You Yao soon learned of Ye Beichen's punishment for the virtuous concubine and the virtuous concubine.
The virtuous concubine was stripped of her title, demoted to a commoner, and confined to the cold palace.
This life is finished.
The virtuous concubine's punishment was much lighter than that of the virtuous concubine. Her title was stripped and she was demoted to an attendant, and she was moved to Hui bamboo pavilion.
Although still retaining a position, she was housed in the Hui Zhu Studio.
Hui Zhu Studio is the most peaceful place in the entire concubine palace, a place that is rarely visited all year round. It's located next to the Cold Palace.
Living in the Hui Zhu Studio was no different from being confined to the Cold Palace for the virtuous concubine.
If it wasn't for giving birth to the Crown Prince, she might have ended up in the Cold Palace to accompany the virtuous concubine.
Both of the primary offenders received the appropriate punishment, and all of the participants, including eunuchs and maidservants, were executed. This matter has come to an end.
The imperial edict quickly spread throughout the various palaces, and the concubines in each palace were also aware of this matter.
A few days ago, someone noticed that Eunuch Fu was investigating something, but due to the secrecy of the imperial court, everyone could only guess in the dark.
As the imperial edict was issued, people finally understood what had happened.
It has been years without a child in the harem, and finally there is a concubine who is pregnant. The emperor and the empress treat it as precious as an eyeball, but someone still dare to act on it.
Very bold indeed.
Everyone else also felt that the two deserve it. They dared to plot against the heir, naturally they had no good ending.
However, because the virtuous concubine's punishment was lighter than that of the virtuous concubine, it made all the palace concubines realize the importance of having offspring once again.
With a child, one has a lifeline; even if they don't survive, in the emperor's eyes, it's different.
For a while, the harem once again experienced a surge in taking abortion-inducing drugs and competing for favor.
I just hope to get a prince, even if there is no prince, even the princess is good.
At least it wouldn't be so lonely in the inner palace.
For a while, the entire harem was filled with a strong medicinal smell.
Now, Ye Beichen was even less inclined to visit the palaces of those women.
After handling official matters each day, he would go directly to the Palace of Joyous Immortality.
This made the concubines in the harem increasingly jealous of You Yao, and a sense of crisis arose. Some even feared it.
You Concubine Guifei is no longer just favored, but exclusively favored.
How could it not make the concubines in the harem afraid?
Fengyi Palace
The empress hurled her teacup violently to the ground.
"Crash!"
The teacup shattered instantly, splashing tea water all over the floor.
"The emperor is increasingly untrusting of this palace. This matter should have been handled by this palace, but the emperor did not hand it over. After the matter, he did not notify this palace and directly issued the imperial edict without informing us. How can this be? How can I put my face to rest?"
The empress's expression was extremely unpleasant. The emperor's disrespect for her, coupled with the fact that the other concubines did not take her seriously, made her situation dire.
This made her feel even more threatened about her position in the harem.
Nan Shu timely approached and asked, "Madam, shall we.”
The secret medicine has been retrieved from the Marquis of Duan's residence, but since there has never been a suitable opportunity to act, it has been kept in hand.
The empress looked at Ruanan and understood her meaning. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Now is not the right time to act. At the beginning of the lunar month, there will be the Mid-Autumn Festival. The emperor will certainly let me organize the festival, so we can wait and find a better opportunity then."
"Yes, Madam."
Ruanan looked at the empress and respectfully said.
Zichidian Palace!
“There is a report to be made, no further business will be conducted.”
“May I present a memorial!”
Fang Yuchang, the Prime Minister, walked out and bowed to Ye Beichen who was standing at the top of the throne.
"The virtuous concubine was kind and gentle from a young age, she wouldn't dare to crush an ant. It is impossible for her to harm the imperial heir. Perhaps someone has framed her, please the emperor's enlightenment."
Prime Minister Fang Yuyang is the father of the virtuous concubine. Seeing his daughter banished to the cold palace, he was deeply heartbroken and also did not believe that she would dare to harm the imperial heir.
