The wind rose, and the killing continued without end.
However, the atmosphere inside the palace hall grew stagnant. Wang Yuyao watched as the menacing black - armored guards appeared in the hall as if there were no obstacles.
Naturally, he understood what this meant, and his face gradually turned cold.
In fact, before they took action tonight, both he and the Queen Mother were well - aware that the probability of success was extremely low.
After all, the power of the Wang family was no longer what it used to be.
However, they had no choice but to act.
They had reached this point because Jun Wuyuan had been slowly eroding their power bit by bit, like a blunt knife cutting flesh.
If they didn't fight back, they were afraid their lives would be ruined!
But even so, at this moment, Wang Yuyao and the Queen Mother knew it was all over!
Sure enough, after a short while, the sound of swords and armor outside the hall stopped.
The inside of the hall seemed to fall into a strange stillness all of a sudden, and no one dared to make a sound.
Not long after, Cheng An, the commander of the Imperial Guards, with a blood - stained and solemn look on his face, knelt on one knee and saluted:
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty. All the traitors have been executed!"
"Good!"
A look of joy appeared on Jun Wuyuan's face. He gave some instructions to Cheng An.
It's over.
The Queen Mother's face turned pale. She knew in her heart that the Wang family couldn't escape this time.
Sure enough, the next moment, she heard the old Prince of Su and a group of loyal officials kneeling on the ground, requesting the emperor to severely punish the traitors in unison.
"Bring in the guards. Take all the traitors away and lock them up in the Heavenly Prison. Order the three judicial departments to conduct a thorough investigation. Not a single traitor shall be spared!"
"Your subjects receive the order."
After Jun Wuyuan gave the order, the traitors were taken away by the guards. The other unrelated court officials and noble ladies were spared and quickly left the Lindede Hall.
For a moment, only the royal family members were left in the hall, waiting for the "punishment" of the Queen Mother.
The Wang family had committed the heinous crime of treason, which was unforgivable and deserved to have nine generations of their family executed. It was a crime worthy of a hundred deaths.
However, although the Queen Mother was from the Wang family, she was a wife of the royal family, the wife of the late emperor, and the legitimate step - mother of the emperor.
Even though everyone knew in their hearts that the Queen Mother had been the mastermind behind this, they couldn't treat her like the Wang family members, locking her up in the prison or executing nine generations of her family.
After all, she was a member of the royal family, the grand Queen Mother of the Great Yan Dynasty. How could she be convicted, imprisoned, or even beheaded?
Jun Wuyuan naturally didn't want to bear the reputation of forcing the Queen Mother of the country and his step - mother to death.
In the past, he had no choice, but now he wasn't alone. He had to think about his and Ling Shan's children.
Moreover, it would be too easy on this old hag of a Queen Mother if he just forced her to death!
Wasn't she always boasting about her noble family background and looking down on those from humble origins?
Whether it was Jun Wuyuan and his mother who had been in the cold palace in the past or Ling Shan, in her eyes, they were probably all "base - born bastards".
Well then, Jun Wuyuan would let the Queen Mother taste what it was like for a "noble" person to fall into the mud and see if she could still be high - and - mighty!
"The Queen Mother has been in poor health since she returned from the palace. I think the Yuhua Palace is just the right place for the Queen Mother to recuperate."
Hearing this, the old Prince of Su and the others understood the emperor's intention and knelt on the ground, shouting, "Your Majesty is kind and filial."
After the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet, numerous official mansions were raided. Heads were on display one after another at the entrance of the vegetable market, and the blood couldn't be washed away even with water.
The common people in Chang'an tightened their fences and dared not go out, fearing that the killing might accidentally fall upon them.
The Wang family, as the maternal family of the Queen Mother, instead of serving the country, had committed the heinous crime of treason. After hearing the official announcement, the common people scolded them loudly.
This great case of the Wang family's treason lasted for nearly a month before it finally subsided.
Numerous court officials in Chang'an and the Langya Wang family were uprooted by Jun Wuyuan's swift and resolute actions. For a moment, countless children from humble families emerged like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
In the harem, after the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet, the concubines of the Queen Mother's faction were either sent to the cold palace or died of illness.
The other concubines, such as Concubine Xue who had made contributions on her own or those whose families had taken the right side and made contributions in this case of the Wang family's treason, were all promoted by one rank.
Ling Shan, who had only been a Consort Zhao for a short time, was naturally promoted to a Noble Consort.
Due to the Wang family's treason, there was a major reshuffle in the court. The other relatively well - behaved aristocratic families didn't even have time to react.
They then found that nine out of ten of the officials promoted by Jun Wuyuan this time were from humble families. By the time they realized it, those people had already established a firm foothold.
Both the court and the harem entered a period of unprecedented tranquility.
The harem also seemed quiet and harmonious. From time to time, Consort Zhao Cui and others would come to visit Ling Shan and chat with her.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was the tenth day of September.
It was originally an ordinary day, but it became extraordinary because it was Ling Shan's birthday.
Jun Wuyuan specially prepared a surprise in the Star - Picking Tower. On this day, he even postponed all his business and took Ling Shan out of the palace to play for a day.
Facing the rosy clouds and stepping on the twilight, he blindfolded Ling Shan and led her into the Star - Picking Tower.
This tower had always been a place that only those favored by the emperors of the Great Yan Dynasty since its founding could set foot in.
Ling Shan's lips had been upturned since early this morning. Finally, when her eyes were no longer covered, she saw a scene.
The stars seemed to be within reach. Ling Shan had never seen such a bright and shocking sight.
It seemed that as long as she stretched out her hand, she could touch the stars.
Suddenly, something heavy landed on her shoulder. Ling Shan turned around and met Jun Wuyuan's gentle and smiling eyes. Unconsciously, a thick smile appeared in her own eyes.
"Do you like it?"
"I like it."
Ling Shan's eyes were full of tenderness. She nodded emphatically with an intimate look on her face. "I like it very much. Thank you, Ninth Lord."
Jun Wuyuan's eyes became even softer, like gentle water. Under the stars, his already eye - catching face seemed to be glowing at this moment.
Ling Shan was slightly stunned. It was not until she saw the obvious teasing and pride in his eyes that she came back to her senses a little.
She glared at the person who was using his good looks to his advantage in annoyance. Just as she was about to turn around, unexpectedly, Jun Wuyuan took out a hairpin like a magician.
It was a white jade hairpin, but the head of the hairpin was a phoenix carved from pure red jade.
The lifelike posture and the meaning of flying together as a pair indicated deep affection.
While Ling Shan was still in awe, Jun Wuyuan gently placed the hairpin in her hair.
His charming peach - blossom eyes watched her delicate face appreciatively, full of tenderness.
"My wife is extremely beautiful."
Jun Wuyuan lowered his head slightly. His warm lips gently held Ling Shan's red lips, kissing her affectionately.
After the kiss, Jun Wuyuan's deep and magnetic voice sounded beside her ear.
"I wish to win the heart of one person and stay together till the end of our lives."
Ling Shan's eyes were moist. She wrapped her hands around Jun Wuyuan's shoulders, her heart trembling.
Jun Wuyuan's fingers tucked the loose hair beside her neck behind her ear.
"I only hope that your heart is like mine, and you will never fail my lovesick feelings."