'Boom!'
A clap of thunder startled Noble Consort Chen. The words "execution by beheading" entered her ears along with the thunder, making her scalp tingle and her feet feel heavy. Her mind went blank, and she stood motionless.
"Oh my, when did you arrive, Noble Consort?" Jiang Deshun hurriedly approached Noble Consort Chen, noticing that her expression was off.
"Noble Consort? Noble Consort?" He called out a few times, pulling Noble Consort Chen's wandering thoughts back.
In her state of anxiety, Noble Consort Chen disregarded all etiquette and reached out to push the door open.
Jiang Deshun quickly stepped in front of her and pleaded, "Noble Consort, you can't do that! The Emperor is discussing matters with Lord Zhu inside. You can't barge in!"
"Get out of my way!" Noble Consort Chen forcefully pushed Jiang Deshun to the ground and stormed into the hall without any hesitation.
The commotion outside the door had already caught the attention of the people in the hall.
Xiao Jingheng and several ministers watched the door until it was pushed open, and Noble Consort Chen rushed in, her face filled with panic. Ignoring the presence of the court officials, she immediately questioned Xiao Jingheng,
"Emperor! My father and brothers have already retired from the military, returning all their military power to the court. You also promised to let them return to their hometowns and live peacefully. Why do you now..."
"Noble Consort, you've gone too far."
Noble Consort Chen questioned Xiao Jingheng in front of the court officials, causing him to lose face. His expression became even more unpleasant.
"I am discussing state affairs with the ministers. Without summoning me, how dare you barge in?"
With tears glistening in her bright phoenix eyes, Noble Consort Chen turned a deaf ear to his reprimand and continued speaking emotionally,
"Why are you treating my father and brothers like this, Your Majesty? Haven't you always said that my father and brothers were loyal ministers of the Qi Dynasty?"
Xiao Jingheng's cold gaze met hers, and the anger in his brows was evident.
Most of the former courtiers knew of Noble Consort Chen's arrogant and unbridled nature.
It wasn't appropriate for them to stay here now that she was causing a scene, so they tactfully took their leave.
After they left, Xiao Jingheng forcefully tapped the table in front of him, suppressing his anger.
"See for yourself."
Noble Consort Chen stumbled forward and picked up the stack of documents on the table.
Listening to Xiao Jingheng's resolute words, "Here is the evidence of Ning Bochuan and Zhu Yin conspiring to betray the country, as well as the letters from Ning Bochuan secretly contacting his old subordinates, falsely claiming to surrender military power but actually planning rebellion. Those with bloodstains are the testimonies of the soldiers pointing to him. And there is also the ironclad evidence of your father and brothers' corruption and bribery over the years. Look carefully, see if I have wronged them!"
Noble Consort Chen quickly flipped through the documents.
The handwriting was messy, and there were many characters she didn't recognize.
But she knew her father's handwriting.
She couldn't find any problems with the letters that were supposedly written by Ning Bochuan himself, as the handwriting was very similar to his.
However, her intuition told her that these letters, which were intended for treason, were definitely not written by her father's hand.
She scattered the documents all over the floor, then suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Xiao Jingheng, desperately holding back her tears.
"Your Majesty! Your humble servant recognizes my father's handwriting, and this correspondence was definitely not written by his hand! And even if they claim that my father and brothers are colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, I absolutely refuse to believe it! My father has served the Qi Dynasty for many years with unwavering loyalty. Today's events are clearly the result of scheming individuals falsely accusing my father and brothers! I implore Your Majesty to see the truth!"
Xiao Jingheng sighed, saying, "All the evidence presented here was secretly collected by Prince Rui. There are even thirty-eight official reports accusing Ning Bochuan of embezzlement and bribery! Could it be that they conspired together to falsely incriminate Ning Bochuan!?"
These pieces of evidence are irrefutable and have already caused a great uproar in the previous dynasty. I, as the ruler, cannot ignore the need to provide an explanation to the people of the realm!"
Noble Consort Chen knows better than anyone whether Ning Bochuan is guilty of corruption. The extravagance she enjoys in the palace and the wealth of the Ning family outside the palace did not come out of thin air.
Faced with the overwhelming evidence in front of her, Noble Consort Chen becomes increasingly anxious, her tear-filled eyes unable to hold back any longer.
"Your Majesty! Even if my father has been corrupt and violated the law, he does not deserve to die! I can vouch with my life that my father and brothers have never harbored disloyalty towards Your Majesty, let alone conspire against you!"
Xiao Jingheng looked at Noble Consort Chen, her tearful eyes clouded with confusion. His expression also reflected deep sorrow.
"It's cold on the floor. Please get up first."
Little did he know that this plea would shatter Noble Consort Chen's last trace of pride.
She suddenly lowered herself, forcefully knocking her forehead against the ground, producing a resounding thud that struck fear into the hearts of those present.
"I have never asked anything of Your Majesty before, but this time, I implore you! Considering the years I have served you faithfully, I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and spare the lives of my father and brothers!"
Though she cried, her words remained resolute, and the force of her kowtowing grew stronger with each strike.
Even as blood flowed from her broken forehead, blurring her vision, she did not lessen the intensity of her blows.
"I am willing to surrender all the riches my mother's family has gained, and I will return all the rewards Your Majesty has bestowed upon me to the national treasury! If there is a deficit, I am willing to forego my monthly stipend to make up for it!"
"All I ask is for Your Majesty to spare their lives. Even if you exile our entire family to the harsh and frigid lands of the north, as long as they can live, I beg of you!"
Xiao Jingheng, who sat firmly at the head, could no longer remain seated.
He suddenly stood up and hurriedly descended the steps, gently holding Noble Consort Chen's arms, preventing her from continuing to kowtow.
"What are you doing? Please get up!"
Noble Consort Chen raised her head to look at Xiao Jingheng, blood streaming down her forehead, staining the delicate makeup she had applied to please him.
"Your Majesty... I beg of you... I implore you..."
Xiao Jingheng furrowed his brow, his eyes filled with compassion.
"Even if I were to forgive your mother's family out of consideration for our many years of affection, in three days' time, they are scheduled for execution. Moreover, I am currently in Suzhou and cannot issue an imperial decree in time."
As Noble Consort Chen heard that there was still a glimmer of hope for her family, a renewed spark of hope ignited in her dim eyes.
She wiped away the tears and blood from her face with a trembling hand, pleading desperately:
"There's still time! There's still time, Your Majesty! With the fastest horses and non-stop travel day and night, we can return to the capital within three days!"
Clutching Xiao Jingheng's hand tightly, as if grasping the last straw that could save her family, she hoarsely and plaintively implored:
"I beg Your Majesty to show mercy..."
"Please rise."
Xiao Jingheng helped the weeping Noble Consort Chen to her feet and embraced her, his own eyes reddened with emotion as he consoled her:
"I will spare the lives of your father and brothers, but they must be exiled as a family. Otherwise, it would be difficult to quell the criticisms from the previous dynasty."
"I... I thank Your Majesty!"
Resting in Xiao Jingheng's embrace, Noble Consort Chen once again felt the strong and steady heartbeat of her beloved. Although she had been shivering from the cold, upon hearing Xiao Jingheng's words, warmth enveloped her.
Then, Xiao Jingheng urgently called for Jiang Deshun and instructed:
"Retrieve the pardon tokens and have Deputy General An personally deliver them. Travel day and night to return to the capital and pardon Ning's family from their death sentence. Detain them temporarily in the prison, and all matters will be decided upon the Emperor's return."
