Grand Secretary Lin Yi felt this matter was of utmost importance and stepped forward again, speaking with great indignation: "Your Majesty, you are of the highest order and noble birth, and now you have been assassinated by your own subjects. This is no small matter. I believe this matter is not as simple as it appears on the surface. Your Majesty should conduct a thorough interrogation and investigation to find the mastermind behind it. This person has dared to disregard the majesty of the Emperor and the law, attempting to assassinate the ruler of the land. He deserves to die!"
Upon hearing this, many high-ranking officials in the court echoed his sentiments. Nalan Mingyan hypocritically declared that the mastermind behind this should be severely punished, and their entire family executed, otherwise such a grave crime could not be absolved.
His demeanor left everyone stunned, and his cronies could only echo his sentiments.
The three criminals were stripped of their official positions and imprisoned in the imperial jail, but they refused to reveal the mastermind behind Nalan Mingyan. However, unable to endure the torture, they confessed some other things, including some minor officials.
Even though Emperor Jingcheng was furious, he couldn't do anything about it. Fortunately, the Vice Minister of War revealed some information about Nalan Mingyan's embezzlement and provided some receipts and account books, but the amount was small and unlikely to result in a serious crime.
In any case, we can suppress him for the time being.
Ultimately, three officials and some minor officials were implicated and their families were punished. Nalan Mingyan was also punished for corruption. However, the amount was small, and with pressure from his cronies, Emperor Jingcheng could only demote him from his position as prime minister and appoint him as grand tutor.
This time, Nalan Mingyan did not rebel in court. His supporters were also defeated and his power was weakened, but it was still difficult to eradicate him completely.
After dealing with court affairs, Emperor Jingcheng had a temporary respite, but he knew that as long as the major worry in his heart remained, he would never be at peace.
Moreover, he also missed his Azi very much.
He stood by the window, watching the light drizzle outside, missing her. He didn't know if his sudden departure was a good thing or a bad thing. In the short two weeks they had spent together, he didn't know how A-Zi felt about him, but he had always loved her. A-Zi, once everything has settled down, and all the deceit and scheming are gone, would you still be willing to be with me as you were in our past life? I really miss you...
Di Jingcheng's feelings were like the continuous drizzle, impossible to sever.
His thoughts drifted away, only to be broken by an untimely male voice.
Zheng He tiptoed in and, seeing the tall figure standing by the window in a daze, felt a little strange. The Emperor had never looked like this before. What was wrong?
He spoke in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."
Di Jingcheng, his thoughts interrupted, turned his head in displeasure: "What is she doing here?"
"Perhaps it's because of Lord Nalan's matter."
"By imperial decree, Nalan Mingyan, as a high-ranking official, has failed to uphold the order of the court, and his daughter, as Empress, is ignorant of the bigger picture and lacks manners. She is truly unfit to be the mother of the nation, and I am deeply saddened and ashamed before the late Emperor. Therefore, the Empress's seal and power to manage the six palaces are revoked, and she is ordered to reflect on her mistakes in the palace. This is to comfort the spirit of the late Emperor in heaven."
Di Jingcheng uttered these words without a trace of emotion, his eyes filled with cold indifference. She was chosen for her by her father, so let him intimidate her.
Knowing that the emperor was in a bad mood, Zheng He and his entourage left after receiving the imperial decree.
Nalan Yun'er (the Empress) was supported by her maid and knelt at the entrance of the main hall. Rainwater pelted her gorgeous clothes, and her magnificent phoenix crown and exquisite makeup were in disarray.
She looked at Zheng He'er as he came out, her eyes full of anticipation: "Eunuch Zheng, has the Emperor agreed to see me?"
Zheng He nodded slightly to her in respect, and then read out the emperor's decree.
Upon hearing the imperial decree, Nalan Yun'er's face turned almost transparently pale. She gripped the hand of the palace maid beside her tightly, her eyes widening slightly, a hint of suppressed emotion on her lips. She nearly collapsed, but thankfully the maid caught her in time.
"Your Majesty, I obey the decree. I shall take my leave."
Nalan Yun'er struggled to her feet, her mind blank, disbelief still lingering in her eyes. She hadn't expected the Emperor to be so heartless and cruel; by doing this, wasn't he essentially deposing her?
Zheng He looked at the Empress's disheveled figure, but remained calm and unmoved.
"Keep a close watch on it."
Zheng He left behind a message, opened his umbrella, and turned to enter the inner hall.
Nalan Yun'er stumbled through the rain, shaking off the maid's hand and pushing aside the umbrella held up by a servant. Her expression was sorrowful, yet filled with resentment and malice. She looked up, feeling the cold rain, her hands slightly raised, her eyes barely open, but her mind was crystal clear.
Since the emperor is heartless, she no longer needs to consider their years of marital affection.
Her personal maid, Cuiping, stepped forward and carefully helped her up, saying, "Your Highness, please go back first."
Nalan Yun'er glanced at Cuiping, whose expression was solemn, but said nothing, letting Cuiping help her walk towards the palace. The palace servants behind them quickly stepped forward to hold umbrellas and followed respectfully.
After the group left, Consort Xian, Mu Wanyu, came out from the palace path, accompanied only by her trusted confidante, Yilan.
Her face was filled with joy: "Yilan, do you think the Emperor has truly grown tired of the Empress this time?"
"Your Majesty, with His Majesty's actions, I fear the Empress has no way to maneuver. Everyone knows that Nalan Mingyan's achievements are so great that they threaten the Emperor's position. It's only a matter of time before His Majesty deals with the Nalan clan. How could His Majesty possibly like her?"
Consort Xian smiled smugly and gently nudged Yilan's elbow: "You're so clever. Don't you know what the Emperor is doing right now?"
"Yilan, let's go see the Emperor!" Consort Xian said, lifting her skirt and walking towards the main hall.
Emperor Jingcheng was painting at his desk when Zheng He'er reluctantly entered to report. He saw the stunningly beautiful woman in the portrait, who appeared to be of a foreign ethnicity. But this was not something he could dwell on; he respectfully stepped forward to report.
"Your Majesty, Consort Xian requests an audience."
Di Jingcheng didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice as cold as ice in the twelfth lunar month: "I won't see you."
"yes."
Consort Xian returned disappointed, but she wasn't in a bad mood; the Empress's humiliation was what pleased her most. Now, apart from Consort Shu, no one could surpass her, and besides, Consort Shu's gentle and unassuming nature meant she had no intention of fighting with her.
"Your Majesty, the ladies of the harem must be overjoyed by now." Yilan was clearly pleased as well.
"That's right! The Empress is practically deposed now, and there are plenty of people who can't stand her. Let's go! Let's go see what's going on!"
——
The empress was stripped of her power, and her family was punished. Unsuspecting lovers might think the emperor was merely giving her a minor punishment and still held some gratitude towards the empress's family. But a little thought would reveal that the emperor clearly intended to kill her.
In the past few days, the concubines have been gossiping amongst themselves, having seen the Empress make quite a few laughs.
To outsiders, Nalan Yun'er always appeared gentle and virtuous, especially in front of the emperor, where she would feign innocence, pitifulness, and magnanimity. However, the concubines in the harem all knew that she was actually ruthless, a wolf in sheep's clothing, and a master at using others to do her dirty work.
There are still several deposed concubines staying in the Cold Palace.
Therefore, everyone only dared to gossip and ridicule in private, while remaining respectful to each other on the surface.
However, Consort Xian was not afraid of her. Her family background and appearance were no less than the Empress's. She had always opposed the Empress. Now that the Empress was down on her luck, she went directly to visit her.
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