Chapter 28 He resolutely defended the imperial concubine

The next morning, as the sky began to brighten, the morning mist in the Forbidden City had not yet dissipated, but the court was already filled with solemnity.

In the magnificent hall, a dragon throne hangs high. Chen Dingyao, wearing a dragon robe, sits on it. He slowly opens his eyes and scans the ministers in the hall with a deep gaze, silently revealing an inviolable imperial majesty.

"If you have something to report, please report it. If not, please dismiss the court!" As Guo Kai's shrill voice sounded, the hall suddenly became quiet, leaving only the faint sound of breathing and the rustling of robes. Some court officials looked at each other in confusion. After a long time, a censor dressed in the uniform of a third-rank official stepped out of the queue and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Chen Dingyao stared at him intently, his lips curling up slightly before he nodded gently, saying, "Lord Xue, if you have anything to report, please feel free to speak up."

Xue Hua lowered his eyes slightly and almost wanted to back down under the emperor's gaze, but thinking of the emperor's instructions, he straightened his back and did not take another step back.

"Your Majesty, I have recently received a complaint from the people, accusing the Imperial Concubine's father of a crime he committed by relying on the royal favor to bully the people and, worse still, to take the lives of innocent people. Yet, the culprit remains at large."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the hall, and soon several other ministers stood up.

"I have also heard of this matter. The Imperial Concubine is Your Majesty's favorite, and protecting her family is understandable. However, as relatives by marriage, the Song family should fulfill their duties and repay Your Majesty's favor. If they are allowed to abuse their power and bully others, it will not only undermine the dignity of the imperial family, but will also chill the hearts of the people. I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and punish them severely, and give the people justice."

The next person pointed the finger directly at the Imperial Concubine, "The Imperial Concubine is now the head of the six palaces, but she has failed to effectively persuade her father. Her virtue is insufficient to hold the reins of power. I request that Your Majesty temporarily revoke the Imperial Concubine's seal and impose appropriate punishment on the Imperial Concubine herself to restore order."

"I second the motion!" More ministers stood up and said.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly grew solemn. Chen Dingyao's expression darkened as he surveyed the ministers who had come forward to impeach him. He tapped his fingers lightly on the dragon throne. After a moment, he spoke, "I have already handed this matter over to the Dali Temple for investigation. If the noble concubine's father truly committed such evil, I will punish him severely according to the law and show no leniency."

He carefully observed the expressions of the important officials in the court, and saw that some of them were indeed secretly delighted. After their eyes exchanged for a moment, he felt a little more at ease, and changed the subject, with a tone that was more firm and unquestionable.

"However, since entering the palace, the Imperial Concubine has been gentle and virtuous, earning my heart. Her upright character is evident to all. I believe this matter has nothing to do with the Imperial Concubine. I urge you to refrain from making unwarranted speculations and spreading rumors."

After these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the court changed subtly. His Majesty's words actually meant to protect the imperial concubine to the end.

The minister who had originally brought up the Imperial Concubine refused to give up and continued, "As the Imperial Concubine's daughter, how could the Imperial Concubine not know what her father had done? If it weren't for the Imperial Concubine's favor, how could the Song family be so tyrannical?"

Chen Dingyao stared at him until his body trembled slightly. Only then did he slowly smile and whispered, "The Imperial Concubine's favor all came from me. According to what you said, if I hadn't doted on the Imperial Concubine, how could the Imperial Concubine's father have the courage to act so recklessly? Should I also take responsibility for this matter and issue an edict of remorse?"

Upon hearing this, the man broke out in a cold sweat and quickly knelt down to apologize: "That was not my intention. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Only when the country suffers a natural disaster or the court is in turmoil does His Majesty need to issue an edict of self-criticism. Now that the world is at peace, if His Majesty were to issue an edict of self-criticism at this time, wouldn't the implication be to spit on Your Majesty's moral failings? He only dared to blame the Imperial Concubine because her mother's family was in decline. If it involved His Majesty, he would never have the courage to do so.

"What do the rest of you think?" Chen Dingyao glanced around. The important officials did not dare to meet his gaze. They all lowered their heads and dared not say anything more.

Your Majesty has always been a man of decisions, never allowing others to interfere in matters he insists on. Now that Your Majesty has made it clear that he will defend the Imperial Concubine to the end, they dare not bring themselves to implicate her. Fortunately, Your Majesty only defended the Imperial Concubine, and did not extend his affection to her father, so as not to chill the hearts of the people.

Having achieved his goal, Chen Dingyao said no more: "If you have no objection, I will adjourn the court today."

After returning to the Qinzheng Palace, Chen Dingyao's expression changed. He threw the memorial impeaching the imperial concubine and her biological father that he had received today to the ground with one hand, and his whole body was filled with coldness.

"What a good trick."

The Dali Temple Minister just reported the news to him the day before yesterday, and today rumors are flying everywhere, and countless impeachment memorials have been submitted to his desk. If someone says that there is no one behind this matter, he will never believe it.

It had been a long time since he had seen His Majesty so angry. Guo Kai, standing by, was also treading on thin ice. He carefully presented the information he had gathered to him: "Your Majesty, this is the intelligence I have gathered from the various palaces. Please review it."

Chen Dingyao took it and opened it to examine it. The more he looked at it, the gloomier his expression became. Finally, he laughed out of anger: "It's just as I expected."

The three concubines have all sent people to contact their families recently, and some of their middle-ranking concubines have also fanned the flames of the rumors. Although it has not yet been found out who is behind this matter, it seems that apart from the three concubines, the families of other concubines do not have the ability to do so.

