Even if Ouyang Yue didn't understand before, now that Zhan Mama said this, what was there not to understand? The talk of her not returning home for three years as a routine matter, and the fact that it concerned the affairs of the emperor, clearly implied that she might have done something to betray Baili Chen during those three years, and that the Empress Dowager was worried about her chastity. While others disliked Ouyang Yue's return, at least they didn't immediately accuse her of immorality or having an affair; most were pleased. The Empress Dowager's intentions were clearly malicious. Besides, she and Baili Chen had already had sexual relations; what was there to investigate, and how could she investigate? It was all ultimately the Empress Dowager's business.
You must know that Baili Chen is now the Crown Prince. Even if he is still a prince, he is still a royal prince. If his wife is unfaithful, she will surely die. The Empress Dowager couldn't sit still as soon as she returned.
Ouyang Yue looked at Zhan Mama with cold eyes, but the latter said fearlessly, "Your Highness, the position of Empress is currently vacant. All matters related to it are to be handled by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is shrewd and capable. Although she has not interfered for many years, it is not a problem for her to take over these matters. Besides, the nannies sent by the Empress Dowager are all experienced and skilled. They will certainly not wrong Your Highness. As long as Your Highness has a clear conscience, what is there to be afraid of or afraid to investigate? Hehe."
Granny Zhan's smile made her appear even more sinister.
"What if I, the Crown Princess, disagree?" Ouyang Yue said indifferently.
Granny Zhan sneered, "I've already said that these palace maids are all experienced and will definitely not make a mistake in their inspection. Your Highness can rest assured. I know you're probably unhappy, but this is, after all, a rule passed down in the palace. For the past three years, the Crown Prince has not been by your side, and you haven't even had a servant who benefits from your presence. You've been the only one outside. Who knows what might have happened? For the sake of the royal family's reputation, and even more so for the Crown Prince's reputation, it's best for you to cooperate. Otherwise, if you insist on not inspecting, it will seem like you're guilty, which will only raise more suspicion, won't it? The Empress Dowager is doing this entirely for your own good."
"Hehe." Ouyang Yue laughed: "Don't say that I, the Crown Princess, have nothing to be ashamed of. I am an upright person and have never been threatened. This matter was not said by the Crown Prince or the Emperor. No matter who says it, it won't matter. Besides, I have a very good relationship with the Crown Prince. What can you find out? Do you think that having had a relationship with the Crown Prince will prove that I am impure? That's ridiculous."
Granny Zhan persisted, "What the Crown Princess said is far too disrespectful. The Empress Dowager manages the affairs of the inner palace; who dares to say she is unqualified? Besides, these palace maids are experienced and can find out if someone has had sexual intercourse recently. As long as the Crown Princess hasn't done anything disgraceful to the Crown Prince, she certainly won't wrong you." In truth, Granny Zhan knew that although those palace maids could find out about recent sexual activity and even deduce the proportion, it was only a general estimate and not accurate. It was easy to find out if someone had had sexual intercourse recently, but if they had recently done so, it was extremely difficult to infer past sexual activity from that. Those palace maids couldn't guarantee the accuracy of their findings.
However, Granny Zhan doesn't need to know whether it's true or not. As long as she confirms the suspicion that Ouyang Yue had sexual relations in the past three years, that's enough. There's no need for a final verdict. Ouyang Yue will live under the scrutiny of public opinion. It's even possible that Emperor Mingxian will secretly execute her as a precaution. This doesn't require a definitive answer. As long as these people investigate, the final result will be ambiguous. That's exactly what they want.
A surge of anger suddenly rose within Ouyang Yue, her fists clenching slightly. How had she endured the past three years? How had the Empress Dowager carried out her treacherous schemes? She had only just returned to the capital, barely settled in, and now the Empress Dowager was deliberately trying to disgust her again. She knew the Empress Dowager wouldn't be foolish enough to make a definitive judgment, but she knew there must be a backup plan. If the Empress Dowager's actions didn't cause problems, she wouldn't be worthy of the title. If it were anyone else speaking with such certainty, Ouyang Yue might actually have complied with the examination. But this was the Empress Dowager; she absolutely couldn't let these people get close, otherwise, even the darkest truths would be exposed, and she'd be unjustly embroiled in controversy.
"As expected of Granny Zhan, she is someone close to the Empress Dowager. Her demeanor and bearing are extraordinary." Baili Chen suddenly said, his tone full of flattery. Ouyang Yue looked at Baili Chen with a hint of doubt, her expression seemingly carrying a half-smile.
