Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 450 The Harem Must Not Interfere in Politics 2
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

I am aware of the ironclad rule that the women of the inner palace must not interfere in politics, and moreover, how could I, a mere woman and child, dare to meddle in political affairs?

"I only wish to ask Your Majesty for mercy so that I may learn a little about the situation on the grasslands." Lahe didn't know if the Emperor was angry, but she still looked at Emperor Longwu with pleading eyes as she spoke. Tears even streamed down her face.

Seeing his beloved concubine with tears streaming down her face, Zhu Zhanhe gently wiped away the tears from her delicate face before abruptly standing up.

"In the second year of Longwu, the U-Tsang tribe invaded the grasslands, and the Mughal grasslands lost more than 500 able-bodied men, more than 100 cavalrymen, and more than 1,000 head of cattle and sheep."

In the third year of Longwu, the U-Tsang tribe invaded twice, causing the Mughal grasslands to lose more than a thousand able-bodied men, more than three hundred cavalrymen, and more than a thousand head of cattle and sheep.
In the fourth year of the Longwu reign, the U-Tsang tribe invaded twice, resulting in the loss of over 800 able-bodied men, over 100 cavalrymen, and over 800 head of cattle and sheep on the Mughal steppe.

After Zhu Zhanhe stood up, he turned his back to Lahe and softly recounted the invasions of the various tribes of Tibet into the Mughal steppe region in recent years. He even knew the number of people and livestock lost by the tribes during each invasion. These words made Lahe tremble with fear!
After hearing her Emperor's words, Empress Xia looked at Consort Zhen, Lahe, with a hint of pity. This was because the detailed data indicated that the Emperor was aware of the situation on the grasslands. He hadn't acted yet simply because of some scheme!

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" After hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Consort Zhen, of the Lahe clan, buried her head deeply in the ground, trembling with fear.

"Consort Zhen, of the Lahe clan, has offended Your Majesty and is hereby stripped of her title as Consort, demoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine." Suddenly, Emperor Longwu turned around and looked at the kneeling Lahe clan member, speaking in a way that left no room for argument.

Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's words, Laheshi seemed to have her spine broken; her prostrate body instantly collapsed. This scene, however, softened Zhu Zhanhe's heart.

"Step down." However, in the end, Zhu Zhanhe did not change his mind and simply waved his hand, dismissing Lahe.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave!" Lahe, her face filled with sorrow and bitterness, knew she had made a mistake in her gamble, but still respectfully thanked the Emperor before silently retreating. As she left, Lahe even stumbled and nearly fell; her pitiful figure was a sight to behold.

"Your Majesty! Although my sister has made a mistake, it doesn't warrant this punishment."

"Besides, Zhen'er is still young. What will she do if you punish her like this?!" After Lahe left, Empress Xia got up and came to her husband. She gently supported her husband's arm and complained about the punishment of her sister.

In truth, Empress Xia knew very well that in the harem, the practice of stepping on the weak to elevate the strong was all too obvious. The news that Consort Zhen, of the Lahe clan, had offended the Emperor and been demoted to a lower rank would spread throughout the entire harem within half an hour!

At that time, those palace maids and eunuchs will have no idea how to treat people! And such an outcome might even affect the young seventeenth prince!

"It is an ironclad rule that the empress dowager must not interfere in politics."

"This time, Lady Lahe has become the scapegoat. If I don't punish her severely, how will I silence the gossips in the future?" Zhu Zhanhe knew that he had indeed punished Lady Lahe too harshly this time. However, there was nothing he could do; Lady Lahe was blind and had stepped on a landmine herself.

Zhu Zhanhe could only use her as an example to show others.

"That doesn't warrant such a severe punishment. At worst, the Emperor could just reprimand your sister and deduct some of her salary or something."

"Your Majesty should at least think about Zhen'er; he's still so young!" Ultimately, while the Empress felt the punishment for her husband and Lady Lahe was somewhat harsh, her primary concern was still for Lady Lahe's seventeenth son, Zhu Qizhen!

