So every question she asked was like a death sentence to An Suzhi.
The more unhurried she was, the colder and more heartless her words became, instilling fear in people's hearts.
This time, An Suzhi finally knew just how terrifying a person like Tang Youyou could be.
She hung her head low and began to tremble all over. Finally, she softened her attitude. Looking up into Tang Youyou's eyes, she softened her tone. "Your Majesty the Queen, I was just momentarily blinded. That's why I did something wrong. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
However, as she said these words, there was no real fear in her.
In the blink of an eye, the smile on Tang Youyou's lips had completely disappeared. In her eyes as she looked at An Suzhi, there was only coldness and a blood - thirsty killing intent.
In an instant, she coldly said, "Regarding today's matter, I just want to teach everyone here a lesson. Sometimes, when it comes to certain things, one must think twice before acting!"
In a flash, killing intent gleamed in Tang Youyou's eyes as she stared directly at An Suzhi. The smile on her lips grew even more intense. She laughed and said, "Today, I'm also giving all the sisters here a lesson."
The reason why she was making such a big deal out of this was very simple. She wanted to put these people in their place. They surely understood the principle of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.
She walked with calm steps. Although her words seemed casual, they were irresistible.
"Concubine An Suzhi, strip off your royal clothes. After forty strokes of the cane, turn her into a human pig and send her to the Cold Palace!"
After she said this, everyone present was stunned. In an instant, several guards in the distance came at her command and lifted the still - kneeling woman with a wooden stick.
Seeing this, An Suzhi's face changed drastically. She shook her head frantically and questioned, "You wouldn't dare! How could you dare! My father is a noble in the Western Regions. I'm a concubine of the current emperor! On what grounds?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou sneered, "On what grounds?"
"On the grounds that I am the Queen of the Ming Dynasty! On the grounds that I am the mistress of the six palaces of the Ming Kingdom!"
These two short sentences silenced her completely.
An Suzhi stood there stunned. It took her a while to come to her senses. Looking at the many guards behind her, she couldn't hold back any longer and directly shouted.
"Tang Youyou, how dare you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I want to see the emperor! I..."
Before she could finish her words, a team of guards walked over from a distance. The leader was Su Ningde. Su Ningde took out a golden scroll in his hand, glanced at An Suzhi indifferently, then turned to Tang Youyou and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty the Queen, this old servant pays his respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty always be in good health."
After his words fell, Tang Youyou calmly raised her hand. "I wonder what brings you here, Father - in - law Su?"
Su Ningde unfurled the scroll and said, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that from today on, I entrust the power of the six palaces entirely to the Queen. Those who disobey shall be killed without mercy."
Tang Youyou rarely showed a smile. After taking the scroll, she smiled at Su Ningde and said, "Thank you, Father - in - law Su. It's really troublesome for you to make this trip."
"Your Majesty the Queen is overpraising this old servant. This old servant is just a humble servant. How could I deserve such words from Your Majesty?"
After saying this, Su Ningde didn't stay any longer. He just turned around and left.
The people present fell silent. No one dared to say a word. Today's incident had attracted the attention of everyone in the harem. Everyone except Yan Zhihua was here.
Tang Youyou looked down at An Suzhi, who was like a stray dog. This time, she looked at the guards expressionlessly. Her red lips parted slightly as she softly uttered a few words.
"Execute the punishment immediately!"
In an instant, several people dragged the woman on the ground up and took her to the Cold Palace. Then, shrill screams could be heard, breaking the tranquility of the night one after another.
Tang Youyou then turned to look at the concubines behind her and showed a charming smile. "Since all the sisters are here today, then stay here and take a good look at the consequences of disobeying me and going against the emperor. Let this be a lesson for all of you."
After saying this, Tang Youyou turned around and left.
After hearing Tang Youyou's warning, these concubines in the harem stood there stunned. Each of them was pale with fear. They understood each other without saying a word, and no one said an extra word.
However, the shrill screams in the Cold Palace lasted throughout the whole night.
As for the person in question, she had already returned to her palace. She was lying leisurely on the concubine's couch, quietly eating the remaining grapes.
In the past, a noble concubine wanted to eat lychees, and the emperor had people pick them, exhausting eight horses just for a bowl of fruit. Today, she, Tang Youyou, liked to eat grapes, and unexpectedly, Rong Xun had even moved the entire grapevine from the Western Regions here.
She was truly a "beauty who brings disaster to the country".
However, she was quite happy to be such a beauty.
But why was it only Su Ningde who came today? Rong Xun was nowhere to be seen.
Thinking of this, Tang Youyou frowned. She tilted her head and stared blankly out of the window. It was already late at night outside.
Seeing this, Tang Youyou put aside her thoughts, got into bed, and fell into a dream.
She had a good night's sleep. But when the sun was high in the sky the next day, she was awakened by a voice.
"The emperor has passed away!"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou was so shocked that she sat up abruptly from the bed.
Looking at the people outside, Tang Youyou said, "Qingyu, Yiran, what's going on with those people outside! Don't they know that they can't just spread rumors in the harem?"
Her words were stern, filled with anger and criticism. Her eyes stared directly at the people outside.
The next moment, Yiran immediately stepped into the room. She knelt on the ground, hung her head timidly, and said carefully, "Your Majesty the Queen, news has spread among the palace people that the emperor was assassinated last night. He is now missing and may be in great danger."
Hearing this, Tang Youyou felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She widened her eyes, looked at the person in front of her, and angrily said, "Tell me clearly what exactly happened. Who told you these words?"
After her words fell, a young eunuch appeared outside the door. This eunuch was unsteady on his feet and directly stumbled in.
He crawled and forced himself to stand up. But when he saw Tang Youyou, fear immediately overwhelmed him, and his legs went weak again as he fell to the ground.
Behind him was Qingyu, who had kicked him in. "Be honest. In front of Her Majesty the Queen, tell us exactly what you just said. If there's a single lie, you'll be killed!"
At these four words, the young eunuch immediately shuddered. "Yes! This servant knows. This servant will tell everything he knows. Please don't behead this servant, Your Majesty the Queen!"
As this person was talking, he was also playing the victim. His voice really annoyed Tang Youyou.