Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

Chapter 309 How about I grant Shen Chuning a marriage?

"Your Majesty, all the rebels have been killed. The number of soldiers involved in the rebellion is huge. According to past practice, all soldiers will be sent back to their hometowns, and their family members will not be allowed to take the imperial examinations for ten years. But now the border is not peaceful, and I am thinking about whether they can be disbanded and mixed into other armies." Zhou Lin knelt respectfully on the ground and reported the battle situation and subsequent disposal plan to Emperor Jing truthfully.

Emperor Jing nodded slightly to show his approval and said slowly, "Well, I'll do as you say."

Zhou Lin then spoke again, "Currently, the Crown Prince and Huguang Governor-General Wen Zhiyong are still imprisoned. I dare not make a decision on my own regarding the treatment of these two. I hope Your Majesty will give your instructions."

Hearing this, Emperor Jing couldn't help but sigh, his face showing sorrow as he muttered to himself: "Hanzhi, you said Yuanqi just wanted to come back to the capital to see me, what could be wrong with that?"

Zhou Lin was shocked upon hearing this and quickly bowed, "Your Majesty! Returning to the capital to visit you? Leading tens of thousands of troops to visit you? If I hadn't acted decisively and quickly apprehended the Crown Prince and Wen Zhiyong, seizing their military tokens, I'm afraid those tens of thousands of troops would have already been at the gates of the city!"

Emperor Jing waved his hand, retorting with a look of disapproval, "How can it be as serious as you say? Ultimately, you are so determined to punish Yuan Qi because you feel you have been plotted against, and you are seeking revenge."

"Your Majesty, Wen Zhiyong has already admitted it himself. He did indeed join the Crown Prince in the rebellion!"

However, Emperor Jing just waved his hand lightly, looking indifferent.

"Don't I know this kid Yuanqi well? How could he have the courage to rebel? He must have been instigated by Wen Zhiyong!" Emperor Jing said in a firm tone.

Zhou Lin recalled that when the epidemic was raging before, the Fifth Prince had clearly obtained the medicine to cure the disease long ago, but he deliberately hid it and did not reveal it until someone in the palace was infected. Only then did he take out the prescription.

The purpose is nothing more than to gain more rewards.

Now that I think about it, it really proves the old saying - No one knows the father better than his son!

Since the eldest prince did not break into the capital this time, Emperor Jing believed that the matter had not yet developed to an extremely serious level.

Emperor Jing looked at the silent Zhou Lin, his lips curled up slightly, and he spoke as if in a congratulatory tone, "Since all of this was done by Wen Zhiyong, then the entire Wen family shall be exterminated. As for the others in the First Prince's residence, since they failed to effectively persuade the First Prince, they shall all be killed without mercy!"

"Yes, I will obey your command!" Zhou Lin respectfully clasped his fists and accepted the order.

Seeing that he had said everything he should and shouldn't say, he slowly stood up and prepared to turn around and leave.

But Emperor Jing suddenly changed his attitude, "Zhou Lin, do you admit your guilt?"

After hearing Emperor Jing's rebuke, Zhou Lin was puzzled, but he quickly knelt down again and replied respectfully, "I really don't know what crime I have committed. Your Majesty, please explain!"

Emperor Jing snorted coldly, his face so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out of it. He said coldly: "As a garrison commander, you shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending your country. You actually left your post for a woman. Do you still dare to say that you are innocent?"

Zhou Lin was stunned when he heard this, and then he couldn't help laughing out of anger.

When he was needed to quell the eldest prince's rebellion, Emperor Jing personally promised that he would not pursue his mistake of leaving the post this time. But now that the rebellion has been quelled, Emperor Jing brought up the old matter again.

How could the emperor go back on his word like this? It's really chilling.

Thinking of this, Zhou Lin straightened his back, looked directly at Emperor Jing without fear, and said loudly: "I am indeed guilty of abandoning my post. But the claim that I did it for a woman is pure nonsense and completely untrue!"

Emperor Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in them. He stared at Zhou Lin closely and questioned, "My spies have long since discovered that after returning to the capital from the north, you didn't even set foot inside your home. Instead, you went straight to the Shen Residence and stayed there all night. The next day, Miss Shen's ninth daughter personally brought you into the palace. Do you still dare to say you didn't return to the capital for Shen Chuning?"

After hearing this, Zhou Lin was so angry that he secretly clenched his back teeth.

The spies raised by Emperor Jing were completely unaware of and helpless in the face of such a major event as the prince's rebellion, but they knew every move in the homes of ministers in the capital clearly. This was truly putting the cart before the horse.

"Why did I return? Your Majesty really doesn't know the reason?" He glared at the front fiercely and said with gritted teeth.

Emperor Jing was frightened by his appearance and shuddered unconsciously, his voice trembling: "Zhou...Zhou Hanzhi, what do you want to do!"

Zhou Lin straightened up, took a step forward, stared at Emperor Jing with a sharp gaze, and replied coldly, "I have never intended to do anything treasonous. I went to the Shen family only because Miss Shen Jiu had easier access to the palace. And Miss Jiu was willing to bring me into the palace because I coerced her. If my actions have tarnished Miss Jiu's reputation, then I can only atone for my mistake by dying."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing frowned slightly, a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes, and he asked, "Are you really not returning to the capital for Shen Chuning?"

In fact, Emperor Jing already knew about this matter in his heart, but he still pretended to be calm and asked the question even though he knew the answer.

Zhou Lin shouted without hesitation: "I am loyal to you, and even the heavens can bear witness to my loyalty!"

He knew very well how important reputation was to a woman, so he absolutely could not involve Shen Chuning in this turmoil under any circumstances.

Although he would protect Shen Chuning no matter what happened to her, he really didn't want Shen Chuning to suffer even the slightest harm.

After hearing Zhou Lin's earnest words, Emperor Jing was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and said with a smile: "Well, since you have no feelings for Miss Shen, then in my opinion, why don't I reward her with a marriage?"

After saying that, Emperor Jing stared at Zhou Lin with his sharp eyes, not missing any slight changes in expression on his face.