Chapter 58: Disfigured Palace Maid vs. Cold-blooded Emperor
Because of this incident, the good impression that the Queen Mother had finally developed towards Yu Yao plummeted to the freezing point. If it weren't for her, why would the Emperor want to disband the six palaces?
The Queen Mother felt that everything was Yu Yao's fault and didn't care that she was still in confinement after giving birth.

He brought his men to Yuexian Palace angrily, regardless of anyone present, and without showing any face, he just scolded Yu Yao.

There were vicious words like "a seductive woman who tempted her master," "a concubine who brought ruin to the country," "a beauty who brought disaster," and "a vixen," as if her crimes were too numerous to list.

Yu Yao was stunned by the Queen Mother's scolding. If someone didn't know, they would think she had done something extremely evil.

It was also at this time that she learned that Ye Beichen was going to disband the harem.

But she didn't hear any news, and Ye Beichen didn't mention it to her.

Qingtan Qingyu didn't tell her either.

Although she was a little angry at being scolded by the Queen Mother, she was happy in her heart.

Yu Yao said nothing and didn't retort. She just remained silent and let the Queen Mother scold her.

Anyway, no matter what she said, the Queen Mother would think she was quibbling.

In the eyes of others, even the Imperial Concubine was so scolded by the Empress Dowager that she dared not speak a word.

If I knew that I couldn’t cry during confinement, I would have cried.

Qingtan Qingyu was so heartbroken.

If the Empress Dowager has any dissatisfaction, she can go to the Emperor. Why is she scolding the Empress so harshly? The Empress is still in confinement after giving birth.

Ye Beichen found out soon and then went to the Cining Palace with a cold face.

Cining Palace!
"Emperor, I know you have always been a good emperor who works hard and loves the people. I also know about the matter of offspring. You seemed to not care before, but you were actually very worried. Now the world is peaceful, the country is prosperous and the people are safe, and the imperial concubine has given birth to a child for the emperor. I am so happy."

The Queen Mother looked at Ye Beichen, who had a cold expression on his face, and said, "If you want to make the Imperial Noble Consort the Queen, I have no objection, but if you want to disband the six palaces for her, I will never agree."

Ye Beichen listened to the Queen Mother's words with an expressionless face, and did not explain why the six palaces were to be dismissed.

Instead, he suddenly said, "Mother, I will send someone to take you to Mount Wutai for recuperation tomorrow. You should not interfere in the affairs of the palace."

The Queen Mother's face darkened, and her voice was so stern that it shook the eardrums, "Emperor, what do you mean by this? Are you going to drive me out of the palace too?"

This was an era when imperial power was supreme. The relationships between the ruler and his subjects, and between father and son, were important, and filial piety was also important.

As an emperor, you must fulfill your filial duties and set an example for the world.

The empress dowager said this in order to accuse the emperor of being unfilial.

Ye Beichen rubbed his brows with a headache and said helplessly: "Mother, Mount Wutai is quiet, the environment is good, and there is no shortage of people to serve. I think I will live more comfortably there."

He really thought so. He should just enjoy his retirement when he is old. Why should he care about so many things and worry about them?
It's a thankless job and it's annoying. Yao'er will also suffer as a result. It's better to send her away early.

Now that they've all left, it would be more convenient for him and Yao'er to live alone.

Ye Beichen thought very consciencelessly.

Seeing that the Queen Mother wanted to say something, he added: "As for the affairs in the palace, you don't have to worry. Yao'er will take care of it. If you miss Jingxuan and Nanyan, you can come back anytime to see them."

"Does the Emperor have to do this?"

The Queen Mother had a gloomy expression on her face. She looked deeply at her son who had become an extremely unfamiliar person in front of her and said angrily.

Ye Beichen pursed his lips and glanced at the Queen Mother calmly: "Mother, I have made up my mind."

"Good, good, good, you are really a good son of mine. For a woman, you actually sent me to Mount Wutai. That's really good of you."

The Queen Mother laughed in anger and pointed at Ye Beichen with trembling fingers. Her face looked extremely ugly and she was obviously very angry.

Ye Beichen curled the corner of his mouth, said nothing more, and left quickly.

On the second day, Ye Beichen sent people to send the Queen Mother to Mount Wutai.

All the civil and military officials in the court were shocked. Even the empress dowager could not persuade the emperor, and she was sent to Mount Wutai to retire.

This shows how determined the emperor is to dismiss the six palaces.

