Chapter 21: Punishment of the Treacherous Minister
Within the grand hall of the imperial palace, the air remained heavy with the aftermath of a recent power struggle. A faint scent of blood lingered, a grim reminder of the conflict that had transpired. Minister Liu Shang, once confident in his perceived victory, now knelt with a pale face, his head bowed low, devoid of any trace of former arrogance.
Seated upon the Dragon Throne, the Emperor fixed his sharp gaze upon the man who had once been his trusted aide but had now betrayed the realm. His expression was cold, devoid of any sorrow.
"Liu Shang, you dared to commit treason against the state, attempting to overthrow the Qi dynasty..."
The Emperor's voice was deep and authoritative.
"...I hereby decree the confiscation of your power and assets. You shall be executed at the central square at dawn, serving as a warning to others!"
Liu Shang lifted his head, his once-proud visage now filled with terror.
"Your Majesty, please have mercy! I acted for the good of the realm! The Second Prince represents the future of our kingdom!"
"The future of the kingdom, you say..."
The Emperor let out a bitter laugh.
"Am I not the one ruling this land? Am I incapable of leading it to prosperity? Your actions were not for the kingdom's future but for your own ambition. Had I not uncovered your plot, Qi would have become a puppet of Chu by now!"
Liu Shang's face turned ashen as he prostrated himself.
"Please, Your Majesty, spare my life!"
But the Emperor remained unmoved, waving his hand.
"Eunuch Li, take him to the execution ground. Let the people witness the fate of traitors."
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Immediately, soldiers dragged Liu Shang away. Despite his pleas and struggles, his cries fell on deaf ears.
Second Prince Qi Fei Zhen, once resplendent in royal attire, now knelt in the hall with torn garments and a pale face, unable to defend himself.
"Qi Fei Zhen, though of royal blood, you conspired against the state..."
The Emperor spoke calmly.
"...Therefore, I shall not take your life to avoid further staining the royal lineage. However, you shall never set foot in Qi again."
Qi Fei Zhen looked up, his eyes filled with defiance.
"Father! I only sought to build a stronger kingdom! You are too weak!"
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, lightly tapping the armrest of his throne.
"So, you deem me weak? Then perhaps you believe Yan would be a better place for you..."
He sneered.
"...I, the 'weak' Emperor, hereby strip you of your title, making you a commoner, and exile you to Yan for life!"
"No! Father! Don't do this to me!"
Qi Fei Zhen tried to approach, but two soldiers restrained him.
"Leave..."
The Emperor commanded.
"...Know that traitors have no place in the Qi dynasty."
Qi Fei Zhen was dragged away, helpless.
As silence returned to the hall, the atmosphere remained tense. Though Liu Shang and Qi Fei Zhen were gone, the sense of defeat lingered.
The Emperor turned his gaze to the sole remaining woman.
Empress Liu Zhang Li knelt in the center of the hall. She neither wept nor pleaded, merely closed her eyes and took a deep breath, seemingly resigned to her fate.
"You are Liu Shang's sister and mother to the Second Prince..."
The Emperor spoke coldly.
"...Though you did not partake in the rebellion, the calamity that befell Qi today stems from your bloodline..."
The Empress slowly opened her eyes, offering no rebuttal, as if fully aware of her impending fate.
"...I gave you a choice, yet you chose silence..."
The Emperor continued.
"...Therefore, I shall make the choice for you."
His voice was stern.
"A royal decree of poison... and erase her name from the palace records."
A murmur arose among the ministers. Though anticipated, the finality of the sentence sent chills down their spines.
The Empress paused briefly before offering a faint smile. She bowed her head gracefully, maintaining her dignity even in such dire circumstances.
"As Your Majesty commands, I cannot object..."
She spoke calmly, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes.
"...I only ask that all I have done dies with me, affecting no one else."
The Emperor gave no reply, merely waving his hand. Eunuch Li acknowledged the command and departed, returning with an intricately carved wooden tray bearing a jade cup filled with a dark liquid.
The Empress glanced at the jade cup, sighed softly, and reached out to take it. Her hand was steady, showing no fear. Even with death imminent, she upheld her dignity to the very end.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's mercy."
With those words, she raised the cup to her lips and drank the bitter liquid in one go, then gently placed the cup down.
Moments later, she felt the poison coursing through her veins, her heartbeat slowing, fingertips turning cold. She looked up at the Emperor one last time before collapsing to the floor.
No cries, no struggles.
She departed peacefully.
Liu Shang's sins were atoned with her blood, yet she could not escape the fate of those who lose in the game of power.
In the imperial palace, after the storm of rebellion had subsided, the Qi court returned to silence. However, within that calm, a new storm was brewing.
With Minister Liu Shang's downfall and the Empress's demise, the court lacked a central power. Ministers who once pledged loyalty to them now shifted their allegiance to the Crown Prince.
Crown Prince Qi Fei Long, previously overshadowed by the influence of the minister and empress, now shone brightly. Many ministers flocked to him, expressing their loyalty, hoping to align with the future ruler.
But the Crown Prince's resurgence brought a woman into power within the inner palace.
Hui Fen, the Crown Prince's consort, possessed a gentle appearance but was sharp and far-sighted. No longer just a companion, she began to wield influence in the palace, forming a faction supporting the Crown Prince.
Though she lacked the allure of the late Empress, her composure and intelligence commanded respect among the ministers.
