"Ordered... ordered to die?"
Lady Pei had thought at most she would be beaten, but she never imagined the Emperor would be so merciless as to sentence her to death.
"Your Majesty!"
Although Minister Pei of the Privy Council had anticipated this matter wouldn't end well, which was why he personally intervened, he hadn't expected the Emperor to make such a decision.
Pei Rongyan was the Pei family's only daughter, with three older brothers. The family had inevitably spoiled her a bit.
That's why her personality had developed this way.
If the sons and wife at home learned that he had personally intervened but still couldn't save their only daughter, who knows how they would wail and cry.
"What?"
The Xuanwu Emperor's brows furrowed. "Didn't you say I could punish her however I saw fit? Or was Minister Pei just paying lip service, actually believing that my beloved consort's life isn't worth your daughter's? Do you think your daughter's life is more precious than Minister Jiang's daughter's?"
Not giving Minister Pei a chance to defend himself, the Emperor angrily rebuked, "I see you've been sitting in high positions for too long, even developing a sense of hierarchy. You don't consider others' lives as lives, only feeling that you're noble. Concubine Zhen is my woman. If I can't even get justice for her, why don't you, Minister Pei, become the Emperor instead?"
"This old minister wouldn't dare!"
As soon as the Emperor's authority manifested, everyone in the room, masters and servants alike, knelt down. Jiang Xinyue also wanted to join in the group kneeling, but the Xuanwu Emperor held her arm: "Your body is heavy with child, don't keep kneeling up and down."
After saying this, he thought for a moment and also helped the Empress up.
Yesterday, when he saw the clothes on the Empress's body, he was indeed very angry, feeling that his good intentions hadn't been appreciated by Concubine Zhen.
But after calming down, he understood.
Concubine Zhen was still in a weak position, and the Jiang family was not strong enough to confront the Empress's maternal family. Concubine Zhen feared the Empress's influence, so she was unwilling to openly oppose the Empress. This was only human nature.
So when he initially only wanted to help Concubine Zhen up, he ended up helping the Empress as well.
Women's jealousy can sometimes be truly terrifying, driving them to madness, to harm another woman.
Like Concubine Li.
"Your Majesty!"
Concubine Li threw herself at the Xuanwu Emperor's feet: "Have you forgotten the vows we made in our intimate moments? My grandfather is already dead, my father is long ill in bed, I only have my mother left. Are you going to kill my only remaining close relative? Why don't you just kill me directly?"
She clutched at the Emperor's robes, weeping bitterly.
Jiang Xinyue tugged at the sleeve of the man in front of her, her eyes full of grievance. The Xuanwu Emperor held her hand: "In this matter, Concubine Zhen is the victim. No matter how much you cry or make a fuss in front of me, it's useless. The person who was harmed hasn't even complained, yet you're all crying and begging. You've really opened my eyes."
They were trying to gain sympathy, playing on emotions.
Jiang Xinyue inwardly sneered. Such tactics might work when a man loves you, but when he's indifferent, trying to awaken his feelings with emotion is just inviting ridicule.
"Concubine Zhen, this humble servant has truly erred. Please, Concubine Zhen, spare my life! Concubine Zhen, have mercy!"
Lady Pei was pampered and arrogant, but she still knew to fear death.
At the root of this matter, the Emperor wanted justice for Concubine Zhen. If Concubine Zhen didn't pursue it, the Emperor would have nothing to say.
"Spare your life?"
A cold smile curled Jiang Xinyue's lips: "If I spare your life today, who will spare mine tomorrow? I'm not a three-year-old child; I don't believe Minister Pei's excuses. I have no prior acquaintance with that snake woman. If no one instructed her, was she mad to go through so much trouble to come to the palace just to kill me?"
Her alluring almond eyes flashed with intense light: "Moreover, I don't believe His Majesty's harem is a marketplace where a commoner snake woman with no connections or background can come and go as she pleases in the palace. We all know who was assisting her behind the scenes, Concubine Li. It wouldn't look good if we tore off the masks. You originally wanted to take two of my lives, now I only ask for one life in return. How is that not fair?"
Indeed, how is it not fair?
"Concubine Zhen..."
"Minister of the Privy Council!"
Jiang Xinyue interrupted Minister Pei's unreasonable sophistry: "I respect you as an elder, but do you always muddle through cases like this in your official duties? As long as the victim doesn't die, you let the perpetrator go free, giving them the opportunity to harm others again and again?"
"I... This old minister..."
"If that's the case, then I really have to doubt your ability, Minister Pei. Is it because you're getting old and can no longer perform the duties of the Minister of the Privy Council? If so, I could suggest to the Emperor to select someone more capable to replace you."
She emphasized the words "old minister," stressing that he was too old to handle the important position of Minister of the Privy Council, which was at the center of imperial power.
If he wanted to save Lady Pei, he would have to admit his own incompetence and resign. The Emperor had plenty of people waiting to take his position.
Resign... How could that be possible?
Minister Pei looked deeply at Lady Pei, then difficultly glanced at Concubine Li, as if weighing something.
After just a moment, Minister Pei knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily: "This old minister... accepts the imperial decree!"
Lady Pei's eyes widened, tears falling from her eyes: "Father, accept... what imperial decree are you accepting? The Emperor wants to kill me, he wants to kill me! Father, save me... This isn't what we said when we came here. You said I would definitely be alright... Father! I don't want to die!"
She hadn't had enough of her glory and wealth, how could she die?
"Slap!"
Minister Pei struck Lady Pei's face, saying harshly: "When you did this thing, implicating Ni'er, you should have anticipated this outcome."
The Xuanwu Emperor waved his hand impatiently: "Come, take Lady Pei away and provide her with a white silk cord."
He didn't think Concubine Zhen was cruel, because she wasn't the one who first tried to harm others. This was called making an example, deterring others who might want to harm her.
The Xuanwu Emperor was very pleased. His Yue'er finally knew how to protect herself.
He liked kind women, but not weak ones.
Concubine Zhen was kind, but her kindness had an edge to it. She could protect herself and hurt those who tried to harm her.
This way, the Emperor wouldn't have to worry about her all the time.
"Your Majesty!"
Concubine Li cried out, falling backward and fainting completely.
The Xuanwu Emperor didn't even glance at her, addressing Minister Pei instead: "Concubine Li conspired with Lady Pei, intending to kill Concubine Zhen and her unborn child. From today, she is demoted to Consort Li of the sixth rank and moved to reside in Yanxi Palace."
Yanxi Palace was the farthest from the Six Eastern and Western Palaces and the closest to the Palace of Exile. Once there, one would never see the Emperor's face again for a lifetime.
How was this any different from being banished to the Palace of Exile?
Moreover, Concubine Li's rank had been lowered again and again, with no possibility of promotion.
