Chapter 106 Zhao Baorong's Death Sentence

The imperial physician in Guanju Palace had just finished taking the Empress's pulse when he bowed and reported to Yuwen Che: "Your Majesty, the Empress is carrying twins, which makes her more prone to premature birth than ordinary women. Judging from her pulse, although the pregnancy is currently stable, we still need to be fully prepared. It is common for her to give birth half a month or even a month early."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Che frowned even more deeply. After waving the imperial physician away, he said to Li Dehai in a deep voice, "Issue my decree: double the manpower inside and outside Guanju Palace. All food and medicine entering and leaving must be personally inspected by you or Zhang Mama. As for the midwives, have them on standby at all times, and there must be no mistakes!"

"This old servant obeys the decree!" Li Dehai, knowing the gravity of the matter, quickly went to make the arrangements.

From then on, Yuwen Che devoted all his attention to Su Luoxue, rarely leaving Guanju Palace, even having memorials delivered there for his review. He focused all his energy on ensuring Su Luoxue's safe delivery, minimizing his attention to external affairs.

Meanwhile, news of the Zhao family's son's crime quietly spread among lower-ranking officials and small circles in the capital. However, both the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice officials who intended to use this case to establish their authority tacitly suppressed the matter.

In just a few days, Zhao Baorong's case was concluded. With conclusive evidence and the relentless pressure from the aggrieved Zhang and Li families, neither the Shuntian Prefecture nor the Ministry of Justice dared to delay, and the verdict was swiftly handed down—death sentence, to be executed three days later.

When the news reached the Zhao family, Madam Zhao didn't even have time to cry before her eyes rolled back, she spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted on the spot.

"Madam! Madam!" The Zhao residence was thrown into chaos.

Inside Chengqian Palace, Consort De was stunned when she heard Zhou Mama's trembling report. The teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a crash and shattered.

"How...how could it be so fast..." Her voice trembled, incredulous, "It's only been a few days?!"

With red-rimmed eyes, Granny Zhou whispered, "Your Highness, this old servant has inquired. The aggrieved Zhang family, though not a prominent one, seems to have some connections and has made some efforts to smooth things over. More importantly, the Li family, the betrothed family, is adamant in their refusal to reconcile and insists... insists that the second young master pay with his life! So... the verdict... has been handed down..."

Consort De staggered, barely managing to steady herself by grabbing the corner of the table. Her face was ashen. She had thought she could at least stall for time, perhaps finding a way to turn things around, but she hadn't expected the other party to act so swiftly and ruthlessly!

"The Li family... the Zhang family..." she murmured, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes, but more so a sense of helpless despair. She knew that behind this matter, there might be others stirring things up; perhaps someone wanted to use this to warn her or test His Majesty's attitude.

But now, His Majesty's entire focus is on the Empress, leaving him no time for anything else. And she, a concubine who is not favored and only rose to the rank of Consort because she gave birth to a prince, what power does she have to resist?

“Your Highness…” Granny Zhou looked at her with concern.

Consort De closed her eyes, two lines of tears silently sliding down her cheeks. She waved her hand, her voice hoarse and weary: "I...understand. You may leave, let me...have some peace and quiet."

Granny Zhou sighed and silently withdrew.

In the empty hall, Consort De finally collapsed into a chair, sobbing uncontrollably. After all, he was her own brother, a blood relative.

After being revived, Madam Zhao completely broke down, clutching the edge of the bed and crying out, "Quickly! Quickly go to the palace to find Consort De! Tell her to beg His Majesty! Beg His Majesty to issue a decree of pardon! Otherwise... otherwise I won't live either! I won't live!"

Master Zhao, tears streaming down his face, roared at the steward, "What are you all standing there for! Go and beg the Empress! If Bao Rong dies, how can we old folks live? We can't go on living!"

Left with no other choice, the steward had to find another way to send a message to the palace.

Inside Chengqian Palace, Consort De received a desperate, tearful plea from her family. She felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and her vision blurred.

