Chapter 119: Deposing the Queen
King Chen, shielded behind Eunuch Li and a group of Imperial Guards, pointed at Wen Yu and screamed hoarsely, "This Liang woman clearly intends to assassinate the monarch! Seize her at once!"
Tong Que stepped in front of Wen Yu and shouted, "I'd like to see who dares! Our princess came here with the entire Great Liang to form a marriage alliance. Yet your Chen Kingdom repeatedly oppresses our mistress. Do you think the mighty army stationed at Hundred Blades Pass is made of paper? If no letter from our princess leaves the royal court for a month, just wait and see whether the Chen troops at the pass will receive their next month's provisions!"
The Imperial Guards were intimidated by these words and hesitated to act.
The sound of clanking armor suddenly arose from the Imperial Guards surrounding the hall. Soon, Jiang Yu strode in, clad in gleaming armor with a long sword at his waist. Eunuch Li looked at him as if seeing a savior and hurriedly called out, "Commander Jiang, come quickly and resolve this standoff!"
As commander of the imperial guards, with illustrious military achievements and connections to the Empress Dowager, Jiang Yu held the privilege of wearing a sword in the emperor's presence.
Having likely heard about Wen Yu drawing a sword and killing someone in the hall, he first clasped his hands toward King Chen before turning to Wen Yu. "Your Majesty, please set down the sword in your hand."
Wen Yu glanced at Jiang Yu, her pale fingertips still stained with blood, then compliantly released her grip, letting the sword clatter to the ground.
The metallic clang echoed as King Chen, the blood splattered on his face still reeking of iron, recalled how Wen Yu had struck without blinking. Trembling with lingering fear, he pointed at her and blustered, "Arrest her immediately!"
Jiang Yu bowed to Wen Yu. "Your Majesty, I must apologize for this offense."
Tong Que and the Azure Guard firmly encircled Wen Yu, showing no intention of retreat.
Blood streaked Wen Yu's cheek like a sinister bloom. She looked at Jiang Yu with a faint, mocking smile. "Does His Majesty and Commander Jiang intend to punish me for killing a servant who showed no respect for authority and dared to offend his superior?"
Jiang Yu bowed again. "No blades are permitted in the imperial presence without authorization. Even the Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as commoners when he breaks them. I beg Your Majesty's understanding."
Seeing Wen Yu disarmed and the hall tightly surrounded by Imperial Guards, King Chen finally felt secure enough to push aside Eunuch Li and the guards in front of him. He sneered at Wen Yu, "Drawing a blade before the emperor is a crime punishable by exterminating nine generations! Let's see how much longer you arrogant Wen woman of Liang can last!"
Wen Yu's smile widened, but her eyes turned frosty. Her calm gaze alone carried a chilling intensity. "What a coincidence. As the Queen of Chen, my nine generations naturally include Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager. Since Chen's laws are impartial, I'm curious to see how this capital punishment of exterminating nine clans will be enforced."
Stumped by her retort, King Chen could only glare venomously at Wen Yu, unable to form a response.
Wen Yu continued smiling at him, "Are you deposing me? Then Your Majesty should draft the decree quickly, announce it to the world, and send it to Great Liang by express courier."
King Chen's expression darkened further. Eunuch Li and Jiang Yu exchanged uneasy glances, uncertain how to resolve the impasse.
Tong Que and the Azure Guard stared fiercely at Jiang Yu and the Imperial Guards, ready to fight to the death if anyone dared lay a hand on Wen Yu.In the end, it was the shrewd and smooth-tongued Eunuch Li who stepped forward with a placating smile: "Oh, Your Majesty, what are you saying! This is merely a quarrel with the King and the execution of a lowly servant—why make it sound so grave..."
Wen Yu ignored Eunuch Li’s words, lifting her phoenix-like eyes to gaze at Jiang Yu: "May I trouble Commander Jiang to inform me—should I now await the decree of my deposition in the imperial prison, or return to Zhaohua Palace to wait?"
Jiang Yu had originally intended to uphold the dignity of the Chen royal family by restraining Wen Yu until King Chen and the Empress Dowager issued their orders. However, once Wen Yu mentioned her own deposition, any further action on his part would implicitly acknowledge her claim.
Though he had long been acquainted with Wen Yu’s tactics, experiencing once again what it meant to be caught in a dilemma left a trace of humiliation on his refined features. He bowed deeply to Wen Yu and said, "This humble general would not dare."
