After a while, Rong Che stood up from the ground and destroyed the scroll in his hand. Rong Yuan watched but did not stop him.
After the scroll was destroyed, Rong Che wiped the tears from his face, looked up at his father, and felt regret in his eyes.
"Father, I have misunderstood you for so many years. I am guilty, please punish me!"
Rong Yuan sighed: "Where did you learn this witchcraft from, or was someone deliberately guiding you?"
"I obtained this book by chance. After I learned how to use it, I burned it to prevent others from easily curing the poison. Even the bell in my hand was obtained along with the book."
Rong Yuan asked in confusion, "Where did you get it from?"
"I got it from an old stall when I left the palace."
Upon hearing Rong Che's words, Rong Yuan knew that there was no point in asking any further questions.
"Do you know how to remove the curse?"
Rong Che nodded: "I have the antidote to being fired."
Rong Che took out a small bottle from his ring, and Rong Yuan ordered the eunuchs to distribute the antidote to the ministers who had just been poisoned and Li Wanyue, and the rest to the people in the harem later.
After the antidote was administered, the person afflicted by the poison suddenly vomited black blood. Upon closer inspection, small black dots could be seen in the blood.
"Now that things have come to this, is there anything else you want to ask?" Rong Yuan asked him.
Rong Che shook his head. The truth he learned today was shocking enough. He would accept whatever the final outcome might be.
Rong Yuan waved his hand: "Come here. The Sixth Prince Rong Che has committed treason and attempted to rebel. He should be sentenced to death, but considering that he realized his mistake in time and did not commit a serious crime, he will be given a lighter sentence. Take the Sixth Prince Rong Che away. After the mother Gu in his body is removed, his cultivation will be abolished, he will be demoted to a commoner, and he will never be allowed to return to the city."
Before being taken away, Rong Che kowtowed to express his gratitude to his father for sparing his life and for protecting him over the years. He knew they would probably never meet again in this life.
After Rong Che was taken away, it was Li Wanyue's turn to suffer the same fate.
Rong Mian quickly knelt before Rong Yuan: "I beg Father Emperor to spare Mother's life."
Rong Yuan glared angrily: "Do you know what your mother has done? Your mother dared to listen to the sixth prince and mix poison into the soup for me to drink. If the sixth prince is the mastermind, then your mother is the executioner. Moreover, you just heard what she did in the harem. How can you expect me to spare her life?"
Rong Mian froze upon hearing Rong Yuan's words. He had thought his mother only intended to make a move but hadn't yet. Little did he know that his mother had already made her move, only failing to succeed.
But she was his mother, so he had no choice but to plead for her.
"Please, Father, for the sake of your newborn granddaughter, spare my mother's life. I am willing to give up my status as the Third Prince, just to ask that you spare my mother's life."
Li Wanyue shook her head: "Mian'er, you can't. Your mother is dead, but you can't give up your identity. You have to think about Qin'er."
"But Mother's life is more important."
Rong Yuan had a terrible headache when he heard what Rong Mian and Li Wanyue said. They were both so infuriating that he was about to be demoted to a commoner. Did they want to go with him?
"Alright, stop arguing. Li Wanyue has been in the harem for so many years, committing numerous evils and harboring wicked intentions. She even conspired with the Sixth Prince Rong Che to plot a rebellion. Her crimes are heinous and she deserves the death penalty. However, considering that the Third Prince pleaded for his mother and was willing to take the punishment for her, Li Wanyue is stripped of her title of Imperial Concubine and demoted to a commoner. The Third Prince Rong Mian is stripped of his title and demoted to the position of Prefect of Qinghe County. His daughter Rong Qin's title of Princess of Qinghe is also revoked. All property in the Third Prince's residence and Yanxi Palace is confiscated. Three days later, the entire family must move to Qinghe County and is not allowed to return to the city without imperial decree."
Rong Mian pulled Li Wanyue down to kneel: "Thank you for your great kindness, Father Emperor."
When Rong Mian heard that he had been demoted to Qinghe, he was grateful to his father, the Emperor. After all, his personal property had not been confiscated. Moreover, Qinghe was a county he had helped with disaster relief in the past, so he wouldn't be too upset after going there.
Li Wanyue watched all this expressionlessly, and then followed Rong Mian as she was led away by the guards.
Rong Yuan rubbed his aching temples and said, "Today's banquet is now over. All of you may leave."
Upon hearing the pardon, the ministers and their families quickly crawled out from under the table, bowed to the Emperor and Empress, and hurriedly left the banquet venue.
Rong Yuan glanced at Rong Qi and the others who were completely unaffected, and couldn't help but twitch his lips.
"You guys are really acting like nothing happened."
Rong Qi fed Feng Qinghuang while replying, "I've taken care of everything outside for Uncle. If Uncle still needs help with things here, then..."
Before Rong Qi could finish speaking, Rong Yuan took something and threw it over, which Rong Qi caught.
"Uncle, if you hurt Jiaojiao, I will tear down your imperial study."
"You little brat."
Rong Yuan was so angry he jumped up and down. At this moment, probably only Rong Qi would dare to provoke Rong Yuan.
After Rong Yuan finished scolding the people, he took the Empress's hand and left.
After the Empress was led away, she looked back at them and shook her head with a mixture of affection and helplessness.
When Feng Qinghuang saw the Empress looking in her direction, she playfully waved.
The rest of the people left after seeing the Emperor and Empress depart.
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