"There's no need... to consider my feelings!"
The Empress Dowager's words, "Sacrificing family for the greater good," were like a heavy hammer blow, striking the silent Mulberry Garden and sealing Consort Hui's fate.
She personally pushed her most "loyal" pawn into an abyss of no return.
Upon hearing these words, the last glimmer of hope in Consort Hui's already dim eyes was completely extinguished.
She stopped crying and struggling.
She just lay there limp, like a rag doll with all its bones removed, emitting a desperate, incoherent laugh.
They've gone mad.
She's completely gone mad.
On the main seat, after delivering her "righteous and awe-inspiring" words, the Empress Dowager seemed to have exhausted all her strength. She swayed slightly and was supported by Qin Mama, who was standing beside her.
Her face still bore that heartbroken expression, as if she were truly devastated that her family had produced such a "disastrous" child.
His superb acting skills almost fooled everyone present.
Apart from... two people.
Lin Wanwan looked at her, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Xiao Che merely glanced at her indifferently, his eyes filled with no sympathy, only an unyielding, icy disgust.
The grand show has come to an end.
Now, it's time for... reckoning.
Everyone's gaze instinctively turned to the emperor who had remained firmly seated on the dragon throne from beginning to end.
They were all waiting to see how His Majesty would deal with this audacious culprit who plotted to murder the Empress.
Xiao Che slowly, very slowly, stood up from the dragon throne that symbolized supreme imperial power.
His movements were slow, yet they carried a suffocating pressure.
He didn't look at Consort Hui, who was lying on the ground, already insane.
He didn't even glance at the Empress Dowager, who was still "acting" in the main seat.
His gaze pierced through the crowd, landing precisely and gently on the woman who had been standing quietly beside him, but who had given him a tremendous "surprise" today.
He spoke to Lin Wanwan.
His voice, though not loud, clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
"Empress."
"This matter started because of you. You are the biggest victim in this case."
He paused, then, in an unquestionable tone filled with supreme authority, slowly said:
"I hereby entrust you with the full authority to decide how to handle this matter."
"boom--!"
These words were louder than any thunderclap before them!
His Majesty the Emperor actually... actually delegated the power to punish a concubine entirely to the Empress?!
This was unprecedented in the entire history of the Great Zhou Dynasty!
This is no longer just simple trust.
This is a... declaration!
It was the emperor who, in front of all the civil and military officials, members of the imperial family, and the entire harem, declared to everyone in the most direct and forceful way—
His queen's authority was sacred and inviolable!
Anyone who dares to challenge the Queen will be judged by the Queen herself!
In an instant, all the gazes directed at Lin Wanwan changed.
If their previous awe of her stemmed solely from her wisdom and methods...
Now, this awe is now accompanied by an additional layer of absolute fear, a result of the imperial power!
The Empress Dowager's "grief" face froze the moment she heard those words!
In her phoenix eyes, which were filled with tears, flashed a very subtle and deep sense of fear!
She knew that Xiao Che was warning her.
It was also... a warning to the Wang family behind her!
When Lin Wanwan heard these words, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
She knew that Xiao Che was "backing her up".
In his own way, he was erecting the strongest protective umbrella for her in this perilous palace.
She slightly curtsied to Xiao Che.
"Your Majesty, I obey."
Then, she slowly turned around.
In that instant, her entire aura changed once again.
If she had previously shown some deference to the Empress Dowager, it was a sign of respect befitting a junior.
Now, as she holds the "power of life and death" personally bestowed by the emperor and faces a garden full of concubines and noblewomen, she exudes only one emotion.
That was the absolute majesty of the Empress, the mother of the nation!
Her gaze, like a cold, emotionless sword, fell upon Consort Hui, who was still lying on the ground, still grinning foolishly.
Consort Hui seemed to sense the cold gaze, and her laughter gradually stopped.
She looked up and met Lin Wanwan's calm and unwavering eyes.
"Why...why..." she murmured, her voice filled with confusion, "I clearly...did it flawlessly..."
Lin Wanwan looked at her and slowly shook her head.
“Because,” her voice was soft, yet it struck Consort Hui’s heart like a heavy hammer, “the least valuable thing in this harem is self-righteousness.”
After saying that, she ignored the now completely useless chess piece.
She turned to face all the concubines and noblewomen present and proclaimed in a loud voice:
"Consort Chen, who committed this crime, is vicious and envious of the Empress. She plotted to harm me and disrupt the silkworm-rearing ceremony. Her crime deserves death as a warning to others!"
Her voice, clear and majestic, echoed throughout the mulberry garden.
Upon hearing the word "execution," many of the timid concubines present trembled with fear.
However, Lin Wanwan's tone suddenly changed at this moment.
"but……"
"Considering that she has an heir to the throne and the princess is still young, she cannot be without a mother."
"Also, considering that today is a day for praying to Heaven for blessings, it is not appropriate to... witness too much bloodshed."
She paused, and then, in a cold and unquestionable tone, issued her first and most important imperial edict as Empress!
"I hereby issue the decree today—"
"Consort Chen, whose virtue is corrupt, is unfit to be a concubine. Effective immediately, her title of 'Consort Hui' is revoked, and she is demoted to a commoner!"
"Discard them to...the cold palace!"
"For the rest of his life, he shall never step out of the palace gates again!"
Banished to the cold palace!
These four words sent chills down the spines of the concubines present, even more so than the direct order to "be sentenced to death"!
Death is nothing more than a moment of pain.
But being banished to the cold palace means an endless, hopeless, forgotten hell...
This is the cruelest, and most deterrent, punishment!
Seeing the terrified silence on everyone's faces, Lin Wanwan knew that she had achieved her goal.
She slowly surveyed the entire room, her clear eyes carrying a hint of warning, as well as the majesty of the Empress.
Her voice rang out again, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"I have a wish."
"What happens today is the first time, and also... the last time."
"Sisters in the harem should value harmony above all else and put His Majesty first. Only by living in harmony can we share in peace."
Her tone softened slightly, but then quickly turned icy cold again.
"But, if such malicious acts of framing sisters occur again..."
She paused slightly, a chilling glint flashing in her beautiful eyes.
"Then don't blame me for being ruthless, showing no mercy, and upholding the palace rules!"
After he finished speaking, the entire mulberry garden fell silent.
All the concubines and noblewomen subconsciously lowered their heads and bowed deeply to the young empress who stood on the altar, her figure slender yet her aura so powerful that no one dared to look directly at her.
"Your Majesty, I will obey your teachings!"
The sound was like a roaring mountain and a tsunami, perfectly synchronized.
That was a heartfelt surrender.
The completely insane Consort Hui was dragged off the ground like a dead dog by two expressionless eunuchs, and led towards the Cold Palace, a path leading to the abyss of despair.
As she was being dragged away, she seemed to have a sudden burst of energy before death, and she turned around abruptly.
Her previously unfocused eyes refocused, staring intently at the aloof Lin Wanwan with a gaze filled with endless resentment and hatred.
Lin Wanwan felt her gaze.
She neither dodged nor avoided the situation.
She simply looked back at her calmly and composedly.
His eyes were calm and still, like a bottomless ancient well, without the slightest ripple.
It's as if you're looking at a complete stranger...someone who has nothing to do with you.
She knew.
Starting today.
The world in the harem has changed.
From then on, no one dared to underestimate her.
From then on, this harem...
Kun Ning Palace is the place where things are decided!
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