kvmb Chapter 819 Irregularities
Chapter 819 Irregularities
The emperor was well aware of the power struggles within the harem.
He turned the jade thumb ring on his hand, looking down at Consort Yu, whose eyes were blurred with tears.
Consort Yu was only in her early thirties. Women in the harem were always well-maintained. Consort Yu came from a good family. Although she was not extremely favored after entering the palace, she had a prince by her side and did not need to compete with others. She lived a comfortable life. Even though she was greatly affected by the death of the Tenth Prince, she still looked to be only in her early twenties and had a stubborn and pitiful charm.
If she had made a huge scene today, shouting and threatening violence, the Emperor would probably have lost his patience long ago.
But this pitiful and desperate appearance did evoke a bit of pity in the emperor.
The Shen family did a good job, and their members were quite successful. They did not engage in factionalism or cliques, which pleased the Emperor.
Although the Tenth Prince's increasingly outstanding appearance might have stirred up some thoughts in her mind, those thoughts are no longer present now.
However, Consort Xiao does indeed need to be reprimanded.
The Emperor considered the matter calmly for a moment, then sighed softly, “My beloved consort, please rise quickly. I know your grievances and I am heartbroken for Xiao Shi. He is my son, how can I let him die in vain? I will definitely seek justice for Xiao Shi.”
The Emperor's sincere words moved Consort Yu to tears. She did not rise immediately, but looked up at the Emperor with an extremely dependent gaze and thanked him with tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness."
The Emperor hurriedly ordered someone to help Consort Yu up.
Then he instructed, "Since there are witnesses and physical evidence, Feng Kang, convey my decree to confine Consort Xiao to the palace until the Dali Temple has investigated the truth and made a decision. As for Xu, transfer her to the Dali Temple to await her punishment."
While the Court of Judicial Review (Dali Temple) has the right to interrogate imperial concubines, cases are rarely transferred to it for prosecution. A single imperial edict from the Emperor can determine a person's fate. The Emperor first ordered Consort Xu to be demoted to commoner status, and now he has ordered her transfer to the Dali Temple, indicating that he truly intends to handle the Tenth Prince's case thoroughly, according to the law, not palace regulations.
Only then did Consort Yu truly breathe a sigh of relief.
Eunuch Feng immediately agreed and hurriedly left with his men to go to Consort Xiao's palace.
The Emperor then looked at Ying Xun: "Ying Qing, this case will continue to be handled by you and Lu Qing. You must get to the bottom of the Tenth Prince's case."
Ying Xun and Lu Wei quickly agreed.
The Emperor finally looked at Lu Yangyang, but he had a slight headache. He didn't have the mind to argue with such a young girl. Besides, she had really made him proud during the smallpox incident, adding a brilliant stroke to his record of achievements. His decision to betroth her, a girl who had just come of age, to Aque was also based on some considerations.
But now that he knows Aque is probably still alive, this little girl's appearance in the capital is likely to be partly to scout out a way for Aque.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't care, but this girl... is indeed a bit difficult to deal with.
The Emperor pondered for a long time, unsure how to deal with her. He couldn't simply pretend he hadn't seen her. Just then, he heard Consort Duan say softly, "Your Majesty, the Tenth Prince's case owes a great deal to the Princess's keen observation. She discovered crucial clues, not only clearing the Tenth Prince's name but also restoring my innocence. I am deeply grateful and wish to ask Your Majesty for a favor on behalf of the Princess. Your Majesty must reward the Princess handsomely, otherwise I will find it difficult to have peace of mind."
When Xue Wanyue spoke these words, she was very sincere and earnest, her eyes were clear, and she looked very sincere. The emperor was momentarily dazed, and she reminded him of the late empress when he was young.
The girl in front of me, Xue Wanyue, is only seventeen or eighteen years old, a time when a girl is innocent and carefree.
The girl he once regarded as the bright moon was also just as clear-headed and sincere.
It's so captivating.
As the emperor grows older, especially after deposing the crown prince in the last two years, he inevitably thinks of the past and of old friends as he watches the turbulent events unfold in the court.
He grasped Xue Wanyue's hand and patted it, agreeing, "My beloved consort is right."
He then looked at Lu Yangyang with a touch of affection: "Girl, thanks to you, Xiao Shi's case is all thanks to you. What do you want? Tell me."
Lu Yangyang stepped forward respectfully and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. As for my divorce from His Highness..."
The Emperor's face immediately darkened: "This matter is against the rules, there's no need to mention it again."
Lu Yangyang bit her lip and remained silent for a moment, as if she had made up her mind. She looked at Consort Yu again and spoke, "Your Majesty, I have studied medicine since childhood and have no other talents. However, I am very interested in criminal matters. I want to be a doctor who saves lives and heals the wounded, and I also want to stand up for the injustices and clear the names of the unjustly killed, just like Lord Ying. Therefore, I would like to ask Your Majesty to allow me and Consort Yu to attend court together when the Tenth Prince's case is closed, so that we can witness the Tenth Prince receiving the justice he deserves. I hope that in the future I can also use my talents to serve Your Majesty."
Lu Yangyang looked at the Emperor with sincere eyes.
His Highness once taught her that if she wanted to accomplish something in front of His Majesty, she should first propose something that he would never agree to, and then state her true request. By settling for second best, His Majesty would have room to maneuver in order to save face.
It's not that members of the royal family can't divorce, but if His Majesty personally decrees a marriage, then a divorce can only be granted if His Majesty issues an edict.
Zong Que has already been deposed, and his fate is currently unknown. If the Emperor were to issue an edict ordering him to divorce at this time, he would surely become a laughingstock. Therefore, she deliberately brought up the matter of divorce several times to make His Majesty think that she was a naive and innocent person, thus deepening his impression of her and lowering his guard against her.
The more naive and reckless she is, the less the emperor will take her seriously, and that's how she'll have a chance.
Yu Fei and Xue Wanyue had already demonstrated this to her.