Chapter 209

Chapter 209

"You! How could you?!" The ghostly form of Junior Concubine was both incredulous and terrified of Su Yi before her.

How could it be Rong Noble Consort? How could she be like this?

"Surprised?" Su Yi smiled, "Me too."

Though Su Yi claimed to be surprised, she didn't seem that way at all.

The searing pain deep within her soul reminded her that this was no illusion.

After Junior Concubine had just died, she inexplicably found herself in this state. At first, she was startled by her own condition, but later realized that no one else could see her, and she truly had died.

She saw Wulang taken away and his eyes gouged out. She tried to stop it but only passed through him in vain. This helplessness tormented her deeply.

Although Wulang had killed her, it was out of desperation!

Junior Concubine immediately felt hatred for Rong Noble Consort, who had caused this situation. If it weren't for her, Wulang wouldn't have been driven to such a tragic end!

Even in death, she wouldn't let Wulang be at peace!

Then Junior Concubine decided to haunt Rong Noble Consort, vowing to cling to her even after death!

During this time, Junior Concubine thought she would pass through Rong Noble Consort's body, but still wanted to rush forward and tear at her.

Even if it was futile, she had to do it!

But to her surprise, she was repelled when she tried to get close to Rong Noble Consort.

Unable to get close to Rong Noble Consort, Junior Concubine was confused until the Emperor arrived.

At that moment, she could still get somewhat close to Rong Noble Consort, as long as she didn't try to touch her, she wouldn't be repelled.

But once the Emperor arrived, she couldn't even get close. The fear of her soul being burned and destroyed made her flee quickly.

Only by following from a distance could she barely tolerate it.

She seemed to understand why she couldn't pass through Rong Noble Consort as easily as she could others.

But she couldn't just let Rong Noble Consort off the hook. The Emperor couldn't always be with her. As long as she persisted, she believed she would eventually see Rong Noble Consort's ruin.

Though she could do nothing for now, it was generally harmful for a living person to be haunted by a ghost and tainted by ghostly energy.

Junior Concubine somehow knew this instinctively after turning into a ghost.

She followed from a distance, watching the interactions between the Emperor and Rong Noble Consort, her hatred deepening. Why did Rong Noble Consort live so well, never lacking in the Emperor's favor!

Before Rong Noble Consort returned to Yonghe Palace, she sent the Emperor away. Though Junior Concubine secretly rejoiced at what she thought was a foolish move, she finally had a chance to get closer.

She even ignored Rong Noble Consort's strange behavior of cutting paper figures late at night.

She never expected to suffer such a great loss!

Rong Noble Consort wasn't human, was she? It seemed she had known about her all along, pretending not to notice, and even had such methods...

"What exactly are you..." Before she could finish, Su Yi placed a finger to her lips, shushing her, half warning, half affectionately saying,

"Be polite to me, little darling."

The playful and intimate tone did nothing to ease the current tense situation; it remained as strained as ever, or rather, the Junior Concubine remained on edge, too afraid to let her guard down, while Su Yi, on the other hand, was completely unfazed.

"...What exactly do you want?" the Junior Concubine asked hoarsely, her expression dark, as the two were once again trapped in the same dire situation.

The other party, manipulating everything from a position of power, had forced Wulang to kill her, and now, what were they planning?

"I should be the one asking, what do you want?" Su Yi said calmly, "Your expression now is nothing like it was earlier."

As she spoke, she picked up a fresh piece of red paper and began cutting it with scissors, her demeanor calm and composed, though her movements were sharp and deliberate.

The Junior Concubine's expression instantly turned resentful, as if she had hit rock bottom. "Shouldn't I resent you?! If it weren't for you, how could I be like this? And Wulang, his eyes were gouged out alive—all because of you!"

Su Yi responded with a dismissive "Hmm," her hands never stopping as the scissors continued to snip away. This kind of person, who couldn't win but kept running their mouth, was both pitiful and oddly amusing.

But having a ghost constantly watching her was beyond irritating. Su Yi didn't want to keep her around overnight, lest she have to deal with a ghost watching her during intimate moments.

If she hadn't known, it might have been bearable, but knowing, who could possibly carry on like this? It was just too twisted.

So, she had to get Kangxi out of the way first.

This kind of thing couldn't wait; it had to be handled immediately.

Su Yi's dismissive and clearly indifferent reaction immediately angered the Junior Concubine.

