Her guards

Chapter 224 Her Righteousness
Suddenly, soldiers cleared the streets of the capital, and just as the people were wondering what was going on, the emperor and empress arrived in their carriages.

People knelt down in the streets as the imperial carriage sped past, escorted by guards, palace maids, and eunuchs.

"Why are the Emperor and Empress out today?"

"Is there something you need? It's not a holiday."

"Judging from the direction, it's heading to the Academy of Chinese Studies."

……

……

The Imperial Academy is heavily guarded, as it has always been since the princesses began studying here, but today it feels more tense than usual.

With the arrival of the Emperor and Empress's carriages, the number of guards outside increased.

A group of instructors hurriedly came to greet him, but the chief priest was not among them.

The emperor did not reprimand the chief priest for his impoliteness, but walked straight in.

The area where the princesses studied was guarded by even more guards; in addition to those standing, there were seven or eight guards sitting or lying on the ground.

The emperor paused, looking at the seven or eight imperial guards. Some had twisted arms, some had twisted legs, and they had lost their ability to fight.

The conflict occurred, but no weapons were used.

The emperor's expression softened slightly, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes. Fortunately, there was no bloodshed; otherwise, it would have been a truly unsightly sight!
"Heisei."

The Empress had already hurried inside.

The emperor slowly walked in.

Inside the hall, two groups of people stood clearly separated. One group consisted of the young ladies who were studying together. Some were still sobbing, while others were comforting their companions. A-Luo's maid, who was pretending to be Miss Yang, was also there and was speaking quietly to Ling Yu.

As the emperor looked over, she also looked up and then lowered her gaze.

In the center were the chief priest and several instructors, while on the other side were several imperial guards and palace women forming a circle. At the empress's call, the guards stepped aside, revealing Princess Heisei sitting among them.

She sat upright, but her eyes were unfocused, and she did not respond to the Empress's call.

"Heisei!" The Empress rushed forward and hugged her tightly, asking anxiously, "How are you?"

The palace maids stood by, sobbing, calling out, "Princess, Her Majesty is here!" "Princess, don't be afraid."

The shouts and the familiar embrace brought Princess Heisei back to her senses. She looked at the Empress and suddenly stood up.

"Mother, why are you here? Go away, go away!" she cried, "You can't come here—"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

"You go quickly, I can manage on my own, you can't come, you can't listen..."

Can't we listen to those humiliating words?

Her daughter, even the Queen almost shed tears, was being humiliated yet still thinking of protecting her mother.

But she, as a mother, failed to protect her daughter.

"Wang Zaitian!" the Empress shouted as she turned around. "Today, I will take this traitor away. Don't even think about using the excuse that this is the National Academy or that he is your disciple to stop me!"

He was calling out "Wang Zaitian" while his gaze was fixed on... Miss Yang.

"Your Majesty, please don't worry."

But before the chief priest could answer, the emperor's voice rang out.

"Let's find out what happened first."

The Empress looked over and saw that the Emperor was already sitting in the center, his gaze fixed on her.

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king. The empress need not worry, I will certainly punish them severely."

The Empress thought to herself, "Then I, the Empress, am also his subject..."

With the emperor around, it's not her place as a concubine to make decisions.

……

……

"Princess Wuyang went to see Lady Li first, and then quarreled with Princess Heicheng after returning."

“I have already asked Princess Nangong, and she said it was because of a joke that Princess Heicheng and Princess Wuyang had made before.”

"Princess Wuyang was so angry that she spoke recklessly, and her words touched on the Emperor and Empress."

"Princess Heisei was humiliated and, equally enraged, ordered the Imperial Guards to arrest everyone."

Wang Zaitian briefly explained the matter, and of course, he would not repeat those words again. The emperor and empress must already know about it.

He looked at the Empress and smiled as he said this.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to threaten me with those words. This matter has nothing to do with my disciple; it's a matter between the two princesses. Even if Your Majesty doesn't take him away, I will send him back to you."

The Empress sneered, "What does this have to do with your disciple? If it has nothing to do with her, what is she doing here!"

She looked at the girl standing next to Ling Yu.

"Since you say that Consort Li lost her life for you, and therefore you obey Princess Wuyang's every word, then you are guilty of the same crime as Wuyang."

Everyone knew perfectly well that Princess Wuyang uttered such insane words because of Yang Luo.

Yang Luo came here on purpose.

She deliberately came to confront and provoke the Heisei era, relying on rumors about her background.

"You dare order the imperial guards to attack the princess!"

"Who do you think you are? This is utterly outrageous!"

……

……

Princess Heisei ordered the guards to arrest everyone, but the order was not fulfilled.

Because Miss Yang also gave orders to the guards.

"Stop! Take him down!"

At her command, more guards surged in, even more than Princess Heisei's own, some even vaulting down from windows, rooftops, and doorframes... Before Princess Heisei's guards could react, these men attacked first...

