Chapter 153: The Abolished Empress

Chapter 153: The Abolished Empress

When Fan Xueyao regained consciousness, the matter had largely concluded. Her body was extremely weak after a severe illness, and sitting up on the bed made her break out in a cold sweat.

"Where am I?"

Painting Screen was sewing autumn clothes for Fan Xueyao and, upon hearing her soft voice, looked up to see the imperial consort awake. She immediately dropped her work and rushed over. "My lady! My lady, you're finally awake!"

All the attendants in the room crowded around, offering comfort and tending to her needs, dressing her and bringing her water to drink. Once she regained some strength, she repeated the question she had asked upon waking.

"This is the Fragrant Spreading Hall," they said.

Fan Xueyao was astonished and looked around. Even the ceiling was different from the original Fragrant Spreading Hall. Suspiciously, she asked, "How is it that I don't recall the Fragrant Spreading Hall looking like this?"

Painting Screen quickly explained, "This really is the Fragrant Spreading Hall, but it's the new one. A few days ago, the emperor renamed the hall and moved you here while you were still unconscious."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she smiled. She had witnessed firsthand how Fan Xueyao had taken her medicine, secretly feeding her honey water and bean water, knowing that her lady had planned everything meticulously. But she hadn't expected her to become so seriously ill.

Painting Screen had often feared that Fan Xueyao might actually die. Compared to others who were unaware, her fear and worry had been much greater. Her eyes were still swollen from crying.

Realizing the situation, Fan Xueyao frowned slightly. "What about the old Fragrant Spreading Hall?"

Painting Screen’s smile dimmed slightly. "The emperor has sealed it."

The Fragrant Spreading Hall had been Fan Xueyao's home ever since she entered the palace, for nearly seven years. She had grown accustomed to it and had put much effort into changing the environment to her liking. Naturally, there was some emotional attachment to it.

Not just her, but even the attendants, including Painting Screen, felt a sense of loss.

Given the emperor's actions, renaming the hall from Snowfall Hall to Fragrant Spreading Hall, it seemed unlikely that he intended for the imperial consort to return to the old hall.

Fan Xueyao felt somewhat disappointed. After all, she had many memories in that place. Both her sons, Chu Xu and Chu Xi, were born in the Fragrant Spreading Hall.

Seeing this, Painting Screen and Qiaoqiao quickly said some witty things to lighten the mood.

Fan Xueyao noticed two unfamiliar attendants and asked, "Who are you?"

The attendant smiled, "I was a maidservant in the emperor's service. Out of concern for the imperial consort, he sent us to attend to you."

Thinking of Chu Nan, Fan Xueyao asked, "Where is the emperor?"

Before the attendant could answer, Chu Nan entered. He hadn't actually left but had been handling affairs of the outer court in the front hall. As soon as Fan Xueyao woke up, a palace servant rushed to inform him.

As he entered, Chu Nan saw Fan Xueyao, who had been ill for over a month and mostly bedridden, now sitting half-reclined against a large pillow, surrounded by many attendants. She looked at him with a loving gaze, her bright eyes filled with unspeakable emotions.

Chu Nan felt a sense of relief, releasing the tension he had held for days, but was then overwhelmed by exhaustion.

During this time, while Fan Xueyao's body had been tormented, Chu Nan's spirit had been suffering. The possibility of losing his beloved had left him looking haggard and worn.

Fan Xueyao saw that he had lost a lot of weight, his once handsome and sharp features now more prominent, and felt a pang of heartache.

"You finally woke up..."

Chu Nan was silent for a moment, then spoke with a voice so hoarse it startled Fan Xueyao.

The attendants looked at each other and quietly left the room, leaving the space for the two of them.

"You nearly scared me to death." Chu Nan slowly approached, his red eyes fixed on Fan Xueyao, trembling as he lightly touched her cheek, so gently, his hand shaking.

Seeing Chu Nan's genuine emotions, Fan Xueyao felt touched. She wasn't a cold-hearted rationalist; otherwise, she wouldn't have gradually been moved by Chu Nan over the years. Yet, she didn't regret her actions, even if it had caused him worry and fear.

She had entered the palace with the ambition to become Empress, then Empress Dowager, and ensure her son would ascend the throne, with the aim to rule. Despite her new resolve to renounce power if Chu Nan remained faithful, her current preparations were more for Chu Xu's future than for her own. Attaining the position of Empress was her ultimate goal.

Holding Chu Nan's trembling hand, she pressed her cheek against his broad, warm palm. "I'm sorry to have worried you."

