Chapter 200

Chapter 200

Ten days later, on an auspicious day, Your Majesty's decree to depose the Empress was announced during the morning court session. Lin Wei immediately took the imperial edict to the still-sealed Phoenix Palace.

The deposed Empress, lacking virtue, had committed a grave crime against the state. Only because Your Majesty cherished past sentiments was her life spared. Surviving was no small feat.

Members of the Zhao family repeatedly pleaded guilty due to the Empress's deposition. However, Your Majesty, in his magnanimity, did not hold the entire Zhao family accountable for one person's crime and continued to treat them generously.

As a ruler, the most important quality is benevolence. The deposed Empress was punished, yet her maternal family was not implicated. The court officials witnessed this and privately praised Your Majesty's benevolence.

After her postpartum recovery, Jiang Xueyi did not rush to take over the palace affairs.

The next auspicious day was three months later. During this period, she had to prepare for her coronation as Empress while taking care of Chen'er and Lingqin, leaving her with little time to spare.

Fortunately, Yang Xiuyuan had become quite adept at handling palace affairs. With her managing things, Jiang Xueyi did not need to worry much.

At this moment, Your Majesty had just returned from court and was handling state affairs in the Hall of Diligent Governance. Jiang Xueyi, by his side, added fragrance to the incense burner. The windows were wide open, letting in bright sunlight, and the scent of flowers filled the air.

The news of the Empress's deposition and the appointment of a new Empress spread simultaneously, eliciting varied reactions from the court officials. The number of memorials submitted increased significantly. Shen Zhanghan flipped through them one by one and said calmly, "The deposed Empress's misconduct is undeniable, and no one speaks in her defense. Only a few officials think I should not appoint a new Empress so soon, especially not you, fearing it would overly empower the Jiang family. But overall, the majority praise you."

"With the border war ongoing, your brother has been leading the troops effectively, and your father has been diligent in court affairs. The governance of the state has become increasingly clear. Right and wrong, I see it all in my heart."

Jiang Xueyi lowered her head, grinding ink, and said softly, "This humble consort should not interfere in state affairs, but I trust Your Majesty has his considerations."

Shen Zhanghan hummed in agreement, set down his brush, and took her hand, holding it tightly. "They are merely concerned about the rising power of the imperial in-laws, fearing that one day their influence might overshadow the throne."

"But in critical times, it is essential to trust those you appoint. I am willing to believe in the loyalty and integrity of the Jiang family. Moreover, I am determined to make you my Empress. Given the current prosperity, the Jiang family must continue to assist me faithfully and serve as pillars of the state."

Jiang Xueyi bowed slightly. "This humble consort thanks Your Majesty for his great favor on behalf of the Jiang family."

Shen Zhanghan personally helped her up and said gently, "Lianlian, you are about to become my Empress, and we will be husband and wife. Between husband and wife, there is no need for such formality and caution."

He embraced her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "As a child, I often wondered what kind of wife I would marry. But I was young then, and without the love of my father and mother, my mind was often blank."

"Later, I married the deposed Empress, and we treated each other with respect and affection, but it was never as harmonious and loving as described in books. Without true affection, the term 'husband and wife' felt hollow, merely a title."

"But the thought of becoming your husband, bound together for life, fills me with joy."

Jiang Xueyi smiled, her eyes curving. "To tie the knot as husband and wife, loving and trusting each other without doubt."

"This humble consort only hopes that Your Majesty will always trust Lianlian and understand her. With the bond of marriage, we can grow old together."

Shen Zhanghan held her tightly. "With you, Chen'er, and Lingqin, I have no more worries."

"I plan to abolish the grand selection held every three years and no longer hold beauty pageants. I will also have Penglai Island renovated, planting it with the crabapple flowers you love. From now on, Penglai Island will no longer be a restricted area but a tranquil retreat for our family, undisturbed by anyone. How does that sound?"

Jiang Xueyi wrapped her arms around Your Majesty's neck and chuckled. "I still remember the first time I met Your Majesty privately on Penglai Island. I accidentally wandered there, and it just so happened that I was on my monthly cycle. Your Majesty was quite stern that day."

Shen Zhanghan placed her on his lap and laughed softly. "Did you think I couldn't tell you did it on purpose?"

He reached out and tapped her nose. "There are many ways to catch my attention in the palace, but you were the boldest. Yet, you managed to make me not only unbothered but also fondly remember you. That's true skill."

"If I hadn't been bold, how would Your Majesty have noticed Lianlian? Fortunately, that meeting led to these five years with Your Majesty. Whenever I think of it, I have never regretted it."

