Chapter 262
Shen Yu sensed the resoluteness and displeasure in His Highness's words, shook her head slightly at Shen Lin, and then bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness will go right away."
Shen Lin could only suppress the urge to speak and replied, "This subordinate takes his leave."
After the two left, the courtyard returned to silence. The warm, bright sunlight shone on him, but it couldn't dispel the chill that gripped his body and the desolation in his heart.
The Imperial Palace, Kunning Palace.
The series of events that have occurred in recent days have dealt a heavy blow to Qiu Lingyao, and she was taken advantage of by Consort Liu when she made a careless move.
She never expected that this woman, who loved her son dearly, would be so ruthless as to poison her own son in order to frame her.
Sure enough, in this deep palace, everyone becomes terrifying, and even one's own son can be used as a tool for power.
The Qiu family is gone, her eldest brother's fate is unknown, and her Heng'er is imprisoned for life in the Yong Prince's Mansion. The Emperor disregards past affections and prefers to believe Consort Liu rather than her words.
She has now lost.
Although the imperial edict to depose the empress had not yet arrived, and she had lost her imperial seal, she knew that such an action was no different from being banished to the cold palace.
Qiu Lingyao laughed foolishly, her usually neat hair now disheveled, and she slumped to the ground in a sorry state, laughing as tears streamed down her face.
Zhi'er knelt beside her, looking at her with worry. "Your Highness, as long as His Highness is still here, everything will turn around. Please don't be like this, you must cheer up."
Granny Yu was equally worried, her old face full of heartache for her. She reached out to help her up, saying, "Your Highness, let's sit on a chair, otherwise the ground is too cold."
"That vile woman really framed me! I didn't poison her! Why doesn't His Majesty believe me? Why?!"
She gripped Granny Yu's arm tightly, staring at her with bloodshot eyes, looking very unwell.
A hint of pain appeared between Yu Mama's brows, but she still comforted her, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has been bewitched by that vile woman. You must take care of yourself and never give up on yourself."
"If Consort Liu saw you looking so haggard, she would be overjoyed."
Hearing this, Qiu Lingyao hurriedly touched her hair and face, "Yes, yes, I am the mother of the country and the head of the harem. I must not lose my composure in front of others."
"I will live well! That vile woman wants my position as Empress? Dream on! As long as I live, I will never let her succeed!"
She quickly stood up and said, "Hurry and help me to wash up. I'm going to see His Majesty. Heng'er is innocent. It was all my brother and I who did it. I'm going to beg His Majesty to release Heng'er."
She had become so mentally imprisoned that she had forgotten the fact that the emperor had confined her.
Zhi'er and Granny Yu looked at each other and began to comfort her.
Qiu Lingyao wouldn't listen at all and insisted on going out. She rushed to the door but was blocked by the guards.
Qiu Lingyao stared blankly at the swords blocking her way, then looked up in shock and shouted angrily, "What are you doing! I am the Empress, how dare you block my path!"
"The Holy Mountain has decreed that the Empress is not allowed to leave the mountain even a step."
His tone was cold, showing her no respect whatsoever.
"Get out of my way! I'm going to see His Majesty! How dare you dogs be so disrespectful to me!"
She shouted angrily, disregarding her image: "Guards! Guards! Drag these lackeys out and beat them to death!"
But no one paid any attention to her; they all treated her as if she didn't exist.
This made her feel extremely uncomfortable and angry; she, a dignified empress, couldn't even command a single person.
A tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs. These lackeys were usually very respectful to her, but once she lost her power, those who always looked down on people became the most opportunistic.
Zhi'er and Granny Yu were both trying their best to stop her, pleading, "Your Majesty, it really is the Emperor's order, please don't do this."
"Heng'er, I want to see Heng'er!"
As she argued and made a scene, she started saying she wanted to see Qi Heng; in short, she wanted to go out.
Suddenly, a large group of people walked over from a distance, led by none other than Eunuch Gao, who served the Emperor.
He stood at the doorway, smiling faintly, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has issued a decree."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Lingyao's face lit up with joy, thinking it was an imperial decree to pardon her. However, seeing Eunuch Gao's indifferent demeanor, Granny Yu had a bad feeling.
Those present knelt on the ground, awaiting the imperial decree.
Eunuch Gao glanced down at her and unfolded the imperial edict.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Qiu Lingyao, as Empress, is morally deficient and has failed in her duties. She is also jealous and has poisoned and harmed the imperial heir. Effective immediately, she is hereby deposed as Empress and demoted to the rank of Jieyu. She is to be permanently confined to the Cold Palace and forbidden from leaving. Those who violate this decree will be punished according to palace regulations. This is the imperial decree."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qiu Lingyao was struck dumb, her eyes glazed over, and she collapsed to the ground.
Compared to her excited state just now, she became calm after hearing the imperial edict, her expression numb and lifeless.
"Consort Qiu, receive the imperial decree."
Gao Liangui glanced at her sideways, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
What goes around comes around; retribution may come, but it's just a matter of time.
He waved to those behind him, and the palace maids immediately came to Qiu Lingyao. "Consort Qiu, you are no longer the Empress. You need to remove the ornaments and clothing that only an Empress can wear."
Granny Yu stepped forward and angrily rebuked, "How dare you lay a hand on Her Highness in public!"
Qiu Lingyao closed her eyes wearily and said in a low voice, "Never mind, just give it back to them."
She removed the phoenix hairpin and hair ornament from her head, took off her gorgeous phoenix robe, her face was as pale as paper, and her heart ached with sharp pain.
There wasn't much to pack; most of the things couldn't be taken. The only things that could be taken were those brought from outside the palace.
When they emerged from inside in a disheveled state, Consort Liu was waiting for them with a smile on her face on the palace road. She sat high above them on her palanquin, looking down at them.
"Sister, when you poisoned Huan'er, did you ever think that this day would come?"
When she mentioned poisoning, a clear look of hatred flashed in her eyes, but her face remained relaxed with a gentle smile.
Qiu Lingyao sneered, arrogantly raised her chin, and turned to leave, looking down on everyone.
Seeing that Consort Liu was still acting arrogantly, the head palace maid became furious and rebuked her, "Your Highness, look at her!"
"She's already a Consort, yet she's still so arrogant! She's the one who poisoned the young prince; His Majesty should have executed her, not let her live on..."
"Shut up!"
Before she could finish speaking, Consort Liu scolded her.
"How dare you be so rude! If someone with ulterior motives reports this to His Majesty, I cannot guarantee that I can protect you."
Upon hearing this, the head palace maid shrank back and whispered, "It was my slip of the tongue, Your Highness, please forgive me."
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