Granny Zhan was puzzled, but she still appreciated the words and smiled, "Your Highness is too kind. I have only learned a little bit by serving the Empress Dowager for a long time. How can I compare to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?"
"Bang!" Baili Chen slammed his hand on the table and roared, "You audacious dog servant! How dare you compare yourself to the Empress Dowager! You are nothing but a lowly servant! How dare you compete with the Empress Dowager? You have no sense of right and wrong! Guards! Beat this ignorant dog servant to death!"
Zhan Mama was stunned. She was the most beneficial person by the Empress Dowager's side. Even Emperor Mingxian would not deliberately treat her badly. Now, Baili Chen wanted to beat her to death. Did he offend the Empress Dowager? Was he stupid?
However, when a group of burly, fierce-looking guards suddenly rushed into the hall, Zhan Mama realized that Baili Chen was not joking at all. They were holding long, thick wooden sticks and clubs, and it was no joke. Zhan Mama was shocked: "Your Highness, I am the Empress Dowager's person. No matter what mistakes I have made, it is the Empress Dowager who will deal with them. It is not your place to interfere!"
"As expected of a bold and unruly servant! Not only is he audacious enough to compete with the Empress Dowager, but now he dares to threaten me, the Crown Prince! How could the Empress Dowager keep such an unruly dog? The Empress Dowager is the most particular about rules and etiquette. How could someone like her raise such a servant? You must be deceiving the Empress Dowager by pretending to obey her. Now you want to use the Empress Dowager as a shield. Isn't that maliciously slandering the Empress Dowager's character? Such a servant who tarnishes the royal family's reputation deserves to die a hundred times to atone for his sins! What are you all standing there for!" Baili Chen shouted angrily.
The people in the Crown Prince's residence were all Baili Chen's own people. At his command, all the guards rushed over and quickly pinned Zhan Mama to the ground. A thick stick, no wider than an adult's hand, swiftly struck Zhan Mama's body. With just one blow, Zhan Mama felt as if her entire body was being beaten to pieces; the pain caused her to convulse. The other palace maids who had come with Zhan Mama, seeing this, also wanted to step forward to stop her. After all, they had come with Zhan Mama, and Zhan Mama was the Empress Dowager's confidante. Even though the Empress Dowager's reputation was somewhat damaged, she was still the most noble woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Which of them, as servants, dared to be disrespectful or fearless?
"Stop hitting them! Stop hitting them!" Several palace maids went to stop them, but the guards of the Crown Prince's residence were extremely fierce: "Hit them!" one of them shouted, and the two palace maids who had stepped forward to pull them away were hit twice with a stick, and they immediately screamed and cried for their parents.
Baili Chen said quietly, "If you're so worried about Granny Zhan, you're probably one of her henchmen. If you step forward to stop her, it means you're with Granny Zhan. You're all guilty, so kill them all."
The palace maids were so frightened that they dared not speak. Before, they were only worried that if Zhan Mama was really beaten to death by the Crown Prince, they would have no way to explain it when they returned. But now it was a matter of their own lives. Who cared about whether Zhan Mama was alive or dead? Besides, after being hit by those two sticks, their bodies felt like they were falling apart. They did not want to be beaten a second time. They all shrank their necks and huddled to the side, not daring to look ahead.
The sticks that were hitting Zhan Mama didn't stop. Zhan Mama screamed in agony, "Stop hitting me! Ah, stop hitting me! I am the Empress Dowager's confidante. How dare you do this... The Empress Dowager will not let you get away with this! She will not let you get away with this! The Empress Dowager will definitely avenge me!" Zhan Mama's face was contorted with pain, but she stretched her neck and stared wide-eyed at Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue. She looked quite frightening.
However, this did not cause Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue to react in the slightest. Ouyang Yue simply looked at Zhan Mama, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes: "Zhan Mama, you have been by the Empress Dowager's side for many years, don't you know what kind of person the Empress Dowager is?"
Granny Zhan convulsed in pain, the sound of the wooden board echoing throughout the hall. Yet, a chill ran through her as Ouyang Yue slowly spoke: "Your Majesty sent you to examine me, the Crown Princess. Do you think these people are reliable? They're nothing but pawns; they'll all die soon after they return. Don't you understand that? And Granny Zhan, by bringing people to the Crown Prince's residence, you've clearly intended to deeply offend the Crown Prince and me. Has Your Majesty truly not considered the worst possible outcome? Has Granny Zhan truly not considered it either?"
