N-A-A Chapter 318 Swift and Decisive Measures
Chapter 318 Swift and Decisive Measures
The three provincial governors wanted to make trouble, and Shen Shixi was no different.
Quite a few officials knelt down.
Apart from the faction of Duke Xin, most of the military generals on Xun Gui's side remained unmoved.
Xu Gongmao knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am puzzled! Is it true that you intend to abolish the Three Departments? This is a system that has been in place since the previous dynasty, and it has been without fault for over a hundred years. I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me on whether this is true or not?"
If Shen Shixi denies it, then the three provinces will have to stay; if Shen Shixi admits it, then this is not over yet!
"Consort Jing has arrived!" came the announcement from outside.
Before anyone could speak, Consort Jing staggered in, supported by others. Her gaze locked onto Xu Gongmao, and she stepped forward, slapping him twice across the face.
Even Shen Shixi was stunned; she truly hadn't expected this!
"You ungrateful, heartless wretch! Do you still remember how you plotted against others back in my father's mansion? My father is gone, but have the kindness and support he showed you gone too?"
Consort Jing was panting heavily as she spoke, as weak and frail as a willow catkin in the wind.
Everyone who saw it was amazed.
Xu Gongmao was even more incredulous. He glared at Consort Jing with resentment. How dare a mere deposed empress treat him like this?
"What does Consort Jing mean by this?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" Consort Jing asked. "When I was Empress, Consort De drugged me, ruining my health and causing the Seventh Prince to become weak. Zhang Qiushi was an accomplice. The person was handed over to you, the Minister of Justice. What did you do?"
"Now you've suddenly changed your tune and sided with the Duke of Xin's mansion, Xu Gongmao! You're truly a hypocrite and a scoundrel!"
Xu Gongmao remained expressionless, glancing at the Empress. "Consort Jing, I don't know who told you this, but Zhang Qiushi has never confessed to plotting against you. What evidence do you have that he poisoned you?"
Consort Jing shook herself a few times in anger.
Shen Shixi said, "Xu Gongmao, I handed the person over to the Ministry of Justice. I really didn't expect that you, the Minister of Justice, would become so stupid after losing Prime Minister Pei's guidance!"
"Is Zhang Qiushi dead? Do you think I can't do anything to you? Guards, bring up Zhang Qiushi's confession so our Minister of Justice can have a good look at it!"
The Ministry of Justice brought the confession, which bore Zhang Qiushi's handwritten signature.
Li Yuanke asked, "Where is Zhang Qiushi?"
Xu Gongmao was caught off guard. He did not expect that the Empress would allow the Censorate to conduct a preliminary interrogation and obtain a confession!
So, this was a siege launched by the Empress against him?
"I am guilty. Three days ago, Zhang Qiushi committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment!"
There's no way to prove it now that the dead are dead!
Consort De was overjoyed and knelt down to plead, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I have never instructed the imperial physician to poison Consort Jing. If I had such power, Consort Jing would not still be standing here."
The matter smoothly shifted from the three provinces to Consort De.
Shen Shixi kept Zhang Qiushi around for this very reason; she absolutely refused to allow history to record that she and the Emperor had harmed Consort Jing.
Consort Jing, true to form, sneered, "You're not stupid either. If I die, do you think you can explain yourself? Or do you think anyone else will be so kind as to take the blame for you?"
Whoever benefits should take the blame!
Everyone suddenly realized that Shen Shixi had ascended to the position of Empress. Naturally, the court and the public would be suspicious of the Empress. Given her temperament, would she really agree to this?
Consort Jing said, "Only when I'm in this state of being neither dead nor alive will no one care. Once I'm dead, when rumors start circulating again, you'll be completely innocent, and someone will take the blame for you in the future court and historical records. Du Ruowan, you're so cunning!"
