Chapter 386: Revolt out of lust?

Especially the Empress; she came from their Rong family. How could she just watch the Emperor take action against them without stopping him?

Thinking of the things the five families had committed, he sighed.

For such charges, the Empress could only put righteousness before family; how could she help them? He was just indulging in wishful thinking.

Three days later, at the Luzhou vegetable market, the heads of the five great families were beheaded, their families were all exiled, and their assets were confiscated.

The five great families disappeared from Luzhou City. With so many opium dens, brothels, and gambling houses disappearing from the city, the air suddenly became much clearer.

Those families harmed by drugs all grinned, and one person knelt at their own door, weeping bitterly.

Thanking Heaven, thanking the honest officials, thanking the Emperor; they had finally waited for this day.

Two days later, the poppies outside the city were all burned to ashes. The garrison commander issued a public notice: whoever dares to grow this stuff again, kill without mercy!

Some were happy and some were worried. The worried ones were those who grew this stuff because it made money fast; the happy ones were that opium was finally banned, and the common people no longer had to be poisoned by it.

For a time, the smokers were tossing and turning in agony at home because they had no smoke. Those with heavy addictions hit the walls until they died, while those with light addictions finally walked out of the poison of opium after a period of endurance.

The Old Emperor sat in the carriage, holding a map and looking at it.

Liangzhou, Luzhou—added together, it had only been a little over a month, and the local officials and wealthy merchants had all been cleaned out.

On the day the five great families of Luzhou were exiled, the Emperor and his party stood on the city tower.

The people were taken away. Qiao Mai snorted coldly. "Revolt out of lust?"

"Tell the servants to go and see. If she has breath, take her to the Yanyu Town ahead and find a medical hall to diagnose and treat her."

"Hmm, it's October, the weather should be getting cold. The carriage has its own heating; we don't need any of that charcoal brazier nonsense."

She didn't know if this Old Emperor would be able to hold himself back when he saw her. Also, she glanced at Yuan Jiaqi; she supposed this could also test his self-control.

"Yes, I must have a means of saving my life in my hands. Isn't it good to keep an ace up my sleeve?"

Yu Bao left, and the carriage started moving. At this moment, a girl rushed out of the medical hall and clung to the carriage window.

"Master, the person is fine, just fainted from anxiety."

The Old Emperor rolled his eyes at the two of them. "Don't make me look like a muddled monarch. The Crown Prince is already established; the heir apparent is none other than him. If he dares to touch the Rong family, I will have the Song family destroyed."

From beginning to end, the Old Emperor and his party never showed their faces. However, among those dead clan heads, it seemed a few people understood, but it was too late.

Qiao Mai pointed at the map. "Let's rest here for a while, eat something, and stroll around."

"Oh, so you only intend to let him be the Emperor, while the real power remains in your hands?"

"Hmm, I have already sent a letter to my maiden family, telling them to restrain themselves. Otherwise, if something happens, I will not help them."

This matter could not help but shock the entire Imperial Court. People were panicked, and many were tucking their tails between their legs.

Their family's downfall definitely had something to do with them.

"Yes, Master."

Qiao Mai sneered. "The Crown Prince isn't close to the Rong family, but is so tolerant of the Song family, which is worth nothing. I suppose there must be a hidden story there, right?"

It had to be said that Yuan Jiaqi held his wife too high; she was already leaning toward the existence of a god.

It got dark late. The map showed that this route was all small towns, so they would stop wherever they reached.

"Someone, arrange for her to be in the carriage behind."

That girl followed the servants and washed up in the inn. Someone, out of kindness, gave her a set of clothes to change into.

The Eldest Miss Rong screamed, a deep slap mark on her face.

"Hmm, this official road has a lot of traffic, yet we happened to meet. Is it fate, or were we being plotted against?"

"It's good that it's not humid anymore. I really can't stand the weather in the south. Not only was I sweating every day, but I also broke out in bumps all over my body; it was so itchy."

Twenty or thirty government soldiers, holding whips, drove the people of these five great families.

