de again. The channel has already been dug below the mountainside.Previously, it was said that I could spare three days or so, but that's probably an overestimate.At this rate Zong Yu is working, I es...Chapter 1177: Please Father, Stop Killing

Fu Shangyuan smiled, "I can tell you."

"I can tell you any answer you desire."

But later, I hope you can also truthfully answer me one question.

Zongyu nodded slowly.

Fu Shangyuan then spoke.

"Back then, your mother's situation in the palace wasn't optimistic."

"A favored princess from a foreign land, with no family to rely on, would naturally be ostracized in the palace."

At that time, Princess Ruòqing was pregnant and was framed by the current empress for adultery. The emperor himself did not want Princess Ruòqing to be pregnant.

"Once the royal family gave birth to a prince with Xi Xia blood, you say that when he grows up, what if he develops ulterior motives and relies on the power of his Xi Xia maternal clan to seize the throne, wouldn't it be easy"

"So the entire palace, except for Princess Ruoting, no one looked forward to your birth, not even your father."

"When the Empress framed your mother, father knew she was innocent, but he did nothing to defend her."

"Instead, he agreed with the Empress that she should have aborted Princess Rouqing's child."

But the princess was unwilling and reluctant. With the help of her confidantes, she escaped from the palace and ended up living among common people.

“As for what happened after, I think you know some of it. The Queen's people relentlessly pursued you and your child, forcing her into hiding.”

"As for how you became the child of a prominent clan, I think this must have been done by your mother to protect you."

Zongyu had learned the whole story of his birth from Zong Pingchuan, including how he was switched at birth to become the eldest son of the Zong family.

"What happened then After she gave birth to me"

Fu Shangyuan said coldly, "Princess Ruocheng's body is weak after childbirth, so naturally she doesn't have the energy to run around anymore."

The Empress's people soon found her and took her back to the capital along with the imposter prince.

When Princess Ruosheng took away the eldest son of her mother, the mother was so sad that she couldn't eat a bite.

And then Zong Yu continued, "What about that child"

"Where is he now"

Actually, Zong Yu had made preparations in his heart. Since the empress regarded Rao Qing, the Long Princess, as a thorn in her side and relentlessly pursued her, how could she tolerate her returning with her child

Moreover, the emperor did not want a prince with Xi Xia bloodline, so that child was most likely to meet an unfortunate end.

"He's dead."

He died on the way back to Beijing.

Zong Yu's expression faltered, his voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, was it her who did it"

Fu Shangyuan shook his head. "No."

Hearing this answer, Zong Yu unconsciously let out a breath.

It's good that it wasn't his mother who killed her own child.

"Princess Ruqing was kind-hearted. Even when she exchanged children with the Zong family, she left them a large sum of money. That amount should have been enough for the entire Zong family to live a wealthy and comfortable life."

But it seems you haven't received such wealth

Zongyu shook his head. "I don't know."

Of course, he was just born then, what could he know.

"That child was poisoned by the Queen's men. They put poison in his milk."

"Princess Ruosheng didn't personally feed the child; she wanted to, but her body was too weak."

"Our father was still thinking about Princess Ruqing's beauty at that time. He must have made some agreement with the Empress - it didn't matter if the child died, as long as the person could come back alive."

And she was also promised a position as empress after the current one, thus finally bringing peace to the palace.

"Your mother lost two children. After returning to the palace, she became taciturn. Later, when your father passed away, Xixia and Dayi began to fight again."

"Your imperial concubine took advantage of the chaos in the palace to escape. It is said that she met with the Western Xia army and was taken back by them."

"Princess Ruò Qíng is actually the elder sister of the current King of Xīxià. I heard that after your mother returned to Xīxià, she was well-taken care of by the king, and she's still alive."

Hearing the last words, Zongyu suddenly raised his eyes, his pupils contracting sharply.

"You're telling me all this just to make sure I won't fight you for the position, aren't you"

Fu Shangyu shook his head solemnly.

"Not exactly."

"I've told you everything you wanted to know. Now it's your turn to answer my questions."

Zongyu looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

"I know you have no interest in Daxi's throne, but you carry the blood of Xixia. Your mother is still alive in the Xixia palace."

"So, I have little reason to let you go."

"A war between Daxia and Xixia is inevitable, and it will not be long in coming."

"I want to know, which side would you choose"

If Zongyu chooses to side with Xixia, he won't be able to leave this palace today.

If he chooses Dah Xi, I'm sorry, Fu Shangyuan wouldn't believe for a moment that he would genuinely help him deal with his mother and her family.

So this problem is very difficult, even fatal, for Zongyu.

But he just hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Why do I have to make a choice"

"As a general under Da Xi, if you need me to go into battle, I will fulfill my duty as the Martial Marquis."

"If you don't need me, I'll take my embroidered robes and return to Xizhou, seeking seclusion in the mountains."

"At first, I joined the army just to protect my homeland in Xizhou."

"Jinxiu came to the capital city to speak up for my mother and Zongbo, and also to look for Dong'er's relatives."

"As for this throne of yours, I have never been interested in it, and I never will be."

Fu Shangyuan could feel Zong Yu's disdain, even though he wasn't speaking out of fear. He was simply expressing his most honest thoughts.

This is his real answer.

But Fu Shangyuan's psychological burden was simply too heavy. Even though he knew that Zong Yu was telling the truth now, he didn't dare to believe him completely.

To release him today would be like letting a tiger return to the mountains.

As for whether this tiger general will bite him back, it all depends on his own preferences and conscience, not a bit under his control.

Fu Shangyuan hesitated, staring at Zong Yu, his mind racing with various suspicions and possibilities.

Suddenly, the eunuch guarding outside shouted, "Your Highness, Your Majesty is discussing important matters inside. You cannot enter!"

"Your Highness!"

The eunuch guarding the gate ultimately couldn't stop Dong'er. Everyone in the palace knows that the Crown Prince is the Emperor's beloved, and even a slight bump to him would cause the Emperor to fly into a rage and severely punish the maidservants and eunuchs around the Crown Prince.

Therefore, when Dong'er burst in, those guards and eunuchs only dared to shout behind him, not daring to step forward and organize.

"Father! What are you doing"

When Dong'er rushed in and saw Zongyu bound with iron chains, she was furious.

Fu Shangyuan's face was very unsightly. He couldn't scold his son, so he turned his head to look at the guards and eunuchs at the door.

"Useless trash, can't even guard a door properly, what use are you"

"Enter."

Just as Fu Shangyuan was about to order these wastes executed, Dong'er, who had experienced several such incidents in the past few days, knew what her father emperor intended to do. She hurriedly rushed forward to stop him from killing them.

"Father, no!"

He knelt down with a thump, "It was my insistence on entering that led to this. They are not involved."

"Your Majesty, if you wish to punish me, then punish me. Please, Your Majesty, do not kill anymore."

After becoming emperor, his father had completely changed. Not only did he love to chop people's heads off without reason, but he also had his stepfather kidnapped.

What on earth does he want to do.ight, I understand the matter. I agree to digging a water channel for Fangjia Village. Have their village head come over here.""Good."After the serious matters were discussed, Fang Jinshi didn't rush...