Ye Beichen narrowed his eyes and looked at Prime Minister Fang with a cold expression, mocking, "Kind and gentle, not even stepping on an ant? Look at this!"
A book flew down from the throne and landed heavily on Prime Minister Fang's body.
Prime Minister Fang bent down to pick up the book, opened it, and upon seeing its contents, his expression turned pale and defeated.
He closed the book, took off his official hat, and knelt down with the hat, trembling as he said, "I have failed to educate my daughter properly and have no face to continue standing here. Please allow an old minister to return home to spend his old age."
Ye Beichen's face turned even colder. This old fox, dare to play this game with him? Does he really think the empire cannot function without him?
"Your Eminence is of advanced years and it is indeed time to retire. Although I am reluctant to part with you, it is also not appropriate for me to keep you here. Your request, I will grant."
Since you want to retire, then go and retire.
He looked at Prime Minister Fang's shocked expression and laughed even more, saying, "The prime minister has made great contributions, and the emperor specially awards a mansion, gold ten thousand liang, and other rewards. They will be delivered to the prime minister's mansion soon."
"Old minister thanks Your Majesty!"
Although the situation was beyond Prime Minister Fang's expectations, there was no turning back now. He could only accept the edict and express gratitude.
He originally didn't intend to resign, but he wanted to pressure the emperor a bit so that the emperor could be more lenient in dealing with the virtuous concubine.
Little did he know that the emperor wouldn't take his side at all, but instead granted his request to resign.
The other officials secretly laughed at Prime Minister Fang, feeling that he had no self-awareness and was too self-important.
The Marquis of Duan, standing at the front of the group of officials, gave a wink to the Minister Zhao who was standing behind him.
Minister Min, seeing the Marquis of Duan's gesture, instantly understood. He then stepped forward and respectfully said:
"Your Majesty, although the virtuous concubine Lady You is pregnant, she has not yet given birth and it is unknown whether it is a son or a daughter. I believe Your Majesty should not stop searching for suitable successors."
Ye Beichen narrowed his eyes and looked at Minister Min, mocking, "What do you think of the prime minister suitable?"
Minister Min smiled slightly, "The elder and younger sons of the Marquis of Duan are both talented in both literature and martial arts, and their character is also excellent. There's no need to immediately decide on one. They can be brought into the palace for cultivation, and then we can see which one is more suitable as an heir."
Ye Beichen looked at the Marquis of Duan, his eyes even colder, and asked with a deep and meaningful tone, "What do you think, Your Highness?"
"this"
The Marquis of Duan wanted to say that this move was excellent, but in doing so, it would be a very obvious sign to others that he was coveting the throne.
General Zhenguo glanced at the Marquis of Duan and Minister Min, and stepped forward with disdain, "In the past, there were no pregnant concubines, so we had to adopt from the imperial family. But now that Lady You is pregnant, this shows that she is capable of having children. There is no need to adopt from the imperial family again."
"But Lady You's baby is either a boy or a girl, and she hasn't given birth yet."
Minister Min was cut off before he could finish speaking.
"Then let's wait until Lady You gives birth first. If we hurry to choose people to be trained in the palace, what if Lady You gives birth to a prince? Wouldn't the status of those being trained be awkward then?"
"What's the problem? If Lady You really gives birth to a prince, just send them back."
Ye Beichen coldly snorted and said, "You people worry about the affairs of the throne every day. Since you all care so much about my affairs, then I will also care about yours."
"I have heard that the daughter of the Prime Minister and the eldest son of the Marquis of Duan are good friends. I will grant them a marriage and order them to get married within three months."
The Marquis of Duan and the Prime Minister exchanged a glance, puzzled by what the emperor's intention was.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting the marriage!"
Both the Marquis of Duan and the Prime Minister respectfully bowed and thanked the emperor in unison.
Ye Beichen's plan was simple; he intended to bind the two together tightly, so that in the end, he could catch them all in one fell swoop.
Don't think he doesn't see through it. Minister Min is helping the Marquis of Duan covet his position under his buttocks.
The reason why it hasn't been resolved is that these two old foxes have not been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
