Chapter 232: Consider This, Your Reward

I have to say, Xiao Sihai's rise to this point is due to his rather formidable methods.

Indeed, Xiao Shunzi was only beaten with a few Whips and began to falter, giving a broken, intermittent confession.

But Xiao Sihai was not satisfied with what Xiao Shunzi said; he added many more accusations against Wan Tang.

Xiao Sihai silenced his little grandson with a bowl of poisonous potion, then confidently brought the evidence here.

So what if they know?

Wan Tang recalled the content she had heard earlier from the Barrage, including Chu Yunzheng's reply to the Empress Dowager, and felt very calm.

She was not afraid at all.

Wan Tang slowly lifted her head and met Chu Yunzheng's gaze.

In that look there was neither the thunderous fury she had expected nor a cold doubt.

Instead it was disappointment and reproach.

Just that one glance poured ice water over Wan Tang's head, instantly waking her!

Indeed.

What Chu Yunzheng seeks has never been simply to dispose of an Imperial Concubine or to suppress the Xiao Family.

What he wants is to grip Wan Tang like a thorn firmly in his palm, forcing her to depend on him.

He also intends to use her as a knife to slash open the Xiao Family's seemingly pristine boot, exposing the hidden, long‑rotted, foul‑smelling "sock" to daylight.

So that the entire court can see how disgraceful the long‑standing clan truly is, ultimately becoming a laughingstock.

Xiao Sihai's aggressive stance now, and that so‑called Confession Letter, in the Emperor's eyes are likely just a prelude to the climax of a monkey show.

What he wants to see is how the Xiao Family digs its own grave, not how Wan Tang is easily toppled.

In an instant of mental shift, the panic and fragility in Wan Tang's eyes receded like a tide, replaced by a cold, sharp composure born from being forced to the brink.

Just as Xiao Sihai believed victory was secured, pressing step by step for "restoring the Empress's innocence and severely punishing the Virtuous Consort," the previously restrained Wan Tang suddenly lifted her head.

There was no trace of timidity left in her eyes, only a chilling resolve forced to the extreme: "Minister Xiao!"

Her voice was clear, carrying undeniable resolve: "You have framed me again and again; do you truly think I am molded from mud, without a single ounce of spirit?!"

"You claim that I ordered Xiao Shunzi to frame the Empress, and the evidence is this so‑called Confession Letter obtained under unknown torture?"

"I tell you, when you seek to add a crime, why worry about lacking words!"

"I have never done this!"

Xiao Sihai did not expect her to deny it outright; enraged, he sneered, "The evidence is conclusive, you cannot sophisticate!"

"Emperor, a poisonous woman like this, not killing her would not set the palace right!"

As the two sides remained deadlocked and Chu Yunzheng's gaze grew ever deeper, a sudden anomaly erupted!

The barely living Xiao Shunzi on the ground, using his last strength, fiercely bit off his own finger, using the blood as ink.

He painstakingly wrote a crooked, yet shocking "Injustice" character on the cold floor tiles!

Almost simultaneously, a report came from outside the hall; Ouyang Qing entered briskly, his expression solemn as he reported: "Emperor, Nubi was just patrolling outside the palace and saw a Xiao Family servant skulking, carrying a large amount of gold and silver valuables intending to slip out through the side gate; his behavior was suspicious, so I apprehended him."

"After brief interrogation, we learned some… remarkable matters."

"The matter is serious; Nubi has already detained the person outside the palace awaiting orders."

Ouyang Qing, however, ignored that and bowed to the Emperor: "Emperor, we have both witness and material evidence; shall we summon them to the throne hall for face‑to‑face questioning?"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze finally left Wan Tang and fell on Xiao Sihai's iron‑blue face, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc: "Summon."

Oh, looks like those few dandy members of the Xiao Family are about to take the stage.

Indeed, Qi Er spent a bunch of silver, seized a ton of evidence against them, and also caused them to harbor even more resentment.

The point is, they know the Xiao Family has plenty of filthy, rotten affairs.

What kind of point is this? The point is, whatever should be said, Qi Er has already implanted deep‑seated memories in them.

When those two Xiao Family dandies were brought in, their originally terrified gazes swept across the hall.

Seeing the barely living Xiao Shunzi on the ground, they simultaneously let out a low gasp:

"He… how is he here?!"