Baili Chen chimed in, "You, who have been loyal for most of your life, ultimately died in a scheme. You really should cry, because the Empress Dowager never treated you like a human being. You were a pawn that could be sacrificed at any time. I was just going along with her wishes, and that was my loyalty to her."
Granny Zhan trembled, a sudden chill creeping over her. Yes, for so many years, she had always risked her life to fulfill whatever the Empress Dowager commanded, no matter the matter. But why did the Crown Prince and Crown Princess dare to fight her this time, even to the point of killing her? Why? Did the Empress Dowager think that she and her people would surely be executed by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess? She had followed the Empress Dowager for most of her life; even if she hadn't made any great contributions, she had certainly worked hard. She didn't expect to enjoy her old age in peace, but she didn't want to die so unjustly and ignominiously.
"No! No, the Empress Dowager won't abandon me, no, Empress Dowager... Your Majesty, you won't!" Granny Zhan screamed, her voice already rough and unpleasant from being beaten, but tears streamed down her face in grief. The palace maids who had come with her couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety.
Is this... really what the Crown Prince and Crown Princess said? What is the Empress Dowager's purpose in summoning this Granny Zhan? Is it to sacrifice her?!
The Empress Dowager and the Crown Princess had a history of conflict, and it's even rumored that she wished the Crown Princess dead for some unknown reason. While these are just rumors, there's no smoke without fire. The Empress Dowager's summoning of these examiners to examine the Crown Princess was certainly not out of genuine concern. Even if the Crown Princess was innocent, such an examination would still damage her reputation, demonstrating the Empress Dowager's distrust of her and suggesting potential issues with her character. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager wouldn't have reacted so strongly. Furthermore, if the Crown Prince were to ascend the throne, a woman of questionable character would undoubtedly face an even greater hurdle in becoming Empress. Neither of these factors would benefit the Crown Princess.
That's so mean!
"Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack..." The sound of sticks echoed continuously in the hall. Granny Zhan rolled on the ground in pain, her body covered in blood, and later even more bloody and mangled. These guards were all martial artists, and their strength was definitely not something a woman could deliver. Before she had even received twenty or so blows, Granny Zhan cried out to the sky, "I'm not reconciled!" Then her eyes widened, she gasped, and her head slammed onto the ground with a thud, remaining still and silent.
A guard walked over, checked Zhan Mama's nose and neck pulse, paused, then stood up and replied, "Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, this person is dead."
Baili Chen sneered: "Alright, send someone to take Zhan Mama's body and these palace maids back to the palace for the Empress Dowager to see. You should know what happened in between."
"Yes, I understand!" After saying that, he led a group of guards to drag the dead Zhan Mama and several palace maids into the palace.
Upon arriving at the palace, the Empress Dowager was horrified to see the guards from the Crown Prince's residence leading several palace maids, and two people dragging Zhan Mama like a dead dog. Immediately, messengers went to inform Emperor Mingxian, and the ladies of the various palaces quickly reported back. When the guards from the Crown Prince's residence brought Zhan Mama's body to Chengxiang Hall, the Empress Dowager, sitting on her throne, nearly stumbled and fell, exclaiming in shock and anger, "How could Zhan Mama be dead!"
One of the guards, raising his head slightly, said, "Your Majesty, Granny Zhan was two-faced and dared to tell His Highness the Crown Prince that she was incomparable to Your Majesty. How could someone of her lowly status be compared to Your Majesty? The Crown Prince, in a fit of anger, scolded her and intended to punish her with a few strokes of the cane. But who knew that Granny Zhan would dare to threaten His Highness, such a heinous servant? In a fit of rage, His Highness ordered her to be beaten to death. Although His Highness cared too much about the Empress Dowager and could not tolerate such a two-faced and disrespectful servant, he later realized that his actions were somewhat excessive. Therefore, His Highness sent this servant to tell the Empress Dowager the truth. Although His Highness acted impulsively, this servant was indeed too reckless. His Highness felt that eliminating a scourge for Your Majesty was also an act of filial piety."
