Chapter 392
"Your Highness!"
Nanny Zhou pulled her away with quick reflexes, causing Gu Feiyan to miss her target and crash headfirst into the pear blossom wood table behind her!
"Ah—my face!!!"
Everyone looked over, only to see a huge bloody hole on her left forehead. Blood covered her face, looking extremely terrifying.
However, no one paid her any attention. Everyone surrounded Chu Ruoyan, showing either genuine or fake concern.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Nanny Zhou looked at her with lingering fear, terrified that it might affect the fetus.
Chu Ruoyan felt herself for a moment, then smiled and shook her head, "No, the two little ones are tough, not that delicate."
Nanny Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to look at Gu Feiyan with sharp eyes, "Good! Daring to murder the Empress, someone, lock her up in the Heavenly Prison and wait for His Majesty to punish her!"
What kind of person was Yan Zheng? If he knew she tried to murder his Empress, would she still have a way out?
Gu Feiyan didn't even care about the pain, quickly kneeling down to beg for mercy.
But Chu Ruoyan didn't look at her, only sitting on the soft couch, talking with Concubine Shu, Consort Xian, and others.
Seeing no hope of begging for mercy, Gu Feiyan cursed with extreme hatred, "Chu Ruoyan! You only have today because of your good luck, marrying a capable man! But the days are long. Yan Zheng has become the Emperor, with three palaces and six courtyards. Sooner or later, you will also welcome your 'Noble Consort', 'Concubine Shu', and 'Consort Xian', hahahaha!"
Where in the world is there a man who is faithful from beginning to end?
Not to mention the late Emperor and their grandfather, even the previously praised Great General Yan was exposed to have an affair with the Eldest Princess, wasn't he?
Thinking of this, she felt much more comfortable in her heart, and even the wound on her forehead didn't hurt that much.
But Chu Ruoyan's expression remained unchanged, as if she didn't take it to heart at all.
However, Consort Xian and Concubine Shu next to her couldn't sit still.
They were originally concubines of the previous dynasty, with an awkward status, wishing to lower their presence to the lowest.
But this Noble Consort Yan was doing well, mentioning them in every sentence, deeply afraid that she wouldn't kill them!
Consort Xian shouted, "Gu Feiyan! In the past, you were arrogant and domineering, and we sisters didn't argue with you considering your young age. But now you have a personal grudge against the Empress, just say it yourself, why bring others into it?"
"Sister Consort Xian is right!" Concubine Shu had a weaker personality, but thinking of her daughter Jiahui, she also stood out, "Noble Consort Yan, now everyone has become prisoners. How can you still be disrespectful to Her Highness the Empress?"
Gu Feiyan smiled contemptuously, "Spineless! Seeing Chu Ruoyan gain power, you want to curry favor with her, right? Bah!"
Concubine Shu's face turned slightly red, and Consort Xian pulled her over and sneered, "Yes! We are snobbish, but how much better are you? I remember your face was ruined once on the back mountain of Huguo Temple, right? It was the Empress who saved you with the 'Jade Face Ointment'. But what about you? Returning kindness with enmity, even God couldn't stand it and took back your appearance again. How satisfying!"
"You!!" Gu Feiyan's face flushed red, and her eyes spat fire.
Before she could curse, Nanny Zhou ordered people to cover her mouth and drag her down.
She kept muttering the word "grandfather" in her mouth, and Consort Xian simply said loudly, "You have a good background, a grandfather who was the former Prime Minister, but so what? With your virtue, arrogant and domineering, ungrateful, it's simply an insult to the clean reputation of the Gu family! The face of the Gu clan has been completely lost by you!"
Gu Feiyan was half dead from anger but couldn't curse out loud, and was finally angered to the point of fainting.
After cursing to her heart's content, Consort Xian adjusted the step shake on her temples, turned around and knelt down to Chu Ruoyan, "Empress Chu, I'll say whatever I have to say. Now that you've taken power, the winner is king and the loser is the bandit. There's nothing to say. But whether we are to be beaten, killed, or dragged to be buried with the late Emperor, please give us a definite word, so as not to let the sisters suffer here."