Chu Yunzheng, perched on the Dragon Throne, flashed his eyes, catching the subtle anomaly, and asked in a deep voice: "Oh? Do you know him?"

One of the dandies instinctively replied: "Of course we recognize…"

Before he could finish, Xiao Sihai's roar cut him off: "Nonsense! What are you two, even worthy of recognizing anyone in the palace?"

"Stop spouting falsehoods before the throne!" Xiao Sihai's temples bulged with blue veins as he tried to halt the out‑of‑control situation.

Chu Yunzheng coldly glanced at Xiao Sihai, the pressure in his gaze instantly silencing the latter.

"I will let them speak."

The Emperor's voice was not loud, yet carried undeniable authority; his gaze returned to the two dandies, "Continue."

Having received the Emperor's approval, the two dandies seemed to find backing and rushed to speak:

"Your Majesty, we have seen him! He was personally brought by Li Defu, Lord Li!"

"Yes, yes! Lord Li said at the time that this kid was clever, useful for the mansion, and we helped arrange his entry!"

"Li Defu?" Chu Yunzheng's voice suddenly turned playful as he slowly repeated the name.

His gaze, like an ice spear, pierced the pallid Xiao Sihai: "Minister Xiao, your household seems quite familiar with Li Defu."

Xiao Sihai shivered all over, hurriedly defending: "Your Majesty, you see clearly, this never happened!"

"Surely these two scoundrels are spouting nonsense to frame the Old Minister!"

"Framed?" Chu Yunzheng let out a light snort, his fingertips slowing their tapping on the Dragon Throne, each strike hitting Xiao Sihai's heart: "Whether it's framing or not, I will discern it myself."

He no longer looked at the panicked Xiao Sihai; his tone was indifferent yet carried ultimate pressure, "Minister of the Ministry of Rites Xiao, you may just listen in."

At that moment, Xiao Sihai seemed bound by invisible ropes, all his defenses stuck in his throat.

He watched helplessly as the "human evidence" he brought turned into a blade thrust toward himself.

Beneath the Emperor's seemingly calm façade, what is brewing is the true storm.

The tension inside the hall has nearly reached its peak, and everyone understands that the real reckoning is only now officially beginning.

Yet at that moment, a report came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Zhou Su, Lord Zhou, has an urgent memorial requesting an audience!"

Chu Yunzheng's eyes flashed with understanding, and he said lightly, "Announce."

Zhou Su, holding a jade tablet, strode into the hall, his expression solemn.

He did not look at Xiao Sihai, and after bowing directly to the Emperor,

he raised his voice and said, "Your Majesty! I intend to impeach Minister of Revenue Xiao Sihai for tolerating his kin, oppressing the people, embezzling and perverting the law, and forming cliques for personal gain; his crimes are too numerous to record!"

He suddenly pointed at the two dandy youths on the ground and said, "These two are eyewitnesses! They hold many pieces of evidence against the Xiao family."

Xiao Sihai's face changed drastically: "Zhou Su! You are slandering me!"

Zhou Su ignored him entirely and shouted at the two dandy youths, "The Emperor is present; bring forth the crimes of the Xiao family that you know! Perhaps it will spare your lives!"

The two dandy youths had long been bribed with silver by Second Young Master Qi Er, manipulated with leverage, and brainwashed with the long‑standing resentment toward Xiao Sihai's family.

Now, terrified before the throne, they were also given the hint of leniency for confession.

Immediately, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, they rattled out the "charges" that Qi Er had long made them memorize thoroughly:

"Your Majesty, please see clearly! He used his authority to secretly levy the 'floating silver' on transport, filling his own pockets!"

"Moreover! The funds for last year's river‑bank construction were largely skimmed, using inferior materials!"

"Their own clan members seized civilian fields, forcing people to death, all under orders from Minister Xiao!"

"Even… even the deposed Empress Dowager, while in the palace, once ordered our men to issue counterfeit money abroad, causing countless families to be ruined!"

They grew more agitated, adding embellishments as they recounted the Xiao family's years of bullying, embezzlement, and perversion of the law.

"Silence! Nonsense!" Xiao Sihai trembled with anger, trying to intervene, but Zhou Su's righteous and stern impeachment overpowered him.

"Your Majesty! You have heard! The Xiao family disregards the law, bringing disaster to the nation! Please severely punish Xiao Sihai and thoroughly investigate the Xiao faction to restore the court's order!" Zhou Su knelt, bowed his head, his voice resonant.

