Chapter 270: After the End of Emperor Desire

Chapter 270

Amidst the accusations of the masses, the evidence was irrefutable.

The Empress watched as the concubines knelt in the hall, beseeching Emperor Xiao Jingheng to make a decision regarding her fate. At this moment, she had no other recourse but to plead her innocence.

Xiao Jingheng furrowed his brows, meeting her gaze sternly. "I have already given you a chance, but you have proven yourself unworthy by committing such malicious acts!"

"Your Majesty, please see the truth!" The Empress suddenly dropped to her knees, expressing her anguish. "Your Majesty, think carefully. Why would I want to harm them and prevent them from bearing royal heirs? I am unable to conceive myself, destined to be childless in this lifetime...

Since you accuse me of being malicious, then I should be the one hoping more than anyone for their safe delivery of a prince. Afterwards, I would gladly step aside and raise the child under my care! As the Empress, harming others would bring me no benefit and only harm myself. Why would I do such a foolish thing?"

Consort Chen observed Xiao Jingheng's ever-changing expression and offered her counsel, saying:

"Your Majesty, if the Empress did not commit such deeds, the palace attendants around her would be well aware. Moreover, someone must have timed the disposal of the Nine Yin Powder perfectly to destroy the evidence completely.

If the Empress continues to protest her innocence, then Your Majesty should thoroughly interrogate the people around her. Under severe punishment, someone will eventually confess."

Consort Yin added, "If Frost has been with the Empress throughout, she would not have had the time to destroy the evidence. The only person trusted by the Empress is the chief eunuch, Yan Jiude."

She paused for a moment, surveying her surroundings, before continuing, "Yan Jiude has always served the Empress diligently, but he is conspicuously absent today."

The Empress explained to Xiao Jingheng, "Since I suffered injuries in the palace, I have experienced symptoms of stagnant blood and qi. After lunch, I instructed Yan Jiude to purchase some medicinal herbs in the city to invigorate my blood and promote circulation. That's why he..."

"Hmm." Consort Chen sneered. "The remedies from the imperial pharmacy couldn't cure your ailment, yet the medicines prescribed by the barefoot doctors in Suzhou City could make you rejuvenate? You truly..."

"Noble Consort, you must not disrespect the Empress," Xiao Jingheng interrupted, his voice solemnly silencing Consort Chen. She glared at the Empress before begrudgingly falling silent.

Then, Xiao Jingheng ordered, "Go and fetch Yan Jiude for me."

Jiang Deshun nodded and spoke, "I understand. Take him away and deal with him."

The guards silenced Yan Jiude's protests and dragged him out.

Xiao Jingheng's action confirmed the Empress's guilt, but he did not explicitly state it, allowing both the Empress and himself to save face.

The Empress knew that there was no way to turn the tables and could only sit on the ground, despairing and crying.

Xiao Jingheng didn't spare her a glance and simply said, "The Empress suddenly fell ill. Take her back to the palace for recuperation."

Jiang Deshun hesitated, "Your Majesty, it has been raining heavily recently, and the river is flooding. It might be dangerous to send the Empress back at this time...Moreover, there are only two days left until the Silk Worm Ceremony, traditionally presided over by the Empress..."

Xiao Jingheng replied coldly, "Since it is difficult to travel in heavy rain, we will wait until the rain stops before setting off. As for the Silk Worm Ceremony, the Empress is ill, so there is no need to worry about such trivial matters. Everything will be taken care of by Noble Consort."

Noble Consort Chen was overjoyed and quickly expressed her gratitude, "I thank Your Majesty for your trust. I will not disappoint your expectations!"

The ceremony of worshipping the Silkworm God Leizu and feeding silkworms with mulberry leaves, known as the Empress's Silkworm Rite, was personally presided over by the Empress. It aimed to encourage the people to be diligent in textile production.

Since the establishment of the Qi Dynasty, the Empress has always taken charge of the Silkworm Rite throughout the successive dynasties. Only in the absence of the Empress would the responsibility be delegated to the Noble Consort or other high-ranking consorts.

However, now that the Empress is still alive, Xiao Jingheng's disregard for the dignity of the Imperial Concubine suggests that he may have already contemplated deposing the Empress.

The Empress's grieving cries were distressing to hear, but Xiao Jingheng turned a deaf ear and simply instructed someone to console Concubine Tong before leaving with a flick of his sleeve.

After he departed, Noble Consort Chen approached the Empress in a leisurely manner, looking down on her with a cold sneer.

"Take her away and confine her until the rain stops. Then, send her back to the palace immediately. We must prevent the Emperor from seeing her, as it would bring him ill fortune."