The Imperial Palace was in turmoil today.
Almost every official in the Capital City, large and small, had been summoned by the Empress to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The three noble families she singled out were all being liquidated.
Because this matter was simply too huge—the fact that three noble families had made a deadly move against Shen Yu was indisputable.
If they had succeeded in taking out Shen Yu, that would be one thing…
But two Fenglin Guards, plus two veteran assassins, had actually been killed by a little girl who couldn’t even truss a chicken.
Shen Yu hadn’t died, so the noble families’ troubles were about to come pouring in.
Everyone in the Imperial Court was trembling in fear.
The Empress delivered her final ultimatum: the three noble families—the Li Clan of Shenguan, the Cui Clan of Yanghe, and the Wu Clan of Guangling—their core members were all liquidated.
Extermination of Three Generations.
The female dependents of the families would be reduced to Jianji and sent to the Entertainment Bureau, to serve as a warning to others.
As for those who had interacted with them, regardless of status, if their hands weren’t clean, they had three days to tidy up, or else they shouldn’t blame the Fenglin Guards’ blades for not having eyes.
All the scholar-officials, merchants, and even court officials who had risen by relying on these noble families were implicated.
It could be said that anyone who had any connection to these three noble families was more or less purged.
As for why it was Extermination of Three Generations and not Execution of Nine Generations, it was mainly because the Empress’s Imperial Power wasn’t that strong yet.
When Imperial Power was strong, let alone nine generations, even ten generations was something the Emperor could order with a single sentence.
But that was something only a founding emperor, a restoring emperor, or a Son of Heaven who stepped up when the dynasty was on the verge of collapse could achieve.
This represented a high degree of control over Imperial Power, and the Empress was clearly not that kind of monarch.
The effect of Execution of Nine Generations was mostly to vent anger.
Being able to do Extermination of Three Generations was already enough to uproot the noble families’ foundations.
The remaining branch lines would be appeased and absorbed by the Emperor’s forces, eventually becoming the royal family’s possessions.
The Empress sat on the dragon throne, listening to the eunuch beside her read out the Imperial Decree she had long prepared.
Watching the civil and military officials below, their faces ashen as death, kneeling on the ground not daring to raise their heads, the Empress felt this was the most exhilarating moment since she had become Emperor.
In the past, those ministers below… especially the civil officials, had any of them ever looked up to this female Emperor?
Those cunning old foxes, saying one thing to your face and another behind your back.
The tables had turned!
Eunuch Li finished reading the Imperial Decree.
The assembled officials below the Hall of Supreme Harmony shouted “Long live” in unison, not a single person daring to object.
Since the first year of Wangshu, this moment was the pinnacle of the Empress’s Imperial Power.
Not only had Imperial Power reached its peak, but Popular Sentiment had also completely swung toward the Emperor for the first time.
Because Yinqiu’s brave act of striking the Appeal Drum had already spread throughout the entire Capital City.
Now everyone in the Capital City knew that Shen Yu had been attacked.
That kind-hearted Imperial Physician Shen had been seen as a thorn in the noble families’ sides, something they wanted to remove.
Only because she sought the people’s welfare…
Popular outrage was stirred up, the matter was pushed into the open, and there was no way to back down.
Having developed to this point, it was no longer something any faction could control.
In the Imperial Court, among the noble families, there was only rapid severing of ties and mutual accusation.
Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the autumn rain pattered down.
The weather was getting colder, but the Empress’s mood was incomparably hot and restless.
As soon as court was dismissed, she hurried to the Hall of Nurturing the Heart to check on Shen Yu’s condition.
At that moment, Shen Yu was reading the Medical Manual with Yinqiu.
Seeing the Empress enter, Shen Yu, who was about to pop a sweet and refreshing Imperial Melon into her mouth, instinctively stopped her movements.
Shen Yu was about to go back to bed and continue pretending to be sick, but the Empress waved her hand to stop her.
“Beloved Physician need not do that. These are all our people. You and I both know clearly in our hearts. Shen Minister did a splendid job this time. Speak—what reward do you desire? We will grant anything!”
The Empress now looked at Shen Yu the way a money-grubber looks at the God of Wealth, the way Hachimi looks at red beans, the way Xiao Biao looks at a naked Shen Yu—the more she looked, the more she liked her.
If not for her status as Empress, she would have loved to rush over and plant a big kiss on Shen Yu.
“Your Majesty, what has this humble minister done? This humble minister doesn’t know what she’s done.”
Faced with the Empress’s enthusiasm, Shen Yu played dumb.
She absolutely must not admit it at this time!
Although both parties knew it in their hearts, as long as the window paper wasn’t pierced, there was still room to negotiate in many matters.