The Junior Concubine lunged forward again, as if ready to take them both down, but Su Yi, without so much as glancing up, seized her and pinned her onto the small paper figure on the table, sealing her inside it.

The scissors pinned the paper figure, which twitched as if trying to move, leaving it frozen in place. The paper figure let out a sharp scream.

"My mistake, I shouldn't have given it a mouth," Su Yi said with a hint of frustration, gently tugging at the paper figure's hand as if considering, "Should I rip it up and start over?"

The sharp scream abruptly stopped, as if the figure was trembling in fear.

This kind of rage, with no outlet, no way to fight back, the impulse to destroy everything and seek mutual destruction was fleeting. Once interrupted, the desire to act on it would inevitably wane.

Even ghosts are no different, after all, they were once human.

"If you refuse to behave, it must be because you haven't been punished hard enough. What do you think?" Su Yi released the paper figure's hand and smiled at it.

After a moment, under Su Yi's cold gaze, the paper figure stiffly nodded.

"Good."

Su Yi pulled the scissors free, noticing a rip in the paper figure. She gently soothed, "If you had just behaved, I wouldn't have had to do this."

But at this moment, her words did nothing to comfort the paper figure.

If you had to put it into words, it was like dealing with a yandere—disobey, and I'll destroy you.

Crazy people aren't an issue; usually, when they run into someone even crazier, they fall in line.

"Within seven days, if you're not taken to the underworld, you'll become a wandering ghost, until your soul dissipates, with no chance of reincarnation," Su Yi said as she picked up the scissors and continued cutting the red paper she had left unfinished.

The paper figure trembled, seemingly furious but not daring to speak.

As if knowing its reaction, Su Yi said lightly, "It's not my doing; I'm not that bored."

After a pause, seeing that the figure remained quiet and no longer screamed, Su Yi, regardless of whether it believed her, patiently explained, letting it become an informed ghost.

"The underworld won't accept ghosts like you. But you are indeed dead, and after missing the seven-day window for being taken to the underworld, you can no longer enter the cycle of reincarnation. You can only wander like this now."

"I didn’t eat anything I wasn’t supposed to!" the little paper figure said in agitation, clearly provoked by Su Yi.

She instinctively looked out at the sky.

"Oh, so no one gave you anything?" Su Yi patiently reminded her.

She hadn’t thought it through before saying no. Sigh.

"How could..." The little paper figure paused mid-sentence, as if recalling something.

"...Impossible, impossible! How could Wulang...? You must be lying to me!" The little paper figure’s words, spoken with a smiling face, carried a tone of sorrow, as if on the verge of breaking down.

"Silly, at this point, nothing is impossible." Su Yi smiled, confirming her guess.

"How could you know?!" The Junior Concubine recalled how every meeting with Wulang had been secretive, discreet, and brief.

This time, Su Yi replied lightly, "That’s a secret. I can’t tell you."

The little paper figure instinctively defended Wulang, insisting he must have been deceived and unaware.

Hearing this, Su Yi seemed amused. Without denying her, she smiled slightly and said, "Alright, he must have had his reasons. After all, you trust him so much."

This sounded like agreement without outright refuting the little paper figure, but it was more humiliating than a direct denial.

The little paper figure fell silent, lying still as if it had lost its soul, reverting to a lifeless state.

But only on the surface.

Su Yi remained silent as well, cutting out a small paper cat and placing it in a box beside her.

Just as she was about to start the next one, the little paper figure, silent for a long time, spoke again: "Since you know, you must have a way to help me."

"Of course, but…" Su Yi replied gently.

That 'but' made the little paper figure, already agitated, pause once more.

"Why should I help you?" Su Yi looked at the little paper figure, her smile unchanged but chillingly cold.

"If you don’t want to help me, why keep me?!" The little paper figure grew anxious, seeing that Su Yi clearly had a solution but refused to help.

"Of course, to use you," she said.

Su Yi’s words sent a shiver down the ghost’s spine. She seemed almost gleeful as she said, "Isn’t it better to keep you around to command? After all, you came to me willingly. Why should I help you? Once a foolish thing has outlived its usefulness, just toss it aside."

As she spoke, Su Yi glanced at the torn part of the little paper figure. "But before you completely fade away, I’ll treat you well. I’ll give you a new body every day. Tell me what patterns you like—you can change into any form you want."

