At this moment, who could forget Princess Shuangxia? She was the first princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, spanning three generations. The late emperor had favored her and even bestowed upon her a group of secret guards. Even Emperor Mingxian himself was probably somewhat envious of those guards. Add to that the Xuanyuan Army, and she was the most untouchable woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty! If she really insisted, even Emperor Mingxian wouldn't dare to confront her directly. Wouldn't their children be snatched away for no reason? Just thinking about it made everyone's hearts bleed!
"Your Majesty, this old minister has a son in his later years, who is meant to carry on the family line. I would never hand him over to anyone else."
"Your Majesty, this son of mine is my eldest son, and he will inherit my mantle in the future. I will absolutely not bear to part with him!"
The ministers knelt and begged, and even Emperor Mingxian's head ached from their weeping. Ouyang Yue, however, coldly said, "My lords, it's not that I'm unreasonable. This matter is obvious. Baili Lianxiang has declared that Baili Nianchen is my prince's biological son, and the blood test has passed. This proves that anyone who passes the blood test is my prince's biological son. This isn't my statement, but Baili Lianxiang's. Of course, Consort Sun has always highly recommended this method. It was Consort Sun who came up with it, and I must thank her for her kindness. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to bring over a dozen noble young men and women to continue the Chen Prince's lineage. This has saved me a lot of trouble."
As soon as Ouyang Yue finished speaking, the expressions of everyone in the back garden changed. Consort Sun, sitting in the seat of honor, felt a chill run down her spine. Because this involved the children of Ronghe, everyone in the manor glared at Consort Sun with hatred. If it weren't for Consort Sun's meddling, if it weren't for her deliberate actions, would they be facing this predicament? The saying goes, "Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no descendants." If their own sons were forcibly taken away, they would have no face to meet anyone in the afterlife!
It's all Consort Sun's fault! That vile woman, relying on the Emperor's favor, has now dared to overstep her bounds and even wants to use their children as leverage. She's utterly wicked and deserves to die!
Consort Sun felt a cold sweat break out all over her body. As a woman of high rank and power, she naturally wasn't afraid of anyone. She was confident she could handle one or two people, but facing twenty or thirty prominent families, including some imperial relatives, and being hated by so many, Consort Sun felt her heart pounding. So many people wanted to get rid of her; she had already offended them all, and now the issue of their lineages was involved. It seemed they were close to a point of no return. If these people petitioned Emperor Mingxian to demote her, she might even be banished to the Cold Palace! The combined power of these twenty or thirty people was definitely no less than that of the Lin and Sun families, perhaps even greater. Being targeted and hated by so many, Consort Sun wouldn't dare, no matter how bold she was!
"No! There must be a misunderstanding here. Maybe there's something wrong with the water, or maybe it's because Baili Nianchen and Prince Chen had already tested each other before, so there's some blood left mixed together that makes the blood able to mix. That must be it. Only Baili Nianchen is Prince Chen's own flesh and blood, and has nothing to do with the other families!"
Princess Shuangxia suddenly roared, "Sun Dixiang, you really don't take me seriously at all! I was just trying to scare them! Fine! You all dare to bully me! Today, I will not hesitate to use the secret guards bestowed by the late emperor. I will take all these young masters and ladies from various families with me. Sun Dixiang, this is the price you pay for insulting me today!"
"Consort Sun, shut up! The Fifth Prince and the Princess are all dead, do you want to leave this old minister childless as well!"
"How could Consort Sun be so cruel? It's an outrage against Heaven!"
"He deserves to die!"
"After death, you will go to hell, where you will be skinned alive, your body will be pulverized, and you will suffer a terrible death!"
Upon hearing this, those people were so frightened that they didn't care about anything else. They knew that if they were united at this moment, even if Consort Sun wanted to settle scores later, she wouldn't be able to find them. Consort Sun was already in the wrong, and with so many people, she couldn't possibly make a move against them! In addition, Consort Sun had already offended Princess Shuangxia, and compared to her, they couldn't afford to offend the latter. At least Emperor Mingxian gave Princess Shuangxia face, but as their own woman, Emperor Mingxian didn't give her any face at all. Moreover, it concerned the continuation of their family line. Even if they completely offended Consort Sun, they couldn't do anything about it!
These court officials made malicious accusations one after another, instantly changing the mood of the room. Consort Sun's face turned red and then pale as she was pointed at, trembling as she pointed downwards, wanting to curse but too angry to utter a sound!
