It's true that there's no such written law in the Great Jin Dynasty, but everyone was unconvinced.
"I know that aside from the law, there's morality and many underlying rules. Since these rules aren't written into the law, it means their harm isn't very clear. Do you think the Empress poses no threat now, so you're picking on the weak?" Yi Qing looked at them.
Everyone lowered their heads.
Xiao Jinghan found it strange that these people dared to clamor in front of him but not in front of Yi Qing.
"The position of the Empress requires virtue, speech, work, and appearance. Tell me which aspect the Empress fails to meet?" Yi Qing questioned.
Ke Shanlong stepped forward. "Madam Xiao, we're doing this for the sake of the Great Jin Dynasty. If the people of the world know about the Empress's background, the prestige of the royal family will surely be damaged."
"According to Lord Ke, no one in the world would dare to marry your daughter," Yi Qing said with a half - smile, looking at Ke Shanlong.
Ke Shanlong's expression froze, sensing something bad.
"As far as I know, Lord Ke has numerous illegitimate children in his backyard. Lady Ke doesn't care much and lets the servants either abandon or sell them. A high - ranking official like the Minister of Personnel with such a chaotic backyard, who would dare to marry a daughter from the Ke family? They say a mother can influence three generations. Marrying a daughter from the Ke family might even mess up one's own bloodline," Yi Qing sneered.
Some people just don't learn their lessons unless they're slapped in the face. Ke Shanlong was no good person, yet he always acted so righteous.
"Madam Xiao..." Ke Shanlong gritted his teeth.
"Don't say you're doing this for the sake of the Great Jin Dynasty. If the Emperor decides to remove all your official titles today for the sake of inaction and confiscate all your properties for the public good, who among you would be willing?" Yi Qing asked directly.
The Emperor almost jumped off his dragon throne. This Yi Qing didn't respect him on a daily basis, and now she dared to be so arrogant in the court.
The court officials in the main hall were instantly speechless. The Emperor might have to think carefully before acting, but Madam Xiao was a crazy one. Whoever offended her would be dug out from the ground and dealt with severely. The Xie family was a case in point.
"You don't want that, right? If not, then do your part for the court. The flood in the south of the Yangtze River hasn't been resolved yet, and the Japanese pirates have been causing troubles in the Great Jin Dynasty. Why don't you go and solve these problems?" Yi Qing questioned.
The Empress was touched. "Madam Xiao is right. I'm already the Empress of the country. I'm for the people of the world. I've never tolerated the matters of the Xie family, and I won't allow anyone to damage the prestige of the royal family under the guise of the Xie family."
In the end, this matter was left unresolved.
After the court session, Yi Qing asked the Emperor to let the Imperial Astronomical Bureau prepare for the ceremony of her swearing brotherhood with the Empress.
"There's no need for this, right?" The Empress watched as Yi Qing and the maids prepared the things.
"It's a must. Otherwise, people will think you're easy to bully."
The Empress looked at Yi Qing gratefully. "I have nothing now, but it's worth it to have a sister like you."
"Who says you have nothing? Do you know why I don't care about those things?"
"Why?"
"Because I can rely on myself," Yi Qing said confidently. "My medical skills are my foundation for survival."
The Empress thought about it and agreed.
"And your position as the Empress is the reason why no one can look down on you," Yi Qing said, looking at the Empress.
The Empress thought for a while and nodded.
One becomes strong because of love for someone and becomes indifferent to everything because of not loving someone. Why should one always change because of others?
The Emperor was also satisfied with the result. Although the Empress was at a disadvantage without a powerful family, it also solved the trouble of the foreign relatives.
"When will the Xie family be exiled?" Xiao Jinghan stood not far away, watching Yi Qing and the Empress swearing brotherhood.
"Within these few days," the Emperor sighed deeply. "That day, when I saw those people pleading for Prime Minister Guo and even willing to lie on the nail - boards, I suddenly understood what an uncrowned king is."
Xiao Jinghan nodded.
"A single Xie Xiuxian made me lose so many capable people. He's extremely hateful," the Emperor sighed most about this.
"The Emperor should also reflect on why this happened. Isn't the Emperor a bit at fault?"
The Emperor nodded. At that time, everything Xie Xiuxian did was exactly what he wanted, so he had re - used Xie Xiuxian. Someone had advised him back then, but good advice is hard to accept and was not beneficial to the situation at that time, so he still chose to take desperate measures.
Yi Qing received a lot of rewards when she left the palace. Everyone knew that since Yi Qing and the Empress had sworn brotherhood, from now on, the Marquis of Zhenbei would be the Empress's backer.
Since it was the Emperor who had ordered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to prepare for this, it meant the Emperor had promoted this matter. No one dared to mention the matter of deposing the Empress again.
Qing Zijin was released from the prison of the Ministry of Justice. He met Yi Qing and then returned to Chu Nan to prepare for taking over the Ping family. Ghost Master went with him, saying he would protect Qing Zijin.
Mu Lixue offered a high reward everywhere to find Deng Xiao, and finally she did.
The coachman who had sent Deng Xiao to the General's Mansion was greedy for the high reward and told Mu Lixue about it. Mu Lixue went to find Yi Qing in disbelief.
Yi Qing was making a book bag for Baozi. She wanted to make a very practical one for him.
"Yi Qing!" Mu Lixue rushed directly in front of Yi Qing.
"Madam, we couldn't stop her," the gatekeeper bowed.
"Don't stop Miss Mu when she comes," Yi Qing motioned for the people on one side to step back. "Sit."
Mu Lixue looked at Yi Qing calmly. "I thought you were my good friend. Deng Xiao is in your mansion, but you never told me."
Yi Qing's hand paused for a moment and then she didn't care. "How did you know?"
"You don't need to know how I know. Where is he? Let him come out and see me."
"I'm not stopping him. Whether he sees you or not is his business."
"But you clearly knew how worried I was about him and that I was looking for him everywhere. You not only didn't tell me but also hinted that he was dead."
"If it weren't for me, he would really be dead. Your father asked the Emperor to send Deng Xiao to Chu Nan. On his way back, Deng Xiao was ambushed. The knives of the killers were poisoned. If I hadn't given him the wound medicine that could detoxify before, and if he hadn't been lucky enough to come back as fast as he could, he would really be dead," Yi Qing said firmly.
Mu Lixue took a deep breath and didn't know how to refute.
"I've advised him. Deng Xiao thought it was for your own good not to see you. I couldn't persuade him, so I just let him be," Yi Qing shrugged.
"Then you should have told me," Mu Lixue really regarded Yi Qing as a friend now.
"He said not to tell you, and you're saying to tell you. How do you expect me to choose?"
Mu Lixue thought for a while. "Where is he now?"
"Take her there," Yi Qing continued to sew the book bag for Baozi. Sewing the book bag was better; there were no so many grudges.
Ruo Hong led Mu Lixue to the backyard. Deng Xiao thought it was Yi Qing coming. When he looked up and saw Mu Lixue, he was a bit flustered for a moment but quickly calmed himself down.