Su Yi gestured to a stack of red paper on the table.

She acted like a benevolent master, but the tone was unsettling.

"No! I don’t want this! No!"

Seeing the red paper, the little paper figure finally understood why Rong Noble Consort had sent so much red paper tonight—staying up late to cut it, clearly preparing it for her.

Thinking of Rong Noble Consort’s methods, the little paper figure grew terrified, unsure of what was expected of her. She felt as if she’d fallen into the clutches of a demon.

Seeing the little paper figure react so strongly, as if facing a ferocious beast, Su Yi put away her smile, looking expressionlessly at the little paper figure. "Didn’t you insist on following me? I gave you a chance."

Su Yi’s expressionless face was even more terrifying than before. Without the mask of a smile, her coldest self was laid bare.

The little paper figure shivered in terror. Ghosts can't cry, so it could only sob.

Like a pitiful creature bullied by a demon, it pleaded, "Please help me, I was wrong..."

"Yeah, I know, but I still don’t feel like helping you," Su Yi said, seeing the little paper figure sobbing as if crying, yet she remained unmoved.

So what?

After all, it was in her hands now, and it wasn’t her who made the other party eat whatever they wanted.

She had even given her a dagger, but the little paper figure didn’t use it. If she’d just killed her lover, she wouldn’t be in this mess.

If she didn’t die, that thing wouldn’t have taken effect.

It wasn’t like her to be this kind, but if the other party didn’t cherish it, how could she be blamed for not helping now?

She wasn’t some kind of do-gooder, helping every ghost she came across.

Since it was doomed to wander the human world, and it insisted on clinging to her, of course, she would satisfy its wishes.

However.

"Quit crying, it’s getting on my nerves. Now go say hi to someone for me."

Su Yi ignored the sobbing sounds and had already started giving orders.

Worried the little paper figure might slack off, she added, "The stuff your lover fed you came from her. You can greet her in any way you like."

Hearing this, the little paper figure perked up. Knowing that someone else was responsible for harming her, she wanted to rush out, but she abruptly stopped at the door.

She was scared of being thrown back like last time.

Su Yi, seeing her stop there, knew what she was afraid of. "You can leave. Once you’re out, you’ll figure out where to go."

Hearing this, the little paper figure tentatively approached and slipped through the door crack. This time, she wasn’t thrown back. Just as she was about to make a run for it, she thought of something and forcibly suppressed the urge to flee.

If Rong Noble Consort let her out so easily, she must have known she’d try to escape.

There must be a way to stop her from escaping!

The little paper figure quivered with rage and followed a certain guiding feeling in a specific direction. If she couldn’t take on Rong Noble Consort, she could at least find out who’d done this to her!

——

Late at night

Suo'etu had been in his study all night, without rest, and finally received the last piece of news.

Things had gone as badly as he’d feared, the worst possible outcome.

This time, they’d lost a lot of people, and it was a case of losing both the wife and the soldiers.

His backup plan never even got a chance.

With Rong Noble Consort's unprecedented coronation ceremony and the Grand Empress Dowager's approval, her role in overseeing the Crown Prince was already official. Under such circumstances, no one would care about an unpopular Junior Concubine feeling under the weather.

Rong Noble Consort was now at the peak of her influence, unmatched by anyone.

The scariest part was that things had spiraled out of control, completely covering up what should have been a scandal that would have shocked the entire palace, leaving not even a ripple.

Most of the hidden agents have lost contact, and the losses are even more severe than those of the openly abandoned pawns. Those who can still be contacted are not trustworthy, likely traps set to ensnare people.

Many of the old retainers left by Empress Renxiao have been rendered ineffective. These were originally prepared for Xiao Hesheli to quickly establish herself in the palace after entering, leveraging the reputation of being the younger sister of the former Empress to gain a firm foothold as quickly as possible.

Since the Crown Prince is still young, Suo'etu had not originally intended to act so hastily.

Firstly, Empress Renxiao passed away early, and the Emperor took the newborn Crown Prince to the Qianqing Palace to raise him, ensuring he was safely looked after.

At that time, the Hesheli family was not in a position to hastily send a new member into the palace immediately after the death of Empress Xiaochengren.

Secondly, Xiao Hesheli was also young. Even if she were sent to the palace, she would not be able to serve the Emperor or accomplish anything significant, so there was no rush.