With him making such a concession, the Imperial Guards beneath him naturally dared not keep their swords pointed at Wen Yu. They sheathed their weapons and followed suit with respectful bows.
Witnessing this scene, King Chen’s face twitched with rage.
Wen Yu turned around, the intricate dark patterns on her wide skirt slightly crumpling at her feet. Her gaze toward King Chen was icy and indifferent: "I shall return to Zhaohua Palace to place myself under house arrest, awaiting the King’s decree to depose me and execute my entire clan."
As she turned and walked toward the hall’s exit, her skirt, shimmering with a faint dark luster, trailed long behind her. The Imperial Guards blocking the entrance of Zhanghua Hall dared not obstruct her and instinctively cleared a path.
Tong Que and the others straightened their backs, closely following Wen Yu. They helped the trembling Physician Fang to his feet and exited the hall as if no one else were present.
Watching their retreating figures, King Chen flew into a rage, grabbing porcelain vessels from the table and smashing them wildly. His eyes bloodshot, he snarled through gritted teeth, "Rebellion! This is rebellion! Using the threat of deposition to intimidate me—does she truly believe I fear her?Eunuch Li attempted to stop King Chen from destroying more items but feared provoking his wrath further, so he only made a show of blocking while exclaiming, "Oh, Your Majesty, be careful not to harm yourself.".."
Jiang Yu, meanwhile, led the Imperial Guards in kneeling on one knee in the center of the hall, seeking punishment from King Chen: "It was our failure to protect you adequately. We beg Your Majesty to impose due penalty."
After smashing the last piece of porcelain at Jiang Yu’s feet, King Chen stared at his handsome, refined face and suddenly let out a cold laugh: "Punish you? How would I dare! I am not unaware of the Empress Dowager and your Jiang Family’s schemes—why else would the Empress Dowager have sent you to fetch the bride? You and that Liang woman—"
"Your Majesty, choose your words carefully!" Jiang Yu abruptly cut him off, his voice frigid and heavy, his gaze turning sharp and cold, tinged with a hint of shame and humiliation.
Stunned by his outburst, King Chen fell silent.
Jiang Yu closed his eyes, maintaining his half-kneeling posture as he lowered his head further and said, "Failing to protect Your Majesty is my dereliction of duty. I will take my punishment upon myself."
With that, he too strode out of the hall.
Staring at the wide-open hall doors and the remaining Imperial Guards, King Chen suddenly erupted in uncontrollable fury. With nothing left on the desk to smash, he kicked over the dragon-carved table, sending the nearby eunuchs and his consort scrambling away in terror.
He then turned to demolish the books and porcelain on the antique shelf, ranting like a madman as he wrecked them: "Rebellion! Rebellion! Every last one of them has turned against me! Is this still my kingdom? Has it not long become the Jiang Family’s domain?"After speaking, he burst into hysterical laughter again.
The Imperial Guards and eunuchs knelt across the floor, all pretending to be deaf and blind—they hadn't heard these words, nor dared to witness the emperor's loss of composure.
When King Chen had smashed every breakable object in the hall, he sat amidst the wreckage with disheveled robes and loose hair, finally noticing the beauty crouching beneath the steps on the verge of tears. A certain madness and obsession suddenly reignited in his eyes as he grinned ferociously and extended a hand toward her: "Beloved consort, come here."
The beauty's collarbones and shoulders were largely exposed beyond her garments. Seeing King Chen's outstretched hand and that smile, her body trembled uncontrollably, yet she could only force an ingratiating, seductive smile as before, slowly crawling toward King Chen on hands and knees.
Eunuch Li observed the chaos and absurdity within the hall, signaling to his adopted sons with his eyes to surround King Chen, coax him, and cater to his whims. Meanwhile, he quietly slipped out of the hall and headed toward Lingxi Palace where the Empress Dowager resided.
Wen Yu returned to Zhaohua Palace and ordered someone to reset Physician Fang's dislocated jaw. She asked him, "Why did King Chen summon you so abruptly?"
Physician Fang, who had narrowly escaped death once again, still had cold hands and feet from the ordeal. He replied bewildered and mournfully, "This humble official doesn't know. I was merely attending my duties at the imperial hospital as usual when suddenly someone from Zhanghua Hall summoned me, saying His Majesty was unwell and commanding me to attend to him..."
