Chapter 80 Anger
The next morning, the dazzling sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window.
The girl, who was lying by the bed, felt the light, frowned uncomfortably, her eyelids fluttered slightly, and she quickly opened her eyes groggily.
She rubbed her eyes and turned to look outside, where it was now bright daylight.
Then he glanced at the person lying on the bed, put his finger under her nose, and checked if she was still breathing.
If you're still alive, then your efforts weren't in vain.
She stood up, stretched, walked to the table, and patted Yu Shan on the shoulder.
"Let's go, let's take them back."
Yu Shan looked up and opened his eyes groggily. Even before he was fully conscious, he instinctively agreed.
"Okay, boss."
Duan Gan, the Grand Councilor, addressed the emperor, saying that the soldiers had sacrificed their lives for the Celestial Empire without regret, and that this was to demonstrate the emperor's concern for the border wars and the men who fought for the Celestial Empire.
Not only can they be awarded additional titles and rewards based on their military achievements, but they can also issue decrees to properly bury the fallen soldiers in order to comfort their families who have lost their loved ones.
The soldiers who died on the frontier were granted a cenotaph by the Emperor's grace, allowing their families to express their gratitude to the Emperor and praise his benevolence and love for the people. This greatly pleased the Emperor, and even his recently weakened spirits were greatly restored.
Upon hearing the news from the court, the Empress of Kunning Palace flew into a rage and, with a loud "crack," overturned the gilded vase placed to the ground.
The eunuchs and palace maids inside the palace all knelt down in a flash, terrified and uneasy.
The Empress's face darkened, and she gritted her teeth in anger: "Duan Gan deserves to die! If it weren't for him, all this fame and favor should have gone to my brother, not Duan Gan!"
The personal maidservant beside her, Granny Yu, looked around and stepped forward to admonish her, "Your Highness, be careful what you say. Lord Duan is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor. If someone with ulterior motives finds out, I'm afraid the Emperor will punish you."
"Am I not even allowed to speak in my own bedchamber? If any treacherous servant dares to speak nonsense outside, I will have him strangled on the spot, and not only that, I will not spare his family members either!"
The Empress's sinister gaze swept across the surroundings, and no one dared to look her in the eye; they all trembled and prostrated themselves on the ground.
Granny Yu sighed silently and shook her head helplessly: "Your Highness, be careful, walls have ears."
Suddenly, a eunuch rushed in from outside the door to report: "Your Majesty the Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
The Empress rose with delight and exclaimed, "My son has finally arrived!"
Normally, he could only see the Crown Prince when paying his respects; otherwise, he preferred to stay in his Eastern Palace rather than come out to talk to his mother.
Qi Heng's expression was indifferent. He reached out and bowed to the woman in front of him, his posture distant, not like that of a mother and son, but more like that of a ruler and his subject.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Get up quickly, how have you been feeling lately?"
He had caught a cold a while ago, so he was excused from paying his respects. Unexpectedly, he was severely reprimanded as soon as he entered the court today.
Recalling his father's cold and ruthless attitude, even though he understood the principle of prioritizing the minister over the son, he couldn't help but feel sad. He had solved the salt smuggling case, but he thought the father was too slow and inefficient.
He thus resigned from his position as Grand Secretary, and Grand Secretary Zhong could take over the post.
The senior ministers in the cabinet were already in semi-retirement and rarely interfered in court affairs. His Majesty, mindful of their advanced age, did not allow them to work too hard.
The Emperor's current actions are a clear slap in the face to his minister.
In this situation, giving him the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review may seem like a neither promotion nor demotion, but in reality, it is a demotion.
"I heard that Yanli is about to succeed as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, which is enough to show how much your father values you. You must perform well and not let your father down."
The Queen took his hand, her gaze filled with love and pride.
Qi Heng withdrew her hand, lowered her eyes to conceal the emotions in them, and said, "Yes, Mother."
"You know that people from humble backgrounds are vulnerable, and your brothers are growing up. Your father is now clearly valuing Duan Gan. Your mother doesn't want to make things difficult for you; she just hopes that you can achieve something so that the Emperor will look at you with new eyes."
"Your son understands, so Mother can rest assured."
After paying his respects, he excused himself and did not linger in the hall for a moment longer. She knew that her son was busy with official business, so she could only let him be.
Just then, Xiao Suzi, the head eunuch of Kunning Palace, stepped into the room and saw His Highness the Crown Prince. He immediately bowed and greeted him.
Only after he disappeared outside the door did Xiao Suzi hurriedly run inside.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty the Empress..."
Granny Yu frowned: "What's wrong? Little Su, I've never seen you so flustered before."
The Empress sat on her high seat, closing her eyes to rest. Behind her, the head palace maid, Zhi'er, dipped her fingertip in some essential oil and gently massaged her temples.
"This servant saw His Highness the Crown Prince come by, so Her Majesty the Empress should know about this matter."
Hearing this, Granny Yu was even more puzzled. It was a good thing that the Crown Prince was going to take over as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. How could it be a bad thing?
"Your Highness is naturally aware that His Highness has succeeded to the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. This is a joyous occasion. Little Su, what's with that expression?"
Xiao Suzi looked up at her with a wry smile: "It's a happy occasion, but... but..."
Hearing his hesitant words, the Empress opened her eyes and said unhappily, "Just what? When did you start speaking so evasively?"
"Your Highness, it is true that His Highness has succeeded as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but he has lost the position of Grand Secretary."
"What?!"
The Empress stood up in shock and turned to glare fiercely at Zhi'er behind her.
Zhi'er was startled upon seeing this and knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I didn't hear the whole news. I was too anxious. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Granny Yu glared at her fiercely, "You little hussy, you can even misunderstand a simple piece of information, what use are you then!"
Xiao Suzi glanced cautiously at the Empress and said, "Moreover, after the Emperor finished court, he went to Fenghua Hall again."
The Empress immediately revealed a sinister look in her eyes and shouted angrily, "It's her again!"
Duan Gan, born into the most prestigious aristocratic family, could tolerate being treated like royalty. So what is the Liu family? Born into commoners, how dare they receive such favor?
Even if she gives birth to a son, so what? In this ruthless harem, how can he grow up safely?
Granny Yu quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. That Consort Liu is just a commoner. Apart from her face, what can she do to compare with the concubines in the palace, let alone Your Majesty?"
"Her son has no powerful maternal clan and is just a minor prince. In the future, he will have to rely on the Empress and the Crown Prince for survival."
"These people are not worth our attention."
After hearing this, the Empress calmed down and realized that she had been too emotionally swayed by them.
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