The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 71

“This boy is ruthless and must not be spared,” said Xiao Qin Ya.

“Your Royal Highness, that’s not right. You must understand the principle that surrendered soldiers cannot be killed. It’s easy to kill one person, but it’s difficult to silence the whole world,” said Song Yun Zhou.

“Old fox.”

Xiao Qin Ya gave Song Yun Zhou a meaningful glance. The one sitting on the throne was her son-in-law. She knew that letting Xiao Cheng Ze go was like letting a tiger return to the mountains. What couldn’t a person who could kill his own father do? She didn’t believe that Song Yun Zhou, this old fox, wouldn’t have thought of this.

Why would he do this?

The majority of the court officials were Song Yun Zhou’s protégés, and at this moment, they all stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, what Minister Song said is reasonable. If we pursue this matter further, the world will know that Your Majesty has no magnanimity. Who would dare to surrender then?”

“This subject agrees.”

“This subject agrees.”

Suddenly, half the hall knelt down.

Xiao Yu sat on the dragon throne, carefully observing the expressions of each person. The court’s factions were clear at a glance. This wasn’t about helping the emperor with his worries; it was clearly about whose side had more people and who got their way. It was a miracle that such a country hadn’t fallen yet.

Letting go of someone like Xiao Cheng Ze would surely lead to great disaster. Couldn’t these so-called pillars of the court see that?

Xiao Yu narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the kneeling officials. She discreetly glanced at Xiao Qin Ya, who looked calm and composed, as if she didn’t care what the officials said. After a moment of thought, Xiao Yu said, “You may all rise. First, bring the man up here.”

Fu Shun flicked the whisk in his hand, resting its tail on his arm, and shouted in a high-pitched voice, “Bring the traitor Xiao Cheng Ze to the hall!”

The officials looked at each other, unsure whether to continue kneeling or stand up. After a moment, they saw Song Yun Zhou rise, and they followed suit, standing up and moving to the side.

Xiao Yu watched it all.

Soon, Xiao Cheng Ze was escorted into the hall by armored guards. Gone was his usual arrogance; he knelt down respectfully and bowed to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Cheng Ze, feeling not a shred of sympathy. She wouldn’t have bothered to see this beast, who even killed his own father, if it weren’t for the circumstances.

Since she couldn’t kill him today, she might as well make him bleed profusely. “I’ve read the letter you submitted. Although the rebellion was solely the work of Prince Chang, as his son, you are also implicated. However, in light of your righteous act of exposing your own father, which can be considered a merit, I can spare your life, but…”

Xiao Yu paused, her gaze turning sharp, “While the death penalty is waived, punishment for your crimes is not. All of Prince Chang’s assets will be confiscated. As for you, you will go and guard the imperial mausoleum.”

Guard the imperial mausoleum?

Doesn’t that equal a disguised form of house arrest?

The officials’ expressions varied. At this moment, they realized that their emperor was not simple, and their actions just now were so foolish.

Xiao Cheng Ze was completely stunned. He had never expected this person to play against the rules. Normally, shouldn’t she have publicly praised his magnanimity and then entrusted him with an important position?

Then he could have escaped unscathed, inherited the title of Prince Chang, and waited for the right opportunity to make a comeback.

This was completely different from what he had imagined. How could this be?

How could he make a comeback by guarding the imperial mausoleum?

Xiao Cheng Ze hated Xiao Yu in his heart, gritting his teeth in fury, yet he dared not show it. He suppressed his resentment and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!”

Xiao Yu nodded and gave a faint look at the ministers who had just pleaded for Xiao Cheng Ze. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Men, take him away.”

As soon as the words fell, two armored guards with long halberds led the man out.

“Now that the matter is resolved, Prime Minister Song, I’ll trouble you to arrange the confiscation of the property. As for the rebellious soldiers who came with him, they will each be fined one year’s salary and will be separately incorporated into the Imperial Guard,” said Xiao Yu.

Song Yun Zhou was taken aback. He looked at his son-in-law on the dragon throne and tried to say something, but only managed to open his mouth, “This subject obeys the command.”

“I trouble you, Prime Minister Song.”

“It is my duty as a subject.”

Is this still the same son-in-law of mine who didn’t seem very shrewd?

Song Yun Zhou’s expression changed, and he retreated to the side.