At this point, Physician Fang couldn't help but weep again: "If not for Your Highness's timely arrival, this humble life would likely already be in the hands of the King of Hell..."
Seeing that no useful information could be obtained from Physician Fang, Wen Yu surmised it was likely just King Chen and Empress Dowager Jiang wanting to kill Physician Fang to establish authority over the eunuchs from the internal affairs office, while simultaneously showing everyone in the royal palace what fate awaits those who align with her, Wen Yu.
However, during her confrontation with King Chen in Zhanghua Hall, she had deliberately countered by mentioning that Physician Fang was "gifted" to her by Empress Dowager Jiang. Judging by King Chen's reaction, he seemed quite at odds with Empress Dowager Jiang, and might not have even coordinated the move against Physician Fang with her.
Suspicions growing in her mind, Wen Yu said to Physician Fang, "You've had quite a shock today. You may withdraw now."
The terrified Physician Fang then retreated from the hall.
Tong Que presented Wen Yu with a cup of tea, worrying: "Although we saved Physician Fang, the Mid-Autumn banquet approaches. With Your Highness confining yourself to Zhaohua Palace, how will you manage the palace feast?"
Before Wen Yu could respond, the Azure Guard's announcement echoed from outside the hall: "Your Highness, Lady Zhao Bai has returned."
Wen Yu nodded to permit entry.
Zhao Bai, hand resting on the long sword at her waist, quickly strode into the hall. Having likely heard about the events at Zhanghua Hall during her return, her gaze was sharp and intense. Only after confirming Wen Yu's safety did she relax, then clasped her hands and bowed: "This servant is ashamed. Those eunuchs from the internal affairs office delayed me with their tricks, and the secret account books have been relocated."
Thin bamboo blinds hung over the windows, allowing sunlight to filter through and cast striped patterns on the sandalwood desk. Wen Yu still wore her magnificent landscape-ink green ceremonial robes. When she lifted the teacup with one hand, her wide sleeves fell back to reveal a section of well-proportioned forearm that gleamed startlingly white in the faint sunlight, as if touched by divinity.She remained completely unaware of this herself. Her slender fingertips lightly tapped the teacup lid as she spoke in a clear, crisp voice: "It's not your fault. By eliminating Physician Fang, the Empress Dowager has shown she's been guarding against me all along. If I could so easily obtain the secret accounts from the Imperial Household Department, wouldn't her decades of management in the palace become a laughingstock?"
Zhao Bai said: "Since you protected Physician Fang, those eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department are bound to feel threatened. They dare not directly hand over the secret account books to you for fear of completely offending the Empress Dowager. Yet they also fear you might expose the department's corrupt accounts, making them scapegoats. They'll surely continue trying to curry your favor."
After finishing her tea, Wen Yu set down the cup and said: "The Imperial Household Department has already become a dead end."
Zhao Bai pondered this thoughtfully, while Tong Que looked utterly confused and couldn't help asking: "Your Highness, what makes you say that?"
Wen Yu explained: "Given Empress Dowager Jiang's temperament, she would never tolerate those Imperial Household Department officials serving two masters."
Suddenly enlightened, Tong Que then grew concerned: "Whoever replaces them at this critical moment will inevitably be the Empress Dowager's people. With them obstructing things, how will you manage the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet..."
Before finishing, Tong Que slapped her own forehead and laughed: "Look at my foolishness! No wonder you declared in Zhanghua Hall that you would place yourself under house arrest - you'd already anticipated the Empress Dowager would replace the Imperial Household Department staff, so you threw this hot potato away in advance!"
Wen Yu said: "Have people watch those Imperial Household Department officials. If the Empress Dowager wants to eliminate future troubles permanently, she won't be merciful toward them."
Detecting hidden meaning in Wen Yu's words, Zhao Bai said: "Before returning, I already ordered people to secretly watch the Imperial Household Department. If anything unusual occurs, we'll preserve at least one living witness at all costs."
For Empress Dowager Jiang, those who no longer served her purposes yet knew too many secrets about her and the Jiang Family could only keep silent forever in death.
Those Imperial Household Department eunuchs, who usually feared the Empress Dowager and Jiang Family's power, would undoubtedly implicate the Empress Dowager when truly facing mortal danger.
