As soon as the Empress Dowager said this, everyone present couldn't help but get restless.
"Empress Dowager, I also beg you to depose the Queen!"
The second one to stand up was actually Concubine Mei. Su Wan'er watched her coldly. It seemed that she was ready to offend Si Junlin. Well, after being neglected by Si Junlin for the past few days, she must have thought that there was no hope for her to regain favor. So she wanted to turn to hug the thick leg of the Empress Dowager.
"Concubine Xian, you've been in the palace for a long time. Share your thoughts," the Empress Dowager said as if she didn't mind the addition of Concubine Mei.
"I... I think the position of the Queen is related to the fortune of the country and should not be easily deposed."
Concubine Xian. Su Wan'er remembered that she hardly ever saw this woman except at big and small banquets. She seemed to have a humble background. She was just the first concubine of the Emperor when he was the crown prince. She was only qualified because of her seniority and was just a filler.
But being able to avoid making enemies and forming factions in this scheming palace, Su Wan'er thought more highly of her.
"Concubine Xian is truly virtuous. But I think precisely because it concerns the fortune of the country, the Queen who has lost her virtue must be deposed. Otherwise, I and my child may not be able to protect ourselves in the palace, Empress Dowager," Concubine Xi said even more earnestly.
At this moment, Su Wan'er didn't find her face so hateful. After all, she had a child. And the situation was obvious. As long as she was deposed, if Concubine Xi gave birth to a prince in the future, she would very likely become the legitimate Queen, and the child wouldn't have to accept the identity of a concubine - born child. Every mother would fight for her child.
"The palace regulations clearly state that Queen Su has plotted against many concubines. Her heart is despicable. Considering that she is the daughter of a loyal official, she should be expelled from the palace," the Empress Dowager said with an unquestionable tone, holding the palace regulations. Immediately, a maid on the side handed over a writing brush and ink.
Originally, Su Wan'er was ready to kneel down to receive the imperial edict, but Si Junlin rushed up and snatched the writing brush and ink. He knelt straight in front of the Empress Dowager and said, "Mother, please forgive my filial piety."
"If today's matter is not handled properly, it will damage the dignity of the royal family. All irrelevant people should withdraw. Not a single word is allowed to be spread!" Si Junlin gave an order. The four concubines were so scared that they didn't even dare to breathe loudly, but Concubine Xi refused to let it go.
"Your Majesty, are you going to cover up for Su Wan'er?"
"Concubine Xi! Are you accusing me? The Queen is the Queen. There are differences between the noble and the humble. If you dare to speak disrespectfully again, I will punish you for all your crimes," Si Junlin stood in front of Su Wan'er as if he had made up his mind to protect her today.
Su Wan'er watched helplessly as her plan was disrupted. But she never thought that Si Junlin would dare to defy the Empress Dowager like this. This was clearly covering up for her.
"Your Majesty, I'm carrying your child," Concubine Xi said tearfully.
"So what?!"
"Emperor! Are you going to fall out with me and all the people in the harem today for this woman?!" the Empress Dowager roared.
"My Queen. I won't depose her. No one else can touch her."
"Si Junlin, you..." Su Wan'er looked at the emperor whose face was as cold as a Yama now. The words she originally wanted to ask for self - deposition were swallowed back.
"The matter of the Empress Dowager's shock is confusing. I will investigate it myself. Fang Xi, issue an edict to confine the Queen to the main palace. She is not allowed to go out without a summons," Si Junlin pursed his lips and pulled Su Wan'er away regardless of anyone.
Behind them was the Empress Dowager's angry roar accusing him of being unfilial. The Empress Dowager shouted that he had rebelled, that he was sorry for the late emperor, and that she would be pissed off by him sooner or later. She even said that she might as well follow the late emperor now.
"Empress Dowager, I'm willing to admit my guilt. It was I who framed the concubines. Please punish me," Su Wan'er knelt in front of the Empress Dowager with a thud.
"You!" The Empress Dowager was also very surprised.
"Good. Someone, take her back and wait for my order."
Si Junlin glared angrily, but since Su Wan'er had personally admitted her crime, he was helpless. He could only watch as the Empress Dowager issued the order.
Su Wan'er stumbled after him and hardly said a word all the way. She actually walked straight into the main palace.
"Your... Majesty," Su Wan'er yanked her arm back forcefully. "I can walk by myself."
Inside, Si Junlin seemed to insist that she sit with him. He sat on the edge of the couch and stared at her fixedly.
Su Wan'er felt that she couldn't bear such a burning look, so she had to sit down too and looked at him silently.
"Just now, were you scared? Mother must have scared you," Si Junlin asked seriously, which made Su Wan'er stunned.
"Ah? No, I'm fine," Su Wan'er thought something was wrong. Clearly, he had ruined her plan. Why did it seem like he had saved her now?
"Wan'er, don't be afraid. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one dares to touch you," Si Junlin seemed to want to comfort her and tried to pull her into his arms, but Su Wan'er stiffened and didn't cooperate.
"I... Your Majesty has misunderstood. I'm not afraid." It was precisely because she wanted the Empress Dowager to depose her that she had gone to so much trouble to stage such a play. Presumably, by this time, Si Junlin should have guessed it. Why was he pretending to be stupid now?
"Wan'er, stay here well. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. No one will dare to slander you again," Si Junlin seemed to be afraid that she would speak. He hurriedly gave some instructions and then wanted to leave in a hurry, as if fleeing.
But Su Wan'er came to her senses. "Your Majesty, there's no need to investigate. I've already admitted my guilt. I did this. You can stop the Empress Dowager, but you can't stop her imperial order." The Empress Dowager had a deep foundation in the court. Many of her brothers and cousins were in power. It wasn't something you could stop just as you wished. Didn't we both know this well?
"You! I said I will find out the truth," he had so many secret agents. It was not difficult to investigate a case. He could get whatever result he wanted.
"But before that, the imperial order to depose the Queen will reach me. The Empress Dowager and I have never been on good terms. She won't miss this great opportunity..." No Empress Dowager would want a woman from a different clan to be the Queen to threaten her rule in the harem. Moreover, she had been cultivating Concubine Xi for so long, and Concubine Xi was pregnant. She would try every means to depose her, just sooner or later.
"Su Wan'er, you are my Queen! I said I won't depose you. You can't leave," Si Junlin finally tore off his disguise. He was like a child protecting his beloved toy, glaring at Su Wan'er angrily. Besides anger, there was even a bit of... grievance.
"I'm afraid it won't go as Your Majesty wishes. First, I'm the eldest daughter of the Su family, and then the Queen of the Jin Kingdom. Moreover, now that my father and brother are in trouble, I'm the only adult daughter of the Su family, but the Queen doesn't have to be me."
"How do you know it doesn't have to be you?!" Si Junlin roared. What the Su family, what the Jin Kingdom. He only knew that she was his wife whom he had married and the woman he had planned to walk with for the rest of his life. He only knew that she never liked it here and always yearned for the battlefield. Maybe she would never come back if she left and would leave him alone here.
"Your Majesty..."