When those two dandy youths revealed how Li Defu had sent Xiao Shunzi into the Xiao residence, and how Li Defu was closely allied with the Xiao family, Xiao Sihai's complexion shifted from a steely blue to a ghastly pallor.

He suddenly fell to his knees, not to beg for mercy, but to look up straight at Chu Yunzheng on the Dragon Throne.

His voice trembled with emotion, laced with betrayed fury: "Your Majesty! Would you rather trust these incompetent household slaves, trust this enchantress's scheming, than trust an old minister?!"

"The old minister is loyal to Your Majesty and the court, as the heavens can attest!"

He grew increasingly impassioned, even adding a hint of seniority‑based intimidation: "Your Majesty! Do not forget, if it were not for the Xiao family's vigorous assistance, negotiating tirelessly before the Late Emperor, how could you… how could you have today!"

These words bordered on great disrespect, directly pointing to the old matters of imperial succession.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly tightened like a fully drawn bowstring, and every palace attendant held their breath.

Chu Yunzheng listened quietly; his face not only lacked anger, but slowly, softly, began to smile.

The laughter abruptly stopped.

Chu Yunzheng's face now held no trace of mirth, only an ice‑cold chill; his gaze, like a torch, fixed on Xiao Sihai: "Minister Xiao, if others were to say these, I might not believe."

"But the one identifying you is a member of your own Xiao family."

He leaned forward slightly, an invisible pressure enveloping the space, "I have always thought the Xiao family and I are kin bound by blood."

"I have also never treated the Xiao family poorly."

His voice suddenly rose, "But what about you, Xiao Sihai!"

"You colluded with eunuchs, spied on the palace, tolerated your kin, and embezzled and perverted the law!"

"Do you still consider me a family member even a little? In your eyes, is there still an Emperor?"

This series of questions, like a heavy hammer, struck Xiao Sihai's heart, shattering his last sliver of hope.

He opened his mouth, only to find he could not utter a single word.

The Emperor does not disbelieve the evidence; rather, from the perspective of "family betrayal," he delivered the most fatal blow.

Chu Yunzheng no longer looked at him, as if an extra glance would be contaminating.

He turned to Zhou Su: "Lord Zhou, based on your recent report and the current situation, what crime should Xiao Sihai be charged with?"

Zhou Su immediately bowed: "Your Majesty, tolerating kin, colluding with eunuchs, his actions constitute treason; according to law he should be stripped of office and punished!"

Chu Yunzheng paused, then slowly spoke, each word deciding the Xiao family's fate: "Xiao Sihai, you are to lose three years of salary, be removed from your substantive post in the Ministry of Revenue, retain a nominal title, be confined for reflection, and may not leave the residence without imperial decree."

"All implicated members of the Xiao family shall be thoroughly investigated by Zhou Su!"

The punishment pronounced, Xiao Sihai collapsed as if his spine had been pulled out, limp on the ground, and was lifted by two guards and dragged out of the hall.

When passing by Wan Tang, he cast a glance and whispered a sneer, "Do you think this will overturn me?"

"Not even close."

"The Xiao family will not fall."

The clamor faded, and Yangxin Hall returned to silence, leaving only a faint scent of dragon‑scented incense.

Before departing, Zhou Su gave Wan Tang a complex, lingering look, but said nothing and turned away.

Chu Yunzheng walked slowly to Wan Tang, suddenly reaching out with a near‑instinctive force, pulling her tightly into his arms.

The embrace came abruptly, even somewhat domineering, cutting off everything outside.

His palm rested on her back, the warmth passing through the fabric, bringing a sense of reassurance he himself had never realized, as if regained.

Perhaps it was merely a man's subconscious possessiveness and soothing toward his beloved.

Wan Tang, caught off guard, collided into his solid chest, a hint of warmth just beginning to rise from her heart.

Chu Yunzheng's warm lips brushed her earlobe, his exhaled breath laced with obvious mockery, instantly freezing that sliver of warmth:

"Tangtang, you have done well."

"Tonight, I will go to your place."

Wan Tang's mouth twitched upward subconsciously, and the coquettish, longing phrase "I, your humble concubine, also miss the Emperor" was nearly uttered.

But Chu Yunzheng's following words completely shattered all the emotions about to surge within her:

"Just consider it... as a reward for you."