Zhuo Yan watched the two people kneeling before her, not surprised at all.
"You've decided?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, please grant my wish."
Zhuo Yan didn't know why he had changed his mind in such a short period, but the outcome was good. She didn't want to raise someone for nothing.
"I told you before that you could leave the palace and marry her. I keep my word. But before that, I need you to do one thing."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
What Zhuo Yan wanted him to do was actually very simple: persuade the others in the harem to "voluntarily" leave the palace. As compensation, Zhuo Yan would provide them with dowries or status. As for Qiao Yu, Zhuo Yan would recognize him as a sworn brother, allowing him to marry Wei Ningjun with a status other than that of a Qiao family son.
The Qiao family had been facing frequent misfortunes recently. If Qiao Yu were willing to grow old and die in the palace, it would be fine. But now that he wanted to leave the palace and get married, the Qiao family's reaction would undoubtedly be the most intense. This concerned their family's reputation, and they would certainly oppose it with all their might.
They might even wish Qiao Yu dead.
Qiao Yu couldn't count on the Qiao family. Therefore, even for the sake of his child, Qiao Yu had no reason to refuse Zhuo Yan's offer.
The dozens of people in Zhuo Yan's harem, excluding those who entered during the first selection, were sent in every few days. Those who entered during the selection were generally from decent families, characterized by modest backgrounds but clear origins.
Most of those sent in later were illegitimate sons from the families of various officials or legitimate sons of minor officials, none of whom held high status.
Frankly speaking, in all aspects, Qiao Yu had been the foremost person in the harem.
So, when this foremost person personally went to persuade them, many were swayed.
Especially the first batch of young men from decent families. They had been in the palace for several years, never truly favored, and in this world where men could not conceive, many of them would never have their own children and would live a lonely life.
When he mentioned that if they agreed to leave the palace, His Majesty would provide them with status and money, several people immediately stated their willingness, even eager to leave at once.
It was evident that many had long been unable to bear this cage-like place.
Some were also shocked, stating they would never leave.
Especially a few who entered the palace later, around the same time as Chong Yan. They had seen him granted the title of Side Prince on his first night of service and had remained in favor since. They harbored a hope that one day such an event might befall them.
Qiao Yu, being observant of facial expressions, easily discerned their thoughts. He sighed inwardly, deciding it was best not to leave them any hope.
"I know why you are unwilling to leave the palace? You all believe that Side Prince Chong can be favored and loved by His Majesty, and that you can too, right?"
Those people looked at him.
Qiao Yu smiled, "To tell you the truth, I've been in the palace for four years and have never truly served His Majesty."
The newcomers showed expressions of shock.
Qiao Yu continued, "Not only me, but everyone in this harem, except for Side Prince Chong, has never truly served His Majesty. Otherwise, why do you think His Majesty has no heirs after so many years? If you don't believe me, you can ask the brothers in the adjacent Cuiying Pavilion if they have ever been favored. His Majesty had no interest in male-male relations before Side Prince Chong, and will have no interest in anyone after him. She is letting you leave now because she feels she has delayed your youth and wants to offer some compensation."
He surveyed everyone's faces, "If you agree to leave the palace, you can ask for money and status. If you refuse and displease the future Empress, you might die one day. Think carefully about your choice."
After he finished, he stood up to leave.
The people behind him asked urgently, "Side... Brother Qiao, Side Prince Chong, is His Majesty going to make him Empress?"
Qiao Yu smiled and said, "His Majesty previously said that when Side Prince Chong is made Empress, a new palace seal will be made for him. A gentleman's word is his bond. His Majesty's own words, how could they be false?"
As soon as these words were spoken, all those who still held hope wilted.
Their unwillingness to leave stemmed from the hope of one day being favored and receiving grace, thus rising to prominence.
If everything Qiao Yu said was true, then they had no chance at all.
Let alone competing for favor through offspring, they couldn't even serve His Majesty, so where would children come from?
Qiao Yu saw their crestfallen expressions and a slight curve formed on his lips.
This was the effect he desired.
The next day, some people left the imperial palace with money and "proof of status." When Zhuo Yan brought up her thoughts during court, those who pushed their luck and tried to object were fiercely rebuked by Zhuo Yan.
Then, someone raised the issue of offspring.
Zhuo Yan directly threw a memorial at him, "I said I have no feelings for them and will never favor them. If they can conceive as men, then I have nothing to say."
The civil and military officials were left speechless.
After Zhuque and Xuanwu merged, quite a number of the civil and military officials were men, accounting for about a quarter of the court officials, half of whom came from Xuanwu. Their families practiced monogamy and were accustomed to this way of life, so they were more understanding of Zhuo Yan.
Especially some who served in the same court, working together daily and leaving together, were extremely happy. They were now speaking in her favor.
A female official stepped forward and said, "Matters of the harem should be His Majesty's private affairs. Some officials have chaotic inner households, failing to be filial to their parents and neglecting their children, yet they are meddling in others' private affairs. Lord Liu, did you put too much salt in your breakfast, making you so idle?"
The person she was provoking was the one who had been speaking the most fiercely. The reason she opposed Zhuo Yan's disbandment of the harem so strongly was that her own illegitimate son was in the harem, and was among those who entered with Chong Yan.
She clearly held the same kind of aspiration.
So she immediately retorted, "A ruler has no private affairs; all are state affairs. His Majesty's affairs concern everyone under heaven, and everyone under heaven has the right to judge. Why can't I?"
"Mind your own business first. Your concubine is almost climbing over your primary wife's head, and you're worrying about others. If you oppose His Majesty, I'm sure His Majesty wouldn't mind providing some sustenance to a useless person. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Zhuo Yan actually minded.
More so, she was angry. She felt like killing again.
Since she was going to earn the title of a tyrant anyway, people like this were likely not entirely clean. It would be better to have them investigated. If any issues were found, she would simply have them executed.
With her mind made up, Zhuo Yan said, "Then Lord Liu's son will not leave the palace for now. I plan to establish an Empress, and then I will bestow him the title of Side Prince, how about it?"
Lord Liu immediately burst into laughter, "Good, good, this humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Hearing that her son might be made a Side Prince, she didn't even notice that Zhuo Yan had mentioned establishing an Empress.
Zhuo Yan sneered, "Is Censor-in-Chief Chen En present?"
"This humble servant is present."