The Empress Dowager was so angry she almost fainted. This Zhan Mama was originally her person in the Lin family, and had followed her all the way since entering the palace. No one could compare to Zhan Mama in terms of loyalty, and the Empress Dowager trusted her the most. This time, the Empress Dowager had considered sending Zhan Mama to Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue. She knew that they wouldn't compromise so easily, but the Empress Dowager had ways to deal with Ouyang Yue if she was afraid of her. If they didn't dare to force her to comply, there would probably be a conflict with Zhan Mama, and Zhan Mama would probably be injured. That would make it easier for her to talk. Ouyang Yue refused to be examined no matter what, which meant she was guilty and had even beaten her people. It showed that she didn't take her seriously. The big label of unfilial piety was put on Ouyang Yue's head. Ouyang Yue couldn't escape the blame. Even the comments criticizing her would damage her reputation. She just didn't expect that Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue would be so bold as to beat her maid to death. This was clearly showing that they didn't take her seriously.
"Filial piety! That sounds nice, but to lay a hand on my maid without even asking me first! Isn't that a slap in my face? Very well, very well indeed! Guards! Prepare the carriage and take it to the Imperial Study to see the Emperor!" The Empress Dowager's face was cold as she stared at the guards emerging from the Crown Prince's residence, but said nothing more. These guards were merely following orders; arguing with them was pointless. Did Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue really think that just because they were now the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, they could disregard her? Humph!
Before the Imperial Study, the Empress Dowager sent a servant to report, and then followed him inside. Emperor Mingxian, who was sitting in front of the dragon throne, stood up and said, "Why has Mother come here?"
"What else could it be? If I don't come here and seek justice for myself, I'm afraid no one will take me seriously anymore. Now they even dare to break my arm. This is stabbing me in the heart. Are they cursing me to die? This is utterly rebellious and unfilial. If this continues, who knows what kind of disaster our Great Zhou Dynasty will be in?" The Empress Dowager said angrily.
When the Crown Prince sent Zhan Mama to the palace, a palace servant had already informed Emperor Mingxian of the matter. He knew about it at this time, but he pretended to be confused. Seeing the Empress Dowager's angry face, Emperor Mingxian sneered inwardly, but asked in confusion, "Look how angry the Empress Dowager is. What exactly happened?"
The Empress Dowager sneered, "What else could it be? The people from the Crown Prince's residence beat my personal nanny, Granny Zhan, to death! Your Majesty, Granny Zhan has been with me since childhood. In the decades since she entered the palace, she has been the most loyal and beneficial person. No matter what happens, even if you don't care about the monk, you should still care about the Buddha. Given Granny Zhan's background, they have no reason to treat her like this. Isn't this deliberately trying to embarrass me? When I adopted Your Majesty, Granny Zhan was by my side. She took good care of Your Majesty when you were young. If it weren't for that one time when she was wet nursed, how is Granny Zhan any different from Your Majesty's wet nurse? There is a bond of nurturing. The Crown Prince has just been conferred a title, and he has even beaten to death the nanny who raised Your Majesty. This must have made Your Majesty think twice. I feel uncomfortable with anyone but Granny Zhan by my side. To put it bluntly, I have regarded Granny Zhan as a sister over the years. What the Crown Prince and his men have done is outrageous. What does Your Majesty think?"
Emperor Mingxian's face darkened and he said, "What the Empress Dowager says is absolutely right. The Seventh Prince and his wife did something wrong. However, we should call them into the palace to ask them what really happened."
The Empress Dowager nodded indifferently, and Emperor Mingxian immediately sent people to search for them. Before long, Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue entered the palace. As soon as they entered, Ouyang Yue, with tears streaming down her face, rushed to the Empress Dowager and hugged her waist tightly. If the Empress Dowager hadn't been sitting, she would have fallen to the ground from Ouyang Yue's hug. The Empress Dowager was so angry that her face turned ashen: "What are you doing!"
Ouyang Yue cried, “Grandmother, that Zhan Mama is dead, sob sob sob. She was your personal maid, and she served you for so many years. Even if she didn’t do anything great, she worked hard. Now she’s just abandoned you and doesn’t care about anything anymore. But what will Grandmother do? How can Grandmother live without her?”
"What are you saying!" The Empress Dowager's mouth twisted with anger upon hearing this. No matter how good the Empress Dowager was to Zhan Mama, she was still just a servant. Could the Empress Dowager not live if she died because of her? Wasn't this cursing her?
