The Devil's Tribulation

Chapter 812 The Emperor’s Favor is Great

In the imperial city of the Great Zhou Kingdom, inside the imperial study.

Zhou Zhixiong's face was beaming as he reviewed the memorials. Most of the memorials submitted were in support of the military action against Song and agreed with the emperor's proposal.

But some people still opposed it, believing that the emperor was too aggressive and would destroy the country sooner or later. They spoke harshly and did not give Zhou Zhixiong any face.

When the emperor saw these memorials, he threw them on the ground and ignored them. The eunuch Zhao Quan was already very old, but he was still in good spirits.

Standing beside the emperor, he chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, these memorials on the ground, I am still the same as before? Take them and burn them?"

The emperor nodded slightly, and Zhao Quan dared to bend down to pick up the memorial on the ground. Zhao Quan was seventy-three years old, only two years younger than Wei Qing. The emperor suddenly found that Zhao Quan had a hard time even bending down.

He couldn't bear it and said, "Zhao Quan, you don't have to pick it up, get up." Zhao Quan was stunned when he heard it, but he still got up and went back to Zhou Zhixiong and stood beside him.

The emperor put down his pen and asked, "Zhao Quan, how many years have you been following me?" Zhao Quan smiled and said, "Forty-five years, Your Majesty. I entered the palace when I was eight years old, and began to serve Your Majesty when I was thirty. It has been sixty-five years now."

"Do you have any relatives outside?" The emperor said, "You seem to have never asked me for anything. I am asking you now, is there anything you need me to do for you? Anything is fine."

Zhao Quan was so moved that tears and snot flowed, and he quickly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I don't have any requests. I only have one cousin left, but he died ten years ago."

The emperor said leisurely: "You have worked hard for so many years, and I have never noticed it. It is time for you to enjoy your old age."

Zhao Quan knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I can still serve you. Please let me serve you for a few more years~"

The emperor said indifferently: "Go down and let Xiao Xuanzi come over." Zhao Quan knew that the emperor had made up his mind and it could not be changed. He kowtowed heavily to the emperor several times, stood up and slowly left the imperial study.

The Third Prince came in at that moment and saw Zhao Quan’s face covered with tears. He asked curiously, “What happened to Eunuch Zhao? Was he scolded by our father?”

Now the Third Prince no longer needs to be informed when he sees the Emperor. Some of the privileges that the Crown Prince previously enjoyed have been replaced by the Third Prince. Anyone with a discerning eye can guess what the Emperor is thinking.

Eunuch Zhao bowed slightly, then shook his head, said nothing, and left the imperial study in tears.

The third prince looked puzzled, but he didn't think much about it and went straight to the emperor. Zhou Zhixiong chuckled and said, "Jun'er is here~ It's just right. I have something for you to do."

The Third Prince bowed and saluted, "Father, please issue an order." The Emperor hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Did you see Zhao Quan just now?"

The third prince was puzzled and asked, "Did Eunuch Zhao mess up his job?" The emperor shook his head and said, "No, he has been very careful in his work for decades and never made any mistakes.

However, he is old, and I want him to go home. He has followed me for forty-five years, and he has done all my work. I plan to issue an edict to reward him. What do you think should be the reward for him, Jun'er?"

When the Third Prince heard this, he felt that the Emperor had other intentions. He pondered for a moment, was slightly surprised, bowed and said, "I know what reward I should give him now."

The emperor nodded slightly and did not continue the topic. Instead, he asked about the border affairs.

The Third Prince had come to report the war, and he quickly said, "Marshal Sun has marched out from three directions and has captured six cities! The morale of the entire army is high now!"

The emperor slapped his desk upon hearing this and said with great joy, "Great! Issue an order immediately to confer the title of Duke of Chu on Wei Qing and the title of the third rank imperial edict on Wei Mingwan. They will both be rewarded with ten thousand gold coins and a thousand households!"

