Chapter 464
It can only be said that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; the emperor's favor is the most elusive thing in the world.
It can bring instant wealth and glory, or send someone to hell in a single night.
Of course, no one would sympathize with the Liang family.
Relying on the emperor's favor, the Liang family became arrogant and committed all sorts of evil deeds, making them many enemies.
If they fall on hard times, countless people in the capital will want to kick them while they're down.
As the Liang family's crimes were exposed one by one, the world was in uproar.
Nowadays, everyone in Fengyuan is cursing the Liang family as treacherous villains. They've even stolen the spotlight from the Regent's reputation as a treacherous minister.
His Highness the Regent replied: Thank you for the invitation, but there's really no need for it!
A month later, the investigation into the Liang family's crimes was completed, and all members of the Liang clan and their accomplices were apprehended. The Regent drafted a verdict: all direct descendants of the Liang family would be executed, all members of their three clans would be enslaved, and their nine generations of relatives would be exiled.
When the Liang family prospers, the Liang clan benefits as well; when they fall from grace, none of them can escape the consequences.
The Empress granted permission to affix her imperial seal to the execution edict for the Liang family, thus bringing the Liang family case to a close.
With the Liang family's capture, the imperial court underwent a massive purge.
Because the Empress and the Regent acted too quickly, the officials who had once been affiliated with the Liang family didn't have time to react and were uprooted.
There was turmoil in the court and among the people, but with the regent in charge, things quickly stabilized.
The Liang family had been operating in the government for many years, but now that they have fallen from grace, many positions have naturally become vacant.
Many powerful officials believed that His Highness the Regent would definitely place his own people in order to take complete control of the court.
However, they discovered that the people who filled the vacancies were all personally promoted by the young empress, some were poor scholars who had passed the imperial examinations, some were people who had been suppressed by the Liang family, and some were capable officials who were dissatisfied with the regent's monopoly of power.
Hmm? Hmm? Hmm?
It seems that everyone has discovered something big?
Is Her Majesty the Empress building up her own power base?
That's right. His Majesty will be able to assume personal rule next year. Seeing that the court is about to become a one-man show by the regent, how can he not be anxious?
Yes, His Majesty is ruthless, using his own paternal clan as a scapegoat to carve out a bloody path.
However, it's all because the Liang family got too arrogant and refused to be a proper pawn for His Majesty.
Therefore, His Majesty simply cut off the disobedient cancerous tumor and took matters into his own hands.
Even after the Liang family falls from power, His Majesty and his new faction will be much weaker when facing the Regent.
But so what?
The regent has some concerns and would not rebel now.
The Empress has now changed from her former naivety and weakness, showing her sharp edge and intimidating the officials and the world, making everyone no longer dare to underestimate her.
Moreover, Her Majesty is the rightful ruler, and most officials and scholars care most about their reputation. Therefore, those willing to follow her follow one after another.
Given time, there's no reason why she can't rival the Regent, and it's even possible that she could defeat him in the future.
Why would the regent help her eliminate the Liang family when he knew it would enhance the empress's authority and power?
The officials analyzed the situation logically: the Liang family has always opposed the Regent and threatened his position, so how could he tolerate it?
Without the Liang family, and with the Empress's power still limited, there are many things he can do.
Therefore, in the Liang family case, both the Empress and the Regent benefited, while the only ones who suffered were the Liang family members who were abandoned by the imperial power.
Some people say that this was a scheme that the Empress had been planning for many years.
From beginning to end, the Empress never trusted the Liang family. Even the previous assassination attempt was said to have been orchestrated by the Empress herself.
Otherwise, how could the Empress and the Liang family be as close as family one moment, and then the Emperor kill them all the next?
This is clearly a conspiracy!
Wen Xin, who has become a scheming empress: "..."
Conspiracy my ass! Conspiracy my ass!
Those bastards from the Liang family were clearly not human!
How did she become cold-blooded and heartless?
So annoying!
My reputation... Damn it, there are always troublemakers trying to smear me!
In the Chaohuang Palace, listening to the Phoenix Guards report the rumors circulating outside, Wen Xin lost her appetite for the melon seeds in her hand and even wanted to imitate the royal family's signature way of throwing a tantrum—smashing things.
But that would be beneath the empress's elegance. Most importantly, every piece of furniture in her palace is either a masterpiece, one of a kind, or an antique. She's spending her own hard-earned money on it, so what's the point of smashing it?
Is she really that stupid?
Xiao Jin: "..."
I wonder who threw that imperial teacup at Liang Rong before. That tea set would fetch an astronomical price on the black market, let alone in modern times.
Wen Xin snorted coldly: I'm happy with it, do you have a problem with that?
That silly butterfly needs to be chopped again.
Xiao Jin quickly slipped away.
Granny Wan brought in a bowl of perilla soup.
In Fengyuan Kingdom, perilla is a high-end ingredient that only nobles and above are entitled to enjoy.
"Your Majesty, please eat fewer melon seeds, they will cause you to feel hot."
Wen Xin defended herself, "Granny, I only ate a few."
When Fengyuan was founded, it organized a large-scale naval fleet that sailed across the ocean and brought back many things that were not available on this continent, including melon seeds.
Wen Xin gave her ancestor a thumbs up.
Enjoying a play while snacking on sunflower seeds is truly a blessing in life.
Xiao Jin: "???" What kind of weird and twisted logic is Master spouting now?
Wen Xin took a spoonful of perilla soup but didn't drink it. "Granny, even if I didn't eat any melon seeds, I'm still full of anger."
How did I suddenly become a scheming and cold-blooded girl?
Granny Wan smiled and advised, "Why should Your Majesty pay attention to the rumors outside? They are just some trivial matters."
Wen Xin raised her chin slightly. "Discussing the monarch is a capital offense. I can have them all beheaded."
Granny Wan: "...Your Majesty, the law does not punish the masses."
Wen Xin: "Then let's cut off the source of the rumors and those idiots who are talking about it the most. That's called making an example of them."
Granny Wan's lips twitched.
The idea of "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" is correct, but Your Majesty, you're quick to execute people. Are you trying to become a tyrant?
Maybe we shouldn't do it!
Wen Xin looked at her with a wry smile, "Is being a tyrant fun?"
You can be completely unrestrained!
It's so satisfying to just chop up anyone you don't like!
Granny Wan: "..."
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Regent requests an audience."
A palace servant came in to report.
Granny Wan almost burst into tears of joy as she ran out to greet His Highness the Regent.
His Highness has finally arrived. If he hadn't come, she would have gone bald.
Since Your Majesty woke up from your injury, you've been acting like you've let loose. This servant really can't take it anymore!
Moreover, if His Majesty were to truly become a tyrant, the first to lose their heads would likely be these palace servants.
Wen Xin's almond-shaped eyes lit up, and she was very happy. "Announce it quickly."
"yes."
"Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you."
Wen Xin grabbed the Regent who was about to bow down, her face full of smiles, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities between us."
The regent looked up and met the girl's bright and clear gaze. His heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his eyes and said, "The proper etiquette must not be disregarded."
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