Chapter 119: The Curtain Falls

Just as Aunt Wu was at her wit's end, Gao Gao Shanshan, who had been injured by Quan Quan Aoyu and Jun Jun Zijin days ago, was dragged out of a room. With disheveled hair, grotesque whip marks on her face, and tear-stained cheeks, she was hauled by two soldiers, roaring and cursing:

"Yiwangdian, you ungrateful dog! A wolf that forgets its benefactor! My father exhausted himself to support you until you reached this point, yet you turned around and harmed him! Do you have no conscience? Someone like you dares to be Emperor? Pfft!"

Her voice was sharp and grating, echoing through the chaotic Prime Minister's residence, causing surrounding soldiers and female relatives to turn their heads. Was this woman insane? Did she dare shout such things?

The Third Imperial Prince, hearing Gao Gao Shanshan blurt out his very ambitions, turned a deathly pale with rage and shouted:

"Seal her mouth and drag her to the prison."

Immediately, a soldier grabbed a stinking, rotting cloth and stepped forward to gag her, but the moment he reached out, Gao Gao Shanshan bit his hand.

The soldier cried out in pain and quickly pulled his hand back, bright red blood droplets falling from his fingers. The soldier slapped Gao Gao Shanshan across the face:

"You, daughter of a criminal, dare to bite me?"

Stunned by the blow, Gao Gao Shanshan had never suffered such humiliation. The soldier took the opportunity to stuff the rotting cloth into her mouth.

Seeing her daughter suffer, Aunt Wu no longer bothered to flirt with the soldiers; she opened her mouth to unleash foul language and curse:

"You bastards born of whores, blah blah, blah blah..."

The female relatives of the Prime Minister's residence blushed with shame and lowered their heads. Aunt Wu and her daughter had always been arrogant and domineering; now, in their self-destruction, they implicated everyone else.

The soldiers stood stunned by the cursing. This woman was too bold; in front of Yiwangdian, she had insulted the entire imperial family.

Quan Quan Tianyi's head buzzed with rage; he could no longer bear to listen and shouted:

"Seal her mouth and drag her out!"

Dragged by the soldiers, Aunt Wu acted like a madwoman, her strength astonishing. As she passed the Third Imperial Prince, she kicked him squarely in the groin.

The Third Imperial Prince, not expecting Aunt Wu to target a man's vital parts, could not dodge and was struck dead on. His face instantly turned deathly pale, hands clutching his lower body as cold sweat poured down.

The Third Imperial Prince was driven mad with rage; one hand clutching his groin, the other waving wildly:

"Drag her away, drag her away, throw her into the military camp, make her a military prostitute!"

Everyone was shocked. Aunt Wu was ruthless, but the Third Imperial Prince was even more so; once a woman became a military prostitute, she was worse than a pig or dog.

Finally, silence fell over the Gao Prime Minister's residence. The female relatives inside were all taken away one by one, and the main gate was sealed with official seals.

Storms of rumors swept the city. The pursuit of people from the Gao Prime Minister's residence quickly filled the prison; not a single person from the Gao residence in Jingcheng was missed, yet Gao Yuan was the only one missing.

Thus, Gao the Prime Minister, who had held power over the court, came to an end. This news struck like a bolt from the blue, shocking the entire Jingcheng.

In the Imperial Palace, the Empress, missing for five years, was rescued by Lady Lady Qingping and returned to the palace. This news sent ripples through the court, shocking the entire administration.

The Emperor, overjoyed, immediately ordered preparations for a ceremony to personally welcome her out of the palace.

With the Empress, missing for five years, returning to the palace, the Emperor granted a general amnesty to the world, yet he did not pardon the Gao family alone.

The once-dominant, powerful Gao clan had their home raided; two secret rooms were found. One held over a dozen young girls who had not yet reached their coming-of-age, and the other held dozens of young boys. All possessed beautiful faces, yet not a single spot of their bodies was unscarred.

Gao the Prime Minister and all male descendants in the residence over eight years old were taken together to the execution ground to be beheaded.

The execution ground was crowded with people, onlookers like clouds, and shouts of abuse never ceased. The common people, once oppressed by the Prime Minister's residence, clapped and cheered. As the executioner's blade fell, heads rolled to the ground, and blood dyed the earth red.

Meanwhile, the female relatives of the Gao clan were branded as commoners. Their former glory and wealth instantly turned to dust.

The Gao Matriarch died in prison, and like the Prime Minister's wife who died in the residence, they were wrapped in a broken straw mat and thrown into the mass grave.

Thus, the Gao clan was completely ruined; their former glory was gone, and everything had settled into dust.

Of all these sudden changes, none was more shocking than to Noble Consort Gao.

The Empress's return to the palace struck like a bolt from the blue, shattering her years-long dream of becoming Empress.

Her natal family was overthrown, and it was her own son who personally led the Gao family into prison. Now, her only support remained her son.

Deep within Noble Consort Gao's heart lay a fear difficult to articulate. She feared her son would become the next Gao Prime Minister and ultimately meet destruction.

