Chapter 681 The Latest Palace Intrigue!

Emperor Qin Shi Huang kept his word.

That very day, the two most outspoken ministers were made an example of and executed right there in front of the palace.

He was a wise emperor for only three years before everyone forgot that he was once a bloodthirsty god who showed no mercy to any Buddha!

From then on, no one dared to mention the matter of taking concubines again.

Although there were a few minor incidents of 'chance encounters,' 'drugging,' and 'being tackled' in the harem.

However, every time the First Emperor of the Dragon King encountered this, he would avoid it at all costs, jump away on the spot, and expose the matter.

No matter how beautiful or pitiful the other person was, he would always show disgust and even take off the 'defiled' robe and throw it hard on the ground.

Then the First Emperor would return to Zhaoyang Palace, feeling wronged, and complain to the Empress: "There are always treacherous ministers trying to harm me!"

"I will not let them get away with this!"

The Empress would patiently hug the First Emperor and comfort him each time, saying, "Alright, alright, it's all their fault."

“They can’t stand to see us doing well, and they want to break us up.”

"Let's ignore them and punish them severely. Then they won't dare to do it again."

After investigating the background of these suddenly appearing 'women,' Emperor Qin Shi Huang would eradicate the forces behind them as well.

After four or five such incidents, the harem finally returned to complete peace.

Nowadays, not even a mother cat would dare to suddenly jump out and rub against Emperor Qinshihuang.

No one in the entire court dared to mention the matter of taking concubines into the harem again.

After all, their emperor was a ruthless ruler who would not spare any subject who disobeyed his will.

Of course, aside from that point, Emperor Qin Shi Huang was indeed a wise and sagacious ruler who was a rare talent in thousands of years.

The prosperous era of Da Yue that he was about to usher in had filled all the officials in the court with anticipation.

Therefore, the ministers overlooked any minor flaws in his character.

Now the imperial harem is as peaceful as an ordinary wealthy household.

There were only four masters in the entire palace.

Emperor Duan Rongshi, the first emperor of China, Empress Li Qingluo, their only daughter, Princess Qingwu, and their young son, Duan Jingzhi, who was less than a year old.

In the vast imperial palace, only Zhaoyang Palace was always bustling with activity and laughter.

The remaining palaces were all empty, like cold palaces.

However, General Pei, who was living in the Taoist temple, was soon invited to stay at the palace for a while.

Accompanying them was General Pei's current husband.

After the two elderly people came to the palace, the palace finally became a bit more lively.

The palace servants finally had more work to do, and even their errand-running speed became more efficient.

Everyone had a smile on their face.

After all, when they entered the palace, they had made all the necessary preparations, thinking that once they entered this place that devoured people without spitting out bones, they would need to use all their cunning to be able to leave alive one day.

However... nowadays, let alone palace intrigue, everyone is fatter than the fish in the pond.

If this continues, everyone will have to have their measurements taken again for the new palace robes issued next year.

So, with two more masters in the palace, everyone was vying to do any work that came up.

Soon, the struggle for jobs became the latest power struggle within the Dai Viet palace...

Originally, the palace wasn't so deserted.

Emperor Yan of the previous dynasty had a palace full of concubines during his lifetime.

At that time, the palace truly became a place where people could kill without shedding blood.

However, ever since Emperor Yan's health deteriorated and he was confined to the Zichen Palace, one by one, the concubines in the palace began to die suddenly in any possible corner of the palace.

Some were poisoned to death.

Some were scared to death by cats.

Some were even bitten to death by venomous snakes, scorpions, or even rats.

Some were even hung in the cold palace.

Some people had holes pierced all over their bodies with knives.

They all say that these dead concubines were the ones who poisoned Consort Yue in the past, and that the methods they used to harm Consort Yue have now come back to haunt them.

Besides Consort Rong, there were also the concubines who were brought into the palace after Consort Yue's death.

Of all the elderly people from that time, none of them who had their hands stained with the murder of Consort Yue survived.

As for Consort Rong...

