I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 519 Disappeared

[Oh dear, Consort Shu really enjoys playing the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, doesn't she? On the surface, she doesn't compete or fight, but in reality, she's adept at sowing discord and using others to do her dirty work. Only her maternal love for the little princess is genuine.]

[Right after being granted the title, he secretly sold official positions behind the tyrant's back. Although it only happened once, it still touched a nerve with the tyrant.]

Chu Liuzheng glanced at the emperor, whose face was ashen, and sensed that Consort Shu was doomed.

Consort Shu had not expected that Yi Zhen and Zhou Yuande would be able to dig up such a deadly old story. Under the emperor's cold gaze, she was so frightened that her face turned pale. Even though she tried her best to remain calm, her hands, hidden in her sleeves, trembled uncontrollably.

She forced herself to speak: "Your Majesty, I..." She had no other choice.

"Drag it out." Xiao Jingfan had no patience to let her finish. "We'll deal with it after we've verified the facts."

"Your Majesty!" Consort Shu lunged forward, trying to grab the emperor's robe, but Yi Zhen, by sheer bad luck, blocked her way, and she missed.

Consort Zhu watched helplessly as Consort Shu, who had been so confident of victory, was dragged away without any resistance. Her hairpins fell off, her hair was disheveled, and she was no longer dignified at all.

In a daze, she remembered Consort Xiao, who was dragged out and beaten to death; Consort Rong, who was carried out by palace servants; and Consort Yun, who was dragged away and banished to the Cold Palace... Familiar faces and their fates flashed through her mind. These beautiful women, just because of the word "competing for favor," withered away silently one by one in this cannibalistic harem.

Suddenly, Consort Zhu shuddered, turned her head and met the emperor's gaze, and couldn't help but shiver.

She bit her tongue hard to awaken her limbs, which had stiffened with fear, and knelt down on the ground, trembling, saying, "Your Majesty, I take my leave."

Xiao Jingfan waved his hand at her.

Consort Zhu felt as if she had been granted a pardon. Supported by a senior palace maid, she stumbled down the stairs and fled as if a mad dog was chasing her.

[Tsk, look how scared that tyrant is. Maybe he's got some kind of psychological trauma?]

*
After returning home, Zhu Meiren fell ill with a persistent high fever and began talking incoherently.

Ten days later, the matter of Consort Shu selling official positions was confirmed. The emperor issued an edict to demote her. However, considering that Consort Shu was now a commoner and had given birth to a princess, the emperor showed leniency and spared her life. He sent her to Jianping Palace to reflect on her mistakes and forbade her from returning to the capital for the rest of her life.

One thing can have far-reaching consequences. When Consort Shu got into trouble, the Embroidered Uniform Guard followed the clues and traced it back to the Duke of Ying.

Few noble families can withstand close scrutiny, and this investigation revealed that the British government was keeping a private army.

The emperor was furious, and within a month, the once grand Duke of England's mansion vanished from the capital, its stone steps stained with blood.

The emperor once again proved with swift and decisive action that there was no room for complacency, and for a time, even the implementation of tax reforms in various regions went much more smoothly.

Among the officials, there were quite a few who privately criticized the emperor for his excessive bloodlust, deeming him a tyrant in all but name.

Some people believe that the British Duke's family was involved in treason and should be punished; the fact that the emperor did not execute their entire clan is already a great act of mercy.

Amidst the various rumors, Xiao Jingfan pretended not to know. He was having a headache about how to appease Princess Huirong, who was crying and demanding to find her mother. He even considered sending Princess Huirong to reunite with Shi Fuqiu.

Chu Liuzheng stopped it. Although it was better for the child to stay with her biological mother, Jianping Palace was a poor and desolate place, not suitable for the little princess who was weak and sickly.

The two men frantically tried to soothe the little princess, who cried until her voice was hoarse. Chu Liuzheng, his head spinning from the baby's cries, promptly ran away, leaving the emperor alone, completely bewildered.

In the end, the Empress Dowager herself came to take the princess away and raised her in the Wanshou Palace.

