The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!-Chapter 1020 - 858: Reap What You Sow

Empress Dowager regained consciousness on the third day after the Emperor returned from the hunting grounds. However, the Jiang Family’s capable members had all died, and the blow was too great; upon awakening, she vomited blood several times.

The Emperor, upon receiving news of the Empress Dowager’s awakening, picked up the memorandum detailing the Jiang Family’s crimes from his desk and went to Cining Palace.

As soon as the Empress Dowager saw the Emperor, she struggled to sit up, gasping for breath, her eyes bloodshot as she yelled, "Emperor, you’re so cruel!"

The Emperor’s expression remained indifferent, "Am I cruel? How am I cruel? Jiang Jinghui, the Princely Heir, and Duke Cheng’en—who among them did I order to be executed?"

"Jiang Jinghui’s death was due to someone tampering with the lanterns during the Lantern Festival. Who tampered with them, Empress Dowager? You don’t need me to tell you that, do you?"

"The Princely Heir died because he and Duke Cheng’en could not resist temptation and chose to collaborate with Xiao Yeyang, only to be killed by Xiao Yeyang in the end. Empress Dowager, wouldn’t you say that he brought it upon himself?"

"As for Duke Cheng’en... daring to incite the third Prince to stage a military coup. When the coup failed, he fled deep into the hunting grounds and died in the jaws of a tiger—isn’t that what you would call fate?"

"Empress Dowager, isn’t the Jiang Family’s downfall today all because you and the Jiang Family’s ambition were too great? Being the most prominent relatives by marriage wasn’t enough; you still dreamed of controlling the sovereign of a country. Isn’t what you’ve done almost the same as plotting a coup?"

"Any Emperor with a bit of spirit, who could tolerate you?"

Empress Dowager roared, "Don’t forget that without me and the Jiang Family back in the day, you would have never been able to ascend to the throne!"

The Emperor sneered, "This point, I have always remembered. However, Empress Dowager, have you forgotten that if it weren’t for me standing up and contending with the eighth Prince, you and the Jiang Family would have been eradicated by the Wan Family long ago."

"You did indeed help me ascend to the throne, but haven’t I also contributed to you and the Jiang Family? Our original relationship was one of mutual gain. After I took the throne, didn’t I treat you and the Jiang Family well? But what about you? You formed cliques for selfish ends, thwarted me at every turn, trying to overshadow me. I am the sovereign of a country; how can I tolerate such insolence from you!"

With that, he threw the memorandum on the bed.

"This is the evidence of the Jiang Family’s crimes compiled by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Justice. Empress Dowager, take a good look for yourself at the unforgivable atrocities the Jiang Family committed."

The Empress Dowager didn’t pay attention to the memorandum, instead staring intently at the Emperor, "How do you intend to deal with the Jiang Family?"

The Emperor’s expression was unmoved, "It’s not how I wish to deal with the Jiang Family. Their crimes will be dealt with entirely according to the laws of Daxia, without undue suppression."

The Empress Dowager sneered. Raising an army in revolt, a crime for which the entire family could be exterminated, why the need for suppression?

The Emperor spoke, "Empress Dowager, as long as you stay in Cining Palace from now on without causing trouble, I will provide for you until the end."

Empress Dowager scoffed at the Emperor, "You’re afraid of the officials saying you’re ungrateful, heartless, disrespectful, and unfilial, aren’t you?"

The Emperor no longer wished to talk with the Empress Dowager and turned away, "Empress Dowager, take care of yourself. I won’t disturb you any longer." Saying so, he walked toward the exit.

"Can you spare the Jiang Family?"

The Empress Dowager asked urgently.

The Emperor paused but did not turn back, "The laws of Daxia cannot be trampled upon."

Watching the Emperor’s departing figure, Empress Dowager felt extreme hatred in her heart and, due to overwhelming emotions, fainted once again.

...

The day after the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Justice reported the trial evidence of Duke Cheng’en and the third Prince’s revolt to the Emperor, he announced the punishment during the early court session.

The third Prince was demoted to commoner status and exiled to Lingnan.

For the Jiang Family, in addition to the crime of raising an army in revolt, various other crimes they had committed were also unearthed, one by one, shocking to behold. The Emperor ordered the immediate extermination of the entire family.

Because the evidence was irrefutable, not one Minister dared to plead for the Jiang Family.

After the court session, the officials each lamented the downfall of the once prominent Jiang Family.

However, it wasn’t long before part of the officials became excited; with the fall of the Jiang Family, they could now divide up the resources of the Jiang Family.

Such is Beijing: as one mansion falls, another will rise from the ground, in an unending cycle, an eternal constant.

...

Four Seasons Manor.

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang had been busy for over half a month, finally finishing receiving the royal relatives and nobles who came to offer congratulations.

When the young couple went to have a meal with Gu Jian, they found him sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought.

Daohua: "Master, it’s already October, and the weather has turned cold. You should sit inside the house normally."

Gu Jian ’hmmed’ in response and followed the two of them into the house.

Once seated, Xiao Yeyang smiled and asked, "Uncle, what were you thinking about just now that had you so engrossed?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Gu Jian replied with an unrelaxed frown, "I was thinking about the Empress Dowager."

Upon hearing this, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang fell silent.

Gu Jian: "Tomorrow is the day the Jiang family will be executed. With the Empress Dowager’s temperament, she won’t stay silent and do nothing."

Daohua thought for a moment and said, "Even if the Empress Dowager wants to do something now, she is probably too powerless to act."

Xiao Yeyang nodded in agreement, "The successive departures of people like Jiang Jinghui have dealt a big blow to the Empress Dowager, and her health is getting worse. Now that the Jiang family members are in prison, the Empress Dowager has lost her claws, what can she do?"

Gu Jian’s brows were still tightly furrowed, "You don’t understand the Empress Dowager; she is a woman who dared to kill an emperor. Back then, she and the Jiang family were oppressed by Consort Wan and the Wan family to the point of being unable to lift their heads, but didn’t she ultimately turn the tables completely?"

After saying this, he fell silent for a while, then stood up.

"I feel uneasy. I want to visit the palace."

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua and smiled, "Good, the princely uncle also wants to see you. There was no chance before, but now there is, it’s certainly a good time to visit the palace more often."

Gu Jian snorted, "If I could, I would not want to set foot in that cage at all!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang dared not say more, and led Gu Jian and Daohua toward the carriage.

...

Imperial Palace.

The Emperor had just finished meeting with the ministers and was getting ready for lunch when a eunuch from Cining Palace arrived.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager has awakened and says she wishes to see you."

Looking at the eunuch kneeling on the ground, trembling, the Emperor sneered inwardly. He understood the Empress Dowager well, knowing that before the Jiang family’s execution, she would definitely stir up some trouble.

She really had the patience. Tomorrow was the execution day for the Jiang family, and he wanted to see how the Empress Dowager planned to turn the tables this time.

After finishing his lunch, the Emperor then rose to head to Cining Palace.

By the time Xiao Yeyang arrived at Qianqing Palace with Gu Jian and Daohua, the Emperor had already gone to Cining Palace.

As soon as he heard that the Emperor had gone to see the Empress Dowager, Gu Jian immediately said to Xiao Yeyang: "Let’s go to Cining Palace."

Seeing Gu Jian’s serious expression, Xiao Yeyang and Daohua dared not delay and quickly made their way to Cining Palace.

Halfway there, they saw many from the Imperial Clan.

"I knew it, the Empress Dowager would not just do nothing."

Seeing that Gu Jian was anxious, Xiao Yeyang led Gu Jian and Daohua through a secret shortcut.