"When did you officially assume the status of a Dowager Consort?"
Since she is the mother of the night, she should naturally be the Empress Dowager of the current dynasty.
"Once the Minister of Justice has dealt with the cases of the Zhong family and the Prince of Zhaoyang's residence, I will announce this to the world and restore the mother's status."
"Okay, sure."
Hai Ling yawned as she spoke. She was really tired. She hadn't felt sleepy at all while waiting for him. Ye Lingfeng told Shi Mei to wait, then took off his clothes and got into bed. He held Hai Ling and put her to sleep. Hai Ling was quickly coaxed to sleep, but he himself couldn't fall asleep. Everything that happened tonight flashed through his mind like a whirlwind. He thought of what that woman had said at the end. It wasn't because they were so powerful, but because another woman had ruined everything for her.
The woman she was referring to was naturally Ling'er. Thinking of everything Ling'er had done for him, he felt that having her in his life was enough.
Thinking about it, west Xiu was right. If it weren't for Ling'er, he might have really fallen for her scheme, because he really couldn't imagine that she wasn't his mother. Maybe he would have been eliminated by her by now, and Prince Zhaoyang would have ascended the throne.
Ye Lingfeng looked down at the little woman in his arms, who was sleeping soundly. In her sleep, a large hand reached out and wrapped around his waist. Because she felt him beside her, she didn't look worried at all, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"Ling'er, I will always stay by your side and protect you and the child."
Ye Lingfeng murmured. He didn't sleep that night, gazing intently at the little woman in his arms. He then reached out and touched her belly. The baby in her belly was his son. He would be a good man who would cherish his beloved woman and love his son. Just thinking about this made him proud. In the future, he would not only be an emperor, but also a husband and a father. He also had a mother who loved him. Everything was so beautiful, so beautiful that it felt unreal to him. He was afraid that if the wind blew, all this happiness would disappear.
The time for the morning court session arrived quickly. Ye Lingfeng got up quietly, so as not to disturb Hai Ling, who had only gone to sleep close to morning.
After Ye Lingfeng finished dressing, he kissed her forehead before leaving the palace with satisfaction and heading to the Guangming Zhengtai Hall for the morning court session.
At the morning court, everyone was trembling with fear. They all knew what had happened at the Ministry of Justice the night before. They never expected that the Empress Dowager was not the Emperor's mother, but that the Emperor's mother was Consort Jinlan. Furthermore, they were shocked to learn that Prince Zhaoyang was not of royal blood, but rather the illegitimate child of Xixiu and Sima Yuan. For a moment, no one in the court dared to speak out. At this juncture, it was better to avoid trouble. The Emperor was furious, and to step forward would likely be to invite certain death.
Therefore, nothing much happened at the morning court session. Ye Lingfeng ordered the confiscation of the west residence and the imprisonment of all members of the west family. Thinking of west Xiu and the west family's sinister intentions, Ye Lingfeng gave the order with a dark face.
"Execute them all, leave no one alive, and also seize all those who have connections with the west family."
The entire hall was filled with dread. The Emperor was becoming increasingly ruthless, domineering, bloodthirsty, and cold-blooded. The court of Beilu had reached a point where it was truly under his control.
Jiang Yuan, the Marquis of Huguo who had always been closest to the west family, collapsed on the main hall. Many people looked at them with sympathy, but no one dared to step forward. After all, they had gotten involved with the Xi family. When the Empress Dowager was alive, they had relied on the west family's prestige to flaunt their power in Bianliang City. Unexpectedly, they had come to such bad luck in such a short time.
Serves them right.
The case of Prime Minister Zhongli involves the Prince Zhaoyang's Mansion, the Western Mansion, and then the Marquis of Huguo's Mansion.
A large number of officials were investigated and their assets were confiscated. These corrupt officials each had a considerable amount of money in their families. After the confiscation, all of it was turned over to the national treasury. As a result, the national treasury of Beilu suddenly had a lot more silver, so there was no longer any worry about money.
Compared to the bloody power struggles in the imperial court, the inner palace was much quieter.
