At this moment, Xiao Jingheng, who was being held down by Zhao Hua, was furious to the point of a blank mind, almost losing his sanity.
He had never experienced such a humiliating disgrace in his life, especially this indignity, which was inflicted by a woman!
He cursed out filthy and vulgar words, completely losing the majesty of an emperor, like a dog barking incessantly.
And no matter how he struggled,
the dog,
could never break free from its master's constraints.
Just as his emotions were at their peak, the door to the inner chamber suddenly opened.
He fell silent for a moment, looking up with a slight hope,
but what he saw was the indifferent face of Judge Zhang.
He stepped forward quickly, only paying his respects to Zhao Hua, and then took out a small bamboo basket from his sleeve, tossing it in front of Xiao Jingheng.
Xiao Jingheng looked closely, and in the small basket was a parasitic worm with a reddish-brown spotted head, its green bean-sized eyes wide open, staring at him intently.
Xiao Jingheng reacted instinctively, desperately trying to back away,
but Zhao Hua's grip on him tightened, and seeing him in such a pitiful state, she joked:
"You should recognize this parasitic worm, right? This is a 'good thing' raised by Xia Ze. You had the secret agency's sorcerers use this worm on prisoners of war. Once it enters the body, it will burrow into the host's organs, making them unable to live or die.
With this method, you forced the prisoners to reveal the military secrets of their homeland, forcing them to betray their country for glory.
At first, this Empress thought you were a beast, but now, it seems like a wonderful method."
Zhao Hua casually picked up the basket, purposefully bringing it close to Xiao Jingheng's face, slowly swinging it back and forth,
"For example, using it on you."
"Put it away! Keep it far away from me!"
Xiao Jingheng roared in a hoarse voice, the higher his tone, the more panicked he felt inside.
He knew all too well the fearsome power of that parasitic worm.
If Zhao Hua really used that worm on him, even if he didn't die, he would live the rest of his life in endless agony.
Seeing Zhao Hua about to open the basket, Xiao Jingheng hurriedly said:
"Release me! I'll write it!"
Zhao Hua sneered, then released Xiao Jingheng, standing behind him and watching as he carefully wrote out the will, not daring to take any risks.
Then the little eunuch brought the jade seal to stamp it, solemnly telling Xiao Jingheng:
"If Your Majesty meets with an accident, I will be the first to take out this will and fulfill Your Majesty's last wishes."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cloud Fir hurriedly entered, whispering to Zhao Hua:
"Imperial Consort, the palace concubines have heard that Your Majesty is unwell and have all rushed over."
Zhao Hua nodded in acknowledgment, then leaned in close to Xiao Jingheng with a gentle tone:
"My dear Xiao, this subject has summoned the high-ranking palace concubines to come see you. They are the ones who have been by your side the longest, and now that you are gravely ill, they cannot bear to part with you and have many heartfelt words to share with you."
With that, Zhao Hua unhurriedly clapped her hands, summoning the waiting palace consorts to enter.
Xiao Jingheng looked at them with a bleak expression as they filed in one by one:
Imperial Consort Ning Wanshuang, Consort Tong Rongyue, Consort Ada Qimu Ge, Consort Nalan Ruge, and even Consort Naran, who had only recently been elevated to a Consort position for her diligent service.
They stood in a line before Xiao Jingheng,
and the looks in their eyes, once gentle and soft, had been replaced by undisguised hatred.
Zhao Hua, her robes in order, addressed them in a loud voice:
"Since you are all here, Xiao is also your husband, so you should say your goodbyes to him properly."
With that, she turned and left the inner chamber without a backward glance.
Sitting in the Chaoyang Palace, Zhao Hua should have felt a great sense of relief,
but as she looked at the familiar walls and tiles of the palace, she felt no joy at all.
She had finally reached this day,
finally had a so-called resolution with Xiao Jingheng,
but had she really won?
The best years of her life had been wasted within these red walls and green tiles,
what had she truly gained?
After sighing for an unknown length of time,
she was suddenly disturbed by the commotion outside.
Zhao Hua frowned and asked, "What's that commotion?"
Only to see the little eunuch come running in, kneeling on the ground and trembling as he spoke:
"Imperial Consort! General Yan has brought many Imperial Guards and stormed in, surrounding the Chaoyang Palace!"
