Chapter 207:

“It’s all my fault. I’m the one who harmed the child. I wasn’t careful enough…”

After that one sentence, Layue refused to speak again. No matter how Jingdi brought the little girl close to her, Layue remained completely unresponsive.

Since the young girl was also frail, Jingdi dared not delay and soon carried her back.

Now, Bai Youran had already been imprisoned.

She insisted she hadn’t done it on purpose, but with all the witnesses present, no matter how she tried to defend herself, it was of no use.

Bai Youran cried out that she was innocent, claiming it was the Empress who had deliberately caused the incident. Seeing her like this, Jingdi immediately ordered her to be poisoned so she would lose her voice.

At Xuanning Hall,

Lai Xi and Lai Fu stood below, waiting quietly for Jingdi’s orders.

“I won’t let her die so easily. She dared to harm Yue’er, so she must bear the consequences. Send her to the Tower of Madness.”

Being sent to the Tower of Madness was worse than death itself.

“The servant understands.” Such tasks were always handled by Lai Fu.

“Seize the Bai family’s properties and reduce everyone to commoners.” Jingdi truly hated them to the core.

The recent troubles in the palace had exhausted him. He had originally thought the harem would help balance the power among various families. Now, it was clearly not the case. If these people made him feel uneasy and harmed Yue’er, he would show no leniency.

The child was also his child. Their child had been killed. Not only Yue’er, but his own grief was beyond anyone’s imagination.

But he had no time to grieve. He had to spend all his time managing the aftermath, comforting Yue’er, taking care of the children, and dealing with those who should never have been there.

During these days, Layue mechanically ate and drank, no matter who spoke to her, she never opened her mouth.

Jingdi knew she was blaming him, blaming him for not protecting their child, blaming him for giving others the opportunity.

Seeing her like this, Jingdi felt even more heartache, for the suffering she endured. He had once thought he would never let her suffer like this. But thinking carefully, how much suffering had he caused her since she entered the palace!

And all of this was brought upon her by him.

Every day, he would hold Layue as she slept, even though she gave him no response, Jingdi would not give up.

Every day, he would hold her, talk to her, hoping she could recover and stop thinking such dark thoughts.

Jingdi didn’t know that the reason Layue was like this was precisely due to the influence of her past life. She thought of her former self, of the scene where she had lost her child.

At times like these, people are fragile, and having lived two lifetimes, she became lost and confused, remaining locked in her own world, unwilling to come out.

“Yue’er, tomorrow in court, I will announce that from now on, I will have only you. In the future, in the harem, there will be only you. I will not take anyone else anymore.”

He spoke such a significant decision so casually, yet still, there was no reaction from her.

Jingdi carefully examined her, unsure if she had even listened.

He continued, “From now on, this harem will be our home. In this home, besides me and Yue’er, there will be many children. They are all the children of Yue’er and me.”

As he said this, Jingdi became increasingly determined.

He had been mistaken all along. He thought that by giving them status, they would be content. He believed that by not sleeping with other concubines, he was showing the greatest loyalty to Layue.

But it turned out that wasn’t the case!

They would feel jealousy, harm Layue, and be insatiable.

Jingdi’s face hardened, and he made up his mind.

Seeing Layue asleep, Jingdi got up.

Lai Xi was dozing by the door. Seeing the emperor come out, he hurried forward: “Does Your Majesty have any orders?”

“Go to the ancestral hall.”

Lai Xi was startled but quickly followed.

Except for Lai Xi, no one else in the palace knew that Jingdi had knelt in the Yan family’s ancestral hall all night.

His face was not very good in the morning.

But having followed Jingdi since childhood, Lai Xi understood that the master was about to take action.

Morning court session.

After finishing the official business, Jingdi casually said, “I plan to send all the concubines in the harem away.”

The ministers’ faces changed.

What did “send away” mean?

No one spoke.

Jingdi smiled faintly, “Naturally, I’m just informing you all. The concubines in the harem have not been able to bear royal offspring. Not only that, they engage in intrigues, harm others, endanger the imperial heirs, and harm the Empress. It is unbearable. All concubines who have not been intimate with the emperor will be allowed to return home and remarry. I will prepare dowries for them. In my heart, they are my sisters. Of course, if they do not wish to return home and have the ability, I will appoint them as female officials in the palace. Those without ability will go to the national temple to become nuns. As for those who have been intimate with the emperor, except for not being allowed to remarry, they will be treated the same. As for the selection of concubines, it will be stopped from this day onward.”

At these words, indeed, the entire court was in an uproar.

An old minister directly knelt down: “Please Your Majesty withdraw this order. This matter absolutely cannot be done! The country’s great…”

Before he could finish the sentence, Jingdi interrupted him.

“Enough! I don’t want to hear your lofty principles. I know your granddaughter will be eligible for the imperial consort selection next year. I see right through your schemes. How dare you presume to make decisions for me here, instead of going home to deal with your concubine who’s carrying on with your second son? What sixteen-year-old girl would ever fancy an old man like you? Utterly absurd.”

Jingdi gave him not a shred of face, still wearing that expression full of mockery.

Upon hearing this, the old minister collapsed in shame.

He did not know of this matter, and now the emperor not only knew but also said it in front of all the officials.

Gathering his courage, he said, “Your servant is not acting for himself but for the imperial family’s legacy. How can the rules set by our ancestors be changed at will?”