Previously, Consort Shu often took the princess to Wanshou Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, hoping that if something happened to her, the Empress Dowager would have more pity for the princess and help protect her.

Now this backup plan has actually come in handy, but things have changed.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent once more, and Chu Liuzheng and Xiao Jingfan both breathed a sigh of relief. Chu Liuzheng suddenly remembered something, "Your Majesty, does our dynasty's princess need to be sent for a political marriage?"

I haven't paid attention to this before, so I guess I don't need to?

“When my father was alive, the Western Xia sent an envoy to ask for the marriage of my princess to the Western Xia's eldest prince. In order to maintain good relations between the two countries, my father ordered Yi to go to the Western Xia for the marriage.” Xiao Jingfan’s expression turned slightly cold. “However, in just three years, Yi passed away without leaving behind a child.”

Chu Liuzheng was taken aback, "Princess Lingyi is..."

"The envoy from Western Xia said he died of illness, but according to the information I have found, Lingyi died of poisoning." Xiao Jingfan's lips were tightly pressed together, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Father did not want Lingyi to go, but at that time there were internal and external troubles. If Father did not agree, Western Xia would send troops to Dasheng, and tens of thousands of people would die."

"Upon learning of Lingyi's death, the Emperor wanted to bring her remains back and bury them in the imperial mausoleum so that her soul could return to her hometown. However, the Western Xia refused to return them, citing that Lingyi had already married."

Chu Liuzheng asked in confusion, "Why didn't you add this clause when negotiating peace with the Western Xia envoys?"

At that time, the Great Sheng had the upper hand completely. All they had to do was hand over the remains of a dead princess sent for a marriage alliance; the Western Xia would definitely agree.

“It’s gone.” Xiao Jingfan lowered his head, his long eyelashes obscuring the emotions in his eyes. “They didn’t give Lingyi a proper burial, and she can’t be found anymore.”

Chu Liuzheng's breath hitched.

[Damn! No wonder they refused to pay. A bunch of bastards! How much does a coffin cost? Does the mighty Western Xia royal family lack that little bit?]

[He sacrificed himself for the country through marriage, only to end up dead in the wilderness. Damn it!]

Chu Liuzheng was so angry she wanted to hit someone. She grabbed Xiao Jingfan's hand and held it tightly. "Your Majesty, we cannot let this tragedy repeat itself."

Regardless of what other countries do, at least the princess of the Great Sheng Dynasty refuses to be married off for political reasons. Forget about political marriages!

"I understand." Xiao Jingfan grasped her hand in return and solemnly promised, "As long as I am on the throne, the princesses of Dasheng and the daughters of the imperial clan will not be married off to distant places or engaged in political marriages."

“Your words are golden.” Chu Liuzheng immediately said, “I’ve written it down for you, you can’t go back on your word.”

"it is good."

*
In July, public opinion surged, and the calls for the previous dynasty to establish Feng Nu as empress grew stronger. The emperor neither agreed nor refused, maintaining an ambiguous attitude.

At Maohua Palace, the Grand Tutor's wife sent a message with only four simple words: "Take care of yourself."

After listening, Consort Chunzhao stood by the window for a long time, so long that Qingyi couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what exactly does the Madam mean by those words?"

“Not Mother, but Father.” Gently fiddling with the orchid leaves on the windowsill, Consort Chun sighed softly, “The Chu family’s rise to Empress is unstoppable.”

Qingyi was startled, "Even the master can't do anything about it?"

"Public opinion is like a flood, and the Emperor's will is hard to defy." Consort Chun tightened her fingertips, causing the emerald green leaves to bend downwards. "What other way is there besides the Chu family suddenly encountering trouble?"

Qingyi: "Then..."

"Consort Shu is a cautionary tale." Consort Chun glanced at her sideways. "The Emperor's will is crystal clear. If you still stubbornly rush headlong into it, you'll be foolish."

Qingyi hesitated, "But...do we really want to see that Chu woman become empress?"

How could a peasant girl, with neither noble birth nor talent and virtue, be fit to be the mother of the nation?

(End of this chapter)