The General Yan mentioned was Yan Hong, the Marquis of the Cavalry of this dynasty, a close confidant of Xiao Jingheng who held considerable military power.
He had recently been sent to Wenzhou by Xiao Jingheng, so why would he suddenly return at this time?
Since the troops had arrived, Zhao Hua had to go see them.
She decisively rose to her feet and strode out of the palace, with the little eunuch quickly instructing the imperial guards to "Protect the Imperial Consort, and do not let anyone approach her!"
Once Zhao Hua was escorted out of the Chaoyang Palace by the guards, she looked at the formidable Imperial Guards assembled before her, finally fixing her gaze on the leading General Yan Hong, and sternly asked:
"General Yan, have you brought these troops to the palace to rebel?"
Yan Hong raised his hands in salute above his head and declared in a loud voice:
"I have received secret orders from His Majesty, stating that there are treacherous elements in the palace, a 'hen crowing at dawn,' intending to plot a rebellion, so I have come to protect His Majesty!"
"A 'hen crowing at dawn'?" Zhao Hua sneered. "The implication of these words is that His Majesty has told you that this subject intends to rebel? This is an utterly ridiculous joke. This subject is the Empress, and my son is the Crown Prince, what would this subject need to rebel against?"
As a military general, Yan Hong clearly had no desire to engage in further discourse with Zhao Hua.
He placed his hand on the sword at his waist, determinedly moving towards the palace,
but Zhao Hua sharply rebuked him, "His Majesty is currently speaking with the palace consorts inside, if you must go in, you must wait until His Majesty has finished his personal business."
But Yan Hong completely ignored Zhao Hua's words, quickening his pace, about to cross the threshold.
At this moment, Zhao Hua suddenly drew the sword from one of the imperial guards at her side, swinging it in an arc directly at Yan Hong's throat.
This caused an uproar among the troops below, and Yan Hong's eyes widened in shock.
Before he could even question her, he heard Zhao Hua's authoritative voice boom out:
"If you dare take another step forward, this subject will charge you with the crime of rebellion and have your entire Yan family clan exterminated!"
At this moment, Xiao Jingheng, who was being held down by Zhao Hua, was furious to the point of a blank mind, almost losing his sanity.
He had never experienced such a humiliating disgrace in his life, especially this indignity, which was inflicted by a woman!
He cursed out filthy and vulgar words, completely losing the majesty of an emperor, like a dog barking incessantly.
And no matter how he struggled,
the dog,
could never break free from its master's constraints.
Just as his emotions were at their peak, the door to the inner chamber suddenly opened.
He fell silent for a moment, looking up with a slight hope,
but what he saw was the indifferent face of Judge Zhang.
He stepped forward quickly, only paying his respects to Zhao Hua, and then took out a small bamboo basket from his sleeve, tossing it in front of Xiao Jingheng.
Xiao Jingheng looked closely, and in the small basket was a parasitic worm with a reddish-brown spotted head, its green bean-sized eyes wide open, staring at him intently.
Xiao Jingheng reacted instinctively, desperately trying to back away,
but Zhao Hua's grip on him tightened, and seeing him in such a pitiful state, she joked:
"You should recognize this parasitic worm, right? This is a 'good thing' raised by Xia Ze. You had the secret agency's sorcerers use this worm on prisoners of war. Once it enters the body, it will burrow into the host's organs, making them unable to live or die.
With this method, you forced the prisoners to reveal the military secrets of their homeland, forcing them to betray their country for glory.
At first, this Empress thought you were a beast, but now, it seems like a wonderful method."
Zhao Hua casually picked up the basket, purposefully bringing it close to Xiao Jingheng's face, slowly swinging it back and forth,
"For example, using it on you."
"Put it away! Keep it far away from me!"
Xiao Jingheng roared in a hoarse voice, the higher his tone, the more panicked he felt inside.
He knew all too well the fearsome power of that parasitic worm.
If Zhao Hua really used that worm on him, even if he didn't die, he would live the rest of his life in endless agony.
Seeing Zhao Hua about to open the basket, Xiao Jingheng hurriedly said:
"Release me! I'll write it!"
Zhao Hua sneered, then released Xiao Jingheng, standing behind him and watching as he carefully wrote out the will, not daring to take any risks.
