Chapter 64: Reverse Scale
She leaned lightly against the ancient diamond-shaped mirror, her slender hands slowly moving through her cloud-like black hair, meticulously straightening her bun, and then lightly inserting a simple yet elegant jade hairpin, its color was warm, reflecting the changes in her face.
The person in the mirror revealed a cold and unapproachable aura between his brows, his eyes were deep and calm like a pool. The innocence of the past had long been quietly wiped away by the vicissitudes of time, replaced by deep-rooted hatred and the determination to plan every step of the way.
"Prepare the sedan chair."
Chen He's voice was low and cold, like the first icicles in winter, with a hint of chill that was hard to capture, but it also revealed an unquestionable determination.
"Enter the palace."
****
The imperial study in the palace.
Behind the bright yellow dragon desk, Emperor Xuanhe, dressed in casual clothes, was reviewing memorials.
When he heard the eunuch's announcement, he raised his head.
His eyes fell on Shen He who walked in slowly.
"Your humble servant, Chen He, pays respect to His Majesty."
She bowed respectfully, her posture calm.
"Stand up."
There was no emotion in the emperor's voice.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Chen He stood up straight, lowering his eyes slightly.
"Is there any progress in the jade bracelet case?"
The emperor put down the red brush in his hand and looked at her.
Shen He took a step forward, his voice clear.
The emperor was told about the events that had happened in the past few days, including Renxinzhai, the musk case, smuggling, and the miscarriage case, and the speculations that connected them together. There was silence in the imperial study.
Emperor Xuanhe's fingers tapped lightly on the smooth rosewood table top.
Again and again.
The pace is slow, but it carries an invisible pressure.
After a long time, he slowly spoke.
"Renxinzhai is burned."
"People are dead too."
"Now, there is only an account book whose authenticity is unknown."
His voice was calm, as if he was stating a fact.
"Chen He, this alone can only prove that there is something wrong with the Imperial Hospital's purchasing process."
"As for pointing to Fengyi Palace..."
Emperor Xuanhe's gaze fell on Shen He's face with scrutiny.
"The evidence doesn't seem to be enough."
The heart of an emperor is as deep as the ocean! Does he not believe her? Or is the timing not right? Or is he testing her resolve and ability?
Chen He understood clearly.
She didn't argue, nor did she rush to defend herself.
He just bowed again, his posture becoming even more humble.
"Your Majesty is wise, and I understand."
“Although the account book is a solitary piece of evidence, it is not completely worthless.”
"I have come here to ask for your instructions, Your Majesty."
Her voice was calm, yet it carried a power that could not be ignored.
"This matter has far-reaching implications and is fraught with peril. Your Majesty, do you wish for me to continue investigating further?"
After Shen He finished speaking, the imperial study became eerily quiet.
It seemed as if even the air froze because of her bold "rhetorical question".
Emperor Xuanhe paused slightly as he held the red brush.
He raised his eyes, and for the first time, his deep eyes truly scrutinized this seemingly docile but actually daring courtier.
"oh?"
There was no emotion in Emperor Xuanhe's voice, and there was even a barely detectable hint of amusement.
"Chen He, what you said is quite interesting."
"Why are you asking me questions?"
The emperor's pressure spread silently, trying to envelop and crush her.
Chen He seemed completely unaware.
She raised her head and met Emperor Xuanhe's gaze. Her eyes were clear, yet filled with a kind of understanding that seemed to see through everything.
"Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth or just some empty talk?"
She actually threw the question back again! And it was even more direct and pointed!
Emperor Xuanhe's eyes flashed.
He looked at the young woman in front of him.
It was clearly a request for instructions, but he kept pressing me.
Although he was just a subject, he seemed to be able to see through the mind of the emperor.
It’s really interesting!
He put down the red brush, leaned back slightly, and tapped his fingers lightly on the dragon table.
"Tell the truth, so what?"
Shen He took a deep breath, his voice still calm.
"The truth may not be pleasant to hear."
"But perhaps I can help Your Majesty solve some of the problems."
Emperor Xuanhe was silent for a moment.
The silence in the imperial study was so quiet that one could almost hear a pin drop.
Finally, he spoke, his voice not loud but filled with unquestionable authority.
"Everyone, step back."
"yes."
The chief eunuch waiting at the door bowed in agreement, quietly led all the palace servants out, and gently closed the heavy palace door.
In an instant, only the emperor and his minister were left in the huge imperial study. The air seemed to have thinned out, leaving only silent confrontation and testing.
"Go ahead, I'm listening."
Emperor Xuanhe looked at her with a serious gaze.
Shen He bowed again, and this time, her voice carried an almost cold honesty.
"The reason why Your Majesty tolerates the growth of Fengyi Palace and the checks and balances between various forces in the court..."
Her voice echoed clearly in the empty imperial study.
"It's not that Your Majesty is well versed in the art of checks and balances."
This is bold enough!
"But because, Your Majesty..."
Chen He paused slightly, looked directly at the person on the dragon throne, and said word by word:
“There’s no other choice.”
Shocking!
The emperor's eyes suddenly darkened!
It's like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake, causing huge waves!
A sharp gleam flashed across his eyes, like a blade being unsheathed! It was an instinctive reaction to being pricked in a sore spot!
Chen He seemed not to see it and continued to speak. His voice was not loud, but every word was heart-piercing.
"Your throne was originally obtained by relying on the power of the Queen's mother's family."
"After ascending the throne, has the overall situation of the court ever truly escaped the control of those entangled aristocratic families?"
"This is true for the Imperial Hospital, important officials in the court, and even the harem."
She was like a calm surgeon, peeling off the emperor's seemingly glamorous outer garment layer by layer, revealing the truth that was bound inside!
"Your Majesty, the Emperor..."
Chen He's eyes held a hint of pity, or perhaps something else.
"It's not comfortable to sit here, it's even like walking on thin ice, isn't it?"
The last three words were like a fuse, instantly igniting the long-pent-up anger!
"presumptuous!!!"
The emperor slammed the dragon table so hard that the writing brush and ink on the table trembled!
He stood up suddenly, his chest heaving violently, his eyes filled with rage!
Like a sleeping lion being completely enraged!
“Bang!!!!”
He grabbed a heavy purple jade paperweight and slammed it hard onto the smooth gold brick floor, causing it to shatter instantly!
Make a harsh sound!
"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down!"
The eunuch who was waiting outside the door was so frightened when he heard the strange noise that he rushed in crawling and fell heavily to his knees with a thud, his head pressed tightly against the cold ground, not even daring to breathe!
Serving the king is like serving a tiger, and this is vividly demonstrated at this moment!
The broken jade rolled down to Shen He's feet.
But she seemed not to hear the thunderous wrath, nor to see the panic-stricken eunuch.
He just knelt down calmly and slowly.
The back is still straight.
As expected, the emperor was furious. If she couldn't even bear this, how could she talk about revenge? Compared to the suffering she had endured in her previous life, this little anger was nothing.
There was deathly silence in the imperial study.
Only the heavy breathing of Emperor Xuanhe could be heard, echoing in the empty hall.
There was also the uncontrollable, subtle trembling sound of the eunuch chief.
The air was freezing cold.
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