Of course they were afraid of dying.
Of course, they were unwilling to be taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard just like that.
So they each went to their master for help.
However, this time it was the Empress Dowager who spoke, the Emperor valued filial piety highly, and Zhu Wushi had just distanced himself from the matter.
Therefore, Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi were in complete agreement, both choosing to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear, treating these pawns as disposable and ignoring them.
These people are nothing more than small pawns in their game.
If there are none left, we can find other pieces.
Moreover, the confessions of these individuals alone are not enough to shake their current positions.
Therefore, Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi were not worried.
Zhengde saw that the Empress Dowager had spoken.
Therefore, he no longer hesitated and issued an edict to hand over these court officials to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Upon hearing this, a group of court officials immediately collapsed to the ground like dead dogs.
The Imperial Guards brought by Bai San Niang and others immediately entered the main hall and dragged these people away.
The Empress Dowager looked at Li Yao, nodded slightly, and smiled, "Minister Li, you have made a great contribution to my rescue this time. If you want any reward, just say so, and I will try my best to satisfy you."
Cao Zhengchun said sarcastically, "Yes, Commander Li saved the Empress Dowager this time, which is a great achievement. If you want any reward, just say it, and the Empress Dowager will definitely grant it."
Li Yao glanced at Cao Zhengchun, and a thought struck him.
He then said, "Empress Dowager, may everyone else leave?"
The Empress Dowager and Emperor Zhengde were both taken aback, not understanding what Li Yao was going to do.
However, the Empress Dowager waved her hand and ordered, "It's getting late, you should all go back and rest."
Zhu Wushi, Bai Sanniang, and the others had no choice but to take their leave.
Cao Zhengchun was also preparing to leave.
Li Yao said, "Eunuch Cao, please wait."
Cao Zhengchun was taken aback, then smiled sarcastically, "Could it be that Commander Li is planning to divide the Empress Dowager's reward in half with this Governor?"
Seeing Zhu Wushi walk away, Li Yao said, "Empress Dowager, let's forget about it. I'm afraid what I want will put Eunuch Cao in a difficult position."
Cao Zhengchun's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Li Yao was after him?
The Empress Dowager immediately became curious and asked, "I wonder what Minister Li wants that would cause Eunuch Cao such a predicament? Could it be that what Minister Li wants is in Eunuch Cao's hands?"
Li Yao nodded and said, "The Empress Dowager guessed correctly."
Emperor Zhengde's curiosity was piqued, and he asked, "What exactly is it about Eunuch Cao that you, Minister Li, have taken a fancy to? If it's not very valuable, I will ask Eunuch Cao for it and give it to you, Minister Li."
Cao Zhengchun's face immediately turned extremely ugly.
Before Li Yao could say anything, the Emperor asked for it on Li Yao's behalf.
This is so unfair to honest people!
Li Yao smiled and said, "Actually, what I want originally belonged to the Empress Dowager."
Cao Zhengchun's heart skipped a beat.
He immediately guessed what Li Yao wanted.
"ah?"
The Empress Dowager was surprised; she couldn't believe that she had anything in Cao Zhengchun's possession.
She quickly said, "Minister Li, stop playing coy and tell me what you want."
Li Yao said calmly, "Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom."
Fragrant cardamom!
The Empress Dowager's expression immediately changed drastically.
She did indeed have a Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, which was a gift from the late emperor, but she had long since lost it by accident.
Because this was a gift from the late emperor, she dared not make a fuss after losing it.
Could it really have been stolen by Cao Zhengchun?
Although Cao Zhengchun had already guessed it beforehand, his expression still changed when he heard Li Yao say the words "Tianxiang Doukou".
Seeing the expressions on the Empress Dowager's and Cao Zhengchun's faces, Zhengde guessed that what Li Yao said was true.
Unexpectedly, Cao Zhengchun was so bold as to steal even the Empress Dowager's belongings.
Zhengde asked in a deep voice, "Eunuch Cao, is the Empress Dowager's Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom in your possession?"
