The imperial palace grounds, why were there so many people with no sense of taste, stopping carriages and sedan chairs at every turn.
Wan Wan spoke coldly, but the young eunuch in front dared not make a sound. Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow, her eyes that had been closed suddenly opened, and she reached out to stop what Wan Wan was about to say.
Since the young eunuch dared not speak, it meant the person blocking the carriage must be a formidable figure. Without hesitation, she stepped out of the carriage from behind.
Outside the carriage, blocking the path, was none other than the demoted Zhaoyuan Ye Su Xue. What was her intention in stopping the carriage midway?
Yun Xiao narrowed her eyes, looking at her. This woman was still as radiant as ever, but the arrogance and domineering nature from before was gone. She had become much more reserved.
Even after hearing Wan Wan’s cold reprimand, she didn’t show any sign of anger. If it were in the past, she would have likely erupted in fury by now.
“So it’s Zhaoyuan Niangniang. May I ask why you’ve stopped the carriage?”
Yun Xiao spoke with a neither warm nor cold tone. She harbored no good feelings towards Ye Su Xue.
The truly foolish empress had been killed by her. Although she herself had been reborn, thanks to Ye Su Xue, she couldn’t view her as an impartial party when she was a murderer.
Ye Su Xue, neither pleased nor displeased, walked out from the crowd and spoke slowly, like flowing water: “This palace has something to ask of Gongzi Leng. I wonder if Gongzi Leng could grace me with your presence?”
Yun Xiao cast a cold glance at her. She knew exactly what this woman was thinking. Wasn’t it all about vying for favor, wanting her to put in a good word for her?
Truly, she spared no effort. But did she know that the current Emperor was fake? What would happen to these women then? Would they spend their days in the cold palace, or would they all be banished from the palace?
Yun Xiao couldn’t imagine such a scene. However, she had no mood to discuss matters with Ye Su Xue.
These people in the palace were all disgusting. Yun Xiao’s expression suddenly turned grim: “For a man and a woman to be alone, does Zhaoyuan Niangniang intend to harm this Gongzi? If His Majesty were to know of this, Leng Yue would have no way to defend herself. Niangniang should return.”
Ye Su Xue hadn’t expected Leng Yue to be so arrogant. Although she had heard of his eccentric temperament before, she thought of herself as a daughter of the Ye family, with her father holding significant military power and the Empress Dowager in the palace.
No matter how arrogant Leng Yue was, he would surely give her some face. She hadn’t expected him to be so utterly defiant, truly not taking her seriously. Very well, if she were to become Empress?
As Ye Su Xue was secretly harboring her resentment, Yun Xiao turned and took two steps, then suddenly stopped as if remembering something, and spoke leisurely.
“What is it that Zhaoyuan Niangniang wishes to ask? Leng Yue knows clearly. Niangniang, please be patient. Leng Yue congratulates Niangniang in advance.”
After saying this, she turned and boarded the imperial carriage. Wan Wan followed closely, with an expression of disdain. These women of the palace, in order to compete for favor, would resort to any means.
The imperial carriage set off along the bluestone path, heading towards the palace exit.
Behind them, Ye Su Xue was left with a look of surprise. Thinking of Leng Yue’s words, she couldn’t help but smile.
This man was indeed arrogant, but he had ultimately shown her some consideration. It seemed the Emperor was about to promote her. She must be even more gentle and careful in the coming days.
Ye Su Xue walked back with satisfaction, the sunlight shining all around her, dazzling and radiant.
Two days later, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War joined forces and apprehended the entire Ye family. This incident caused a sensation throughout the court.
The factions of the Ye party in the court were shaken, and immediately someone sent news to Changxin Palace and Zhaoyang Palace.
The two women in the palace, one enraged and one astonished, took action simultaneously.
The Empress Dowager flew into a furious rage. Finally, she led the eunuchs and palace maids of Changxin Palace directly to the Imperial Study, completely disregarding the system that women should not interfere in court affairs, and confronted Shangguan Yao directly.
“Your Majesty has great authority and grandeur. You actually lay hands on your own maternal uncle. Are you challenging me?”
The Empress Dowager’s face was grim and contorted, devoid of her former exquisite beauty. Her dark eyes held a vicious glint, staring intently at Shangguan Yao, a battle about to erupt.
“Mother Empress, your words are somewhat excessive. Do you know what Uncle has been doing all these years?”
Shangguan Yao took the initiative, throwing a stack of memorials from the dragon desk in front of the Empress Dowager. The scattered memorials were opened, revealing one by one, item by item, the evidence of Lord Ye Siyuan’s crimes.
The evidence was as solid as a mountain. Should he, as Emperor, engage in favoritism? What would be the point of the dynasty’s system then, and how could he establish the imperial lineage and the court?
The Empress Dowager glanced at them, her pupils flashing with a sharp light. She hadn’t expected the Emperor to act so swiftly and to have uncovered so much evidence of crimes.
But what did it matter? Although this world didn’t belong to the Ye family, it was the Ye family that had secured the Emperor’s throne. What was wrong with them receiving some favors?
In recent years, the Ye family had been extremely cautious, trying to win over and suppress Yun Mo, fearing he might discover any trace of evidence. But now, for the Emperor to utter such words, what right did he have to be so righteous?
The Empress Dowager’s face darkened, her eyes bloodthirsty, and she spoke in a low voice.
“Your Majesty is truly seeking profit. This is the Shangguan family’s throne.”
Her words struck Shangguan Yao’s heart like heavy drumbeats. His face rapidly turned black and then purple, and finally, his eyes became like snake pupils, filled with bloodlust, as he stared ominously at the woman standing in the Imperial Study.
“If you have the audacity, say it in the court. I want to see if you are prepared to destroy your son. You failed to destroy one, and now you want to destroy another.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the Empress Dowager stumbled back two steps, barely managing to steady herself. The color drained from her face, her lips trembled uncontrollably, and her body shook violently. Her hands unconsciously dug into her own flesh, her eyes filled with despair, staring fiercely at Shangguan Yao.
Was this truly what she had done, what she had sought?
Not only had she lost the real Yao’er, but she had also raised a wolf cub. Now he was brandishing his claws at her, arrogantly roaring, completely forgetting his past promises.
He had once said, “Mother Empress, as long as I am here, Mother Empress is here, the Ye family is here, Yao’er will always listen only to Mother Empress.”
Because of guilt, because of the desire for supreme power, she had neglected another son, thereby paving the way for this man’s ascension to the throne. Yet, in the end, she received such a fate, and he could say it so calmly.
She destroyed one son and now wanted to destroy another.
How could he say such a thing? Tears finally welled up in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. She rushed forward like a madwoman, bumping into Shangguan Yao. She had truly lost her reason, provoked by his words, “You destroyed one and want to destroy another.”
She had never intended to destroy Yao’er. Although she was cold to him and didn’t want to see him, he was her son.
It was this wolf cub who had begged her repeatedly, asking for her help. At that time, looking at such a lovable son, coupled with her desire for supreme power, she had pushed him to the throne.
She truly deserved to die. The Empress Dowager, tears streaming down her face, clutched Shangguan Yao’s imperial yellow dragon robe and screamed hoarsely.
“How could you say that? How could you say that? I always thought you were sharp, innocent, and pure. It turns out that’s not the case at all.”