Chapter 238
In fact, when Emperor Lin heard Imperial Concubine Mei’s cry that night, he knew that she was telling the truth. Even though Consort Hui had destroyed all the evidence, the crime she committed sat even graver in Emperor Lin’s heart.
He had just realised that his concubine was such a scheming, strategic minded and yet cruel woman. Throughout the years, she had been living in the harem peacefully and never initiated any fights or brawls between the other women, to the point where even the Empress Dowager praised her benevolent attitude. She truly fooled everyone in the palace!
Emperor Lin was really angry and enraged, but just like the incident with Imperial Concubine Mei, no matter how angry he was, no matter how much he wanted to kill her, he had to consider the matters in court.
Consort Hui’s father was now an official to the Minister of Households and was a fierce general who contributed his share of services to the national treasury. Many of her maternal family’s children were officials in various places and developed the nation’s economy very well. The silver tax her family paid to the national treasury every year also had a spot as one of the top ten contributors.
She also gave birth to a princess— the first child of Emperor Lin.
Although the crime of plotting against the prince was a serious crime, Consort Hui had done it too cleanly. Even if Imperial Concubine Mei tried to expose her wrongdoings, it was impossible for Emperor Lin to do anything to her without the evidence that could prove otherwise.
Like Lin Feilu guessed, after a few days of thorough investigation and interrogation, Emperor Lin made the decision.
Imperial Concubine Mei was deprived of her position and sent to the Cold Palace. Consort Hui was demoted to the position of an Imperial Concubine, sentenced to half a year of imprisonment out of the Yaohua Palace and to be evicted instantly.
Emperor Lin couldn’t punish her, so he could only vent his anger in other aspects. For example, the new residence he gave to Imperial Concubine Hui was a palace that was abandoned by the previous Emperor. Rumours of paranormal hauntings have been heard around the palace.
It used to be called Mingcui Palace but the name was changed into the ‘Huisheng Hall’ by Emperor Lin before she moved over.
The new name meant ‘repent and reflect’— a very evident yet metaphorical slap in the face towards Imperial Concubine Hui.
When Imperial Concubine Hui moved with the help of the palace staff, she almost vomited blood when she saw the brand-new plaque under the sunlight.
Humans were very strange creatures. After such a fight, her hatred for Xiao Lan was reduced by a lot as most of her resentment and resentment was now directed at Imperial Concubine Mei.
The same was true for Imperial Concubine Mei. Since moving into the Cold Palace, she had stopped pinning Xiao Lan and Lin Feilu’s dolls as she focused on stabbing Imperial Concubine Hui’s doll, cursing her to die in an unpeaceful manner.
Along with the punishing decree of the duo, there was another royal decree that was passed to Mingyue Palace. The decree stated that Xiao Lan had a humble, gentle and kind heart of gold. With the contributions of giving birth to a royal son and daughter each, she was to be rewarded.
She was granted an elevated rank of a Lady of Bright Deportment— the only one rank higher would be the Imperial Concubine rank.
Emperor Lin had originally planned to promote her directly to the rank of an Imperial Concubine, but remembered that Xiao Lan was harmed because he favoured her too much, so he eased his hand to prevent her from being too conspicuous.
Originally, he also wanted to give Xiao Lan a new palace, but Xiao Lan declined on the grounds that both children were accustomed to the environment here.