It had been less than two months since Chan Zhen entered the palace, and someone couldn't hold back and took action, even joining forces with the previous dynasty to use public opinion to force him. Unfortunately, he would not do as the people behind him wished.

"The more you force me to deal with the imperial concubine, the more I will pamper her and hold her high above all others."

Let them watch how I flatter the imperial concubine. Such a counterproductive effect will surely make the people behind the scenes furious.

He casually put the memorial aside and instructed Guo Kai, "Keep the matter secret from Fengqi Palace. If anyone in the harem spreads rumors and the Imperial Concubine learns of this, execute them immediately to serve as a warning to others."

Chan Zhen was so happy to ask him for calligraphy advice yesterday. If he knew about this, he would be so sad. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

Guo Kai quietly wiped his sweat and said, "I obey your command." Who the hell planned this? The palace is about to be in a bloody storm again.

Just as he was about to leave, the emperor called him back.

"Give me another oral order." He turned to look at the emperor, whose face was calm, a smile on his lips but a cold look in his eyes. "The three concubines are incapable of managing the harem, causing rumors to spread within the palace. From today on, they will be confined to their respective palaces for one month and punished by copying the palace rules ten times. The remaining concubines will be confined to their respective palaces for three months and punished by copying the palace rules a hundred times."

A month was enough time for him to properly handle the matter, and during this month, the rest of the people wouldn't have to appear in front of Chan Zhen and upset her.

Guo Kai was a little embarrassed: "If the Imperial Concubine asks..."

Chen Dingyao thought for a moment and said, "I will explain to the Imperial Concubine myself. If she asks you about the rumors, just say that someone in the palace is spreading rumors and making irresponsible remarks about state affairs."

Chan Zhen never interfered in matters concerning the imperial court, so it wouldn't be a problem to hide it from her for the time being.

…

When Chan Zhen received the imperial edict, he asked with some doubt, and Guo Kai just casually answered it as the imperial edict instructed.

Chan Zhen didn't think much about it, but was a little confused about what the other concubines had discussed about state affairs that made His Majesty so angry. Except for her, no one in the palace was spared and they were all confined to the palace as punishment.

"For the next three months, the palace became deserted," Chan Zhen sighed.

She was the only one who could walk freely, but Chan Zhen was relieved that she no longer had to interact with others. Every time she was with the other concubines, her face was almost frozen with laughter. She was not unaware of the envious and jealous looks from them. She even had the three concubines come to her house to hint at her, asking her to persuade His Majesty to be more even-handed.

But she and His Majesty were in tune with each other, so naturally she was unwilling to give His Majesty up. She was not the Queen, so why should she pretend to be tolerant and magnanimous and hurt the relationship between them? Every time she played dumb and passed it by. And it was not that she forced His Majesty to stay and not let him go to other palaces. On the contrary, it was His Majesty who kept pestering her. If His Majesty wanted to go to other places, she would not stop him even if it made her feel uncomfortable.

Lu Zhu naturally knew why His Majesty did this. She had also warned the palace servants not to leak the news to the Imperial Concubine in advance. At this moment, she behaved as usual and said with a smile, "Isn't this good? No one will bother the Imperial Concubine anymore."

The Empress was too soft-hearted and not good at saying no. She always granted audiences to concubines who came to visit her. Last time, a few beauties deliberately stayed in the palace until dinner time, just as His Majesty was dining with the Empress. She had seen it all from the side. While the beauties claimed to be visiting the Empress, their eyes practically glued to His Majesty. Fortunately, His Majesty reprimanded them, forcing them to leave in disgrace and stop visiting His Majesty.

"That's true." Zen Zhen gave a relaxed smile.

Chanzhen originally thought that His Majesty would be in a very bad mood due to his rage, but she did not expect that when His Majesty came to have dinner in the evening, he was still chatting and laughing with her and looked as usual, as if he had never issued such an order to punish the entire palace.

Zen Zhen rested his chin on one hand, and looked at him curiously, until he finally couldn't help but ask, "Why do you look at me like that?"

Maybe she knew something from somewhere else.

Zen Zhen blinked, reached out and poked his chest and said, "I was just thinking that since His Majesty has put everyone else in solitary confinement, won't they only be able to come to me from now on?"

Chen Dingyao grabbed her twitching fingers and said with a smile, "I have never been anywhere else before."

But it's different. Before, she was also worried about what would happen if His Majesty was intercepted by others. However, after Concubine Yang was demoted for this reason, the concubines in the palace saw the consequences and dared not have such an idea anymore. However, she couldn't stand the fact that there were always people complaining to her with jealousy, and she felt uncomfortable every time she heard it.

His Majesty does not belong to her alone. He has so many choices, and she is just one of them.

"If Your Majesty wants to go somewhere else, I will not stop you." Chan Zhen pulled her fingers out of his hand and turned her face away.

"Really?" Chen Dingyao knew that she was saying one thing and thinking another. If he really went somewhere else, she would not stop him, but she would never be able to be true to him again.

She took a step back, and he took a step closer, holding her in his arms.

"But I don't want you to be sad."

Zen Zhen rested his cheek against his chest, and the uneasiness in his heart seemed to be soothed by him.

Unconsciously, she became more and more willful in front of His Majesty, as if all the insolence she had never experienced before was poured out on him. Perhaps it was because she vaguely knew in her heart that His Majesty would tolerate all her willfulness and would not force her to suppress her own thoughts and be just a pet to please people like her father did.

Only those who have been pampered have the right to be willful. She has never had such qualifications before, so she has always made herself appear weak and well-behaved, but His Majesty seems to have gradually made up for everything she never had.