So that's what the Emperor meant? Cai Shuqi's inner monologue: No, I gave it to them to drink. I want to get pregnant, not me! This...this...
The Empress immediately knelt down. "Your Majesty, this is not from my palace! Someone must have framed me!"
"Empress! What more excuses do you have? I inquired before I came, and this morning you were still brewing medicine for yourself. Is my child, Qi Jingxuan's child, causing you so much suffering? I haven't been to your Jingren Palace for many days, and you've still been taking medicine. Where do you put my dignity as the Emperor?! Ah!!!"
As Qi Jingxuan spoke, he smashed the teacup in front of him.
The Empress immediately understood that this was a serious crime! But she couldn't deny that she had given the concubines the drink. Either way, she was in the wrong. So she started to cry and knelt on the ground, not daring to move.
Qi Jingxuan's face was gloomy as he stared intently at the Empress, making her feel uneasy. His eyes were cold and filled with disappointment.
The empress was terrified. If she were accused of adultery because of this, wouldn't her entire family be in trouble?
She crawled on her knees to Qi Jingxuan's feet, pleading, "Your Majesty, please let me explain!"
Qi Jingxuan calmed down and didn't directly refuse her. "Were you drinking from the very beginning? What have I done to wrong you? Why are you treating me like this? Tell me!"
Qi Jingxuan stayed with the Empress for a long time during the month of his wedding, hoping that she could give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible. In this mindset of distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate children, he also wanted to have his own legitimate son. No wonder there has been no news for more than a year. So that's why!
The empress kept shaking her head on the ground, but couldn't utter a single coherent sentence.
Natsume quickly stepped forward, wanting to take the blame, "Your Majesty, this is what I drank."
"Get out of my way! If you don't know how Qiao'er of Chengfu Palace died, I can demonstrate it for you right here!"
Natsume shut his mouth upon hearing this.
Qi Jingxuan slowly stood up and drew his sword!
The Empress panicked as she looked at the sword's aura. What was going on? Was the Emperor going to kill her?
She didn't want to die, but only by dying could she save her entire family, her father, her mother, and her brothers!
"Do you know? This sword of mine has killed many enemies. I have been constantly building up the hearts of the people to get to where I am today. Now you won't even give me the chance to have a legitimate son! Heh, fine, you are not worthy of bearing my child at all."
Qi Jingxuan looked down at her and said, "Give the order: the Empress wishes to pray for the prosperity of our Great Qi Kingdom and has gone into seclusion to chant scriptures! As for when she will emerge, hehe, that depends on when you die! Move to Foshan Temple! Immediately! Right now! Get the hell away from me!"
After saying that, he walked out.
The Empress was frantic. This thought of a life of quiet contemplation and Buddhist practice was worse than death! She tried to rise and explain, but someone pressed down on her shoulder. "Your Majesty, please pack your things and leave!"
"Your Majesty, no, no, Your Majesty! It's not like that!" The eunuchs and maids ignored the Empress's struggles and held her back tightly. She could only watch Qi Jingxuan's back and regret it in her heart.
"Your Majesty, please get up. The Emperor has already gone far away, and the ground is cold." These words made the Empress even more desperate. She ignored everything and let the servants drag her away, as if she had suddenly gone mad.
Xi Yun finally got her revenge. She knew that there were many concubines in the palace without children, and that the princess would definitely cause trouble in the future if she had the princess in her hands. So she used her illness as an excuse to submit a statement to the emperor that she would not support the princess.
The Minister was, after all, an elder statesman of two dynasties, and the news quickly reached his ears.
While feeling frustrated and disappointed, he quickly ordered his servants to prepare thorny branches, intending to apologize by carrying the branches on his back.
"Your Majesty, I have failed to properly educate my daughter, please forgive me!" Minister Cai, who was over fifty years old, knelt all the way from the palace gate with a bundle of thorns on his back!
"Your Majesty, I have failed to properly educate my daughter, please forgive me!"
"Your Majesty, I have failed to properly educate my daughter, please forgive me!"
"Your Majesty, I have failed to properly educate my daughter, please forgive me!"
There were many onlookers along the way. This was originally the Emperor's family matter, and he could punish it however he wanted. As more and more people stood next to the Minister, it inevitably put some pressure on Qi Jingxuan.
"Your Majesty, shall we go out and take a look? It seems that almost all the civil and military officials have arrived. This matter of deposing the empress is a major issue, not a family matter. What do you think?" The little eunuch beside him began to advise.
Xiao Shunzi gave him a look that silenced him. How could one possibly try to fathom the Emperor's intentions?
"I never said I wanted to depose the Empress. I just wanted her to leave the palace to become a nun. Is that not allowed?"
Thinking of the ministers outside, he finally opened the palace gates and compromised. However, he could not escape punishment. The emperor had to give the harem an explanation for all these things.
"Your Excellency, please rise. I simply wish to ask you, what do you think is the right way for me to punish him?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not speak presumptuously, but I know that deposing the Empress is a matter of utmost importance and should not be taken lightly..." The Minister remained kneeling on the ground, his upper body bare, the brambles chafing his back until it bled.
"Your Majesty, why not let the Empress pray for blessings in the palace, but temporarily let someone else take over the management of the six palaces?"
How was it? What was it? Qi Jingxuan was certainly not satisfied! But the ministers below the stage were pressuring him, so he had no choice but to compromise.
"Ahem, according to the Grand Tutor's words, who would be the most suitable person to entrust this matter to?" In fact, Qi Jingxuan had no idea. Currently, in the harem, apart from the Empress, only Ruan Yumu has the highest rank, but it is inappropriate for her to be pregnant now.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