Shen Zhanghan kissed the corner of her lips tenderly. "Having you as my Empress is like finding a treasure."

They remained entwined for a while before Jiang Xueyi got up to grind ink again, accompanying Your Majesty as he handled state affairs.

However, just two incense sticks' worth of time later, Lin Wei hurried in and bowed. "Your Majesty, the deposed Empress refuses to accept the decree and insists on seeing you one last time. She threatens to dash herself to death in the Phoenix Palace if her request is denied."

"I dare not make decisions on my own and have come to seek Your Majesty's instructions."

Shen Zhanghan furrowed his brow: "Since she is the deposed empress, why does she need to see me? Letting her live is already an act of mercy for the child's sake. Not only does she not cherish her life, but she dares to threaten with death."

Jiang Xueyi said softly: "Your Majesty need not be angry. Since she has something to say, I can go in your place, there's no need to trouble you. With all the state affairs, you should focus on them without worry."

"Very well," Shen Zhanghan said coolly, "In that case, I'll trouble the Empress to make the trip, to fulfill her wish."

"Yes, I will comply."

Jiang Xueyi bowed gracefully and left the hall, glancing back at Lin Wei.

Lin Wei hurriedly handed her the imperial edict and whispered: "The deposed empress is emotionally agitated. I fear she might harm the Empress. If you enter, please be cautious in all matters. I and the guards will be waiting outside."

"I understand."

After boarding the Empress's phoenix carriage, Jiang Xueyi's procession made its way from the Hall of Diligent Governance to the Autumn Palace where the deposed empress was held.

The Phoenix Palace had already been vacated and refurbished according to Jiang Xueyi's preferences. The Autumn Palace was originally an unused palace within the court, now repurposed to house the deposed empress. Though referred to as an abandoned palace, it was only marginally better than the Cold Palace, not as desolate and dilapidated.

Leaning on Duan Yinning's arm, Jiang Xueyi slowly walked to the gate of the Autumn Palace and couldn't help but look up at the plaque above the palace gate. The blue paint on the plaque was peeling, and the gilding had lost its luster. Even the red wooden doors exuded a sense of decay.

How could such a place compare to even a fraction of the Phoenix Palace?

Yet this was the fate that Zhao Wanfei, once a dignified empress, had met.

Seeing this, even though Jiang Xueyi deeply disliked the deposed empress, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sorrow.

Quietly watching, she suddenly remembered the time when she first entered the palace and was assigned to the Lingxi Palace, looking up at its plaque in the same way.

She remembered being in her early teens, feeling everything in the palace was so foreign and grand, with the Empress and high-ranking concubines keeping a close eye, and several newcomers vying for favor, causing constant turmoil. She had to be cautious and alert at all times.

Five years had passed in the blink of an eye, through many trials and careful planning, and now she was the Empress of the Great Ling Empire.

Those she had hated and fought against, some had fallen ill, some had died, all were gone.

The rights and wrongs, the grievances and enmities, now seemed like a fleeting illusion.

"Let's go."

The gates of the Autumn Palace creaked open slowly. In the midday sun, the deposed empress stood in the crumbling courtyard, clad in the phoenix robe she cherished most, the golden phoenixes embroidered on it shimmering in the sunlight, as noble as ever. Seeing Jiang Xueyi instead of the Emperor, she wasn't surprised, merely gave a cold laugh and regarded her indifferently.

"The Emperor really didn't come. He must loathe me."

Duan Yinning carefully supported Jiang Xueyi, frowning at the deposed empress: "You are now a commoner. How can you wear the phoenix robe? Such presumption is already an offense to the Empress."

It's only human for the deposed empress to cling to her former status. With such a great fall, who could accept it?

But to be a caged bird still clinging to a hollow glory—this self-deception is itself a pitiful thing.

Jiang Xueyi did not wish to argue over these trivialities. She slowly approached with Duan Yinning's support, calmly scanning her: "Commoner Zhao, whatever you have to say, you can say it to me."

"The Emperor has spared your life, and I do not wish to be ruthless. If you have any requests, just send someone to tell me, and as long as they are not excessive, I will grant them if I can."

Seeing Jiang Xueyi's demeanor, Zhao Wanfei suddenly laughed loudly: "Jiang Xueyi, I don't need your hypocritical kindness. Commoner Zhao? I have worn this robe for nine years. Who are you to say if it suits me?"

"When I presided over the central palace, how you all knelt before me respectfully—have you all forgotten?"