It would be better to cultivate some of Empress Renxiao's elegance at home and then enter the palace during the grand selection, allowing the Emperor to see her and recall past affections. In any case, he would not treat her unfairly.

With members of the Hesheli family already in the palace, it would not be as difficult as it is now. Mobilizing hidden agents would be ruined if even one link in the chain failed.

What is even more alarming is that the situation has spiraled beyond Suo'etu's control.

Before the news could be relayed and the plans adjusted, the original agents continued to act according to the initial plan. When the situation had already changed, they should not have recklessly revealed themselves.

Acting according to the original plan when the situation has changed could cause chaos, so it is customary to wait for further instructions on how to proceed.

But now that they have acted, their moves have been completely thwarted and neutralized.

The palace is both serene and turbulent.

Having lost so many people and barely managing to sever the tail, Suo'etu already knows that the Emperor has been informed.

Even the attempt to have Rong Noble Consort impeached in court for interfering in the Crown Prince's affairs, attempting to meddle in politics, and undermining the foundation of the state has been thwarted.

If it were only the Emperor's consent, there would still be room for maneuvering. If all else failed, they could have invoked the authority of the Grand Empress Dowager to convince the Emperor.

At that point, even if the Emperor favored Rong Noble Consort, he would have to relent if he wanted to protect her.

After this ordeal, even if Rong Noble Consort remained in the palace as a noble consort, her reputation would be tarnished, almost certainly blocking her path to becoming Empress.

She might also harbor resentment towards the Crown Prince, holding him responsible, and if she were to coldly withdraw, it would be exactly what they wanted.

But now, the Grand Empress Dowager has sided with her, truly having experienced three reigns.

She intervened in political affairs even before the Emperor took full control of the government, and it was through her efforts and the struggle against Ao Bai that the Emperor gained time to bide his strength.

How can they now use the accusation of Rong Noble Consort meddling in politics to attack her?

The charge of Rong Noble Consort meddling in politics is baseless, but the Grand Empress Dowager is a true matriarch.

When Ao Bai was at his most arrogant and domineering, he often criticized the Grand Empress Dowager for meddling in politics, almost pointing fingers at her for overstepping her bounds.

Now, trying to throw the accusation of meddling in politics and overstepping bounds at Rong Noble Consort will not work.

Since the Grand Empress Dowager has already stepped forward to allow Rong Noble Consort to care for the Crown Prince openly, she will not stand idly by. At that point, not only will the effort be in vain, but it will also directly expose them to be dealt with, serving as a warning to others.

With the Grand Empress Dowager opening her mouth, she has silenced many.

There is no room for maneuver left. It was all too hasty. If only they had known, if only they had known the Emperor's intentions earlier...

Suo'etu's expression grew increasingly grim as he slammed his palm heavily on the desk, producing a dull thud.

There is also no more useful information from Xiao Hesheli. If only they had acted earlier, if only they had not been so hasty...

The only plan now is to wait until Xiao Hesheli (the younger Hesheli) enters the palace before making any further decisions.

After all, Xiao Hesheli is considered the maternal aunt of the Crown Prince. Empress Xiaochengren passed away early, and the young Crown Prince, lacking maternal care, is inevitably prone to being deceived.

Once Xiao Hesheli enters the palace, Rong Noble Consort won't even be a stepmother. As long as the Crown Prince remains clear-headed and isn't deceived, what good can Rong Noble Consort gain in the future?

In the past, it was only because there was no one in the inner palace that the Crown Prince had no one close to him and was thus deceived by Rong Noble Consort.

Once he has blood-related maternal relatives, he will know whom to trust.

Moreover, the Crown Prince has now moved out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity and goes to the Imperial Study every day for his studies.

Suo'etu holds multiple positions, not only as a minister of the Imperial Household Department, Grand Secretary of the Baohe Hall, and Commander of the Imperial Guards, but also as the Crown Prince Senior Tutor. Thus, he will have more opportunities to interact with the Crown Prince in the future.

The Crown Prince lost Empress Xiaochengren at a young age. Though the Emperor cares for him, what child wouldn't miss their mother? Without Empress Xiaochengren by his side, the Emperor, being busy with state affairs, cannot always attend to the Crown Prince.

At that time, as his great-uncle, Suo'etu will gradually get closer to the Crown Prince.

If the Crown Prince wishes to get close to Suo'etu, how can the Emperor stop him?

