Chapter 52 Defeat Report
Before Ming Shendu could reply, Tianyao gave another order, her voice calm and her eyes cold.
"Arrest all members of the Wei family clan and imprison them on charges of... treason."
!!
"Your Highness, this...this will make all the court officials feel insecure."
Ming Shendu was terrified and stammered, unable to speak coherently, before finally replying.
“In turbulent times, decisive measures must be taken; appeasement will only breed greed.”
"Have Qin Ge handle it immediately. Once His Majesty awakens, I will take full responsibility for all the blame."
Tianyao's expression was firm, leaving no room for negotiation, and she replied.
Ming Shendu felt a chill run down his spine. He had been too soft-hearted and hadn't seen the situation clearly.
If swift and decisive measures are not taken now, and the Great Wei Kingdom falls into turmoil, even more people will die.
"Yes, Your Highness."
He immediately bowed his head, bent down, saluted, and withdrew.
After Ming Shendu left, Tianyao walked to the door of the outer room, pushed it open, and looked outside.
Outside, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital were examining medical books or preparing medicine. Wei Wenhong was sitting on a rock reading a book. Tianheng's personal eunuch silently bowed to Tianyao, and then stood quietly to the side, waiting to be summoned at any time.
So many people are protecting you, waiting for you to wake up, Heng-gege, don't keep us waiting too long.
Tianyao thought for a moment, then her gaze finally fell on Wei Wenhong.
"Wei Wenhong, come here."
Wei Wenhong looked up from his book and saw that it was his aunt Tianyao calling him. He obediently stood up, took his short little steps, and ran to Tianyao.
"Auntie, is everything finished? Can I go back to my room now?"
"Um."
Tianyao bent down, took Wei Wenhong's hand, and turned back.
After replying, she straightened up and, as she walked into the room, said to the eunuch, "Prepare pen, ink, paper, and inkstone; I need to write a letter to the Prince Xian."
The father-in-law immediately agreed and went to prepare.
Wei Wenhong's eyes lit up. His aunt was going to write a letter to his father, so could he write one as well and ask his aunt to have someone deliver it to his father along with the letter?
"Aunt, I also want to write a letter to Father. Aunt, could you help me deliver it to Father?"
"sure."
Tianyao smiled faintly and returned the favor.
Wei Wenhong is the legitimate son of the virtuous king. The virtuous king has only one wife and no concubines. In other words, Wei Wenhong is the virtuous king's only child. Therefore, for Wei Wenhong's sake, she asked the virtuous king to help her fend off the Prince of Jin from the northern frontier. He should agree, right?
Well, he had no choice but to agree.
Although it was very unkind, she couldn't care less about that at the moment.
As for the King of Qi in Nanjiang, she planned to hand him over to Qin Ge.
As a general of the Great Wei Kingdom, Qin Ge must have many capable commanders under his command. She believed he could handle both the external enemies and the King of Qi.
The capital was entrusted to Xiao Yelan. As the commander of the Imperial Guards and someone who had climbed up from the bottom, she believed he was capable of shouldering this great responsibility.
The father-in-law brought over pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and Tianyao quickly wrote out secret letters, instructing him to deliver them to the intended recipients as quickly as possible.
...
Seven days later.
The entire capital was filled with a somber and oppressive atmosphere.
The people stayed indoors and didn't go out.
The King of Qi, the King of Jin, and foreign enemies on the border all attacked. The wise king defended against the King of Jin, and Qin Ge defended against the King of Qi and the foreign enemies.
Xiao Yelan led the Imperial Guards to protect the capital. All the Imperial Guards were on high alert and dared not relax for a moment.
The court officials were all staying in Anxin Hall next to Jingxin Hall. Anxin Hall was guarded by the Imperial Guards, and no one was allowed to leave Anxin Hall without the princess's permission.
The Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine were both given a drug to make them mute, and they could not utter a single word.
Tianyao remained in the inner chamber of the Jingxin Palace, guarding Tianheng, her dark circles under her eyes becoming increasingly pronounced.
She hadn't showered for seven days and felt stinky all over, yet she still refused to leave.
"Your Highness, you haven't had a good night's sleep for seven days. Today, let me stay with Your Majesty while you get some rest."
Xie Mingyuan stood behind Tian Yao, looking at Tian Heng on the bed with his eyes closed, breathing steadily but not waking up, and couldn't help but feel a little resentful.
If His Majesty could have woken up sooner, Princess wouldn't have suffered so much.
Currently, the entire Great Wei Kingdom is being held together by Her Highness the Princess. The ministers in the court have many complaints about her. If it weren't for Xiao Yelan obeying Her Highness the Princess's orders and the Imperial Guards obeying Xiao Yelan's orders, the Great Wei Kingdom would have been in chaos long ago.
But if this continues, when will it end?
Force has its limits. If this goes on for too long, even the most cowardly ministers will eventually rebel.
Surely Her Highness won't be able to execute all the ministers by then?
Giving the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine a drug to make them mute is also not something a princess can do on her own authority. It is an overreach of authority. If His Majesty wakes up and the ministers insist on investigating, even if His Majesty is inclined to favor the princess, Her Highness will not be able to escape unscathed.
Xie Mingyuan clenched his fists at his sides. To be honest, he was jealous, very jealous.
He wondered, if he were to fall into a coma from the poison, would someone risk their life to find an antidote for him? Would someone stand firmly by his side, protecting his position as prime minister from being taken away? Would someone stay by his side day and night, waiting for him to wake up?
He thought it over and over, and the answer was no.
Yes, no.
No one he knew or was familiar with would treat him like that.
Even the princess wouldn't treat him like that, even though he's now her lover.
Later, he wondered if if he treated the princess well in the days to come, would the princess one day treat him the same way she treated His Majesty?
He also wanted to be treated with such respect.
He also wanted someone to stand firmly on his side.
He thought, "No one would not want that."
It was precisely because of this desire that Ming Shendu, Yan Qingyan, Qin Ge, and Xiao Yelan worked tirelessly and fought for the princess without any ulterior motives. They were even willing to become the princess's male concubines just to have her gaze fall upon them, even for a second.
"No need, I'm fine, you can go out."
Tianyao didn't turn her head, sitting quietly in the chair, staring at Tianheng on the bed, and replied in a very low voice.
"……yes."
Xie Mingyuan lowered his eyes, concealing the sadness within, and bowed as he withdrew.
...
Seven days later.
Several ministers, unable to bear it any longer, ignored all advice and ran out of Anxin Hall. They were captured by the Imperial Guards and reported to Tianyao. Without the slightest hesitation, Tianyao immediately issued an order to execute them.
When news of the execution of several ministers reached Anxin Hall, all the ministers were enraged, roaring and shouting, but no one paid any attention. Finally, exhausted from shouting, they all wilted and obediently stayed in Anxin Hall, no one daring to go out anymore.
Going out means certain death, staying here at least offers a chance to survive.
...
Seven days later.
When news of the defeat reached the Jingxin Palace, it was discovered that the Wise King had failed to resist the Prince of Jin in the northern frontier and had lost a city.
Once a city is lost in battle, if no adjustments are made afterward, the second and third cities will not be far behind.
Tianyao clearly understood this principle; her brows furrowed and her expression became solemn.
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