The logic is simple! The harem is never short of concubines! And the seventeenth prince is a son of the dragon, so he cannot be neglected unless he has done something wrong! Even if he were to lose his birth mother, Lady Lahe, there would be countless concubines in the harem, and their maternal families, who would do everything in their power to beg to adopt the seventeenth prince!
The imperial harem is such a realistic place!

"What are the Empress's thoughts?" Upon hearing Empress Xia mention the son born to Lady Lahe, Zhu Zhanhe suddenly realized that Lady Lahe's actions might be spurred by the recent impending enfeoffment of her second and third sons, and she wanted to provide some support for the future of her seventeenth son, Zhen'er, from her maternal clan!

Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe, having recovered his senses, directly asked Empress Xia for her opinion on how to handle the situation.

"His Majesty's words are law. Since he has said that the Imperial Concubine will be demoted to a lower rank, there is no reason to change it."

However, the Emperor did not say anything about reducing Consort Zhen's treatment. When Empress Xia heard her husband asking for her opinion, she knew that he was softening his heart.

Immediately, Empress Xia helped her husband come up with a compromise: to revoke Consort Lahe's title and demote her to the rank of Consort. However, even after being demoted to Consort, Lahe's treatment remained that of a Consort.

This can be considered a compromise, to prevent anyone from underestimating the seventeenth prince.

"Let's do as the Empress wishes." Zhu Zhanhe nodded in agreement after hearing the Empress's words.

"Someone come here!" Seeing that her husband agreed, Empress Xia immediately called out towards the outside of the hall. A group of palace maids and eunuchs quickly entered. Even Xiao Xizi followed them in.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!" Upon entering, a group of eunuchs and servants knelt respectfully on the ground, awaiting the Emperor and Empress's instructions.

"Little Xizi~!" Empress Xia immediately called out to Little Xizi.

"Your Majesty the Empress!" Xiao Xizi responded immediately upon hearing the Empress's call. However, Xiao Xizi glanced at the Emperor silently. Only after seeing that the Emperor made no comment did she feel relieved.

"Just now, Consort Zhen offended the Emperor and was demoted to Consort Zhen."

However, in the end, considering that the seventeenth prince was still young, the emperor only demoted Consort Zhen's rank, while all other treatments remained unchanged.

Some restless women in the harem are known for kicking someone when they're down, but even the seventeenth prince is not immune to this.

"You should handle this matter yourself." Empress Xia explained the situation clearly in front of all the palace maids and eunuchs in Kunning Palace, and sent Xiao Xizi to deliver the decree personally to show the Emperor and Empress's importance attached to the matter. This was to prevent some ignorant people from gossiping or doing anything inappropriate that might affect the Seventeenth Prince.

"I obey Her Majesty the Empress's decree!" Upon hearing the Empress's words, Xiao Xizi instantly understood the key point. After giving the Emperor a subtle glance once more, she immediately accepted Empress Xia's decree and withdrew.

"Let's set out the meal!" After Xiao Xizi left, Empress Xia waved her hand gently, instructing the palace maids to begin setting out the meal.

After all, Empress Xia knew very well that her ill-intentioned husband had said he would have lunch at Kunning Palace today, and she couldn't give him any leverage, lest her dignity as Empress be taken advantage of by her husband again!

"Consort Zhen's younger sister, Xiao Lahe, has been bestowed the title of Beauty by the Emperor. Has the Emperor summoned her this month yet?" Empress Xia silently took her husband's hand and walked towards the dining table, subtly mentioning Xiao Lahe's affairs as they went.

Clearly, Empress Xia had sensed her husband's anger at punishing Consort Zhen too harshly, and proactively tried to ease the tension between them. After all, based on her understanding of her husband, she knew he would never let the Lah sisters off the hook when summoned to the emperor's bedchamber. The most likely scenario was that her husband would have both Lah sisters serve him!
This was also a way of having the emperor personally confirm that Lady Lahe had not completely fallen out of favor!
(End of this chapter)