After the morning court session, Emperor Jiang Chengwan and Empress Jiang Chengwan returned to the Zichen Hall with a nervous look. She lowered her head and cautiously asked the elderly eunuch named Wu Zongxian who was behind her: “Eunuch Wu, did the Empress Dowager issue any instructions today?”
Wu Zongxian, who was known as Eunuch Wu but was actually the Empress Dowager’s spy monitoring the Empress, didn’t even lift his eyelids. He responded with an expressionless face, “The Empress Dowager has given her words. Her Majesty should immediately prepare the seal pattern of the jade seal. After the Imperial Academy revises the edict, affix the seal and promptly expel the audacious troublemaker who dared to roar in the court and disregard authority.”
Hearing this, a barely perceptible flash of cold light passed through Empress Jiang’s eyes, facing away from Wu Zongxian.
Surprisingly, the Empress, who moments ago had appeared timid and submissive before the Empress Dowager’s might, seemed to have shed all traces of weakness and fear from her face. It was as if the puppet Emperor who had completely surrendered to the Empress Dowager’s whims was not her.
As their lips touched, a sound emerged, tinged with a timid quality that would catch no one’s attention:
“I… I understand. Please, Eunuch Wu, wait a moment. I will take action immediately.”
Wu Zongxian glanced upward slightly, calmly saying, “Please hurry, Your Majesty. This old servant still has other matters to attend to.”
Hearing these words that so blatantly disregarded the Emperor’s position, Empress Jiang’s small hand under her dragon robe clenched tightly, her face filled with coldness.
She took a deep breath without a trace of emotion, suppressing the murderous intent in her heart. Then she meekly and gently said, “Alright… alright.”
Afterward, she returned to the dragon throne, picked up the jade seal from the table, closed her eyes, and began murmuring words under her breath.
Wu Zongxian stood confidently in his place, appearing unafraid and arrogant, as if he wasn’t the Emperor.
However, he failed to notice that with each trace of spiritual energy Empress Jiang channeled into the jade seal, her eyes flickered with pain and inner conflict. Her hands trembled slightly as if the jade seal she held wasn’t a mere object, but a colossal stone burdened with weight.
Personally acknowledging fabricated charges against Lu Chen and expelling this extraordinarily loyal courtier from the court was undoubtedly a great torment for her.
Yet, she had no way to prevent any of this now.
At least, not at the moment.
After a while, she steadied her trembling hands, raised her head, and softly informed Wu Zongxian, who was displaying growing impatience nearby, “Eunuch Wu, I’m ready.”
“Mm.”
Wu Zongxian responded nonchalantly, then walked over to the table and waved his hand without reservation.
In the next moment, the previously blank edict was filled with lines of text.
Its content undoubtedly laid out Lu Chen’s charges, and the disposition was to directly remove him from his official position, banish him, and exile him to Qiongzhou.
“Your Majesty, please.”
Wu Zongxian said with an expressionless face.
Empress Jiang’s shoulders trembled slightly, then she lifted the jade seal and gently pressed it onto the edict.
Swish!
Just as the seal was placed, Wu Zongxian directly reached out and took the edict.
“If Your Majesty has no further orders, this old servant will take their leave.”
“Mm…” Empress Jiang nodded obediently, “Eunuch Wu, you may go about your business. I have nothing pressing at the moment.”
Wu Zongxian’s demeanor remained natural as he nodded, as if the Emperor’s deep reverence for her was a matter of course. Then he walked out of the Zichen Hall, leaving Empress Jiang sitting on the dragon throne, her face showing a mixture of complicated emotions.