Yang Momo held the imperial edict high in her hand.
“Lin Xianhong, receive the edict!”
“This subject accepts the edict!”
Lin Xianhong immediately knelt to receive the edict.
Everyone else also knelt and waited.
Yang Momo surveyed her surroundings.
Her gaze fell on Butler Fu.
It could only be said that the Empress Dowager truly doted on Ning Que.
This time, she was even willing to follow Ning Que's arrangements.
Only today did she send her to issue the edict.
Yang Momo had entered the palace when she was young.
When the Empress Dowager was still a talent, she had followed and served her.
The people around her changed one after another.
Only Yang Momo had never fallen out of favor.
Because she was loyal enough.
She would only do her duty.
Whatever the Empress Dowager told her to do, she would do.
She never criticized her master's affairs.
For all these years, she had been by the Empress Dowager's side.
Even though she was just a servant, no one dared to offend her.
Even first-rank officials had to give her some face.
“By the grace of Heaven, an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager.”
“Ning-Lin Shi, being arrogant and reckless, has harmed the royal bloodline. From today onwards, all her received rewards are to be stripped away without error. Respect this!”
“This subject accepts the edict!”
Lin Xianhong tremblingly raised her hand.
She hadn't expected that this time, even the Empress Dowager wouldn't support her.
Moreover, she was even ordering the return of all the rewards!
Wasn't this trying to force the Lin Family to their death?
“Good heavens, even the Empress Dowager has arrived?!”
“I understand!”
“This is the gift the Heir Apparent sent!”
“I didn't expect even the Empress Dowager would be willing to support the Heir Apparent.”
“Nonsense, the Empress Dowager's greatest guilt is towards Prince Ning.”
“It was Prince Ning who single-handedly supported them, helping the orphaned mother and son stabilize the throne. As a result, when Western Liang invaded, Prince Ning personally led troops to battle. In the Battle of Yumen Pass, Ning Royal Mansion almost bled dry. Since then, the Empress Dowager has set up a Buddhist hall in the inner palace, reciting scriptures and praying day and night.”
“And Lin Xianhong's private abortion is tantamount to pushing Ning Royal Mansion to a dead end, how could the Empress Dowager not be angry?”
Among the passersby, there were also those who knew the inside story.
In reality, most people knew these things.
Old Prince Ning had outstanding military achievements and distinguished service.
He ultimately died in battle at Yumen Pass.
There were rumors among the common people that Old Prince Ning's achievements overshadowed the Emperor, and he also held military power and regency, so he was secretly eliminated by Emperor Feng.
This time, Lin Xianhong's abortion was equivalent to making Ning Royal Mansion heirless.
If the Empress Dowager still didn't express her support, it would confirm this rumor.
At that time, what would become of Great Feng?
Although Old Prince Ning was dead, his old subordinates still existed!
Many people were still guarding the borders.
If they heard about this, they might directly raise an army!
Yang Momo raised her hand.
A maid then walked forward, carrying a wooden tray.
“These are the gift lists of the rewards the Empress Dowager gave you in the past.”
“Please have them ready, Lady Ning.”
“Do not make things difficult for us.”
Yang Momo still addressed her as Lady Ning for now.
After all, the divorce decree hadn't been issued yet.
Everything still had a chance for a turnaround.
This was actually also the Empress Dowager's intention.
After all, Lin Xianhong had, in the end, saved her.
Moreover, it's better to tear down ten temples than to ruin one marriage.
If Lin Xianhong could realize her mistakes in time, perhaps there was still a chance.
“Understood…”
Lin Xianhong smiled bitterly.
She could only force herself to go back and prepare.
Before entering the door, she specifically turned back.
She looked at Butler Fu, who seemed calm and composed in the distance.
“Is this also his intention?”
“It's good that Miss Lin understands.”
Butler Fu offered a smile.
“Today's grand gift has been delivered.”
“This old man will take his leave first.”
“Tomorrow, this old man will come again.”
Lin Jiang stumbled.
He almost tripped over the threshold.
At this moment, his face was filled with only fear.
Coming again?!
Was Ning Que trying to drive his Lin Family to ruin?