Her heart was filled with hatred: hatred that the Empress had stolen her status, hatred that the Emperor was so heartless, hatred that Jun Jun Zijin had meddled, and hatred that her brother had not killed the Empress back then...

Fortunately, the Emperor did not seem to take his anger out on her, and Noble Consort Gao felt slightly relieved. She must seize any opportunity; for herself, she must find a way to survive in this game of power. Even if she could never live in Fengren Palace in this life, she must live in Renhou Palace of the Empress Dowager.

When Xiang Xiang Junzheng learned that his second daughter, who had been living in the military camp these days, had been severely injured saving the Empress and lay unconscious receiving treatment in the palace, he felt both worry and excitement, both heartache and pride. He hurried to the palace to visit her, only to be told that the Emperor had ordered that no one disturb Lady Lady Qingping's rest.

In the Empress's Fengren Palace, when Jun Jun Zijin slowly regained consciousness, she had no idea where she was. The room was magnificent, with gorgeous bed curtains hanging by the bed and soft brocade quilts covering her body.

Slowly, Jun Jun Zijin tried to push herself up into a sitting position. Her injuries were not severe enough to prevent movement, but prolonged unconsciousness and exhaustion left her limbs weak.

She leaned gently against the headboard, her gaze sweeping over the furnishings in the room. Every detail exuded nobility and elegance. Carved sandalwood furniture, exquisite porcelain, and famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls—every detail revealed the owner's taste and status. Sunlight from outside streamed through the carved lattice windows, casting mottled shadows on the carpet, adding a touch of warmth and tranquility to the room.

At that moment, the Empress entered, supported by palace maids.

"Jun Zijin has awakened?"

The Empress's gentle voice gave Jun Jun Zijin a sense of long-lost peace. She looked up to see the Empress dressed in magnificent robes, her eyes and brows revealing deep concern.

Jun Jun Zijin was about to rise to pay her respects, but the Empress pressed her back down:

"Do not move. You child, you are still injured. There are no such rules here with me." The Empress did not refer to herself as "Ben Gong."

She already knew Jun Jun Zijin was her son's fiancée; in her heart, beyond gratitude, there was added satisfaction and closeness.

Jun Jun Zijin immediately realized this was the Empress's Fengren Palace. She nodded slightly, a wave of warmth rising in her heart, and said softly:

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern. Jun Zijin is fine; I have only caused you trouble." Her voice was light but carried a hint of stubbornness.

The Empress sat by the bed, gently holding Jun Jun Zijin's hand, her tone warm:

"You have been unconscious for a day and a night. The Imperial Physician says you lost too much blood and need proper rest. Stay here peacefully for these few days; do not overthink. I am the imperial family's recognized daughter-in-law. From now on, call me Mother just as Yu does."

The Empress looked deeply at the Phoenix Ring on Jun Jun Zijin's hand, the national treasure of the Emperor Tianqi Imperial Family. Warmth and a hint of relief appeared in the Empress's eyes, followed by a trace of sorrow:

"Yu is campaigning in the Northern Frontier; the dangers are likely many..."

The moment the Empress finished speaking, Jun Jun Zijin's heart tightened slightly.

She had been unconscious for a day and a night; she did not know how he was doing. She looked down at the Phoenix Ring on her hand, which he had personally placed on her, symbolizing status and responsibility, and the mystery no one had ever deciphered.

Noticing Jun Jun Zijin's silence, the Empress gently patted the back of her hand, her tone still gentle:

"With Yu's skills, he will surely return in triumph; you need not worry too much. As for you, I heard you were training the Divine Arrow Team in the military camp, but you must rest well and go only after your body has fully recovered."

She paused: "You are a good child. For Yu to marry you is his fortune. Next year, when you reach your coming-of-age, you may marry, and the palace will surely be bustling with celebration." The Empress's tone carried a touch of maternal affection.

Jun Jun Zijin raised her head, meeting the Empress's gaze, and a wave of warmth rose in her heart. She knew the Empress truly treated her well.

But thinking of the war in the Northern Frontier, she still could not feel at ease. She said softly:

"Your Majesty... Mother Empress, Jun Zijin understands your intentions. Yet the training of the Divine Arrow Squad is crucial; I cannot abandon it halfway. Moreover, if I can lend him a hand on the battlefield, it would count as fulfilling the charge he gave before his departure. Jun Zijin is not seriously harmed. Please rest assured."

The Empress sighed, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes, yet she did not press further. She turned and instructed the palace maid:

"Go fetch the medicine prescribed by Guo Guo Yuanzheng, and also order the kitchen to simmer some nourishing soup."

The palace maid assented and withdrew. The Empress looked again at Jun Jun Zijin and said gently:

"Your Fourth Brother is keeping watch over the military camp; just focus on recovering your health. Once you are better, it will not be too late to go to the camp."

Jun Jun Zijin nodded, silently praying in her heart that the one far away on the battlefield would return safely.