Chapter 170 The Imperial Concubine's Execution

"Rong Shi!" The emperor stopped calling her by her name and called her by her full name, instead of even calling her the Imperial Concubine.

"You have failed to properly educate your son, harbored malicious intentions, and aided and abetted evildoers; your crimes are equally unforgivable!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong trembled, raised her teary eyes, looked at the emperor's cold expression, and then at her son who stood to the side, his face ashen.

She knew that she could not escape death today!

"His Majesty!"

She kowtowed deeply to the emperor, her voice filled with sorrow: "Your Majesty, I know my sins are unforgivable, but all of these things were forced upon Yan'er by me. I was blinded by the splendor of the harem, and I instilled those treasonous thoughts in Yan'er day and night. I contacted officials outside the palace, bribed the imperial guards, and even... orchestrated the autumn hunt!"

"Mother! What are you doing? This is none of your business, I have to do it myself!"

Chu Yan realized something and quickly spoke up to stop him.

"Silly child!" Consort Rong gave him one last look. "Remember to apologize to your father properly, and don't seek revenge for me."

"No! Mother!" Chu Yan began to struggle frantically, the ropes on her wrists drawing blood.

Consort Rong stopped looking at him, turned and kowtowed heavily to the Emperor again, resolutely saying:

"Your Majesty, Yan'er is not inherently so cruel. It is I, his mother, who led him astray. I beg Your Majesty to consider our father-son relationship. After all, Yan'er still has your blood in his veins... Please spare his life! Give him a way out!"

If only he could be spared, I could find some peace even in the afterlife… Your Majesty! I beg you!”

The emperor remained silent, his eyes expressionless.

"Mother! Your son is not afraid of death, please don't say any more..."

Chu Yan sensed that Consort Rong was about to do something foolish, and regret finally appeared on his face.

Consort Rong was the closest person to him in the world. He couldn't bear to watch his mother go to her death.

Consort Rong wept bitterly, her heart aching terribly. She wanted to reach out and touch Chu Yan's face, but when she reached halfway, she ultimately slumped down helplessly.

Then, she looked at the emperor, her face unusually calm, her smile both tragic and eerie.

"Your Majesty..." she said softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

"Your Majesty... I will go to apologize to the late Empress."

Before anyone could react, she yanked a gold hairpin from her hair and plunged it into her heart.

"puff!"

Blood gushed out instantly, staining her chest red, and she finally collapsed slowly in the hall.

"Mother! No!!!"

Chu Yan's eyes widened in horror, and he let out a shrill roar!

All ambition, resentment, and hatred transformed into endless pain and emptiness at this moment.

Consort Rong convulsed twice in the pool of blood, and then remained motionless.

Those once alluring eyes were now wide open, staring blankly at the dome of the main hall.

It seemed as if she still had a last shred of concern for her son.

The hall was deathly silent.

Everyone was shocked by this sudden and tragic scene.

The emperor stared at Consort Rong's lifeless body, eyes wide open, and remained silent for a long time, his facial muscles twitching slightly.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, looking utterly desolate.

"Never mind..."

His voice was tired and heavy, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant.

"Now that the Rong family has been executed, it can be considered that they have atoned for some of their sins."

He looked at the devastated Chu Yan and slowly said, "Chu Yan, you murdered the emperor and usurped the throne; your crimes deserve death. But considering that the Rong family paid with their lives..."

He paused, each word seemingly uttered with extraordinary difficulty: "The death penalty may be waived, but punishment is inevitable. Effective immediately, all titles and ranks are stripped from Chu Yan, reducing him to a commoner! He shall be escorted to the imperial mausoleum and imprisoned for life. Without an imperial edict, he shall never set foot outside the imperial mausoleum! Any further disobedience will be met with death!"

This punishment, though sparing Chu Yan's life, was more agonizing than death.

Chu Yan lay limp on the ground like a walking corpse, staring blankly at Consort Rong's body, his eyes empty.

"Take him away." The emperor waved his hand, as if he had exhausted all his strength.

