Chapter 539: Chapter 539 She’s Finished!

Lady Guoyue knew her influence was gone. She had always been vain, liking others to praise her beauty. If she had known that Her Majesty the Empress would come to help Li Sui’s family today, she would have never taken Emperor Xuanwu’s Death Exemption Token, only to embarrass herself and ensnare herself.

Zhan Lan was indeed as terrifying as the rumors said.

Zhan Lan was sure she had stolen Emperor Xuanwu’s Death Exemption Token. Now, even if she begged bitterly, Zhan Lan wouldn’t let her go.

She was finished!

Completely finished!

Lady Guoyue regretted it so much that she wanted to die.

Mr. Xu kneeled on the ground, the coldness of the floor biting into his knees, but nothing compared to the chill in his heart right now. Lady Guoyue had fallen!

The Xu Family was finished as well!

Her Majesty the Empress surely wouldn’t spare them.

Xu Chun was finally awakened by someone pinching his philtrum. He knew their great influence was gone; tears and mucus flowed uncontrollably like a floodgate opened, leaving him unable to stand up, as limp as a shrimp. Her Majesty the Empress would definitely send him to the frontier. No, perhaps she would kill him!

He saw Her Majesty the Empress seemed extremely trustful of Li Sui; if he had known, he wouldn’t have gone against the Li Family.

How he wished to go back to before the events occurred and start everything over.

Xu Chun, trembling, kneeled and looked at Li Sui pitifully, pleading with him, “Mr. Li, I beg you, for the sake of us being neighbors, please plead with Her Majesty the Empress for me! I beg you, I was wrong…”

Li Sui stared at Xu Chun without a word. People like him were not worthy of sympathy at all.

Li Sui’s parents looked at their son.

“Father, Mother, sympathizing with them would only harm ourselves.” Li Sui said gently to Mr. Li and Mrs. Li.

Mr. Li nodded, and Mrs. Li patted Li Sui’s hand, “Mother understands.”

Zhan Lan looked approvingly at this family of three. They didn’t plead for leniency just because Xu Chun was their neighbor. Well done!

Having mercy on evildoers will only end up harming both others and oneself. If one cannot distinguish between good and evil, they might end up assisting wrongdoing, causing more disasters!

Zhan Lan withdrew her approving gaze, her voice suddenly tightening, “Lady Guoyue, having stolen the Death Exemption Token and refusing to admit it, it seems you won’t confess without some harsh methods!”

“Mercy, Your Majesty, mercy, I confess, I confess everything!” Lady Guoyue collapsed to the ground in despair.

Having lost the protection of the Death Exemption Token, Xu Chun’s face turned deathly pale with fear.

Zhan Lan harshly ordered, “Take Lady Guoyue, Xu Chun, Mr. Xu, and Mrs. Xu all to the Ministry of Justice and interrogate them thoroughly. Seven days from now, those who wish to know their fate should check the notice at the city gate!”

The common people felt a burst of joy at the Empress’s decision!

The Imperial Army responded in unison, “Yes, Your Majesty!”

The Xu Family and Lady Guoyue were dragged aside by the Imperial Army and kneeled on the ground, no longer daring to be arrogant, like a dog that had lost its home.

The ruffians who followed Xu Chun cried out for mercy like children but instantly quieted like chickens when the Imperial Army held swords to their necks.

The common people rejoiced at Zhan Lan’s words, happy that Her Majesty the Empress had rid them of a tyrant!

From now on, they could live in peace on this street.

Zhan Lan’s gaze fell on the timid Chief Li hiding behind several constables. He timidly met Zhan Lan’s gaze and fell to his knees with a plop.

Zhan Lan looked at Prefect Zhao, “Lord Zhao, I leave Chief Li and these constables to you. I need to hear the results of the Capital Government’s internal rectification in three days.”

Chief Li looked down at the ground, thinking to himself: he likely wouldn’t have the chance to be Chief anymore.

“Mercy, Your Majesty!” Several constables who had committed many misdeeds with Chief Li were petrified, kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy.

Lord Zhao was already used to following the emperor’s orders. They say the harem shouldn’t interfere in politics, but suddenly he recalled the scene of His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress sitting together on the Dragon Throne, the emperor’s words still echoed in his ears.

“The words of Her Majesty the Empress are as an imperial edict!”

He immediately raised his official robe and kneeled to Zhan Lan, performing the courtier’s salute, saying respectfully, “I accept the decree, obediently following Her Majesty the Empress’s will!”

The common people seeing this understood too: never before in history has an empress’s word been taken as an edict; it must be His Majesty’s intention; otherwise, Lord Zhao wouldn’t pay such a great homage to Her Majesty the Empress.

“Rise!” Zhan Lan gently lifted her hand, and Lord Zhao respectfully stood up.

Just when Zhan Lan was about to leave, suddenly, from not far away, came the sound of horse hooves. Not long after, Eunuch Li from the Internal Affairs Office, with a horsetail whisk in hand, approached smilingly, greeting Zhan Lan with a courtier’s salute.

“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!”

Zhan Lan raised her hand, “Eunuch Li, rise, what brings you here?”

Eunuch Li waved his horsetail whisk, “Your Majesty, His Majesty was worried about whether you had arrived at the General Mansion. He specially sent someone to check, and finally learned you are here at the Li Family. Coincidentally, Mr. Li is to take office in several days, so His Majesty specifically sent this servant to deliver young servants and maids to attend to the daily life of Mr. Li’s parents!”

Li Sui’s pupils dilated suddenly, His Majesty had indeed sent people to care for his parents.

Mr. Li, in disbelief, glanced at his son, thinking he might be deaf and heard it wrong.

He looked at Mrs. Li, who was moved to tears, before he dared to believe what he heard.

His Majesty had personally sent people to care for them!

“Understood.” Zhan Lan nodded gently, thinking Mu Yan was treating Li Sui really well.

“Come along!” Eunuch Li waved behind him, and five young servants and five maids, dressed accordingly, walked over respectfully.

“Greetings, Master and Madam!” The young servants and maids, well-trained, bowed respectfully to Mr. Li and Mrs. Li.

“Quickly, rise!” Mr. Li and Mrs. Li hurried to help them up.

In the past, when the Li Family was well off, they also had maids and servants to attend to them, but that was years ago. The two had long forgotten that feeling.

Now they felt as if they had returned to the days when their family hadn’t declined, no! It far surpassed those times, His Majesty’s care was a supreme honor. The two couldn’t help but shed old tears of joy, wiped away their tears, and looked at Li Sui with smiles.

Their son had gained favor with Her Majesty the Empress and received attention from His Majesty.

In the past, they wouldn’t have dared to dream of it.

Both wanted to kneel and thank Zhan Lan. Zhan Lan helped them up with a smile, saying, “Mr. and Mrs. Li, if you need anything, feel free to have someone find me in the palace.”

Mr. Li and Mrs. Li waved their hands with a smile. Her Majesty the Empress was so considerate. Her smile was like a spring breeze, making people feel at ease.

The Li Family and the common people were overjoyed, while the Xu Family was equally distressed.

Mrs. Xu’s face was beaten beyond recognition by the Imperial Army. In a daze, she saw Zhan Lan through the blood. This time, she didn’t dare shout, terrified, not daring to say another word.

She was scared!

Truly scared!