The more Shunzhi talked, the angrier he became!
Because of her, he is still a frequent subject in romantic novels.
Because of her, he cannot have children!
Because of her, he almost lost a good son!
Unexpectedly, Dong Eshi was unwilling to give up. She sat up with a grimace, pounced on the Xuan paper, and began to write.
"Wasn't it you who first cut off my lineage?"
"Wasn't it you who forced me at the New Year's Day banquet?"
"Didn't you say I have the talent to educate an excellent prince?"
Emperor Shunzhi was so angry at the words on the Xuan paper that he laughed!
"You blame me for being useless? Don't you know how long I've favored you?"
"I forced you? Ridiculous! Who do you think you are, some kind of celestial being?"
"Is your talent only good for harming my child? No wonder you can't have children. What child would want to be born into the womb of a wicked woman like you?"
At this moment, Shunzhi's words were like swords, each one potentially fatal.
The pain from the needles piercing Dong Eshi was so intense that it caused her great distress.
The more Shunzhi said, the more desperate he became. In anger and resentment, he pounced on him and scratched Shunzhi's chin with his claw.
Shunzhi angrily pushed the person away!
"Guards! The virtuous concubine is unworthy; strip her of her title and demote her to commoner status! For disgracing the emperor, execute the torture of fingernail pulling out as a warning to others!"
After finishing his speech, Shunzhi strode away.
The "crushing punishment" was an ancient form of torture that involved pinching the fingers together.
This is an ancient form of torture used on female prisoners. The specific method of torture involves placing a device called a "claw" on the prisoner's fingers, and then the torturer pulls on the device to clamp and squeeze the prisoner's fingers.
The torture of finger-crushing was common in the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties. The government often used this torture to extract confessions, especially against female prisoners.
Because women's fingers are relatively delicate, this form of punishment would cause more physical harm and mental torment for them.
When prisoners are squeezed by the instruments of torture, they feel excruciating pain, which can even lead to the loss of their hands. Therefore, in ancient times, prisoners would often cry out in fear when faced with the torture of finger-crushing.
At this moment, Lady Dong'e stared in disbelief at Shunzhi's departing figure.
After all, for many years, Emperor Shunzhi had always shown her great favor.
Even though they weren't as close as when they used to exchange letters, she wasn't incapable of accepting the saying that serving a ruler is like walking on thin ice.
But at this moment, Shunzhi's coldness still made her unable to believe it.
But at this moment, I cannot speak!
All they could do was painfully await the arrival of the finger-crushing device!
She didn't want to die, nor was she willing to accept it!
This is where her resilience truly shone!
Qin went back and hanged herself, without making a fuss or showing any resentment.
After Shunzhi left, the little girl felt a little scared.
Jingrong climbed onto Shirley's bed and squeezed next to her. He was also afraid that someone might take advantage of the situation, so he climbed on top of her.
Tusi almost couldn't help but cry when he saw the usually composed Prince Jingrong looking so pitiful.
Sherry noticed the children's attachment.
Open your eyes and tease them!
I played with them for a while before taking a shower.
The two little ones were also very well-behaved.
Jingrong was unusually soft-hearted, staring longingly at Xue Li.
They look like two little kittens.
Sherry smiled and went to take a bath, instructing Tus to prepare a meal.
After taking a bath, Shirley instructed the servants to take medicine as a precaution.
Then I ate with the little ones.
The Empress Dowager also learned of the news from the inner palace amidst her busy schedule.
Upon hearing that Lady Qin had been given a white silk noose by the emperor, Lady Dong'e, who had attacked Jingrong, was also stripped of her title by the emperor.
Enraged, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial edict to punish the Dong E clan.
"Recently, I have heard that Consort Dong E has behaved in a rebellious manner, disregarding the proper conduct of a woman, and even went so far as to harm the imperial heir. Her crimes are heinous and have shocked the court and the public."
In accordance with the laws of our ancestors and the regulations of this dynasty, this decree is hereby issued: Consort Dong'e is stripped of her title as Empress, banished to the Cold Palace, and forbidden from ever leaving again; the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Justice are hereby ordered to conduct a thorough interrogation, ascertain her crimes, and punish her severely according to the law, as a warning to others. Any members of her family involved in this matter shall also be investigated and dealt with without leniency.
"May all the concubines of the harem take this as a warning, uphold the virtues of womanhood, be diligent and obedient, and work together to safeguard the affairs of the state, so as to ensure the continuation of our royal bloodline and the peace of the nation."
This was the first time the Empress Dowager had bypassed the Emperor to punish his beloved concubine.
Emperor Shunzhi did not say anything upon learning the news.
He finds fault with everyone now.
Dong Eshi plotted to murder the imperial heir, and the new favorite Qin Shi was also an accomplice. Even the empress, whom he thought was brainless, was extremely vicious!
Shunzhi had extremely complicated feelings about Xue Li at this moment.
Seeing his son's intelligence, he originally thought he could make peace with the Empress.
But Sherry's move sent chills down his spine.
He was even afraid that one day he would fall asleep and be skinned alive by the vengeful empress.
Shunzhi paid no further attention to those matters.
Smallpox was rampant and a complete nightmare for the Manchus.
He was busy handling all sorts of matters.
Ao Bai would send Xue Li medicine and food every few days.
While he was asleep, Sherry arranged for him to receive smallpox vaccination.
A few days later, the third prince, Xuan Ye, fell ill.
Shunzhi didn't quite understand, after all, Xuan Ye had contracted smallpox when he was two years old.
However, the imperial physician's diagnosis was that the child was weak and prone to illness.
Xuan Ye developed a rash, which caused a high fever.
The symptoms are similar to those of smallpox, but it is not smallpox.
At the same time, the prince's quarters were also sealed off, and Xuan Ye was moved to another palace.
The second prince, Fuquan, is fine!
Xuan Ye seemed to have sensed something, and cried out that someone had poisoned him.
Sherry remained remarkably calm!
They also told the public that Jingrong was sick, but it was unclear whether it was polio or smallpox.
Emperor Shunzhi did suspect Xue Li, but because Jing Rong was ill, he didn't dare to enter Kun Ning Palace.
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