Chapter 110 - 108: The Ruthless Emperor
Noble Princess Consort Xiao was confined to Ganquan Palace, and this news spread throughout the entire harem by the afternoon. There were those who worried, and those who reveled in her misfortune. Ye Qiu was sought out by Empress Dowager Xiao as soon as the news broke.
"Empress Mother, why have you come?" Ye Qiu ignored the unpleasant expression on Empress Dowager Xiao’s face and respectfully saluted her.
"Why have I come? Isn’t it because of you?" Empress Dowager Xiao fumed, "Rourou is not only your Noble Consort but also your cousin, and moreover, she is my niece. What grave mistake has she committed that you must treat her this way? Where should I, her aunt, put my face?"
"Were she not your niece, based on her crimes, she would have been enough to be sent to the Cold Palace," Ye Qiu said coldly.
"What mistake could she possibly make?" Seeing the stern look on Ye Qiu’s face, Empress Dowager Xiao’s anger somewhat diminished.
Ye Qiu looked straight at Empress Dowager Xiao and said word by word, "As a concubine of the harem, she openly criticized my decisions, unreasonably demanded the execution of a Minister, and requested changes in officials’ positions. Does she not deserve to be sent to the Cold Palace? I only took a step back because of your sake, Empress Mother."
"She was just worried about her father, it wasn’t intentional," Empress Dowager Xiao defended in a low voice, not knowing when she had started to lose her assertiveness in front of her own son.
Ye Qiu sneered, "My uncle is doing very well right now; I really don’t know what she is worried about."