Chарtеr 4: А Вackfired Асcusatiоn
“What haрреnеd?” Сhu Zе inquired, gеnuinеlу сurious abоut who was respоnsiblе.
Cоnsоrt Wаn сriеd evеn mоrе unrestrainеdlу, gasрing for breath bеtweеn sobs. “Your Mаjestу, the Еmрress publiсly punished уоur humblе сonsort. I bеg Yоur Маjesty tо uphоld justice fоr me!”
She сlutched thе Emperоr’s rоbе, her bоdу curled into а ball аs if shе had sufferеd the greаtest injustiсе.
Тhe Еmpress?
Сhu Ze’s brow twitсhеd in surрrise. In his eyes, although the Emрrеss had committed соuntless misdeeds, shе аlways hypocritically maintained a facade of propriety.
“Why did the Empress punish you?”
“Your Majesty, you know your humble consort speaks her mind frankly. Since Your Majesty granted Consort De the authority to manage the Six Palaces, it is only natural for the palace consorts to pay their respects to her. I merely made an offhand remark, yet the Empress flew into a terrible rage. Clearly, it was the Empress herself who erred, yet she vented her anger on your humble consort.”
Consort Wan’s words placed all the blame squarely on the Empress while also making it clear to the Emperor that the Empress, having lost her authority over the palace, harbored deep resentment.
Chu Ze’s eyes darkened, becoming inscrutable. “So the Empress bears a grudge against me!”
No wonder her behavior had been so peculiar lately, even going so far as to directly send the Phoenix Seal over. She must despise him, this Emperor, to the core.
If she hadn’t committed so many wrongs, how could things have come to this? And yet she dares to blame him in return?
Sensing the Emperor’s displeasure, Consort Wan felt a surge of triumph. This was precisely the effect she wanted.
Seizing the moment, she continued to pour out her grievances.
“Your Majesty, Her Majesty also said that due to her poor health, she handed the Phoenix Seal over to Your Majesty, who then granted Consort De the authority to manage the Six Palaces. She claimed Your Majesty intends to depose her and have Consort De take her place. She said that the Six Palaces paying respects to Consort De only acknowledges the Phoenix Seal and no longer recognizes the Empress herself.”
It must be said that Consort Wan had an excellent memory; she remembered every word the Empress had spoken.
Before she could catch her breath after finishing, a tremor ran through the air above her.
The Emperor’s face turned ashen, and he slammed his palm onto the table. The white jade thumb ring on his hand struck the brush holder, scattering all the brushes upon it.
The sudden movement startled Consort Wan, making her gasp and quickly prostrate herself.
Once she recovered, she felt a wave of delight.
The Empress is doomed!
Seeing the Emperor’s anger and his silence, Li Sheng understood. He stepped forward to tidy the brush holder and casually remarked, “Consort Wan, you should have the imperial physician examine the injury on your face soon, lest it leave a scar.”
It was wise to leave promptly now.
Consort Wan was not entirely foolish. Having achieved her goal, there was no need to remain and bear the brunt of the Emperor’s wrath. Supporting herself, she performed a retreating bow with a pitiful expression.
The Emperor did not stop her. After she left, Li Sheng attempted to soothe him. “Your Majesty, the Empress may have spoken recklessly out of anger and did not intend any offense.”
The Empress was at fault, but only harmony between the Emperor and Empress could ensure peace.
A cold smile curled at the corner of Chu Ze’s lips. He then raised his hand. “Remove Consort Wan’s name from the roster to attend the Emperor at night for three months.”
She truly appeared foolish and unsightly.
Li Sheng was taken aback but quickly assented. Weren’t they just discussing the Empress?
Could it be that the Emperor wanted Consort Wan to properly recover from her injury?
But the Emperor’s expression didn’t seem to suggest that…
“Have all the consorts gone to the Palace of Gathered Elegance now?” Chu Ze offered no explanation and abruptly inquired about matters in the rear palace.
Li Sheng pondered briefly. “Few visited the Palace of Earthly Tranquility today. Indeed, some have gone to pay their respects to Consort De.”Now that Consort De is in charge of the palace, those who know how to read the times are certainly aware of whom to flatter and whom to avoid.
Chu Ze’s eyes were deep and unfathomable, his gaze fixed on the Imperial Seal placed before him. “If those in the rear palace recognize only the Phoenix Seal and not the Empress, then does the empire recognize only the Imperial Seal and not me, the Emperor?”
The Emperor’s voice was not loud, but a chill permeated the air.
Li Sheng seemed to realize something, his expression shifting as his heart seemed to skip a beat. He quickly bowed and knelt on the ground.
So that was it.
As the Emperor, this was precisely what he feared.
It was unclear whether the Empress’s words were deliberate or unintentional.
However, given the Empress’s temperament, she likely wouldn’t have orchestrated such an elaborate scheme.
Chu Ze thought the same—the Empress simply didn’t have the brains for it.
Still, while he disliked the Empress, he detested the atmosphere in the rear palace even more.
Moreover, he hadn’t even spoken of deposing the Empress, yet these people were already stirring, with the memorials submitted clearly divided into two factions.
At least the Hua family had remained proper, neither pleading nor speaking out of turn, which brought him some small comfort.
Thinking of this, Chu Ze’s anger subsided slightly. “Have you found any evidence?”
What the Emperor referred to was naturally the matter of Consort Rong’s unborn child.
Consort RHe showed no intention of comforting Consort Wan and directly removed her name from the list to Attend the Emperor at Night.
This was all too bizarre.
Hua Shu, with pearl powder on her face, remained motionless.
Only a faint trace of amusement flickered in her eyes.
It seemed Consort Wan had indeed relayed every word to the Emperor.
How interesting.
It had been a long time since she had encountered such a fool.