Due to this, Empress's affection for Yao Yao's newly arising goodwill once again dropped to the freezing point. If it were not for her, how could the emperor have thought of disbanding the six palaces?
The empress felt that everything was Yao Yao's fault and didn't care that she was still in her postpartum period.
She came directly with anger in her eyes, without a care for anyone else present, and started hurling abuses at Yao Yao directly, without any regard for her face.
Words like 'wolf-charm' that enthralls the monarch, brings down the kingdom with the poisonous vixen, beauty causing calamity, and seductive fox. As if her crimes were too numerous to list.
Yao Yao was so stunned by the empress's criticism that one might think she had committed some heinous crime.
It was during this time that she learned that Yebei Chen intended to disband the imperial harem.
But she had heard no news of it, and Ye Bei Chen had not mentioned it to her either.
Qing Tan and Qing Yù did not tell her either.
She was a bit angry at being scolded by the empress, but inside, she felt happy.
Yao Yao did not say anything, did not retort, and simply remained silent and endured the empress's criticism.
No matter what she said, the empress would think she was trying to twist the facts.
To others, it seemed as though the Empress Consort was too scared to speak after being scolded by the empress.
If she couldn't cry because of her postpartum period, she might have cried.
Qing Tan and Qing Yù felt heartbroken.
The empress had any dissatisfaction to go find the emperor, why would she scold them, and scold them so cruelly? The empress is still in her postpartum period.
Ye Bei Chen soon found out, and then with a cold face, went to the Peace Nourishing Palace.
Chen Ning Palace!
"Emperor, I know you have always been a diligent and benevolent emperor who cares for the people. I also know about your concern over the issue of having an heir. Although you pretended not to care on the surface, you were deeply worried. Now that the country is at peace and prosperous, the Empress has given birth to an heir for you, and I am truly delighted."
The empress looked at Ye Bei Chen with cold eyes and said again, "If you want to promote the Empress Consort to the empress, I will not oppose it. But if you want to disband the six palaces for her, I will never agree."
Ye Bei Chen listened to the empress's words without expression, neither explaining why he wanted to disband the six palaces.
Rather than explain, he suddenly said, "Mother, my son will send someone tomorrow to take you to Wutai Mountain for rest. As for the matters in the palace, please do not interfere."
The empress's face turned dark, her voice stern and powerful, shaking the eardrums, "Emperor, what does this mean? You are also going to drive away from the palace?"
This is a time of supreme royalty, where loyalty to the king is emphasized and filial piety must be observed.
As an emperor, it is even more important to uphold filial piety, setting an exemplary standard for the whole country.
The empress's words were meant to accuse the emperor of being unfilial.
Ye Bei Chen rubbed his forehead in pain and helplessly said, "Mother, Wutai Mountain is quiet and has good scenery. There are also plenty of people to take care of you, so I'm sure you will be more comfortable there."
He indeed had this in mind, that at an older age, one should focus on a comfortable retirement, rather than worrying and managing so much.
It's a laborious task that doesn't please anyone and even earns resentment. Plus, it's unfair to Yao'er as well. It's best to send her away early.
Once they are gone, it will be more convenient for him and Yao'er to enjoy their lives as a couple.
Ye Bei Chen thought ruthlessly.
Seeing that the empress wanted to say something, he continued, "As for palace matters, Mother does not need to worry. Yao'er will take care of them. If Mother misses Jingxuan and Nan yan, she can always come back to visit."
"Emperor, is it absolutely necessary to do this?"
The empress's face turned dark, her gaze deep and distant as she looked at the son in front of her who had become so unfamiliar, and she angrily declared.
Ye Bei Chen pursed his lips and glanced at the empress with a faint expression: "Mother, Your Majesty's decision is firm."
"Yes, yes, truly Your Majesty's good son. You even want to send away the empress to Wutai Mountain just because of a woman, truly very good."
The empress was enraged to the point of laughing, shaking her finger at Ye Bei Chen, and her face turned very ugly, clearly angered.
Ye Bei Chen twitched his mouth and did not say anything else, and left quickly.
The next day, the empress was sent to Wutai Mountain by Ye Bei Chen.
The whole court was taken aback, as even the empress could not persuade the emperor, who was then sent to Wutai Mountain for retirement.
This shows the emperor's determination to disband the six palaces.
