sbdcsierra Chapter 1476 Execution by Beating (Bonus Chapter for 208 Million Donation Points)
Chapter 1476 Execution by Beating (Bonus Chapter for 208 Million Donation Points)
Upon seeing the scene inside the hall, especially the kneeling Consort Dun and the dignified Imperial Noble Consort above, the group was instantly terrified and knelt down with a thud.
At the same time, Xiaotianzi's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
His legs went weak uncontrollably, and his body swayed slightly. He barely managed to stay upright by holding on, and large beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.
Shen Zhinian took in Xiaotianzi's frightened expression but ignored it, nodding slightly to Xiaomingzi.
Xiao Mingzi immediately understood and stepped forward, saying, "Before the Imperial Noble Consort, you must all tell the truth! Tell her everything you know, word for word!"
The palace servants were already terrified, and upon hearing this, they kowtowed even more vigorously.
One of them, his voice trembling uncontrollably, spoke first: "Reporting to Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort... it was... it was Eunuch Tian from Yikun Palace..."
"A few days ago, he found me, slipped me some money, and asked me to secretly pass on a few words to a few palace servants I knew..."
"Just say... just say that the Imperial Noble Consort was worried that the new concubines would steal the Emperor's favor, so she... so she begged His Majesty to postpone the imperial concubine selection..."
"This servant was momentarily bewitched! I beg Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort, for mercy! I beg Your Highness to spare my life!"
The other person followed suit, kowtowing repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes!"
"That's what Eunuch Tian instructed me to do too..."
"This servant deserves to die! This servant will never dare to do it again! Please, Your Majesty, spare this lowly life!"
Several people rushed to point out the blame, pushing all the responsibility onto Xiaotianzi, who looked ashen-faced.
Shen Zhinian listened quietly, then turned her gaze back to Consort Dun, her alluring fox-like eyes filled with imposing authority: "Consort Dun, what else do you have to say?!"
Consort Dun knelt on the ground, feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles. Her face flushed red and then turned pale, and she knew that this matter was unlikely to end well.
In her panic, she had a sudden inspiration. She turned to look at Xiao Tianzi, who was already pale as a ghost, her eyebrows furrowed, and she shouted sternly, "You wicked servant!"
"Little Tianzi, I have always treated you well, yet you dare to do such a heinous thing behind my back, slandering the Imperial Noble Consort's reputation and disrupting the palace! Who gave you the audacity?!"
Princess Dunfei's rebuke came suddenly, drawing everyone's attention to Odako.
Xiaotianzi was stunned by her barrage of accusations.
He looked up and met Consort Dun's eyes, which were full of threat and implication, and instantly understood the Empress's intention—
Abandon the car to save the handsome man.
As the head eunuch of Yikun Palace, Xiaotianzi's entire family's lives were naturally in Consort Dun's hands. At this moment, he had no choice but to admit his heinous crimes.
Xiao Tianzi kowtowed repeatedly in Shen Zhinian's direction, crying out in despair, "It's all my fault! It's all my fault!"
"It is this servant who has lost his mind and is spouting nonsense, slandering the Imperial Noble Consort!"
"This has nothing to do with Consort Dun! It was all my own doing!"
"This servant deserves to die! I beg Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, to punish only this servant!"
As he spoke, he kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead quickly turning red.
Consort Xuan, who had witnessed everything clearly, couldn't help but snort coldly and said disdainfully, "Consort Dun is now trying to deny everything."
"Xiao Tianzi is nothing but a servant. If he didn't have a master behind him, where would he get the audacity and the money to bribe so many people to spread rumors?"
Consort Xian shook her head: "Today was truly a good show."
Faced with Consort Xuan's bluntness and Consort Xian's veiled sarcasm, Consort Dun gritted her teeth, determined to deny everything.
She straightened her back, as if she had suffered a great injustice, and choked out, "Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, please see the truth!"
"I have failed in my duty to manage my subordinates, which has led this scoundrel to commit a grave error. I am responsible for this and am willing to accept punishment."
"But I truly did not instruct him to commit such a heinous act. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
Princess Atsuhi insisted that it was all Odako's doing, completely absolving herself of any responsibility.
The expressions of those in the hall varied, but they all understood the situation perfectly. They all knew that without more direct evidence pointing to Consort Dun, the accusations of a few servants alone would hardly be enough to completely bring her down.
Shen Zhinian never expected that she could remove a concubine who was raising a prince from her position based on this trivial matter.
Today's actions are meant to make an example of someone and establish authority.
Her gaze swept over Xiao Tianzi, whose face was ashen, and the palace servants who were slumped on the ground. Without a trace of emotion, she said, "Xiao Tianzi, as the head eunuch of Yikun Palace, has the audacity to spread rumors, slander his superiors, and disrupt the palace."
"The others accepted money and aided and abetted the evildoers; their hearts deserve to be condemned!"
"Men, drag them all out—"
At this point, Shen Zhinian paused slightly, her voice carrying a heavy sense of authority: "To be beaten to death!"
Xiao Tianzi suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with horror and disbelief!
He originally thought that at most he would be beaten half to death and demoted to the Sinzheku to do hard labor, but he never expected that the Imperial Noble Consort would directly take his life!
"Your Majesty! Imperial Noble Consort, please spare me! This servant knows his mistake! This servant will never dare to do it again!"
"Your Majesty, please have mercy! Spare this dog's life!"
Xiao Tianzi cried out in anguish, struggling to go forward, but was held down firmly by the eunuchs who came up from both sides.
The other palace servants also broke down instantly, their cries and pleas for mercy filling the air.
Shen Zhinian waved her hand expressionlessly: "Drag him away."
"Yes!"
Xiao Zhouzi immediately led several strong eunuchs forward and ruthlessly dragged Xiao Tianzi and the others, who were crying and struggling, out of the house.
Consort Dun kept her head down, not daring to look in the direction where Xiao Tianzi was dragged away. Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms, leaving several bloody marks.
Her face looked extremely pale, alternating between bluish and white.
The Imperial Noble Consort actually ordered her head eunuch to be beaten to death...
This was not just killing a useful servant of hers, but also tearing off her face and trampling her underfoot in front of all the concubines in the palace!
She was a high-ranking imperial concubine, raising the third prince. How could she ever hold her head high in the palace again? Who would even respect her?
This is simply a shame!
Consort Dun was so angry that she felt dizzy, but she dared not show it at all. She could only grit her teeth and swallow her overwhelming hatred.
Shen Zhinian saw the way Consort Dun dared not retaliate.
This is not over yet.
Today, she wants to show everyone in the palace who truly holds the power of life and death in the harem!
“Even if Consort Dun did not instigate this matter, her lax management of her subordinates, which allowed her close attendants to act recklessly and tarnish the reputation of the palace, is still a serious responsibility.”
Shen Zhinian's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Consort Dun kneeling on the ground: "At the end of the month, the palace selection will take place, and many new concubines will soon enter the palace. If the atmosphere in the harem is corrupt, and the upper echelons set an example, wouldn't it create chaos in the imperial palace and cause His Majesty unnecessary worry?"