History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 461 Empress Yu's Death
If the emperor killed the empress, then so be it; why resort to such despicable means? It truly chills the hearts of his subjects, and makes them feel ashamed to be loyal to such a monarch!
The document details how female officials and eunuchs in Xianyang Palace reported numerous instances of the Empress contacting court officials, including Yuan Zhao, former Palace Attendant; Ru Hao, former Left Palace Attendant; Liu Zhou, General of the Imperial Bedchamber; and the eunuch Qin Song.

Actually, these crimes aren't that serious; the last one is the most serious!
The Empress's sister, Consort Yu, confessed that... When the Emperor fell into a coma due to a headache, the Empress showed no grief and even said, "The Emperor should have an heir, so that I can also become Chang or Feng."

"Chang" and "Feng" clearly refer to Empress Dowager Chang, who died in the first year of the Heping era, and Empress Dowager Feng, who died in the fourteenth year of the Taihe era. Both of these illustrious empress dowagers rose to power after the emperor's death by raising the crown prince, while simultaneously bringing glory and titles to their families.

Wei Yao: "I have finished reading it."

At this moment, she had figured out the emperor's overall plan to deal with the Prince of Pengcheng.

Since the emperor had summoned the governor of Xuzhou and the prefect of Henan back to the capital to make arrangements, it was clear that he intended to fight the Prince of Pengcheng. The emperor no longer cared about the internal strife within the Xiao Liang dynasty, or the fate of the nation and its people.

But Emperor Yuan Ke cared a lot about one thing: leaving his name in history! Even if he disobeyed Emperor Xiaowen's instructions and unjustifiably suspected the Prince of Pengcheng, he would still use every means to make the court and the public praise him as a benevolent monarch.

Therefore, the first step in Yuan Ke's plan was for the Empress to pass away, and for the court to order the Prince of Pengcheng to return to the capital to participate in the funeral.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Prince Pengcheng was caught in a dilemma. Returning to the capital meant certain death, while disobeying the edict would be disloyal. If he still insisted on not returning to Luoyang, his reputation as a virtuous prince would certainly be questioned by history! If the minister delivering the edict was Prince Qinghe, who was also known as a virtuous prince, and if Prince Qinghe had died in Yangzhou, then Prince Pengcheng would have been condemned by the court and the public without even waiting for future generations to read history.

At that time, Yuan Ke sent troops to Yangzhou again, and his actions were justified.

Yuan Ke: "The Empress and I are husband and wife, and our relationship is different from that of the other concubines. I will give the Empress a chance to explain. As long as she admits that Consort Yu framed her, I will pretend that I have never seen this memorial."

"Your Majesty is merciful." Wei Yao lowered her eyes, trying her best to restrain her sarcasm.

When memorials were submitted, two copies were always made.

Now another copy was handed to Empress Yu Baoying by the eunuch Yang Fan.

"His Majesty is ill and unable to come to question the Empress in person, so he has sent me to ascertain the matter... Empress, do you acknowledge the crimes stated by the Princess Consort of Jingzhao?"

Yu Baoying's eyes were bloodshot. If she were in the wilderness right now, she would definitely cry and laugh wildly! She wouldn't be afraid of being ridiculed for being crazy!

It's full of malice!
If she confesses, she will naturally lose her position as empress, and the Yu family will also be implicated.

If she doesn't admit it, her younger sister, Consort Bao, will be accused of falsely accusing the Empress, and rumors will continue to slander her, ultimately making it difficult for her to take control of the inner palace.

"Your Majesty... if you want to kill me, just kill me directly. Why use such methods? It makes me despise you." Yu Baoying covered her face with her sleeve, her heart filled with resentment, and could only vaguely express her feelings.

Yang Fan couldn't hear clearly and asked, "Empress? What?"

Yu Baoying lowered her sleeves and said coldly, "Go outside and wait. Write down everything I have done and haven't done for His Majesty."

Yang Fan said "Yes," and led the group of eunuchs to retreat outside the hall.

One of his trusted aides asked anxiously in a low voice, "If the Empress confesses, will you really feed her poison?"

Yang Fan looked at the moon in the sky, sighed, and said nothing.

Not long after, weeping was heard from inside the hall. When Yang Fan and the others came in again, Empress Yu had already passed away. The paper under her face was painted with a woman in colorful clothes riding a horse. The woman's hair was blown by the wind, her face was reflected in the sunlight, and her smile was so pure.

Another day dawns.

The ministers who came to report arrived at Xibaitang one after another. Upon learning that Empress Yu had suddenly passed away the night before, all the ministers expressed surprise. Whether they were genuinely or not, they could not be wrong if they showed the same expression as everyone else.

