The next day, at the Golden Palace.
The morning bell rang solemnly as always.
Civil and military officials stood in two rows, holding jade tablets and bowing their heads. But today, the atmosphere in the hall was completely different from the usual somber mood, with an indescribable undercurrent surging within.
Everyone's gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, drifted toward the Regent Xiao Yuan beside the dragon throne, who remained as steady as Mount Tai, yet had just undergone a major reshuffle of the Imperial Guard a few days prior.
Everyone is watching and speculating.
Is today's court session the calm before the storm, or the beginning of a new storm?
"His Majesty has arrived!"
With a loud announcement from the eunuch, Xiao Che, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, walked out slowly from behind the hall with steady steps.
His face was as handsome as ever, but his expression carried an even more imposing imperial aura than before. He calmly walked up the steps and slowly sat down on the dragon throne, a symbol of supreme power.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The shouts echoed throughout the main hall.
Lin Wanwan sat upright behind the huge sandalwood screen with carved dragons behind the dragon throne, quietly watching everything in front of her through the openwork gaps.
According to ancestral rules, although the empress was not required to attend court sessions, she could listen in from behind a screen during important court assemblies. This was both a symbol of her status and a form of invisible supervision.
She knew that the play she and Xiao Che had been meticulously rehearsing all afternoon was about to... officially begin!
The morning court session proceeded according to plan.
Military and national affairs, people's livelihood and government affairs, everything proceeded in an orderly manner. Xiao Che's handling of matters was as calm and capable as ever, leaving no room for criticism. Regent Xiao Yuan, just like in the past few days, kept his eyes down, seemingly becoming a truly virtuous and law-abiding king.
The entire court presented a harmonious and peaceful scene.
Just when everyone thought that today's morning court session might end peacefully,
Unexpected changes occurred suddenly!
A censor in charge of rites suddenly stepped forward. After bowing, he announced loudly, "Your Majesty! I have something to report!"
Xiao Che raised his eyelids slightly and said calmly, "Granted."
"Your Majesty, I impeach Your Majesty!"
These six words, like a boulder, crashed into the calm lake, instantly stirring up huge waves!
The entire court was in an uproar!
Everyone stared at the censor as if he were insane. Impeach the Empress? Was he courting death? Everyone knew that the Empress was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, the Emperor's darling, and had just purged the Imperial Guards; she was riding high!
Even Regent Xiao Yuan slightly raised his eyes, a hint of surprise and interest flashing in them.
Behind the screen, Lin Wanwan's heart stirred.
It's here!
This is the first step in their plan!
Ignoring the shocked gazes around him, the imperial censor continued righteously, "Her Majesty the Empress's implementation of the female official system, the holding of imperial examinations to select talented individuals, is a great thing that benefits the country and its people! However, I have heard that in this selection of female officials, most of those chosen are daughters of poor merchants with no background! Many well-educated noble ladies have been rejected!"
"This action violates ancestral rules and reverses the hierarchy! If this continues, it may shake the very foundation of our Great Liang, a nation based on the gentry! Your Majesty, I implore you to investigate this matter thoroughly and order the Empress to select new female officials!"
These words were well-reasoned and pointed out a minor flaw in the implementation of the female official system.
This was precisely the fuse that Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che had meticulously prepared for today's grand spectacle!
All eyes instantly turned to Xiao Che, who sat atop the dragon throne. They all wanted to see how this famously doting emperor would respond to this first public criticism of the empress.
According to past practice, His Majesty will probably be furious and drag this ignorant censor out to be flogged in court.
Even Regent Xiao Yuan was quite interested, preparing to watch a good show of "a crown being lost for a beauty's sake".
However, Xiao Che's reaction left everyone speechless!
Upon hearing the censor's report, the emperor on the dragon throne showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, he slowly frowned.
His face gradually darkened.
The temperature inside the main hall seemed to drop by more than ten degrees in that instant!
A cold and oppressive aura slowly emanated from the dragon throne.
The entire court fell silent instantly, as if trembling with fear. They could sense that His Majesty... was truly angry.