The guards stepped forward and quickly dragged Chu Yan out of the main hall.

The emperor's gaze swept over the officials once more, and he slowly said, "Crown Prince Chu Yu is loyal, filial, benevolent, and virtuous. He has rendered meritorious service in suppressing this rebellion, and his skillful command has made him a great contributor. He is worthy of great responsibility. From this day forward, the Crown Prince will oversee the state and take charge of all military and political affairs. All reports on state affairs will be decided by the Crown Prince. We will choose an auspicious day to return to the capital."

"Your subject obeys the decree and will do his utmost to live up to Father's expectations!" Chu Yu immediately bowed and saluted, his voice steady and powerful.

The Emperor nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Minister Du, Shen Moyan, and their entourage, who were already completely dazed, and announced:

"Chu Yan's treason was not the fault of one person alone. Du Kuan, Shen Moyan, and others participated in the rebellion, colluded with the traitors, aided and abetted the evildoers, and corrupted the court. The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review shall conduct a thorough investigation! From the planning of the treason to the distribution of his followers, we shall investigate to the end. Regardless of their official rank, they shall all be dealt with according to the law, without any leniency!"

Upon hearing this, the officials of Chu Yan's faction were struck dumb, their faces turning ashen.

Minister Du collapsed to the ground, while Shen Moyan's face was ashen, his eyes glazed over. It was as if he could already see his own disgrace and decapitation.

The emperor, no longer looking at the officials who were crying and begging for mercy, leaned wearily against the dragon throne and waved his hand: "Take them all away."

Ultimately, this thrilling rebellion ended with Chu Yan's defeat and Consort Rong's suicide.

The dust has settled, and it's time to assess merits and reward contributions.

The Yongning Marquis's Mansion made outstanding contributions in suppressing the rebellion. Marquis Xiao Dingshan remained calm in the face of danger and confronted Chu Yan head-on in the court. He bought precious time for the Crown Prince and cleverly used himself as bait to maneuver.

Prince Xiao Jingheng, having given an early warning, enabled the Crown Prince to make crucial arrangements, and later distinguished himself in rescuing the Emperor amidst the chaos of battle. He was promoted to the rank of First-Rank Dragon-Tiger General, while retaining his position as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and was additionally appointed as Deputy Commander of the Capital Region Patrol Battalion. He was also granted a mansion and a thousand acres of fertile land.

The imperial edict was issued, bestowing great favor upon the emperor, making him the most powerful figure of the time.

...

Three days later, at the Marquis's residence, in Su Xiaoyu's courtyard.

The room was filled with a strong smell of bitter medicine and an unsettling silence.

Su Xiaoyu lay quietly on the bed, her face so pale it was almost transparent, like a fragile porcelain doll.

She had been unconscious for three whole days. Doctors came and went, and all the imperial physicians in the palace were summoned, but none of them could do anything about it.

Xiao Jingheng's brows furrowed more and more, and his temperament became increasingly anxious and restless.

"Brother, what about Doctor He? What did he say?"

Standing by the bedside, Xiao Lingxi looked worried. Hearing that Su Xiaoyu hadn't woken up yet, she had come to visit her early in the morning.

Xiao Jingheng didn't speak, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

Changfeng answered on her behalf: "Doctor He said that Miss Xiaoyu's condition cannot be cured by ordinary medicine. She seems to have suffered a great shock to her mind, coupled with a severe head injury, which has caused her consciousness to fall into a kind of closed state."

Even using the acupuncture techniques of Medicine King Valley, they could only barely keep her vital energy flowing, but when she would wake up... even Doctor Crane couldn't say for sure; it all depended on her own fate.

"What?! Even Doctor He can't do anything?" Xiao Lingxi exclaimed in surprise.

"Isn't he the legendary healer with the best medical skills in Medicine King Valley?"

"I am a divine physician, not a god! Nor am I the King of Hell!"

Just as Xiao Lingxi finished speaking, a dissatisfied voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.