Misfortune befalls those who stand together.
This was the deepest thought in the Queen of Chu's heart.
But like Wang Fuhai, she had been involved in the Emperor of Chu's misdeeds of harming women for many years.
Even if she felt regret, it was too late to turn back.
Blood was still oozing from the wound on her forehead. The Queen of Chu pinched her palm tightly, her eyes hiding endless thoughts.
"And Chu Heyao!"
The Emperor of Chu's anger had not completely subsided. He slapped the table hard. "As a prince, he never thinks about sharing the state affairs for me. Instead, he indulges in alcohol and causes trouble. It's all because you've spoiled him too much!"
Causing trouble?
When had Chu Heyao ever caused trouble?
It was just that the Emperor of Chu insisted on finding reasons to blame him, especially because Chu Heyao had caught him in Weiyang Palace and accused him of overstepping his bounds.
The Queen of Chu knew it well, but she could only bear it passively. Her sharp fingernails dug into her palm, and pain and blood came simultaneously.
"Yes! I will surely discipline Yao'er well in the future."
She wanted to make a big thing small and a small thing nothing, but the Emperor of Chu heaved a heavy sigh. "A kind mother often spoils her son! I see that he has no intention in state affairs. Let him set off for Xiaoshan tomorrow to learn some skills from Marquis Wu'an."
Xiaoshan?
It was the place where the emperors of the Chu Dynasty had always raised their dead soldiers. It was full of dangers, like a purgatory.
Not to mention ordinary people, even the Yan family army under the once mighty general Yan Lin, each of them strong and brave, would probably lose half their lives if they entered Xiaoshan without knowing the terrain and the traps.
Moreover, Chu Heyao had always been used to a life of comfort.
The Queen of Chu had always obeyed the Emperor of Chu's words, but this time she objected. "Please, Your Majesty, take back your order."
The Emperor of Chu had already made his decision and was naturally unwilling to take it back. "I have already issued the imperial edict."
What he meant was that there was no room for negotiation.
"Your Majesty, Yao'er is your eldest legitimate son. How could you really bear to let him die?"
The Queen of Chu looked at him with sad and resentful eyes. "I have always followed Your Majesty's wishes, but if Your Majesty blames Yao'er just because of yesterday's mistake, I am not convinced."
She was as confused as the Emperor of Chu about what had happened yesterday.
She had thought about it all night, speculating about Yan Zhao's intention of sending the human-skin lantern and panicking about the Emperor of Chu's future blame.
But she never expected that the Emperor of Chu would give her a heavy blow.
Although he didn't punish her, blaming Chu Heyao was even more cruel than punishing her!
The Queen of Chu's words "I am not convinced" were exactly the same as Chu Heyao's words "Your son is not convinced" yesterday. The Emperor of Chu's eyes showed a cold glint. In the past, he was still willing to give the Queen of Chu some face, but today he completely tore it off.
"Presumptuous! I am the king. Once a word is spoken, it cannot be taken back! If the Queen continues to make trouble, I will consider whether you are capable of managing the six palaces!"
The Emperor of Chu's veiled threat. In the past, he had always been afraid of the Queen of Chu's natal family, the Wen family.
But five years ago, the Queen of Chu's father, Wen Zhong, and Wen Sui's father had retired from office.
Without Wen Zhong's suppression, the power of Prime Minister An had grown and become the Emperor of Chu's support.
Even though there were still a few young people from the Wen family in the court, the Emperor of Chu was no longer afraid.
The only reason the Queen of Chu still sat firmly on the throne of the queen was that over the years, her obedience and understanding had helped him achieve his goals.
The Queen of Chu wanted to say something but stopped. Her heart was broken and desolate, and it was hard to recover.
After the Emperor of Chu left, Qiao Hui led the palace servants in.
Sure enough, the ground was again covered with broken porcelain, which was shocking.
She ordered the little palace maid to clean it up. When she approached the Queen of Chu, she saw that her face was covered with blood. "Your Majesty, what happened to your face?"
