The Cold Door Hero

Summary

As night fell, Zheng Rong Tai, brother of favored concubine Zheng, was ambushed by palace eunuchs after leaving the Eastern Palace. They accused him of violating a palace maid, Wang Yu E, who had hanged herself, leaving behind a portrait of him as evidence. Despite his protests, Zheng was beaten and expelled from the palace, where his attendants found him injured. Feng Shao En, the steward, discovered a secret letter in Zheng's hair, revealing a military request from Crown Prince Zhao Huan to increase troops, which raised suspicions against the Crown Prince. Li Yan, opposed to Zhao Huan's reforms, saw this as an opportunity to undermine him and sought to support the Emperor's intention to establish Zhao Huan's brother, Zhao Kai, as the new Crown Prince. Li Yan informed Emperor Zhao Ji, who was enraged upon reading the letter. Liang Shi Cheng, the Grand Tutor, was summoned and advised against replacing the Crown Prince but recognized the severity of the situation. Zhao Huan, kneeling in fear, accepted responsibility for his actions, which he claimed were motivated by concern for military failures. To protect Zhao Huan, Liang Shi Cheng suggested dismissing Gao Shen and other officials mentioned in the letter, which Zhao Ji agreed to. The Emperor also decided to demote Zheng Pianfei for conspiracy, and Zhao Huan accepted the plan to preserve his position as Crown Prince.

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