Chapter 73: Rumors Stir Up Dust

The imperial guards, standing with their swords drawn, knelt to respectfully see him off. After he left, they methodically took up positions around the Chonghua Palace, forming a triple layer of defense both inside and out, turning the place into an impregnable fortress in the blink of an eye.

Ji Jin’s face was pale as he stared blankly at Ji Yucang’s departing figure, feeling as if all his strength was being drained away, and he collapsed weakly onto the dragon throne.

“Your Majesty.” Zhou Fang stood beside him, panic-stricken, “The Regent seems to be serious. What should we do?”

Ji Jin stared blankly at the blank imperial edict on the table: “Is Shen Ning that important to him?”

Zhou Fang was taken aback, a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes, and then he seemed to realize something, uneasily lowering his gaze: “Your Majesty, since the Regent disregarded public opinion and insisted on marrying the eldest daughter of the Duke of the State, it is enough to prove that he should have feelings for the Princess Consort. Even if Your Majesty feels that the Princess Consort has lost her virtue and is unworthy of the Regent, you should find a more tactful way to remind him, rather than confronting him head-on…”

Confronting him head-on?

Ji Jin sneered. Since his days as a Prince, he had always lived under the shadow of this uncle of his. When had he ever been strong enough?

Before, with his father the Emperor around, he and his uncle at least kept to their own sides, as long as he didn’t think about it, he didn’t have to worry about being suppressed. But after his father’s death, he was unprepared and thrust onto the throne, from then on having to face the Regent every day. This feeling… this feeling…

Ji Jin’s eyes lowered slightly, no one could understand this feeling.

It was fine to have angered him.

He wanted to see just how far this uncle of his could go.

Ji Yucang’s actions were naturally swift and decisive.

After leaving the Chonghua Palace, he summoned officials from the six ministries to the Diligent Government Hall for a meeting, issuing a series of orders, acting as if he were the true master of this country.

In just a few short days, several new faces appeared in the court.

……

Over the past few days, Madam Qin had tried every possible method, almost begging anyone and everyone to save her son, but she could never find a way in.

She went to the Duke of the State’s residence, but Mrs. Shen said she couldn’t make decisions for Shen Ning, and the Duke of the State said that the orders from the Regent couldn’t be easily changed.

Qin Zhilan tried to plead with Qin Yumo, but she couldn’t even get through the gates of the Princess Estate.

The family was shrouded in sorrow, and the major families in the capital avoided them like snakes and scorpions, wishing to stay as far away from them as possible.

A rumor began to circulate in the streets, saying that Qin Yanshu was an unfaithful man, a heartless scoundrel, a despicable person who, in order to marry Pingyao, the eldest Princess, had stooped so low as to ruin the reputation of his own fiancée and even harmed several lives. He deserved to pay with his life.

A Prince who breaks the law is punished like a commoner, let alone someone who isn’t even a Prince. The Regent not exterminating the Qin family was already a great act of mercy. Unexpectedly, Madam Qin still dared to seek help everywhere, trying to save her son. What a shameless family.

The rumors grew louder and more intense.

At the same time, some people realized that the previous rumors about the Regent destroying his wife’s innocence out of unrequited love were also unfounded. They attributed this accusation to the Qin family, saying they were crying wolf, deliberately slandering the Regent.

Now that the truth was out, the people in the streets admired the Regent’s integrity even more. Even when falsely accused and rumored, for the sake of his wife’s reputation, he never came out to defend himself. He was truly worthy of being the Regent.

In short, the capital was quite lively for several days.

Even the palace couldn’t avoid hearing some of the rumors. Princess Jiahe, who always enjoyed the excitement, was furious when she heard these words: “Nonsense, pure nonsense!”

What were those gossipers spreading?

The Regent had integrity?

Qin Yanshu plotted to kill someone, tarnished his fiancée’s innocence, and intended to demote his wife to a concubine?

It was simply a pack of lies!

Princess Jiahe, angered, went to see the Empress Dowager, exaggerating the rumors she had heard: “It’s getting more and more outrageous! Clearly, it was Shen Ning who was useless, losing her chastity and shamelessly marrying, yet now she’s become the victim everyone praises! They’ll stop at nothing to harm the Qin family!”

“Harm the Qin family?” The Empress Dowager stiffened, looking at her in disbelief, “Jiahe, what are you talking about? What’s wrong with the Qin family?”

In the past few days, due to a series of setbacks, the Empress Dowager’s mood had been at its worst, and her health had also suffered. She had been bedridden for several days to recuperate and had even summoned imperial physicians to prescribe some calming medicinal soups.

Even if news of the previous court’s events had vaguely reached the inner palace, no one dared to mention them in front of her, fearing it would cause her more distress and anger.

Unexpectedly, Princess Jiahe’s outburst still brought the matter to light.

The Empress Dowager stared at Princess Jiahe: “The Regent is dealing with the Qin family?”

“I’ve been staying at the Princess Estate these days and only heard some rumors today.” Jiahe’s expression changed, speaking hesitantly, “I heard that my uncle was beaten, and Qin Yanshu was imprisoned.”

The Empress Dowager’s vision darkened, and her body swayed.

“Your Majesty, please don’t be alarmed.” Mama Wei lowered her head, her expression one of fear, “I was worried that Your Majesty would be upset, so I didn’t dare to say anything…”

“What exactly happened?” The Empress Dowager gritted her teeth, “Tell me the truth, every detail!”

“The eldest son of the Qin family was indeed imprisoned, and the Imperial Uncle was punished with twenty strokes for disrupting the court. Your Majesty, the Qin family might be in trouble…”

The Empress Dowager collapsed into the phoenix chair, her face as pale as paper.

How could this be?

How could this be?

Would Ji Yucang really dare to strike a fatal blow against the Qin family?

This is preposterous? He’s planning a rebellion!

“Summon Consort Hui here.” The Empress Dowager raised her hand to support her forehead, “Call Consort Hui here immediately.”

“Yes.”

The Empress Dowager sat in her chair, a chill rising from the depths of her heart. She had misjudged Ji Yucang’s temperament, thinking that because he was poisoned, he would obediently follow orders, at least… at least to some extent, he would be cautious.

Unexpectedly, he was so ruthless, determined to oppose the Qin family. He was truly a cruel and unscrupulous courtier!

How incompetent and foolish the late Emperor must have been to entrust the regency to such a person.