Ouyang Yue was still smiling, but her eyes were unusually cold as she said, "This princess thanks Consort Sun for her help. She knows that this princess is still not pregnant after marrying into the Chen Prince's mansion, and she is quite anxious because she is worried about not being able to give the prince a son. Now this opportunity has come. Consort Sun is truly kind-hearted!"
Ouyang Yue added fuel to the fire, and Consort Sun nearly fainted from anger.
Then, it was as if a 'boom' exploded in the flower garden!
What?! Consort Sun is actually in cahoots with Princess Chen! Consort Sun deliberately plotted these schemes to steal their son and daughter?!
Normally, these people wouldn't be so irrational, but with Princess Shuangxia's words beforehand, they were already convinced that Consort Sun's children were all dead. Now, it's highly likely that this was a deliberate attempt to curry favor with Prince Chen's family. But what they shouldn't have done was use their children to curry favor; those were their lifelines!
Those angry, reddened eyes made Consort Sun feel as if she were being stared at by a pack of vicious wolves, sending chills down her spine. Only then did she realize what it meant to reap what you sow. Originally, she only wanted to deliberately create chaos in Prince Chen's mansion so that she could take the opportunity to control it. Who knew that it would turn out like this? This was something she never expected!
However, if Consort Sun thought that everything was over, she was being far too wishful. The matter was not over yet!
☆、202, Consort Sun was paralyzed with fear!
All the officials were furious at Consort Sun. Even Emperor Mingxian couldn't do anything about it. He could intimidate one or two people, but a whole group of them was in the wrong. Was he trying to make people feel cold? Smart people wouldn't speak up at a time like this.
Furthermore, Consort Sun deserved it; she insisted on having that blood-drop test, which gave them ammunition against her. Now, with so many successful blood mixes, and given that Fu Shun is Emperor Mingxian's most favored confidant, this result is quite convincing. Even if Fu Shun was acting on Emperor Mingxian's orders, so what? This clearly shows that Emperor Mingxian is on Prince Chen's side, which is why these ministers are acting without restraint, expressing their deepest resentment.
If it's said that wives and concubines who have no children should be divorced, then those who steal or kill one's own offspring should die. These ministers' hatred for Consort Sun is not without reason. There are also those who are actually imperial relatives. Even though Consort Sun holds a high position and is the emperor's bedmate, the emperor wouldn't easily touch those people, and Consort Sun couldn't afford to offend them.
Consort Sun's face was pale, while the Empress, watching with amusement, said, "Consort Sun, I wonder if you considered this situation? You acted so recklessly before, you didn't expect to offend everyone, did you? Alas, Consort Sun, really! The offspring of each household are the lifeblood of their respective families, how can you joke about them? Such anger is understandable. Jian'er just passed away, it's understandable that Consort Sun feels unbalanced seeing these boys, but this time it was far too risky." As she spoke, she sighed, seemingly feeling sorry and helpless. Although she didn't agree, she also felt sorry for Consort Sun, which only made the latter more resentful and angry.
The Empress is adding fuel to the fire, and deliberately saying things that hurt her deeply. How hateful!
The others in the back garden looked even worse upon hearing this. Princess Shuangxia sneered and said firmly, "Your Majesty, you should order the child to be taken away. I can go back and make some arrangements."
Princess Shuangxia's words were serious, and Emperor Mingxian was stunned. Previously, Princess Shuangxia had only spoken to him twice: once to send Xuanyuan Chaohua, at a young age, to the border to receive the Xuanyuan army, and once to request a title for Ouyang Yue—though those were requests. This time, however, she was forcing him to give an order. This was unprecedented. Although Princess Shuangxia was serious and aloof within the royal family, she wasn't overly arrogant, and she always acted in the best interests of the royal family. If things were to go according to Princess Shuangxia's wishes today, Emperor Mingxian and Consort Sun would likely become the targets of their accusations and insults. Even if they dared not openly admit it, the relationship between the emperor and his ministers would inevitably sour.
Thus, the Emperor had no choice but to speak: "Imperial Aunt, so many children from various households want to go with you, some of whom are only sons for generations. Your Majesty is kind and compassionate and would not want to see them suffer like this."
