738 Domineering Consort Yun, Announced to the World (3)
Without the persecution of Eunuch Li and the Empress, the Emperor was able to wake up. Naturally, he had also heard about the situation on the altar. Unexpectedly, this time, he did not cover up for the royal family. Instead, he put everything on the table.
Nangong Yan was half-paralyzed by the huge rock, and she had lost all feeling from her waist down. This could be considered a small repayment of the debt that the mother and daughter owed for plotting against Helian Beiming.
Of course, they committed many other sins.
Both Nangong Yan and the Empress were arrested, and Nangong Li and the State Preceptor were unable to escape.
The Emperor ordered the Dali Temple to collect evidence of their crimes and list them out for publication. Only then did the commoners know how many evil deeds this group of people had committed.
Nangong Yan had kidnapped Prince Yan, framed Prince Yan for faking his death, and caused Prince Yan’s family to be separated. Not only that, but she had also poisoned the eight-year-old Yan Jiuchao, kidnapped His Highness Dabao of Nanzhao, and imprisoned the son of the leader of the Bai Calyx Tribe, committing the crime of deceiving the Emperor.
One by one, there were too many to count.
In comparison, the Empress’s crime was no less. This woman, who had been doted on by the Emperor for her entire life and admired by the people of Nanzhao for decades, was actually a vicious woman who had an affair with the previous State Preceptor!
She had colluded with the State Preceptor, Yuwen Zhao, persecuted Consort Yun and her daughter, plotted against the Emperor, and plotted a rebellion. Every single one of them was an unforgivable death sentence!
On the other hand, Yuwen Zhao was gifted. If he had not met the Empress, he might have been able to become a State Preceptor with great achievements. What a pity. However, on second thought, the Empress was only an external factor. In the end, he had lost to his own darkness and lack of determination.
Yuwen Zhao was dead, but his disciple was still alive. The State Preceptor had helped the evildoer, so the death penalty was inevitable.
The Empress was deposed, and her descendants were demoted to commoners. Although Nangong Xi did not commit any crimes, she was implicated by the Empress, her mother, and Nangong Li.
The Empress and the State Preceptor would be executed three days later.
Nangong Yan and her son were expelled from the Imperial Capital and exiled to a bitter cold place where they would be imprisoned for eternity.
Bai Qianli had also been found out. He was just a gigolo that Nangong Yan had forcefully raised in the suburbs. He could not be considered an accomplice. However, he clearly had many chances to escape, but he still refused to realize his mistake. The Emperor could not bring himself to sympathize with him.
The Emperor sent him back to the Bai Calyx Tribe. Before he left, he asked the Emperor to exile him and Nangong Yan, but the Emperor refused. In order to make up for his debt, the Emperor gave Nangong Xi to him and asked him to bring Nangong Xi back to the Bai Calyx Clan and not return to Nanzhao.
In addition, the Emperor issued an edict to the world to reflect on his sins and accept the accusations of the people.
Ever since Nanzhao was founded, there had never been an Emperor who dared to issue an imperial decree of his sins. He was the first. He had dedicated his entire life to Nanzhao. In the end, his contribution to the country was greater than his fault. Moreover, he admitted his mistake so sincerely. The curses from the people gradually faded.
The Emperor did not care how the people scolded him. He had made a mistake, so it was only right for him to accept the blame of the people. What he could not wait to do next was actually another matter.
The Emperor went straight to the Vermilion Bird Palace after the court assembly.
Ever since the Empress was abolished, Consort Yun had become the only master in the harem. There were countless people fawning over her, and the threshold of the Vermillion Bird Palace was almost broken. This was only because the Emperor did not have a huge harem. Otherwise, those sisters who came to pay their respects would probably make Consort Yun unable to sleep soundly.
Consort Yun was lying on a rattan chair under the crabapple tree, basking in the sun. The female envoy in charge reported in a low voice, “Your Highness, His Majesty is here.”
“So be it.” Consort Yun said.
The female envoy in charge looked at Consort Yun awkwardly. She braced herself and turned to bow to the Emperor not far away.
The Emperor waved her away.
The female envoy in charge tactfully left with the palace servants in the courtyard.
Consort Yun was still leisurely basking in the sun. The winter of Nanzhao was not as cold as the winter of Great Zhou, but it was also very cold. She covered herself with a fluffy blanket. The blanket absorbed the sunlight, and it was so warm that she was slightly sweating.
In the past, when life was difficult, she also liked to bask in the sun, but she did not have such a comfortable blanket.
“Yun’er.” The Emperor walked to her side and sat down.
Consort Yun’s body trembled at his mushy way of addressing her. Her hair stood on end as she said, “Your Majesty, what’s wrong with you? Can’t you call me Consort Yun? Honored Consort is fine too. It’s up to you.”
“Ahem.” The Emperor cleared his throat and suppressed the embarrassment in his heart. He said seriously, “Are you satisfied with this blanket?”
“Yes, it’s quite warm.” Consort Yun was sweating and took out her arm.