Since she dared to speak carelessly, she naturally had to bear the consequences. The lady had scalding saltwater poured all over her face, but was pitifully unable to even cry out.
"Pour the water into her mouth," Yu Jingchen thought of something and immediately acted, finding it rather amusing.
Scalding saltwater was forcibly poured into her mouth. The woman was no longer recognizable, but the punishment did not stop. According to Yu Jingchen's earlier order, her hand bones were to be broken.
The guards held her hand down on the ground. The implements in their hands struck her hand, turning it red, then bruised, and finally blood splattered. Yu Jingchen watched the scene below, his expression unchanged.
Everyone watched as the woman's hand was mangled, her bones shattered, until the execution rod broke. Only then did the torture conclude.
After the torture ended, the woman was barely clinging to life.
"Speaking carelessly is punishable by death, intentionally speaking carelessly is even more so. To use such methods against the Empress means you court death," Yu Jingchen said in a low voice.
"Someone bring her forth. This person plotted to harm the Empress, a crime unforgivable. Drag her out and behead her in the marketplace for all to see. The members of the Su family are to be exiled to the borderlands, never to return to the capital. All descendants of the Su family shall be barred from officialdom for all generations." Yu Jingchen decreed. The woman was, in fact, the wife of Minister Su of the Ministry of Rites.
"Cai Nu Jing (Yu Yan), for colluding with court ladies to plot against the Empress and for her wicked heart, she is bestowed a silk noose," Yu Jingchen issued another imperial decree, directly sentencing Yu Yan to death.
By this point, everyone had already understood. The woman from earlier... was likely connected to Yu Yan, which was why Yu Jingchen had flown into such a rage.
After resolving matters here, Yu Jingchen recalled what the imperial physician had said earlier: "Go and find physicians of high reputation in the common folk. Investigate their backgrounds thoroughly and bring them to see Yun'er to determine if there are other methods. Also, investigate the imperial physician who examined Yun'er today." Yu Jingchen was not overly suspicious, but given that this matter concerned Nan Zhiyun, he had to proceed with caution.
"Yes," Xing Lai acknowledged.
Looking at Nan Zhiyun's condition today, Yu Jingchen found it difficult to cruelly insist on terminating the pregnancy. Moreover, how could he not look forward to this child?
"What is the situation with the Empress Dowager?" Yu Jingchen rubbed his temples. He had been quite exhausted these past few days.
"Lord Gu has been staying at Cining Palace these past few days, but he is not allowing anyone in, so the situation inside is unknown," Xing Lai reported.
"Inform me immediately of any news from that side, without concealment," Yu Jingchen also worried about the situation there.
"Yes," these were turbulent times, and he could only be more vigilant.
"Is there any news from Miao Yin?" Yu Jingchen asked. Recently, Miao Yin had become a significant concern.
"Your Majesty, this servant was just about to report this matter to you. Those stationed at Prince Yu's manor to monitor Young Master Jiang Yan have sent word that Young Master Jiang Yan met with the mysterious person from before in secret at Tianfu Tower," Xing Lai said, his expression becoming much more serious as he brought this up.
"It has been confirmed that the mysterious person is one of Miao Yin's people. They also overheard them discussing a token, though they do not seem to have found it. The secret guards reported... they also mentioned the Empress," Xing Lai said, lowering his head significantly by the end of this sentence. After all, when it concerned the Empress, no matter could be small.