Princess Shuangxia sneered, "I usually wouldn't have the heart to do such a thing, but I can't bear to see my granddaughter suffer. I haven't been involved in court affairs for many years, but I've always been diligent and conscientious. Some of you here have received my kindness. I only had this one granddaughter after many years, and I wouldn't dare let her suffer any injustice. Yet, there are these troublesome ones. They think they're something special, wielding their power like a royal decree. When I was born, she was crawling on the ground eating insects!" Princess Shuangxia didn't explicitly state anything, but everyone felt a sense of shame.
Leaving aside the royal relatives present, although Princess Shuangxia had served three emperors and was renowned, and usually aloof, her actions within the royal family were undeniable. If she hadn't insisted on marrying Xuanyuan Hu, how could the late emperor have ascended the throne at such a crucial moment? Even disregarding these matters, if any member of the royal family faced difficulties, as long as they weren't guilty of wrongdoing or heinous acts, Princess Shuangxia, however aloof, would still offer assistance. Previously, most of them believed that a royal descendant like Baili Chen, unable to bear jealousy, might act recklessly outside, which wasn't impossible; they secretly believed it. Furthermore, the blood test was a valid procedure, and they assumed there would be no problems, so naturally no one dared to interfere. This was still a grandson of Emperor Mingxian. Although the Crown Prince and several princes had married and established their own residences, because of their late marriages, none of the princes had children yet. If Baili Nianchen were to have a child, it would be Emperor Mingxian's first grandson, representing a far greater significance. They dared not speak.
But now that Princess Shuangxia has mentioned it, I can't help but feel a little ashamed. Princess Shuangxia helped us without asking for anything in return, and she never talked about it outside. But even so, when it is mentioned, the effect is completely different. Anyone would feel guilty and embarrassed.
Of course, when some people finally understood what Princess Shuangxia meant, they looked at Consort Sun's expression and their mood worsened.
Princess Shuangxia is of the same generation as the Empress Dowager. Even if the Empress Dowager doesn't get along with her, she still has to give her some respect. Just now, Consort Sun's aggressive attitude showed that she didn't take Consort Sun seriously at all. She looked very mean. Yet she has been Emperor Mingxian's favorite concubine for many years. It seems that she really is a 'favored concubine'. She was only pampered in body but spoiled in mind!
No wonder the Fifth Princess, Baili Le, dared to murder a high-ranking official in the capital, and no wonder Baili Jian was so audacious as to frame a loyal minister. Like mother, like son; they are all so stupid. It's a waste of food to keep such people in the world. They deserve to die the most!
Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingxian looked somewhat embarrassed. Even if Emperor Mingxian was truly unfilial and did not want to listen to the late emperor's words and respect Princess Shuangxia, he would not dare to embarrass Princess Shuangxia in person. Moreover, he would not ruin his own reputation in this way. Emperor Mingxian himself still admired Princess Shuangxia's experiences.
"Chaohua, deliver the tiger tally!" Princess Shuangxia suddenly shouted.
Xuanyuan Chaohua immediately stood up, took out the tiger tally, and was about to hand it forward when Princess Shuangxia pointed towards Emperor Mingxian: "I know, it's all this trouble caused by this thing. I had no intention of vying for power, but the Princess's residence has many people, young and old, and the Xuanyuan Army was won by the Prince Consort. I've always been cautious because I don't want him to resent me after I die. However, this thing is not something my Princess's residence can accept. My two children are still young, and I cannot let them lose their lives for my selfish desires. Today they might find a lowly person to use on their children, but what about next time? If they can frame someone once, they can do it again. I truly despise these filthy things. Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and accept the tiger tally. From now on, the Xuanyuan Army and the Princess's residence, and Chaohua, will have no connection whatsoever!"
"What! Hand over the Tiger Tally? How could the Princess make such a decision!"
"This! This is an army of over 200,000! How can you just hand it over so casually? What is the Princess thinking?"
"Xuanyuan Chaohua didn't refuse at all. He was used to being a general, so he was really willing to be a soldier."
"This... Your Majesty, this is impossible! The Xuanyuan Army has always been the divine army of the Great Zhou Dynasty. We cannot do without the Xuanyuan family!" However, an old minister suddenly knelt down and said. The old minister was the emperor's confidant. His words surprised and puzzled the others.
In fact, throughout history, the emperors have always feared those whose achievements overshadow their own. Back then, Xuan Yuanhu commanded half of the Great Zhou Dynasty's military force, and everyone feared his appearance. Did the emperor not feel any fear then? Although Xuan Yuanchaohua does not have the same vigor as Xuan Yuanhu did back then, he has just been assigned another 50,000 troops. With such a massive force, is Emperor Mingxian not afraid?