If Shen Yu actually went along with it and admitted it, that would be the real death sentence.
The Emperor had taken down the noble families, and three of them in one go.
Handing over the noble families’ resources to the Emperor for reorganization and redistribution was without a doubt a breath of fresh air for this stagnating Empire.
But the move was indeed too big.
Shen Yu couldn’t bear that responsibility.
If Shen Yu didn’t admit it, then she was just an insignificant pawn, a victim.
This matter was for her a coincidence of coincidences—she hadn’t used any schemes at all.
This way, both sides got what they needed, and she could still muddle along, eating and drinking well.
But if she eagerly went to the Emperor to claim credit and rewards, then she was done for.
That was equivalent to telling the Emperor outright, “I planned this. I’m the mastermind, I did the most work. We ganged up to take down three noble families with dirty tricks.”
It was also indirectly telling the Emperor, “I hold a handle on you, Your Majesty. You’d better be careful, because you wouldn’t want…”
To an Emperor, this was undoubtedly a challenge to her authority.
If you were still useful, she would keep you around for a while.
If you completely lost your value… then your death was near.
“Your Majesty, this humble minister still feels a bit unwell. This humble minister needs to continue resting.”
“Has Your Majesty come to see your subject because there is some discomfort that needs your subject’s care?”
Shen Yu actively changing the subject made the Empress’s expression freeze for a moment, then she seemed to understand something and smiled knowingly.
“Since that’s the case, then Beloved Physician shall rest properly here in the Hall of Nurturing the Heart. We will have some servants attend to you. Staying for a few more days won’t hurt.”
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s favor.”
Shen Yu quickly refused.
She dared not stay long in the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.
This was, after all, the Empress’s favorite place to be.
Even officials from the Grand Secretariat and Six Ministries at most met the Empress in the outer hall, separated by a screen.
Shen Yu sleeping in this Hall of Nurturing the Heart for one night was already a breach of protocol.
But considering the special circumstances and to protect Shen Yu, it was fine to house her in the Hall of Nurturing the Heart for a night.
However, if Shen Yu shamelessly continued to stay, that would be a problem.
If those Censors caught wind of it, they would likely roast Shen Yu to a crisp.
This huge Imperial Palace was full of scheming minds.
It was just as the old saying went—even the palace maids sweeping the floors in the Imperial Palace had eight hundred schemes each.
“There are many matters at Huimin Hall awaiting your subject’s attention. Your subject is still young, healthy, and has recovered well now… Plus, the Vaccine Promotion cannot be delayed. Your subject feels it would be more convenient to return to the courtyard at Huimin Hall.”
Since Shen Yu had said this much, what more could the Empress say?
Naturally, she gave what rewards were due, painted the necessary pies, and fed Shen Yu a whole bunch of them—promising everything but taking out nothing substantial.
Shen Yu felt she didn’t even need to eat anymore; this round of empty pies would keep her full.
“Minister Shen, have you ever heard of the Cui Clan of Yanghe?”
Unbeknownst to her, the injured Shen Yu and the Empress had swapped positions.
Shen Yu, who should have been resting in bed, was now kneeling on the floor.
The Empress, on the other hand, was lying sideways on the bed Shen Yu had occupied.
Her dainty embroidered shoes were tossed aside, and her jade-like, slender feet with bright red toenails rested against the edge of the bed, swaying slightly—quite eye-catching.
“I know them. I recall they have a pretty big medicinal herbs business, right?”
Shen Yu nodded.
In Huimin Hall, Shen Fu had found many old ledger books showing that Huimin Hall had very close dealings with the medicine merchants under the Cui Clan of Yanghe.
It could be said that over 90% of the Capital City’s medicinal herb business was monopolized by the Cui Clan of Yanghe.
“That’s right. The Cui Clan of Yanghe’s ancestor, Cui Yuan, was once a famous Imperial Physician in the palace. He treated several Previous Emperors and never failed. After retiring, he returned to his hometown of Yanghe to live for a long time. The Previous Emperor, remembering his contributions, specially bestowed countless gold, silver, and jewels upon him, promoted him, and granted his descendants Hereditary Privilege.”
“Later, the Cui family grew stronger and, after several generations of development, became the noble family known as the Cui Clan of Yanghe. Their medicinal herbs, pharmacies, and medical clinics spread throughout the nation.”
The Empress went on and on, telling Shen Yu all about the Cui Clan of Yanghe—mostly about how amazing their medical knowledge and pharmacy skills were, ranking among the best in the entire Empire.
But Shen Yu had already stopped listening.
Her mind was elsewhere…
She had been kneeling too long; her legs were going numb.