Zhuo Qiao had dinner at the usual place that evening, teased people at the dinner table, and then returned to her own palace to sleep.
This body truly had problems; it was her first time feeling such a sense of detachment when facing Chong Yan.
As she was about to fall asleep that night, someone brought her a bowl of soup.
"Your Majesty, drink this tonic before sleeping."
Zhuo Qiao frowned, took the bowl, and was about to drink it when she suddenly sensed something was wrong. She moved the small bowl aside and saw the maidservant’s slightly trembling figure.
"Who sent you?"
"Zi Juan, my aunt."
Zhuo Qiao "slammed" the bowl onto the ground and said sternly, "Guards!"
Guards immediately rushed in from outside. "Your Majesty."
"Arrest her."
Without asking any questions, the two guards stepped forward and apprehended the young maidservant. Zhuo Qiao got up and put on her clothes. Soon, the entire Phoenix Palace was brightly lit, and everyone involved in making the soup knelt before Zhuo Qiao.
Except for Zi Juan.
A moment later, the palace guards reported, "Your Majesty, when we went to apprehend her just now, Aunt Zi Juan had already poisoned herself and committed suicide."
Just as she suspected.
"Throw the body out to the dogs!"
Many people, including the original owner of this body, believed that the original owner was frigid due to a physical illness, inherited from her father. But in reality? She had been drugged.
If she didn't avenge the original owner, she felt she wouldn't be doing her justice for using her body.
"Yes."
Not long after, the imperial physicians also identified the problem with the medicinal soup.
"Your Majesty, this soup contains a small amount of Yin Shan Bai Yu Gao. Yin Shan Bai Yu Gao is normally used to relieve pain, but it is harmful to the internal organs. Long-term consumption can make a person's temperament irritable and prone to anger."
"How long have I been drinking this soup? What have you imperial physicians been doing? If I hadn't scolded Zi Juan a couple of times yesterday and told her not to come to duty today, causing this maidservant to panic and reveal her flaws, wouldn't I have died one day without even knowing how?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Calm down, calm down. Zhuo Qiao was so angry she wanted to kill someone.
She no longer concealed her intentions and directly pointed out five or six people among those kneeling before her, stating sternly, "These five or six people, all of them, be taken down and beheaded!"
"Yes!"
As the guards behind her were about to step forward, an imperial physician kneeling before her suddenly stood up, a dagger in her hand, and lunged directly at Zhuo Qiao.
"Your Majesty! Protect the Emperor!"
Zhuo Qiao's gaze instantly turned sharp. She didn't dodge at all. With a casual movement, she drew the long sword from a nearby guard, cleaved the imperial physician's dagger in two, and then with another swift stroke, slit her throat.
She controlled her strength, not directly decapitating the woman. The imperial physician lay on the ground, incapacitated, blood gushing from her major artery. Her eyes stared blankly at Zhuo Qiao. Anyone else would have been terrified by this scene.
Zhuo Qiao, however, showed no reaction.
She even considered delivering another blow.
"Your Majesty, we have failed in our duties. We beg Your Majesty to punish us."
Zhuo Qiao's face darkened. "No need to drag them away. Drag them to the doorway and execute them on the spot!"
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Yes."
Those individuals harbored strong malice towards her. If they had the opportunity, they would surely have killed her.
Zhuo Qiao was no great philanthropist. When faced with those who wished to kill her, she would show no mercy.
After clearing the immediate danger around her, Zhuo Qiao slept soundly.
The events of the previous night had been too perilous, and with the deaths of several palace staff, the entire imperial palace was considerably quieter the next day. However, some people were still discussing the matter in secret.
Zhuo Qiao couldn't stop their tongues and didn't care what they said. Sudannovel.com
When she attended court that morning, someone actually brought up the matter and lectured her. They assumed she had merely killed people out of a momentary displeasure, hence their lectures were delivered with a strong sense of righteousness.
This lecture was not only ineffective but also made Zhuo Qiao, whose mood had been ruined since morning, incredibly agitated. After finding out the name of that person, she recalled that he was later exposed for corruption by the female protagonist and was nearly executed along with his entire clan.
Keeping such a person around was useless.
"Lord Qiao claims I am tyrannical. On what grounds?"
The man repeated his previous arguments.
"When the incident occurred last night, weren't the palace gates already locked? How did Lord Qiao find out?"
The man was instantly startled and stammered a few words, then claimed he had heard others discussing it this morning.
"Who did you hear discussing it?"
The man looked around, completely unable to speak this time.
"Lord Qiao's news is quite well-informed, knowing even the affairs of my harem so clearly. With such sharp ears and eyes, why would you only believe gossip? It seems you are of little use. Take him away and gouge out his eyes!"
The civil and military officials were so stunned they didn't dare to breathe.
Some people stepped forward to plead for him. Zhuo Qiao’s face grew stern, and she declared, "Anyone who dares to plead will be punished as an accomplice!"
He wasn't a good person anyway. Eliminating him in advance would prevent future troubles.
That Lord Qiao was then taken away.
The morning court continued.
Compared to the chaos in the court a few days prior, the entire court was much quieter today. Because Zhuo Qiao had executed so many people in the past two days, and directly ordering officials to be dragged away and beheaded in court, this was completely the mark of a tyrant.
Unfortunately, everyone dared not speak up, despite their resentment.
Because the sovereign power was also in the original owner's hands.
Zhuo Qiao then confidently issued numerous commands, most of which seemed nonsensical. However, the civil and military officials had no choice but to obey. In just a few days, in their eyes, their Majesty's temperament had become more erratic and irritable than before.
Zhuo Qiao didn't care what they thought.
She was utterly unconcerned about the reputation of being cruel.
The entire court officials numbered only a hundred or so. However, there were millions of common people in the land. Even if she were to "win favor," they would not be her chosen recipients.
As soon as court adjourned, Qiao Yu, whom she had met yesterday, rushed over.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty."
"What are you here for?"
"Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty to spare my life! My aunt, who spoke recklessly in court this morning, was the one who, along with people around me, dared to spread the news, causing Your Majesty displeasure. I, I will have my mother discipline her. I am willing to accept punishment. I beg Your Majesty to spare her life."
"Lord Qiao?" Zhuo Qiao realized with a belated understanding. "I didn't say I was going to kill her."
"But, Your Majesty, to have her eyes gouged out, what is the difference between that and killing?"
Zhuo Qiao showed displeasure. "I punished her not only because of this morning's incident but also for reasons you should be aware of. This matter need not be discussed further!"
Qiao Yu thought of the behavior of his family members and his body swayed, collapsing onto the ground.
"Consort, Consort!"