Xue Yan certainly had not expected that Jinbao would not only complete his task, but also bring him quite a considerable surprise.
When he entered the side hall of Yongle Palace, he saw a large group of palace servants kneeling all over the floor.
It turned out that Jinbao had been holding a food box by himself, following Xue Yan’s orders, crouching there and keeping watch on Consort Yi and the Lingtai Lang. He was cold and bored. Early that morning, when he saw a group of eunuchs and palace maids passing by, he went up and struck up a conversation with them.
As it happened, they were on their way to Yongle Palace to deliver breakfast to Emperor Qingping. One of them was even a senior palace matron who served in Emperor Qingping’s palace.
Jinbao chatted with the leading matron for a while. Just as he was about to part ways with them, he happened to see Consort Yi and the Lingtai Lang meeting in the woods behind the Buddhist hall.
The place Xue Yan had chosen for him happened to give him a clear view of where they were meeting, while the two of them, approaching from their respective directions, could not see where Jinbao was standing.
The place was also secluded. If Emperor Qingping had not stayed at Yongle Palace that day, this group of people would not have passed by the Buddhist hall at all.
Therefore, the two of them had let down their guard considerably and did not notice that anyone was watching. Consort Yi was crying miserably, while the Lingtai Lang even took her into his arms and comforted her. Everyone present saw this scene.
Jinbao did not even need to say much. The old matron immediately made a decisive call and summoned the guards to seize the two of them on the spot. After they were escorted back to Yongle Palace, the old matron immediately reported everything she had seen and heard to Emperor Qingping truthfully.
When Xue Yan entered, the floor was covered with kneeling people. Emperor Qingping was in a fury, and the teacup containing scalding-hot tea flew straight toward Consort Yi.
“You met him alone behind everyone’s backs? What could you possibly have to say in private that must be kept from others!”
Yet the Lingtai Lang, who was kneeling beside her, instinctively leaned over and blocked the cup of boiling tea for Consort Yi.
They looked practically like a pair of ill-fated lovers.
This was the first time Xue Yan had seen the man who, ever since his birth, had determined his fate and caused him trouble all the way to the present.
The Lingtai Lang kept his head lowered and said nothing. Still, one could see that he had refined and handsome features, with an air of an immortal about him. After blocking the hot tea, he knelt back down and raised his head to glance at Consort Yi.
Even Xue Yan, standing in the distance, could see the deep affection in his eyes.
He gave a cold, disdainful laugh.
This foolish look of being completely lost in love—was he afraid he would not die quickly enough? What an impressive display of devotion. It made Xue Yan sick to his stomach just looking at him.
Sure enough, the Lingtai Lang’s instinctive reaction immediately confirmed the relationship between the two of them, as if he could not wait to produce a green hat on the spot and jam it directly onto Emperor Qingping’s head.
Emperor Qingping was so furious that his hands trembled. For a long while, he could not say a word, merely glaring angrily at the two of them.
Consort Yi was sitting on the floor now, tears falling continuously in despair. She shoved the Lingtai Lang beside her away, then crawled forward, reaching for Emperor Qingping’s legs.
“Your Majesty, this concubine has been wronged! Everything was because this lecher forced me into it. I absolutely did not do it willingly…”
“You’re lying!” Before she could finish, the matron standing beside Emperor Qingping angrily interrupted her.
This matron had served at Emperor Qingping’s side since he was young and normally managed his food and daily affairs. In Yonghe Palace, apart from Lingfu, she was the one in charge.
After speaking, she stepped forward without either humility or arrogance, knelt before Emperor Qingping, and said, “Your Majesty, this old servant saw everything clearly. It was plainly she who took the initiative to meet the Lingtai Lang. The two of them were deeply affectionate, and she even kept throwing herself into the Lingtai Lang’s arms! And it wasn’t only this old servant. All the servants present saw it too. Even Jinbao, the servant beside Fifth Highness, saw everything clearly!”
Beside them, Jinbao, who had already been frightened into trembling by the situation, was suddenly called out by name. He hurriedly nodded his head as hard as he could.
What an imposing servant of the Emperor! She actually dared to shout so loudly in front of His Majesty! Fortunately, Jinbao had stopped this matron earlier and chatted with her for a while. He really had not expected that this old woman, who looked so kind and gentle, would actually be this formidable!
Emperor Qingping was trembling all over with rage.
“What else do you have to say for yourself!” he roared. “When did the affair between the two of you begin? Hurry up and confess!”
Consort Yi merely wept and shook her head, saying that she had not done anything. Beside her, the Lingtai Lang remained silent, looking as though he would accept whatever punishment was given to him.
