The following day, outside the Qianqing Palace.

The ministers gathered in small groups, whispering about Nian Gengyao's punishment of being confined to his quarters to reflect on his actions. The morning breeze was cool, but it couldn't dispel the complex expressions on their faces.

"General Nian is a pillar of the nation. Is Your Majesty's action somewhat..." It was Li Fu, the Minister of Works, who was stroking his beard, hesitating to speak.

"Lord Li, be careful what you say!" Zhang Tingyu whispered a reminder, his gaze sweeping around the room. "His Majesty has his own divine judgment; how dare we, his subjects, presume to speak of it?"

Not far away, Aling'a, a key figure in the Eighth Prince's Party, exchanged a glance with Kui Xu.

Aling'a snorted coldly and deliberately raised her voice, saying, "General Nian has guarded the Northwest for many years and has made great contributions. Now he is being punished because of a letter from home. It is truly disheartening!"

"Exactly!" Kui Xu echoed, "His Majesty is being far too harsh on the Nian family. If this chills the hearts of the soldiers, who will be willing to serve the court in the future?"

Their voices were neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the surrounding ministers to hear. Some officials who were on good terms with Nian Gengyao nodded, their faces showing resentment.

At this moment, the Fourteenth Prince, Yinzhen, stepped out from the crowd, his expression calm. He did not join the discussion, but stood quietly to the side, his gaze distant, as if he were pondering something.

Someone noticed his silence and tentatively asked, "Fourteenth Prince, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Yinzhen smiled faintly and said, "His Majesty has his own considerations. We, his subjects, only need to wait for his decree."

His answer was watertight, neither expressing support for Nian Gengyao nor echoing the Eighth Prince's faction. Seeing this, no one dared to ask any further questions.

---

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Yongzheng sat upright on his dragon throne, his cold gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. Su Peisheng loudly proclaimed the imperial edict: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Nian Gengyao entered the capital without authorization, showing no respect for the Emperor and making presumptuous remarks about the palace. He is hereby ordered to confine himself to his quarters for one month to reflect on his actions, as a warning to others. Furthermore, the military affairs of the Northwest will be temporarily taken over by Yue Zhongqi, who will immediately assume the post of Governor-General of Shaanxi. This is the imperial decree!"

The imperial edict caused an uproar in the hall.

The faces of the Eighth Prince's party members changed drastically. Aling'a couldn't help but step forward, cupping her hands and saying, "Your Majesty, General Nian is the commander of the Northwest. His sudden replacement may shake the morale of the army. Please reconsider!"

Yongzheng glanced at him coldly and said, "Ah Ling'a, I remember you had a very close personal relationship with Nian Gengyao?"

Aling'a's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty is only worried about the affairs of the state."

"Is that so?" Yongzheng's tone was stern. "Then let me ask you, have the soldiers in the Northwest received their winter clothing? Are their weapons sufficient?"

Aling'a was speechless for a moment, and stammered, "This... Your subject does not know."

Yongzheng snorted coldly, ignoring him, and turned to Yue Zhongqi: "Minister Yue, for this mission, I have ordered people to prepare 10,000 sets of new cotton-padded clothes and 500 flintlock muskets. You shall take them with you to reassure the army."

Yue Zhongqi knelt on one knee and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your trust!"

Upon seeing this, the ministers echoed, "Your Majesty is wise! General Yue will surely stabilize the Northwest!"

Fourteenth Prince Yinzhen stood in the crowd, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He suddenly stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, am willing to go to the Northwest for training and to share the burdens of the court!"

Yongzheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he said calmly, "Fourteenth Brother is very thoughtful. We'll discuss this matter later."

Yinzhen had no choice but to retreat, but he secretly made plans in his heart.

---

Outside the palace walls lies the Nian Mansion.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Nian Gengyao's face turned ashen. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a single sentence through clenched teeth: "What a fine Yongzheng Emperor... what a fine Yue Zhongqi!"

The steward stood trembling to the side and whispered, "General, what should we do now?"

Nian Gengyao sneered, "Reflecting on your mistakes behind closed doors? Do you really think this general is a pushover?" He turned and walked to his study, picked up his pen and wrote a secret letter, which he handed to his confidant: "Send this letter to the Eighth Prince's residence immediately, without fail!"

---

Inside Yikun Palace

Consort Nian awoke from her coma, her face ashen. She gazed at the empty palace, tears silently streaming down her face.

"Your Majesty, you've finally woken up!" Emerald rushed forward to help her up.

Consort Nian grasped her hand, her voice trembling as she asked, "Brother... how is brother?"

Jade lowered her head and said softly, "General Nian has been punished by the Emperor to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors, and the military affairs in the Northwest have been handed over to General Yue."

Upon hearing this, Consort Nian was struck dumb.

She clutched her chest, choking back sobs, "It's all my fault... If it weren't for that letter, my brother wouldn't have... I... I've actually harmed my brother..." she murmured to herself, her voice hoarse.

Jade whispered words of comfort: "Your Majesty, please don't blame yourself too much, the General..."

"Shut up!" Consort Nian abruptly interrupted her, a flicker of panic in her eyes. "The Emperor has even taken away my brother's military power. Is his next move to depose me?" She gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, gritting her teeth as she said, "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have written that letter... I should have poisoned that little wretch."

Jade dared not speak further and could only silently offer the hot tea. But Consort Nian pushed it away, the teacup fell to the ground, and shards of porcelain shattered everywhere.

-——

The news of Nian Gengyao's stripping from power and confinement swept through the palace like a hurricane, leaving the concubines terrified.

Consort Qi clutched her handkerchief, her fingertips trembling slightly. "General Nian, a man of such stature, has fallen so easily? Has His Majesty... truly grown tired of Consort Nian?" She turned to the nanny beside her and asked, "Has our master received any news?"

The old woman shook her head: "Your Highness, the Master has instructed you to be careful with your words and actions, and not to offend the Emperor."

Consort Qi smiled bitterly: "Even the Lian family has come to such an end, what about those of us from less privileged backgrounds..." She didn't finish her sentence, but just looked at the gloomy sky outside the window, feeling a chill in her heart.

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