The Emperor is not just the Crown Prince's father. Even though they are father and son, in the royal family, they are first ruler and subject, then father and son. Only the maternal clan can be the Crown Prince's future support.

To secure the Crown Prince's position, the support of his maternal clan will be indispensable in the future.

The Crown Prince has always been known to be intelligent. As he grows older, he will naturally come to understand this truth.

However, the Emperor has engineered this situation. If Suo'etu shows no reaction tomorrow and feigns ignorance, the well-informed old foxes will surely mock him.

On the surface, it seems that the Hesheli family has suffered a quiet loss. However, as long as they still have the Crown Prince as their trump card, the Hesheli family won't fall now.

This is precisely why, even though Suo'etu is alarmed that the chess game in the inner palace has changed players, he hasn't sought an audience with the Emperor late at night to seek forgiveness.

Suo'etu is wary of continuing to gather information.

During the morning court session, Suo'etu pleaded illness and did not attend.

Those well-informed, like Mingzhu (the well-informed minister), know exactly why Suo'etu suddenly took ill.

It's all because of the Crown Prince matter.

Originally, the Hesheli family was the Crown Prince's maternal clan, but now Rong Noble Consort is taking care of the Crown Prince. This allows the Niohuru family to gain a share, leaving no room for reversal and blocking even the most viable path for criticism. It's no wonder Suo'etu is troubled.

Now that Suo'etu has pleaded illness, he must have other plans. It would be strange if Suo'etu showed no reaction at all.

The crucial question now is how the Emperor will react.

Before the morning court session began, while officials were waiting, some had already sensed the tense and foreboding atmosphere, as if something significant was about to happen.

As if confirming this premonition, at the start of the morning court session, everything proceeded normally with routine reports and discussions. Regarding Suo'etu's absence due to illness, Kangxi showed no unusual reaction and even expressed concern.

Many present were well aware of why Suo'etu suddenly took ill. Suo'etu holds considerable power in the court with deep-rooted influence. His current action is tantamount to expressing dissatisfaction with the Emperor.

Suo'etu knows well that the matters occurring in the palace should not be made public. Not to mention that the source hasn't been traced, even if it were, the court currently needs him. A single move could affect the whole situation, and if the Hesheli family is implicated, it would also involve the Crown Prince.

The Emperor would not only refrain from pursuing the matter to the end but would also clean up the traces thoroughly.

The Crown Prince's future still requires a strong maternal clan. Otherwise, he would be at a disadvantage in the struggles among the other princes. Can we really rely on the Niohuru family? Ebilun, that fence-sitter, now realizes that the Niohuru family is in a precarious position.

In this matter, the Hesheli family needs some public reassurance on the surface.

Suo'etu had made a clever calculation. Even if the Emperor was angry, he was no longer the impulsive youth he once had been. For the sake of the overall situation...

"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach..." The Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate stepped forward with a solemn expression.

The censors of the Censorate were trusted by the Emperor. Regardless of who was below, the position of the Censorate censor was naturally valued by the Emperor.

Although it was not the Censor-in-Chief who stepped forward this time, the Left Censor-in-Chief was closely aligned with his superiors.

As the Left Censor-in-Chief stepped forward, the ominous premonition before the morning court finally came to pass.

The accusations were directly aimed at Suo'etu, who was absent due to claimed illness.

The Left Censor-in-Chief began to list Suo'etu's misconducts, one after another, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

First, Suo'etu had handled affairs unfairly. His younger brother, Xinyu, had been lazy and repeatedly absent from duty. The Emperor had previously handed him over to Suo'etu for disciplinary measures, but Suo'etu had only imposed a one-year salary deduction without any further punishment, showing favoritism to his relatives, which was unjust.

Second, Suo'etu's brother, Fabao, had been lazy. After being dismissed from his position as a minister and assigned to serve under the banner, he still showed no intention of redeeming himself, even indulging in archery for pleasure, showing no respect. Suo'etu had failed to fulfill his duty of discipline.

Third, Suo'etu, relying on his immense wealth, had become increasingly arrogant.

Fourth...

....

During this time, some members of Suo'etu's faction had attempted to defend him, but today's sudden public attack on Suo'etu, led by the Left Censor-in-Chief, was not something he would dare to do on his own.

