Chapter 722

Just then, a woman dressed in plain clothes called out in a sorrowful voice.

Zhao Xu heard the sound and looked over.

Immediately, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

"You are Rou'er!"

"It is me, Your Majesty!" Consort Rou ran over and embraced Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu was bewildered and asked, "Rou'er, didn't you die in that great fire?"

"No." Consort Rou sighed softly, "Back then, because of the Empress's targeting, my personal maid Huairui came up with a substitute method and died in the fire in my place."

"So that's how it was." Zhao Xu listened, his heart burning with rage, "The Empress, the good deed she has done!"

"By the way, why haven't you returned to the palace all these years?"

Consort Rou sighed with emotion, "Back then, after I left the palace, I fell off a cliff and lost my memory. Fortunately, a temple took me in, and I only recovered these days. Sigh... Your Majesty, after so many years apart, I did not expect Your Majesty to still have the same demeanor."

"I am old, I am old." Zhao Xu sighed with emotion and looked at Ningxiang, "Who is this? Could it be my daughter?"

Consort Rou nodded, "Ningxiang, come over and greet your Imperial Father. The events of that year had nothing to do with your Imperial Father; do not hold a grudge against him."

"Ningxiang greets Imperial Father." Ningxiang stepped forward and bowed.

Seeing his daughter, who was standing tall and graceful, Zhao Xu was in a great mood. He said "good" three times in a row and helped Ningxiang up.

"By the way, you two just descended from the sky. Could it be that you, Rou'er, have already become an immortal?"

Consort Rou shook her head, looking proud, "Not me, it is Ningxiang. She recently obtained a celestial fate, and it was precisely because of this celestial fate that I recovered my memory."

"Celestial fate?" Although Zhao Xu was only middle-aged, he had already experienced the distress of his physical state declining. Hearing this, he immediately became interested and had the two sit in the pavilion to chat.

The Imperial Guards looked at each other in dismay.

They had originally thought it was an enemy attack, but it turned out to be the Emperor's immortal relatives.

For a time, their feelings were indescribable.

Seeing the Emperor's family reminiscing, the Imperial Guards tactfully retreated, leaving the space to the three of them.

Facing her Imperial Father's curiosity, Ningxiang spoke in detail, leaving Zhao Xu stunned.

"Myriad worlds?"

"Flat Peach immortal fruit?"

"Cultivation techniques to become an immortal?"

These were things Zhao Xu had only thought about when his mind wandered; he had not expected them to actually exist.

"Imperial Father, the Great Ancestor from another world wants to sign a treaty with you to form a Great Song Alliance and advance and retreat together. He said that as long as you agree, the subsequent cultivation techniques and resources will all be provided by him."

Zhao Xu was excited, "Did the Great Ancestor really say that?"

Ningxiang nodded, "Yes. This matter can be contracted through the chat group, and the interests are guaranteed."

Zhao Xu nodded, lost in thought.

After a moment, he said, "I agree to this matter. Since we are all Great Song, advancing and retreating together is naturally no problem. Also, although that child Tianlong is not my son, his mother died for Rou'er; bestow a title upon him and let him enjoy a lifetime of wealth."

"Rou'er, what do you think?"

Consort Rou's expression was gentle as she said, "Everything is up to Your Majesty."

"As for the Empress, demote her to a commoner and investigate the events of that year. Rou'er, I will definitely seek justice for you." Zhao Xu was very decisive and made the decision on the spot, "Ningxiang, what do you think?"

"I will follow Imperial Father's words." Ningxiang had no objections.

She had a peaceful temperament; even knowing about the events of that year, she had not rushed to Bianliang to seek revenge.

She hated the Empress.

But it was not a bone-deep hatred.

After all, the events of that year were not something she had personally experienced.

The one who experienced it was her mother.

If her mother had no objections, she naturally would not have any.

"Someone! Announce the Empress and the Crown Prince to have an audience!"

A moment later.

The Empress arrived with the Crown Prince, feeling strange. Seeing Consort Rou sitting beside the Emperor, she looked as if she had seen a ghost.

"Empress, I already know everything about the events of that year. What else do you have to say?"

"Your Majesty, this concubine does not know what you are talking about!" The Empress was stubborn and refused to admit it.

Zhao Xu snorted coldly, "It doesn't matter whether you admit it or not. Issue the decree: from this day forward, strip the Empress of her position, demote her to a commoner, investigate the events of that year, and once the evidence is conclusive, execute her according to the law; do not be lenient."

"Imperial Father!" The Crown Prince's expression changed, and he hurriedly pleaded for mercy.

Zhao Xu snorted coldly, "Do not say any more about this. Crown Prince, the events of that year involve a great deal. I have already investigated clearly that you are not my flesh and blood, but the son of the maid Huairui. However, considering Huairui's loyalty in protecting her master and ensuring Consort Rou's safety, I specially confer upon you the title of Founding Viscount."

Founding Viscount?

Hearing this, the Crown Prince felt as if he had been struck by lightning, completely numb.

The titles of nobility through the ages were divided into six ranks: Prince, Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.

Being conferred the title of Viscount, the second-to-last rank, was not low, but compared to the position of Crown Prince, it was a drop of four ranks.

Moreover, once this title was conferred and announced to the world, it meant he was cut off from the throne.

"No, Imperial Father, I am your own son."

"Someone, take him down to sober up."

Zhao Xu did not hesitate at all.

Since he was not his biological offspring, his affection for the Crown Prince disappeared almost instantly.

"Imperial Father, since you are unjust, then don't blame me for being unrighteous!"

Seeing the Imperial Guards rushing up, the Crown Prince's eyes turned red, and he used his light martial arts to charge at Zhao Xu.

In the Crown Prince's mind, the two weak women before him, plus an aging Zhao Xu, were definitely not his match.

As long as he held the Emperor hostage and then issued a fake decree to claim the throne, everything could still be salvaged.

Bang!

The next moment, the Crown Prince's figure flew backward, and he was instantly slammed into the ground, unable to move.

"This..."

He struggled to lift his head and saw the young woman sitting beside the Emperor gently clapping her hands, as if she had done a trivial thing.

"Someone! Take him down and throw him into the celestial prison!"

Originally, he had wanted to treat him well, but as a result, this cheap son had actually tried to attack him, and Zhao Xu was instantly enraged.

The Imperial Guards stepped forward, tied up the former Crown Prince, and took him away. ===== CHAPTER 723 =====