Chapter 242: Silencing

Words : 1388 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

The Empress walked hastily. She would by no means allow the Emperor to replace the palace maids and eunuchs of the Phoenix Palace. Although she couldn’t guarantee that every palace attendant in the Phoenix Palace was loyal to her, at least more than half were. If they were all replaced and the Emperor sent people over, wouldn’t she be living under the Emperor’s watchful eyes every day? Forced by bandits to the point where she couldn’t even keep the people around her, where was her dignity as the Empress?! The Empress hurriedly arrived at Taihe Palace. The eunuch blocked the door, and was directly pushed aside by the Empress. The Empress walked in. The Emperor was drinking medicine, frowning from the bitterness. She endured and waited for the Emperor to put down the medicine bowl. In the time of waiting, the Empress Dowager also arrived. The Emperor furrowed his brows tightly, slightly displeased that the Empress Dowager came to protect the Empress. The Empress Dowager said, "The Empress did err in not managing her subordinates strictly enough, but the Emperor has already punished her by making her copy the palace rules a hundred times, such punishment is heavy enough." "Just because Marquis Dongxiang and the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion were dissatisfied, you want to replace the people in the Empress’s palace, what about the Empress’s dignity, Emperor?!" The Empress Dowager’s eyes were sharp. The Emperor looked at the Empress Dowager with a "weak" expression and turned to Marquis Dongxiang. "As you just convinced me, now you should convince the Empress Dowager." "Let me rest for a while." The Emperor, feeble, threw the mess to Marquis Dongxiang. The Emperor is wise! Eunuch Fu shouted in his heart. This was Taihe Palace, the Emperor’s bedroom, but Eunuch Fu felt that he and the Emperor were merely spectators. The Empress Dowager glanced at Marquis Dongxiang. Marquis Dongxiang rose to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, then said, "It’s those presumptuous palace attendants who trample on the Empress’s dignity, not I." "Because my daughter saved the Emperor, the Empress issued a decree to reward her, but the palace attendants dared to act presumptuously, throwing the Empress’s dignity to Duke Zhen’s Mansion. Hearing that the palace attendants fled after causing trouble, not yet found, thus involving the Empress in punishment." "What use are such palace attendants?" Marquis Dongxiang retorted. The Empress Dowager said coldly, "Just because one palace attendant made a mistake, must everyone be implicated?!" Marquis Dongxiang glanced at the Empress Dowager and said, "I suppose this isn’t the first time there’s been such leniency in managing subordinates." The Empress Dowager choked. The Empress’s face was as ugly as possible. Marquis Dongxiang changed his tone, "My daughter almost got killed, and the Empress brushes it off with a few copies of palace rules. Doesn’t she value my daughter’s life at all?" "I, Su Qingyun, made peace because of the Emperor’s face. If the court can’t deliver justice to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, then I can only handle it Qingyun Mountain style," Marquis Dongxiang declared firmly. The Empress Dowager’s face turned green. Eunuch Fu quickly said, "Marquis, please don’t be angry. The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has saved the Emperor twice; he would not wrong her." Eunuch Fu looked pleadingly at Su Jin. Su Jin said nothing. Her father stood up for her; would she undermine her own father? Is she that foolish? Marquis Dongxiang said, "My demands aren’t high; find the palace attendant. If he was truly loyal, acting alone, I won’t blame others. But if the interrogation reveals the mastermind, regardless of who it is, I’ll need them to eat sixteen trays of pastries to quell my anger, and I’ll let this matter go." Six... Sixteen trays... The Old Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion ate one piece and was left with half a life. Sixteen trays consumed, would anyone survive? The Empress Dowager’s face was dark. The Empress stood behind her; if looks could kill, Marquis Dongxiang would’ve turned to ashes. Behind, a palace maid approached, whispered a few words to the Empress. The Empress’s expression changed. She looked at the palace maid. The palace maid nodded. Marquis Dongxiang’s people had found Mr. Huang. Knowing Marquis Dongxiang entered the palace to seek justice for the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, the people from Marquis Dongxiang Mansion waited outside the palace gates, wanting to enter but couldn’t. If Mr. Huang confessed that Princess Shouning ordered him, the princess would face dire consequences. The Empress’s heart spun a thousand times. The Emperor coughed, and she said, "Emperor, I confessed I failed in managing my subordinates and am willing to admit my mistake. Please don’t harm your health, but Nanny Zhou is my nursemaid; I hope the Emperor shows leniency." The Emperor, "...." Did she just confess? The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows. No one spoke, and the Emperor waved his hand, "Apart from Nanny Zhou, all others are demoted to guard the Imperial Mausoleum." Su Jin stood aside, a little confused. The Empress admitting guilt meant she was feeling guilty. Why didn’t her father press the advantage but chose to retreat? This wasn’t typical of her father. The Emperor waved his hand. The Empress bowed and withdrew. The Empress Dowager, after showing some concern for the Emperor, also left. Outside Taihe Palace, the Empress Dowager looked at the Empress and asked, "What happened?" The Empress Dowager understood the Empress; if something hadn’t happened, the Empress wouldn’t confess. The Empress reported to the Empress Dowager what the palace maid had told her. The Empress Dowager said nothing further. The Empress’s action was somewhat a sacrifice to protect the main force. If she hadn’t confessed, not only would she fail to protect her palace attendants, but even Princess Shouning could be implicated. Even if she didn’t eat sixteen trays of pastries, she would at least gain a reputation for being "ungrateful." No matter how deep Su Jin’s entanglement with Princess Shouning, having saved the Emperor should cancel out any debt. If she ignored the debt of gratitude and took the opportunity for foul play, with a ruthless heart, even the Emperor wouldn’t spare her. The Empress Dowager instructed the Empress to manage Princess Shouning well before returning to Yongning Palace. As soon as the Empress Dowager left, a eunuch ran over to the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, Duke Chong sent word that although Marquis Dongxiang is searching for Mr. Huang, he’s already taken preemptive action; Mr. Huang has been silenced and asks you to be at ease." "What did you say?!" "Say it again!" The Empress’s face was ashen. The eunuch confusedly repeated, "Mr. Huang has been silenced; the Duke assures you to be at ease." Silenced! Silenced, silenced! These three words exploded in the Empress’s mind. She didn’t catch her breath. The Empress’s vision went black, and she fainted. At the palace gate. Steward Lin was on horseback. The officials who pressured the palace exited one after another. The Minister of the Ministry of Justice rode out. The Minister of Justice had been to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion and recognized Steward Lin. Seeing Steward Lin approaching him, his brows furrowed tighter. Steward Lin dismounted and said, "Greetings, Lord Minister." "You have business with me?" the Minister of Justice asked. "I am here by my Marquis’s order, waiting for you, Lord Minister," Steward Lin said. The Minister of Justice’s brows furrowed further. Steward Lin took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to the Minister of Justice. "This is a handwritten letter from Duke Zhen, please take a look, Lord Minister," Steward Lin said. The Minister of Justice was Duke Zhen’s son-in-law. He was Xie Jingchen’s uncle. He accepted the letter. After a quick glance, a hint of shock crossed his mind. He read it twice, confirming it was Duke Zhen’s handwriting. But why would Duke Zhen assist Marquis Dongxiang? Could it just be because Marquis Dongxiang saved Old Master Xie? Why was Marquis Dongxiang scheming to enter the Ministry of Justice? And why didn’t he show the letter earlier? Just now, he had vehemently opposed him entering the Ministry of Justice. The Minister of Justice suppressed his doubts and folded the letter, returning it to Steward Lin. Then— He turned back and re-entered the palace.

Chapter 242: Silencing

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