A group of officials in groups of three or four waited at the entrance of the Zichen Hall for the morning court.
"The emperor is determined to disband the harem, and even the empress has been sent to Wutai Mountain. Do you think we should continue to try to stop him?"
"Disbanding the harem has never happened in past dynasties. As long as there are imperial consorts who can bear sons, why should other concubines not be able to? For the sake of the future of the great cause, I cannot agree to it."
Soon, it was time for the morning court.
Ye Bei Chen sat high on the dragon throne, his cold eyes slowly sweeping over the ministers in the hall. The majesty of his position made the ministers in the Zichen Hall dare not even breathe.
"The emperor's decision has been made, and the ministers need not say any more. If any minister dares to attempt to persuade the emperor otherwise, they can knock on the pillar there. The emperor will not allow anyone to stop them."
He looked at the ministers in the hall with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, pointing to the large pillar inside the hall where gold dragons were entwined.
The entire court of ministers and officers winced at their lips. With the emperor saying such a thing, who would dare to offer a deathly protest? It wasn't as if they were seeking death.
The elderly officials who had earlier refused to agree outside the Zichen Hall were now silent.
Even to stand up was not dared.
It showed that no one wanted to die.
Ye Bei Chen's decision left the entire harem in shock.
Some of the concubines neither wanted to go home nor to live in the imperial garden for retirement. Whatever the outcome, it was not good for them.
Returning to their own families would certainly be met with disdain.
Going to the imperial garden would mean a lonely old age.
Although they would never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of their lives, if they stayed in the palace, even without any favor, if they could give birth to one or two children, they would have something to rely on in their later years.
However, the emperor's decision was final, and the consorts of the harem, even if they did not want to leave, had no choice but to depart.
Lin Fei does not want to go anywhere, even if it means death, she wants to die in the palace.
Yongfu Palace!
At midnight, fierce flames blazed, lighting up the sky.
Lin Fei wore a phoenix crown and brocade robes, carrying a wine jar, watching as the raging fire devoured everything in the palace with its fierce wind.
From a humble street singer in the south of the Yangtze River to the gentle consort of the great cause.
Once she was so brilliant, but in the end she was confined to the depths of the palace, ending up as a servant bullied by others.
But even in such a wretched state, she still had to be driven out by the man she loved.
Lin Fei was completely despaired and no longer wanted to continue living in hiding.
Let them all burn together.
Seeing the colorful moon struggling in the flames, and the two eunuchs who ground her underfoot, Lin Fei felt an indescribable pain in her heart.
Lin Fei's smile on her face became more and more unrestrained and joyful.
The only regret is that she will not be able to see the emperor one last time.
Lin Fei closed her eyes wearily, waiting for death to come.
Ye Bei Chen really didn't expect Lin Fei to be so resolute.
Although he disliked Lin Fei, she was still the woman he had once fallen in love with.
Seeing her burn the palace and commit suicide so decisively, he was deeply shocked inside.
After that, he hurriedly ordered the guards to save her.
Lin Fei opened her eyes, looking through the roaring flames at the man finally standing outside the Yongfu Palace, tears blurred her vision.
"Chen, it's my fault that I lost you and let you fall in love with someone else. I hope in the next life, we will never meet again."
The wine jar in Lin Fei's hand fell to the ground, and she looked at Ye Bei Chen with reluctance.
Subsequently, she fiercely threw herself into the roaring flames.
She hummed a folk song, the same song she had sung when she first met Ye Bei Chen in Jiangnan.
Standing outside the Yongfu Palace, Ye Bei Chen listened to the folk song sung by Lin Fei, and his eyes grew more complex.
The past memories resurfaced in his mind again.
She was pure, kind, delicate, and beautiful, beautiful enough to stir his heart.
However, he later found out that she was not as beautiful as he imagined, and in fact, she could be considered malicious.
She was no different from the women in the palace.
These thoughts only lasted a moment before Ye Bei Chen quickly regained his senses.
After that, he hurriedly ordered the guards to save her.
Yu Yao, listening to Qingtan's report in the Yue Xian Palace, was so angry that she wanted to swear.
Lin Fei can die, but why choose such a method to die?
This is to make him remember and feel guilty.
The fire in the Yongfu Palace was too large, and the guards dared not go in.
They could only put out the fire first, and when they went in after the flames were extinguished, Lin Fei had already died from the burns.
