Chapter 289: Chapter 286: WonderThis statement still lacked sincerity.

    Sang Yan knew she couldn’t change He Ying’s "deplorable" habits in bed and didn’t want to quibble with him about it, so she changed the subject, "You just saw Luo Shan, right? She really had a tough time this time. How is Xie Sui’s investigation going? I must pursue it to the end and stand up for her."

    He Ying showed little interest in this matter and briefly said, "Xie Sui has not given a result yet. Just wait. Let’s have a meal first."

    He draped a cloak over her, lifted her out of bed, and set her down on a chair.

    The dining table was long.

    At his command, the palace doors opened, and palace attendants carried in the meal.

    One delicious dish after another was placed on the table.

    Sang Yan wasn’t hungry to begin with and had intended to eat less in the evening to avoid getting fat, but after the intense activity earlier, her stomach was already singing the tune of an empty fortress strategy.

    "This one. That one."

    She directed He Ying to pick dishes for her, overeating only because she was so irritated.

    He Ying naturally didn’t find it annoying, completely immersed in the joy of feeding her.

    Sang Yan held a handkerchief, discreetly covering her chewing.

    Even in front of him, she was still conscious of her image.

    This caused He Ying to have less fun.

    He somewhat missed the view of her fragrant, smooth tongue flitting between her lips and teeth when she forgot to cover it with the handkerchief. Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That’s enough. I’m full."

    She shook her head, not wanting to eat anymore.

    He Ying thought she had eaten too little and gently coaxed her, "Eat a little more."

    He scooped up a rice ball with a spoon and brought it to her lips.

    Sang Yan ate it but shook her head, not wanting any more.

    He Ying switched to another dish and coaxed her several times, such as, "Little ancestor, eat a bit more," and "For tonight’s beautiful night sky, my treasure, have a couple more bites." With that, he fed her a little more.

    Sang Yan eventually started to burp.

    She rarely felt full to the point of discomfort, and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling, so she got mad and pointed at him in dissatisfaction, "He Xinyuan, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to stuff me to death so you can change the Empress?"

    Upon hearing the word "death," He Ying’s face changed, and he quickly covered her lips to comfort her, "Sweetheart, don’t talk about dying. You are my lifeblood; how can I live without you?"

    Sang Yan: "..."

    Hmph!

    Sweet nothings!

    If she didn’t know his actions were sweeter than sweet nothings and that he truly did love her a lot, she wouldn’t care to listen!

    "No more in the future! I really am so full—"

    She hadn’t finished speaking when she covered her lips and let out an inelegant burp.

    Seeing this, He Ying had the palace attendants clear the table and took her hand to go for a walk to help digest the meal.

    Sang Yan wanted to visit the side palace of Qingning Palace to check on Luo Shan’s condition.

    She remembered that when she left, Luo Shan’s high fever hadn’t subsided, and she wondered how she was now.

    He Ying wasn’t very keen on going there.

    On the way, he started to get jealous again, "Ah Yan, in this world, no one deserves your concern except for me."

    Listen to this possessive, selfish speech!

    Sang Yan pretended not to hear and quickly walked ahead ten or so steps, then lifted her foot and entered the side palace.

    Luo Shan was lying on the bed, still unconscious, her face burning red with fever, a wet, cold handkerchief on her forehead, her lips trembling slightly, uttering incoherent words.

    It was like she was trapped in a nightmare.

    "Look at this, those people from Dali Temple really need to be severely punished!"

    Sang Yan’s face was stern, and her tone was very serious.

    The reason she was taking Luo Shan’s matter so seriously was also because she felt responsible.

    After all, if she hadn’t chosen to keep her here, she wouldn’t have encountered such a disaster!

    "Ah, if I knew this would happen, I shouldn’t have let her stay."

    She sighed, feeling somewhat regretful.

    After hearing this, He Ying comforted her, "Fortune and misfortune depend on each other. Your initial intent was good. If she feels the same about you, when she wakes up, let her leave."

    Sang Yan nodded, "Hmm. It depends on her wishes."

    When she chose to leave her behind and entrusted Xuanrao with her care, all she wanted was for her to be safe and thrive. Little did she know that no amount of human calculation can outwit fate.

    Seeing her in low spirits, He Ying took her hand and led her away.

    The two strolled under the moonlight.

    They did not return to the main hall until the third watch had been struck.