Weapons were disarmed, skills were rendered useless, and in just a few moves, all of the princess's guards, except for the few who were closely protecting her, fell to the ground.

Miss Yang then ordered martial law to be declared here, to be declared martial law at the National Academy, and then invited the chief priest to maintain order.

"This academy of traditional Chinese culture has truly become a place for you to show off your martial prowess!"

The Queen shouted.

"you--"

"Queen!"

Mo Zheng, who was standing next to Ling Yu, suddenly stepped forward and shouted loudly.

"I am not being disloyal; I am doing this to protect the princess and to uphold the emperor's reputation!"

Although they had met once or twice, Yang Luo always kept his eyes down and remained quiet in front of her, speaking softly.

The sudden loud voice and piercing gaze startled the Empress, and the Emperor beside her was also taken aback.

"You ask what I am? I am a subject of His Majesty! I am a student of the Sage!"

"The sages taught that rulers should uphold propriety and ministers should uphold loyalty."

"When a sage makes a mistake, or a ruler errs, his subjects should offer advice."

"The sages have taught that a ruler who has no ministers to advise him will lose his way."

“If a sage teaches the wrong way, the ruler will lose his way and will not be able to govern the country; if a minister fails in his duties, he will not be able to hold his position.”

"The princess is going to use the imperial guards to arrest everyone just because of a quarrel between the sisters. These people are so innocent!"

Mo Zheng looked at the Empress and spoke loudly, pointing to the side.

"They were all women chosen by His Majesty based on their impeccable character and family background. Allowing them to accompany the princess was an honor bestowed upon them and a sign of their families' trust. Now, suddenly, because of the princess's whims, they are to be thrown into prison."

"Don't even mention being locked up in jail. Today, they were escorted and driven out of the National Academy by the Imperial Guards. Their reputation is ruined for life. What wrong have they done to deserve such an unexpected disaster!"

"How should their families deal with this?"

"And how will the princess and His Majesty explain this to the people?"

Mo Zheng took another step forward.

"Your Majesty cares about your own daughter, without asking why or right or wrong. Does that mean other people's daughters should be humiliated for no reason?"

"When Your Majesty first stormed the capital, wasn't it because the previous emperor was incompetent, the treacherous officials were wicked, and they treated the common people like livestock? Didn't Your Majesty become emperor precisely to bring order to the world and peace to the people?"

"May I ask Your Majesty, do you also consider my advice to the princess today to be treasonous?"

……

.......
"No."

The emperor answered instinctively, almost standing up—just like when Wang Zaitian had questioned him earlier.

No wonder he's Wang Zaitian's disciple; they're exactly the same when they get fierce...

He had never paid much attention to this maid before, and she was always quiet and unassuming.

This is the first time I've seen her like this.

Today, A-Luo dealt with Li Xuan's matter, leaving this maid alone in the Imperial Academy. Her initial handling was efficient, and now her debate was straightforward.

Not bad, not bad, you do have some skill.

The emperor looked at this "Miss Yang" and nodded slightly.

The sobbing of the girls in the school grew louder, and even the maids who hadn't cried before started to cry, but unlike their previous anxious cries, they cried with a sense of self-righteousness.

"No one needs to say more; I have made the decision on this matter," the emperor said in a deep voice. "Princess Wuyang has committed a misconduct and is hereby demoted to commoner status."

it turns out!

The weeping female companions paused.

This punishment is really severe.

It seems that with Li Xuan arrested, the Li family is truly doomed!

"The ladies-in-waiting have been frightened; I will reward them as an apology."

"Thank you for your guidance during this time, Master and instructors. Let's end the lesson here."

"I trouble the Chancellor to bestow upon them his calligraphy as a sign of graduation."

The emperor spoke briefly, giving no one a chance to speak, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"Let's leave it at that for today. I do not wish to hear the immoral words of those who have lost their virtue again."

"Let's depart and return to the palace."

……

……

"Farewell to Your Majesty."

"Respectfully seeing off the Empress."

This time, the chief priest personally saw the emperor off.

The Empress had the imperial physician examine Princess Heisei's pulse. After the Empress lagged a few steps behind and Princess Heisei indicated that she could walk on her own, the Empress took the princess's hand and led her outside.

The female companions in the hall bowed their heads in respect as they saw him off.

The Empress stopped in front of Miss Yang.

The Empress looked at the girl. Although she had never wanted to see this face, she was determined to see it clearly now—an ugly face just like Yang Tong's.

"Yang Luo," she said softly, "you spout lofty ideals but harbor a filthy heart, and I know it all too well."

Ling Yu, who was standing at the back, frowned and took a step forward, but the girl had already raised her head and was looking at the Empress.

"Then please keep your true feelings hidden, Your Majesty, and teach me a lesson with righteousness." She said softly, then smiled slightly, "If you can find it."