Linlang immediately stepped forward to pull Ye Ningyuan.
Ye Ningyuan didn't struggle this time and was pulled off the bed.
Su Yunmo sat up again, wrapping the quilt around herself. "You can sleep here, but you have to pay for lodging."
Ye Ningyuan immediately perked up and pulled out a jade pendant from her embrace. "This thing is valuable, leave it with you as collateral!"
Su Yunmo shook a finger. "No, you have two options now. First, catch the woman you let go that day."
Ye Ningyuan's eyes widened, and she put on a pained expression. "Momo, don't kick me when I'm down. This kind of thing is too difficult. If you deliberately want me to freeze to death, just say so, okay?"
Su Yunmo spread her hands and shrugged. "No other way, then there's only the second option. Get rid of Meiyan."
Don't think you can act like nothing happened after dealing with Ziyuan. No one around me is allowed to be touched!
The little dumpling spoke the last sentence with a hint of dominance.
Ye Ningyuan was startled by her expression, but she eventually sighed and agreed.
"You really are my ancestor. I'll do as you say, alright? But we have to agree, you can't kick me out again before I decide to go home myself."
Meiyan was the princess of Southern Xinjiang, not some minor figure. She had done her such a big favor, it was only right to eat and drink for free for a few days, wasn't it?
Su Yunmo raised an eyebrow. "No problem."
"Great!" Hearing this, Ye Ningyuan immediately took off her coat and shoes, scrambled onto the bed, pulled the quilt over herself, and rolled to the inner side of the bed.
Linlang frowned slightly in disapproval, instinctively looking at Su Yunmo to ask for her opinion.
Su Yunmo yawned, completely indifferent. "You all can go rest. No need to keep watch tonight. She'll sleep with me these few days."
Ye Ningyuan, hearing this, chuckled secretly under the quilt.
Linlang and Luoluo had no choice but to close the door and retreat. Before Luoluo went out, she blew out the candle.
Su Yunmo yawned again and lay back on the bed.
The room became quiet again, and her drowsiness swept over her once more.
Ye Ningyuan seemed even more tired than her. She reached out, hugged Su Yunmo, draped her legs over Su Yunmo's waist, closed her eyes, and tilted her head, falling asleep.
Seeing how quickly and deeply Ye Ningyuan fell asleep, Su Yunmo guessed that the woman must not have slept well for several nights.
She just didn't know if it was due to Prince Yunyi, as she herself claimed, or something else.
A faint gleam flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes. Recalling how she had saved Ziyuan and broken the curse for her that day, a thought arose in her mind.
However, she quickly suppressed the thought and did not reveal it.
The next day, before dawn.
All the ministers stood in the imperial court.
The Ministry of Justice listed over a dozen major crimes of Lin Zequ. Emperor Ye Yao ordered him to read them out on the spot and then decreed his execution by waist chopping at the marketplace.
No one dared to plead for him.
The news quickly reached the prison, and Lin Zequ, in a fit of rage, demanded to see Su Yunmo.
Personnel from the Ministry of Justice visited the General's mansion and relayed Lin Zequ's words to the little dumpling.
Su Yunmo replied with only one sentence: "He broke his promise. This is what he gave me, let him bear it himself."
The officials from the Ministry of Justice, helpless, returned to Lin Zequ and conveyed Su Yunmo's words.
Lin Zequ laughed mockingly, saying, "As expected of my daughter," and then took off his belt and hanged himself in the prison cell.
By the time the Ministry of Justice discovered it, it was too late. They could only report to the Emperor. Emperor Ye Yao said nothing and sent people to bury him.
Other ministers involved in the matter were also implicated, some demoted, others exiled. The incident caused a great stir.
When the news of the Empress and Lin Zequ's suicides spread, people discussed it even more.
The two people who framed Duke Ying and caused him to commit suicide both met the same end, which was truly sigh-inducing.
At the same time, an imperial decree was issued from the palace. Prince Lian was stripped of his princely title, but he was still allowed to reside in Prince Lian's mansion.
Ye Jingcheng's plan to force his mother to death to protect himself was completely shattered.
In the palace, Luo Yinfeng entered the palace and requested to resign in the study.
Lin Zequ's testimony, which accused Luo Yinfeng of being the mastermind, was still on the Emperor's desk.
Emperor Ye Yao looked at the person kneeling below, his expression somewhat gloomy. "Minister Luo, you are still young. Why have you suddenly decided to resign from your official post?"
Luo Yinfeng's every gesture and movement exuded military bearing.
"My father was busy with court affairs assisting the late Emperor in his early years, and I, leading troops in battle, was often away from the capital. I failed to discipline my sister, which led her to commit such acts of disrespect towards the ruler and her father."
"The matter of Duke Ying is of great importance. Although the Empress Dowager is also a member of the Luo family, a mistake is a mistake. My sister is already dead, and I must also bring this matter to a conclusion."
"Now that the border war has just ended, and we have achieved a great victory, I presume I do not need to return to the border so soon. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to resign as a warning to others!"
A sharp glint flashed in Emperor Ye Yao's eyes, and he pursed his lips without speaking.
Eunuch Chang stood by the side, unable to help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
General Luo was not here to resign; he was clearly here to pressure His Majesty.
The matter of Duke Ying was definitely orchestrated by him, but the problem was that besides the confession of the criminal Lin Zequ, there was no other evidence to implicate him.
Now that the Empress was dead, there was no one to corroborate the story.
General Luo was a decorated general who returned to the capital with military merits. If he were punished now for "guilt by association," the army would likely be displeased.
At that point, it would be a chain reaction.
General Luo was here to "remind" His Majesty.
Even Eunuch Chang could understand this, so how could Emperor Ye Yao not?
He looked coldly at Luo Yinfeng, and after a long pause, said in a deep voice, "Minister Luo, you speak too harshly. I already said in court today that this matter is over. Since those who deserved to be punished have been punished, others will naturally not be implicated."
"Moreover, the former Empress's affairs have nothing to do with you, Minister Luo. If I were to punish you, Minister Luo, wouldn't it be said that I am deliberately suppressing the Luo family?"
Luo Yinfeng's body stiffened abruptly, and he knitted his brows fiercely.
Eunuch Chang was also taken aback and looked at the Emperor in disbelief.
Usually, His Majesty would not say such things at such a time. It seemed His Majesty was truly angry today.
Luo Yinfeng also understood that Emperor Ye Yao was warning him, so he quickly clasped his hands and bowed. "Your Majesty, I beg your pardon. I dare not."
"Enough, I am tired today. Minister Luo, you may withdraw. I am very pleased with your great victory against the enemy forces this time. However, I have not been feeling well lately, so the reward for the army will have to be postponed."
A flicker of surprise crossed Luo Yinfeng's eyes. Knowing that Emperor Ye Yao intended to suppress him, he dared not say anything more and bowed and retreated.
After he left, Emperor Ye Yao's gaze swept over the document on the desk, and he reached out to stroke it.
"Ah Ying, rest assured, I will not let you die in vain. However, I also have my difficulties. It is easy to get rid of some dogs with just a few words, but it is truly difficult to punish someone."
If done improperly, it could risk shaking the court.
"But it's alright, soon... soon it will be done..."