    Sang Yan, exhausted from the walk, lay down in bed and soon fell asleep.

    The next day when she awoke,

    He Ying had gone to court.

    Sang Yan took a hot bath, freshened up, and had breakfast.

    It was then that she heard from Qiuzhi that Xuanrao had come to the palace early in the morning and was currently in the side hall visiting Luo Shan’s injuries.

    "Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

    Her appetite disappeared in an instant. After hurriedly taking a few bites of her meal, she lifted her skirts and rushed to the side hall.

    In the side hall,

    Xuanrao sat by the bed, looking at the pitifully injured Luo Shan on the bed, cursing the people from Dali Temple with indignation, "A bunch of beasts! How could they be so merciless to a defenseless woman!"

    As she was cursing, she heard footsteps outside and looked up to see Sang Yan. She immediately got up to greet her, "Empress—"

    Sang Yan gestured with her hand to dispense with the formalities and asked, "How is Luo Shan doing?"

    Xuanrao replied, "Her fever has subsided. But no matter how we call her, she won’t wake up. I’ve been here for an hour, and she’s just been sleeping deeply, unresponsive to anything."

    Sang Yan looked at the pale-faced individual, furrowed her brow in concern, and said, "Could she have lost the will to live?"

    Upon hearing this, Xuanrao’s face changed, "If that’s the case, what are we to do?"

    A person’s life depends on their spirit!

    Sang Yan didn’t know what to do either.

    She sent for many Imperial Physicians and inquired about their opinions.

    After a long discussion, they only had four words to offer, "Wait and see."

    And wait she did, until the afternoon.

    Sang Yan didn’t wait for Luo Shan’s awakening, instead, she waited for Xie Sui’s arrival.

    Xie Sui had come with the Emperor.

    By imperial decree, he was commanded to thoroughly investigate the case of female doctor Luo Shan being accused of attempting to murder Cui Jianqing, the son of the Minister of Rites, and he had already clarified the facts.

    Now he was here to report in person, "Cui Jianqing has confessed. It was he who had improper intentions towards Doctor Luo, prompting her to wound him in self-defense. Later, Minister of Rites Cui Shao, out of pity for his injured son, harshly dealt with Doctor Luo. He and his son-in-law Ge Lintao conspired to frame Doctor Luo for harboring resentment and murder with a hairpin, intending to coerce a confession."

    "How despicable!"

    Sang Yan was infuriated, "They disregarded the facts and persecuted a weak woman to such an extent!"

    Xie Sui, as the presiding official and a man himself, felt the same: Cui Shao’s actions were both foolish and malicious!

    Sang Yan went on to say, "As the Minister of Rites, he failed to manage his own household and indulged his progeny. So foolish and cunning, a disgrace to his servant’s duty, he must be severely punished."

    As for how to punish?

    She looked towards He Ying for a suggestion on the punishment.

    He Ying’s response was simple and violent, "Just behead all those involved in the case."

    Sang Yan: "..."

    She should not have asked him!

    So, turning her head, she looked to Xie Sui, "Mr. Xie, what do you think?"

    Xie Sui glanced at the Emperor, then bowed and said, "To reply to the Empress, your humble servant believes the Emperor’s decision is wise. As the saying goes, the Prince and the common people are equal before the law. Cui Shao and Ge Lintao, knowingly breaking the law and covering for each other, deserve to be executed immediately, to set an example and uphold justice."

    Sang Yan didn’t want to kill, "Apart from immediate execution, are there any other options? Like confiscation of property, exile to the borders to do hard labor?"

    Sometimes living is more painful than death!

    Especially for someone who has lived a life of luxury and held high status to fall into the dust!

    Xie Sui thought for a moment, then bowed and said, "Certainly. Your wisdom is commendable, my Lady."

    Sang Yan: "..."

    What was so wise about that?

    She was merely seeking justice for Luo Shan.

    She thought this way, but the common people did not.

    When the decree was issued, and both the Cui Mansion and Ge Residence were confiscated, it immediately sparked discussions throughout the Capital City.

    At first, everyone was curious about what the two great families had done. After learning they offended a courtesan, and then learning that the courtesan had someone behind her, and that person was the Empress, the direction of the discussions instantly changed: The grand Imperial City had a wonder, a flower of Luozhou caused the downfall of two Second Rank officials!