Wen Yu didn't expect to completely overthrow the Empress Dowager using these Imperial Household Department officials alone. Though she couldn't obtain the secret accounts, causing more trouble for the Empress Dowager and Jiang Family wouldn't hurt.
Since Zhao Bai had made thorough arrangements, Wen Yu simply nodded before asking: "Which consort was that beauty in Zhanghua Hall today?"
With complicated expression, Tong Que replied: "That was Consort Li from Xinyu Palace."
Before today, she had always thought the famously beautiful Consort Li from Xinyu Palace was some seductive temptress.
But after witnessing how King Chen treated this rumored favorite consort, Tong Que couldn't describe what she felt, only thinking that an imperial favorite shouldn't be like that.
Wen Yu said: "Place some watchers in Xinyu Palace too."
Previously she disdained tracking King Chen's movements, but after today's events, she increasingly felt both King Chen and the Empress Dowager were somewhat peculiar.
However, Jiang Yu, the Imperial Guard commander and the Empress Dowager's nephew, personally guarded Zhanghua Palace where King Chen resided. Today she had only managed to storm the hall by having the Azure Guard create a diversion to lure away Jiang Yu. This man was shrewd and troublesome to deal with. If she planted spies in Zhanghua Hall, she certainly couldn't hide it from him and Empress Dowager Jiang, and might even spoil things by excessive enthusiasm.On the other hand, Xinyu Palace was Consort Li’s residence, and its security was not as tight as that of Zhanghua Hall. Since King Chen often visited there, keeping a close watch on Xinyu Palace would likely reveal more of his secrets.
Lingxi Palace.
After listening to Eunuch Li’s report, Empress Dowager Jiang’s thumb pressed too hard on her bodhi prayer beads, snapping the string and sending the beads scattering across the floor.
Eunuch Li trembled in fear, prostrating himself and pleading, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”
Empress Dowager Jiang lifted her gaze. Despite years of Buddhist devotion, the suppressed fury in her eyes was unmistakable. “Is this what you call having everything under control?”
Eunuch Li lamented, “Fang Qisheng’s elderly mother, wife, and children were all taken into the craftsmen’s camp under the Queen’s dowry. This old servant had no means to threaten him! As for poisoning, he is a physician himself and is extremely cautious about what he consumes. When I sent assassins, he was already under the protection of skilled guards… I tried every method available. Today, when the Queen summoned those traitorous officials from the Internal Affairs Bureau and Your Majesty urgently summoned me, I had no choice but to take a desperate gamble—to make the King kill that ungrateful Fang Qisheng…”
Empress Dowager Jiang’s voice rose sharply, “How dare you!”
Eunuch Li pressed himself even lower to the ground, repeatedly begging for mercy.
Empress Dowager Jiang seethed, “To eliminate one Fang Qisheng, you would dare to expose the King’s affairs?”
Eunuch Li hurriedly explained, “How would I dare? I merely conspired with Physician Han, who serves the King, to stage a scene. We made the King believe that Fang Qisheng had seen the prescription Physician Han obtained from the Imperial Medical Bureau for the King. That was why the King flew into a rage and sought to kill Fang Qisheng!”
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Jiang’s expression softened slightly. Supported by her attendant matron, she returned to her seat and cast a cold glance at the kneeling eunuch. “Li Demao, you’ve regressed over the years. Even a trivial matter like this, you couldn’t handle properly.”
Eunuch Li kowtowed, his eyes shifting imperceptibly, yet his words remained obsequious. “Your Majesty knows well that this servant is as foolish as they come. If not for Your Majesty’s favor, how could I have achieved my current status in the palace…”
His flattery soothed the Empress Dowager somewhat. Taking the tea offered by her attendant, she set it down heavily on the side table, her frustration still evident. “That Liang woman is cunning! Using Fang Qisheng, she has forced me to sever my own arm in the Internal Affairs Bureau!”
Eunuch Li remained prostrate, not daring to respond. The attendant matron offered a few words of consolation before Empress Dowager Jiang coldly declared, “Let her revel in her temporary victory. I want to see how she handles the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet two days from now!”
At that moment, a palace maid arrived to report, “Your Majesty, someone from Zhaohua Palace has come.”
Empress Dowager Jiang lifted her eyelids slightly. “What is it?”