"Look how heartbroken Grandmother is, your face has turned so pale." Ouyang Yue shook her head and said, "Grandmother, Yue'er knows you feel sorry for Granny Zhan, but you are such a kind and generous person, you must have discovered that Granny Zhan liked to be two-faced and always used your name to do evil behind your back, but you didn't blame her because of your relationship with her. Now that Granny Zhan is dead, Grandmother must be heartbroken. Yes, the Crown Prince and Yue'er both know this, and Grandmother has known it for a long time, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, so the Crown Prince had to do this on Grandmother's behalf, so that Grandmother wouldn't be trapped in the contradiction between right and wrong, good and evil, and end up tiring herself out."
Instead of being angry, the Empress Dowager laughed and said in a sinister tone, "Oh, so you're saying that you killed Granny Zhan for my sake?"
Ouyang Yue opened her eyes wide, her gaze bright, and said sadly, "Isn't that right? This Granny Zhan, as a palace maid, dared to disrespect the Crown Prince just because she was someone close to Your Majesty, and even dared to compare herself to Your Majesty. She was truly audacious. Your Majesty, you are the most noble woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty. What is that Granny Zhan? What right does she have? The Crown Prince hated that old vile woman for not knowing her place, and in a fit of anger, he beat her to death. And now, the Crown Prince has even collected a lot of information about what Granny Zhan did. Oh dear, when Yue'er sees this, she really wishes she could have chopped her up and fed her to the dogs. She was truly not human."
Ouyang Yue's insult to Zhan Mama in front of the Empress Dowager was a slap in her face. However, before she could get angry, Baili Chen had already handed some papers to Emperor Mingxian and the Empress Dowager. Upon seeing what was on them, the Empress Dowager's expression changed drastically, and she suddenly fell silent.
This document contains none other than the secret deeds that Granny Zhan had done for the Empress Dowager. From the moment the Empress Dowager entered the palace, to the time she plotted to frame the concubines, causing their miscarriages and the tragic deaths of princes and princesses, and then to the affairs of the concubines, princes, and princesses after Emperor Mingxian ascended the throne. Of course, there were also instances of embezzlement and forming cliques. Each of these acts was enough to warrant Granny Zhan's death a hundred times over. Why would a palace servant like Granny Zhan offend these people? Wasn't it all for the sake of the Empress Dowager behind her? Even after Emperor Mingxian ascended the throne and Empress Lin became her pawn, she used Empress Lin to eliminate some of her hidden dangers and had Empress Lin as a scapegoat. But it wasn't entirely without clues. There would always be some traces left behind. At least before, the Empress Dowager was extremely confident that she hadn't left any clues. But now, although Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue claimed that these were Granny Zhan's evil deeds, they all actually pointed to her. How did they know about these things?
The Empress Dowager felt a chill run down her spine. She suddenly realized that she might have underestimated these two younger women. Whether in her youth, after entering the palace and gaining favor, or later as the supreme ruler of the harem, she had always been invincible. But why was this happening? The former Empress Dowager greatly admired a female empress dowager from the ancient dynasty who had ruled from behind the curtain for half her life. The Empress Dowager believed herself to be talented and intelligent, and that she might not be inferior to the empress dowager of the ancient dynasty. She was extremely ambitious, and she had always been scheming step by step for this ambition, scheming against her family, relatives, friends, and everything around her that she could potentially scheme against. When she finally held power, she suddenly felt as if a hungry wolf was watching her from behind.
The Empress Dowager suddenly turned her head and looked at Emperor Mingxian with a cold smile: "I underestimated Your Majesty from the very beginning. If I had killed you earlier, none of this would have happened today."
Emperor Mingxian's indifference was no longer concealed. He narrowed his eyes and stared coldly at the Empress Dowager: "You're right. If you hadn't held back back then, we don't know who would have won or lost this time." Over the years, Emperor Mingxian had done a lot. Ever since he learned that the Empress Dowager might be the real culprit behind the death of Empress Bai, he had exhausted all his manpower and resources to investigate the Empress Dowager's affairs. What Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue had was, of course, given to them by Emperor Mingxian.
Ever since his return three years ago, Emperor Mingxian had been setting a trap. He was waiting for the Empress Dowager to make a mistake, even a small one, which would be enough to bring her to her doom. He possessed evidence of her misdeeds over the years. Some of this evidence wasn't conclusive, but he feared that even one more incident would be detrimental, enough to bring her to justice. After just one glance, she no longer needed to pretend. The Empress Dowager was indeed cautious, but Emperor Mingxian's feigned ignorance and cunning were too much for her. He dispatched numerous secret guards to investigate her, and even a small clue could uncover much more. Furthermore, the assassins captured by Baili Chen three years ago had also exposed many things, leaving the Empress Dowager with no choice but to confess.