When Hailing had nothing to do, she would go to Lanqing Palace to keep the Empress Dowager company. The two women got along very well, drinking tea, chatting, and taking walks together, enjoying a very leisurely life.
The cases involving the Zhong family and the Prince Zhaoyang's residence have been settled. All of Prime Minister Zhongli's direct relatives have been executed, and the remaining men have been sent to the army, while the women have been made military prostitutes. All the remaining women in the Prince Zhaoyang's residence have been made military prostitutes.
After dealing with the people from the Zhong family and the Zhaoyang Prince's residence, the emperor has announced to the world that Xi Xiu switched Consort Jinlan's child and committed all sorts of evil deeds. Therefore, Consort Jinlan is still the current emperor's birth mother and has been granted the title of Empress Dowager, residing in the palace.
In the garden behind Lanqing Palace.
Empress Dowager Jinlan held Hailing's hand as they walked and talked. The maids following behind kept their distance and whispered among themselves, creating a very pleasant atmosphere.
"Ling'er, you're over eight months pregnant now, and you'll be giving birth in another month. You're not allowed to do anything strenuous lately, understand? This last month is very important."
Empress Dowager Jinlan gave Hailing some caring advice. Hailing naturally knew this, and she was very happy to hear the Empress Dowager's gentle words of concern. She nodded with a smile.
"Don't worry, Mother, Ling'er will be careful."
"Ling'er, do you know? Whenever I think of the Emperor's childhood, my heart aches terribly, and this hurts so much."
The Empress Dowager stopped, pressed her hand to her chest, and tears welled up in her eyes. Thinking of how her son had become someone else's pawn when he was young, her heart ached with pain and hatred. She hated that woman, Xi Xiu, for being so vicious, harming her son and then her son as well.
"Mother, don't think about the past. The Emperor is doing well now. You can give him the love you didn't give him before, and it will be the same."
Hailing could tell that her mother was sometimes very sad. She knew what that felt like. She had never taken care of her own son for a single day, yet she had been taking care of her enemy's child for over twenty years. No one would feel good about that.
"Um."
The Empress Dowager slightly suppressed her grief and her gaze fell on Hailing's belly. Her smile deepened. Although she hadn't given her son any love, now that her son was born, she would cherish this child and give this little darling the love she hadn't given her son, to make up for everything her son had lost.
"From now on, we'll love Ye together and never make him sad again."
Hailing gripped the Empress Dowager's hand tightly. In the sunlight, the two women looked at each other, then nodded firmly, deciding to protect the one they loved from now on.
In the Imperial Study.
Ye Lingfeng was processing memorials when he suddenly felt a chill throughout his body, growing colder and colder until he felt as if he were immersed in an icy pool. His hands and feet began to twitch uncontrollably. Ye Lingfeng's expression changed drastically. What was happening? Why did he feel so cold, as if even his blood was cold? What had gone wrong?
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Ye Lingfeng didn't want others to know his current condition, so he ignored it. After a while, the chill on his body subsided and he slowly regained his warmth. Then he gave orders to the people outside the door.
"Come in."
Shi Zhu entered, holding a letter in his hand: "Your Majesty, a young eunuch just delivered a letter, saying that it was dropped from somewhere and was meant for Your Majesty."
Shi Zhu stood respectfully, and seeing that the Emperor's expression was rather unpleasant, she couldn't help but look at her master with curiosity. What had happened?
Who delivered it?
"I don't know, and neither does the little eunuch. He said it flew over from somewhere unknown."
As soon as Shi Zhu finished speaking, Ye Lingfeng's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he said in a sinister tone, "It must be that woman Xi Xiu. I didn't expect her to have infiltrated the palace. I told you to send more people, how could you still let her in?"
"Your subordinate deserves to die."
Shi Zhu quickly admitted his guilt. He had indeed sent many more people, but he hadn't seen Xi Xiu in the palace. She used to be the Empress Dowager and must know many eunuchs in the palace. So, if he wanted to send a letter, he could just bribe someone: "I think it is very likely that Xi Xiu bribed people in the palace to send it in. We have been searching everywhere but have not found any suspicious people entering the palace."
"Yes, you all need to be careful."