Immediately afterwards, Hou Gang, the emperor's close attendant, came to announce the imperial edict: "Wei Yao is appointed as the Director of the Ministry of Personnel, in charge of managing government affairs."

“The Prince of Jingzhao, Yuan Yu, was appointed as the Attendant-in-Ordinary of the Secretariat, and the Prince of Guangping, Yuan Huai, was appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.”

After announcing the imperial decree, Hou Gang addressed Wei Yao in front of all the officials, saying, "I entrust the Minister of Works to expedite the arrangements for the Empress's funeral." Wei Yao replied, "Yes."

As soon as Hou Gang left, Sikong Yuancheng's face fell, Shizhong Yuanyi lowered his eyelids, seemingly lost in thought, while Situ Yuanyu twisted his cheeks and smiled, a smile tinged with coldness.

Yuan Yu and Yuan Huai, who had just entered Xibaitang to assist in affairs, immediately felt awkward, unsure whether to find a place to sit or stand like the other ministers.

The power dynamic has shifted! The ministers know that from today onward, state affairs must be reported to Wei Yao first. This young and treacherous minister has truly achieved a position second only to the emperor and above thousands of others!

Yuan Yi, the Chamberlain, broke the somber atmosphere by asking, "For the Empress's funeral, is it necessary for the Grand Tutor to return to the capital?"

One minister immediately said, "The Grand Tutor should return to the capital."

Yuan Cheng asked the man impatiently, "Then why don't you go to Yangzhou to invite the Grand Tutor?"

The room suddenly became quiet.

Yuan Cheng shooed people out: "You all go back to your posts. If you have something important to do, come back this afternoon."

Yuan Yu and Yuan Huai exchanged a glance. What about them? Were they leaving too?

Yuan Yu threw a crumpled piece of paper at his foolish nephew Yuan Yu and scolded, "Get out of here!"

"Hmph." Fine, I'll get out then!

After the officials left, the West Botang Hall became empty, with only Wei Yao and the three kings Cheng, Yu, and Yi remaining.

Yuan Yi thought for a moment and then decided, "I went to Yangzhou before, so I'll go again this time."

Yuan Yu came over, patted his nephew on the shoulder, and said, "You're going? Are you looking for death?"

Yuan Yi opened his mouth, his gaze shifting from his uncle to Wei Yao, then to Yuan Cheng. From the expressions of the three men, he suddenly discerned something.

Yuan Yu walked to the fish tank by the window and teased the koi with fish food to make them compete for it. He said, "In His Majesty's eyes, aren't we like these fish? Whether we are kept in water or placed on a wooden chopping board, it all depends on his word. He can just move us around at will."

Yuan Yi disliked hearing this, and knew that his fourth uncle's sarcasm was not wrong.

Wei Yao noticed his hesitation and asked, "Prince Yi, do you have an official named Song Wei in your household?"

Yuan Yi nodded: "He is the chief secretary of my household, the eldest son of Song Bian, the former Minister of Personnel."

Wei Yao: "Last time you went to Yangzhou, you took Song Wei with you. If you go this time, will you take him with you too?"

Yuan Yi remained silent for a few moments, then said, "I may not take him with me, but Song Wei will definitely volunteer to come with me."

Wei Yao smiled, walked to the fish tank, opened a porcelain bottle in her hand, and poured a few drops of dew-like liquid into the tank.

Something terrible has happened!
The koi were all poisoned to death!

Yuan Yi seemed struck dumb, and asked, "What... what kind of poison is this?"

At this point, Wei Yao had to speak plainly: "Poison is colorless and odorless, rare and difficult to control. Prince Yi is wise and benevolent, unwilling to see his own family turn against each other. It's a pity, the root of this poisoning is Your Majesty. Last night, Yang Fan gave me the poison, instructing me to give it to Song Wei, the chief clerk in your household. Prince Yi, do you suspect that after arriving in Yangzhou, Song Wei will put the poison in your food? Or the Grand Tutor? Or perhaps neither you nor your uncle will escape it?"

Yuan Yi felt increasingly uneasy and his scalp tingled as he listened, his hands and feet turning ice-cold. How could a minor official like Song Wei have the opportunity to poison the Grand Tutor? The only possible culprit was him! If he were poisoned to death in Yangzhou, the world would not suspect the emperor, but rather the Grand Tutor!
Wei Yao: "If Prince Yi doesn't believe me, he can find an opportunity to tie up Yang Fan and question him. But after tying him up, don't be kind and release him. Don't believe Song Wei's sophistry either. He and his brother Song Ji have not inherited any of Minister Song's kindness."

To fool Yuan Yi, you need to tell at least 70% of the truth!