Then the little eunuch brought the jade seal to stamp it, solemnly telling Xiao Jingheng:
"If Your Majesty meets with an accident, I will be the first to take out this will and fulfill Your Majesty's last wishes."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cloud Fir hurriedly entered, whispering to Zhao Hua:
"Imperial Consort, the palace concubines have heard that Your Majesty is unwell and have all rushed over."
Zhao Hua nodded in acknowledgment, then leaned in close to Xiao Jingheng with a gentle tone:
"My dear Xiao, this subject has summoned the high-ranking palace concubines to come see you. They are the ones who have been by your side the longest, and now that you are gravely ill, they cannot bear to part with you and have many heartfelt words to share with you."
With that, Zhao Hua unhurriedly clapped her hands, summoning the waiting palace consorts to enter.
Xiao Jingheng looked at them with a bleak expression as they filed in one by one:
Imperial Consort Ning Wanshuang, Consort Tong Rongyue, Consort Ada Qimu Ge, Consort Nalan Ruge, and even Consort Naran, who had only recently been elevated to a Consort position for her diligent service.
They stood in a line before Xiao Jingheng,
and the looks in their eyes, once gentle and soft, had been replaced by undisguised hatred.
Zhao Hua, her robes in order, addressed them in a loud voice:
"Since you are all here, Xiao is also your husband, so you should say your goodbyes to him properly."
With that, she turned and left the inner chamber without a backward glance.
Sitting in the Chaoyang Palace, Zhao Hua should have felt a great sense of relief,
but as she looked at the familiar walls and tiles of the palace, she felt no joy at all.
She had finally reached this day,
finally had a so-called resolution with Xiao Jingheng,
but had she really won?
The best years of her life had been wasted within these red walls and green tiles,
what had she truly gained?
After sighing for an unknown length of time,
she was suddenly disturbed by the commotion outside.
Zhao Hua frowned and asked, "What's that commotion?"
Only to see the little eunuch come running in, kneeling on the ground and trembling as he spoke:
"Imperial Consort! General Yan has brought many Imperial Guards and stormed in, surrounding the Chaoyang Palace!"
The General Yan mentioned was Yan Hong, the Marquis of the Cavalry of this dynasty, a close confidant of Xiao Jingheng who held considerable military power.
He had recently been sent to Wenzhou by Xiao Jingheng, so why would he suddenly return at this time?
Since the troops had arrived, Zhao Hua had to go see them.
She decisively rose to her feet and strode out of the palace, with the little eunuch quickly instructing the imperial guards to "Protect the Imperial Consort, and do not let anyone approach her!"
Once Zhao Hua was escorted out of the Chaoyang Palace by the guards, she looked at the formidable Imperial Guards assembled before her, finally fixing her gaze on the leading General Yan Hong, and sternly asked:
"General Yan, have you brought these troops to the palace to rebel?"
Yan Hong raised his hands in salute above his head and declared in a loud voice:
"I have received secret orders from His Majesty, stating that there are treacherous elements in the palace, a 'hen crowing at dawn,' intending to plot a rebellion, so I have come to protect His Majesty!"
"A 'hen crowing at dawn'?" Zhao Hua sneered. "The implication of these words is that His Majesty has told you that this subject intends to rebel? This is an utterly ridiculous joke. This subject is the Empress, and my son is the Crown Prince, what would this subject need to rebel against?"
As a military general, Yan Hong clearly had no desire to engage in further discourse with Zhao Hua.
He placed his hand on the sword at his waist, determinedly moving towards the palace,
but Zhao Hua sharply rebuked him, "His Majesty is currently speaking with the palace consorts inside, if you must go in, you must wait until His Majesty has finished his personal business."
But Yan Hong completely ignored Zhao Hua's words, quickening his pace, about to cross the threshold.
At this moment, Zhao Hua suddenly drew the sword from one of the imperial guards at her side, swinging it in an arc directly at Yan Hong's throat.
This caused an uproar among the troops below, and Yan Hong's eyes widened in shock.
Before he could even question her, he heard Zhao Hua's authoritative voice boom out:
"If you dare take another step forward, this subject will charge you with the crime of rebellion and have your entire Yan family clan exterminated!"