Fear! They certainly have reservations, but with Princess Shuangxia in command, it's impossible for Xuanyuan Chaohua to rebel. But what about later? What if Princess Shuangxia dies? This is probably what Emperor Mingxian thinks about most. However, everything is still within control for now. And what does the Xuanyuan Army represent? It represents the gate of a strategic border town of the Great Zhou Dynasty. That's something passed down through generations of the Xuanyuan family; it's their talisman, earned through their sacrifices and dedication. Their internal unity isn't something you can just change a general for; you can't just lead it as you please.
Even if you send a more capable general, you'll be useless if the other side doesn't respect you.
For so many years, the Xuanyuan Army has protected the country. If they knew that the Emperor's beloved concubine had forced and framed them, ultimately causing Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua to lose heart and prepare to abandon the Xuanyuan Army, what would those soldiers think? They would never say that Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua were irresponsible; they were forced into it. They would think that Emperor Mingxian lacked responsibility, was wary of loyal officials, heartless, and even unworthy of being an emperor. To the soldiers and the people, although Emperor Mingxian was a leader, it was the soldiers fighting on the front lines who protected their country and shed their blood for them. In their hearts, Emperor Mingxian was far, far removed from their heroes. They would respect Emperor Mingxian, but that was due to the influence of class and hierarchy. What truly swayed their thoughts were the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the country.
If these servants were to find out that Emperor Mingxian's beloved concubine had so forcefully forced Baili Chen with an unknown bastard child, intending to make Princess Shuangxia's granddaughter and Xuanyuan Chaohua's younger sister die, causing her to become disheartened and withdraw from the court, then Emperor Mingxian would be drowned in spittle every day. What does it matter what kind of emperor you are! In their eyes, Consort Sun's actions must have been instigated by Emperor Mingxian; otherwise, where would she get such audacity? Consort Sun's actions would surely have earned him great hatred, and perhaps some would fabricate stories to deliberately disrupt the court, and these commoners might also join in.
Only a fool would accept the tiger tally at a time like this; that would be courting disaster!
Princess Shuangxia said very seriously, "Your Majesty, please withdraw the Tiger Tally and restore peace to my Princess's residence!"
Emperor Mingxian's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Princess Shuangxia, who stood ramrod straight, her aged eyes gleaming with a sharp light. He knew that Princess Shuangxia was absolutely serious. If he hesitated even slightly, it would be impossible for her to continue managing the court. In fact, if he wanted to see her again, she wouldn't even see him! Emperor Mingxian had practically watched Princess Shuangxia grow up, and he knew her very well. Once this imperial aunt made up her mind, not even ten oxen could pull her back.
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable. The Xuanyuan Army was built by Your Majesty's husband, and it holds special significance for both the Xuanyuan family and the Princess's residence. Moreover, Chaohua is a rare talent in the Great Zhou Dynasty. With him, the border will be stable and secure. How could I easily relinquish such a talent? Please calm down, Your Majesty. I will naturally give you a satisfactory answer to this matter. What do you think, Your Majesty?" Emperor Mingxian replied immediately, surprised.
Princess Shuangxia sneered, "I appreciate the Emperor's kindness, but these successive incidents have deeply disheartened me. Chaohua is so stubborn; she almost died. My granddaughter didn't cause any trouble, yet she was humiliated and slapped. How can I swallow this insult? If I can't even protect them, what kind of princess am I? I might as well just stay in the princess's residence and be a coward!"
Emperor Mingxian's face flushed slightly, and no one in the back garden dared to answer. They looked at Princess Shuangxia, who was dressed in a golden phoenix-embroidered court robe, with two pairs of phoenix hairpins forming an arc on her head, resembling a real phoenix with its head held high, exuding nobility, pride, and an aura that could not be looked at directly.
Princess Shuangxia wasn't deliberately keeping a low profile; rather, she felt she didn't need to flaunt herself in front of them—wasn't that obvious? But this excessive modesty made them forget who Princess Shuangxia was. Even if she wanted to demote Consort Sun now, Emperor Mingxian, no matter how foolish he was, would probably go along with it. This was Princess Shuangxia, the foremost woman of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the most admired heroine of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Emperor Mingxian's ascension to the throne was also due to Princess Shuangxia's help. Because of this, Emperor Mingxian had no reason to allow others to humiliate Ouyang Yue!
