"I never imagined that the Empress could be so aggressive," Emperor Zhou Jin's majestic voice rang out.
Everyone was startled.
"This servant (your concubine) greets Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty~" Bai Lingxi's eyes reddened with grievance, which made Zhou Jin's heart ache.
The person he cherished so dearly was treated so badly by them. It was normal that the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Imperial Noble Consort Yi were of low rank and had no say, but the Imperial Noble Consort Yi was Xi'er's aunt, and they were unwilling to even maintain a superficial relationship with her.
"Xi'er, get up. No one has the right to punish you." The emperor stepped forward, gently helped Bai Lingxi up, and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Why are you crying? I'm here. It's time for you to complain. Don't cry, be good."
The Empress Dowager was shocked by the Emperor's attitude. The Emperor had previously favored the Seventh Prince's mother, Consort Jing, but Consort Jing had to serve him carefully every day and had a very hard time.
But looking at Consort Rong's current vibrant and delicate appearance, it's clear she's pampered and loved—it's truly enviable.
"Your Majesty, can't I do it either? I never knew you could be so foolish!" The Empress Dowager looked heartbroken and accused the Emperor of being absurd.
"Mother, I dare not." The emperor spoke calmly. Now he held great power and his throne was secure. He was no longer the prince who could be manipulated by others.
"Your Majesty, Consort Rong has been disrespectful to me, yet you still protect her. In my opinion, you have been bewitched by a vixen." The Empress Dowager covered her chest with her hand, pointed at the Emperor, and looked as if she were furious.
"Mother, Xi'er is the most obedient of all. How could she possibly offend you? I have no choice but to believe what you say about others, but I certainly believe in Xi'er." The Emperor said with certainty, his words practically implying that the Empress Dowager was being unreasonable.
"Your Majesty, I can attest that Xi'er did indeed commit a transgression and offended the Empress Dowager." It was Consort Yi who spoke, appearing to be upholding justice even against a family member.
No one expected that the first to step forward would be Consort Rong's own aunt. She had gone mad. She had ruined the Bai family so badly, and now she wanted to harm her own niece.
The concubines below looked at each other, none daring to speak. When gods fight, it's best for the little devils to stay away!
"Consort Yi, I find it very strange. When Xi'er was in trouble, you did not speak up to help her, but now you are kicking her when she is down. What exactly are you trying to do! What are your intentions!" When the emperor is angry, millions of people die. Now that the emperor is acting out because of Bai Lingxi, he has clearly angered Consort Yi.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us!" Everyone knelt down and begged for mercy, trembling with fear.
Consort Yi's lips moved, but she didn't utter a single word. How could she forget that the current emperor was the most charismatic and powerful ruler?
During Zhou Jin's personal rule, he executed hundreds of corrupt officials, and almost all the official families across the country underwent a complete overhaul. That period was a nightmare for all the aristocratic families.
Emperor Zhou Jin's dwindling offspring were partly due to the united counterattack by powerful families. Countless princes and princesses in the palace were killed or wounded, including her two sons. She trembled with fear. Yes, the emperor was ruthless; how could she have forgotten that?
"Consort Yi, do you know your crime!" But the emperor did not stop there. He would not forget who had taken advantage of the chaos to harm his many children.
Those aristocratic families colluded with the imperial concubines to harm Consort Yi's child, but before she could even take action, Consort Yi swiftly retaliated, framing the real culprit, which could be considered revenge for her child.
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