Granny Zhou supported her, saying urgently, "Your Highness! You must hold on! Master and Madam are... they've lost their minds! Going to beg His Majesty at this time is like walking into a trap!"

Consort De gave a bitter laugh, tears streaming down her face: "How could I not know? But they are my own parents. They threatened to kill themselves... What could I... what could I do?"

She struggled to her feet, her eyes vacant: "Prepare the sedan chair...to the Hall of Reflection."

Granny Zhou exclaimed in alarm, "Your Highness! Please reconsider!"

Consort De shook her head, her tone filled with a resigned despair: "There's no need to persuade me. I... will go and plead with His Majesty. Whether it succeeds or not, I only ask that I have a clear conscience, and let them... give up."

She straightened her clothes, wiped away the tears on her face, and tried her best to maintain her last shred of dignity as she walked out of Chengqian Palace. She knew that her chances of success were slim, and that she might even incur the Emperor's wrath, but she had no other choice.

When Consort De arrived outside the Sizheng Hall, Li Dehai saw her and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his respectful expression and stepped forward to bow: "This servant greets Consort De. His Majesty is discussing important matters with several officials in the hall and is not able to see you at the moment. If Your Majesty has any urgent matters, please inform this servant, and this servant will certainly report to His Majesty when he has time."

Consort De's face was pale, but she tried her best to remain calm. She shook her head, her voice a little dry: "It's alright, I... can wait."

Li Dehai bowed slightly: "In that case, Your Highness, please wait in the side hall for a moment. This servant will have someone serve tea."

Consort De refused, saying, "No need for that. I will wait here."

She stood stubbornly outside the palace gate, her eyes fixed on the tightly closed door.

The faint sounds of Yuwen Che and his ministers discussing matters could be heard from inside the hall.

Seeing this, Li Dehai stopped trying to persuade him and simply stood quietly to the side.

Time passed slowly, and Consort De's legs grew numb from standing, but she remained motionless. She didn't know how long she had waited.

Finally, the palace doors opened from the inside, and several ministers came out. When they saw Consort De standing outside the door, they were all stunned for a moment, then bowed and left in a hurry with some curiosity in their eyes.

Li Dehai then stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is free now, please come in."

Consort De took a deep breath, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and walked heavily into the Sizheng Hall.

Consort De entered the Sizheng Hall, knelt directly before the imperial desk, and prostrated herself in greeting: "Your Majesty, this concubine pays her respects."

Yuwen Che didn't even raise his head, his gaze still fixed on the memorial in his hand. He simply replied, "What is it?" His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, but Li Dehai, who was standing to the side, could sense the subtle chill emanating from His Majesty.

Consort De raised her head, looking at the handsome yet aloof emperor on the dragon throne, and mustered her courage to speak: "Your Majesty, I...I beg Your Majesty to grant your mercy and pardon my younger brother, Zhao Baorong. I promise Your Majesty that I will have our parents strictly discipline him from now on, and I will never let him..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yuwen Che finally raised his head, his brows furrowed slightly, interrupting her with a genuine hint of doubt in his voice: "You have a younger brother? What happened to your brother?"

Consort De was stunned by his question, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, instantly chilling her to the bone. She had been in the palace for several years and had given birth to his eldest son, yet he knew nothing about her family background or her relatives, and had never cared about them.

Li Dehai whispered a reminder from the side: "Your Majesty, Consort De's maternal family name is Zhao. Her younger brother, Zhao Baorong, was recently convicted of... of raping a woman... which resulted in a death. He has been investigated by the Shuntian Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice and sentenced to beheading. He will be executed in three days."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Che remained expressionless. He simply lowered his head again, picked up his vermilion brush, and began to review the memorial. His voice was as cold as ice: "Since the Shuntian Prefecture and the Ministry of Justice have already conducted a legal review and the evidence is conclusive, then proceed according to the law. What are you begging me for?"

He raised his eyes, and for the first time, his gaze truly fell upon Consort De. There was no anger, no reproach in his eyes, only a condescending and utter indifference.

"The prince's birth mother should be even more careful with her words and actions, and strictly abide by palace rules. Go back; there's no need to mention this matter again!"