Emperor Mingxian's expression stiffened. Because of Baili Chen's unpopularity, he also disliked Ouyang Yue. Therefore, even when Consort Sun was being aggressive, he hadn't said anything. Besides, the blood test wasn't fake; how could he have known there were such major flaws and problems, pushing him to this point? As an emperor, he also harbored some dissatisfaction. At this moment, could he really say something like, "I'll relinquish military power, and that will chill the hearts of the people"?
He had no choice but to endure Princess Shuangxia's coercion! He had to accept it, even if she couldn't utter a single fart!
Princess Shuangxia was untouchable, but that didn't mean others couldn't: "Baili Lianxiang, how dare you commit the heinous crime of confusing the royal bloodline! You deserve to die! Speak! Who ordered you to do this!" Emperor Mingxian immediately rebuked Baili Lianxiang. Baili Lianxiang was already terrified because of the discovery of so much mixed blood, and now, after being rebuked by Emperor Mingxian, she almost wet herself. She trembled and fell to the ground, her mouth shaking but unable to utter a sound.
"Speak!" Emperor Mingxian was even more disgusted by her behavior and scolded her again. Baili Lianxiang was so frightened that her face turned even paler. She trembled and dared not not answer. But at this moment, a crisp child's voice rang out: "You bad thing, how dare you talk to my mother like that? Let me tell you, my mother is going to be a princess in the future. She will definitely have someone beat you to death! And you old hag, how dare you complain? You and that vixen are in cahoots. When I grow up, I will lead people to kill you all!" The usually lovely Baili Nianchen, seeing her mother so frightened that she could not speak, actually took a step forward, puffed out her little chest, and cursed everyone.
Looking at the adorable little boy, whose face was now filled with malice, and whose innocent eyes seemed to hold a hint of gloom, Ouyang Yue was stunned. Children at this age should be innocent and pure; how could she have taught him to be so wicked? They say you can see a person's future from the age of three, and this boy, though only two years old, was almost fully formed. If he grew up, he would likely be a vicious and ruthless person!
However, the little boy's smug expression stunned everyone in the back garden. What was this brat saying? Did he even know who he was insulting? This was Emperor Mingxian, who held the lives of the nation's people in his hands! The saying "a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger" perfectly described this kind of ignorant fool. And now he was even smugly going up to Baili Lianxiang and saying, "Mother, see? Nianchen scared them all! Humph, when Nianchen goes to the Prince's mansion and becomes the heir, he might even become a prince and then the emperor! They all say the emperor is the highest official in the world. If anyone is mean to you then, I'll kill them all!"
Baili Lianxiang was too frightened to speak. At this moment, a figure rushed up from the back garden. The man had a gloomy face and kicked Baili Nianchen's small body.
Baili Nianchen was small and was kicked into the air. He was so scared that his eyes widened but he couldn't say a word. With a "bang!", he was slammed hard to the ground. The pain made his eyes roll back and he opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out.
The man, however, suddenly knelt on the ground with a "thud" and repeatedly kowtowed to Emperor Mingxian. It was none other than Prince Ming. He said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! This unworthy grandson of mine, I don't know where he learned these words from, he deserves to die a thousand deaths! But it was absolutely not this old minister who said them! This old minister absolutely did not say such things!" Baili Lianxiang was Prince Ming's daughter. If Baili Nianchen would say such things, it was probably related to Prince Ming's mansion. Anyone would think of higher authorities. Prince Ming was terrified. He truly hadn't said any of these things. From a young age, he had no ambition, only thinking about eating, drinking, and having fun. If Emperor Mingxian truly believed him, he might die a violent death at any time.
Emperor Mingxian's face was gloomy. How could he be in a good mood after being scolded by a mere brat? "Oh, does Imperial Uncle really not know? Or is it that Imperial Uncle has always thought this way?"
Ming Wang shook his head repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This old minister has never said such words to this wretched mother and son, nor has he ever had such thoughts. You know that I am good for nothing but eating, drinking and having fun. Even if I were to squander everything one day, how could I do something that would disgrace the royal family?"
Emperor Mingxian coldly stared at Baili Lianxiang, not responding to King Ming's words. King Ming was taken aback. Although he enjoyed lingering among women, it wasn't easy to find a few fools among the royal family. He understood the meaning in Emperor Mingxian's eyes, turned around, and kicked Baili Lianxiang. Baili Lianxiang was already terrified and collapsed from the kick, convulsing in pain.
