get-shopping Chapter 172 Grace
Chapter 172 Grace
After Lady Gao left, Granny Qu wanted to persuade the Empress, but seeing the Empress's confident demeanor and her complete lack of willingness to listen to her, she dared not speak.
As the saying goes, "Don't alienate your relatives, and don't add to the old ones' relationships," even though the empress was raised on her milk.
"Granny, I must rescue my sister." The Empress's eyes were very firm. She had always lived in her sister's shadow, and even her parents couldn't see her.
If the Pei family hadn't lacked a legitimate daughter of marriageable age back then, she might never have had the chance to enter the Eastern Palace.
When she's with her sister, it's always her sister who gets chosen and seen.
Sisters, who would willingly remain invisible?
"I always have to ask for something, otherwise, how will the world see me?" The more the queen spoke, the more reasonable she felt.
Granny Qu didn't know what to say. Last time, when she pleaded for her nephew's position as heir, the emperor was very disgusted. This time, not only did he not help the emperor, but he also got involved. What good could come of this?
"What does the Empress intend to do?" Granny Qu could only help minimize the impact and losses. "I heard that the evidence is conclusive, and there are people from the Prince Jin's mansion's backyard who can testify that those concubines were poisoned and beaten to death by the Princess Consort. Every single detail is clearly remembered."
"Those lowly concubines in the Prince of Jin's backyard certainly wouldn't let such an opportunity pass, but with the joint trial by the three judicial authorities and Father watching, they can't afford to spout nonsense. Do they think that just because my sister is gone, they can rise to power?"
But after so many years of ravaging the inner court of the Prince of Jin's mansion, there really isn't a single person who doesn't hate her.
She not only eats the meat herself but doesn't give anyone the soup, but if the Prince of Jin even slightly cares about anyone, she will see them as a thorn in her side and will not rest until she kills them.
She hadn't shown any mercy even to her own cousin, Consort Gao. This time, Consort Gao would naturally take advantage of her misfortune, and she had her people provide a lot of evidence and testimonies.
The Pei family is doomed!
The only thing the Empress could do was plead with the Emperor to show leniency.
But the Empress is currently unable to move. The imperial physician said she needs to rest in bed. If she has another hemorrhage, even a celestial being couldn't save her.
The empress had no choice but to send someone to invite the emperor.
The emperor also had things to say to the empress. It was Shen Shixi who reminded him that he also had a third prince, who was currently being raised by Consort Li.
His biological mother certainly wouldn't care if she raised him, but if she continued to raise him, she would be impeached by the censors as soon as the seal was opened.
The ancestral family rules are right here.
The empress was very happy that the emperor was coming.
The Empress was even unable to perform the proper curtsy. She leaned against the headboard and said, "Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty, I cannot perform the proper curtsy."
The Emperor didn't insist that anyone kneel. He asked, "Is the Empress still unwell? She may recover by the end of the month. It's probably not appropriate to keep entrusting palace power to Consort Chen. The Empress should take good care of her health and reclaim it as soon as possible."
The Empress was deeply moved, her eyes brimming with tears. "Your Majesty," she said, "I will strive to do my best!"
She thought the Emperor really wanted Consort Chen to hold power in the palace, but to her surprise, the Emperor still respected her as Empress.
But in reality, the emperor was also driven to despair by Shen Shixi's resentment; that scoundrel was unwilling to do even the slightest bit of extra work.
Then, the emperor waited for the empress to speak.
The Empress naturally brought up her sister's matter. With the Emperor's concern, she felt much more confident. "Your Majesty, I was also shocked to hear about my sister's situation. But things have come to this point. Regardless of who is right or wrong, she is gone. It's really hard to say for sure."
"My sister and I are sisters born of the same mother. If my sister is convicted, how can I face the world? How will people judge me? Your Majesty, could you please order a thorough investigation into my sister's case to prevent anyone from deliberately framing her?"
The Emperor said, "Since your sister was imprisoned, Prince Jin has not come to the palace, nor has he ever asked me to pardon his wife. Empress, you were guilty for failing to protect your eldest son, but I have been understanding of your poor health and have not said anything."
"Consort Chen has been busy with palace affairs throughout the first month of the lunar year. As the mistress of the palace, you are unable to get up. Can't you even offer a word of praise or prepare a gift of thanks? You may be immobilized, but are it so difficult to make a decision or open your mouth regarding matters in the palace, such as the matter of the Third Prince's foster mother?"
