Chapter 574 The Emperor's Wrath

The queen was shocked when she heard this, her eyes full of disbelief and panic.

"Your Majesty, you cannot do this! I am the Empress, your wife. Managing the harem is my duty. How can you deprive me of my power just because of a momentary anger?"

Emperor Tianyuan looked at her coldly, without a trace of tenderness in his eyes.

"A momentary anger? Queen, do you think I made this decision out of a momentary anger? You are wrong. I am deeply disappointed in you. Over the years, as Queen, you have repeatedly done disappointing things. The harem is in constant conflict, and as Queen, you have not only failed to quell the disputes, but have repeatedly participated in them. Now, because of your momentary anger, Concubine An has suffered a miscarriage. What qualifications do you have to continue to manage the harem?"

The queen's face turned pale in an instant. Her lips trembled as she tried to defend herself, but she found she had nothing to say.

She knew that she was careless this time, but she was unwilling to lose everything like this.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance to reform. I will definitely reflect on myself and become a qualified queen again."

Emperor Tianyuan looked at her, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. But soon, it was replaced by determination.

"Opportunity? I've given you so many opportunities, but you've always disappointed me. Queen, your current personality is no longer suitable for being a queen. I've made up my mind, and you don't need to say anything more."

Upon hearing this, the Queen looked at Emperor Tianyuan and cried.

"Is it that my character is no longer suitable for being the Queen, or has Your Majesty found someone more suitable?"

Emperor Tianyuan frowned and spoke upon hearing this.

"What do you mean by that?"

The queen stood up slowly, her image already inappropriate.

"We've been married for over thirty years, and we've been through so many ups and downs along the way. Your Majesty, are you only now deciding that I'm not suited to be the Empress? Why didn't you tell me when you were still the Crown Prince? Or why didn't you tell me when you first ascended the throne? For so many years, I've managed the harem, taking care of every newcomer for you, and now you're saying I'm not suited to be the Empress?"

Seeing Emperor Tianyuan's increasingly gloomy expression, the Queen did not calm down, but raised her hand and pointed at Concubine De.

"I'm not fit to be the Empress? Then who is? Concubine De? When will Concubine De become Empress? Or do you, Your Majesty, intend to support the Second Prince to take the throne, replacing the Crown Prince? Or is it because Your Majesty has already made up his mind to depose the Crown Prince, and therefore wants to depose me, the Empress, as well?"

Listening to the Queen's questioning again and again, Emperor Tianyuan felt that the emperor's dignity had been offended. His face became increasingly gloomy and he slapped the table.

"Queen, since you've made a mistake, go back and reflect on your mistakes. I am the Son of Heaven, and naturally I must consider the country and its people. As the Queen, if you want to be the mother of the country, you must consider it from the perspective of the common people, instead of shielding and condoning the Crown Prince and disregarding the lives of the people. You even took your anger out on Concubine An because he pleaded for mercy for me, causing her to have a miscarriage. Are you really qualified to be a Queen?"

The Queen trembled with fear at Emperor Tianyuan's anger, but still spoke unwillingly.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is your eldest son. He has been intelligent and clever since childhood, and has earned your deep favor. Over the years, the Crown Prince has also been studying hard, hoping to become a qualified crown prince. Are you completely denying him because of his one mistake? And me, just because of my momentary mistake, are you going to deny all the efforts I have made over the years, and all the efforts the Hua family has made over the years?"

Emperor Tianyuan sneered upon hearing this.

"One mistake? Queen, you underestimate the Crown Prince's mistakes. He is the heir apparent, yet he is corrupt and perverts the law, repeatedly selling official positions and putting the people in dire straits.

How can such a prince inherit the throne and become a wise ruler? If I don't punish him, how can I be worthy of the people of the world? As for you, have I ever treated you unfairly over the years? As for the Hua family, how many things have you done behind the scenes by taking advantage of your power? Do you really think I haven't found out anything?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress knew that Emperor Tianyuan had made up his mind to depose the Crown Prince, and she felt a wave of despair. She knew that her reign as Empress was coming to an end. However, she was still unwilling to give up.

"Your Majesty, even if the Crown Prince is wrong, as his biological mother, can't I plead for him? Over the past few days, I have requested an audience countless times, and you have refused time and again. We are married, and we have a friendship dating back to our youth. Your Majesty, are you really so disregarding of our feelings?"

Emperor Tianyuan looked at the queen, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. But soon, it was replaced by determination.

"Queen, you don't need to say any more. You are a queen, yet you have repeatedly failed to live up to your moral standards. From today on, you will be confined to Fengyi Palace. You must reflect on your mistakes."

The matter of Concubine De was already a foregone conclusion, so she immediately spoke up.

"Your Majesty, the Empress was in a bad mood because of the Crown Prince's affairs. That's why she rashly punished Concubine An, disregarding the child in her belly. However, Nanny Su, the Empress's personal nanny, knew that her master was furious, but instead of admonishing her, she used a feather as a token of authority and brutally punished Concubine An. The Empress was anxious about the Crown Prince's affairs, and as a fellow mother, I can understand that. However, Nanny Su is truly hateful. It will be difficult to appease the harem's anger without severe punishment."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Su suddenly became flustered.

"Your Majesty, please spare me, Your Majesty, please spare me. I clearly controlled my strength when I attacked you. It was Concubine An who deliberately jumped into the water to slander the Empress."

Seeing this, Concubine De pointed at Nanny Su angrily.

"You wicked slave, you still don't know what's wrong. How can you be so arrogant and domineering? That's the Emperor's child. It's been so long since there's been such a happy event in the palace. Finally, Concubine An is pregnant. I've been taking care of her meticulously every day, even more attentively than when I was pregnant with the Second Prince. And now this child has been lost at the hands of a wicked slave like you. How dare you confuse right and wrong in front of the Emperor?"

After saying that, he knelt down in front of Emperor Tianyuan.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to severely punish Nanny Su."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tianyuan looked at Nanny Su and spoke in a deep voice.

"Madame Su, take her away and beat her to death."

"Zhao Ping, bring the queen back to Fengyi Palace. From now on, Fengyi Palace will be locked."

He stood up and glanced at Concubine De.

"De Fei, I will leave Noble Lady An in your care. Please pay more attention to the affairs of the harem from now on."