However, the Empress Dowager had indeed raised Emperor Mingxian. Even if all those things were hypocritical and self-serving, as the ruler of a country, he couldn't even kill his enemy with his own hands. At the very least, even if he used this evidence to convict the Empress Dowager, it wouldn't be easy to say. Because of the obligation of filial piety, Emperor Mingxian could only use a roundabout method to make the Empress Dowager make a mistake, and then use this plan to carry out his punishment.
The Empress Dowager sneered. At that moment, the stone door behind the Imperial Study opened, and a row of men dressed in black walked out. They were Emperor Mingxian's secret guards. Two of them grabbed the Empress Dowager. Then, a woman walked out. She wore a phoenix-embroidered robe, which made her look very dignified and elegant. Even though this woman was no longer young, her beauty was still undeniable. When the Empress Dowager saw this woman, her eyes widened and her face became somewhat ferocious, because she naturally understood what Emperor Mingxian was going to do.
The woman was exactly the same as the one she had found, even her demeanor and appearance were identical. Emperor Mingxian laughed and said, "I have been training her for many years, just for this day."
"Are you crazy? Who is she? How can she sit on the throne of Empress Dowager? What is she? How can she replace me? Do you want to disrupt the peace of the Great Zhou royal family?" the Empress Dowager screamed, her eyes bulging outwards. At this moment, she looked even uglier than a frog.
"What difference does it make? What difference does it make to me if there's a disobedient empress dowager or a compliant one? She'll die in your place and be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum in grand style." Emperor Mingxian sneered, a hint of madness in his eyes. Others might not have done such a thing, thinking Emperor Mingxian was crazy for letting a fake empress dowager impersonate the empress dowager, but he didn't think so. A puppet completely under his control was far better than the real empress dowager who always wanted to stab him in the back.
As for anything that would disgrace the Zhou royal family, the Empress Dowager has no right to say it. Everyone present knows how ugly the royal family really is, so what does it matter?
"No!" the Empress Dowager cried out. Everything that had belonged to her was now going to belong to someone else. The supreme power she had pursued her whole life was about to be replaced by an imposter. It was like someone who had devoted all their efforts and sweat to success, and had given up many opportunities that might have led to success. They had followed one path to the end, but just when they were about to succeed, they discovered that the path was truly endless. When they looked back, all those opportunities had already left them. All that they had done before was in vain. It was like a dream, a dream in which she felt like a complete fool. Having dreamt it, she had fallen into a dark and despairing hell.
Emperor Mingxian waved his hand, and the fake Empress Dowager bowed to him before leaving with two maids. The Empress Dowager went mad, screaming hysterically, "No, you can't do this! She doesn't deserve it!"
Emperor Mingxian coldly looked at the Empress Dowager: "Whether you are worthy or not is up to me. You seem to have forgotten one thing: this Great Zhou belongs to me. Only my words are truly golden. I am the true Son of Heaven. From the moment you harbored that unacceptable ambition in your heart, this is your end!"
"Ah!" The Empress Dowager screamed madly. Two men in black held her down tightly. She kept shaking her head, looking as if she wanted to pounce on Emperor Mingxian and tear him apart. Emperor Mingxian's eyes flashed, and he waved his hand: "Take her away!"
Then the two men in black took the Empress Dowager away. Even after she left, they could still hear her furious screams from inside the stone gate, like the roar of a wild beast.
After the fake empress dowager returned to the palace, within a month, she quickly disposed of all the former empress dowager's confidants in Chengxiang Hall for various reasons. Those who were close to the empress dowager were killed without mercy, and the ordinary palace maids were all replaced with a new batch of maids just in case. Then the fake empress dowager claimed to be ill and stayed in Chengxiang Hall, refusing to accept any invitations from the palace.
Baili Chen, Ouyang Yue, and Emperor Mingxian would linger in the Imperial Study every day, not for any other reason than to watch the Empress Dowager being tormented. The Empress Dowager, who had been high and mighty all her life, probably never imagined that one day she would become a prisoner, and the most miserable one at that.