But... but why is he angry? Isn't it because the censor impeached the Empress?
Just as everyone was filled with doubt and uncertainty, Xiao Che slowly spoke.
His voice was not loud, but it was as cold as the winter wind, without a trace of warmth.
"Is this... really true?"
His gaze did not fall on the censor, but pierced through layers of space, as if trying to completely penetrate the figure behind the screen!
The imperial censor's heart skipped a beat, but he forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true!"
"good……"
Xiao Che slowly squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.
He slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, making a loud "smack" sound!
"What a lack of foresight!"
"What a fine example of overstepping one's bounds!"
He abruptly stood up, the hem of his dragon robe drawing a sharp arc! He looked down at the assembled civil and military officials, his voice filled with undisguised, icy rage!
"I entrusted all matters of the inner palace to the Empress because I trust her! I did not entrust her with causing trouble for me, nor did I allow her to abuse the dignity of the court for personal gain!"
"Such controversy has arisen over a mere selection of female officials! How dare you!"
He shouted the last sentence almost directly at the screen!
This...this...
The entire court, especially the regent's faction, was stunned!
They stared in disbelief, their minds blank, hardly able to believe their ears and eyes!
His Majesty... is scolding the Empress?!
For an impeachment by an imperial censor, for such a "trivial" matter as the selection of female officials, how could he so mercilessly rebuke the empress he cherished so much in front of the entire court?!
How...how is this possible?!
Could it be that all the affection and protectiveness they showed just a few days ago was fake? Could it be that a rift has truly developed between the Emperor and Empress?
Several loyalist ministers were also bewildered. They looked at each other in confusion and quickly stepped forward to try and smooth things over.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Her Majesty the Empress must have acted unintentionally. This matter..."
However, before they could finish speaking, they were abruptly interrupted by Xiao Che's cold, angry shout!
"shut up!"
Xiao Che suddenly turned his head, his eyes sharp as knives, staring intently at the ministers.
"This is my family matter!"
His words were deliberate and resounding, filled with an unquestionable imperial authority!
"Since when did it become your place, these foreign subjects, to point fingers and tell us what to do?!"
These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads, bringing them back to their senses from the shock!
"I'd rather have the empire than a beautiful woman!"
Your Majesty is... making quite a show of it!
The royalist ministers, their faces turning pale and then red from his rebuke, could only retreat meekly, not daring to utter another word.
After the initial shock and astonishment, a barely suppressed... ecstasy and secret delight slowly surfaced deep in the eyes of Regent Xiao Yuan!
They've fallen out!
They've really fallen out!
He knew it all along: Xiao Che was still too young! How could an empress with no foundation possibly contend with a powerful family that had been established for centuries? Sacrificing a woman to stabilize the court was perfectly normal!
It seems my previous guess was correct!
The Golden Palace was deathly silent.
Xiao Che's chest heaved violently, as if his anger had not yet subsided. He gave one last, cold glance at the silent screen.
That look in his eyes was filled with disappointment, coldness, and a hint of... the complex emotion of being betrayed by the person he trusted most.
He coldly uttered his final words, as if delivering the final verdict on this dramatic "breakup."
"The Empress is immoral; she shall be confined to Kunning Palace for one month to reflect on her actions!"
After saying that, he didn't look at anyone again, and with a sudden flick of his dragon robe's wide sleeves, he stormed off in a fit of rage!
The entire court was left stunned by the overwhelming amount of information, unable to recover for a long time.
Behind the screen, Lin Wanwan sat quietly, taking in everything.
She watched the regent and his cronies' expressions shift from shock and bewilderment to secret smugness, and a cold smile played on her lips.
The fish has taken the bait.
She slowly raised her head, her gaze following Xiao Che's "angrily" departing figure.
She could clearly see that above his tall, angry back, there was an emoji that was completely opposite to his current persona.
It was a cute cartoon character, facing her, frantically giving thumbs-up with both hands, and wearing a smug expression that seemed to be asking for praise.
Below the emoji, a line of flashing gold text arrogantly jumps around:
[Wife, look at me! My acting skills are worth an Oscar! .gif]
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