On this day, the Commander of the Imperial Forest Army, Liu Guang, publicly executed two scholars and detained their entire three generations of family mbers in prison; Marquis Weiyuan also captured several of the most violent rioters and threw them into the dungeon. The City Protection Army patrolled the capital day and night, imdiately arresting any troublemakers they found.
The entire capital’s population was panicking, seeing that the decree issued by the Imperial Concubine was real; the scholars no longer dared to continue causing disturbances. They had studied tirelessly for ten years purely for fa and fortune, and it made no sense to bring themselves and their families down now.
The more astute ones had already guessed that they were rely targets in soone’s sche to use others to eliminate opponents. With the Imperial City being so vast and with no less than a hundred officials present, why was there no disturbance from them, and why were these scholars with no official titles made to cause trouble? Aren’t their words more influential than theirs?
The scholars who guessed the truth cald down and imrsed themselves in arduous study, as the Imperial Examination was just over a month away. It made no sense to get themselves tangled up in this issue.
"A bunch of cowardly good-for-nothings!" Inside the Qiao Mansion, Qiao Zhenglian smashed another vase, his old face flushed with an abnormal red with him gasping for air.
Every ti he thought about his years of planning ending in futility, the angrier he beca, and he collapsed with a soft thud amidst Old Qiao’s cries of alarm.
Originally, Ye Qiu had said it was out of consideration for his age and poor health that he needed a month’s rest, but now he was genuinely ill.
"Lady, Qiao Zhaoyi requests an audience." Qing E entered to make the report, her reverence growing as she faced the imposing Ye Qiu; the once haughty and domineering Imperial Concubine seed like a dream.
"Let her in." Ye Qiu said while reviewing morials, not bothering to hide anything.
Qiao Qingyue followed the palace maid into the room, feeling both anxious and hopeful. The Imperial Concubine had allowed her in; could she see the Emperor?
"I pay respects to the Imperial Concubine, my Lady." She bowed respectfully, quickly scanning the room with covert glances, but the scene before her was disappointing.
"Rise," Ye Qiu said without even lifting her head, "Does Qiao Zhaoyi have sothing to report?"
Qiao Qingyue felt a stifled frustration; originally, according to her earlier plans with the Emperor, she just needed to temporarily submit to the Imperial Concubine. But now, a year had passed, and she remained a third-rank Zhaoyi without a child and was treated even worse than Consort Wang and Fang Pin were previously. Now, she couldn’t even see the Emperor’s face.
How could she be content with this?
But what did she see when she looked up? The Imperial Concubine was actually reviewing morials? Although her father complained about the Imperial Concubine ddling in affairs of the forr dynasty, it was nothing compared to the shock of seeing it with her own eyes.
How dare she! How could a woman dare to ddle with the affairs of the forr dynasty? Wasn’t she afraid of causing trouble? Did she have the ability to do so?
The facts proved that Ye Qiu did indeed have the capability; the downfall of the Wang family and the failure of the Qiao Family’s plans all signified Ye Qiu’s success. Sotis, no amount of cunning and treachery could stand up against power, especially when Ye Qiu handled state affairs with ease, even making veteran officials from three previous dynasties marvel at her decisions.
"This concubine has heard that her grandfather is ill and wishes to request an Imperial Physician to treat my grandfather; I beg of the Lady to approve this request," Qiao Qingyue said, not forgetting her purpose for coming amidst the daze.
After speaking, she beca anxious again; now that even the strongest mber of her family, her grandfather, had fallen ill, what was to beco of her and the Qiao Family in the future? Were they really to be at the rcy of this Evil Concubine?
No, she must save the Emperor. The Emperor must be under the control of this Evil Concubine; otherwise, why would a man of such great ambitions hand over his Jiang Shan for a woman to govern?
"Old Qiao is a veteran official of three dynasties. It is only right to summon an Imperial Physician due to his illness," Ye Qiu put down her brush and glanced at Qiao Qingyue, whose expression suddenly beca resolute. She was very curious about what Qiao Qingyue had suddenly decided, "Xiao Guizi, take my token and ask the Hospital Director to make a trip to the Qiao Mansion."
"Chirp!"
"I thank Imperial Concubine for her grace."
Seeing Qiao Qingyue hesitate to leave even after getting up, Ye Qiu knew that she was keen on seeing the Emperor. More precisely, she wanted to expose the cri of Ye Qiu plotting against the Emperor. Unfortunately, she was destined to be disappointed.
Let alone the fact that nobody could trace the things she used, even if soone noticed sothing amiss, what of it? Ji Fei is now unable to live without her. Perhaps she once worried Ji Fei might recover his faculties upon seeing Qiao Qingyue, but the current Ji Fei is less a man and more a puppet drained of essence by the System.
"Does Qiao Zhaoyi have any other matters?" Ye Qiu stared at Qiao Qingyue with a smile that was not quite a smile, as if looking at a clown.
Under Ye Qiu’s gaze, Qiao Qingyue inevitably felt like a clown, as if all of her thoughts were laid bare.
"May I see the Emperor?" After hesitating for a long while, Qiao Qingyue still mustered the courage to speak under Ye Qiu’s pressure.
In her heart, she thought that if Imperial Concubine did not allow her to see the Emperor today, there must be sothing suspicious. She would have to think of a way to rescue the Emperor quickly.
Ye Qiu knew what Qiao Qingyue was thinking and purposely would not let her see the Emperor, curious to see what she would do in the end!
"The Imperial Physician said that His Majesty’s dragon body is not well recently and it’s not suitable for him to et outsiders. If Qiao Zhaoyi has no urgent matters, she should go back. Once the Emperor feels better, he will summon everyone," Ye Qiu said calmly.
But the more composed Ye Qiu was, the more suspicious Qiao Qingyue beca. She already had a plan in her mind, to be carried out after Empress Dowager Wang and Lady returned from the sumr resort.
At this mont, Empress Dowager Wang, who had received Qiao Qingyue’s letter, was sowhat hesitant. Although she harbored deep hatred for Ye Qiu, she had to admit that her own power had been thoroughly dismantled. She was not content to rely wait quietly; who knew if one day she might be purged by the Imperial Concubine.
But if she really did rescue the Emperor as the Qiao Family suggested, there might be a chance for the Wang family to rise again. However, the chance of failure far outweighed the chance of success.
Should she really risk the status of Empress Dowager and the future of the Second Prince?
Whether the child in Consort Hui’s womb is a boy or girl is still uncertain. Currently, there are only two Princes under the Emperor. With Fang Pin and the Eldest Prince alone and unaided, if the Emperor dies, relying on her status as the Empress Dowager, the likelihood of the Second Prince ascending the throne is much greater, on the condition that the Ye Family does not rebel against this.
But is that possible? The Ye Family now wields overwhelming power; will they surrender what is in their grasp?
Whether moving forward or retreating, Empress Dowager Wang felt danger at every turn. In the end, she decided to return to the palace first. After all, she is the Empress Dowager. Even if the Imperial Concubine is powerful, she could refuse other concubines an audience with the Emperor, but she could not refuse her.
Moreover, she couldn’t fully trust the words of the Qiao Family as ntioned in the letter. It was only now that she realized that Qiao Zhaoyi, who had always been inconspicuous, actually harbored great ambitions.
Want to use as a pawn for murder? She’d better have the skills. Does she really take for a fool?
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