She said slowly, "You don't mind being a servant?"

"That's right. You are you, and they are they. It has always been like this since ancient times. The Emperor won't vent his anger on you because of them. Besides, isn't there me? Whoever dares to touch you, they have to get past me first."

"Dizzy, put her there, give her some silver, find an inn for her to rest, eat something, and then continue the journey."

"No matter what, if my daughter gives birth to a boy, he will be the Crown Prince, the future heir apparent. If your son is not at ease, I will depose him."

"Good."

Although the girl was dressed plainly and her face was dirty, she could see the girl's difference at a glance.

The Emperor gave a bitter laugh. "I am already at my age; I haven't thought about those things. I just think this woman's background is unknown, and her fainting was too coincidental, so I kept her to get to the bottom of it."

When Qiao Mai and the others left Luzhou, the city had already changed its appearance.

"In-law, our next stop is here, Suzhou. This side is closer to the Eastern Pass, and the weather will get colder and colder. A climate temperature difference will appear almost every ten miles."

The Empress's eyes immediately turned red. "In-law, thank you."

"Hurry up and get up and walk. Don't play the fool; it won't work. If you delay the time and can't reach the designated location, I'll let you all starve."

The guarding government soldiers kicked them directly.

That Eldest Miss Rong, wearing handcuffs and leg irons, kept looking back. When she saw the four people on the city tower, she immediately understood what was going on.

"Yes, Master."

Qiao Mai didn't make a sound. Yuan Jiaqi picked up a book and pretended not to hear. The Empress was a bit moved, seeing that this girl was quite pitiful. The Old Emperor stared at the girl's face.

"When he was young, he stayed at the Song family for a few years and had some feelings for the Song family. Perhaps he was brainwashed by the Song family."

Qiao Mai naturally saw it. She patted her hand. "Don't think about this matter randomly. Fortunately, the Luzhou branch has no dealings with the main family in the capital. Otherwise, your maiden family would also suffer. Thinking too much is too tiring."

Qiao Mai lifted the curtain and watched as everyone lifted a girl and went to the carriage behind.

"Have mercy, lords and ladies. This little girl's family is broken and dead, and I have nowhere to go. Can you take me in? This little girl can do anything."

"Master, there is a girl lying on the side of the road."

Yuan Jiaqi held a book in his hand and glanced at the triumphant Emperor. He thought to himself: guarding my wife, what do I need those military tokens for? They are useless. With my wife here, even if the sky falls, there is no need to be afraid.

Just at this moment, the carriage stopped below, and Yu Bao rode his horse to the carriage window.

As they were talking, the carriage stopped in front of an inn. Several carriages didn't move because it was a temporary rest; they planned to eat something, take a nap, and then continue the journey.

Qiao Mai looked at this woman. Even now, she was still coveting her man. She was so angry that she slapped her with spiritual power.

An hour later, Yanyu Town arrived. The carriage stopped at a medical hall. That girl was carried inside, and Yu Bao followed her in. Not long after, he walked out.

Next to the inn was a restaurant. They booked a private room, and the others were dining in the lobby downstairs.

Screams and cries connected into one!

They still didn't know the identities of these four people, inexplicably and suddenly being raided and exiled.

That face, after being cleaned, was probably a true beauty who could topple cities.

"Ginger is still old and spicy, haha."

Since the Rong family was raided and exiled, the Empress had been in a bad mood, forcing a smile all the way.

"In-law, don't worry. At the very least, he doesn't dare to now. If he dares, you don't need to do it; I will depose him."

"No, I don't mind, as long as you give me a bite to eat and a place to live."

Her hair was also combed again. Dressing up like this really blinded everyone's eyes.

This plain clothing seemed to be melted away by her beautiful face. Everyone kept swallowing their saliva as they looked at her face.

When eating, everyone in the lobby stared at her face.

If it weren't for the fact that they all came from the capital and had seen countless beauties, someone like her could really bewitch all living things.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 387 =====