Chapter 231 Retribution

Shen Qingci and Chu Jichen hid behind the golden palace.

Hearing Old Madam Huo's righteous and tearful speech in the hall, Shen Qingci finally couldn't help but slowly curl the corners of her lips into a smile.

Excellent.

In this way, the image of Old Madam Huo, who had to sacrifice Huo Yunzhan in order to protect the Huo family, was completely established.

She was really looking forward to it.

I wonder what Huo Yunzhan's reaction will be when he finds out that Old Madam Huo would personally present "evidence" to His Majesty in order to protect the Huo family.

I'm even more eager to see how Old Madam Huo will react when she finds out that it was precisely these "evidence" she presented today that truly sent Huo Yunzhan to the guillotine.

In the Golden Hall, Emperor Yongming summoned two trusted ministers: the Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, and asked them to examine the so-called "evidence" together.

The two men passed around the letters and notes one by one and both agreed that the evidence was conclusive and irrefutable.

Emperor Yongming then slowly spoke, his voice filled with just the right amount of rage and heartache: "Although the evidence shows that Huo Yunzhan murdered General Shen under the orders of that traitor Liu Wenyuan."

“But,” his voice suddenly turned stern, “the things he did were the key reason why I was misled by slander and ordered the confiscation and extermination of General Shen’s entire family! Huo Yunzhan framed a high-ranking official of the court, and the evidence is irrefutable!”

"Furthermore," his gaze fell once more on the blood-red notebook, "based on this evidence, his murder of Huo Yunting and his killing of his brother to seize the throne are undeniable!"

"Issue my decree!" His voice was icy cold. "Strip Huo Yunzhan of his marquisate!"

Emperor Yongming paused, then seemed to remember something, and chuckled: "Oh, the position of Marquis of Yongning originally belonged to Huo Yunting. Huo Yunzhan was merely impersonating him, and he has no marquisate to claim."

"Huo Yunting has no sons, so the title of Marquis of Yongning can only be passed on to the old Marquis's other sons."

Emperor Yongming turned his gaze to the still kneeling Madam Huo, his voice filled with probing: "I have heard that the old lady has recently recognized the offspring of several former marquises?"

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Huo trembled violently!

She clenched her teeth and slowly nodded.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Yongming said directly, "Very well! I will give you three days! You will decide for yourself who to pass on this marquisate to."

This was in accordance with Madam Huo's promise that no one else in the Huo family would be harmed, and even the title of Marquis of Yongning was preserved.

Madam Huo breathed a long sigh of relief, but then she heard Emperor Yongming speak again.

"As for Huo Yunzhan," a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes, "his crimes are heinous, he is sentenced to be beheaded at the Meridian Gate in ten days!"

Old Madam Huo's body trembled violently!

She instinctively opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but then suddenly remembered what Eunuch Zhu had said that day.

She forcibly suppressed the turmoil in her heart.

No, she's prepared for this scene for so long and sang so well, she absolutely can't let it be ruined at the last minute!

She planned to stay and request a private audience with Emperor Yongming after everything was over to inquire about the situation.

Looking at her expression, Shen Qingci knew exactly what she was thinking.

She lowered her voice and whispered a few words to Chu Jichen beside her.

Chu Jichen nodded, his voice full of indulgence: "Leave everything to me."

Sure enough, after the court session ended and everyone else had left, Madam Huo planned to go to the Taiji Hall to pay her respects.

But as soon as she stepped out of the Golden Hall, before she even reached the Taiji Hall, she ran into Eunuch Zhu, who was in a hurry.

Grandpa Zhu grabbed her and led her to a secluded corner.

“Madam!” He lowered his voice, his face full of understanding. “His Majesty knows that you have doubts.”

"His Majesty said that the Regent and the Regent's wife happen to be in the palace today. The matter of issuing the decree to behead Huo Yunzhan was merely something he told them."

“Now,” he pointed in the direction of the Taiji Hall not far away, “those two are inside the Taiji Hall. You must not go there.”

Old Madam Huo subconsciously glanced in the direction of the Taiji Hall and, sure enough, saw Shen Qingci pushing Chu Jichen's wheelchair slowly out of the hall.

Shen Qingci seemed to have noticed her, and even glanced in her direction.

Old Madam Huo's eyes instantly darted away!

She gritted her teeth, cursing inwardly in a fit of rage: Shen Qingci! You bitch!

She will never forget that all of this is because of her!

Because of her, she had no choice but to take this step!

Because of her, Yun Zhan and the Huo family have become like this!

Eunuch Zhu then offered two more words of reassurance: "This is merely a temporary measure."

"His Majesty has already arranged everything."

"He will send someone to rescue General Huo. Then, he will arrange for a death row inmate to be poisoned and rendered mute, and then put on General Huo's human skin mask to go to the execution ground in General Huo's place."

"Only when they see General Huo beheaded will the two of them feel at ease."

"Don't worry, Madam," Eunuch Zhu said with certainty, "His Majesty will surely rescue General Huo before the execution."

"Some time ago, Chu Jichen and Shen Qingci went missing, and His Majesty took the opportunity to purge most of the court. Now, His Majesty has planted people everywhere. It will not be difficult for His Majesty to rescue General Huo."

Hearing what Eunuch Zhu said, Old Madam Huo's heart finally calmed down a little.

Just then, Shen Qingci was already pushing Chu Jichen's wheelchair, slowly approaching them.

Shen Qingci looked at Old Madam Huo with a smile, her clear phoenix eyes filled with undisguised mockery and ridicule.

“Madam,” she said softly, “I heard everything you said in the Golden Hall just now…”

"That's truly touching."

She smiled faintly, her voice filled with cold sarcasm: "Back then, I don't know who it was, after learning that their own son had killed his brother to seize the title and framed loyal officials, not only did they not seek justice for their unjustly killed eldest son, but they also personally burned that bloody evidence, only thinking about how to cover up for that beast."

"But what about now?" Her voice suddenly turned sharp, filled with a deadly pressure. "What? It hasn't been long, and you... have personally presented evidence to send your only remaining precious son to the execution ground?"

Old Madam Huo turned pale and trembled violently from her words!

She was furious and about to retort, but when she thought of her deal with Emperor Yongming and the plan to escape, she could only force herself to swallow all her humiliation and anger.

She had no choice but to endure it!

Old Madam Huo's eyes were red with anger. She stared intently at Shen Qingci and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Are you satisfied with the state of the Huo family now?"

"Of course I'm satisfied." Shen Qingci nodded, her smile both radiant and cruel.

“However,” she changed the subject, her eyes filled with coldness and disdain, “the Huo family’s current state has absolutely nothing to do with me, the Princess Consort.”

"You all brought this on yourselves."

“Especially… Huo Yunzhan.”

"Your retribution," a bloodthirsty smile curled at the corner of her lips, "is yet to come."

“Madam,” she said, looking at her and emphasizing each word, “just wait.”