At this moment, Baili Nianchen cried out, "Bad grandfather, you all deserve to die, you all deserve to die!"
The Prince Ming was trembling with rage. In the Prince's Palace, he was the one who had the final say, but now he was being insulted by a concubine's daughter whom he had always looked down upon, a lowly child whose origins he didn't know!
Actually, when Baili Lianxiang was forced out by the legitimate daughter, Ming Wang didn't care much. A few years later, during a drunken night, he was tricked by Baili Lianxiang's birth mother and had sex with her for several days. Fortunately for Baili Lianxiang's mother, she became pregnant soon after. Although Ming Wang had many children, he treated those who were fertile well. Baili Lianxiang's mother had no other requests than to see her daughter, which Ming Wang readily agreed to, sending people to bring Baili Lianxiang over. However, to everyone's surprise, Baili Lianxiang became pregnant again. Ming Wang angrily demanded to know who her lover was, but Baili Lianxiang just cried and shook her head. He wanted to kill her, but her mother stopped him, almost causing a miscarriage, so Ming Wang had to give up.
Anyway, he figured it was just another child, something he could afford, so he figured he could just keep him out of the palace. But today, for some reason, Baili Lianxiang insisted on coming to the palace, and with her mother whispering in her ear, Prince Ming naturally brought her in. However, he had repeatedly warned her to be careful before she entered the palace, and yet this had turned out to be such a big mess. Even that little beast dared to yell at him! Prince Ming lost his temper: "You shameless thing! I don't know where you gave birth to this bastard child, and you never teach him anything good. He's so young and you're already teaching him revenge and murder! What's the point of keeping this bastard? Kill him!"
The Ming King was furious and gave orders in a trembling voice. He had guards behind him, but they dared not act recklessly in the palace. The Emperor waved his hand, and Fu Shun led the eunuchs over. With a grab, he lifted Baili Nianchen up, and Baili Nianchen was still struggling and cursing.
Baili Lianxiang's expression changed drastically at this moment: "No, no! I'll talk, I'll talk! It was Princess Sheng who sent someone to tell me this. She made me do this and promised me many benefits. I... I didn't know such a big thing would happen!"
"Plop!" Princess Leng Caidie, who was standing to the side, immediately knelt down and cried, "Father, this vile woman is talking nonsense! Your daughter-in-law absolutely did not do it!"
The Empress suddenly laughed: "Oh, so it's Princess Sheng. I heard that Consort Sun's Mingxiang Palace, not long after the Prince died, she often invited you to the palace to keep her company. Consort Sun is also pitiful, with none of her children by her side, so she does need to talk. But Princess Sheng is quite busy, having to keep Consort Sun company and also go to find Baili Lianxiang."
Consort Sun's expression changed drastically: "What does Your Majesty mean? Are you saying I orchestrated this?" Wasn't that exactly what the Empress meant? Leng Caidie frequently visited Consort Sun in the palace, and Baili Lianxiang conveniently appeared at this time, carrying a child and trying to force it into Prince Chen's residence. Who else could be the prime suspect but Consort Sun? Those who knew Leng Caidie knew she was a bit dim-witted and sharp-tongued woman; she probably couldn't have come up with such a vicious scheme.
"Consort Sun, I never said you ordered it. Aren't you being a little too sensitive? I was just trying to comfort Princess Sheng. How come you've taken it all out of proportion? Is this what they mean by having a guilty conscience?" the Empress sneered.
Consort Sun suddenly stood up and rebuked Baili Lianxiang: "You better explain clearly who instructed you. Don't think that just because you can't prove yourself innocent, you can falsely accuse others. With the Emperor above, how can you continue to spout nonsense?"
Baili Lianxiang was startled and suddenly froze. Then she said, "I'm talking nonsense, I'm talking nonsense... I missed Nianchen's father too much, it's my fault... it's my fault!" Baili Lianxiang kept muttering to herself, and seemed to be a little mentally unstable.
The Empress said coldly, "Consort Sun, why does your statement sound like a threat?"
Consort Sun looked coldly at the Empress: "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. I was just offering a few words of advice. Look at her somewhat mad appearance; she seems to have been abnormal to begin with. How can we believe what she says?"
The Empress snorted coldly, but said indifferently, "No matter what, although my sister's plan was good this time, it failed. Who would have thought that so many children would be related to the Seventh Prince by blood? Heh, it's laughable if word gets out."