Just then, the Minister of Rites stepped forward. “This subject has something else to report.”

Xiao Yu looked at him and motioned for him to speak.

After his report, Xiao Yu learned that after ascending the throne, there must be a ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven to announce to the world that the ruler has changed and to pray for heaven’s protection. Following that, there would be an Empress’s Coronation Ceremony, signifying the eternal union of the Emperor and Empress.

Just listening to it gave her a headache. However, she was happy about the Empress’s Coronation.

The Minister of Rites continued to speak of other rules. When he got to the part about objecting to the Emperor and Empress living together in Fu Ning Palace, Xiao Yu began to feel annoyed.

Because the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven was extremely important, the Ministry of Rites had specially assigned officials to teach her everything in detail.

Throughout the process, Xiao Yu was so bored she felt like dozing off. She was a modern person and did not believe in superstition. She felt that it was a waste of time that could be better spent doing something practical for the people. Furthermore, if she was truly going to be this emperor, she would definitely have to reorganize the court. Today’s matter gave her no chance to say no. In other words, they didn’t take her seriously at all.

However, it also allowed her to see the court’s situation clearly. The court was obviously divided into three factions: one centered on Prime Minister Song, which made up the majority of the court and consisted mostly of civil officials; another centered on the Grand Princess, which included both civil and military officials and was not a large number, but also not to be underestimated; and a small remaining group that remained neutral and whose allegiance to the neutral faction or the Prince Chang faction was unclear.

All of this needed to be secretly investigated.

How should she break this deadlock?

After what seemed like an eternity, the official from the Ministry of Rites finally finished speaking.

Xiao Yu suppressed the urge to yawn and cleared her throat. “If there is nothing else, the court is dismissed.”

“Your Majesty, the matter of the Emperor and Empress living in the same palace truly goes against ancestral rules. You are the Emperor, how can you favor one person alone? Furthermore, the Empress’s palace is Kun Ning Palace…”

The Minister of Rites was about to continue when he was impatiently interrupted by Xiao Yu. “You want to manage my personal family affairs?”

With that rhetorical question, the Minister of Rites was so scared he immediately knelt on the ground.

Xiao Yu watched him coldly. The Minister of Rites nervously wiped his sweat. “This subject would not dare, but these rules must be followed.”

Xiao Yu tapped her finger twice on the dragon throne. “Since we must follow the rules, Minister Li, you must have several concubines at home, right? Let them all move out of the Minister’s mansion. When you miss one of them, you can call her home to accompany you for one night and then send her away the next day.”

“Your Majesty…”

“What? Does Minister Li not like this idea?” Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, her tone full of menace.

“Your Majesty, Minister Li is just following the rules. It is indeed inappropriate for you and the Empress to live in the same palace…”

“What, does Prime Minister Song also want to…”

Song Yun Zhou choked, his face turned gloomy, and he stood to the side without a word.

Xiao Yu stood up and her gaze swept across the hall. “Since no one has any objections, the court is dismissed.”

With that, she took a step and left through the back door.

After she was gone, a look of admiration flashed in Xiao Qin Ya’s eyes. She glanced at the two men who had been put in their place, pursed her lips, and held back a laugh. She had truly underestimated her. She never expected her to give her such a big surprise. In just a few words, she not only had the Prince Chang’s mansion confiscated completely but also earned a reputation for being benevolent and compassionate. At the same time, she also dealt with the threat of Xiao Cheng Ze, leaving the court ministers speechless.

As for her own family matters…

She handled it really well, especially when she made that old fox speechless. It was truly satisfying.

Xiao Yu left the Hall of Purple Harmony, and the more she thought about it along the way, the angrier she got. She didn’t know what these old-fashioned people were thinking, always focusing on her personal affairs. The angrier she got, the faster her steps became. “Don’t you think they’d be better off doing their own jobs instead of staring at my personal affairs?”

Fu Shun trotted to keep up. “Your Majesty, please calm down. What Minister Li said isn’t wrong. Since ancient times, the Emperor and Empress have not lived together.”

Xiao Yu stopped and turned to stare at him. “What? Do you also think I’m wrong?”

Fu Shun immediately knelt down. “This servant deserves to die.”

“You certainly do.” After saying that, Xiao Yu ignored him, leaving him kneeling, and strode toward Fu Ning Palace.

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