The maid presented a memorial and an ornate box, answering nervously, “The Queen has sent a petition requesting her own deposition, along with the Phoenix Seal. She also stated… that she sent a copy of the deposition memorial to Imperial Censor Jiao of the former court. Until the decision on her deposition is made, the Queen will confine herself to Zhaohua Palace and will no longer oversee the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. Hence, she has returned the Phoenix Seal to Your Majesty.”
A wave of fury surged through Empress Dowager Jiang. Once she regained her composure, she could only exclaim in shock and rage, “Preposterous!”If Wen Yu had merely made empty threats about confining herself and refusing to oversee palace banquets, it would have been manageable. Empress Dowager Jiang could have placated her with some trivial rewards and a few comforting words delivered through subordinates, forcibly smoothing over the incident.
But Wen Yu had petitioned to be deposed as queen and drafted a formal letter sent to the royal court—this was no longer a matter that could be quietly resolved within the inner palace alone.
At tomorrow morning’s court session, the officials would undoubtedly press for an explanation, demanding "justice" for their Liang woman.
Although the Jiang Family’s influence in court was at its peak, they had not yet reached a point of absolute dominance.
The conservative royalists had long resented the growing power of the maternal relatives, frequently finding fault with the Jiang Family over the years. Had King Chen not ascended the throne with his reckless and unpopular actions, the Jiang Family’s grasp on authority would not have been so seamless.
At times, Empress Dowager Jiang herself could no longer distinguish whether she felt relief or anguish over her son’s behavior.
Regardless, Wen Yu—the new queen representing all of Liang’s interests—had petitioned to be deposed just one month after the grand wedding. With the military situation in Liang growing increasingly tense, the court officials would inevitably side with Wen Yu to safeguard Liang’s interests.
All the intricate traps she had laid for Wen Yu had now undoubtedly become a farce.
Moreover, ever since Wen Yu’s letter of withdrawal was first sent to the royal court, Empress Dowager Jiang had experienced her audacious demands firsthand. During the wedding ceremony, Wen Yu had used this as leverage, showing no regard for the dignity of the Chen royal family.
With this new upheaval, it was uncertain what exorbitant demands she would make next.
The more Empress Dowager Jiang dwelled on it, the more suffocated she felt by the fury burning in her chest. Yet, in the presence of Eunuch Li and the palace maid who had delivered the message, she could not afford to lose composure. Struggling to maintain decorum, she uttered, "Very well, I am aware. You may all withdraw."
The messenger maid did not dare linger, quickly curtsying and retreating. Eunuch Li rose from the floor to take his leave, but his eyes held a peculiar glint as he exited the hall.
Once alone, Empress Dowager Jiang collapsed onto her couch in a rage. Palace attendants gathered around her, some rubbing her chest to ease her breathing, others offering water or fanning her—yet she remained unable to calm her fury.
An elderly matron, her trusted confidante, advised, "Your Majesty, do not let anger harm your health."
Gasping, Empress Dowager Jiang seethed, "That Liang woman... goes too far!"
Knowing certain words must not be overheard by subordinates, the matron gestured for the attendants to withdraw.
Only then did the Empress Dowager clutch the remaining half-string of bodhi seeds in her hand and declare through gritted teeth, "We must swiftly secure leverage over that Liang woman. The King cannot avoid Zhaohua Palace indefinitely. Proceed as originally planned during the Mid-Autumn Banquet."
The matron hesitated visibly. "But the young general’s side..."
Exhausted, Empress Dowager Jiang closed her eyes. The glittering jewels in her hair could not conceal the silver strands at her temples, yet her tone was colder and more resolute than ever. "He has no choice in the matter!"
Author's Note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated the nutrient solution between 2024-08-14 01:39:55 and 2024-08-17 23:56:56~Thank you to the little angels who nourished me with nutrient solutions: Treading on Grass 110 bottles; F 37 bottles; Deer Pear, Fish Tofu Hand-Slapped Powder 20 bottles; Sending Poetry Books 15 bottles; hello77 13 bottles; fly 10 bottles; Xuanji Miaoyu Sheng Lingyuan 5 bottles; ... (25 Landing Version) 4 bottles; kfpy_L, Finish Homework Then Play Arcade Games, jenniferCA, Mingyun, Stella, Crying Pitifully, Warm Sunshine 1 bottle;
Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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