At the Ci Ning Palace
In the grand hall, the Empress Dowager sat upon a high dais, observing the newly formed faction with a calm demeanor. (Khun Chang Khun Phaen)
"At last, it's time for the Crown Prince to rise..."
She spoke softly, yet her words carried weight.
"...And you all have pledged yourselves as his loyal ministers?"
The ministers loyal to the Crown Prince knelt in unison, their voices resonating.
"We offer our lives in service to the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince!"
"And where is the Crown Prince now..."
The Empress Dowager chuckled lightly, her thoughts inscrutable.
For in the end... regardless of which political faction rises within the palace, all ultimately answer to her.
Beneath the towering ceiling of the grand hall, intricately carved dragon pillars spiraled skyward, supporting colossal lanterns that cast a resplendent glow over the assembled ministers standing in orderly rows.
Crown Prince Qi Feihong, adorned in a deep crimson robe embroidered with golden dragons, stepped forward and knelt at the center of the hall. He clasped his hands above his head and spoke with resolute voice,
"Your Majesty, I humbly request the bestowal of Linglin Palace."
The Emperor gazed down from the Dragon Throne, his brows slightly raised. His voice was calm yet imbued with authority as he inquired,
"Linglin Palace, the former residence of Zhang Li? What reason compels you to seek this palace?"
The Crown Prince remained composed in his kneeling posture.MerakiTranslations+3Lady Kelpi Translations+3Novel Updates+3
"I wish to present this palace as a gift to my mother, Lady He Suziao, to restore her honor and dignity."
At his words, a hush fell over the hall, soon replaced by murmurs among the ministers.
The Emperor was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the throne as he regarded the Crown Prince thoughtfully.
"Yet Linglin Palace... I had intended to bestow it upon a new consort."Wikipedia+1MerakiTranslations+1
The Crown Prince lifted his gaze to meet the Emperor's eyes, his tone unwavering.
"Father, I fear that granting this palace to a new consort cannot compare to restoring the honor of a lady who was once your favored companion and is the mother of your heir."
Tension permeated the hall; some ministers lowered their heads, hesitant to speak. Then, the Empress Dowager's voice rang out.Novel Updates+2Wikipedia+2Lady Kelpi Translations+2
"Your Majesty, I concur with the Crown Prince," she said, her gaze steady upon the Emperor.
"Lady He Suziao was once dearly cherished by you and bore the Crown Prince, the future of our realm. It is time she received the recognition befitting her status."
The ministers bowed and spoke in unison,
"We beseech Your Majesty to grant Linglin Palace to Lady He Suziao."
The Emperor surveyed the hall, a faint smile playing on his lips. He sighed softly, as if anticipating this outcome.
"If all are in agreement, so be it," he declared with quiet authority.
"Linglin Palace shall be bestowed upon Lady He Suziao."
The ministers bowed deeply, their voices resonating,
"We thank Your Majesty for your benevolence."
Yet, the Empress Dowager spoke again.Lady Kelpi Translations+1Wikipedia+1
"Since the Crown Prince seeks to restore his mother's honor, I believe it is fitting to appoint a new Empress to replace Liu Zhangli, who was deposed."
Some ministers nodded in agreement.
"An excellent proposal, Your Majesty."
The Crown Prince turned to the Empress Dowager, his gaze profound. Would she now advocate for his mother's elevation to Empress as previously discussed, or did she harbor other intentions?
The Emperor remained silent for a moment before speaking in a low, authoritative tone.
"The matter of appointing a new Empress... I shall deliberate further."
"May Your Majesty reconsider," the Empress Dowager urged from her seat beside the Emperor, her eyes unwavering, her will resolute.
The Emperor looked upon her, his expression serene yet tinged with gravity. He tapped the armrest lightly before asking,
"Does the Empress Dowager insist on appointing a new Empress?"
Her hands folded gracefully in her lap, her face composed, her eyes firm.Novel Updates+2Lady Kelpi Translations+2Lady Kelpi Translations+2
"Indeed. The position of the nation's mother cannot remain vacant. An empty throne brings ill fortune. All ministers concur."
As her words concluded, the ministers stepped forward, kneeling in unison.
"We implore Your Majesty to appoint a new Empress without delay."
The Emperor's gaze swept over them, cold and discerning. Each face reflected unwavering determination; none dared dissent. This was not a mere request—it was a calculated political pressure.
Leaning back, the Emperor sighed softly and spoke evenly,
"Since all are in accord, who then should be Empress? Which consort do you propose?"
As his words faded, the Empress Dowager smiled slightly and responded with measured firmness,
"Which consort? Naturally, Lady He Suziao, mother of the Crown Prince. None other is as suitable; none possess her stature."
Her declaration stirred murmurs among the ministers, yet no objections arose.
Lady He Suziao—once the Emperor's favored consort and mother to the increasingly influential Crown Prince.
Crown Prince Qi Feihong remained kneeling, a subtle twitch at the corner of his mouth. He raised his head to meet the Emperor's gaze, his eyes filled with anticipation and unspoken pressure.
The Emperor regarded them all with a cool detachment.
This was no mere petition; it was a deftly executed coercion.
The request for Linglin Palace, followed by the proposal to appoint a new Empress—this was not solely about restoring a woman's honor; it was a strategic political maneuver.
Raising his hand slightly, the Emperor silenced the murmurs. He then spoke deliberately,
"This matter... I shall contemplate thoroughly."
The grand hall fell into a profound silence.
This was not a refusal, yet neither was it an immediate assent.
To be continued...