As soon as these words came out, all the concubines knelt down.
They knew very well in their hearts that not everyone was as lucky as Consort Rong, having Grand Tutor Rong to plan a good way out for her.
Concubine Shu kowtowed and said, "Your Highness the Empress, the guilty concubine is willing to die, but begs Your Highness not to implicate the guilty concubine's family, as well as Princess Jiahui..."
With her starting, the rest also began to plead for mercy, mostly for their families, and occasionally for themselves.
However, just as they were waiting anxiously, a sigh fell from above.
"All of you, get up."
The women looked at each other and stood up. Chu Ruoyan said, "Although I am a minister's daughter, I also know that when Emperor Murong was alive, he solely favored Consort Xue, and later Consort Hui. Even Empress Pei didn't catch his eye. Your situation can be imagined."
The gentle and slow voice made some timid ones teary-eyed.
Their treatment was more than just bad. When Consort Xue was exclusively favored, whoever offended her would be sent to the Cold Palace that day.
And those newcomers who had been favored wouldn't even have the chance to be forced to drink an abortion potion. They would disappear forever in the harem the next day.
So when they heard that Consort Xue had fallen, they were overjoyed. Unfortunately, later there was Consort Hui, and not long after, the rebel army attacked...
Chu Ruoyan took a deep breath and said, "The Emperor has just ascended the throne. Following the old rules, there will be a general amnesty for the world. But this is the government affairs of the previous dynasty, and the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. So I can only advise the Emperor to include you in it. After that, if you are willing to return home, you can return home. If you have nowhere to go, this Pixiang Palace will be left for you. How about it?"
The concubines were overjoyed. Although the Empress said she would advise, who didn't know the new Emperor's regard for her? How could he not agree?
Originally, everyone thought it would be good enough to save their lives. Who could have thought there would be a day to return home...
Consort Xian was the first to kneel down, "Your Highness the Empress is merciful. The guilty concubine is endlessly grateful!"
Concubine Shu also wiped her tears and knelt down, "Thank you, Your Highness the Empress! In the future, the guilty concubine will copy more scriptures to pray for Your Highness!"
...
That night, among the several decrees issued from the Imperial Study, there was one granting amnesty to the concubines of the previous dynasty.
These women who had spent most of their lives in Murong Feng's harem never expected to see the light of day again. On the day they left the palace, they all excitedly knelt at the palace gate to kowtow and give thanks.
They were originally from noble families, and those who were willing to go back were also favored at home. When the news of the amnesty was told, the whole family was instantly overjoyed. Several ministers even ran outside the Imperial Study to kneel and thank the new Emperor for not killing them!
This matter also spread among the common people. Originally, there were still some people who criticized Yan Zheng for killing the Emperor and seizing the throne. But hearing that he granted a general amnesty to the previous dynasty on his first day in power, what rebellious minister who seized the throne would dare to do so?
In short, voices from all sides were praising him. Inside the Imperial Study, Meng Yang sighed sincerely, "Madam is really amazing! I thought the trouble caused by Xuexian would take some time to calm down, but I didn't expect that pardoning some women would resolve most of it."
Yan Zheng's eyes also contained a smile, seemingly happier than being praised himself, "Ah Yan is naturally amazing."
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Ji Yao, no, he was already Minister Ji now, seeing him in a good mood, tried to speak, "Your Majesty, um... Lord Gu is asking for an audience."
Lord Gu? Gu Sun?
Yan Zheng's expression instantly turned cold, "Not seeing him."
Why else would he come? Naturally, to plead for his precious granddaughter.
Ji Yao coughed awkwardly twice, "Your Majesty, Lord Gu is at least an elder statesman of the previous dynasty. He has been kneeling outside in the wind and rain for two days. How about..."
"Didn't you hear my words clearly?"