Chu Nan's tears fell, his voice hoarse, startling Fan Xueyao. "All these days, I've been by your side, half of my life slipping away with you... Without you, what would happen to me and the children?"

Fan Xueyao's eyes welled up, feeling sympathy for Chu Nan, who had fallen in love with a woman like her, and regretting her own greed. Yet, she knew she couldn't change who she was. She was greedy—she wanted Chu Nan's love and power, but she would never hurt him.

"Don't worry, I'm better now. See? I'm awake. I won't leave you behind."

Chu Nan was genuinely terrified by Fan Xueyao's condition. No matter what she said, he treated her with the care of a child, refusing to let her get out of bed, carrying her outside when she wished to bask in the sun. He watched over her as she took the medicine to regain her strength, and despite the hot weather, he insisted she dress warmly.

More importantly, he remained constantly by Fan Xueyao's side, even summoning ministers to the front hall to discuss state affairs. After this ordeal, everyone inside and outside the palace realized how deeply the emperor cherished his Imperial Consort.

Frankly, even if Empress Dowager Wei had been critically ill, she wouldn't have received such attention.

Although Fan Xueyao had awakened, the culprit behind everything, Empress Xu, could not be let off.

After resting for a few days, Fan Xueyao heard news that Chu Nan had issued an edict to depose Empress Xu.

The ministers discussed the matter.

Though a few of them argued that Empress Xu, as the original consort, had served the emperor since his time as Crown Prince and should not be deposed despite her faults, most sided with the deposition. Especially since Empress Xu had been embroiled in numerous scandals over the years, and this time, her crime of witchcraft and cursing was an unforgivable act of treason. Even as the original consort, she could not be excused.

With Empress Dowager Wei strongly supporting the deposition and issuing an imperial decree detailing Empress Xu's wrongdoings, the ministers realized just how numerous her crimes were and felt that mere deposition was insufficient punishment.

Thus, the deposition of Empress Xu proceeded smoothly.

Soon, Empress Xu's imperial seals, certificates, and royal attire were revoked, and her ceremonial garments and jewelry were confiscated. Chu Nan initially planned to send her to a Taoist convent without any possessions or attendants.

However, Fan Xueyao pleaded on her behalf, which puzzled Chu Nan. Why would she plead for mercy for someone who had attempted to harm her through witchcraft?

Hearing his question, Fan Xueyao sighed. "Before I entered the palace, Xu Shi, though not known for her virtue, had not committed any major faults. Later, her repeated mistakes were likely due to the favor I received from the emperor. As Empress, seeing other consorts favored must have caused her considerable displeasure, especially with cunning people stirring up trouble... I am not so magnanimous as to repay evil with kindness. But I can't help feeling a pang of sympathy. Without me, she might not have achieved great merit, but she wouldn't have committed such grave faults either."

Chu Nan shook his head. "A truly virtuous and principled person would not be swayed by others to commit such evil deeds... You may not know, but the female official confessed that Xu Shi did not merely intend to curse you; she also wanted to harm our children, Chu Xu and Chu Xi. She is inherently ruthless; she simply hadn't shown it before. Even though I favored you, I had always been measured and hadn't encroached on her status as Empress. But her jealousy turned to hatred, leading her to harm you repeatedly. From a human standpoint, her actions were utterly unreasonable!"

Though he wanted Empress Xu to suffer for her crimes, Chu Nan ultimately listened to Fan Xueyao. He feared that if he didn't grant her request, she might worry, which could affect her health.

Thus, he changed Empress Xu's confinement location and allowed her to take some personal belongings.

Xu Shi, who came from a humble background and had entered the palace as a palace maid, later served in Empress Dowager Wei's palace. It was there that she was chosen to be crown princess, which elevated the Xu family. Though they hadn't been wealthy before, over the years, some of her subordinates had secretly offered her gifts.

Though she couldn't take the most precious items, some ordinary gold and silver jewelry would suffice.

Xu Shi was forced to change into a Taoist robe, with Li Huairen supervising as she packed the allowed belongings. Her eyes fell on a beautifully crafted gold phoenix hairpin in the cosmetic box, a piece she loved to wear that had been offered by the Shang Gong Bureau. As her hand reached out,

Li Huairen stepped forward. "That one is not allowed."

Xu Shi's hand froze, and she glared at Li Huairen with hatred. Though she had always treated him with superficial respect because he was a eunuch, she had never truly regarded him highly. Now, for the first time, she looked at him with resentment.