Listing so many charges against Suo'etu and even presenting evidence to the Emperor, this was not a sudden attack but a well-prepared move. Such a significant action could not have been carried out without Suo'etu's faction catching wind of it beforehand.

The timing was also deliberate, with Suo'etu having just claimed illness. Logically, this should not have happened at this time, but many of the listed crimes were indeed true, with evidence to back them up.

Most of these incidents were not fabricated but had been suppressed by Suo'etu previously. The Emperor had previously let them slide lightly, showing great favor towards Suo'etu.

No one had dared to directly accuse Suo'etu before. Even Mingzhu had only gradually formed an opposing stance to Suo'etu, and who could withstand such momentum?

How could such a thing happen today?

Each and every accusation was not something the Left Censor-in-Chief could have managed on his own. Even the Censor-in-Chief, known for his boldness, would not dare to be so brazen. The Left Censor-in-Chief's lead was slightly more restrained than if the Censor-in-Chief had done it.

Without the Emperor's tacit approval, how could the Censorate have dared to make such a bold move?

At the same time, those who sought to muddy the waters, such as Mingzhu's faction, also joined in the denunciation of Suo'etu. Seizing the opportunity to suppress Suo'etu was not to be missed.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Suo'etu's faction naturally spoke up in his defense. The court became a noisy scene, with heated arguments and flying spittle.

Kangxi watched with a calm expression, saying nothing as they nearly jumped up and down. What a Suo'etu! Even absent from court, there were still so many speaking on his behalf.

It was strange that later there were ambitions to incite the Crown Prince to rebellion, aiming to emulate Ao Bai's actions from years ago.

Keeping Suo'etu was for the Crown Prince's future, but it was not a license for Suo'etu to become increasingly reckless.

Previously, Kangxi could tolerate some of Suo'etu's actions, as they were within his limits of patience, and Suo'etu was indeed useful. Thus, Kangxi could let those matters slide and continue to heavily rely on Suo'etu.

But this did not mean Kangxi had truly forgotten.

When he wanted to settle scores, he could do so with precision.

Suo'etu still believed Kangxi needed him and, out of concern for the Crown Prince, would not act against him lightly. Hearing too much about his own importance, Suo'etu became complacent and even began to act arrogantly.

Initially claiming illness, Suo'etu had other plans. The officials behind him, even if Suo'etu was absent from court due to illness, could still control the court's situation.

But at this moment, no one could have anticipated that Kangxi would suddenly take such drastic action.

Seated on the dragon throne, Kangxi's expression was unreadable. Though he showed no signs of anger, the astute officials could clearly see that Kangxi was deeply displeased.

The court was not entirely engrossed in the heated debates. Everyone was also keeping an eye on the Emperor's reaction. Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, they dared not continue arguing, and the noise gradually subsided into silence.

"Have you all had enough of quarreling?" Kangxi said calmly.

Clearly dissatisfied with the earlier disorderly conduct, some officials turned pale and knelt down to beg for forgiveness, admitting their earlier misconduct and pleading for the Emperor's mercy.

Kangxi looked at the kneeling ministers but did not call for them to rise. In front of all the court officials, he succinctly concluded the charges against Suo'etu.

This attitude clearly indicated that the Emperor had already determined Suo'etu's guilt. If there had been any intention to protect Suo'etu, such a conclusion would not have been reached.

Kangxi then added, considering Suo'etu's years of hard work for the court, that as one grows old, it is inevitable to make mistakes. Suo'etu was also of advanced age, and since he had fallen ill, he should rest well.

As for whether this rest was for recuperation or reflection, everyone knew what it really meant.

Officials from Suo'etu's faction still wanted to plead for him, but unexpectedly, Kangxi went on to strip Suo'etu of his positions as Imperial Guard Commander and Company Commander, though he retained his title of First-Class Baron. He also stripped Suo'etu's brother, Fabao, of his title of First-Class Duke.

Suo'etu was removed from his positions as a member of the Deliberative Council, Imperial Guard Commander, and Crown Prince Senior Tutor, retaining only his role as Company Commander.

Anyone who pleaded for him would be accused of forming cliques.

Kangxi dealt with some of the involved officials and then promoted members of the Niohuru family, though not to key positions. This was a clear indication of the Emperor's stance.

Intentionally suppressing Suo'etu, Kangxi began to deliberately promote the Niohuru family.

This strong suppression stripped Suo'etu of all his positions.