Consort Yi truly had not done anything. She had merely lured the other man over and used him. This foolish Daoist was deeply infatuated. As long as she pretended, even slightly, that their feelings had not ended, then let him hold her a few times, he would become utterly devoted to her and do whatever she told him to do.
Consort Yi regarded him merely as a chess piece, so naturally she would not give him any other benefits.
But the two of them had happened to embrace each other in an unoccupied place before dawn, and had happened to be caught doing so. How could she possibly explain this clearly now?
Consort Yi despairingly raised her head, and then caught sight of Xue Yan standing at the entrance of the hall from the corner of her eye.
Xue Yan.
Consort Yi froze. Then, her gaze gradually became vicious.
Among that group of people just now, the eunuch leading them was Xue Yan’s eunuch. The place where she had met the Lingtai Lang was so well hidden—why was it that Xue Yan’s servant happened to be able to lead so many people past that exact place?
It was obviously him who had harmed her.
“It was him, Your Majesty!” Consort Yi cried, pointing at Xue Yan. With tears like pear blossoms in the rain and a frail, pitiful appearance, she looked rather heartbreaking. “It was plainly him who ordered his servant to frame this concubine! Your Majesty, you must seek justice for me!”
Emperor Qingping impatiently rubbed his brow.
He had already grown somewhat tired of the Xu family and had long wanted to find an excuse to warn them. Yet he had never expected that, before he could find a handle against them, the Xu family would first cause him such a tremendous scandal.
He had never particularly liked Consort Yi in the first place. He had merely coveted her gentle, accommodating nature. She never caused him trouble and was an obedient, well-behaved plaything.
Yet who would have thought that the reason she had never made trouble or become jealous was because she already had someone else in her heart?
This kind of provocation to his dignity was something he, as an emperor, could tolerate least of all.
“Go. Summon the Right Chancellor,” he said, rubbing his brow. He did not pay any attention to Consort Yi and instead ordered Lingfu.
Consort Yi’s accusation clearly had not the slightest basis. Jinbao had gone to deliver food to Xue Yan with Emperor Qingping’s explicit knowledge. Originally, the little eunuch had remained here guarding on behalf of his master. After seeing that Jun Huailang’s fever had subsided and that Xue Yan refused to return, he had voluntarily requested permission to deliver some food to Xue Yan.
Emperor Qingping thought unhappily, Could it be that Xue Yan ordered me to do this?
Lingfu received the imperial order. He glanced at Consort Yi, did not pause for even a moment, answered yes, and withdrew.
Given Consort Yi’s crimes today, even if she did not die, she would never have a chance to rise again. The Emperor was having him summon Chancellor Xu now, naturally not to show her mercy, but to warn the Xu family, make them choose for themselves, and give them an opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty.
If they wanted both their daughter and the Emperor’s favor, then naturally they could choose for themselves.
Lingfu was an old fox who had been steeped in the palace for years and was best at weighing interests. Back then, he had allied himself with Consort Yi precisely because he saw that she had the Xu family and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau behind her. Now that this person was certain to die, there was no need for him to concern himself with any past affection.
What affection was there to speak of? Was it not all merely a matter of each side taking what they needed?
Emperor Qingping rubbed his temple, then raised his hand and beckoned Xue Yan forward.
“Why are you standing at the door instead of coming in?”
His tone had already become much gentler.
What had happened tonight had just proven that the Duer Extermination Sutra could suppress the baleful energy on Xue Yan. If that was the case, then as long as he had Xue Yan copy scriptures regularly throughout the year, would that baleful energy not disappear?
With the throne beneath him no longer threatened and his own Ziwei Star unaffected, Emperor Qingping could finally set his mind at ease and regard Xue Yan as his own son.
Between father and son in the imperial family, one had to get past this layer first before they could speak of fatherly and filial affection again.
Xue Yan stepped forward and bowed to Emperor Qingping.
“Father Emperor. Why have you summoned Your Majesty’s son?”
Emperor Qingping glanced at Consort Yi, his expression turning cold.
“Last night’s matter is settled, and there was another scandal outside the Buddhist hall this morning. You need not continue copying scriptures there.”
After saying this, he looked at Xue Yan, his expression softening somewhat.
“Now that I see it, copying these scriptures is indeed useful. From now on, you may copy more of them in your spare time. It will help you calm your mind and steady your temperament.”
Most importantly, it would suppress the baleful energy on his body. Emperor Qingping did not say this outright, but none of those present failed to understand it.
Xue Yan nodded in agreement.
Emperor Qingping pointed to the seat beside him and had him sit down.
Xue Yan raised his head and swept his gaze across the room, taking in everyone present.
