Chapter 132 The Scales in My Heart
Is His Majesty truly so heartless?
The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor sitting quietly opposite her, coughed twice and spoke in a hoarse voice, her eyes fixed on the Emperor, as if trying to find a trace of reluctance in her son, but in the end she was going to be disappointed.
On the table lay a thin sheet of paper, the last few bright red handprints particularly glaring. Yinzhen kept his eyes down, refusing to raise his head no matter how shocked and dissuaded the Empress Dowager.
"I'm heartless? I think I've been too merciful, which is why I've allowed her to commit so many evil deeds in the palace!"
Yinzhen reached out and patted the small table in front of him, causing the testimonies on the table to rattle loudly.
After the coronation ceremony finally ended, Su Peisheng presented all the information he had gathered over the past few days to the Emperor. Upon reading it, Yinzhen felt his blood rush to his head and his forehead tighten.
"I have already shown extraordinary mercy by deposing her and confining her to her quarters. Yet she is so powerful that she can reach out to me without even leaving the palace. I did not know that my chief steward of the Imperial Household Department and the director of the Imperial Observatory were so loyal and devoted to the deposed empress. Or is there someone else involved who is helping her?"
As he spoke, Yinzhen raised his eyes slightly, his gaze, filled with a strong sense of oppression, fell on his mother. The Empress Dowager stiffened at the sight of him, her brows furrowed, and her tone was full of heartache—"Hongzhao is also my own grandson. Does the Emperor think I would help others to harm him?"
"Your son had no such intention," Yinzhen said, his tone rather somber. He glanced sideways at Hongkai standing outside, his eyes filled with melancholy—"Blood is thicker than water. Hongkai didn't grow up by Empress Dowager's side. Even after so many years apart, she still shows such close affection. If Hongkai were to be plotted against in the palace and his life were in danger, how would Empress Dowager treat those with ill intentions?"
Hongkai was the youngest son of the fourteenth brother. He had been in the palace for less than a year and the Empress Dowager doted on him like the apple of her eye. Hongzhao, on the other hand, had grown up in the palace and paid his respects to the Empress Dowager almost every day. He had never seen the Empress Dowager dote on him like this.
In truth, Yinzhen understood that it wasn't that Hongzhao was less obedient and filial than Hongkai. It was simply that in the Empress Dowager's heart, she would never be as good as her fourteenth brother, and naturally, her son would have to rank behind him.
Since Hongkai entered the palace a year ago, Hongzhao still frequently came to Shou Kang Palace to pay his respects. However, he always seemed a little downcast when he returned home. He noticed this, as children are very sensitive. He just felt that his Hongzhao shouldn't have to endure such cold treatment. The things he was used to experiencing seemed to make his son feel even more distressed.
"Why must Hongkai be implicated in the sordid affairs of the palace?" The Empress Dowager raised her voice, her tone tinged with urgency.
“Ulanara is vicious, and Cao Qinmo is no better.” Yinzhen looked at his mother, who was clutching her chest and looked weak and unable to breathe. He closed his eyes tightly and forced himself to change the subject. “Ulanara was the one who plotted and provided manpower behind the scenes. Cao Qinmo was the knife in her hand. She poisoned the Crown Prince, instigated the court officials, and used the late Empress. Every single one of these crimes is an unforgivable crime punishable by death.”
"I intend to grant Cao Qinmo the privilege of committing suicide. Leaving her with a complete corpse is already my final act of tolerance towards her, Ulanara. Since Your Majesty does not wish for me to bear the reputation of being heartless, then let her die of illness." Yinzhen uttered these words lightly, instantly deciding the fate of the two women.
"And Consort Duan, I imagine that bowl of medicine has already been delivered to her. I also ask Your Majesty to remember this matter. The bowl of medicine given to Shilan was delivered by Consort Duan on her own initiative, without any instigation. As for the posthumous honors, it is inconvenient for me to intervene. I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."
The Empress Dowager leaned half her body against Zhu Xi. The series of explosive news made her feel extremely dizzy, and the palpitations in her heart made her unable to open her mouth for a long time.
"The coronation ceremony for the empress has just ended, and one death after another has been reported in the palace. Isn't the emperor worried about what people will speculate and gossip about?"
Yinzhen had long anticipated this matter; he was never one to act without careful consideration. If he truly wanted to protect someone, he would never allow her to bear the brunt of the storm—"I have thought of this matter, so there is one more thing I need to tell Empress Dowager."
"I remember that when I brought my fourteenth brother back to the capital from the imperial mausoleum, I only said it was a temporary stay. Now, taking advantage of the joy of the Empress's investiture, I plan to renovate the Xun Prince's Mansion and have my fourteenth brother stay in the capital. Once all the matters in the palace are resolved, I will summon him to the palace, and then the Empress Mother will naturally be able to see my fourteenth brother."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager straightened up nimbly, her previously weak and aching eyes regaining some brightness. For so many years since the Emperor ascended the throne, she had never been able to see her youngest son again, no matter what she said. How could she not be moved upon hearing this? However, the Emperor had made the condition very clear—it would have to wait until all matters in the palace were resolved.
She pondered for a moment, realizing that she didn't even need to use a scale to choose between her deposed empress cousin and her most beloved youngest son.
"Well, I'm too old to manage all this anymore. Let the Emperor decide everything." She sighed deeply, still trying to find a way to justify herself.
"It's a good thing that the Emperor wants to show favor to the imperial clan on the occasion of the Empress's investiture. In my opinion, it would be better to release the Fourth Prince from the Imperial Clan Court as well. He is still a child, and he has already received enough punishment. There are only four or five concubines in the palace who are truly useful, and they are still the Emperor's children. If you don't like them, you can keep them at the Yuanmingyuan Garden to raise them properly."
If the Empress Dowager hadn't brought it up, Yinzhen wouldn't have even remembered that he had a son in the Imperial Clan Court. Since it was a trivial matter, he naturally didn't care much. He nodded and said, "I will do as Your Majesty says. Hongkai and Hongshi are both of engagement age. At that time, Your Majesty will need to help with the arrangements. However, regarding the matter of the deposed Empress's death, Your Majesty will have to take care of it. I will only wait for Your Majesty's news."
Having said that, he didn't care what kind of gazes were behind him, stood up straight, and unusually, didn't bow before turning and leaving.
The moment he stepped out of Shou Kang Palace, the sound of a eunuch announcing his death echoed throughout the inner palace.
"Consort Duan has passed away—"
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