In her eyes, the eunuchs and guards here were all enemies, adversaries.

With hatred, she demanded, "That hairpin doesn't bear the palace's imperial mark, so why can't I take it?"

Li Huairen pretended not to notice her half-spoken self-reference, silently regretting that she hadn't completed the phrase, which would have constituted a transgression of rank. He nodded. "This hairpin indeed lacks the imperial mark, but it is still a palace item. Therefore, it cannot be taken."

Xu Shi was left speechless.

She saw that the palace attendants hadn't confiscated the gold hairpin and thought she could sneak it out. Unexpectedly, Li Huairen actually knew the origin of the hairpin. Something **offered** by the Shang Gong Bureau was naturally a palace item.

In the end, **Xu Shi** carried a **bundle**, escorted out of the magnificent Queen's palace by a group of eunuchs and guards. They sent her to a small courtyard in a **pleasure garden**, a place designated for imperial concubines without titles who had been favored by the emperor in his **pleasure garden**. This narrow courtyard would be her home from now on. Perhaps she would spend the rest of her life here.

Looking at the small courtyard, recently cleared of overgrown weeds, and the simple furniture in the room, **Xu Shi** was filled with fear. She couldn't understand how she had ended up in this situation. Deposed? How had she been deposed so easily?

The **instructor** had already been killed, her family had taken action, so why had this incident been exposed?

Why had her brother and sister-in-law said they were following her orders, behaving so ungratefully? Did they forget who brought honor to the family?

**Xu Shi** harbored deep resentment, hating **Fan Xueyao**, hating Empress Dowager Wei, hating Chu Nan, hating her parents, hating her brother and sister-in-law, hating the **female official** who had betrayed her, and hating the palace maids and eunuchs who couldn't withstand torture and sold her out. She cursed them to suffer the greatest misfortunes in the world.

Soon after, **Xu Shi** heard that her family members had all been sentenced. Her hated parents and brother, instead of just being demoted, were reduced to commoners and exiled thousands of miles away, forbidden to enter the capital for the rest of their lives.

She felt both relieved, that this was the consequence of their betrayal, and afraid, realizing she no longer had her family to rely on. Who could she depend on now?

Thinking about her deposition while **Fan Xueyao** was still alive, she cursed even more fiercely, feeling that her deposition had been in vain.

Confined in the **isolated palace**, **Xu Shi** continued to curse and denounce the emperor, the empress dowager, and the imperial consort.

**Huaping**, **Qiaoqiao**, and **Su'e**, upon hearing this, were all very angry. **Huaping** scolded, "How ungrateful! If not for the **Imperial Consort's** kindness in pleading for her to take her private possessions out of the palace, how could she have any comfort now? She's a commoner now, without any servants. If not for the money, she wouldn't even be able to afford a hot cup of tea! She'd have to farm herself just to eat a bowl of rice!"

**Fan Xueyao**, however, remained calm. This was perhaps a case of **crocodile tears**—she had set the trap that brought down **Xu Shi**.

Although she had set a scheme for **Xu Shi**, **Xu Shi** had indeed intended to harm her and thus fell into the trap. Neither could blame the other.

But **Xu Shi's** downfall was half due to her own actions, and half brought on by **Fan Xueyao**.

**Fan Xueyao** wanted the position of empress, not her life. Now that **Xu Shi** would be confined and no longer pose a threat to her children, taking care of **Xu Shi** a little to make her life more comfortable was just a way to ease her own conscience.

She only hoped **Xu Shi** would soon accept her reality and let go of her former luxurious habits. Although the money she took with her seemed substantial, in that courtyard, aside from basic clothing and food, anything better would have to be bought from the palace attendants. If she continued to live as luxuriously as before, even a large sum of money wouldn't be enough.

**Fan Xueyao** smiled as she looked outside at the **chirping magpies** on the **crabapple tree**. Chu Nan was already discussing with his ministers the arrangements to confer her as empress. She was already an imperial consort, and with the support of Empress Dowager Wei, Princess Jinping, and others, along with having given birth to **an elder and a younger prince**, there was no opposition in the **imperial court**.

The goal she had set since coming into this world had been half achieved. The rest would just require careful management over time.

Ultimately, she would achieve everything she desired.

"**Mother**!"

Hearing the call, **Fan Xueyao** looked over and saw Chu Xu struggling to lift his robe hem and step over the threshold. His rosy cheeks showed he had run all the way there.

**Fan Xueyao** smiled.

"Ah, slow down, don't fall."