Apart from the witnesses kneeling all over the floor, there were also several palace servants who had come with Consort Yi.
Among them was one with a mole on her left cheek. Xue Yan noticed her at a glance.
His gaze sharpened.
Xue Yan had always been good at recognizing people. As long as he paid attention and looked at someone once, he could remember them clearly. Last night, when the firelight suddenly flashed, Xue Yan had clearly seen that the palace maid who had come looking for Jun Huailang had a small mole on her left cheek.
It was her.
It was just that the palace maid was standing rather far back and had her head lowered, so she did not attract attention. If Xue Yan had not been deliberately keeping an eye out, he certainly would not have noticed her either.
Xue Yan’s gaze darkened slightly, but he calmly looked away.
He had originally intended to deal with these insignificant underlings after everything had settled. He had not expected that the foremost one among them would actually deliver herself right to his door.
Xue Yan lowered his eyes without revealing anything.
At this time, it was supposed to be the first day of the Lunar New Year. Although all the officials were on holiday at home, today they were required to enter the palace and pay their respects to the Emperor. Thus, all the officials were waiting outside Xuanwu Gate, and Chancellor Xu was no exception.
It did not take long before Lingfu led him all the way to the side hall of Yongle Palace.
On the way, Chancellor Xu had already heard from Lingfu about what had happened in the palace. Thus, he did not dare delay for even a moment. He hurried into the hall, and the moment he saw Emperor Qingping, he immediately prostrated himself before him.
“Your Majesty, this old臣 has sinned!” Chancellor Xu knocked his head heavily against the floor, his voice already tinged with sobs. “This old臣 failed to properly discipline his daughter. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”
Yet which of the old foxes in the imperial court were not thousand-year-old demons? Everyone present could hear how miserable his sobbing sounded, but whether those sobs were genuine or not was impossible to know.
Emperor Qingping did not tell him to rise.
“Chancellor Xu, it is the New Year, and I am inclined to be lenient. But Consort Yi has committed such an act, and I cannot simply disregard the law,” he said. “The two of them are here now. I summoned you today because I want to ask you: how should I deal with my beloved consort?”
Consort Yi, kneeling to the side, raised her head and looked at her father.
She knew that her father had loved her dearly since she was young. Although she was extremely insignificant compared with the entire Xu family, her father would not block the Xu family’s path for her sake. But she also believed that her father would certainly have a way to preserve her life.
“This old臣’s daughter has committed such a monstrous crime. I have no face to appear before Your Majesty, and naturally I dare not ask Your Majesty to show her mercy!” Chancellor Xu knocked his head against the floor and sobbed bitterly. “Your Majesty may dispose of this daughter as you see fit. I also have no face to continue serving as an official at court! I beg Your Majesty to strip me of my office, grant me a carriage and horses, and allow me to return to my hometown!”
As expected, several traces of satisfaction appeared on Emperor Qingping’s face.
Originally, he had merely been wary that the Xu family’s achievements were so great that they might overshadow the Emperor. Now that the Xu family had suffered such a tremendous scandal and he had a handle over them, as long as he bestowed them some favor, he could continue using the Xu family without worry.
“The Xu family has devoted itself wholeheartedly to my Great Yong and rendered meritorious service through hardship and toil. Naturally, I will show some leniency,” he said. “Chancellor Xu, you need not say such things. If you leave, what would happen to my court?”
“The Lingtai Lang—drag him out and tear him apart by chariots. Consort Yi shall be stripped of her title, demoted to a commoner, imprisoned in the Cold Palace for life, and forbidden from leaving for the rest of her life.”
Having obtained Chancellor Xu’s words, he issued the decree.
Although Chancellor Xu had not asked him to spare her, Emperor Qingping still had to give him this final bit of face. After all, they had not exactly been caught in bed together, so this was not yet the most serious of crimes. Leaving her alive could be regarded as something done for the officials of both the civil and military courts to see.
For a moment, no one said anything, yet everyone could be considered pleased with the outcome.
Xue Yan glanced indifferently at Chancellor Xu on the floor and stood up.
A gecko cuts off its own tail, thinking it can escape alive, but he probably did not yet know that a trap lay hidden right in front of him.
He wanted to use this strategy of retreating in order to advance and preserve his daughter’s life, but he had not even asked whether Xue Yan agreed.
“Father Emperor,” he said, bowing to Emperor Qingping.
“Your son suddenly finds one of the palace maids somewhat familiar.” He raised his head and looked toward Emperor Qingping. “She has a mole on her face, and she bears some resemblance to the person who took the heir of Duke Yongning away last night.”