Chapter 597: She is the Wife of King Qin (5)_1
Empress Mo spoke subtly, without giving the Emperor a chance to speak. She feared that if the Emperor uttered stern words such as "severe punishment", Zhao Yang would undoubtedly forfeit his own life to keep her out of danger. That was something she could not accept under any circumstances.
Jin Guifei replied with a cold smile, "Why is the Empress so agitated? Whether the Empress has done it or not, she knows better than anyone else. Moreover, even if the Empress didn’t do it, she just committed the crime of defying the imperial edict and leaving the palace without permission. It’s certainly not a false accusation from me, right? The Empress cannot possibly think that the Emperor would let it go, could she?"
"Whether the Emperor punishes me or not, that’s the Emperor’s business. How could it be your place, a mere concubine, to intervene?"
Empress Mo, not easily provoked, snidely remarked, "Could it be that Jin Guifei is eager for me to be punished by the Emperor so she can take my place? Or does Jin Guifei think that she can crow morning rooster, making decisions for the Emperor?"
Jin Guifei was silenced by Empress Mo’s retort. She glared at the Empress in ressentiment, then promptly grabbed the Emperor’s sleeve, imploring, "Your Majesty, look at the Empress. She blatantly defied the imperial edict, committing an unforgivable crime. Yet she not only fails to repent but also uses words to provoke and make things difficult for me, Your Majesty, you must stand up for me!"
"That’s enough!"
The Emperor shook off Jin Guifei’s grasp, initially he was fuming upon hearing her suggestions, but after hearing the Empress’s words and witnessing such a pitiful state of Zhao Yang, most of his anger had subsided. The remaining small spark failed to ignite.
"Enough with the arguments. It’s my decree, the Empress acts without authorization and leaves the palace, acts against the divine command. Punishment: one year of house arrest, transcribe the ’Sutra of the Original Vows of Kśitigarbha Bodhisattva’ ten times, halve the allowances of the Jade Palace for a year. The servants of Jade Palace who could not admonish their master, indulged their master in defying the divine command. Therefore, the Eunuch Maids in charge will be flogged to death. The rest will be fined a year’s salary, each will receive thirty strokes at the Ministry of Punishments..."
"I obey your decree, thank you, Your Majesty!"
Empress Mo, enduring the severe anguish in her heart, bowed down.
Emperor Jin Ming looked at the Empress prostrated on the ground and spoke coldly, "Empress, this time I will excuse you as it’s your first offence, and in consideration of our many years as husband and wife. If you defy my decree again, I absolutely will not let loose!"
"Yes, thank you for Your Majesty’s forgiveness!"