"Hmph, Duke Ye. Do you think I will let you off? Chu Yixuan stood up and smiled lightly, looking at him: "Since you have chosen to betray me, you must have already made plans to abandon your family. I have also decided not to show mercy to the Yan clan."
"What do you want?" Yan Zhen looked at Chu Yixuan and said. His yellowish eyes already had a fearful expression.
"What else can be done." Chu Yixuan coldly snorted: "Although it was your own mistake, but your sons and daughters will also have to pay the price."
"I, Lao Fu, take full responsibility for my actions. I beg Your Majesty not to punish my descendants. Considering the relationship between Her Majesty the Empress and Your Majesty, please spare my only son Yan Zi Qian." Yan Zhen pleaded: "As long as you don't kill him, whatever punishment Your Majesty decides, I have no objections."
"Your plea is too late." Chu Yixuan said with malice: "Since you dared to do it, you should know that there will be a price to pay. Recently, some officials in the capital have also been restless. I'm going to use your case as a warning to them, so they don't get out of line and dare to provoke even me, the Emperor."
Yan Zhen's face turned pale as he listened to the ruthless words, and his heart was filled with despair like a burst dam. He thought that if Jun Er was still alive, perhaps she could save Qian Er's life.
Chu Yixuan looked at Yan Zhen and said, "I will call you Father-in-law for the last time. You can rest assured that I won't mistreat your family, the Yan clan. At most, after you die, I'll hang your head on the city gate for three days as a warning to others. Finally, I'll give you a grand burial. Are you satisfied with this?"
After finishing speaking, he never looked at him again. Chu Yixuan left with a big laugh. Anyone who dares to betray him will not be let off easily.
Out of prison gate, Li Zehao asked: "Your Majesty, how should this matter be handled?"
"Zé Hào, transmit the imperial decree. The Yan family has committed a heinous crime that shakes heaven and earth. All of them will be executed without pardon. Minors will be exiled to the south as convicts. Except for General Yan's head being hung on the city wall, others will be beheaded three days later."
Chu Yixuan ordered indifferently. This matter can also serve as a warning to other officials in the capital. Kill the chicken to scare the monkey, and see who dares to rebel again.
"Yes, your humble servant obeys the edict." Li Zehao continued: "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of King Jing... to prevent troubles from arising in the future."
"Alas. I have my own thoughts on this matter." Chu Yixuan said, "It's been decades since the two of them haven't seen each other. It's time for him to come back once."
"The Emperor is wise." Li Zehao said. As long as the King of Jing leaves the border and returns to the capital, even if he has a heart of rebellion, he will not have the conditions for it. His troops are still on the border. As long as he doesn't have an army in his hands, there's nothing to fear.
"Go ahead. You go prepare these things first."
"Your humble servant takes his leave." Li Ze Hao bowed and left first.
"Your Majesty, should we return to Zhengyang Palace or go somewhere else?" asked Luo Zhong cautiously, bowing his head slightly.
"Go to Kun Ning Palace where the Empress Dowager is. There are some things that need to be taken care of as soon as possible."
On the road, Luo Zhong cautiously asked: "Your Majesty, how will you deal with the Empress this time?"
"The Yan family has committed a crime, and the Empress cannot be forgiven either. I will spare her life for the sake of Yan Cairen's talent, but her position as Empress must be abolished. Sending her to the Cold Palace is probably the best solution." Chu Yixuan said. From the moment he married the Empress, he had no feelings for her at all.
This time I'll spare her life. It's all because of Jun Er.
Lu Zhong sighed in his heart: Alas, this is a case of shared honor and shared loss. Empress Yan can only blame her own bad luck. Her promising future was ruined by her father. Being able to preserve her 'virtue' is also a great misfortune.
Before the two of them had even reached Kun Ning Palace, Empress Yan happened to be walking anxiously from the opposite direction. As soon as she saw Chu Yi Xuan, she was overjoyed and immediately rushed over.
"Your Majesty, you've come at just the right time. I was just about to look for you." Empress Yan rushed over and grabbed his hand, saying.
"Let go of my hand." Chu Yixuan shook off her hand and said, "I also have something to say to you. Let's talk about it when we get back to the palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Empress Yan looked at him with a nervous expression. Three days ago, she had already received the news that the Emperor had sent people to arrest the people of the Great General's Mansion and confiscated their property. At that time, she couldn't believe it no matter what. But later on, she couldn't help but believe it because the people were already imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison.
She was anxious to go to the Heavenly Prison to meet her father, but the guards standing there did not let her in, saying that without the emperor's order, no one could enter. In desperation, she turned to the Zhengyang Palace to seek his help, but he refused to see her.
I had planned to go ask him again today, but I didn't expect him to come find me in person. Empress Yuan was momentarily unsure whether she should be shocked or delighted, and only felt a sense of unease.
After returning to the Kun Ning Palace, Chu Yi Xuan sat down in the main seat. Empress Yan presented him with a cup of hot tea and looked at him nervously, saying: "Your Majesty, what is it that you have summoned me for today?"
"Empress, I know what you want to say to me. That's why I came here today, and it's exactly what you wanted to ask me about." Chu Yixuan looked at her and said: "Your father is quite bold, colluding with others to plot a rebellion. Fortunately, I found out first, or else it would be me locked up in prison now."
"Treason? Impossible! My father would never do such a thing, Your Majesty. You must have made a mistake." Empress Yan anxiously defended. The crime of treason is not something to be taken lightly. Such a serious charge can cost someone their life.
"I will not investigate the mistake. Facts are facts." Chu Yixuan said, "My imperial decree has already been issued. The execution will be carried out in three days."
"It's impossible, Your Majesty. You can't be so rash. My father would never commit such treason. Please investigate clearly, Your Majesty."
"You'll know once you've read this letter. This is the evidence." Chu Yixuan tossed the letter onto the desk surface. "I believe you won't mistake your father's handwriting, will you?"
Empress Yan hastily picked up the letter and took a look. The more she read, the more shocked she became. After she finished reading, her face turned white. With a thud, she knelt down in front of him and kowtowed, saying: "Your Majesty, please spare my father's life."
"This crime cannot be forgiven. Your Majesty, don't plead for others, think about yourself." Chu Yixuan said coldly.
"Your Majesty, are you going to punish me?" Empress Yan said in a panic.
"What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, no! I haven't committed any crime. Please don't punish me."
"No matter how you beg, it's useless. The Yan family has met with disaster. You can't escape responsibility either. I've come to tell you that your position as Empress is gone. Three days from now, after receiving my imperial edict, you must immediately move to the Cold Palace."
"Your Majesty, how can you remove my position as Empress? All these years, I have served you with all my heart and might. Considering our many years of marriage, I beg Your Majesty not to depose me, nor send me to the Cold Palace." Empress Yan cried out in sorrow. If she were really sent to the Cold Palace, she would never be able to show her face again for the rest of her life.
She doesn't want to. She wouldn't want to spend her days like this.
