The Little Consort's
Eps. 94: Punishment for the Wicked

The Joker says that bad people are born from good people who are hurt. That phrase may only apply to some people. In fact, most criminals exist because of their birth defects. In other words, those who are evil are mostly born into evil without having to be hurt first.

The former Grand Prince, Long Ji Yu, was sentenced to death for all his evil deeds. In addition to betraying and planning to kill the king and having an affair with his empress, Long Ji Yu's crimes were revealed one by one by the Bureau of Investigation of the Palace. Long Ji Yu's source of crime information came from family accounts, records and books, as well as some people who claimed to be allies and surrendered themselves voluntarily.

He will be executed at the end of the autumn in the square of Kotaraja, witnessed by everyone. His family, especially women, were stripped of their royal family status and became commoners. Not only that, some members of his family who proved to be conniving and contributed in the struggle for the throne were changed to slave status. Innocent servants are freed, and those who are guilty are made slaves and will never be freed. In addition, Long Ji Yu's family was also expelled from the capital to a small island often used to punish heavyweight criminals and must not return to the capital for life.

All his descendants were forbidden to become officials. It was a light punishment given by His Majesty the King considering that Long Ji Yu had contributed a lot to the stability of the Dongling Kingdom government regardless of all the crimes he committed. If not for merit, the entire family of the former Grand Prince was already dead executed without rest.

The sentence for former Empress Jin, Han Jinxi has also been decided. Based on the consideration of the royal family and all officials, Han Jinxi was found guilty of adultery and attempted murder of the Royal Empress. He was demoted to commoner status and the baby in his womb would be handed over to the orphanage as a commoner's son with no status. Due to not involving the family, Han Jinxi served her sentence alone.

Han Jinxi was also exiled to the same island as a member of the Long Ji Yu family and was forbidden to return to the capital. Records of his identity were destroyed without rest. He'll be a lost outcast with no identity.

That's the punishment they deserve for criminals of their class. Under the laws of the Dongling Royal Family, they should all be executed up to seven derivatives. However, since His Majesty the King and Empress Dowager Han Yuemei were reconsidering by looking at their merits and roles, a little pardon could be granted. With such punishment, neither Han Jinxi nor Long Ji Yu's family would be able to do anything much less get revenge. Their lives will suffer greatly.

The minions who supported and took part in Long Ji Yu's crimes have also been exposed. Most of them were high-ranking officials who often crossed paths and had disagreements with Long Ji Man. They were sentenced to exile and imprisonment, assets were confiscated, residences were sealed, and the whole family became commoners. Their records of achievement were also deleted and destroyed.

On top of his regal seat, Long Ji Man affixed a royal seal to a decree authorizing punishments for criminals. With the establishment of the sacred seal, the official punishment was carried out. On that very day, those convicted in exile were immediately dispatched and expelled from the capital.

Officials no longer interrupt. They realized that their king's actions were correct. All this time they were too blind to look at someone from only one side. As a result, they not only often opposed the king, but also dropped each other until the king was often upset and angry.

After putting the stamp and the decree had been given, Long Ji Man was about to finish the meeting at Taiji Palace. However, the Minister of Economy suddenly begged for a moment to give an opinion. Long Ji Man paused his intentions, then again sat down on his grand throne.

“What are you going to say?” long Ji Man asked with his distinctive heavy voice.

“Your Majesty, now the position of the Empress is vacant. Does Your Majesty not wish to consider elevating the new Empress?”

“You mean?”

“Your Highness, criminals are already punished. Now, the Empress' position is vacant. Servants are worried that local officials will question the matter. Moreover, Her Majesty never raised a Queen. If even an Empress does not exist, how do we calm the hearts of the people?”

Long Ji Man massaged his temple. The affairs of Han Jinxi and Long Ji Yu alone had made his head ache for weeks. This official instead asked her to think about the appointment of a new empress. The old empress had just been demoted and had just been sent to the island of exile, how could she think about the new empress?

Although the political situation is fairly stable, but the condition of the people who are still shaken due to the internal conflict of the royal family involving the Grand Empress and the Grand Prince. If he now raised a new empress, besides being very troublesome, Long Ji Man also did not know which woman deserved to be appointed as the Empress of Dongling Kingdom. He doesn't want to be rash. Long Ji Man did not want any second, third, fourth, Han Jinxi, and so on.