Consort De calmed down at this point. "Your Majesty, I will never admit to something I didn't do! How can you be sure this confession wasn't obtained through torture? Otherwise, why would Zhang Qiushi commit suicide as soon as he arrived at the Ministry of Justice? Who knows what kind of shady dealings are behind this?"
Consort Jing clapped her hands. "Du Ruowan, you're very clever! Don't worry, I have no intention of accusing you to the Emperor. After all, the person is dead, and there's no way to verify anything now!"
Xu Gongmao breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Shixi asked, "Xu Gongmao, what's the story behind your new concubine, Chen?"
Xu Gongmao's heart skipped a beat. He looked up at the Empress in disbelief. "Your Majesty, I do not understand your meaning. My newly acquired concubine is... is a woman from a respectable family, and there is nothing wrong with her!"
Li Yuanke glanced at Cen Yin, who then gestured outwards, and naturally, some of the unruly men quickly headed towards Xu Gongmao's house.
Shen Shixi sneered, "Chen was a concubine in the former Prince Jin's mansion. She was the niece of the wife of Yao Hanzong, the Minister of Revenue. You had met her a few times before, and you always thought of her and planned to marry her. However, Pei Gao helped you arrange for her to be given to Prince Jin as a concubine."
Therefore, you have always held a grudge against Lady Pei. Women confiscated from the government were only given to the families of meritorious officials; how could you, a mere civil official, receive one? Using your public office for personal gain—is this how you, the Minister of Justice, conduct yourself?
A woman from the inner quarters, who had never committed treason, was implicated in the crime. Shen Shixi found out but turned a blind eye and did not intend to pursue the matter.
But since Xu Gongmao is like this, don't blame her for being impolite!
If Xu Gongmao said he didn't regret it at this moment, he would be lying. He had to admit that he did know that Shen Shixi was not simple, but no matter what, she was just a woman, and he still looked down on her.
If he can remove Shen Shixi from his position as empress, he will have a chance to become the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.
This was Pei Wuji's position back then. He dreamed of reaching this summit and surpassing Pei Wuji to become a powerful prime minister.
Chen's identity was verified, and the Empress did not wrong Xu Gongmao.
Cen Yin actually knew about this matter. It was Cen Yin who reported it to Shen Shixi. She hesitated for a moment, but still did not go so far as to kill them all. She believed in showing mercy when possible.
Besides, Xu Gongmao is as slippery as an eel. Keeping this around is also a handle that might come in handy someday.
The emperor issued an edict that Xu Gongmao be dismissed from his post and investigated, Zhang and Cui Meiren be punished with ten strokes of the cane each, and Consort De be demoted to the rank of Xiu Rong, and not even called De Xiu Rong anymore. This was even worse than Consort Qing's situation. At least Consort Qing had a title, but "De" was not an ordinary title. Consort De was a rank, and demotion could not be taken away.
From then on, she was Du Xiurong.
Du Xiurong was so upset she almost cried her eyes out. After this demotion, it would obviously be difficult for her to be promoted again.
As for why Lady Zhang and Consort Cui were demoted from twenty to ten, it was also because the Emperor gave face to the Empress Dowager.
After that, no one caused any trouble. Fortunately, the weather was still relatively warm, and the food had gone cold. In addition, the atmosphere was quite oppressive, so everyone ate in a rather dull manner.
Du Xiurong didn't eat a single bite, and didn't dare make a sound, forcing a smile on her face.
After being beaten, Zhang and Cui Meiren came in to express their gratitude.
Cui Fangli hated Shen Shixi so much he wanted to grind his teeth.
The next day was a day off, and there was no need to attend the morning court. Li Yuanke took his wife and slept in late. Shen Shixi got up and ate something in the middle of the night, while Li Yuanke only drank a bowl of milk.
The two slept until after 9 am, and didn't get up until around 11 am. They planned to have lunch directly, but then they heard that Wang Yuehuai was dressed in plain clothes and had removed her hairpins to apologize at the entrance of Qianyuan Palace.