The bleeding had stopped long ago, but the Queen of Chu was silently shedding tears.
The tears rolled down the bloodstains and flowed wantonly. Since they were not immediately wiped away, they dried on half of the Queen of Chu's face.
But she seemed not to notice. She murmured blankly, "Qiao Hui, he actually wants to send Yao'er to Xiaoshan. How could his heart be so cruel?"
Qiao Hui didn't hear her murmur. She quickly wiped the Queen of Chu's forehead gently with a wet handkerchief. "Your Majesty, if it hurts, just cry out."
She had been with the Queen of Chu since she was a child and knew that although she seemed weak and obedient on the surface, she was actually the most strong-willed and tough-minded.
No matter how much grievance she suffered, she would bear it hard.
Tears welled up in the Queen of Chu's eyes. Her blurred eyes were reflected in the copper mirror, and she seemed to see Wen Sui crying sadly again.
"Sui'er, the retribution you talked about has finally come."
Five years ago, she had helped the tyrant and harmed her own younger sister.
When Wen Sui came to confront her, she had felt both apology and hatred at that time.
Since childhood, Wen Sui had been cute and lively, and had received all the love from their parents.
And she was too obedient and well-behaved, so she lost the aura of a young girl. Every time she saw the deep affection between her parents and Wen Sui, she was envious but could only hide it.
Later, when she grew up,
Her envy gradually turned into jealousy, and then into hatred.
Until, after she came of age, she married the Emperor of Chu, and Wen Sui married a general.
She thought that she was in a high position and finally outshone Wen Sui.
But unfortunately, although she and the Emperor of Chu seemed to respect each other on the surface, she later discovered the Emperor of Chu's true nature of loving married women.
But Wen Sui and the mighty general had a harmonious relationship and a son and a daughter.
Especially, she just happened to grow into the appearance that the Emperor of Chu liked.
Just by entering the palace once, she made the Emperor of Chu miss her day and night, and even called out Wen Sui's name in bed.
In order to maintain her high position and to see Wen Sui fall, she set up a trap with her own hands.
She sent Wen Sui to the Emperor of Chu's bed.
"Hahaha."
The Queen of Chu laughed softly. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes and couldn't be stopped. "I did nothing wrong."
Autumn in the deep palace came a little later than outside, but it was colder and quieter.
The Punishment Department.
Qiu Mei shrank fearfully in the corner of the dungeon. Although there were rats and insects crawling around, she ignored them.
She just hugged her shoulders tightly and shivered, as if she had suffered a great shock.
Just now, two people had dragged Wang Fuhai, who was crying and shouting, out.
Perhaps they thought that those who entered the Punishment Department would never be able to get out alive.
They spoke without any hesitation. "The order from above is to chop this guy into pieces and feed him to the dogs."
They even glanced at Qiu Mei intentionally or unintentionally. "Those who cause chaos in the palace will surely die!"
She would be next, right?
"Why?"
Qiu Mei's fingers trembled. She was still dizzy about what had happened yesterday until now.
Whether it was being accidentally punished by Chu Heye or the "illicit affair" with Wang Fuhai.
Obviously, she had been framed!
But once she entered the Punishment Department, who would listen to her voice?
Her only fate was death.
"Save me!"
Tears blurred her eyes. Qiu Mei shouted helplessly. She didn't want to die. She still wanted to go out of the palace and see her parents again.
"Hey!"
Suddenly, someone beside her called her.
Qiu Mei thought that someone was going to take her to die, so she buried her head and didn't dare to answer.
The little eunuch who was missing a finger pushed her impatiently. "I'm calling you!"
Qiu Mei looked up blankly. Seeing his scarred face and fierce expression, she lowered her head in fear again.
"Do you want to live?"
Do you want to live?
Of course she did!
But could she?
Qiu Mei shook her head and then nodded. "Yes."
The little eunuch looked her up and down. "Then follow me."