Cao Zhengchun knelt down with a thud and explained, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant only picked up the Empress Dowager's fragrant cardamom by chance, and did not steal it."
No one would believe his explanation.
Of course, Zhengde would not severely punish Cao Zhengchun for such a trivial matter.
He was also thinking of using Cao Zhengchun to check and balance Zhu Wushi and Li Yao.
He snorted coldly and said, "Since the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom belongs to the Empress Dowager, I'm asking you to hand it over. You won't find that difficult, will you?"
"No, no!"
Cao Zhengchun hurriedly kowtowed and said, "This servant will bring you the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom right away."
Zhengde glared and roared, "Hurry up and go!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Cao Zhengchun immediately got up from the ground, glared at Li Yao secretly, and then left in a sorry state.
It must be said that Cao Zhengchun was completely obedient to Zhengde.
He was a eunuch and could not be emperor. He could only try his best to please Emperor Zhengde in order to preserve his wealth and power.
Of course, he did consider deposing Zhengde and then finding a puppet emperor.
However, there was an ambitious Zhu Wushi in the court.
If he were to depose Zhengde, it would likely benefit Zhu Wushi.
Once Zhu Wushi becomes emperor, his death is imminent.
Therefore, he could only be utterly loyal to Zhengde, more loyal than anyone else.
Chapter 157 Delivered to My Doorstep, Everything is Under My Control
Tianxiang Doukou is the fruit of the Tianxiang flower. It bears fruit only once every thirty years, and only one fruit is produced each time, which is quite peculiar.
In this world, there once stood a Heavenly Fragrance Flower, but it withered three thousand years ago.
From then on, the Heavenly Fragrance Flower became extinct, leaving only three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom pods.
These three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom pods can bring the dead back to life.
After taking the first pill, no matter how severe the injury, as long as there is still a breath left, life can be frozen, and one becomes a living dead.
After taking the second pill, you will be reborn, your injuries will heal, and you will be no different from a normal person.
However, the third pill must be taken within a year, or else the person will become truly dead.
Emperor Zhengde's father, the late emperor, once obtained these three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom pods.
He bestowed the gifts upon his three closest relatives: his empress, Consort Shu, and his brother Zhu Wushi.
Zhu Wushi had already made his most beloved woman, Su Xin, take a Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom from his hand.
The late Empress Dowager, now known as the Empress Dowager, had a cardamom pod stolen from her by Cao Zhengchun.
Now, this Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom naturally falls into Li Yao's hands.
Although the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom was magical, it had no value to Li Yao.
However, Li Yao could find a way to make Tianxiang Doukou (a type of cardamom) valuable.
He wanted to use Tianxiang Doukou to make Gu Santong work for him.
He had already told Gu Santong that Su Xin was not dead.
He believed that Gu Santong would break his vow and leave the prison.
Moreover, Gu Santong would definitely go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters to find him and inquire about Su Xin's whereabouts.
Of course, only one Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom could bring Gu Santong's fiancée, Su Xin, back to her senses.
A third Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom is needed for Su Xin to fully survive.
As for this third Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, Li Yao estimated that someone would soon come to his door on their own initiative.
The next day, Li Yao was leisurely practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard.
Standing to the side, Lu Yichuan reported to Li Yao on the interrogation of the court officials.
Those court officials were a bunch of spineless cowards. Before Lu Yichuan even used the Ten Great Tortures, they confessed everything.
However, what these people revealed was all trivial and of little value.
Of course, it's not entirely without value.
At least, through the information provided by these people, Li Yao gained a general understanding of the power dynamics of Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun in the court.
Just then, a member of the Imperial Guard rushed in and reported, "Reporting to the Commander, Princess Yunluo has arrived!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud thud was heard, and a member of the Imperial Guard was kicked to the ground.
Immediately, Princess Yunluo, dressed in white, clapped her hands and appeared in the courtyard, shouting, "You filthy servant, how dare you block my way! You're courting death!"
In fact, any member of the Imperial Guard in this government office could capture Princess Yunluo in no time.
But what can you do when she's the emperor's sister?
Nobody dares to offend this little firecracker.