"What? You're saying the Xie family and the Emperor jointly ruled the court?"
Upon hearing the news, Empress Dowager Ashina, already somewhat jealous, became even more resentful.
"How dare she?"
How dare a woman sit in the imperial court?
Even someone as dignified as Empress Dowager Ashina, the mother of the emperor, was not qualified to go to the former court.
The Xie family, what a fine Xie family!
She's too arrogant and spoiled.
Like many mothers-in-law in the world, when something went wrong, Empress Dowager Ashina would blame her daughter-in-law.
She didn't consider at all that Xie Yuan would have "overstepped his bounds" if it weren't for Helian Jue.
"Hmph, so smug! Keep being arrogant! You'll regret it someday!"
Empress Dowager Ashina was initially a little guilty, sighing, "They're just a few children after all."
But now, she only feels pleasure—who told you to have done something wrong in your past life and be reborn into Xie Yuan's belly?
With such a mother, it's no wonder you all died young.
"By the way, is there any news from the Empress Dowager's palace?"
Empress Dowager Ashina, reflecting on her plans for the day, finally felt her anger subside somewhat.
She raised her eyelids, looked in the direction of the east side hall of Jiaofang Palace, and asked in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, I just went to inquire, and they said that there have suddenly been more guards outside the East Side Hall."
With guards on duty, these palace maids who were trying to gather information dared not get too close.
However, the little eunuch who came to report said with some certainty, "I heard from afar that there seems to be some noise inside."
"Guards? And there's noise?"
Empress Dowager Ashina's eyes lit up. Had the matter been settled?
Otherwise, those people Xie Yuanxuan sent would never have dared to shout and make a fuss on such an auspicious day.
Something must have happened, and it's a big deal! A very big deal!
Haha, what could be bigger than the little prince and princess getting smallpox?
However, to confirm further, Empress Dowager Ashina asked, "Did you hear what they were shouting?"
"Your Majesty, I was too far away to hear very clearly."
The young eunuch was very cautious, but still tried his best to perform. "Fortunately, I have sharp ears and heard words such as 'Your Highness,' 'Third Princess,' and 'fever.'"
Empress Dowager Ashina's smile grew even brighter.
Although only two cubs were mentioned, smallpox is a highly contagious disease.
The four little ones get together to play every day; if one gets caught, the others can't escape either!
What's more, two people were infected at once.
The other two have probably been infected as well.
"Great! Haha! Well done!"
Empress Dowager Ashina laughed heartily.
These days, she has finally vented all the anger she had suffered at Xie Yuan's hands.
After her initial joy, Empress Dowager Ashina didn't forget to wrap things up. "By the way, what about that bribed wet nurse? Find a time to deal with her!"
She spoke very softly when she said the word "handle".
It seemed that for Empress Dowager Ashina, killing a person was no different from crushing an ant.
"yes!"
The young eunuch lowered his head and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant understands everything."
"Remember, when you do something, do it cleanly! Don't leave any loose ends!"
Empress Dowager Ashina was still worried and gave another word of advice.
The young eunuch responded again, but his voice was even lower.
Empress Dowager Ashina glanced at him and asked indifferently, "What, do you think I'm too ruthless, not even sparing 'meritorious officials'?"
The young eunuch quickly raised his head and shook it vigorously a few times, "No! This servant wouldn't dare!"
"Besides, what kind of 'meritorious servant' is she? She's just a treacherous slave who betrayed her master for a few taels of silver."
"Your Majesty has bestowed a reward upon her, allowing her to serve the young master well. This is an act of grace!"
"Now that Your Majesty has disposed of her to avenge the young master, it is a great favor!"
It must be said that the little eunuch was quite witty in his sophistry.
They are absolutely masters at distorting the truth.
It was clearly Empress Dowager Ashina who bribed the wet nurse in the East Side Palace with a large sum of money, but it was portrayed as her giving orders.
She clearly intended to kill someone to silence them afterward, but it was twisted into her seeking revenge.
"Haha! You're right! I didn't realize you were such a clever fellow!"
Empress Dowager Ashina was taken aback by the young eunuch's words.
He immediately burst into laughter.
right!
That lowly servant is right!
She is the beloved grandmother of the little prince and princess.
A wicked servant harmed the young masters, and as an old woman, she had a duty to avenge the children!
It was the wet nurse who deliberately stuffed clothes stained with the pus and scabs of smallpox patients next to the four little ones.
The children contracted smallpox, and then—
Sigh, as a grandmother, sending the "murderer" to the underworld to keep the children company is a kind of loving gesture from an elder.
Thinking this way, the little bit of guilt and remorse that Empress Dowager Ashina had left disappeared.
"Also, the people outside can now move around!"
Empress Dowager Ashina continued making arrangements.
Her plan this time was a complex scheme.
She not only wanted to kill the four little ones, but also wanted to pin the "jinx" label on Xie Yuan.
The birth of a child with auspicious omens is indeed a blessing.
But if she angers the heavens with her reckless behavior and is punished by the gods, then she is definitely a jinx.
"Xie, don't blame me for being too ruthless, it's because you're too arrogant!"
"Helian Jue bestowed honor upon you, and you truly accepted it? You entered through the main gate of the main hall, walked along the imperial path and steps reserved for the emperor! And now, you sit in the court as a woman..."
Empress Dowager Ashina counted on her fingers, listing Xie Yuan's "crimes" one by one.
They were all empresses of the Great Zhou Dynasty, so why did Xie Yuan get so many "special cases"?
They were all women who married Helian and other men, so why was Xie Yuan so fortunate?
"Good fortune? Ha, aren't you afraid that you're too unlucky to bear it!"
Empress Dowager Ashina harbored deep resentment.
Helian Jue tried every means to elevate Xie Yuan's status and did everything he could to give her face.
Empress Dowager Ashina deliberately chose this day to take action.
She wanted the world to know that Empress Xie was not a blessed person at all.
She bewitched the king, acted recklessly, and ultimately brought divine punishment upon herself—smallpox!
Haha, the four little ones are dead!
His reputation is ruined!
Even if Xie Yuan doesn't die, he will never be qualified to be empress again!
Ashina Xue, on the other hand, would bring a miraculous medicine from a grassland witch doctor to "save" the seriously ill Empress Ashina.
Given the debt of gratitude Helian Jue owed for saving his mother, shouldn't he repay the debt with his body?
Even if Ashina Xue doesn't become empress in the end, she should still occupy the position of one of the four consorts!
"Oh dear, my head hurts so much! Quickly, summon the imperial physician! Go and summon the imperial physician!"
After giving the order, Empress Dowager Ashina covered her head and began to feign illness, groaning and moaning.
Yongshou Palace suddenly became lively.
Meanwhile, in Yong'an Palace, hearing the commotion from Yongshou Palace, Empress Dowager Xiao, holding her prayer beads, sighed meaningfully.
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