Chapter 28

Emperor Zhaoming also wanted to protect the Chu family, but how could he do it?

He sat down on the chair, his mind in turmoil.

Yan Donghuang acted too ruthlessly and crazily, leaving him no time to respond. She had just mobilized troops to raid the Chu family and found so much gold and silver, with irrefutable evidence. Even if he wanted to claim that Minister Chu was innocent, no one would believe it.

With solid evidence, how could he protect the Chu family?

Emperor Zhaoming closed his eyes, feeling a bit desperate: “Yan Donghuang found millions of taels of silver and gold in the Chu family’s warehouse. Mother, even if we can protect the Chu family today, they will still be dealt with according to the law once this matter ends.”

The Empress Dowager was shocked: “Your Majesty?”

Emperor Zhaoming closed his eyes: “I also want to protect the Chu family, but… who knew Yan Donghuang would target the Chu family first?”

The Empress Dowager was desperate: “Then what should we do? Should we just watch the Chu family die?”

Emperor Zhaoming raised his hand to his forehead, feeling helpless.

“Mother, the Chu family is doomed.” Emperor Zhaoming looked at the Empress Dowager, “The only plan now is to hand over the Chu family to Yan Donghuang for full disposal and commend her for her merit in eliminating corrupt officials. Only then—”

“Your Majesty, what are you saying?” The Empress Dowager’s face turned pale as she stood up, looking at him in disbelief. “The Chu family is my maternal family; they are my closest kin! They are blood relatives!”

“Mother, I don’t want this either.” Emperor Zhaoming stood up, pacing anxiously, “But last March, when Uncle was in charge of preparing the provisions, he delayed for two months, almost starving the Qingluan army on the battlefield. The Qingluan army was both angry and resentful. Seeing the Chu family embezzle so much gold and silver today, Mother, do you know how they feel? They wish they could eat their flesh, gnaw their bones, and peel their skin!”

The Empress Dowager’s legs went weak, almost collapsing.

“Mother, be careful.” Emperor Zhaoming reached out to support her, his face full of guilt, “I really don’t want to send Uncle to his death, but for the sake of the country, Mother, I have no other choice.”

“Does Your Majesty think sacrificing the Chu family will stabilize the country?” The Empress Dowager shook her head, her voice trembling, “It won’t. The Chu family is not the only corrupt official in the court. If we really investigate, Yan Donghuang could reduce the number of officials by half within seven days. Your Majesty, if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. The officials’ salaries are only so much, and they have to support their families, entertain, and cover expenses for a large family. Who isn’t corrupt? Who can withstand an investigation?”

“Your Majesty, sacrificing the Chu family will only increase Yan Donghuang’s arrogance. She will think that Your Majesty is afraid of her, and she won’t stop. She will never stop!”

“Mother, I know, I know.” Emperor Zhaoming nodded helplessly, “But the most serious problem now is not corruption, but the hatred from the provision delay—”

“Aren’t the Qingluan army all alive and well?” The Empress Dowager retorted sharply, “Going to war is their duty. Even if the provisions were delayed, aren’t they still alive? Since they are alive, they should be grateful for the imperial grace. Why should they resent it? Do they think they are high officials? A bunch of overestimating ants!”

“Mother.” Emperor Zhaoming’s face darkened, “Please stop.” He helped the Empress Dowager sit on the phoenix couch and poured her a cup of tea: “Mother, have some tea to calm down.”

“I can’t calm down.” The Empress Dowager weakly held her forehead, “Your Majesty, I must leave the palace and talk to Yan Donghuang.”

Emperor Zhaoming shook his head firmly: “No.”

“Your Majesty!”

“I can’t let Mother become a hostage.” Emperor Zhaoming stood up, “Please rest assured, Mother, I will find a way to stop Yan Donghuang from continuing her madness.”

After saying this, he left and instructed the attendants: “Take good care of the Empress Dowager; don’t let her step out of Cian Palace.”

“Yes.”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” the Empress Dowager’s hysterical voice echoed, “You can’t do this. The Chu family is your maternal family. You can’t be ungrateful and commit such an act of great righteousness!”

These words reached Emperor Zhaoming’s ears from afar. He sat in the imperial carriage, gripping the handles tightly, his knuckles turning white, veins bulging.

He is the emperor, and he should prioritize the bigger picture.
There is nothing that cannot be sacrificed.

“Your Majesty.” Li Dean bowed his head, cautiously asking, “Shall we return to the Qin Zheng Hall now?”

Emperor Zhaoming closed his eyes, thinking of Prime Minister Pei’s gaze in the Qin Zheng Hall, the thoughtful expressions of the officials, and Minister Chu’s desperate pleas and hidden threats; his eyes darkened.

“No.” He didn’t want to face the chaos, “Take me to Fengyi Palace.”

“Yes.”

Fengyi Palace was the Empress’s residence; the Qi family’s daughter, Qi Fangfei, had just been conferred as Empress last year.

Qi Fangfei was now newly pregnant. The emperor didn’t want to tell her about the outside matters if it weren’t absolutely necessary. But the Qi family’s daughter was smart and wise. If she could come up with a solution…

When Emperor Zhaoming got off the imperial carriage, Qi Fangfei had already brought the palace attendants out to greet him: “Your Majesty, may you have great fortune and peace.”

“No need for formalities.” Emperor Zhaoming held her hand and walked into the hall together, “How is your health?”

“I’m well. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.” Qi Fangfei keenly sensed that the emperor was in a bad mood, even extremely bad. Her brows furrowed slightly. “Does Your Majesty have any worries?”

Emperor Zhaoming walked to the couch and sat down, holding his forehead. His voice was gloomy: “It’s not just worries; it’s a disaster.”

“A disaster?” Qi Fangfei was shocked, standing up in surprise, “Your Majesty?”

Emperor Zhaoming picked up the teacup and sipped: “On the wedding night, Sheng Jing’an poisoned Yan Donghuang to force her to accept his concubines, claiming it was my order. Yan Donghuang, in a fit of rage, mobilized troops into the city. Today, the entire imperial city is in turmoil, and she has raided the Chu family.”

The Empress was shocked but genuinely puzzled: “Sheng Jing’an poisoned her; why did she raid the Chu family?”

Emperor Zhaoming said: “Because Yan Donghuang thought it was me who wanted to harm her. She raided the Chu family to force the Empress Dowager out of the palace. Another reason is that Minister Chu was mainly responsible for last year’s provision delay, and she found a huge amount of gold and silver in the Chu family, so…”

Qi Fangfei understood. She looked at the emperor, wanting to ask if Sheng Jing’an’s plot against the princess really had nothing to do with the emperor. But she was the Empress and the person in front of her was the Son of Heaven.

This was not a question she could ask.

The most urgent thing now was to solve the problem and appease Yan Donghuang. Otherwise, the imperial city would fall into chaos, and if the news spread to other countries, the border might become unstable again.

“Your Majesty, Sheng Jing’an’s act of forcing concubines on the wedding night is considered deceiving the emperor. Poisoning the princess is equivalent to regicide, which is treason.” Qi Fangfei calmly said, “Your Majesty should issue an edict to execute the entire Sheng family at the Caishikou and let the people of the city witness. This will not only give an explanation to the Grand Princess but also prove to the people that this matter has nothing to do with Your Majesty. Once the Sheng family is executed, the Grand Princess will have no reason to continue causing trouble.”