Emperor Mingxian's hatred for the Empress Dowager was revealed at this moment. Every day, he would take a whip that was deliberately made to have sharp spikes and whip the Empress Dowager at least ten to fifty times. He would personally whip her, and the spikes of the whip were also covered with a large amount of salt. Every time the Empress Dowager was whipped, the pain of the spikes piercing her body and the pain of the salt irritating her were so intense that it was as if she were dying. However, if the beating was too severe, Emperor Mingxian would bring the best medicine to treat the Empress Dowager's wounds, and then whip her day after day.
Emperor Mingxian was venting his anger, venting his anger at the Empress Dowager for framing and causing the death of Empress Bai. He did not kill the Empress Dowager, but tortured her day and night, causing someone who had always been on top of the world to suddenly fall to the ground and suffer inhuman treatment. This was a hundred times more cruel than being actually killed.
"You'll regret it, pfft... You'll regret it, hehehe..." The Empress Dowager's back was covered in blood and gore from the beating, and her face looked like that of a gloomy old woman, as if she had aged twenty years in an instant. At this moment, she was coughing up blood, but her expression was extremely sinister.
Ouyang Yue twirled a purse in her hand, then suddenly bent down and handed a mirror to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager, who had been looking ferocious, cried out in shock when she saw the person in the mirror: "Ah, a ghost! Who is she? Who is she? Get rid of her!"
"No, how could I be so old and ugly? This isn't me, this isn't me! I'm forever beautiful, this is absolutely not me!" The Empress Dowager shook her head, but her hair, which had been suppressed for so long and had long lost its shape, began to fly wildly in all directions. A strand of silver hair fell in front of the Empress Dowager's eyes, then one, two, and even more: "No, this isn't me, this ugly woman is absolutely not me, I am beautiful, I am beautiful!"
The Empress Dowager was remarkably well-preserved. Although she was already elderly, her youthful beauty made her appear like a sister to the Empress. It turned out that Ouyang Yue had also been curious about the Empress Dowager's secrets to maintaining her youth. Previously, the abbot of Baiyun Temple, Master Lingyun, had given her some pills upon emerging from seclusion. Ouyang Yue had gone to great lengths to obtain one and sent it to Master Huiming for research. Master Huiming studied it for nearly two years and finally succeeded. This pill was indeed extracted from many precious herbs and was an excellent beauty and health tonic. However, the combination of these herbs produced a powerful effect: eternal youth. The side effect, however, was infertility. In other words, whether taken by a man or a woman, it would prevent them from having children. This preserved youth but also forever deprived a woman of the opportunity to become a mother.
The Empress Dowager was once greatly favored by the late Emperor, but she was unable to conceive a child. This was because she had been using this medicine for a long time. This medicine contained stimulants, and only long-term, continuous use could preserve her appearance. Once she stopped taking the medicine, she would age rapidly, even more so than a normal elderly person, and her bodily functions would decline further. This medicine also stimulated a person's potential, and it could be said that it prematurely stimulated a person's vitality. If you could live for fifty years, using this medicine might allow you to live for forty years.
The Empress Dowager's once snow-white skin was now sallow, her face covered in age spots that looked disgusting like rat droppings. Her eyelids drooped, a far cry from the person she had been sent over just a few days ago—a complete transformation.
The Empress Dowager knew that this medicine would render her infertile in order to secure the Emperor's favor. However, the Emperor's affection was paramount in the palace. She could live without children; she could adopt. Knowing the effects of the medicine, she still chose it. Her goal was to stay young forever. She wanted immortality and to sit on the throne of the Great Zhou Dynasty, becoming its first Empress. Children were of little use to her. Once she ascended the throne, she would eliminate anyone who had a grudge against her or might challenge her for the throne. She didn't care. But she never imagined that the price of sterilization would result in such a frail and ugly old woman. The Empress Dowager screamed as she grabbed Ouyang Yue's bronze mirror and smashed it to the ground with a furious rage. When it didn't break, she smashed it directly against her face, as if smashing the mirror would turn the scene she had just witnessed into a bubble illusion.
"Ah!" The Empress Dowager screamed wildly, now no different from a mad dog. The bronze mirror scratched her face, but her skin was so thick that a piece of flesh actually fell off: "No, no, this is not me, this is not me!"
The Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with madness. She grabbed the face and stuffed it into her mouth, constantly denying it. She ate the flesh that had fallen from her own body, screaming wildly. She was no different from a wild beast. It was truly pathetic.
Emperor Mingxian would not let her off the hook. He would continue to torment the Empress Dowager until one day he exhausted all her strength and made her die in despair and pain!
The cruelest thing in the world is wanting to die but not being able to, and having to endure inhuman torment every day, even to the point of madness and insanity!
