Chapter 124: A Marriage Pending

Luo Wushuang watched as the Golden Guards dragged away the flea who had spent so long jumping between her and her sister. She stole a careful glance at Shangguan Liqian’s expression, and only when she saw no sign of distress did she truly relax.

Exhaling a breath of relief, Luo Wushuang let out a cold sneer and continued.

“As for Chancellor Shangguan Qingyun—for your failure to educate your children and your inability to distinguish right from wrong, you are hereby fined one year’s salary, demoted by three ranks, and confined to the Shangguan Manor.”

The members of the Shangguan family felt as if they had been struck by lightning, collapsing to the ground one after another.

Their big sister’s actions today had brought them nothing but shame; if she was dead, she was dead. But now that their father was being punished, their days of luxury were likely at an end.

Shangguan Qingyun’s face was the color of ash.

A year’s salary was a trifle, but a demotion of three ranks? Her Majesty was effectively stripping him of his position as Chancellor. The winds of the imperial court shifted in the blink of an eye; by the time his house arrest was lifted, there would be no place left for him.

Her Majesty was using this opportunity to seize his power!

Only now did Shangguan Qingyun realize why the Empress had so graciously allowed him into the palace today. She had been waiting for this very moment…

A chilling realization dawned on him: the Shangguan family, a legacy spanning centuries… might very well be destroyed by his hands.

It wasn’t just Shangguan Qingyun who knew it; even his former subordinates understood. The Shangguan family, who had followed the First Emperor to conquer the world and dominated the court for decades, was finished.

Just as Shangguan Qingyun thought it couldn’t get any worse…

Luo Wushuang’s voice rang out again, measured and calm. “Furthermore, Lord Shangguan must submit a ten-thousand-word letter of repentance within half a month, detailing his failure to govern his household and his lack of judgment. Once your confinement is lifted, you shall read it aloud in open court as a warning to all!”

“If anyone dares to plead for him…” Luo Wushuang’s sharp phoenix eyes swept through the crowd, her voice turning indifferent. “They shall share his punishment!”

The onlookers were stunned. Who would plead for him? Them?

Her Majesty was worrying too much. At this point, the Shangguan family was nothing but bad luck incarnate; nobody wanted to be anywhere near them.

“Her Majesty is wise!”

Accompanied by the cheers of the crowd, all eyes fell upon the slumped form of Shangguan Qingyun.

To be so old and not only lose his power, but to lose so much face as well. If they were in his shoes, they would have sooner dashed their brains out against a pillar.

Unfortunately, Shangguan Qingyun, who usually valued his reputation above all else, lacked such backbone.

Hearing that he had to write a letter of repentance and read it before the entire court, Shangguan Qingyun felt the blood rush to his head, nearly dying of shame on the spot.

However, as his gaze swept over the figure leaning close to the Empress, he forced himself to swallow the metallic tang of blood in his throat. He desperately tried to comfort himself—as long as this daughter still held the Empress’s favor, the Shangguan family might still have a chance to rise again.

Yet, his trembling body and shaking fingers betrayed his inner turmoil.

Shangguan Liqian hadn’t expected Luo Wushuang to add such a spiteful punishment. After a brief moment of surprise, she lowered her eyes to hide the mockery within them.

To make a man who valued face more than life itself read a public apology in court… to Shangguan Qingyun, that was likely a fate worse than death.

Feeling as though he were standing on the brink of the grave, Shangguan Qingyun clenched his fists tightly. “This subject… thanks Her Majesty for her profound grace,” he rasped, kowtowing.

Luo Wushuang nodded slightly. Her gaze shifted to the other members of the Shangguan family, who were either kneeling or paralyzed with fear. Her expression darkened. Just as she was about to speak, she felt a subtle tug on her wide sleeve.

Glancing sideways, she saw Shangguan Liqian secretly shaking her head.

Now was not the time to completely eradicate the Shangguan family. If they pushed any further, public sentiment might turn.

It was better to send a signal to the outside world that the Shangguan family still had a sliver of hope for a comeback.

In doing so, those who wished to ensure the family never rose again would naturally exert every effort to dig up their crimes.

As for the family members themselves, let them stay in their precious Shangguan Manor, dreaming of a restoration while watching their hopes crumble bit by bit. Let them sink into despair day by day.

When people are driven to total desperation, the malice in their hearts is fully unleashed. Their previous displays of fatherly love and brotherly devotion would soon become a farce.

They only needed to wait and enjoy the show as this “Shangguan Family” gladiator pit reached its final, frantic climax.

Having spent so much time together, Luo Wushuang understood Liqian’s meaning from a single look.

She immediately abandoned her aggressive stance, adopting a relatively peaceful tone. “As for the rest of the Shangguan family, you shall be confined to the manor alongside Lord Shangguan for the time being. Once the confinement is lifted, you may return to your respective duties.”

The other Shangguan children, who had expected to be dragged to the executioner’s block, breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Her Majesty was showing them mercy. Did that mean their father could eventually regain his rank? As long as he returned to the Chancellorship, the family would not fall.

It wasn’t just the children; even Shangguan Qingyun felt a spark of hope.

Conversely, the ministers vying for the position of Chancellor were dissatisfied with this leniency. They didn’t dare question the Empress to her face, so they would have to use their own methods to suppress the Shangguan family permanently.

With such a scandal having occurred, the Flower Viewing Banquet could not continue as planned.

After consulting the Prince of Baiyue, Luo Wushuang decreed that the second legitimate daughter of Prince Muyang would be his Princess Consort.

The second daughter of Prince Muyang was of exceptional beauty and possessed the refined bearing of a high-born lady; the Prince of Baiyue was quite satisfied.

He had little choice anyway. He had been reduced to entering a political marriage in a foreign land; he had no room to be picky.

Moreover, the Empress had granted him a private audience before the banquet. After learning of his precarious situation in Baiyue, she had promised to help him secure the throne.

He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, and the Empress certainly had her own designs, but thinking of his mother struggling on his behalf in that cutthroat palace back home, Baili Xuan could not afford to care about the cost.

No matter how bad his future situation was, it couldn’t be worse than his present.

As for the County Lady herself, she was also satisfied. Her family was in decline; even if she refused, she wouldn’t find a better match. The Prince of Baiyue held a noble status and was handsome to boot; in her mind, she was the one coming out ahead.

As for moving to a foreign land after the wedding, she suspected that with the Empress’s grand ambitions, Baili Xuan would likely never be allowed to return to Baiyue anyway. Even if she was wrong, she had the confidence to establish herself firmly in a foreign court.

Seeing that neither party was resistant, Luo Wushuang offered a few words of comfort before turning her gaze to the Princess of the Western Regions and Luo Yunjin. Just as she was hesitating whether to grant them a marriage decree as well…

Lou Yanhui startled, quickly pulling Luo Yunjin to their feet.

Luo Wushuang was somewhat speechless, but she granted the request nonetheless. If one wanted a horse to run, one had to be willing to give it grass.

However, as for when the actual weddings would take place, Luo Wushuang gave only two words:

“To be determined!”

Luo Wuyan, who already understood her Imperial Sister’s mind, rolled her eyes and went back to teasing the Little Fox in her lap.

What “to be determined”?

Imperial Sister just doesn’t want anyone else getting married before she does. How childish!