Lian Bingcheng was extremely astonished, wasn’t it said that this re-examination was out of the ordinary, and yet one could still turn in their papers early?
He felt a great pity in his heart for not having seen it; what a shame.
He bowed to the departing Minister Fan, then straightened up and resumed his languid saunter, taking a couple of aimless steps before stopping.
He looked toward the direction of the Imperial Academy and then at the crowd, hesitating for a moment before deciding to take another look.
Xiao Hua was faring quite well, which put his mind at ease about half of his worries. Since he was already there, and with nothing else pressing, he might as well visit and get a feel of the grandeur of the premier academic institution.
He walked a few steps forward and saw a young lady buying a portrait. Before it was rolled up, he couldn’t help but move closer to have a look.
Within the Harem, edicts were being issued from Canglan Court.
The Punishment Bureau’s men were continuously dispatched, tasked to thoroughly investigate the entire Harem.
First, Huaning Palace was directly sealed off, and Consort Zhen confined within its walls, while all the servants of Huaning Palace were taken to the Imperial Prison for interrogation.
Next, they examined the Imperial Medical Bureau, detaining and questioning all the Imperial Physicians who were present today. Those who had overly close ties with the Palace Consorts and visited them frequently were immediately taken to the Imperial Prison for torture.
At the same time, the Imperial Pharmacy was thoroughly inspected, clarifying the sources and records of various medicinal ingredients. Anyone found with discrepancies was immediately taken for questioning.
Additionally, the Bureau of Palace Attendants was responsible for the Porcelain Warehouse and porcelain manufacturers. From the Managers to the bottom servants, everyone was detained, awaiting interrogation.
Squad after squad was deployed, continually bringing people back to the Imperial Prison.
Ji Yunlai, the Chief steward of the Punishment Bureau, had a fierce glint in his eyes. He was running around, busily shuttling between palaces and departments. Anyone who hesitated even slightly during questioning was taken away without exception, erring on the side of excess rather than risk missing anyone.
He knew that a major incident had occurred this time. Someone intended to harm the Imperial Heir, which was a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire family.
He had not seen Beauty Lian and was unaware of her current situation. However, the fact that His Majesty and Consort De both went to Canglan Court and had not yet come out, along with Doctor Huang not returning, was very telling in itself.
Furthermore, given the news spread within the Harem that someone had seen when people from Canglan Court went to summon the Imperial Physician for Huaning Palace, it seemed likely that the Imperial Heir in Beauty Lian’s belly was truly beyond salvation.
This was a major event concerning the royal lineage of the former court!
His Majesty had been on the throne for ten years without a male heir. Finally obtaining one, no one would have thought that someone would dare to secretly attempt murder—an act so vile, even Heaven couldn’t tolerate it!
If the culprit was identified, the ministers of the former court would be so enraged they might even devour the traitor alive. An all-out purge would not be considered excessive.
His Majesty’s thunderous rage, making him want to turn the Harem upside down to get to the bottom of this matter, was thus understandable.
Ji Yunlai knew very well what was at stake and spared no effort as he moved through the Harem. Even if he offended everyone, he had to do this to secure his own safety.
He had been among those who survived the great purge of the Harem since His Majesty ascended the throne.
His job was to offend people. Normally it was fine to lay low, but when a situation arose, with a mandate from above, he had to act ruthlessly—this was why he had been able to hold his position in the Punishment Bureau for so many years.
The entire Harem, with its Palace Consorts and beauties, was silent as cicadas in winter; they sealed the doors to their chambers, not allowed to go out unless necessary, each feeling insecure.
Over these years, the surface calm of the days had almost made some people forget the Emperor’s initial grand purge of the harem upon his ascension to the throne.
Some old folks in the palace still tremble with fear to this day, remembering clearly how the former court under the rule of the Late Empress was a complete mess, just as chaotic as during the Late Emperor’s time, with servants ready to stir up troubles, and the imperial consorts and concubines all coming out to vie for power, oppressing the Late Empress.
His Majesty’s iron-fisted approach deployed all the forces of the Imperial Prison, and even many men of unknown origins rumored to be from the Internal Guard Bureau. Wherever they passed, they swept through mercilessly, countless servants, a myriad of imperial consorts, and Noble Ladies were thrown into the Imperial Prison.
No amount of pleading was of any use, even Favored Concubines of the Late Emperor were detained at the word of His Majesty, sent for interrogation without any consideration, earning him the name of being cold and ruthless at that time.
Back then, whether it was crimes committed during the Late Emperor’s time or after His Majesty first ascended the throne, anyone found upon investigation had to be punished. For a time, the cries of agony were endless in the harem, and the blood flowed like rivers.
At night, every five steps there was a guard, every ten steps a watch post, in the harem to prevent the conspiring of those with ulterior motives.
Among these old folks, there were also those who had barely survived that purge of the Imperial Prison. Fortunately, they were clean enough to escape the disaster, and after that calamity, some were even promoted. If it weren’t for that purge, they would never have had such an opportunity, for clean individuals were also those unwanted in the Late Emperor’s harem.
Nowadays, not many who travelled this journey with them are left, as many were eliminated during that purge.
It was also their own fault; they had grown accustomed to wielding power and influence along with the Harem Consorts during the Late Emperor’s reign, thinking their masters could protect them, but in front of His Majesty, no one could escape.
And after that event, the entire harem was cleaned up, with far fewer servants. In the years that followed, many new servants were gradually admitted.
After living these years in peace, without the filth of the Late Emperor’s time, these old folks believed that they would continue to live in tranquility.
Little did they anticipate that they would once again witness such scenes in their lifetime, with disturbances now greater than those during the embezzlement case of Jieyu Wei, comparable only to the previous great purge.
But if that previous purge aimed at those from the Late Emperor’s time, who then is being cleansed now?
It is unknown among these people how many still maintain their original purity.
Each man sweeps the snow from his own doorstep; those old folks who remained clean now are, while scared, ultimately reassured, knowing they would be safe as long as they did not commit any wrongdoing, a valuable lesson taught by the previous great purge.
Qing Ya poked the charcoal basin and asked softly, "My lord, are you still cold?"
Consort Liu leaned half against the bed, shaking her head silently, lips pale, devoid of color, lost in thought.
She exhaled and gently urged, "My lord, the weather is getting colder. You should avoid going outside the palace, the strong wind is too harsh to bear, and besides, it’s unstable outside now."
It was now deep autumn, far from the time to light the charcoal fire, yet Consort Liu, frail in health, would feel cold after a single excursion outdoors.
Consort Liu turned her eyes toward Qing Ya, her gaze grew eerily intense: "It’s lively outside, the Palace wished to listen, to see those wretches... cough cough cough..." she started coughing violently when she spoke too hastily, clutching her handkerchief.
Qing Ya quickly rose to help her ease her back.
After suppressing the itchiness, Consort Liu dropped the blood-stained handkerchief to the ground, and like a broken bellows, she gasped for air with urgency.
Once she calmed down, she controlled her excited expression and said, "This time it’s indeed a big commotion, ha ha, it’s not entirely disadvantageous for the Palace, it would be best if those wretches’ people were all removed, knowing those wretches are suffering puts the Palace at ease..."
As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, and her spirit started to wilt, seemingly overwhelmed by fatigue.