Consort Sun remained silent, her face cold. Meanwhile, Prince Shangming had already begun sending men to brutally beat Baili Lianxiang. Judging from Baili Lianxiang's tearful state, even if she was truly being manipulated, she probably wouldn't reveal it. Moreover, this was in the garden, in front of so many people; they wouldn't dare interrogate her privately. Besides, this involved so many innocent children and the issue of continuing the family line; most people hoped for a swift resolution. Once this woman was dead, the previous events would be forgotten, as if they had never existed.
Princess Shuangxia suddenly said, "Is the reason why the Prince of Ming is so agitated also related to the mastermind behind this, or did you already know?"
Even though Emperor Mingxian still held himself to a certain degree of seniority, Prince Ming dared not be presumptuous in front of Princess Shuangxia for a long time. He awkwardly smiled and said, "What does Shuangxia mean by this? Why do you talk about your own brother like that?"
Princess Shuangxia said, "Although Baili Lianxiang is a concubine's daughter of your household, she is involved in maliciously confusing the royal bloodline and allowing a bastard to infiltrate the court. If you simply beat and scold her and that's it, she might not serve as a warning in the future. Wouldn't some people with crooked thoughts dare to take the child and randomly claim it as their own? This time it was only Prince Chen's residence, but if next time it's the Crown Prince's residence, it could be a matter of great importance that shakes the foundation of the country." As she spoke, Princess Shuangxia laughed mockingly. Prince Ming was startled, while the Crown Prince and Empress's faces darkened.
The Empress said, "Your Majesty, what the Imperial Aunt said makes sense. Even if Baili Lianxiang really has some mental problems, this is not a trivial matter. It absolutely cannot be let go and must be severely punished!"
Emperor Mingxian nodded. Baili Lianxiang had committed a capital crime, but beheading alone was not enough to atone for her transgressions. If it weren't for the fact that Prince Ming was a member of the royal family and his uncle, Baili Lianxiang would have been executed and his family property confiscated!
"What punishment does the Empress want?"
"Tear him apart with five horses!" the Empress said coldly.
Both the Ming King and Baili Lianxiang were taken aback, but the former only showed a moment of surprise, while Baili Lianxiang was trembling like a leaf, crying out, "Spare me... spare me..."
Consort Sun's face paled upon hearing this.
Ouyang Yue couldn't help but sigh, "Speaking of which, Consort Sun was so aggressive earlier that I thought she was the one who instigated Empress Mu. It turns out it was all a misunderstanding. I, the Princess Consort, must apologize to Consort Sun for my rudeness earlier. Please don't hold it against me." Ouyang Yue was surprisingly respectful, bowing properly to Consort Sun. However, her words were a slap in the face to Consort Sun. Even though Baili Lianxiang and Leng Caidie didn't point it out, everyone knew perfectly well what was going on. However, without evidence, they wouldn't act recklessly, and the situation today was somewhat chaotic.
Emperor Mingxian would never allow the royal family to bear another scandal, and he certainly wouldn't pursue Consort Sun too deeply. Everyone here is shrewd and calculating. However, that doesn't mean Ouyang Yue would let Consort Sun off so easily. She smiled sincerely and said, "Father, whether this woman is truly insane or feigning madness, she dared to do something so contrary to the laws of nature. Severe punishment is certain. The Empress said she would be torn apart by five horses, and I, your daughter-in-law, also feel that she deserves it. However, since we need to serve as a warning, it should be held in the back garden. Consort Sun spoke righteously before, so I imagine she would be quite happy to participate in this supervision."
Consort Sun's expression changed: "Princess Consort Chen, what do you mean by this? I am of extraordinary dignity, yet you dare to make me the executioner. Do you even respect me?"
Ouyang Yue smiled with unusual gentleness and obedience: "Your Highness, I don't just regard you as someone to be respected, but I hold you in my heart. The reason I acted this way was entirely for your sake. Anyone who didn't know better would think that you were deliberately targeting my Prince Chen's residence. Your Highness is selfless and impartial, and supervising the execution at this time is the best thing for you. Everything I do is for Your Highness's good!"
Consort Sun was furious, but Emperor Mingxian directly ordered, "Consort, Mingyue's suggestion is excellent. Guards, immediately execute Baili Lianxiang by dismemberment. Consort, go and supervise the execution!"