They had never imagined it.
Even the Empress Dowager was willing to help Ning Que.
This time, all the rewards were to be taken back.
This was the first time since the founding of the nation!
“Two jade cabbages.”
“Two gold-wrapped phoenix-seeking-phoenix lacquerware pieces.”
“Three pairs of acacia jade bi discs.”
“Five ivory sandalwood screens!”
Yang Momo called out items according to the list.
The servants then busily began moving things.
Lin Mother walked out at this moment.
She looked at Yang Momo with a face full of surprise.
“This… what is going on?”
“Yang Momo, weren't you here to bestow rewards?”
“No, the Empress Dowager is here to reprimand Lady Ning.”
Yang Momo said no more.
She had heard about Lin Mother's deeds.
This was a shrew who couldn't be presented in polite company.
Originally, she was just an outside mistress, only fit to be a concubine.
Yet, she used despicable means to anger the original wife to death.
She looked down on such a shameless person.
“Ah?”
“I've been using this lacquerware for two years.”
“Why are they being taken away?”
“Is the Empress Dowager perhaps going to replace them with new ones for us?”
Lin Xianhong walked forward helplessly.
She roughly explained the situation.
Lin Mother's face immediately turned red.
She suddenly slapped her.
“You jinx!”
“Look at you, you don't want to be a perfectly good Heir Apparent's Consort.”
“You just had to be unclear with that Gu Family!”
“Now look, even the Empress Dowager has issued an edict to reprimand you!”
“I don't care, you go and apologize to the Heir Apparent right now!”
“Mother…”
Lin Xianhong covered her stinging face.
But Lin Mother didn't care about any of that.
She directly pounced on the exquisite lacquerware.
“I don't care, this lacquerware must not be taken away.”
“I've already prepared this as a dowry.”
“If you take them away, what about Qinghuan's dowry?”
“Presumptuous!”
“Are you trying to defy the imperial edict?!”
“Mother!”
Lin Mother collapsed onto the ground again.
She started to throw a tantrum.
“Why is my life so bitter!”
“My husband owes fifty thousand taels of silver!”
“My own daughter doesn't listen.”
“Now we're even being bullied!”
Yang Momo didn't indulge her, she said coldly: “Shrew, listen to me carefully. This is the Empress Dowager's imperial edict, not something you can throw a tantrum about. If the Empress Dowager can bestow rewards upon your Lin Family, she can naturally take them back. If you dare to throw another tantrum, you will be arrested and sent to the Department of Imperial Punishment!”
The Department of Imperial Punishment belonged to the management organization of the inner palace.
If concubines or palace maids made mistakes, they would all be sent to the Department of Imperial Punishment.
The Department of Imperial Punishment was directly under the Empress Dowager's control.
It was best at dealing with these shrews.
Once inside, they would first be put on the leg press, then talk.
All kinds of torture instruments and methods were even more terrifying than outside!
Even Lin Mother didn't dare to be unruly anymore.
She watched with longing eyes as people moved the things.
Lin Qinghuan, on the other hand, had tears in her eyes and cried loudly.
Her marriage was probably completely ruined now!
Many of these things were her dowry.
The Lin Family was ultimately just a small family.
They had agreed to the marriage because of the dowry.
Now that everything had been taken back by the Empress Dowager, what was she to do?
“Reporting to Yang Momo, some have been pawned…”
Lin Xianhong spoke in a low voice.
She hung her head in shame, not daring to look directly.
“Heh…” Yang Momo glanced at her coldly, saying sarcastically: “Lady Ning truly has great courage. To dare to pawn the Empress Dowager's rewards? Never mind, I will report it truthfully. Considering you once saved the Empress Dowager, this old woman will give you a piece of advice. Do not mistake a precious jade for a worn-out shoe, nor a fish eye for a pearl!”
“I take my leave.”
“Respectfully seeing off Yang Momo!”
All the Lin Family members bowed to see her off.
Lin Xianhong looked at the empty residence.
Her eyes were full of sorrow.
What did Yang Momo's last words mean?
Who was the fish eye, and who was the pearl?
Could it be that Ning Que was the pearl?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!