Zhao Wanfei looked at Jiang Xueyi, slowly walking around her: "Today I have merely lost, but that does not mean I deserve this outcome, nor does it mean you can do better than I did."

Jiang Xueyi said indifferently, "The child in Consort Liu's womb was your doing, wasn't it? And the Crown Prince's congenital deficiency was also your handiwork, wasn't it?"

"Even without the harm you inflicted on me and Chen'er, your flawed moral character makes you unfit to be Empress. How can you claim you don’t deserve this? Your Majesty is generous, not only sparing your life to let you live out your days in the palace but also not implicating the Zhao family for your faults, still treating them with great favor. For all this, you should be grateful."

"Grateful? How laughable, truly laughable!" The Empress laughed until tears nearly streamed down her face. "Our Zhao family invested immense effort into supporting His Majesty's rise to the throne. My father, in his loyalty, even handed over his military power. I married His Majesty when I was young, managed his household, and bore his children for over a decade. With all my merits and hardships, even with these alleged crimes, he had no right to strip me of my title! Now that he has deposed me and spared my life, do you think this is a favor to me?"

"This is just him putting on a show of his own kindness!"

Zhao Wanfei laughed until tears flowed freely. "Jiang Xueyi, I've held this throne for so many years, and to be honest, I've regretted it every single day. Do you know how exhausting it was? But I couldn’t let go, couldn’t stand the idea of what was rightfully mine being snatched by you."

"I, Zhao Wanfei, was born of noble blood, with an unyielding spirit. How could I endure being trampled by mere concubines like you? How could I tolerate what was rightfully mine being snatched away by you?! What does it matter if I did these things? As long as I could hold onto this position, I would do anything."

Her reddened eyes fixed on Jiang Xueyi. "Look, as soon as I was deposed, His Majesty appointed you. It just proves that my fears were not unfounded."

"The Empress Dowager is dying. He’s concerned that after her death, he’ll have to observe three years of state mourning and won't be able to make you the official Empress. That's why he's rushing to hold the coronation ceremony. I’m just making room for you!"

Watching her oscillate between tears and laughter, Jiang Xueyi stayed eerily composed.

Towards Zhao Wanfei, she felt hatred, disgust, but more than anything, pity.

Pity that after years of struggle in the palace, Zhao Wanfei no longer recognized the person she once was, overwhelmed by the immense power and endless scheming, she lost her true self.

Like Jiang Xueyi, since entering the palace, she had always reminded herself of her true desires.

Power, status, to ensure her family's safety and well-being.

Desiring too much inevitably breeds resentment.

Resentment leads to hatred, and a mind consumed by hatred can only descend into extremes.

Zhao Wanfei was exactly like that.

She wanted to solidify her position in the central palace, wanted His Majesty to show no favoritism, wanted to bear a legitimate heir, wanted her future son to inherit the throne, wanted the Zhao family to prosper for generations.

She wanted too much, and ultimately, she lost everything she once had. Instead, it was Jiang Xueyi who achieved what she had desired.

Truthfully, Jiang Xueyi had never once desired the throne from the start.

"Are you done?" Jiang Xueyi looked into her eyes and said indifferently, "I must return to the Hall of Diligent Governance to assist with His Majesty’s documents. I don't have time to listen to your ramblings."

"If all you came here to do today was say these things, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. These words won’t disturb me, nor will they influence me in any way."

"Perhaps you've long forgotten, but things between us weren't always like this. Many things, if not accumulated over time, wouldn't have led us to this point."

Visiting the Palace of Late Autumn today was the utmost mercy Jiang Xueyi could show her. She had said all she needed to say.

It's true that the throne is difficult to sit on, and the constant balancing act is no easy task. But in this vast world, who has it easy?

Those in high positions, enjoying wealth and luxury, should be content.

If one lacks even the slightest compassion and clarity of mind, the throne becomes nothing more than a heavy shackle.

But as long as her family is safe and well, Jiang Xueyi could always find contentment.

With that, she took Duan Yinning's hand and turned to leave, unwilling to listen to Zhao Wanfei any further.

But to her surprise, Zhao Wanfei fell silent.

It wasn't until Jiang Xueyi reached the palace gates that she sensed something was amiss. She couldn't help but turn back, only to see Zhao Wanfei smiling through her tears, her reddened eyes filled with desolation and weariness. "It's too late now. Nothing I say will change anything."

"I am the Empress born of the Zhao family. Even if this path is wrong, I will continue down it."

"I, Zhao Wanfei, would rather die standing than live on my knees."

With that, she smiled and plunged straight into the deep well in the courtyard.