Chapter 125: Deposing the Empress

Chapter 125: Deposing the Empress

The Empress's attempt to poison the Emperor involved the use of conflicting medicines. The obvious toxicity of the ginkgo in the pastries was not her style, and it was unlikely she would poison Princess Huaiqing's food.

Moreover, this was not included in the information provided by Xiachan.

As Sheng An pondered these thoughts, he respectfully reported, "Luo Yunlai has already taken all matters related to Wuyou Palace’s small kitchen to the Ministry of Justice for investigation, and all palace servants who had access to the pastries are being interrogated. We should have the results by tomorrow."

The Ministry of Justice acted swiftly, and by the next day, the Emperor was informed of the entire situation.

Luo Yunlai knelt on the carpet in the Liangyi Hall, meticulously reporting:

"The poisoned pastries originated from glutinous rice flour, which was mixed with ground ginkgo powder. This flour was sent to Wuyou Palace from the Imperial Kitchen in the morning. Upon investigation, it was purchased by a eunuch named Ma, who, seeking a bargain, did not buy it from the usual farmstead but from a shop about to be sold."

"This shop had been operating in the capital for over a decade. The owners planned to move to Liangzhou with their daughter, who had married there, and thus were selling the shop. The problematic glutinous rice flour was left there by someone who paid to have it sold specifically to someone with the surname Ma. The shopkeeper described the person who left the flour as unremarkable, making them hard to trace."

"Further questioning revealed that Ma switched to this shop because he heard another procurement eunuch mention it. Upon deeper investigation, it was found that the news came from a junior eunuch named Xiaolinzi in the Palace Servants Department. He was tortured but refused to confess, and he is from Nanning, the same hometown as Shi Cairén, who often helped Cunju Hall sell embroidery."

Luo Yunlai finished his lengthy report and bowed his head, waiting for the Emperor's instruction.

"Shi Cairén?" The Emperor, who was personally drafting an edict, frowned slightly upon hearing this.

If the poison was in the glutinous rice flour, and that flour was given to Chef Liu, who was specifically teaching Princess Huaiqing and the Second Princess how to make cloud cakes, then the target was him.

Was this an opportunity taken by someone aware of the Empress's intent to act, stirring trouble under cover?

Sheng An immediately added, "Your Majesty, she is the palace maid once bestowed by the Empress Dowager."

"Send her to the Ministry of Justice. If there's no one else behind her, grant her the mercy of poisoned wine," the Emperor's voice was calm.

"Yes," Luo Yunlai acknowledged, and seeing no further instructions from the Emperor, he rose from the ground and quietly exited the Liangyi Hall.

The hall fell silent again. After a while, the Emperor placed his brush on the jade brush rest and instructed Sheng An, "Summon the Left and Right Prime Ministers to the palace."

In the fourth year of the Jianzhao era, on the day after the Emperor's Longevity Festival, the Emperor issued an edict to depose the Empress.

He was the first Emperor in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty to depose an Empress.

— "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Empress Wang has harbored resentment and dared to violate the natural order, conspired with foreign enemies, harmed lives, been ungrateful for the grace bestowed upon her, and failed in her duties to the ancestral rites. She is hereby sentenced as per the penal code, exempt from any amnesty, and condemned along with her entire clan. Execution by beheading."

In the Taiji Hall, the civil and military officials remained silent, evidently already aware of the Emperor's intention to depose the Empress. Given such a charge of treason, none dared to speak against it.

Jiang Hui, in Yaohua Palace, heard the exact words of the edict repeated by Qingfeng, her expression not particularly stirred.

She sat up from the bed, holding her neck, and asked softly, "Has the gamboge been put back?"

"Yes, my lady. It's been returned to its place," Qingfeng promptly replied.

Gamboge and the fish gut dagger were her precautions for any unforeseen circumstances.

"Good," Jiang Hui exhaled softly, instructing, "Qiukui, keep a close watch on everyone in Yaohua Palace. Anyone causing trouble should be sent directly to the Palace Servants Department."

"Yes, I understand," Qiukui responded.

After a pause, Jiang Hui asked, "How is Princess Huaiqing?"

Qiukui replied in a low voice, "It is said that Princess Huaiqing has fallen ill recently and often suffers from nightmares. The Emperor has ordered Consort De to stay temporarily in Wuyou Palace to take care of her."

"Consort De?" Jiang Hui murmured softly, nodding slightly.

Princess Huaiqing was fond of visiting Guangyang Palace, and now, suddenly losing her mother and struggling to accept the fact that her mother plotted against her father, sending Consort De to care for her was indeed the best arrangement.

As Qiukui fanned Jiang Hui, she continued, "The Second Princess has been sent to Consort Yi at Jinlan Garden by His Majesty, and the Second Prince is still residing in Fengyi Palace. His Majesty has ordered the Palace Servants Department to refurbish Yanqing Palace, presumably for the Second Prince to move in soon."

Jiang Hui nodded slightly, about to say something, when Shan Zha entered and announced, "My lady, His Majesty is on his way here."

The Emperor arrived with the Imperial Seal and the central palace documents.

These two items, each housed in a redwood box carved with phoenixes and lacquered in cinnabar, lay quietly on a tray brought before Jiang Hui by Sheng An.

Xiao Sheng still sat by the bedside, smiling at Jiang Hui, "Huier, you may use these for now. In a few days, I'll have the Astronomical Bureau select an auspicious day to welcome you as my Empress."

"Welcome?" Jiang Hui was momentarily taken aback.

If she was to be newly appointed as Empress, only a supplementary ceremony would be needed, not a "welcoming."

"Yes," Xiao Sheng said as he tucked her stray hair behind her ear, speaking softly, "I've already decided. I'll appoint the Left Prime Minister as the chief envoy, Prince Rui as the deputy envoy, and the Minister of the Ministry of Rites to proclaim the decree. Then, Huier, you will ride in a heavy carriage, accompany me to worship at the Grand Ancestral Temple, re-enter the palace through Chaoyang Gate, perform the formal rites with me in the Ziji Hall, host a banquet for the officials, and return to Fengyi Palace at dusk."

Chief and deputy envoys, a heavy carriage, a banquet for officials... It almost sounded like another grand wedding.

Although Jiang Hui was not a stickler for etiquette, she couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, this seems somewhat unconventional."

"What conventions?" Xiao Sheng laughed, "Can the Great Ancestor still dictate his descendants' weddings? My conventions are the conventions."

The Emperor was considering her feelings, and having said so much, Jiang Hui naturally wouldn't be unappreciative. She showed him a faint smile and softly replied, "Alright."