After Emperor Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne, she went to a temporary palace to live out her remaining years in peace and happiness, without any worries.

Therefore, there are no imperial concubines in the palace now.

The palace servants then treated Madam Pei as if she were the Dowager Empress.

All day long, he would either massage her back and shoulders or sit on the floor listening to her tell stories.

After finishing her work that day, Li Qingluo made a special trip to the Changshou Palace next to her Zhaoyang Palace to visit her grandmother. Before she even entered the courtyard, Que'er caught up with her.

"Your Majesty, it's a letter from Rong Le's side."

Rong Le?

Li Qingluo remembered Rong Le and immediately took the letter.

She glanced at the contents of the letter, and before she even had a chance to read it carefully, her heart sank heavily.

And the person also staggered back two steps in a daze.

Li Qingluo's face had turned deathly pale.

"Your Majesty!"

Que'er called out softly, not daring to startle Old Madam Pei.

Li Qingluo whispered, "Return to Zhaoyang Palace."

Que'er quickly instructed the palace maid beside her to help Li Qingluo back to Zhaoyang Palace.

Upon learning that the Empress was unwell, Duan Rongshi immediately dropped all his official duties and rushed back.

"Luo'er!"

Duan Rongshi went straight to the bedroom.

Four-year-old Fangfang was lying on Li Qingluo's lap, anxiously calling out, "Mother, are you feeling better?"

On the other side, the wet nurse was also holding the little prince, nicknamed A Yuan, who was waiting anxiously by her side.

As soon as Duan Rongshi returned, he knelt down on the ground.

He waved his hand, urgently trying to shoo everyone away: "Get out of here."

Fangfang was also dragged into it.

Fangfang looked back at her mother with reluctance. Li Qingluo gave her a reassuring look before Fangfang took Que'er's hand and left her mother's palace.

After everyone had left, Li Qingluo took out the letter from behind her and handed it to Duan Rongshi.

Her eyes welled up with tears as she stared blankly: "My brother... he's gone after all."

Duan Rongshi tightened his grip on the letter.

Whether Li Jingchuan lives or dies is completely irrelevant to him.

The important thing is that his daughter will be heartbroken because of this.

Her family ties were already weak.

Besides her grandmother, who cared deeply for her, there was also Li Jingchuan, who was recuperating in Rongle Anju, who was far away in the world.

However, Li Jingchuan's original lifespan was such that he wouldn't live past a year after recognizing Luo'er.

His daughter must be six years old now, right?

"Luo'er, everyone must die eventually. As we grow older, we will experience more and more separations and deaths."

"You need to think more positively."

Despite her pain, Li Qingluo threw herself into Duan Rongshi's arms.

"Ah Shi, I understand."

"Moreover, I am mentally prepared for my brother to pass away."

"But when I actually faced it, I still felt... it was too sudden!"

"But fortunately, he had no regrets when he passed away."

“Now Alan has returned to Miao territory with Zheng Wanxiu and her daughter Zhiwei with her brother.”

"If I have the chance in the future, I would like to go and see them."

With Duan Rongshi's covert support, the Witch Moon Cult in Miao territory has now re-established itself.

Moreover, with the support of the imperial court, Jin Hua's Wuyue Sect has become the largest and most powerful sect in the entire Miao region.

However, Duan Rongshi also personally wrote to Jinhua, which should be said to have established a constraint on Miao territory.

People from Miao territory, along with Miao witchcraft and sorcery, are no longer allowed to leave Miao territory.

Otherwise, the imperial court will surely exterminate every Miao person who leaves Miao territory and uses witchcraft to harm others, wreak havoc on the world, or threaten the imperial court.

Jin Hua knew that this was already an act of mercy from the emperor, and also a reflection of their past relationship.

Witchcraft and sorcery did indeed cause chaos throughout the entire Liang Dynasty and even the Chu Dynasty.

She personally promised that she would lead the Wuyue Sect to protect the Miao region for generations to come.

From this day forward, the witchcraft and sorcery of the Miao region will never again leave the Miao region!