Chapter 194: Each Takes a Step Back
When Zhang Sicheng arrived at the Shanggong Bureau, the palace maid named Qiulu was dead in her room, having hanged herself.
On the table, there is a confession letter.
——
Concubine Wen was a demon concubine who brought disaster to the country. She bewitched the emperor, causing him to disregard the rules set by his ancestors, cancel the selection of concubines, and even attempt to allow women to serve as officials in the court, disrupting the order of the court.
I accidentally learned that the evil concubine was pregnant. I couldn't bear to see the country destroyed, so I provoked Concubine Wen to make her have a miscarriage to alert the emperor.
——
After reading the confession, Zhang Sicheng immediately ordered people to search the room carefully and even cordoned off the entire Shanggong Bureau for a search, and to report any abnormalities in a timely manner.
He himself took the confession letter and Qiulu's body back to Bixi Palace to report.
After Yan Shixu finished reading the confession, his face turned pale. It took him a while before he laughed out of anger.
"What a 'loyal man'!"
He tore the confession into pieces, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Investigate Shang Gongju and her family, and who she's been in contact with these past few days! I want to see who's behind this."
At this moment, Nanny Qin came hurriedly to report: "Your Majesty, the Queen has woken up."
Yan Shixu strode to the bedroom.
Wen Li'er was leaning against the head of the bed, her face a little pale.
Seeing Yan Shixu come in, she said apologetically: "Your Majesty..."
Yan Shixu walked quickly forward and gently held the person in his arms.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Wen Li'er leaned into his arms and said shyly: "I had a dream. The movements in and out of the dream were too big, which caused my stomach to be pulled. It's all my fault. I made the emperor worry..."
Yan Shixu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What did you dream about?"
"I dreamed that I was holding a thick and long iron rod and beating down all the civil and military officials."
Yan Shixu was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.
He reached out and patted her head, smiling, "You achieved success in your dream."
Wen Li'er blushed and touched her belly with some fear.
She was waving her hands and kicking her legs, but fortunately, the baby in her belly was strong.
Yan Shixu stroked her long hair gently, his voice soft and gentle: "It was my negligence that frightened you."
Wen Li'er was a little afraid to look him in the eye when she thought about the fact that she had concealed the baby in her belly from him.
Yan Shixu lowered his eyes to look at her still-undeveloped belly, his eyes filled with heartache: "Our child will be safe."
"Your Majesty, I shouldn't have..."
Yan Shixu spoke first, "You didn't notice the pregnancy for over three months. You were too careless this time. All the palace servants in Bixi Palace failed to take good care of you. You will be punished for three months."
"Ah?" Wen Li'er was dumbfounded. Didn't Nanny Qin and the others have any solution?
"emperor……"
"Don't be so careless next time, understand?"
Wen Li'er nodded obediently under his serious gaze.
She remembered something and asked again: "Your Majesty, are you okay?"
Yan Shixu's expression softened a bit: "What can I do?"
"A palace maid said that the emperor had a hard time in the court and was even angered by the officials from the Censorate."
Yan Shixu laughed: "I was just pretending. They were all threatening death to advise me. I couldn't stop them from banging their heads against the pillars unless I fainted. You don't have to worry about this. Just take good care of your baby."
Wen Li'er bit her lip: "But..."
"No buts. The only thing you have to do now is to protect our child. Leave the rest to me."
"Alright, Your Majesty, you must be careful. Your health is the most important thing. If you really can't win the fight, can you find a way to both sides give in? When you achieve an overwhelming victory, Your Majesty can subdue them with one move, leaving them with no chance of resistance. That way, Your Majesty can relax a little."
Yan Shixu looked at her thoughtfully and nodded: "Okay. Go to sleep, I'll stay here with you."
Wen Li'er gradually relaxed under his comfort, rubbed against his arms, and soon fell asleep again.
At the same time, in a corner of the palace.
A woman in white stood in front of the window, looking in the direction of the Bixi Palace, with an ambiguous smile on her lips.
A maid in blue whispered, "Master, Qiulu...is dead, but Concubine Wen's child is still alive."
The expression of the woman in white did not change at all.
The maid trembled and said, "The emperor is furious and is investigating this matter thoroughly..."
"Check?" The woman in white chuckled.
"What can we learn from a maid who died without testifying? Furthermore, I didn't order her to do anything. She resorted to such a dangerous act to repay a favor. She deserves death."
The palace maid met her dark gaze, shuddered, and quickly knelt on the ground and nodded.
"That's true. Qiulu couldn't let herself get over it. She deserved to die."
The woman in white glanced at her and slowly walked into the inner room.
"I'm tired. Let's take a rest."
The palace maid hesitated to speak, and finally nodded in agreement.
…
As the sky gradually brightened, the news that Concubine Wen was pregnant spread throughout the harem and the court.
When the civil and military officials heard about this, they whispered to each other during the court session, and glanced at the Wen father and son from time to time.
"Master Wen, congratulations."
Some ministers expressed their congratulations sincerely, while some ministers who wanted to send their daughters to the palace but had not yet succeeded said sarcastically that Wen Tingkuan and Wen Zhiyan had a good daughter and a good sister, and that their success was just around the corner.
The father and son acted as if they didn't notice the envy, jealousy and hatred of these people, and continued to do things the same as usual.
When Yan Shixu stepped into the hall, all the ministers immediately fell silent.
"I have three announcements today."
"First: Women entering the imperial court will undergo their first examination in ten days, and I will personally supervise the examination."
"The second thing: about the draft..."
Under the expectant gazes of the civil and military ministers, Yan Shixu tightened his hands under his sleeves.
"Second: The selection will proceed as scheduled, but everything must be kept simple. Only ten people will be allowed into the harem. The remaining unsuccessful candidates will be granted royal titles and meritorious officials. Do you have any objections, my dear ministers?"
The ministers looked at each other in confusion.
Ten... is too few.
But the emperor was so angry with his ministers that he fainted and took a step back, so how could they dare to object?
If they really make the emperor angry and make him sick, they will be in big trouble.
If he fails to be selected, it would be nice to be granted the title of royal prince.
After all, one prince and two dukes are now of the age to choose a concubine.
Besides, the emperor has already agreed to the selection of concubines, so how can they oppose women entering the court as officials?
Seeing that no one objected, Yan Shixu glanced at the ministers and began to talk about the third thing.
"Third: Concubine Wen is promoted to Imperial Noble Concubine for her contribution in conceiving a son, and given the title: Pure Wisdom."
There was a dead silence in the court, and the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.
Your Majesty is being a bit unsportsmanlike. Taking one step back and two steps forward?
Yang Xishan's father, Minister Yang, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you. The Imperial Concubine's pregnancy is a great joy for the nation, but the Imperial Concubine..."
"I know what you are going to say." Yan Shixu interrupted him directly.
"No need to discuss further. I have made up my mind and am leaving the court."
After saying that, Yan Shixu stood up and left.
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