She had known all along that in Duke Zhang's heart, all his daughters were merely tools. Even though they had risen to the position of Imperial Concubine, in Duke Zhang's eyes, his sister was still just a tool to be scolded at will.
Her good father, when he was insulting his sister, never considered who had given the Zhang family's current status and wealth.
Men are all the same.
Madam Wen's eyes were full of sarcasm. She handed the things in her hand to the guard at the door and then quietly left.
Her departure from the manor this time was not to help her ungrateful father; her purpose today was to bring the witness from that year to Yingtian Prefecture.
Lady Wen left quickly, but the hem of her dress, fluttering in the wind, still caught the eye of Duke Zhang.
Duke Zhang hurriedly stood up, looking at the familiar figure from behind, his eyes filled with excitement.
"I see my second daughter!" he shouted, pointing to the doorway. "She must have come to save me!"
He was talking as he crawled forward using both his hands and feet.
However, Commander Leng stepped forward and blocked his way.
"Don't even think about it." Commander Leng beckoned to the guards at the door.
"What did Madam Wen bring in just now?"
The guard whispered, "It's a few pieces of clothing."
Upon hearing this, Duke Zhang was stunned.
"Madam Wen said that these clothes were made for her mother and several concubines at home."
These were all clothes made of white silk, almost identical to those worn by prisoners, but much more comfortable.
Mrs. Wen herself had spent time in prison and knew what kind of torture it was.
She could only take care of these women to the best of her ability, as for Duke Zhang—that was never within her consideration.
Upon hearing this, Duke Zhang went berserk on the spot: "This unfilial daughter! Unfilial daughter! If I hadn't planned for her, how could she have married Duke Wen and lived such a good life? She's nothing but a concubine's daughter!"
He shouted and cursed loudly, and Commander Leng frowned and ordered his men to take him away.
After leaving the Duke Zhang's mansion, Madam Wen slipped into a small alley.
Deep in this alley, there lived an inconspicuous family.
She knocked on the door, four long knocks followed by three short ones, which made the person inside lower their guard.
An old woman appeared at the door. After opening the door, she saw Madam Wen and looked surprised.
"Madam, why are you here?"
To avoid attracting attention, Madam Wen hadn't been here for several years.