The empress was struck dumb.
Granny Qu was extremely anxious.
The Emperor said, "The Empress was willing to go to such lengths to invite me from Qian Yuan Palace for the sake of the Princess Consort of Jin. Have you considered who you intend to make the Third Prince's foster mother, who has been raised by his birth mother since birth?"
This is the Empress's job!
The Empress was completely bewildered; the crucial point was that she couldn't move, otherwise she would be kneeling down right now.
"Your Majesty, among the high-ranking concubines, only Consort Chen, Consort Xue, and Consort Jin remain..."
"So, who do you plan to have take care of you?"
The Empress never even considered this question. She was in poor health, and the imperial physician advised her to rest. Even if she had something on her mind, she was only thinking about palace power.
She suddenly remembered that Consort Xue wanted to compete with Consort Jin for the child, and said, "Consort Xue has served His Majesty for many years, yet she has no children. I believe that Consort Xue could become the foster mother of the Third Prince!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Qu felt things were going to get really bad. Consort Xue's family had been convicted of a crime, so how could it be possible for the daughter of a disgraced official to raise the Third Prince?
In a fit of rage, they might even secretly strangle someone.
The emperor glanced at her dismissively. "Does the Empress think this is appropriate?"
In her haste, the Empress said, "Consort Chen is of noble status and should be willing to raise the Third Prince."
The Emperor was utterly enraged. He abruptly stood up. "The Empress couldn't keep the legitimate son; she must not know how to be a mother. The Third Prince will be raised in the Empress's palace. The Empress should learn how to be a mother properly. I await the Empress to give me a legitimate son!"
After saying that, he left without even glancing at her.
The empress slumped against the headboard, and in her excitement, she felt a warm sensation flowing from her body. Startled, she quickly took a deep breath.
"Granny, has His Majesty completely angered me?" she asked worriedly.
She looked so haggard, but the Emperor still looked as handsome and dashing as ever.
Granny Qu comforted her, "Your Majesty, the Emperor still favors you in everything. You should take good care of yourself. By the end of the month, you will regain control of the palace. With the Emperor's support, you won't need to worry."
"And the Third Prince, it's a good thing that he can be raised in the Empress's palace. In the future, when you have a legitimate son, the Third Prince will not be able to surpass the true legitimate son."
"But what about my sister's situation? How could Prince Jin be so heartless, showing no regard for our marital bond!" the Empress exclaimed indignantly.
However, Prince Jin also had a concubine, Lady Gao, who came from the Bohai Gao clan and was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Shen's family. She also had a son. Lady Gao was always favored by Prince Jin, as she was very gentle and considerate. Prince Jin could enjoy intimate moments with her.
Prince Jin knew that there was no hope for the Pei family, and the reputation of the Prince Jin's mansion had been ruined because of the Princess Jin. He hated her too much to even think about pleading for her.
The joint trial by the three judicial authorities concluded that the Princess Consort of Jin should be sentenced to immediate execution.
"Execution by beheading" meant that the person was taken outside and beheaded in front of a large crowd.
This concerns the reputation of the royal family and the Pei clan.
Prime Minister Pei thought that the emperor, considering the dignity of the imperial family, would be willing to pardon the Pei clan, even if it meant being executed. But the emperor did not, and Prince Jin made no move whatsoever.
The daughter's actions have truly ruined the reputation of the Prince of Jin's mansion. With so many wives and concubines, the Prince of Jin had few children by middle age, so Prime Minister Pei really couldn't blame him.
Lady Gao had nothing to say to Prince Jin, because her niece was Prince Jin's concubine, and the other concubine was the daughter of Marquis Jiaqing. Now that she was going all out to support her niece to become Prince Jin's wife, she naturally wouldn't blame Prince Jin.
Therefore, Gao was a true politician, clear-headed, rational, and decisive enough.
Having no other option, Prime Minister Pei submitted a memorial to the emperor, pleading for mercy and asking him to grant his daughter a dignified execution.
Shen Shixi won this battle decisively.
She leaned on Li Yuanke's back, reading Prime Minister Pei's memorial, and asked, "What kind of favor does His Majesty intend to bestow?"