Empress Dowager Tian let out a deep sigh. “Emperor, you know well how difficult it has been for the Tian family to continue its bloodline. Over the years, our legitimate branch has dwindled in number, and so… they inevitably became overly indulgent with Baoci, who survived against the odds.”
Censor Tie immediately snorted coldly, without the slightest hesitation: “Overly indulgent? This isn’t indulgence—this is inhuman! If he was truly a precious child, they should have taught him proper principles—not indulged his every whim, not turned a blind eye to everything he did!”
Children are reflections of adults.
What do children really understand?
They learn what they’re taught.
And now the Empress Dowager said they’d been “a bit indulgent”? Censor Tie couldn’t accept that.
He declared, his voice echoing off the stone floor: “Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, do you dare take a walk outside? Go visit the dog pit in the suburbs! Look at the parents who lost their children! Look at the commoners who lost their loved ones!”
Empress Dowager Tian narrowed her eyes deeply.
She turned to Emperor Yongchang, choking with emotion: “Emperor, when you first returned to the capital, when you were obstructed at Donghua Gate and nearly couldn’t even enter the city— It was Tian Bozhi who defied public opinion and pressure to welcome you back. Do you remember that?”
Now she was bringing up past favors.
Censor Tie opened his mouth to speak, but Emperor Yongchang nodded first: “Yes. I remember.”
After a brief pause, he continued: “All these years, I’ve shown the Tian family nothing but kindness. Never have they been shortchanged. Royal Mother, I truly believe I’ve repaid any debt to the Tian family.”
The officials were all feeling conflicted.
The rights and wrongs of this situation were crystal clear.
Ultimately, the Tian family was at fault.
But the problem was—the Tian family’s backing was the Empress Dowager.
Now it felt like they were being forced to witness the emperor falling out with his own “mother.”
And if that happened—what would become of those of them who had witnessed these inner-court affairs?
Everyone felt a chill of misfortune settle in their hearts.
Emperor Yongchang sighed: “Royal Mother, please rise. I… I must see the Tian family held accountable!”
Censor Tie breathed a sigh of relief.
That’s more like it.
He had feared Emperor Yongchang would grow soft—but thankfully, the emperor still knew right from wrong.
As he was thinking this, the Empress Dowager suddenly prostrated herself, performing a deep, ceremonial kowtow.
Even though Emperor Yongchang was the Son of Heaven, he couldn’t possibly accept such a gesture!
This was a violation of filial order!
He immediately knelt as well: “Royal Mother!”
The Empress Dowager spoke solemnly: “Emperor, I am not here to plead for mercy. I am not here to excuse the Tian family!”
What?
Everyone was stunned. They looked at her in confusion.
You came here, knelt barefoot, stripped your hairpins—you’re not here to beg or explain? Then what are you here for?!
Even Censor Tie was full of suspicion.
But Xiao Jingzhao’s eyes flickered. He had a sudden thought.
The Empress Dowager stared directly at Emperor Yongchang: “Emperor, I am here to confess my guilt! I have enjoyed the highest status in the land, the veneration of the emperor—yet my own family has committed such atrocities. I am deeply ashamed. I dare not ask for leniency!”
The hall fell into utter silence.
No one expected this. Not only was the Empress Dowager not defending her family—she was pleading guilty herself.
What did this mean?
It didn’t make sense!
Xiao Jingzhao’s gaze grew deep and thoughtful.
Now he understood.
No wonder, after the previous emperor died childless, this Empress Dowager had managed to hold her ground and support Emperor Yongchang’s rise to the throne.
She was no ordinary woman.
Her decisiveness—this willingness to cut off her own tail to survive—surpassed that of countless others.
He couldn’t help but draw in a breath and decided to hold his tongue from now on.
He had originally planned to wipe out the Tian family completely through this incident. Even the Empress Dowager would ideally be confined to a Buddhist hall for life, never again to appear in court.
At most, she’d show her face at major festivals or royal weddings for ceremonial appearances.
But now?
That clearly wasn’t going to happen.
The Empress Dowager’s schemes ran far deeper than anyone thought.
Emperor Yongchang hadn’t expected her to say such things either. He quickly stepped forward to help her up.
But she shook her head coldly: “Emperor, I have lived deep within the palace, and everything I knew came from what the Tian family wanted me to know. So I always thought Baoci was a frail, well-behaved child. I believed the Tian family was loyally serving you.”
She was furious now: “Who would have thought they were so depraved?! For this alone, they deserved death!”
Emperor Yongchang eventually did help her stand.
In front of all the civil and military officials, for the Empress Dowager to say this much— It was already an act of complete solidarity with him.
If he continued pressing her too hard, he would lose moral ground.
He sighed: “You’re right, Royal Mother. You’ve long lived in seclusion—how could you know what happens outside the palace walls? Even I, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard at my disposal, had no idea about this.”
The mood finally eased.
Censor Tie, who had stormed in full of rage and had been ready to tear the Empress Dowager apart with words, was surprised to see she actually understood justice.
To press further now would be inappropriate.
So he simply stood aside.
Emperor Yongchang sighed again: “Royal Mother, both Tian Bozhi and Tian Baoci are already dead. When the truth about the dog pit came out, chaos broke out—crowds pursued Tian Bozhi’s carriage until it fell off a cliff. He died from the fall.”
“Too easy a death!” Empress Dowager Tian sneered coldly. “He betrayed Your Majesty’s trust and wronged the people—he should have been dismembered by five horses or executed by slow slicing!”
After a pause, she slowly exhaled: “Emperor, don’t worry about me. Investigate the Tian family as thoroughly as needed—find out who else was involved, who else knew, and punish them to the fullest extent! I will not interfere!”
What a just and wise Empress Dowager!
Even the officials couldn’t help but feel admiration.
They all knelt down and praised her as wise and fair.
Emperor Yongchang was deeply moved. “Royal Mother, with you saying this, I can rest assured. Don’t worry—I will get to the bottom of this and give justice to the people.”
Empress Dowager Tian nodded solemnly, then added: “I still have one more matter to ask your opinion on.”
Emperor Yongchang, now full of gratitude, immediately said: “Please speak, Royal Mother.”
She looked a little anxious, even hesitant: “You know I’ve raised Jinglan by my side since she was a child… Now that the Tian family is involved in this case—should she also be sent out of the palace for questioning?”
Censor Tie took a while to recall who Tian Jinglan was.
Tian Baoci’s younger sister.
She had a gentle personality and had always been loved by the Empress Dowager, who took her into the palace. It was said the Empress Dowager suffered from severe insomnia and could only sleep when she heard Tian Jinglan recite Buddhist scriptures.
So that was it.
Emperor Yongchang felt relieved and quickly said: “Royal Mother, surely you jest. She’s been in the palace since childhood—she has nothing to do with the Tian family’s crimes.”
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