Now, Suo'etu could truly 'recuperate' at home. The Emperor's sudden action clearly indicated that he had reached his limit with Suo'etu, and this was also connected to the earlier incident involving the Crown Prince.

There was now a clear reason behind the Emperor's dissatisfaction with Suo'etu. While everyone thought that after today, the Emperor would surely prepare to appease the Hesheli family, Kangxi instead used the charges listed in the impeachment to strip Suo'etu of all his positions.

Instead of temporarily setting the matter aside and calling Suo'etu for questioning, Kangxi directly convicted and dismissed him, ordering him to 'recuperate' properly. This demonstrated that the Emperor was serious. At this critical moment, who would dare to oppose the Emperor's wrath and speak up for Suo'etu?

Wouldn't that be directly opposing the Emperor? It seemed like they were asking for trouble.

It would be better to wait until the Emperor's anger subsided.

Mingzhu and others could hardly conceal their joy, not expecting such a significant turn of events. Suo'etu, that old fool, surely did not expect this either.

If it weren't for the risk of making a bad impression by visiting the Hesheli residence to gloat, Mingzhu would have loved to see Suo'etu's reaction when he received the imperial decree. It would have been quite a spectacle.

The events in the court today seemed sudden, but in reality, they had been long prepared.

This was why Suo'etu was nailed down with such a long list of charges.

As expected, the imperial decree would soon be delivered to the Hesheli residence.

When Suo'etu, 'ill,' knelt to receive the decree, no matter how he tried to hide it, his expression was extremely grim. This could scarcely be attributed to his 'illness,' but Suo'etu trembled with anger, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

He couldn't believe that the Emperor would choose this critical moment to dismiss him and order him to rest at home.

After being stripped of his positions, Suo'etu wanted to enter the palace to plead with the Emperor, but he was barred from doing so. Moreover, anyone who pleaded for him would be accused of forming cliques.

The Emperor made it clear that he was blocking any attempts to intercede on Suo'etu's behalf.

He even replaced several involved officials on the spot, promoting members of the Niohuru family. This, along with the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager's approval of Rong Noble Consort overseeing the Crown Prince's affairs, sent a clear message.

It seems this day had been anticipated.

Suo'etu's hands trembled slightly as he received the imperial decree. It was evident that the Emperor had long been dissatisfied with him; otherwise, he would not have brought up old grievances and stripped him of all his positions, confining him to his residence under the pretext of 'recuperation.'

It was likely that the Emperor was aware of the schemes Suo'etu had been orchestrating in the palace. Although today's events did not mention the frequent mishaps during the Rong Noble Consort's investiture ceremony, they were undoubtedly related.

Perhaps the Emperor, in a fit of anger, meant to teach him a lesson.

How could the court truly operate without him? Without Suo'etu, how could the Mingzhu faction be controlled? If the Mingzhu faction were to grow unchecked, the Emperor would not allow the court to become imbalanced. Once the Emperor's anger subsided, he would surely reinstate Suo'etu.

With this thought, Suo'etu calmed down a bit. After the court session, when officials came to the Hesheli residence to discuss the situation with Suo'etu, he remained calm. His demeanor gradually reassured those around him, preventing panic.

Indeed, this was likely just temporary. The Emperor had to publicly punish Suo'etu to save face, but after some time, he would surely restore him.

After the court session, Kangxi drank a cup of strong tea to alleviate his weariness. This suppression of Suo'etu was not a rash decision on Kangxi's part.

Suo'etu's repeated actions had only fueled his increasing ambition. If Kangxi had continued to ignore it, Suo'etu would have become even more emboldened.

Where would the Emperor's authority be then?

Suo'etu thought he could use the Crown Prince as a trump card, believing he would never fall. But Kangxi was determined to foil his plans.

The closer the Crown Prince became tied to the Hesheli family, the more he would fall with them if they fell. Just like 'him,' Kangxi would have no choice but to depose the Crown Prince once more.

Kangxi naturally could not allow Baocheng to depend too much on Suo'etu. With the Imperial Noble Consort providing the care Baocheng needed, he would no longer overly rely on his great-uncle Suo'etu.

Even if the relationship between the Crown Prince and Suo'etu grew distant, the Hesheli family had no other options.

The mishaps during the investiture ceremony were expected. Xiao Hesheli had not yet entered the palace but was already trying to clear obstacles for herself. How could Kangxi tolerate this? Once Xiao Hesheli entered the palace, the Hesheli family would surely become even more arrogant.

