The greatest impact on the Empress after getting to know Yi Qing should be that she learned to comfort herself. Even if it was just self - numbing, she would make herself feel better.
The Emperor looked at the Empress kneeling on the ground. He used to think that he would never accept the Empress and would surely kill her if he got the chance.
However, now that the Empress no longer tried to catch his attention like before, he began to reflect on himself.
"Get up. The ground is cold." After saying that, the Emperor turned around and didn't look at the Empress.
The Empress thought she had misheard. It was only when Mu Yu helped her up that she came to her senses. She staggered a bit when she stood up.
"You should know about the matter of the Xie family. It's a fact that Xie Hongyi framed Xiao Jinghan." The Emperor didn't know why he came to explain this to the Empress.
"Yes. General Xiao has made great contributions. It's normal to severely punish Lord Xie." The Empress' way of addressing Xie Hongyi had become distant.
The Emperor squinted his eyes slightly, but didn't turn around. "You really think so?"
"I'm not only the Emperor's wife, but also the Empress of Dazhao. Naturally, I should think for Dazhao."
"It's best that you can think like this." After saying that, the Emperor left.
After the Emperor left, the Empress seemed to be completely drained, as if she couldn't bear the Emperor's sudden kindness.
"Your Majesty." Mu Yu was startled.
"I'm fine." The Empress let out a heavy sigh. "Send the set of bamboo - root cups I've treasured to Lady Xiao."
"Ah?" Mu Yu thought she had misheard.
"Forget it." The Empress mocked herself. "Go and fetch the ledger of the palace's purchases these days."
She had already started dealing with the matters of the Marquis of Huaien and the Wen family. The palace's purchasing process was well - regulated, and she had to wait patiently.
The next day, the fireworks purchased from the Wen family in the palace exploded and burned down several houses. But it wasn't just about the houses. They were charged with the crime of regicide.
It was said that they tried to use fireworks to create an explosion and endanger the Emperor's life.
This was a serious crime. The Marquis of Huaien was immediately arrested. Not only were all the members of the Wen family in the capital arrested, but even the Wen family in the south of the Yangtze River was implicated and their property was confiscated and they were exiled.
Yi Qing was a bit surprised when she heard this result. She thought the Empress was really ruthless. No wonder the Emperor used to be so wary of the Empress. She looked like a weak woman, but she could be more ruthless than any man.
She was still thinking about this when Deng Xiao led the imperial guards in from outside.
"Take Lady Xiao to the imperial guards' office for interrogation." Deng Xiao said directly.
"What's going on?" Yi Qing looked at Deng Xiao's serious face.
"The Marquis of Huaien wants to see you. He said that if you don't go, he'll claim that you instigated the firework incident." Deng Xiao couldn't hide his glee.
Yi Qing once again realized how terrifying a mad dog could be. It would bite anyone it could reach without giving people a chance to react. "Do you believe him?"
"Don't you want to see him?" Deng Xiao countered.
Yi Qing understood. She had a deep - seated grudge against the Marquis of Huaien, but she just didn't bother to deal with him. In principle, at this moment, she should be happily setting off firecrackers to celebrate.
"Then I'll go and see him." Yi Qing was quite straightforward.
Xiao Jinghan walked over and looked at Deng Xiao. Deng Xiao knew that Xiao Jinghan had secretly been to Beidi. Although he didn't know exactly what had happened, he felt that Xiao Jinghan's aura was different.
"Then go together." Deng Xiao didn't want to confront Xiao Jinghan anymore. After all, he had never won.
Deng Xiao had already ordered the imperial guards to clean the cell, because Yi Qing was pregnant and couldn't stand the filth.
"Daughter, daughter, daughter..." When the Marquis of Huaien saw Yi Qing coming, he shouted desperately. "Quickly save your father. I really don't know anything."
Behind him were Wen Shi and Yi Weiwei. The two women's eyes were full of venom, but they also looked hopeful and repentant.
"You don't know anything? Did you know when you took the silver?" Yi Qing looked at the disheveled appearance of the Marquis of Huaien.
"I didn't know. I really didn't know. It was all brought back by Wen Shi." He suddenly reacted and immediately pulled Wen Shi over. "It's all her. It really has nothing to do with me."
"Changxing?" Wen Shi looked at the Marquis of Huaien, never expecting that he would push her out without hesitation at this moment.
Yi Changxing slapped Wen Shi in the face. "It's all you, you slut. It was you who bewitched me to replace Qing'er. It was you who made me treat Di Shi like that. It's all your fault."
Wen Shi was stunned by the slap. Yi Changxing was now glaring at her ferociously, without any trace of the old affection.
"What are you looking at? It's all you, you slut." Yi Changxing said and hit her again.
"Yi Changxing, I'll fight you. You said you married Di Shi out of necessity and you were always gentle with me. You said you would divorce Di Shi when you had everything..." Wen Shi was not willing to give in either and fought with Yi Changxing.
Although Wen Shi used to look so weak that a gust of wind could blow her down, she was extremely sharp in the fight, using her nails and teeth.
Yi Qing thought that Yi Changxing was really addicted to living off a woman. Now he was so shameless. A person like him was nothing more than an upright - walking animal.
"You brought me here just to show me this?" Yi Qing looked at Deng Xiao.
Deng Xiao touched his nose. "I didn't expect this either."
At this time, an imperial guard came over and gave Deng Xiao a ledger. After reading it, Deng Xiao smiled.
"I'll show you something even better." Deng Xiao gave the ledger to Yi Qing.
After reading it, Yi Qing laughed. "Let's see how the Marquis of Huaien reacts."
Deng Xiao motioned, and an imperial guard on each side whipped the prison bars. "Stop arguing. If you keep arguing, you'll be tortured."
Yi Changxing and Wen Shi finally separated. Both of them were out of breath and covered in bruises.
Deng Xiao stepped forward. "Wen Shi, we've found out that you've had contacts with many officials and merchants in the capital. You should confess honestly. Are those people involved in this incident?"
The green hat on Yi Changxing's head seemed to be growing taller. He looked at Wen Shi in shock.
Wen Shi's eyes were full of panic.
"Moreover, we've also found out that you're not really a daughter of the Wen family. You're just a courtesan trained by the Wen family. You came to the capital to help the Wen family win over people. If you confess honestly, your punishment can be reduced." Deng Xiao continued.
Wen Shi slumped to the ground. She was indeed not a daughter of the Wen family. She was just the most outstanding among the courtesans trained by the Wen family, so she was sent to the capital.
Yi Changxing couldn't bear such a shock. He had given up a noble daughter of a duke and had doted on a courtesan for so many years?
Looking at Yi Changxing's appearance, Yi Qing thought that if there was no retribution in this world, she would send all those who had harmed her to hell. And bad people were actually creating their own hell.
"Let's go." Yi Qing was ready to go back and set off firecrackers.
"Yi Qing, if you don't save me, I'll say that you instigated all these things." Yi Changxing suddenly jumped up like a madman. "Then the General's Mansion won't be able to get away with it either."