In a secluded room, a man dressed in red stood with his back turned, gazing out the window. It was unclear what he was thinking. When he turned around, the sunlight made his face appear even paler. He narrowed his alluring eyes, staring intently at a man dressed in black standing not far away. That man was also exceptionally handsome, with slightly upturned almond-shaped eyes that always seemed to be smiling, making him approachable. His features were beautiful, but his expression was unusually cold.
The devilishly handsome man suddenly smiled and said, "Oh, so you want to back out now?"
"I don't want to be involved in your affairs anymore."
The devilishly handsome man chuckled softly, "What, you don't want your beloved cousin anymore? You don't want her anymore?" He looked at the other man with a hint of mockery. The other man's expression shifted slightly, but he shook his head with his eyes closed. "I've made one mistake after another in the past. These three years of separation have made me realize that if I love her, I only wish for her happiness. I can't give her that happiness, so I won't help you!"
The man's expression was unusually resolute, but the devilishly handsome man spoke in a low voice: "Do you think it's too late to back out now? Whether you regret it or not, don't forget that you betrayed them, they were in danger, and you were one of the murderers. Do you think you won't feel guilty? Leng Caiwen!"
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed the man with the peach blossom eyes, Leng Caiwen. Leng Caiwen's expression stiffened at his words, and he pursed his lips and squinted at the devilishly handsome man: "Holy King of Miao Jiang, the reason I cooperated with you back then was only because I wanted my cousin. Now I'm giving up, still for her sake, and no one can change my decision."
Yu Xiaoyao smiled, making his face appear even more sinister: "Haven't you heard the saying, 'It's easy to get in, but hard to get out'? You've cooperated with me, so it won't be so easy for you to give up. You also know some of my secrets. Do you think I'd be willing to let you leave? Or spare your life?"
Leng Caiwen sneered: "If you have the ability, then come and kill me!"
"Clap!" Suddenly, several people rushed in from outside the door, each with a murderous look on their face, heading straight for Leng Caiwen's vital points. Leng Caiwen was prepared and immediately retreated to dodge. Although Yu Xiaoyao's people were skilled in martial arts, Leng Caiwen was obviously slightly better. However, with so many enemies, he did not gain any advantage. At this moment, Yu Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly flew over and clapped his hands.
"Whoosh!" Leng Caiwen turned around suddenly, a silver light flashing in his hand. The speed was so fast that no human could stop it. Yu Xiaoyao was also startled and quickly withdrew. Then, something on Leng Caiwen's arm fired several times in succession, knocking down several people in front of him with "whoosh whoosh whoosh". Then he flew away.
"Pfft!" Just then, a flying knife suddenly came from behind. Leng Caiwen immediately ducked, and something resembling a cleaver slashed at his shoulder. Leng Caiwen's face turned pale, but he quickly ran outside. Several more guards rushed up into the courtyard and attacked Leng Caiwen. Leng Caiwen's face was extremely serious. With a flick of his wrist, he rushed out at lightning speed. Leng Caiwen's use of hidden weapons earlier had made these people somewhat wary of him, and now they instinctively dodged. Leng Caiwen seized the opportunity to desperately rush out.
"Don't fall for it, chase after them!"
Someone shouted, and the group immediately reacted and surrounded Leng Caiwen. Leng Caiwen was shocked, but he didn't care about anything and tried to escape.
"ah!"
"Bang bang bang!"
Leng Caiwen suddenly yelled as a sword pierced his right shoulder from behind. With a desperate shout, he snatched a long sword and unleashed a sweeping attack, sending a row of silver needles flying out with a flick of his wrist. With several "thud" sounds and the falling of guards, Leng Caiwen leaped over the wall and escaped in a very dangerous manner.
"Master, he's escaped." The guards immediately rushed out to give chase, and one of the leaders reported to Yu Xiaoyao.
Yu Xiaoyao's face was somber, his eyes half-closed: "So useless, you know where you should go."
"Yes, Master." The leader's expression changed, but he resigned himself to his fate. If they failed to complete the orders given by Yu Xiaoyao, they would all have to go to the punishment hall for trial and punishment, and those punishments were definitely not pains that ordinary people could bear.
Yu Xiaoyao's eyes were deep: "Leng Caiwen knows some of my secrets. We can't let him leave alive. No matter how long he hides, the most likely place he'll go is the Crown Prince's residence. Send more people to surround and intercept him."