“This King must enter the palace immediately, I will send you back first.” Ye Jingyu picked up the little dumpling and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, Lin Ze Qu was thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison to await trial.
That evening, Ye Jingyu entered the palace to report the matter.
Emperor Ye Yao was furious and ordered a thorough investigation.
The Marquis’s mansion was searched, and not only evidence related to weapons was found, but also evidence pertaining to the case of Duke Ying Guo from years ago.
There was evidence proving that Lin Ze Qu had written a letter to Lord Feng back then, and then murdered him when Lord Feng refused to go along with them.
The matter reached the imperial court. Emperor Ye Yao, in his thunderous rage, ordered that all those involved in the events of that year be beaten to death!
Just as this matter was causing a stir in the capital, General Luo, Luo Yin Feng, returned to the capital.
Upon his return, Luo Yin Feng first entered the palace to pay his respects to Emperor Ye Yao. As soon as he left the study, he was welcomed to Fengqi Palace by a young eunuch.
Inside Fengqi Palace, Luo Yun E paced back and forth, anxious and sweating. She repeatedly asked the servants, “Why hasn’t my brother come yet? Hurry and send someone to invite him again!”
A servant quickly entered from outside: “Your Majesty the Empress, General Luo has arrived.”
Luo Yun E’s heart leaped with joy. She hurried down from her seat and ran towards Luo Yin Feng.
As Luo Yin Feng entered, he frowned slightly at Luo Yun E’s agitated state. He cupped his hands in a salute: “Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress. Your humble servant pays his respects.”
Luo Yun E was jolted back to reality by his salute and quickly ordered the palace servants to withdraw.
After all the servants had left and the palace doors were closed.
Luo Yin Feng straightened up and frowned: “Your Majesty the Empress, you have been in the palace for so many years, and your son is already so old, yet you still act so rashly?”
Luo Yun E dared not retort after being reprimanded, and simply said in a low voice, “It is not that I am unable to keep matters to myself, but rather that the situation has escalated.”
Luo Yin Feng’s gaze deepened, and he remained silent.
Luo Yun E continued urgently, “Does my brother know about Lin Ze Qu’s arrest and imprisonment? His Majesty has ordered a thorough investigation, and our affairs will soon be exposed!”
The Emperor’s affection for Duke Ying Guo was known throughout the land. After Duke Ying Guo committed suicide in prison, the Emperor fell gravely ill because of it.
Now that Duke Ying Guo’s case had been brought to light, if His Majesty were to discover that the Luo family was behind the scheme.
Then, in this harem, not only would she lose her foothold, but her very life would be forfeit!
Luo Yin Feng glanced at her coldly: “Us? Your Majesty the Empress now belongs to the royal family. How could this humble subject have the fortune to speak of ‘us’ with Your Majesty?”
Luo Yun E’s body stiffened, and she looked at him with some bewilderment: “What does my brother mean by that?”
At this critical juncture of life and death, he wanted to distance himself from her?
Luo Yin Feng looked at her coldly, his eyes devoid of any warmth. He treated Luo Yun E with the indifference of a stranger.
“Your Majesty the Empress is a wise person. This humble subject’s meaning, Your Majesty must surely understand.”
He paused and then added, “Please forgive this old subject’s indiscretion. You are no longer the Empress. I heard that Your Majesty was deposed more than half a month ago for angering His Majesty.”
“I imagine the past half month has not been easy for Your Majesty? This humble subject believes Your Majesty would not wish for your son to endure a life of being bullied?”
Luo Yun E’s face changed instantly, and she felt a chill run from her head to her toes.
She stumbled back two steps, looking at Luo Yin Feng with shock and bewilderment, her face gradually turning pale.
Cheng’er… No, Cheng’er is my only son. All these years of hard work have been for the future of Cheng’er ascending the throne and becoming emperor.
If Duke Ying Guo’s matter were exposed, and His Majesty knew that she had colluded with Lin Ze Qu to slander Consort Liang and interfere in court affairs, then…
No, it couldn’t be, it couldn’t be!
“Brother!” Luo Yun E knelt on the ground, grabbing Luo Yin Feng’s trouser leg: “Brother, I beg you, save Cheng’er. He is your own nephew!”
Luo Yin Feng looked down at her: “The one who can save him is not me, but you.”
Luo Yun E’s pupils contracted sharply, and a bad premonition arose in her heart.
After throwing out these words, Luo Yin Feng turned and walked towards the exit.
He had not taken a few steps before he saw Ye Jing Cheng standing at the doorway.
Ye Jing Cheng had been standing there for an unknown amount of time, but judging by his expression, he must have overheard their entire conversation.
Ye Jing Cheng looked at him, his expression grim and unsightly: “Uncle is indeed a man who fights battles. You are quite adept at sacrificing a pawn to save a rook.”
Luo Yin Feng swept him a cold glance: “It is not this general who is sacrificing a pawn to save a rook, but you. Even if something is exposed one day, this general will not be afraid.”
The border still needed him to guard it, and the Emperor would not dare to do anything to him for the time being. But it was different for the mother and son.
The harem was not limited to one Empress, and the imperial court was not limited to one prince.
Ye Jing Cheng watched him leave, his fingers clenching tighter and tighter.
Only the mother and son remained in the palace.
Ye Jing Cheng took a deep breath and walked into the inner hall.
Luo Yun E was still kneeling on the ground, weeping softly. Seeing her son enter, she looked up at him.
Ye Jing Cheng reached out and helped Luo Yun E up, seating her on a chair.
Luo Yun E felt a slight sense of calm seeing her son’s filial piety.
However, the next sentence sent Luo Yun E plunging into the abyss.
Ye Jing Cheng knelt before her and said word by word: “I request that Mother Empress take her own life.”
Luo Yun E looked at her son, so shocked that she could barely think: “What did you say?”
Ye Jing Cheng raised his head and looked directly at her: “Mother Empress, if Father Emperor learns of this matter, neither mother nor son will escape death, and it will even implicate the Luo family, and even the Empress Dowager will not be able to protect us.”
“But if Mother Empress can bear it alone, at least…”
He did not finish his sentence.
But Luo Yun E understood.
“Hahahaha…” She suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming from her eyes: “Very good, very good. You are truly my son, so ruthless, so ruthless! Hahaha…”
To think that in this world, someone would force their own mother to die for the sake of survival. What a great irony!
Ye Jing Cheng’s gaze deepened, and he remained silent.
When Luo Yun E had finished laughing, she stood up, flicked her sleeves, and walked towards the higher seat: “I understand. You may leave.”
Ye Jing Cheng remained kneeling on the ground, as if waiting for her to give him an answer.
After a long while, Luo Yun E’s unwilling and mournful voice came: “My only wish in this life was to see you ascend the throne, and for that, I did not hesitate to remove all obstacles for you.”
“But I never expected that I myself would become your obstacle. Alas, since that is the case, I will fulfill your wish.”
After all, she was now just a broken vessel. It was her fortune that the deposed Empress could still be of use to them.
Seeing her agree, Ye Jing Cheng bowed: “Thank you, Mother Empress, for your understanding. Your son promises that he will surely ascend the supreme position in the future and bestow posthumous honors upon you.”
Luo Yun E closed her eyes, tears sliding down the corners of her eyes.
Ye Jing Cheng turned and left.
Not long after he walked out of Fengqi Palace, a scream erupted from within Fengqi Palace.
“Someone, quickly! The Empress has hanged herself!”