After all this turmoil, Grand Secretary Mu has completely lost power in the court, but he doesn't care as long as his precious daughter is safe.
Di Jingcheng didn't pursue the matter further, as his mind was completely focused on Azi, and he had no time for such trivial matters. However, regarding Mu Wanyu's role in Azi's tragic death in his previous life, although it wasn't Mu Wanyu's direct doing, her collusion with Nalan Yun'er was something he would ultimately seek revenge for.
Emperor Jingcheng issued an edict to imprison Mu Wanyu in the Grand Secretary's residence. She was forbidden from leaving without his permission, and people were sent to secretly monitor the Grand Secretary's residence.
At this time, Mu Wanyu was constantly taking medicine, and she no longer had any of those messy thoughts, quietly recuperating.
That night, in the palace, in a dark, damp, and decaying underground compartment of the Qian Yuan Hall, Xiao Yu had been captured and severely tortured. She knew perfectly well what she had done, but at first she didn't say anything because of her family. She kept her head down and bit her lower lip tightly, very stubborn.
Under the brutal torture inflicted by the secret guards, the frail girl finally succumbed and vomited some insignificant substances. These were nothing more than tales of how Consort Shu had mistreated her servants and how she had framed other concubines in the harem.
Cheng Yi stood aside, coldly watching the palace maid, covered in blood and helplessly forced to hang on the lock rack. He listened to her weak, intermittent ramblings about trivial matters and slowly lost his patience.
"Bring me salt water." His words, spoken from his icy mouth, were even more chilling than the cold winter. The guard beside him quickly brought over a full bucket of salt water from the corner.
Cheng Yi slowly walked forward with his hands behind his back, stopped in front of Xiao Yu, and looked at her as she was on the verge of death, trembling all over, with hardly any good flesh left on her body.
"When the Emperor's patience runs out, you won't even have a chance to speak, and your family will go to the Yellow Springs with you."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoyu's mind, which had been a jumbled mess due to pain and cold, jolted awake. She instantly became clear-headed, her limbs thrashing about desperately, her face filled with grief: "My lord, please, spare my family! They are innocent!"
"It seems you still don't understand what I'm saying." Cheng Yi was not just impatient at this point; this palace maid was simply incredibly foolish. He casually waved his hand, and the guards behind him immediately stepped forward with the salt water.
Seeing him turn away, Xiaoyu was terrified when someone was about to pour the salt water on her. She cried out, "My lord, I'll talk! I'll talk! That day, it was I who put Consort Mu in there. It was Consort Shu who instructed me to open the back door of Qianyuan Palace for Consort Mu. Also, Consort Shu framed many concubines in the past..."
After Cheng Yi finished listening to her story, he slowly turned around, waved away the guards, and didn't splash the salt water on Xiao Yu.
“Write down what she says and sign it.”
After giving his instructions, Cheng Yi turned and left.
These past few days, apart from court sessions, Emperor Jingcheng has spent all his time with Azi. Sometimes, even when she's asleep, he'll be reviewing memorials beside her. He can see her whenever he looks up, and he couldn't be more content.
That noon, Emperor Jingcheng had just put the person to sleep when he received a message from Chengyi. He couldn't help but sneer. He hadn't expected that Consort Shu had so many things she didn't know. He just wondered if she was involved in the events surrounding Azi in his past life. Such a scheming and vicious face disguised as a bodhisattva—no wonder she was able to deceive everyone.
"Zheng He, replace all the people who need to be replaced in the Qian Yuan Hall. Don't let any Tom, Dick, or Harry barge in anymore."
"Yes, I understand. I'll take care of it right away."
At this moment, a young eunuch ran over, knelt down to pay his respects, and then announced, "Your Majesty, Prince Yuan is outside requesting an audience."
"Have him come to the study."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After giving instructions to Azi, Emperor Jingcheng went to the study in the side hall. Zheng San and Qinghe stood guard outside the bedroom, not daring to relax their vigilance in the slightest.
Ah Zi woke up after sleeping for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. She had a nightmare and was startled awake. She sat up abruptly on the bed, slowly regaining her senses. Her small hands gripped the blanket tightly to her chest as she recalled her dream. In the dream, a woman had been arrogantly and contemptuously humiliating her, her face contorted and her words vicious—it was truly terrifying.
She wondered who the woman was. Judging from her figure, it wasn't the previous Consort Xian; it must be one of the other women in the palace. The woman in her dream kept complaining about how the emperor despised her, and she was dressed extravagantly, extremely smug. But unfortunately, she couldn't see the woman's face clearly.
Azi turned her head and looked at the spacious and luxurious bedroom, slowly exhaling to calm her mind.
She threw back the covers and got out of bed, dressed herself, and slowly walked out, lifting the heavy curtains with her small hands: "Ah Cheng! Ah Cheng! Are you there?"
There was no response from inside the bedchamber, and a huge sense of loss washed over her. She longed to tell him about her nightmare, to seek comfort from her beloved and alleviate her inner turmoil, but clearly, there was no one else in the bedchamber.
She shook her head vigorously and sat down on the soft couch beside her, trying to calm herself down.
Qinghe saw that it was almost time. The Emperor had instructed her to wake the Empress in half an hour, and it was clearly already past half an hour, yet there was still no movement inside. So Qinghe gently pushed open the door and went in. She immediately saw Azi, who was lost in thought on the soft couch, and quickly went over to her: "Your Majesty, you're awake. This servant will help you with your dressing."
Qinghe wanted to go forward and put shoes on her. Although there were thick, warm blankets in the inner hall, she still couldn't go without shoes, otherwise it would be very bad for her health.
Azi obediently let her help her put on her shoes, quietly watching Qinghe kneeling on the ground, because this palace maid she had only recently met also appeared in her dream, and she felt very familiar with her.
Qinghe helped her put on her shoes and socks, and wanted to get up to help her to do her hair and makeup, but when she looked up, she found that the Empress was staring at her, so she quickly lowered her head: "What is this, Your Majesty?"
"Qinghe, have we met before?"
Upon hearing this, Qinghe slowly raised a question in her heart. What was wrong with Her Majesty? Why did she seem so preoccupied after waking up? She cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, I have been in the Emperor's secret guard since I was a child, and I have never met Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Azi composed herself, lowered her eyes, and nodded, a sense of loss emanating from her: "It's nothing. Qinghe, how much do you know about the harem?"
Upon hearing this, Qinghe smiled gently and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is a man of deep affection, devotion, and high moral character. Although the Emperor has many concubines, it is all for the purpose of consolidating the dynasty. Your Majesty need not take those concubines to heart."
Upon hearing this, Azi thought to herself that since he was Cheng's man, he naturally knew how to speak tactfully.
"Hmm. Besides the previous Consort Xian, what other consorts are there?"
"The rank of Consort is relatively high in the palace. Apart from the deposed Consort Xian, there is now a Consort Shu. The rest are less important, such as Noble Lady, Beauty, and Lady-in-Waiting. Your Majesty, you will soon become Empress, the Emperor's wife, and the most honorable woman in the world." Qinghe assumed that she was very concerned about the concubines in the harem, so she kept praising her.
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