Chapter 388: Volume One, Chapter 388 — Treat Him with His Own Method

Volume One, Chapter 388 — Treat Him with His Own Method

In Yongfu Palace, Su Ying had cried enough, then collapsed onto the floor, staring blankly into the distance. She hadn't expected her aunt to truly abandon her.

What about the Su family?

What about her?

If the aunt refuses to manage the Su family any longer, what about her?

At that moment, Su Ying truly panicked inside. She had always believed her aunt would never abandon the Su family, which is why she acted so boldly, but now she was genuinely frightened.

Su Ying couldn't help recalling how she had insisted on entering the palace; back then, under the pretense of visiting her aunt, she found His Majesty was very cold toward her. Had she been willing to step back, she wouldn't be in today's situation.

But how could she be content? All these years she had known she was destined to become Empress—her aunt said so, her family said so; if only back then…

She recalled that His Majesty was in a bad position back then; had she insisted on going to the Eastern Palace, there would be no glory for Rong Luoge.

One misstep after another, Su Ying lay on the ground, crying and laughing.

She had long told her father that His Majesty held a grudge, but who would believe her?

Wasn't she herself persisting to enter the palace on a hope of luck?

Su Ying's cries echoed through the palace gates; the palace attendants guarding outside remained unmoved. Such tragic events were common in the harem, and they were no longer surprised.

The Su family was also considered His Majesty's external clan, and the verdict came quickly. Out of respect for the Empress Dowager's ties, His Majesty spared the Su family's lives, but confiscated their ancestral estate and seized all illicit earnings, making them commoners and sending them back to their original hometown.

As for the Virtuous Consort Su in the palace, His Majesty issued an edict sending her to another palace to keep company with the Grand Consorts. Of course, the Virtuous Consort's title was revoked, demoting her to commoner status.

The day Su Ying was expelled from the palace, she clamored to see the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager naturally did not meet her. The current Empress Dowager had no desire to see her; ever since the Su family fell, the Empress Dowager had also fallen ill, and this time it was truly sickness.

Rong Luoge came to visit the ailing Empress Dowager, aware of Su Ying's disturbance. She glanced at the just‑slept Empress Dowager, then rose and walked out.

When Rong Luoge saw Su Ying, Su Ying was no longer the illustrious Virtuous Consort; she wore only the plainest palace attire, her face gaunt, having aged considerably in just a few days.

The moment she saw Rong Luoge, Su Ying's expression changed instantly.

Rong Luoge met Su Ying's gaze without a hint of concern, looked at her and said slowly, "Everyone, step back."

"Yes, Empress." the palace attendants bowed and stepped back.

Rong Luoge ordered Rong Xin and a few others to stand aside and watch. Only then did she look at Su Ying with a sneer, "Su Ying, you still won't give up, hoping to pity the Empress Dowager into softening?"

Su Ying retorted angrily, "Empress, are you pleased now?"

"Indeed, I'm very pleased," Rong Luoge said with a smile. "The Su family clearly held such favorable conditions, yet their greed was insatiable. Would you say this outcome isn't self‑inflicted? Su Ying, you haven't forgotten what the Su family did when His Majesty was in hardship, have you? Wanting benefits but refusing to share hardships with His Majesty—such petty conduct. What face do you now use to enter the palace, and what face lets you speak so arrogantly?"

Su Ying's complexion darkened instantly, "Empress, you speak so lightly. If it were you at the time, could you have ignored the hundreds of clan members acting unilaterally?"

Rong Luoge truly laughed in anger, looking at Su Ying, "I know you're shameless, but hearing such shameless words really opened my eyes. Your Su family, top to bottom, truly have no sense of shame—only seeking benefits without risk. How could you consider this risk‑free, profit‑only deal as natural?"

Su Ying: …

"Putting aside the past, even after His Majesty ascended the throne, had Prime Minister Su maintained a proper attitude and stood by His Majesty, the Su family would not have fallen into today's predicament. But what did you do? You colluded with Lord Ning Yuan to set traps for His Majesty, bought and sold official posts, annexed lands, and in secret your hands have been stained with countless lives. If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to lift my head. Yet look at you now. Henceforth, you shall taste the suffering endured by those whose families you destroyed—only that is the proper retribution for you."

Rong Luoge was truly angry; having reached this point, Su Ying still didn't see her fault, proving some people are born with black hearts.

Fine then, treat her with her own method; once she has suffered herself, she'll understand what she did wrong.

"What do you want to do?" Su Ying panicked at that moment. "His Majesty said to send me to the temporary palace."

Rong Luoge chuckled lightly, "Yes, that was His Majesty's word, but He also said that the affairs of the harem fall under this Empress's jurisdiction, so you naturally fall under my authority."

"You can't do this; I want to see His Majesty, I want to see His Majesty." Su Ying was truly frightened; she knew how much Rong Luoge despised her, and what good could come from being in her hands?

Rong Luoge looked at Su Ying, "Is His Majesty someone you can see whenever you wish? Su Ying, from now on, you should go on living your life properly. There are still dozens of years ahead, enough for you to atone."

Su Ying's face turned as white as paper; she tried to bolt, but a swarm of palace attendants seized her, gagged her, and dragged her away.

Rong Luoge, of course, would not commit any inhuman acts; she merely advised Han Xinglan that the Su family, originally slated to return to their hometown, should now be sent elsewhere. Prime Minister Su's favorite pastime had been exiling his enemies to the harsh frontier lands.

Now let them go there as well; surviving would be their luck, perishing would be their retribution. Countless people have died there because of them; let them atone by going there.

Of course, these matters need not be told to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager is advanced in age; if she truly knows she's scared, she can't endure.

The Su family's affair caused a considerable stir in the capital; because the emperor dealt with the Su family impartially, the remaining aristocratic families that were still watching were now fully convinced.

The entire capital changed because of this incident; Xiao Shen led troops across the Owl Kingdom to reclaim lands held by aristocratic families, and wherever his soldiers passed, peace prevailed.

Families that had intended minor moves saw Xiao Shen's massive force and lowered their flags, ceasing their schemes.

When Rong Luoge's belly swelled, Xiao Shen finally returned to the capital, bringing back dozens of carts of land registers. Han Xinglan burned them before the entire court, and from then on all land in the Owl Kingdom belonged to the state; the nobles received titles only as honors, without any fiefs.

In the spring of the following year, Han Xinglan opened a benevolent examination to recruit scholars. Students from across the Owl Kingdom flocked to the capital; nothing could now weigh them down. They no longer feared that after passing the exam they would be blocked from official posts by aristocratic families, nor that their talents would have no place to be used.

His Majesty yearned for talented individuals; they arrived.