Fu Rou did not relent. “Although Your Highness is determined to punish Wei Song, heaven is kind and kindness comes from above. “
Concubine Yan narrowed her eyes. “I have already made up my mind and will not show kindness to Wei Song!”
Fu Rou shook his head. “Your Highness has misunderstood. I was not referring to you when I said that kindness comes from above. I was referring to Empress Wende. Her Majesty is benevolent and will forgive Wei Song.”
Concubine Yan sneered, “Wei Song brought up the late Imperial Concubine Wang, now you are talking about the late Empress Wende. Do you have problems hearing and fail to understand me? To make an excuse using the dead and ruining their name is a crime! Although you are the head of the Six Offices, you have to be punished when you commit a mistake too. Yu He.”
Yu He respectfully replied, “Here.”
Concubine Yan was thinking how she could finally vent her anger. “Take her down with Wei Song. She shall be punished with two hundred strokes of the cane in order to appease Empress Wende’s soul.”
Yu He also pretended to be almighty. “Men, take down Court Lady Fu!”
Fu Rou was calm and confident as she took out a handkerchief from her chest pocket and lifted it. “I have Empress Wende’s personal order. Who dares to be impolite?”
Everyone was stunned.
Li Baolin hid right in the back. She changed her voice to urge, “Receiving Her Majesty’s personal order.”
Immediately, there was a flurry as everyone kneeled on the ground. In front of so many people, Concubine Yan could not disobey the rules as well. She had no choice but to let Yu He support her to a kneel. “Receiving Her Majesty’s personal order.”
Fu Rou spoke, “This was written personally by Empress Wende and there is a record in Lizheng Palace. You can check to verify. Her Majesty is kind and benevolent. She wrote the word pardon on this to pardon one person from a crime. Wei Song.”
Wei Song was excited. “Here!”
Fu Rou handed the handkerchief over. “This is Her Majesty’s pardon for you.”
“Thank you, Her Majesty!” Wei Song kowtowed as he took the handkerchief. “Her Majesty is benevolent. The Six Offices will remember this deeply!”
Everyone spoke simultaneously, “Her Majesty is benevolent. The Six Offices will remember this deeply!”
Concubine Yan was so angry, her whole body trembled with rage. However, she could not show it now. Wait! Just wait! When her son becomes the Emperor, whoever that has gone against her will pay!
When Fu Rou returned to the Six Offices, she gathered all the female officials. She deliberately called for Supervisor He.
“Remove He Linghua’s female official uniform.” This Supervisor He has been influenced by all sorts of bad things. She does not operate fairly and caused the Managerial Department to be a mess. Today, she will no longer tolerate it.
Palace maids stepped forward to remove Supervisor He’s uniform.
Supervisor He glared at her, “Court Lady Fu, I was only answering truthfully in front of Concubine Yan today. I did not break any rules. What right do you have to remove me? You are doing this out of a personal grudge!”
“I took away your position not because you attempted to flatter Concubine Yan today. It is for other things.” Fu Rou looked behind Supervisor He. “Superior Xu.”
Superior Xu has always been Supervisor He’s right-hand woman. However, Fu Rou could tell that she was different from Supervisor He. There was a hint of suppressed anger in Superior Xu’s eyes.
Superior Xu stepped up and handed a book of accounts to Fu Rou. “He Linghua made use of her position as supervisor to receive bribes. When a female official is to be punished, they just need to bribe her and they would not need to be punished. Those that were not willing to flatter her would be hit even if they did nothing wrong. It is recorded clearly in this book.”
Supervisor He was flustered. “Xu Sanming, to think I treated you like my own sister! You traitor, you will suffer!”
Fu Rou was cold. “The person who takes bribes and bends the law will suffer. Remove her official uniform and lock her up.”
Supervisor He was dragged away.
Superior Xu was uneasy. “Under the pressure of my senior, I have also done many wrong deeds. I do not dare to continue holding the position of superior. Please let me stay in the Lateral Courts as a normal female official.”
Fu Rou replied, “There is nothing better than understanding one’s mistakes and being willing to change. I have seen your work. You have been a superior for five years and the things that you do are still considered fair. The Managerial Department rectifies the entire atmosphere in the palace and cannot be looked down on. You have to be more cautious and disciplined in the future. You must not repeat the disaster that happened with the previous supervisor, He Linghua.”
Superior Zheng was in slight disbelief. “Previous? Court Lady Fu, do you mean…”
Rites Official Wu smiled, “Congratulations, Supervisor Xu.”
Superior Xu was delighted and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Court Lady Fu! In the future, I will set an example with myself and correct the atmosphere in the palace.”
Fu Rou accepted with a smile. Concubine Yan was now holding all the power. She did not know how long she could hold on for. However, for as long as she is in this position, she would handle things impartially and not give up on righteousness.
Chapter 91.2: Pardon
In Concubine Yan’s palace, Concubine Yan had smashed things all over the place.
All these years, she had been tolerating and even hid her true self. Only heaven knew how difficult it had been to hide. She was born as a princess and was favoured by her father. What a glorious bloodline. However, just because the royal family fell, she could only marry the current Emperor and was not even his main wife. Amongst others, she was just a concubine. Even after she gained the Emperor’s love, she was always suppressed by Empress Zhangsun. From her position to her son’s position, Empress Zhangsun did not relent as she stepped all over her and her son.
She knew very clearly that she just needed to capture the Emperor’s heart in order to bring victory to her and her son. Hence, she always put on a smiling face in front of everyone. Whoever mentioned her would always think of her as a kind leader. She hardly said anything harsh even to the people serving her. She was afraid of damaging her reputation and losing the Emperor's heart. She was supposed to be well-loved and hold a position with thousands of people revering her. She was supposed to be able to say what she wants, do what she wants and recklessly speak her mind. She had always been proud. Now, she had gotten rid of the Empress, the Crown Prince and Prince Han. However, she was still losing out to a tiny female official. It caused her true arrogant self to explode. She no longer had to pretend.
Chief Cao waited until Concubine Yan had simmered before he calmly persuaded her. “Your Highness does not need to be angry. As long as we control the bigger picture and Prince Zhou smoothly ascends the throne, you will easily be able to dictate if that female official dies.”
Concubine Yan thought about it and let out a slow breath as she sat down. “How is the reaction of the Imperial Guards to Ge’er’s order?”
Chief Cao replied, “Everyone is pretty okay and is willing to listen using either punishments or rewards. Linghu Deguan and Sheng Chumu are the only stubborn ones who refuse to listen to anyone aside from the Emperor himself. They are not budging even after Prince Zhou’s order.”
Concubine Yan snorted, “Sheng Chumu is just a general of a hundred soldiers. He has so little men and is not a big deal.”
“Yes. However, Linghu Deguan is a great general of the Imperial Guards. If he remains reluctant, I am afraid that there will be variables.”
“Then hurry up and rope in the rest to isolate Linghu Deguan. When that happens, he will not be able to do anything.”
Chief Cao was about to acknowledge when Yu He entered.