Seeing that he continued to speak, Jingdi appeared impatient and looked at the others.

At first, a few others had also intended to risk their lives to remonstrate, but seeing the emperor’s expression and hearing his previous words, they hesitated and became somewhat fearful.

This Xu Daren was already so old and had his family secrets exposed like this; they could not imagine what the emperor might say next.

Everyone also knew what had happened in the palace over these past few days.

It must have been out of extreme anger for the emperor to act like this.

Since Emperor Jing ascended the throne, his methods had become increasingly ruthless, and now no one could influence his decisions anymore.

Seeing that others did not support him, Xu Daren continued, “Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

With this loud shout, a few older ministers finally began to speak in agreement: “Please Your Majesty reconsider—”

Perhaps seeing that others were now joining in, thinking there was strength in numbers, more people began to speak out.

Emperor Jing laughed heartily: “Reconsider? You are interfering in my harem for your own selfish reasons, aren’t you?” Jingdi looked at the people coldly.

“Do you want to control who I visit every night? I’ve said, this is a notification, not asking for your opinions. Since you don’t want to serve in this court anymore, then I shall oblige you.”

Jingdi’s face turned cold, and he stood up.

“As for how poorly you have raised your daughters and the indecency in your households, I won’t speak more of it, for it would soil my mouth. However, rest assured, shortly, I will have my secret agents compile all the scandals and misdeeds of each of your families into a book and send it to various regions. I’m sure everyone will be very curious.”

This move indeed proved ruthless. These people valued their reputation the most. They had assumed the emperor would not say much, thinking that the law wouldn’t punish the many. However, they hadn’t expected that Jingdi had already made up his mind. Once he was determined, how could he allow their interference?

“Please Your Majesty forgive us,” everyone knelt down begging for mercy.

Many began to tremble, unsure of what had happened in their own families. Hearing the emperor speak like this, they knew he must be aware of many secrets. Thinking about these scandals being sent to various regions, some even fainted.

This was indeed a great humiliation!

While the tension was rising here, a small eunuch quickly approached Lai Xi and whispered a few words. Upon hearing this, Lai Xi frowned slightly and promptly informed the emperor beside him.

No one knew what had happened.

They all silently watched.

The emperor’s expression softened slightly.

“Prince Liu requests an audience? Hmph!”

Yan Lie had actually returned.

Jingdi did not know the reason for his return this time, but he was not worried either, since the court was already under his control.

“Summon him!”

Many ministers secretly sighed in relief, hoping that Prince Liu had returned to stop the emperor.

How could the ancestral rules be changed so easily!

In no time, a man dressed in monk’s robes, already having taken his vows, entered.

He did not kneel: “This humble monk greets Your Majesty.”

Jingdi did not hold it against him.

“Prince Liu has returned at a timely moment.” Jingdi’s tone was laced with mockery.

“Humble monk heard of Empress Shen’s misfortune and specially returned. I did not expect a major event to be happening in the court.”

Jingdi looked at Prince Liu’s calm expression, raised his eyebrows, but did not respond.

Xu Daren was in a difficult position, looking towards Prince Liu.

“Prince Liu, please persuade the emperor. The harem absolutely cannot be handled like this! How can Empress Shen monopolize the emperor’s favor? Today’s matter is surely instigated by this woman. How can such a seductive woman—ah—”

Before Xu Daren could finish speaking, Prince Liu suddenly reached out and grabbed his throat…

“Heavens, Prince Liu, please let go…,” the minister who spoke turned around and saw the emperor’s gaze, finally swallowing the remaining words.

The emperor had not said a word, so what could they say?

Everyone watched helplessly as Prince Liu, dressed in monk’s robes, committed the most terrifying act imaginable.

This was—taking a life!

Jingdi remained silent, watching Prince Liu’s hands tightening, while Xu Daren struggled more and more weakly.

“I once promised an old friend that I would take good care of Empress Shen. Since I made that promise, I will not let anyone who harms her go unpunished. Since you have slandered Empress Shen, you shall go underground to apologize to my old friend!”

Xu Daren struggled desperately, but gradually lost all strength.

Not a single person dared to utter another word in the entire court.

Many of the remonstrating officials were terrified, having never witnessed someone being killed so brutally before.

The military officials were somewhat better off, but still astonished by Prince Liu’s actions.

They had seen killing before, but a man in monk’s robes, with a face of compassion, killing without hesitation—that was the most terrifying kind of person.

Moreover, in their eyes, this old friend was most likely the Empress Dowager.

Before her death, the Empress Dowager had bestowed titles upon Shen Layue, ending the enmity between the two brothers.

Looking at it now, the Empress Dowager must have truly cared deeply for Empress Shen.

Of course, there were those who thought more deeply, but seeing the expressions of the emperor and Prince Liu, they dared not entertain even a single thought, as if even a fleeting thought could bring about their demise!

Regardless of the truth, regardless of whether Prince Liu’s words were true, that old friend must be the Empress Dowager, definitely the Empress Dowager.

Some with trembling bodies regretted speaking out earlier.

It turned out that Prince Liu had not come to the palace to help them stop the emperor, but to ensure the emperor faced no obstacles.

At this moment, everyone was kneeling, the only ones standing in the court were Emperor Jing and Prince Liu.

And there lay Xu Daren’s cold, lifeless body, devoid of any warmth.