Ministers in groups of three or five were waiting at the gate of the Purple Palace to attend court.

"The Emperor is determined to disband the harem, and even the Queen Mother has been sent to Wutai. Do you think we should continue to stop him?"

"Disbanding the harem has never happened in the past dynasties. Since the Imperial Concubine can give birth to a child, then other concubines can also give birth to a child. For the future of the great cause, this old man will not agree to it."

Soon it was time to go to court.

Ye Beichen sat high on the dragon throne, his cold eyes slowly scanning the ministers in the hall. The majesty of the superior was so great that the ministers in the Zichen Hall dared not even breathe.

"I have made up my mind. My dear ministers, there is no need to say more. If any of you want to die for your remonstrance, the pillar is right there. Go ahead and hit it. I will not let anyone stop you."

He looked at the ministers in the hall with a smile, pointed at the big pillar with a golden dragon coiled around it and said.

The corners of the mouths of the civil and military officials in the court twitched. Since the emperor had even said this, how could they dare to step forward and make a desperate appeal? It was not like they were seeking death. The old minister who had said that he would not agree at the door of the Purple Palace did not dare to speak now.

They don't even dare to stand up.

It can be seen that he still doesn't want to die.

Ye Beichen's decision shocked all the concubines in the harem.

Some concubines neither wanted to go home nor to live out their retirement in the royal gardens. Either outcome would be bad for them.

If I return to my parents' home, I will definitely be despised.
Going to the royal gardens means living alone until the end of your life.

Although she would never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of her life, if she stayed in the palace, even if she was not favored, if she could have a son or a daughter, she would have someone to rely on for the rest of her life.

But the emperor had made up his mind, and the concubines in the harem had no choice but to leave even if they were unwilling.

Concubine Lin didn't want to go anywhere. Even if she died, she wanted to die in the palace.

Yongfu Palace!
At midnight, the fire was blazing and the flames shot up into the sky.

Princess Lin, wearing a phoenix crown and a shawl and holding a wine jug, admired the flames that were carried by the wind and devoured everything in the palace.

She went from being a lowly singing girl in Jiangnan to becoming Concubine Rou of Daye.

She was once so glorious, but in the end she was imprisoned in the deep palace and ended up being bullied by servants.

But even so tragically, she was still driven out by the man she loved.

Concubine Lin was completely desperate and didn't want to live any longer.

Let’s die. Let’s all burn together.

Looking at Caiyue struggling in the flames, and the two eunuchs who were rubbing her under their feet.

The smile on Lin Fei's face became more and more wanton and carefree.

The only regret is that I can’t see Chen Lang again.

Lin Fei closed her eyes tiredly, waiting for death to come.

Ye Beichen really didn't expect that Concubine Lin would be so resolute.

Although he hated Concubine Lin, she was still a woman he had once fallen in love with.

Seeing her so determined to burn down the palace and commit suicide, I was deeply shocked.

Then he hurriedly ordered the guards to rescue people.

Concubine Lin opened her eyes and looked at the man who finally appeared outside Yongfu Palace through the raging flames, her eyes blurred with tears.

"Chen Lang, it's my fault. I accidentally lost you and made you fall in love with someone else. I only hope that in the next life, we will never meet again."

The wine jug in Lin Fei's hand fell to the ground, and she looked at Ye Beichen reluctantly.

Then, with a determined look on his face, he threw himself into the raging flames.

She was humming a ballad, the same ballad she sang when she first met Ye Beichen in Jiangnan.

Ye Beichen stood outside Yongfu Palace, listening to the song sung by Concubine Lin, his eyes becoming more and more complicated.

Memories of the past reappeared in my mind.

At that time, she was pure, kind, fragile and beautiful, so beautiful that his heart was beating fast.

But later I found out that she was not as nice as I imagined, and could even be said to be vicious.

There was no difference between her and the women in the palace.

These thoughts only lasted for a moment, and Ye Beichen quickly came back to his senses.

Then he hurriedly ordered the guards to rescue people.

Yu Yao was listening to Qingtan's report in Yuexian Palace and was so angry that she wanted to curse.

If Concubine Lin wanted to die, she would die, but she chose to die in this way.

Isn't this intentional to make Ye Beichen remember and feel guilty?

The fire in Yongfu Palace was so big that the guards did not dare to rush in.

They could only put out the fire first. By the time they rushed in again, Concubine Lin had already been burned to death.

(End of this chapter)