On New Year’s Day of this year, years later, the residents of the Capital City were still reluctant to mention that day.

That day, which was supposed to mark the beginning of the year, according to tradition, no matter how unhappy or unpleasant things were, they must be glossed over and forgotten, to ensure a smooth year ahead.

But starting in the afternoon, the Capital City, which should have been filled with festive atmosphere, suddenly turned grim.

The city gates swung open, and a squad of cavalry emerged from the Palace, heading straight out of the Capital City.

Then, the Imperial Guards along with officers under the command of the nine gates pounced on several major households like wolves, including the Duke’s Mansion and the General Mansion.

Furthermore, government officials, beating gongs and drums, proclaimed along the streets that someone had attempted to exploit the New Year’s Day spring banquet and the Ninth Prince’s one-year-old banquet, when defenses in the palace were lax, to harm His Majesty. Fortunately, His Majesty was protected by the heavens and exposed the conspiracy of the subversive faction.

Now the masterminds have been captured, although remnants are still hiding in the city. From today, a curfew is imposed in the Capital City; once darkness falls, residents are forbidden to roam the streets. The Lantern Festival’s lantern viewing on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is also canceled.

Furthermore, if local residents discover suspicious people, they should report immediately to the yamen and can receive ten taels of patterned silver.

At this point, the residents understood perfectly. Instantly, the festive atmosphere in the Capital City vanished, and everyone huddled at home, not daring to step outside, fearing that they might be apprehended as suspicious persons.

No one dared to visit each other for New Year’s greetings anymore, nor buy or sell everyday items.

Fortunately, as everyone had stocked up on enough New Year’s supplies, it wasn’t too disruptive at the moment.

For those items that are hard to find, life is more important, so they endure it.

Not to mention them, even those major households, the Duke and Marquis families, kept their doors tightly shut.

In the evening, the residents in the Capital City heard great commotion on the main streets outside, sounds of footsteps, horses whinnying, dogs barking, and faint cries.

Suddenly, everyone was on edge; if a child was woken and cried, adults would quickly cover their mouths. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

On the second day at sunrise, someone cautiously opened their door to see soldiers moving back and forth with full gear. At every major intersection in the alleys, soldiers were stationed, faces grim, armed with gleaming blades, creating a terrifying sight.

Occasionally, soldiers escorted weary men and women, crying for their parents or shouting for justice, down the streets. Their clothing was stripped to thin inner garments, trembling in the cold.

Their destination was the jail in the Court of Judicial Review, and it was said that in just a day or two, the place would be full.

They had to clear out the City God Temple outside the city to imprison the female prisoners.

Moreover, these official servants, in recent days, have been taking over families and leading to the demise of many bureaucratic households. The servants of these families, along with those female members with minor misdemeanors and underage males, were made official servants.

Many who were once the pride of heaven, daughters and sons of noble families, had fallen from grace, tumbling into the mire.

Still, several families that contributed significantly to guarding the Emperor have yet to receive recognition. Once these matters are settled, everyone anticipates the Emperor’s rewards; when that happens, these families will be highly sought after.

The palace underwent a thorough cleaning.

Consort Xian was directly sentenced to drink poisoned wine. Upon awakening, she resisted and was force-fed. She died spewing blood, cursing the Emperor and Empress.

The Emperor was infuriated, ordering her burial in a thin coffin at a pauper’s grave, denying her entry to the tomb of consorts.

Those concubines who depended on Consort Xian were stripped of their titles and sent to the Cold Palace, destined to linger there for life.

As for Consort Shu, she cleverly confessed, tearfully revealing Consort Xian’s plans and those involving the Crown Prince, absolving herself.

She also lamented the Emperor about their past relationship at the Residence of the Subversive, begging him to spare her life, and she was sent to the Cold Palace.

Those who sided with Consort Xian and Consort Shu ended up in the Cold Palace. Other concubines, though not affiliated, were preoccupied with their lives during the birthday banquet, indifferent to the Emperor’s wellbeing.

This incited the Emperor’s discontent, and he was about to reprimand them, but the Empress Dowager and Empress persuaded him otherwise.

Still, their palaces underwent a purge, with attendants dismissed for alleged faults and replaced with the Emperor’s people.

In the Ministry of Punishment, the cries were endless day and night, with people entering on their feet and exiting on their backs.

The scent of blood pervaded so strongly that no one dared approach within a hundred meters.

Inside Changchun Palace.

The Empress didn’t hide her weariness; the palace was entangled with various affairs, needing a purge, while her people discreetly occupied crucial spots.

Although many concubines were sent to the Cold Palace, preparations had to be made.

Not only was she busy, running around without rest, but also her attendants Huai Cai, Xiaoluzi, along with Palace Maids Hong Fei, Lv Cui, and Bai Su, barely had time to drink tea.

Currently, those concubines hostile to the Empress were either dead or disempowered, and those left couldn’t stir up trouble.

Her loyal aides felt elated for their mistress, now secure in her position within the palace.

Even though they were exhausted, sleeping under two or three hours each night, smiles adorned their faces as they busied themselves joyfully.

Only the Empress, after concluding her daytime duties, struggled to sleep through the night, needing to hold the Ninth Prince to feel somewhat at ease.

Hong Fei and Lv Cui, sensing her heartache, tried to comfort her, but the Empress merely agreed verbally, growing wearier by the day.

Others didn’t know that she couldn’t sleep each night.

Reflecting on that day she was forced to choose the Emperor over the Ninth Prince, she felt both anger and relief, torn by conflicting emotions.

She resented the Emperor, for willing to sacrifice anything to achieve his goals, even carrying out the plan belatedly, pressuring Consort Xian to act desperately against her child.

Though aware of the Emperor’s safety, she knew too well the consequence of not choosing the Emperor, possibly landing herself in the Cold Palace.

Yet, thinking of her sole flesh and blood, the Ninth Prince, nearly harmed by that despicable Consort Xian, she was filled with hatred.

But she couldn’t show it; at present, she had to delight in the upcoming honors bestowed by the Emperor.

Though aware, she involuntarily chilled and feared.

Luckily, with determined resolve, she eventually came to her senses.

Now she stood among the victors; as long as she didn’t make major mistakes, she would remain the best Empress in the Emperor’s eyes.

If she showed any resentment now, her past hardships and grievances would have been in vain.

She wouldn’t easily relinquish the position she’d fought to attain.

She wasn’t alone; behind her stood her child, loyal attendants, whom she must protect.

Currently, she was determined to secure that position!

In this world, be it Empress or Prince, although seemingly noble and high, in front of the Emperor, a single word could toss you from clouds into the mud, leaving no room for defiance.

If one truly wants to live freely, mastering one’s own fate requires standing at the highest point!

For her little Ninth Prince, she swore, this would be the last time he was abandoned. In the future, they would cast others aside, never again placing mother and son in today’s predicament.