The meeting that day ended without a definitive decision. Long Ji Man did not say anything and he directly left Taiji Palace, leaving his officials wondering why their king behaved like that. He had more important business than thinking about the appointment of a new empress.

The man returned to Hongwu Palace. On her bed, a woman was lying weakly with her eyes closed. Since the day of the war, Li Anlan had never opened his eyes again. The woman was unconscious for days. Tao Zhun said, his body condition is very weak and his soul may be in another world. The fierce battle the other day might have caused a great shock within the Nobles Empress.

Holding Li Anlan's hand, Long Ji Man recalled the time when he experienced an assault after a trip from the orphanage. After that day, Li Anlan was moody and refused to meet anyone.

The woman was frightened because her soft hands had killed many bad people. Now, the woman must have drowned in the same greater fear, because of which she witnessed not only eleven twelve people, but dozens of people. Any woman would definitely be shaken when she saw a violent scene that was not worth showing.

“Huang An, are you scared?” ask Long Ji Man.

“You must be very surprised. I want to apologize for involving you. Huang An, as long as you are aware, I promise I will not put you in danger again.”

He kissed Li Anlan's forehead gently. Long Ji Man promised not to get Li Anlan involved in the fight again. The woman had already experienced enough danger and her life was often on the verge of death. Long Ji Man couldn't bear to watch the only woman whose heart made him suffer.

“Man’er,” call a woman. Long Ji Man turned to the origin of the voice. Empress Dowager Han Yuemei walked in from the main door accompanied by her personal servant.

“Delayed.”

“But.”

“There's something I have to tell you.”

Empress Dowager Han Yuemei brought her son to the main room of Hongwu Palace. After positioning herself comfortably in a soft chair, Empress Dowager Han Yuemei sighed for a moment. He controlled his breath and voice. When he was calm, he began to talk,

“What is your office asking you to appoint a new Empress?”

Long Ji Man was a bit surprised. Why is the news spreading faster?

“Mothers have heard it?”

“As the leader of the Harem Palace, I certainly know. In my opinion, the advice of the Minister of Economy can be accepted.”

“Means Mother?”

“Man’er, I'm old. My age is not young. I need someone who can help me take care of the palace lady. Lifting a new Empress is not a bad thing.”

“But, it's only about a matter of time and will only be replaced with others.”

“Why don't you consider Mrs Li Huang An?”

“Huang An? Did you mean Mother, Grand Empress?”

Suri Han Yuemei nodded.

“But, she's a Noble Empress. His position is very special and very special. The position of the Grand Empress was more suitable for him. Mother also knew for sure, Huang An had never been interested in harem affairs. He hates many palace women and has already gotten rid of those who bother him.”

“Hakatannya, she remains a woman. She's your wife, your concubine, your partner. Her responsibility is not only limited to her role as a subordinate who bears the status of Grand Empress, but also the duty of a wife who helps her husband.”

Long Ji Man looked weighed. If Li Anlan was appointed Grand Empress, then the status of her Royal Consort would be revoked. The woman does not like to be forced. If she suddenly became the Grand Empress, how angry and upset she was when that time came.

Appointing her to the Royal Consort alone would have to be by agreement, let alone becoming the Grand Empress.

“We must not revoke her status as Grand Empress. I'm sure, he can play that role well.”

“Then what about my remaining concubines? Huang An really dislikes them.”

“We're looking at his health development. You can ask her opinion on those women.”

Although Empress Dowager Han Yuemei was a Harem Palace leader, but she was not narrow-minded. She knew her daughter-in-law didn't like it if her husband had multiple wives. His thinking led to the emancipation and abolition of the hierarchy of court laws and the equality of women. In the opinion of Empress Dowager Han Yuemei, there are many ways to strengthen the government without having a marriage bond that is nothing but a form of hostage-taking. He learned a lot from his son-in-law. Li Anlan is a free female figure.

What they had to do now was wait for the woman to regain consciousness. The issue of the appointment of a new Empress cannot be decided only from one party. Long Ji Man needed Li Anlan's purpose which might affect his life in the future.

“Huang An, I hope you can open your eyes soon.”

...***...