novelraw Chapter 146 The Calamity of the Demonic Flower 2
Chapter 146 The Calamity of the Demonic Flower 2
The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly, a fierce glint in her eyes: "I will never allow this wicked star to wreak havoc on the harem, harm the Emperor, or overthrow this great empire!"
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she frowned and looked at the abbot, "My relationship with the emperor and his mother has always been shallow. Could it be related to this evil star's influence?"
Abbot Mingzhan took the bronze divination stick, closed his eyes to divine, and once the divination result was determined, he put his palms together and sighed, saying with certainty, "Amitabha, it is precisely this evil spirit that has disrupted the fortune of heaven and earth, causing the Empress Dowager and His Majesty to develop a rift and their estrangement to deepen day by day."
Before she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager angrily flung her sleeve, clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and spat through gritted teeth, "It really is her! It really is that vixen."
"Abbot, would you be willing to return to the palace with me to get rid of this wicked woman?"
"I swore to the late Emperor that I would never leave Chengtian Temple in this lifetime." Mingzhan's voice was calm and steady, but then his tone turned to one of righteousness, "But for the sake of the country and the people, I am willing to break this oath and return to the palace with the Empress Dowager."
After saying that, he turned to look at the black-robed monk standing to the side, his voice cold and stern: "Xuandu, you will also come along."
Xuan Du bowed and accepted the order, replying with lowered eyes, "Yes."
"Good, very good."
The Empress Dowager raised her voice and ordered the palace servants: "Someone, prepare the carriage. We must return immediately. I must go back to the palace right away."
*
As the imperial carriage arrived at the palace gate, the Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes.
She knew that the Emperor protected Consort Yuan and would not easily punish her based on the abbot's words.
Therefore, we need to plan this out in the long term.
The Empress Dowager did not make a fuss, but instead used the pretext of a meeting of the imperial clan to summon the princes and several senior officials to the palace.
After exiting the screen, go left, right, or back.
She ordered her men to invite Abbot Mingzhan and Xuandu into the hall, set up a bronze divination diagram, and said in a deep voice, "I have invited you all here today because there is a major matter concerning the fate of the nation that I wish to discuss with you."
He then instructed the abbot to explain the Buddha's teachings, the divination results, and the ominous nature of the "Zhaohua Sha" to everyone in detail.
The imperial relatives and ministers in the hall were all people who cared deeply about the country, and their expressions turned solemn after hearing this.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager added, "This matter is of great importance, and I dare not make a decision on my own. I hereby request that you all discuss how to ensure the stability of our dynasty."
The prince slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming: "Since he is a jinx, causing chaos in the emperor's heart and shaking the state, then naturally he must not be allowed to live."
The emperor's brother-in-law immediately responded, "Your Highness is absolutely right. This matter concerns the safety of the nation and is by no means a private grudge within the harem. I will immediately contact the imperial clan and all civil and military officials to submit a joint petition!"
Several key ministers nodded in agreement, their expressions solemn yet resolute. "We second this proposal. We urge Your Majesty to prioritize the well-being of the nation and punish this scourge as soon as possible, restoring order to the court and protecting Your Majesty's health."
In just a few words, everyone was united in purpose and there was no more hesitation.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager slowly raised her hand and pressed it down.
"We must not be so reckless."
The emperor's attention to and protection of Consort Yuan was something that no one else could easily shake. If they rashly submitted a joint petition, it would only provoke the emperor's rebellion, which would be counterproductive.
Thinking of this, "In ten days, the Imperial Ancestral Temple will hold a grand sacrificial ceremony. The Emperor will definitely go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay his respects. Under heaven, all land belongs to the Emperor, and all people within the realm are his subjects. The ancestral rites and laws are something the Emperor dares not disobey."
She looked at everyone and said, "Before that, what you need to do is contact the princes and officials of the imperial clan to unify your statements. Secondly, prepare your memorials and petitions. When the time comes, accompany the emperor to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. After the sacrificial ceremony is completed, kneel before the ancestral tablets and ask the emperor to deal with Consort Yuan, this evil star of Zhaohua."
