The emperor was displeased when he saw Eunuch Xiang stammering.
He snapped, "You insolent servant! You dare not answer my questions! Go serve somewhere else from now on!"
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Xiang knelt down with a thud, and said with tears streaming down his face, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, please don't send me away, I will tell you everything."
Because the last time Consort Yu invited the Emperor to dinner, it was disrupted by Lord Ling's urgent message.
Therefore, Consort Yu ordered that any further urgent reports from Lord Ling be suppressed, saying that it wasn't a big deal anyway, and a delay of ten days or half a month wouldn't be a big deal.
The emperor was furious upon hearing this and said angrily, "This is outrageous! The empress dowager is not allowed to interfere in politics, yet her influence is growing ever stronger."
Consort Yu held absolute power in the harem, and no one dared to disobey her wishes.
Although Eunuch Xiang was the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Palace and a highly respected figure in front of the Emperor, he was still a servant in the end, and he really dared not offend Consort Yu.
By mentioning this matter in front of the Emperor today, I have completely offended Consort Yu.
So, steeling himself, he spoke again: "Your Majesty, as you know, Consort Yu is now in charge of the harem."
As the birth mother of the eldest prince, rumors circulate in the palace that even if she is not the empress now, she will be the empress dowager in the future.
Therefore, no one in the harem dared to offend Consort Yu.
As expected, the emperor grew angrier the more he listened, his face turning so dark it seemed to drip water.
It seems Consort Yu is even more arrogant than he imagined; she's already thinking of becoming Empress Dowager even before he's dead. She doesn't even consider whether she's worthy.
It seems that if he doesn't punish her severely today, everyone will only have eyes for Consort Yu and no longer have eyes for him, the emperor.
Thinking of this, the emperor said coldly, "Draft an edict! Inform the six palaces."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Xiang's eyes lit up and he quickly got up from the ground.
The emperor picked up his brush and wrote: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Consort Yu, having received the Emperor's favor, is hereby granted an imperial edict and seal."
However, her virtue is unworthy of her position, and her conduct as a woman is flawed. She interferes in state affairs, like a hen crowing at dawn. She is unfit to be a role model for women.
He was stripped of his title and demoted to the rank of concubine.
He was confined to Xihua Garden for three months, and was not allowed to leave without imperial decree.
"All affairs of the inner palace shall be temporarily handled by Consort Qian. So be it!"
Consort Yu had cultivated her influence in the palace for many years, had the support of the eldest prince, and the Yu family was quite powerful. It would be inappropriate to demote her too much.
Moreover, although the Qian and Yu families are on good terms, Consort Yu always dominates Consort Qian because she has the support of the eldest prince.
Now that the emperor has demoted Consort Yu but elevated Consort Qian, Consort Yu will surely be furious with Consort Qian, given her temperament.
The emperor grew increasingly pleased with himself and ordered Eunuch Lingxiang to quickly deliver the imperial decree.
In Xihua Garden, Consort Yu was reclining on a chaise lounge, enjoying the newly presented lychees.
Her personal maid flattered her, saying, "His Majesty truly dotes on our Lady. The Yenan Prefecture sent two baskets of lychees as tribute. Knowing that Your Majesty loves them, His Majesty kept one basket for himself and sent the rest to you."
Upon hearing this, Consort Yu said smugly, "It's rare that His Majesty has me in his heart. It's not in vain that I have served His Majesty with all my heart all these years."
Unfortunately, these are all minor paths, none of which are what I desire.
"When will Your Majesty fulfill my dream? That would truly be good for me."
The people of Xihua Garden lowered their heads and dared not speak upon hearing this.
How could they not know that Consort Yu was determined to become Empress? Unfortunately, it was obvious to everyone that the Emperor had no intention of making Consort Yu Empress.
Consort Yu was about to lose her temper when she saw how clueless her people were.
As a result, a young eunuch rushed in in a panic, knelt down with a thud, and said, "Your Highness, Chief Eunuch Xiang has come to deliver an imperial decree."
Consort Yu was overjoyed upon hearing this. Eunuch Xiang was a close confidant of the Emperor; if the Emperor had sent him to deliver a decree, could it be that he was going to make her Empress? Had she really finally received her wish?
Consort Yu completely ignored the eunuch's unpleasant expression.
He even took the initiative to lead the palace staff to receive the imperial decree.
Before Eunuch Xiang could read the imperial edict, he said with a smug look on his face, "Thank you for making this trip, Steward Xiang."
Don't worry, you'll definitely get your reward.
If you pledge allegiance to me in the future, I will forgive your past transgressions, and you will certainly reap the rewards.
Looking at Consort Yu's foolish appearance, Eunuch Xiang began to doubt the late Empress's judgment.
Look at how arrogant he is! How could the late Empress have been so easily fooled by someone like him?
Eunuch Xiang sneered and replied, "Your Majesty, you should read the contents of the imperial edict before deciding whether to reward this servant."
Consort Yu then realized something was wrong. She snatched the imperial edict, opened it, and said in disbelief, "How could His Majesty treat me like this? It's impossible!"
"It must be you, you eunuch, who falsely conveyed the imperial edict."
Eunuch Xiang was very unhappy when people pointed fingers at him and called him a eunuch.
He snatched the imperial edict back, and with a wave of his hand, a squad of imperial guards rushed in.
Eunuch Xiang held up the imperial edict and said, "The Yu family is unworthy of her position and has interfered in politics without authorization. She is hereby stripped of her title and demoted to the rank of Consort. She is not allowed to leave the country without imperial decree."
The entire Xihua Garden is now locked up and sealed off. Anyone who dares to spread rumors will be immediately flogged to death!
The entire Xihua Garden was thrown into chaos, and only then did Consort Yu realize that it was real.
She had calmed down by now. Her demotion was a fact, but fortunately it wasn't too severe. With the eldest prince by her side, she still had a chance to salvage the situation.
Only after locking the gates of Xihua Garden did Eunuch Xiang breathe a sigh of relief. Then he returned to Hanlong Palace to report.
Meanwhile, back in Canghe Village, Xiao Mochen returned from training on the mountain and, upon hearing that the Li family had established family rules, rushed over excitedly.
As soon as Yan Qingqing saw him, she waved to him, then took out a newly made set of clothes from the inner room, held them up against Xiao Mochen, and said with a smile, "It fits quite well."
Upon seeing this, Xiao Mochen smiled and asked, "Did Auntie make these new clothes for Mochen?"
Yan Qingqing was a little embarrassed and said, "Mo Chen, although your aunt has the intention, I really don't have the ability. I can't even make a knot properly, let alone clothes."
"But I designed this outfit myself. What do you think, does it look good?"
Xiao Mochen naturally knew that Yan Qingqing was not good at needlework, but her honesty was still beyond his expectations.
She remembered that when her mother used to send food to her father, whenever her mother went into the imperial kitchen, those exquisite pastries and dishes were made by her.
Needless to say, as long as the fabric has passed through her hands, the clothes are made by her.
All the concubines in the harem were like this, and Xiao Mochen didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
Now Yan Qingqing personally designed the pattern and ordered people to make clothes for him, and even went out of her way to explain to him that she didn't make them.
Yan Qingqing had no idea what Xiao Mochen was thinking. She stuffed the clothes into his arms and said, "Try them on and see if they fit. If they don't, have them alter them."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mochen grabbed the clothes and returned to his courtyard, completely forgetting the purpose of his visit to Yan Qingqing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com