Meiyu also knelt down gracefully, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."
"You may rise, no need for formalities!"
Then, the hall fell silent.
After a long silence, Qi Yong reminded them, "Don't you have something to say? Speak quickly, His Majesty's time is precious and not something you can waste."
"This humble woman," Qin Shi said with unparalleled grace, "has something to discuss with His Majesty. This humble woman wishes to..."
"How dare you speak to His Majesty like that!"
"I know I was wrong," Qin said, slamming her fist on the ground. "I deserve to die."
"Granted!"
The cold voice rang out, startling Qin Shi so much that her whole body stiffened.
"This humble woman," she immediately broke out in a cold sweat, "I know I was wrong, Your Majesty, please spare my life."
"Is there anything else?"
"No, that's all!"
At this moment, Qin realized that no matter how much scheming she did, it was useless when facing someone with immense power.
A single sentence can spell death for you; how can you possibly resist?
She regretted it; she should have taken things slowly and carefully instead of approaching him so rashly and without knowing the full implications.
The terror of the powerful and wealthy was beyond the comprehension of a woman like her confined to the inner quarters.
She can decide a person's life or death with a single word; she's truly someone you can't afford to offend.
But she would never give up so easily!
“If you’re gone, get out,” Ji Xuan warned. “If you do your duty, I will spare your life.”
After saying that, he waved his hand and closed his eyes.
He had no liking for women who were unfaithful.
After Qin left, Meiyu kowtowed once more, saying, "Qianyu, the daughter of this sinful subject, greets Your Majesty."
Ji Xuan's gaze was somewhat complicated, and she sighed softly, "Get up and talk."
"Your Majesty," Meiyu's eyes welled up with tears, "I beg you to do justice for the entire Qian family."
"Meiyu," Qi Yong's expression turned stern, "don't be ungrateful!"
"Your Majesty, Meiyu is willing to pay any price for this."
“I am powerless,” Ji Xuan’s voice turned dejected. “Some things are a mix of right and wrong, and it is impossible to distinguish between them.”
“Then my entire family,” Meiyu clenched her fist, crimson blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, “deserves to be dead on the guillotine?”
"How dare you!" Qi Yong looked at Mei Yu with displeasure. "Both thunder and rain are the Emperor's grace, and you have no right to question them."
"Thunder and rain are all the Emperor's grace?" A deep, bone-chilling despair surged into her heart, and Meiyu smiled sadly, "What a great Emperor's grace! More than a hundred members of my family have become dead. Meiyu thanks the Emperor for his generous reward."
"You're simply..." courting death.
Before he could finish his reprimand, Ji Xuan interrupted him, saying, "I have wronged the Qian family in this matter. Whatever your request is, as long as it is not excessive, I will grant it."
“A request,” Meiyu laughed sarcastically, “that Meiyu seeks revenge. Does Your Majesty dare to grant it?”
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan fell silent.
Li Qing has rendered great service to the Great Zhou Dynasty and is a pillar of the nation; he cannot let down the old minister.
"Heaven is unjust," Meiyu cried, digging her nails into her lip until it bled. "Father, Mother, please forgive your unfilial daughter!"
After saying this, she spurted out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.
He poured all his energy into revenge, thinking he was about to avenge his great grudge, only to be told that it would never be possible.
Resentment and despair intertwined, bending her back.
"Master," Qi Yong said, somewhat troubled, "what do we do now?"
"Take her down and take good care of her," Ji Xuan rubbed her forehead, "Be careful not to let her try to kill herself."
Everything in this world involves choices; though I may feel guilty, I have no regrets.
If given the chance again, he would still make the same choice.
“This servant understands,” Qi Yong solemnly assured, “This servant will definitely keep a close watch on the person.”
"Yes, you may leave. I need some peace and quiet."
Ji Xuan looked somewhat tired.
Not long after, a guard came in to report.
"How's it going?"
"Your Majesty, I have already explained everything that needed to be said to Madam Jiang."
Did she ask you to pass on any message?
No.
"Where's the wine? No wine either?"
"No."
"Nothing at all?"
“No,” the guard knelt down to plead guilty, “Madam Jiang asked me to bring back a box, but instructed me to give it to Master after we set off tomorrow.”
"Why wait until after we set off?" Ji Xuan asked, puzzled. "Do you know what's inside?"
“It’s not heavy,” the guard guessed. “It’s probably just some paper.”
"Bring it here, let me take a look."
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty," the guard knelt down. "I have already promised Madam Jiang that I will hand it over to you after we depart."
Hearing this, Ji Xuan didn't insist anymore. "Fine, you can go now!"
It won't make a difference if we take one more day.
At dusk, the official slaves arrived at the Huang family's door in an orderly fashion.
There were a total of thirty-eight people: sixteen female slaves and twenty-two male slaves.
Fang Qianhu led the people to Jiang Nuan before introducing them, "Madam, these two slightly older women are good at cooking, the two slightly younger ones next to them are suitable to be governesses, the other eight are literate, well-mannered and obedient, suitable to be personal maids, this middle-aged man is suitable to be a steward, the eight young men next to him are suitable to be personal servants, and you can arrange the rest as you see fit."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan carefully examined the crowd and then asked, "Where did these people come from?"
"Most of them are people who manage the prince's residence, and some are drawn from the imperial estates."
"No wonder!" He doesn't look like an ordinary person.
Thinking of this, Jiang Nuan hesitated, "The Huang family is just an ordinary farming family, wouldn't this be too unfair to them?"
“That is not right,” Commander Fang disagreed. “It is their good fortune that the lady took them in.”
The Emperor values the Huang family highly; anyone with eyes can see that.
At this time, the Huang family was still weak and unknown, living in a remote corner. It would be difficult for them to establish connections with the Huang family if they gained power later.
After saying this, Commander Fang took out a stack of things and handed them over. "This is the indenture. Please take it. There are also some rewards. This is the list. Please check it."
Commander Fang beckoned, and someone brought over a square box. He then opened it and said, "The contents are all His Majesty's private collection: two pairs of agate tables, six pieces of mutton-fat jade, four kingfisher feather hairpins, and twelve pearls..."
The palace is indeed full of good things, Jiang Nuan thought, trying to suppress her rapid heartbeat and panting.
I used to think I was very rich, but now I realize that I am still a poor, stingy bumpkin.
"Good heavens," Xie exclaimed, covering her mouth, "This is far too much!"
She felt her eyes were dazzled by all these wonderful things.
"Thank you for your help, Commander Fang," Jiang Nuan said, initially feeling a little guilty, but then straightening her back as she thought of what she had given. "If you're not in a hurry, please stay for a meal at my home."
"No, thank you," Commander Fang said, not daring to linger. "I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
After saying that, he left with his men.
"Mother," Xie said excitedly, circling the box around. "Are all of these ours? Am I dreaming?"
Even now, it still feels somewhat unreal.
Although he had never heard of many of these things before, Xie believed they were all priceless treasures.
Could the emperor's private collection be ordinary?
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