After all, she was the Empress's sister and represented the Hesheli family.

Suo'etu's ambition was growing unchecked. If not suppressed now, he would become even more arrogant in the future. Having dealt with Ao Bai, Kangxi could not tolerate the rise of another Ao Bai.

Why strike now? Why entrust the Crown Prince to the Rong Noble Consort? Why promote the Niohuru family and suppress Suo'etu? Wasn't it all logical?

What truly defined the relationship between ruler and subject?

Kangxi's eyes were cold as he casually placed the teacup lid back on the saucer.

"And the Imperial Noble Consort?" Kangxi suddenly asked.

At this time, that little rascal was probably still asleep. When she woke up, she would likely take her time, have lunch, take a nap, and then leisurely make her way over.

Thinking of this, Kangxi's expression softened slightly.

Liang Jiugong, hearing this, knew that the Emperor had just dealt with Suo'etu and would soon be busy. Having stayed up late last night with little sleep, he had resorted to strong tea to stay alert.

He should have waited until after the busy period to ask about the Imperial Noble Consort, but the Emperor had suddenly thought of her. Fortunately, Liang Jiugong was prepared!

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort has just fallen asleep. She sent word earlier that she would join Your Majesty for dinner this evening."

Hearing this, Kangxi frowned slightly. "Did the Imperial Noble Consort not rest well last night? Is she unwell? Has the imperial physician been summoned? Why was I not informed?" His tone grew increasingly stern.

Liang Jiugong immediately realized that the Emperor was worried and quickly explained, "The Imperial Noble Consort is not unwell. Last night, she became engrossed in cutting paper window decorations and worked through the night. She only felt tired and went to sleep at dawn. Before sleeping, she sent over some of the finished decorations. Would Your Majesty like to see them?"

In other words, the Imperial Noble Consort was perfectly fine—she had simply stayed up all night cutting paper decorations.

What a peculiar way to vent her anger.

Kangxi: "..." So this little troublemaker had some anger to vent last night, and she told him not to disturb her while she was venting, and instead, she spent the whole night cutting paper window decorations?!

"She really thinks she's something special," Kangxi said through gritted teeth, half-amused and half-annoyed.

She had just seen the imperial physician yesterday and wasn't fully recovered, yet she stayed up all night again. "What are the palace servants doing? Letting their mistress stay up all night without even trying to persuade her, allowing her to neglect her own health!"

As he spoke, Kangxi stood up and started walking out. "Have the imperial physician come over as well."

When Kangxi entered the room with light footsteps, she was still asleep. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were pale, making her complexion look rather unhealthy. Her hand rested on the quilt, and the red marks from yesterday hadn't completely faded.

The imperial physician had already arrived. Qinxin gently took the Imperial Noble Consort's hand and placed it on a soft pillow, covering her wrist with a handkerchief for the physician to take her pulse.

Even such a slight movement was enough to wake Su Yi.

Su Yi opened her eyes, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, expressionless as she looked at them. Her gaze was somewhat fierce, but she didn't say a word. She seemed to be in a foul mood, almost irritable.

The imperial physician, under such a gaze, didn't dare to linger. The Imperial Noble Consort really didn't seem happy.

Kangxi, sitting by the bed, was somewhat used to this. She was just cranky from being woken up. He lowered his voice and spoke slowly, "It'll be done soon."

She wasn't fully awake yet, and speaking too quickly would only make her more irritable.

Su Yi, her head heavy, closed her eyes again, her brows slightly furrowed. She seemed more uncomfortable than usual upon waking up.

The imperial physician, hearing the Emperor's somewhat soothing tone, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his eye, but he remained composed.

After taking her pulse, he knew this wasn't the time to talk. It was better to speak with the Imperial Noble Consort's personal maid instead.

Qinxin followed to see the physician out. As the physician walked around the screen, he caught a glimpse of the Emperor moving behind it, seemingly half-embracing her in his arms.

As he reached the door, he faintly heard the Emperor speaking in a tone that sounded like scolding but was filled with concern, "...Does your head hurt? Who told you not to take care of yourself..."

The rest of his words were already inaudible.

But as the physician left, he felt somewhat overwhelmed. If he were to ask Liang Jiugong, he would have some insights, and might even say that staying longer would leave him with a slightly sour feeling.