As for how she would take advantage of the Emperor's absence from the palace to perform the sacrificial ceremony, imprison Consort Yuan in the Wanfo Hall, invite the abbot and eminent monks to set up an altar and chant sutras, and finally give Consort Yuan a cup of poisoned wine to end her life.
This action was by no means a preemptive decision; it was a necessary measure to protect the Emperor's health and safeguard the stability of the country.
If this scourge is not eliminated, it will be an injustice to Heaven.
-----
Qinzheng Hall.
The ink flowed freely.
After finishing an urgent memorial, Xiao Yan put down his pen and rubbed his temples. "The Empress Dowager summoned all the members of the imperial clan to the palace under the pretext of a meeting of imperial relatives?"
"Your Majesty, this is indeed the case."
"Investigate," Xiao Yan's eyes darkened slightly, his fingertips lightly tapping the imperial desk. "Investigate carefully what they discussed in the palace and what they arranged in private. I'm afraid this matter is not so simple."
"Yes."
"Will Your Majesty choose a concubine tonight?" Li Fuquan asked.
The coldness between Xiao Yan's brows dissipated somewhat, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Let's go to Yaohua Palace. I haven't seen her for quite some time."
Li Fuquan said cheerfully, "It's only been four or five days, how can it be many days?"
Xiao Yan scoffed, "Four or five days isn't long?"
"It's been a long time, as the saying goes, a day feels like three autumns." Li Fuquan smiled and, seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, boldly joined in the fun and joked with the emperor.
Under the deep darkness of night, the imperial carriage headed towards Yaohua Palace.
*
Yaohua Palace.
Song Shuangning, Consort Shao, Consort Xu, and Beauty Qiu sat around a pearwood wooden table playing leaf cards.
Originally, playing with leaf cards was something that Consort Shao and Consort Xu never touched. However, after Song Shuangning and Consort Qiu taught them how to play, the two became completely addicted and would play until midnight.
The group had already agreed on the penalties for winning and losing: the loser would have floral decorations and ink marks drawn on their face.
Song Shuangning never expected that Consort Shao and Consort Xu were experts, winning more than ten rounds in a row. As a result, she and Consort Qiu's faces were covered with flower decorations, and Consort Xu even drew two black marks on the corners of their eyes, making them look quite disheveled.
No one paid attention to the commotion outside.
Xiao Yan specifically instructed the palace servants not to inform them, and they arrived quietly.
Tingyu and Tinglu hurriedly pushed open the door, "Your Majesty, my ladies, the Emperor has arrived."
The laughter and chatter inside the hall abruptly stopped, and everyone stood up in surprise.
Although playing cards was forbidden in the palace, such playful antics, if witnessed by the emperor, would ultimately be considered improper.
Song Shuangning hurriedly ordered the palace maids to bring water.
Consort Shao, Consort Xu, and Lady Qiu were frantically wiping the ink stains from their faces, but just as they were turning to Song Shuangning, the Emperor had already stepped into the palace.
Song Shuangning immediately turned her back to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan was quite surprised to see them. "You're here too?"
Consort Shao composed herself and said, "We came to visit Consort Zhao because we were thinking of her, but we didn't expect it to take so long. We'll take our leave now."
As she spoke, she pulled Xu Jieyu and Qiu Meiren out. Qiu Meiren looked embarrassed, gave a hasty bow, and followed her out.
Consort Xu clutched her chest, a hint of anxiety in her eyes: "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to just abandon Consort Zhao like this?"
Consort Shao glanced back in the direction of Yaohua Palace and slowed her pace: "His Majesty dotes on her and won't blame her."
The three looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"I just didn't expect this leaf card game to be so addictive. It's not necessarily a good thing. I need to control myself in the future and not indulge in it like this," Consort Shao said with a hint of regret.
Hsu Chieh-yu nodded emphatically, "We must restrain ourselves."
Qiu Meiren coughed lightly, "My two elder sisters, my maid also knows how to play the card game, shall we continue?"
Consort Shao and Consort Xu exchanged a glance. "That's fine too."
The three of them went back to play their card game, laughing all the while.
The hall fell silent.
Seeing that Song Shuangning's back was always turned to him, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel curious. He slowly walked closer and said with a smile, "Why are you always turning your back to me? Are you unhappy? Are you upset that I've disturbed your little gathering?"