Chapter 156

"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.

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.