Chapter 273

Chapter 0273: Missing the Opportunity

Those who harm others for their own benefit will never truly regret their actions.

Take the Empress, for example.

Back in the Eastern Palace, the two biggest threats included one from the Qi family, the good sister Qi Shi.

The other was the favored concubine, Xu Shi.

Qi Shi came from a good background, and although not favored, she had many capable people around her. It was too difficult to move against her.

At that time, Xie Yiyao was not very stable in her position.

But Xu Liangyuan, favored yet without a distinguished background, was an easy target.

After all, many children in the Eastern Palace were lost, one less who couldn't bear children made no difference.

Thus, Xie Yiyao easily acted against Xu Shi, resulting in her being favored for many years yet unable to conceive.

After entering the palace, even though she finally gave birth to a princess, it was already too late.

Missing her prime time of favor, her body could not support her in having another.

Today, the Empress realized clearly that Xu Shi had known about this all along.

Her intensified opposition over the years was solely because of this matter.

Of course, the Empress would not reflect on her wrongdoings; she only thought that if you don't remove the roots, the weeds will grow back.

So, now most of the servants from Zui Yun Palace being sent to the Internal Penal Bureau was merely to seek Xu Shi's death penalty.

Coupled with Consort Jin De's ambiguous statement and Yun Xiao Yi's suspicion about her own pregnancy.

The Empress is determined to thoroughly crush these two issues.

With these two matters settled, even if Xu Shi doesn't die, she would have to be demoted again.

With the crown prince newly established, the Empress's dignity is now even greater. Her ordering the investigation by the Internal Punishment Department is not seen as framing.

The Internal Punishment Department dares not be negligent.

It's just a matter of a few more lashes.

Xu Meiren senses something is amiss, but unfortunately, after being sent to Yilan Pavilion, she could not leave at all. The Empress ordered her to reflect behind closed doors.

The Sixth Princess is taken care of by the nannies and still resides temporarily in Zhuiyun Palace.

The Third Prince was directly moved to Guanglong Palace, where princes typically reside once they grow up.

This was where princes stayed before their marriage, as they could no longer live in the inner palace once they reached a certain age.

The Third Prince cried and screamed to see his mother, but alas, he was forcibly taken away.

Concubine Xu had never been so distressed.

She was attended only by servants temporarily assigned to her, who would respond to any request with, "If the Beauty needs food or drink, we will provide. For anything else, we do not understand."

Xu Beauty's hatred was too late to form. After a night in Yilan Pavilion, she was on the verge of breaking down.

After paying her respects, Yunli returned to Yuqu Palace to change her clothes and rest. Zhu Que came with a message: "My lady, it is said that in Zhu Yun Palace, all of Xu Beauty's personal attendants have been tortured. It seems they have confessed quite a bit."

Yunli nodded: "She was proud when she shouldn't have been. His Majesty was angry, naturally, since she was a favored one for many years. Deceived by her, how could he not be furious? If she had humbled herself then, even kneeling and begging, she might have had a chance to live. Unfortunately, she missed that moment, and the Empress won't let her live. Watch, the result will come soon. Help me change; I need to see the Empress. Since Yun Xiao Yi has surrendered, I must ensure her safety."

Everyone complied.

Soon after, Yun Li arrived at the Empress's Fengyi Palace.

"What brings my sister here?" the Empress, in a good mood, smiled.

"Your Highness, I thought of something urgent and came to discuss," Yun Li said.

"What is it?" the Empress was genuinely interested.

"Your Highness, regarding Yun Xiao Yi," Yun Li spoke softly. "I was thinking, the people close to Beauty Xu might implicate her in something."

"Let them. If she's truly guilty, she deserves it," the Empress replied.

"Your Highness, we shouldn't see it that way," Yun Li disagreed. "Yun Xiao Yi has turned over a new leaf; her past doesn't matter. What's important is the message it sends to the rest of the harem. If aligning with you means they can live safely and securely, wouldn't there be more like Yun Xiao Yi in the future? Even if she's not clean, if you declare her clean, then she is."

The Empress laughed: "You have a point, my sister, thank you for your concern."

"I'm straightforward by nature and thought of this suddenly. Please don't mind my late advice, Your Highness. Having said my piece, I will now seek an audience with His Majesty," Yun Li smiled.

She really was being direct.

Directly mentioning she was going to see His Majesty.

The Empress joked a bit and then let her go.

Ruyi remarked: "Consort Qiong Zhao Yi is becoming increasingly unrestrained."

"That's fine. Better than her scheming in secret. Those who are too overt don't end well," the Empress felt reassured by such an open Yun Li.

In Zhengyang Palace, Yun Li sat in He Jinli's arms: "I came especially to cheer up Your Majesty, are you still unhappy?"

He Jinli hugged her waist: "How could I be?"

He wasn't saddened for Xu Shi, and he knew that the women of the harem could change, but still, he felt powerless at this point.

"People do change."

"What does Yun'er know?" He Jinli asked.

"I do know a bit," Yun Li sighed softly. "Among them, there is mutual enmity."

"Xu Shi could not bear children for many years, and I suspected there was a reason. His Majesty must know about this too," Yun Li said.

The Emperor couldn't possibly be completely unaware, otherwise, he wouldn't have so easily believed Xu Shi harmed the Empress.

"There's another matter, perhaps it's not important anymore. But I'll still mention it to Your Majesty. Jing Jiyu gave birth to twins that year, everything was too coincidental. Twins are helpless, but it happened exactly on the Dragon Boat Festival. I was only suspicious back then. Later, Jing Jiyu made some ambiguous remarks to me, mainly suspecting Xu Shi."

"Initially, it was none of my business, and I didn't think much of it, until Consort Jin De's remark. Xu Shi felt so guilty," Yun Li said.

Consort Jin De's miscarriage back then, the Empress will definitely make Xu Shi bear the consequences. Whether it was her or not, it could only be her.

By bringing up this matter now, Yun Li was simply adding more weight.

"Do you know why you didn't tell me?" He Jinli frowned.

"With no evidence, what could I say? When there was nothing to go on, if I spoke up, would it be honesty or speaking ill behind someone's back? Have I ever hidden anything personal from you?" Yun Li asked.

He Jinli had no reply to that.

So, he sighed: "Let it be."

As they were talking, a eunuch came in to deliver a message, saying the Dowager Empress was asking for His Majesty, the Empress, and all the consorts to come.

With such a big incident, it was only right for the Dowager Empress to inquire.

"Let's go," He Jinli said.

Yun Li nodded and followed him to the Cian Palace.

Naturally, only those ranked as Ninth Consort or higher went.

The Dowager Empress first inquired of the Empress, who reported accordingly.

"Such malicious intent! Daring to plot against the royal heirs and even frame the Mother of the Nation, such a person cannot be spared," the Dowager Empress exclaimed angrily.

"Mother, please calm your anger. I have already sent her attendants to the Internal Penal Bureau for a thorough investigation. There's likely more than just this one incident," the Empress said.

"There's more? Truly a venomous woman. Investigate thoroughly, ensure a thorough investigation for me," the Dowager Empress commanded.