711 All Hail Dabao (1)
Didn’t they say that he had sunk into the pond? Why would he appear in the throne room unscathed? Could it be that they had seen a ghost in broad daylight?
Eunuch Li was dumbfounded. That shouldn’t be the case. He had personally sunk him. No matter how good he was at swimming, it was impossible for him to swim up after tying such a heavy stone.
Eunuch Li naturally did not expect that Eunuch Wang had been saved by Consort Yun. However, it was useless even if he thought about it. The person who was supposed to die was not dead. The following situation would probably be awkward.
“Eunuch Wang, didn’t you get smallpox… and are about to die?” The person who asked was the assistant minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. The Empress was sobbing halfway through her sentence. They deduced that Eunuch Wang was either dead or about to die soon, but looking at the energetic appearance of Eunuch Wang, he didn’t look like a person on the verge of death!
Eunuch Wang spat. “Pfft! Who has smallpox and is about to die? Aren’t I alive and well?”
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs looked at him and then at the Empress, whose expression was tense. “Then just now…”
“What happened just now?” Eunuch Wang said knowingly. “Did someone curse me to have smallpox? Hmph, I left the palace on an order to work for His Majesty!”
Not only did this person not die at the bottom of the lake, but he also left the palace. How detestable!
The Empress and Eunuch Li’s expressions turned ugly.
The Empress glared at Eunuch Li and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Didn’t you say it was done? How did such a living person come?”
“It’s my negligence.” Eunuch Li did not dare to push the blame.
There was no point in pursuing Eunuch Li’s crime now. It was imperative to quickly overcome the current difficulties.
The Empress’s eyes flashed and she said, “You lied that you were uncomfortable and there’s a high chance that you were also infected with smallpox. You asked me to isolate you and not send anyone to take care of you. So you were lying to me. You actually fled on your own! But since you escaped, why do you have the guts to come back? You probably colluded with someone and wanted to plot a rebellion, right?”
You’re the one conspiring to rebel! Shameless old witch!
It had to be said that the Empress had put on a good hat. Not only had she covered up her lie just now, but she had also classified Eunuch Wang as a “rebel”. Then, if he were to crusade against the Empress, he would have to consider if the ministers believed him.
“Hmph!” Eunuch Wnag rolled his eyes and did not argue with the Empress about the truth of him leaving the palace. Whether it was an order or a lie about smallpox, it was not true. He had escaped from the palace with Consort Yun’s help. Consort Yun was his benefactor. At this time, he did not want to implicate his benefactor.
Eunuch Wang weighed the imperial edict in his hand. “You can say whatever you want. Anyway, I’m here today to read an imperial edict to the ministers.”
“Why is there another imperial edict?”
“That’s right? His Majesty gave one to the Empress and also gave one to Eunuch Wang?”
The ministers began to whisper.
To be fair, the Empress and Eunuch Wang were both people the Emperor trusted very much. It was not strange for him to hand over the imperial edict to any of them. What was strange was that each of them was holding one in their hands. Looking at the two of them fighting, it was obvious that they had already fallen out.
The Empress looked at the imperial edict in Eunuch Wang’s hand and her eyes turned cold.
The censor went forward with the ritual plaque and said, “Since there are two imperial edicts, why don’t Your Majesty and Eunuch Wang each announce the contents of the two imperial edicts?”
The Empress nodded at Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li finished reading the half-read imperial edict. The general meaning was that the Emperor was seriously ill and could not be cured. He appointed Nangong Li as the new Emperor, himself as the Emperor Emeritus, and the Empress, Madam Wei, as the Empress Dowager.
“Ha!” After Eunuch Wang heard this, he looked up at the sky and laughed. “There’s a regent queen in Nanzhao, but I’ve never heard of the regent empress dowager. You evil woman, you have a big appetite. Do you still want to control the court?”
Eunuch Li said seriously, “Eunuch Wang! You can’t be disrespectful to the Empress!”
Eunuch Wang rolled his eyes!
The censor turned to look at Eunuch Wang. “Then, may I ask Eunuch Wang, what imperial edict are you holding?”
The imperial edict was raised high. “The one in my hand… is the decree to depose the Empress!”
The Empress staggered!
Eunuch Li supported her in time and reminded her in a low voice, “Your Majesty!”
The ministers were dumbfounded one after another. Did they forget to flip the almanac when they went out today? Why was there such a storm in the court? The Emperor actually wanted to depose the Empress? Depose the Empress that he had doted on for his entire life?
How, how was this possible?
Everyone looked at the Empress.
The Empress said indignantly, “Everyone, don’t believe him! I have a deep relationship with His Majesty. How can His Majesty depose me? Wang Dequan must have colluded with someone to scheme against me! Wang Dequan! Tell me honestly, who instructed you to frame me?”
