Li Heng would not easily punish Consort Zhang. Now that the head attendant had taken the blame, she would be executed as Consort Zhang's scapegoat.
This was the only way to provide an explanation.
Yue Qing had already foreseen this outcome, so whether the head attendant testified against Consort Zhang no longer mattered.
Although Li Heng would not punish Consort Zhang, the rift between her and the Zhenyuan Great General's Mansion would only deepen.
At this moment, Li Heng was indeed contemplating what Yue Qing had considered, and his hatred for Consort Zhang intensified.
Li Heng's gaze was fierce as he stared at the head attendant, roaring, "You vile slave, you are too malicious. How dare you plot to harm the imperial concubines in the harem? Your wickedness is unforgivable. According to the law, you shall be punished by dismemberment by five horses to serve as a warning."
Seeing that the Emperor was not holding Consort Zhang accountable, the head attendant's worried heart settled. She pleaded earnestly, "Your Majesty, all this was done by this old servant. This old servant admits guilt and is willing to die to atone."
After speaking, before anyone could react, the head attendant suddenly lunged towards a nearby pillar, violently smashing her head against it. Instantly, she fell to the ground, her skull fractured and blood gushing out.
Yue Qing sneered inwardly. This head attendant was truly loyal to Consort Zhang.
She tilted her head and signaled Xue Mei with her eyes to go and check.
Xue Mei understood and walked to the head attendant's corpse, checked for a pulse, and then shook her head, saying, "She is dead."
Everyone was stunned for a moment before recovering from the sudden event.
Li Heng glanced at the head attendant with disgust and said fiercely, "Dying like this is too easy for her. Guards, take her body out and dismember it to feed the dogs."
Consort Zhang had already been startled by the head attendant's suicide by smashing her head against the pillar. Now, hearing Li Heng's cruel and heartless words, her face instantly turned ashen.
Even if she wished to claim the head attendant's body, she dared not beg Li Heng for mercy.
She knew that any plea would anger Li Heng and implicate herself.
The imperial guards outside heard the Emperor's command and immediately rushed in, dragging away the head attendant's corpse. Sud an Novels.
Next, Li Heng dealt with the guards, Qi Wan'er's palace maids, and Consort Zhang's palace maids, all sentenced to death.
The imperial guards entered the hall and, following the Emperor's orders, took everyone away.
Li Heng's sharp gaze fell upon Consort Zhang, who was still kneeling on the ground with a grim expression. He said sternly, "Consort Zhang is negligent in managing her palace, allowing them to frame other imperial concubines. She also bears responsibility. Starting today, Consort Zhang is demoted from her position as Consort to Imperial Concubine."
Consort Zhang, now Imperial Concubine Zhang, was astonished. She had thought she might escape unharmed, but she had still been punished. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Hatred and sorrow were the most intense.
Imperial Concubine Zhang suppressed the emotions welling up within her and, not daring to argue, knelt to receive the decree.
Then Li Heng turned to Yue Qing and said gently, "Imperial Concubine Yun has rendered meritorious service today by clearing the injustice against Meiren Wan. I will reward you handsomely."
Yue Qing smiled upon hearing this, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Heng nodded. He felt that Yue Qing had changed considerably since emerging from the cold palace, but he found her greatly pleasing.
Thinking about rewarding Yue Qing, Li Heng looked at Empress Jiang and instructed, "Empress, Imperial Concubine Zhang is incompetent in managing her own palace affairs. You shall send someone to take charge tomorrow and manage it properly."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Your humble servant will send someone to handle it," Empress Jiang replied respectfully.
Empress Jiang, who had watched the entire spectacle unfold tonight, understood Li Heng's intention. He wanted her to use this opportunity to replace the personnel in Imperial Concubine Zhang's palace, thereby weakening her power.
Li Heng's action suited her perfectly. She could now place her own people in Imperial Concubine Zhang's residence, and in the future, she could deal with Imperial Concubine Zhang.
After all, Imperial Concubine Zhang had the Zhenyuan Great General's Mansion as her backing, making her a formidable figure.
Subsequently, Li Heng said nothing further. Using the excuse that Qi Wan'er had been frightened tonight, he took her back to his own residence.
After being helped up from the ground by Li Heng, Qi Wan'er had remained seated quietly, her expression calm as she watched everything unfold.
She was happy to have her name cleared, grateful for Yue Qing's help, and resentful of the malicious Consort Zhang.
However, Li Heng's subsequent punishments did not bring her joy or satisfaction. Her heart was filled with endless sorrow.
The imperial palace was so cruel and heartless. Concubines fought desperately for the Emperor's favor, risking their lives.
Yet, emperors had always been ruthless. Concubines were merely pawns in his political maneuvers, never receiving his true affection.
Qi Wan'er understood that even if Li Heng loved and doted on her now, with countless beauties in the harem and new arrivals to come, his feelings for her would not last. Her fate would be the same as Consort Zhang's, to be ruthlessly abandoned.
At this moment, she yearned desperately for freedom outside the imperial palace, eager to escape this place.
From beginning to end, she had never sought the Emperor's favor.
When Qi Wan'er heard Li Heng wanted to take her away, she felt strong resistance, but the Emperor's decree could not be defied. She could only follow him obediently.
As she passed Yue Qing, Qi Wan'er whispered a thank you.
Yue Qing nodded slightly.
The matter was considered successfully resolved. Yue Qing did not linger in Qi Wan'er's palace and returned to her own residence with Xue Mei.
Empress Jiang watched Yue Qing's departing figure, her eyes filled with an unreadable emotion.
From tonight's events, she recognized Yue Qing as someone not to be trifled with and resolved to guard against her in the future.
After Li Heng, Qi Wan'er, and Yue Qing had all departed, Empress Jiang dispatched two head attendants and some palace maids to remain and handle the affairs of Qi Wan'er's and Consort Zhang's palaces.
Then, Empress Jiang also left, leaving Consort Zhang kneeling on the ground in despair.
Consort Zhang's heart was filled with unwillingness and hatred.
Her plan to frame Qi Wan'er tonight had failed. Instead, she had lost several capable aides and was even demoted a rank.
What angered Consort Zhang even more was that Empress Jiang had taken over the management of her palace affairs. This was a fatal blow, as she would lose significant influence.
Consort Zhang intensely hated everyone present tonight.
She hated Li Heng's heartlessness, his betrayal of her affections.
She hated Qi Wan'er's existence, for stealing Li Heng's favor.
She hated Yue Qing's meddling; had Yue Qing not interfered, her scheme would have succeeded.
She also hated Empress Jiang for seizing her power.
Hatred consumed Consort Zhang's heart, contorting her features.
The head attendants left behind by Empress Jiang saw Consort Zhang still in a daze, her expression growing more ferocious. They called out to her, urging her to return to her own residence.