“Have you heard about today’s events?” he asked.
The Empress hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is Your Majesty referring to Prince An’s matter?”
Although she hadn’t been present at the banquet for officials and nobles in the front hall, how could she pretend to be deaf and blind to such a commotion?
Emperor Jingming didn’t answer, instead looking into the Empress’s eyes and asking, “Empress, can I trust you?”
The Empress was completely taken aback.
There was too much implied in the Emperor’s words, leaving her at a loss.
After the moment of shock, the Empress suppressed her confusion and said, “Your Majesty and I are husband and wife. I will always stand by Your Majesty’s side.”
Emperor Jingming nodded and said in a low voice, “I have decided to depose the Crown Prince!”
The Empress was usually a composed person, but upon hearing this, her face changed dramatically, and her hand trembled violently, “Your Majesty?”
Had she hallucinated? The Emperor wanted to depose the Crown Prince!
For years, she had watched coldly as the princes grew up, gradually showing signs of ambition, which she found amusing.
It was only because these princes couldn’t see clearly that in the Emperor’s heart, no child was more precious than the Crown Prince left by Empress Yuan.
He was the Emperor’s only legitimate son and the only bloodline between the Emperor and his first wife.
The Crown Prince’s position in the Emperor’s heart was unmatched.
But now, the Emperor was telling her he wanted to depose the Crown Prince?
At this point, Emperor Jingming couldn’t care about saving face. He gritted his teeth and said, “The Crown Prince has had an affair with Imperial Consort Yang!”
The Empress stood up abruptly, her face twitching, then sat down again without a word.
Her silence didn’t indicate calmness but rather a shock beyond words.
After a long while, the Empress asked in a trembling voice, “What has become of Imperial Consort Yang and the Crown Prince now?”
“The Crown Prince is under the guard of the Jinlin Guard and the Eastern Depot. Imperial Consort Yang has unexpectedly died. I need the Empress’s help to keep people from knowing about Imperial Consort Yang’s death, at least until we return to the palace.”
It wasn’t just Imperial Consort Yang’s death that needed to be concealed; the news of the Crown Prince’s deposition couldn’t be spread now either.
The temporary palace was not as secure as the imperial palace, with many unstable factors outside. One wrong move could plunge them into crisis.
Emperor Jingming quickly revealed some arrangements to the Empress.
After hearing everything, the Empress solemnly said, “Your Majesty, rest assured. I will take care of Imperial Consort Yang’s matter.”
In the great hall, the officials had been waiting anxiously until it was almost dark, their bottoms sore from sitting, when finally, an attendant came to deliver a message.
“Gentlemen, you may all disperse now. His Majesty has ordered that we stay overnight at Cuilo Mountain.”
The snowstorm outside had not ceased, so the officials were mentally prepared to stay overnight at Cuilo Mountain. However, they were not prepared to be dismissed after waiting for so long.
“Eunuch, why did that Jinwu Guard kill Prince An?”
The attendant glanced at the person asking and said seriously, “My lord, it’s best not to ask. Even His Majesty couldn’t get an answer, and he’s in a foul mood.”