"Imperial Concubine participating in politics?" Qiao Bozhi’s eyes widened, the expression seemingly asking if his father was not joking?
"How can a woman participate in politics? This is against the rules!"
"Rules? The Evil Concubine said this is the Emperor’s decree; if we oppose it, that’s defying the decree!" Qiao Zhenglian squinted his eyes, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his gaze.
"Aren’t your students participating in the Imperial Examination this year? Release this news, say that the Evil Concubine is misleading the country. I want to see if she dares to confront the scholars across the World."
"Yes, Father, I understand." Qiao Bozhi, realizing the seriousness of the matter, walked out with a grave expression.
He is a highly esteed sacrificial priest at the Imperial College; the scholars will certainly listen to him.
anwhile, Qiao Qingyue also received letters from her grandfather and father, knowing that Ye Qiu is now ddling in politics, and she even made her grandfather kneel in public—how dare the Imperial Concubine do that?
She felt a deep sense of humiliation and indignation at this mont; what exactly does the Imperial Concubine want to do? Is she plotting a rebellion to change the dynasty? What is the Emperor’s condition now? Is he being controlled by this Evil Concubine?
No wonder the Emperor hasn’t co to see her lately, Qiao Qingyue felt slightly reassured; it’s not that he doesn’t love her, but he has already lost control of himself.
No, she can’t just sit and wait for death; she must rescue the Emperor!
But now the harem is already under the control of the Imperial Concubine, can she do it?
Her grandfather and father said they have already united people outside the Palace City, as long as she rescues the Emperor, they can definitely dismantle the conspiracy of the Imperial Concubine and the Ye Family, yes, that’s it!
Qiao Qingyue’s eyes sparked with confidence, and after contemplating for a while, she wrote a letter to Empress Dowager Wang who was far away at the sumr resort.
"Lady, a large number of scholars have gathered in front of the Noon Gate demanding to see the Emperor, demanding your punishnt." Mr. Zhang’s guess was indeed not wrong; yesterday, Ye Qiu just t with the ministers, and today he has summoned scholars to create a disturbance.
"Send people to tell them that my participation in politics is the Emperor’s decision. If they continue to make trouble, cancel their eligibility for the Imperial Examination." Ye Qiu remained unmoved, calmly reviewing the petitions.
An hour later, Xiao Guizi ca back again, his face not looking too good: "Lady, the scholars making trouble outside the palace are increasing in number. Among them, one radical scholar even crashed into the city wall, now outside is full of onlookers."
"Slap!" Ye Qiu put down her brush and chuckled coldly, "The Qiao Family really has the knack of fanning the flas; notify Liu Guang to defend the Palace City, and anyone who dares to storm the palace gates will be executed without pardon, with punishnt extended to three generations. Also, pass the decree to Marquis Weiyuan; arrest those who are overly disruptive, no matter their status."
"Chirp!"
"We want to see the Emperor!"
"Execute the Evil Concubine!"
By the ti Xiao Guizi arrived at the palace gate with Ye Qiu’s imperial edict, the most he heard were these two phrases. He chuckled coldly, these so-called learned scholars were rely targets for so people, unable to see the current situation even now—becoming an Advanced Scholar in the future, they’d be just confused officials, not even as good as he, an eunuch!
"If today we are not allowed to see the Emperor, execute the Evil Concubine, we will rather die here at this palace gate."
"Imperial Concubine’s decree has arrived... The Imperial Concubine orders that anyone who forcibly enters the palace gate will be executed without pardon, their entire family punished, with those whose actions or words are extre imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison and disqualified from three sessions of the Imperial Examination. Lord Liu, Mr. Han, receive the decree!"
"I receive the decree!" Liu Guang kneeled on one knee. Marquis Weiyuan observed his somber expression. He was in charge of the defense of the capital, and as soon as he heard about the students causing trouble at the Noon Gate, he imdiately brought people along. He hadn’t expected to encounter this situation upon arrival.
Even he hadn’t heard about the Imperial Concubine taking power. How did these students know? He imdiately realized soone was using these students as targets, but should he accept this decree after all?
"Mr. Han, accept the decree. The Emperor orders that now both the forr dynasty and the harem are controlled by the Imperial Concubine. If Mr. Han doesn’t believe it, you may ask Mr. Zhang."
Hearing the Commander of Imperial Forest Army say this, Marquis Weiyuan had no choice but to kneel and receive the decree.
Not just Marquis Weiyuan, but the troublemaking students also trembled upon hearing such a decree. They dared not storm the palace gate, but what constitutes too extre in words and actions? The Imperial Examination occurs once every three years, qualifying three tis equals nine years. How many nine years does a person have in a lifeti? Initially passive, the students following their classmates started to reconsider.
Still, so were unafraid of death, or perhaps the benefits offered to them by Qiao Zhenglian muddled their thoughts, and they beca even more agitated.
"Evil Concubine misleads the nation, execute the Evil Concubine!"
"If the Evil Concubine lives, Daxin is dood!"
"et with the Emperor, execute the Evil Concubine!"
"We are honorable scholars, the future pillars of Daxin. Classmates, do not heed the Evil Concubine’s alarmist talk, she wouldn’t dare treat us this way."
"Mr. Liu is right, we are this session’s scholars. What authority does a concubine have to deal with us?"
"We are honorable n, how can we bow and kneel to a woman? The Evil Concubine must die!"
The retreating intent that initially arose in the students was reignited by a few words from their peers, and among them, two more extre students shouted: "If we are not allowed to et the Emperor today and execute the Evil Concubine, I will dash myself to death at this palace gate, even in death, my na will be etched in history."
As he spoke, he really rushed headlong into the palace gate, and Liu Guang drew his sword along with his Imperial Army.
"Ah!" The man scread, blood gushing from his forehead.
But he was not dead yet, still shouting, "I want to et the Emperor."
But Liu Guang didn’t give him that chance: "Forcing oneself into the palace gate is a capital offense." After saying this, he beheaded him, then ordered his n, "Collect the body, find out who he was and where he was from. Lady has said to punish three generations; deal with the one who ramd the gate earlier in the sa manner."
"Yes!"
Seeing Liu Guang act with such decisiveness, it was now eerily quiet for a mont; it was real, they were not just being threatened! The students felt a renewed urge to retreat, wishing they had never co here at all.
"Now, who else wishes to challenge further? I, Liu, will stand my ground to the end." Standing at the palace gate, Liu Guang, tall and imposing with his sword still dripping with blood, exuded a strong aura. Those who made eye contact with him couldn’t help but divert their eyes and step back.
"Mr. Han, are you not going to do sothing?" Liu Guang then turned to look at Marquis Weiyuan.
Marquis Weiyuan sighed, thinking of his daughter in the palace and his family at ho, he steeled his heart: "Arrest the few who were the loudest just now; I’m giving you the ti it takes for one cup of tea to drink. If you do not leave by then, everyone will be thrown into the Heavenly Prison. If there are still rumors being spread afterward, don’t bla for being unforgiving."
His words were not a re threat. The troops of the capital were elite, and those few who were the loudest earlier had already been noted. They were swiftly arrested and tried. Seeing that his words were true, the remaining students scattered all at once.
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