In a corner of the palace, Zhao Quan was throwing some letters into the brazier. The young eunuch beside him wanted to help, but was stopped by Zhao Quan.

Zhao Quan burned the letter while saying, "Xiao Xuanzi, I have seen countless people in my life. No matter who he is, as long as he stands in front of me, I can tell what kind of person he is with just one glance.

I have been by your Majesty's side for decades, always walking on thin ice, but I didn't expect that I would fall into your hands in the end.

But I don't blame you. As slaves, we can only follow one master for our entire lives and we must not have two hearts!"

Xiao Xuanzi's heart was pounding, and he stammered, "What is Godfather talking about? Xiao Xuanzi doesn't understand..."

"It doesn't matter whether you understand or not~" Zhao Quan sighed and said, "I am seventy-three years old, it is time for me to go down and serve the emperor.

"Xiao Xuanzi, you are serving His Majesty, so you must remember what I just said, and maybe you can have a good ending."

At this moment, the third prince arrived with several guards, imperial doctors, and a pot of poisoned wine.

Zhao Quan stood up to greet him and said happily, "I didn't expect that His Majesty would let the Third Prince come to see me off. I am truly flattered."

The Third Prince sighed and said, "Eunuch Zhao, you are so confused. Why do you want to help the deposed Crown Prince?"

Zhao Quan showed his guilt, but said calmly: "I saw that the Queen was so anxious about her son that she had no appetite, so I helped them pass a few letters to each other."

The Third Prince waved his hand, and the guards handed the poisoned wine to Zhao Quan. Zhao Quan quickly knelt down and took it, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."

The third prince said: "Father said that we should pick a boy from your cousin's family to inherit the Zhao family's incense, and you...will have a descendant~"

Zhao Quan burst into tears of gratitude and said, "I bow down to thank the emperor for his great grace!"

Zhao Quan knew that he was going to die. He understood Zhou Zhixiong and had done so many things for Zhou Zhixiong, good and bad, overt and covert, positive and negative. He did it all.

How could the emperor be assured that he would go back to live out his retirement? Sending a message to the empress and the deposed prince was just an excuse the emperor made up.

The deposed crown prince was imprisoned and the queen was banished to the cold palace. Although she was not deposed, the emperor had not seen her for many years.

It was no big deal for these two people to pass on the message, but it gave the emperor a good excuse to kill him.

After expressing his gratitude, Zhao Quan picked up the wine jug and drank it all without hesitation. Then he walked to his favorite recliner and slowly sat down, crossed his hands on his abdomen, and fell asleep peacefully.

The Third Prince waited for a quarter of an hour, then nodded slightly. The imperial physician came forward to check Zhao Quan's pulse, and after confirming that Zhao Quan was dead, he stood up and said, "Your Highness, Eunuch Zhao is gone."

The third prince felt a little guilty, but he adjusted himself immediately and said calmly, "Give him a proper burial."

Royal study room.

The third prince came up to the emperor and said, "Father, Eunuch Zhao is gone."

The emperor sighed and asked, "Did he curse me?" The third prince replied, "No, he died peacefully. I ordered him to be buried with honor."

Seeing that the Third Prince seemed to be in a slightly bad mood, Zhou Zhixiong said calmly: "Do you think that your father is too cruel and ruthless?"

The Third Prince immediately saluted and said, "I dare not." Zhou Zhixiong said self-deprecatingly, "It doesn't matter, I also feel that I am too ruthless.

Zhao Quan has been with me forty-five years, and he does things to my liking. He... knows me too well... How can I feel at ease if I let such a person go?

Remember, as a monarch, you cannot neglect the great country for personal gain. This has been the Zhou family's foundation for thousands of years.

If Zhao Quan is used by someone with ulterior motives, the Zhou family's kingdom will be in danger."

The Third Prince was shocked when he heard this, and he immediately bowed and said, "This is my kindness, Father. Thank you for your guidance."