Li Ji went to the palace for an audience with the Emperor, presenting Liu Ze’s confession for him to review.

Even though he had long been prepared for it, the Emperor still couldn’t help but feel enraged after seeing the contents of the confession with his own eyes.

He forcefully threw the confession onto the desk and said in a heavy voice,

"As a subject of Great Zhou, to have such a lack of integrity! It makes a mockery of all the trust I have placed in him!"

Li Ji asked, "Your Majesty, how do you intend to deal with Liu Ze?"

The Emperor said coldly, "Naturally, he will be dealt with as he should be."

According to penal law, anyone who colludes with the enemy and commits treason is to be given the ultimate punishment.

And that ultimate punishment was death by a thousand cuts.

Furthermore, all the men in the family would be exiled to the borderlands, never to return to the capital, while all the women would be demoted to the lowest class and forced to become official prostitutes.

With a single sentence, the Emperor had sealed the fate of the entire Liu Family.

Li Ji reminded him, "This case involves Consort Liu."

The Emperor fell silent.

He believed he had not treated Consort Liu poorly. The very fact that she had been named an Imperial Concubine showed that he had bestowed more favor and glory upon her than any of the other Concubines in the harem.

But he never expected that she would be capable of colluding with the enemy.

By law, he should have ordered Consort Liu’s death directly, but she was, after all, a woman with whom he had shared a bed for many years. In his heart, he couldn’t quite bear to do it.

Seeing that he was undecided, Li Ji did not rush him, but instead proposed,

"Before Your Majesty decides how to deal with Consort Liu, would you permit me to see her? There are some things I still don’t understand, and I’d like to ask Consort Liu for some answers."

The Emperor waved his hand. "Go."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Prince Zhao left, the Emperor stared at the open memorial on his desk. The hand holding the vermillion pen paused in mid-air for a moment before he finally set it down.

He simply had no mind to continue reviewing memorials.

In the eyes of others, he was the supreme Emperor, holding the power of life and death over everyone in the world.

But he was also a living, breathing person. He had feelings and desires, and the betrayal of those close to him also brought him sorrow and anger.

Seeing this, Zuo Ji knew that the Emperor was displeased.

As the one who personally served the Emperor, he had to find a way to cheer him up at a time like this.

Zuo Ji’s mind raced, and he soon thought of the one residing in the Moon Viewing Pavilion.

Perhaps because the Seventh Prince had been born in Hanzhang Hall and was brought before the Emperor right after his birth, the Emperor was especially fond of him. Recently, whenever the Emperor had a free moment, he would go to the Moon Viewing Pavilion to visit the Seventh Prince.

Every time he saw the Seventh Prince, the Emperor would be all smiles.

So, Zuo Ji cautiously suggested,

"Your Majesty, if you are tired, why not go and visit Hua Jieyu for a while? You could also see the Seventh Prince."

The Emperor thought of his pure and lovely young son and felt deeply that sons were cutest when they were little. Once they grew up, they developed all sorts of messy ideas.

He had to take this chance, while the Seventh Prince was still young, to grow closer to him.

Thus, the Emperor agreed at once without much hesitation.

"Then let’s go to the Moon Viewing Pavilion."

Zuo Ji immediately had someone arrange for the Dragon Carriage.

...

After leaving the Imperial Study Room, Li Ji headed straight for Lingxue Hall.

The entire Lingxue Hall was now sealed off. All the eunuchs and palace maids inside had been sent to the Judicial Department to be interrogated and investigated one by one.

Only Consort Liu and two old nannies remained in the hall.

The Flying Dragon Cavalry guarding the gate had already received their orders. Upon seeing Prince Zhao arrive, they opened the hall’s doors without a word.

Li Ji stepped over the high threshold.

After the Empress was sent to the Imperial Mausoleum, this place had been second only to Biquan Palace in the entire harem. Every day, Concubines would come here, trying all sorts of ways to curry favor with Consort Liu. Chief Eunuchs and Chief Maids from various departments also came to pay their respects. Lingxue Hall’s glory had been boundless.

But now, its entrance was deserted, devoid of its former splendor.

Leaves, blown down by the wind, had piled up on the pathways, but there was no one to sweep them away.

Li Ji’s black silk shoes stepped over the fallen leaves as he walked into the hall, one step at a time.

The two old nannies were sitting under the veranda, doing needlework and chatting idly.

When they saw Prince Zhao arrive, they hurriedly put down their sewing baskets and rose to greet him.

"This servant greets Your Highness, Prince Zhao. What wind has blown you here?"

Li Ji: "This Prince has come to ask Consort Liu a few questions. Where is she?"

The two nannies quickly said, "The Noble Consort is resting in her room. This way, Your Highness."

With them leading the way, Li Ji met Consort Liu without any trouble.

Consort Liu was kneeling before her dressing table, combing her long hair, stroke by stroke, with a gold-inlaid wooden comb.

She had deliberately worn a scarlet, front-opening long dress today. The skirt, woven from light gauze, spread out on the floor in cascading layers, like smoke and clouds.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, her combing motion paused slightly.

For some unknown reason, she turned around quickly, her gaze full of anticipation as she looked toward the door.

After seeing clearly who had walked in, the light in her eyes quickly faded.

Her disappointment was plain to see.

The two nannies curtsied to her.

"Reporting to the Noble Consort, His Highness Prince Zhao has arrived."

Consort Liu frowned at them. "How many times has this Concubine told you to announce visitors before entering? Why won’t you listen? Do you not know the rules?"

The two nannies bowed, apologizing to Consort Liu, but inwardly, they were sneering. ’She’s already a grasshopper after autumn, who knows how many days she has left to hop around? And she’s still putting on such airs!’

Li Ji waved his hand. "You may leave first."

"Yes."

The two nannies withdrew outside the door.

The door was left open, and sunlight streamed in from outside, lending a bit of life to the overly quiet bedroom.

Consort Liu picked up the comb again and meticulously combed her long hair.

She watched Prince Zhao, who was standing behind her, through the reflective surface of the Glazed Mirror and asked nonchalantly,

"This Concubine has heard that Prince Zhao has been very busy lately. How do you find the time to come to this Concubine’s place?"

Li Ji answered with a question of his own. "A moment ago, did you think the person who came in was the Saint?"

Consort Liu did not answer, merely combing her hair silently into a beautiful bun.

Her fingertips brushed across the exquisite hair ornaments one by one, as if she were choosing which one would best suit her attire today.

She only gave a light laugh in response to Prince Zhao’s words.

"So what if I did?"

Li Ji: "The Saint will not come."

Consort Liu’s fingertips paused, and the smile on her lips gradually faded.

Li Ji met her gaze in the Glazed Mirror and, in the calmest voice, spoke the cruelest words.

"Liu Ze has confessed everything. The entire Liu Family is finished."

The great Liu Family consisted of not only Consort Liu’s brother, but also her sister, her sister-in-law, and her nieces and nephews.

Li Ji continued, "According to the penal code, Liu Ze will face death by a thousand cuts. The men of the Liu Family will be exiled to the borderlands, and the women will be forced to become official prostitutes."

In the end, Consort Liu could not hold back, and her eyes reddened.

She turned her face away, her fingers resting on the dressing table trembling uncontrollably.