The Second World in Ancient Times

Upon hearing that the Empress had been found and besieged by her subjects, I rushed to the scene without delay. I felt a mixture of anticipation for the rebellion's final end, yet also a mixture of curiosity and vigilance about the Empress's final struggle. My mind raced along the way, recalling my past entanglements with the Empress, knowing full well that today was the moment for a final reckoning.

When I arrived, I saw the queen surrounded by soldiers. Despite her desperate situation, she maintained her proud demeanor, attempting a final resistance. She wore a gorgeous phoenix robe and a dazzling phoenix crown. The pearls and jade on the crown trembled slightly with her excitement, as if trembling with her final struggle.

"Hmph, you traitors! How dare you surround me? Don't you know I'm the Empress, the master of this harem?" The Empress shouted at those around her, a hint of panic in her eyes. Her voice, though still sharp, had lost its former confidence, like a trapped beast, roaring its last.

I slowly walked into the encirclement, looked directly at the queen, and sneered: "Your Highness, you really won't cry until you see the coffin. Do you think your identity can protect you? Your conspiracy has long been exposed. The evidence of your conspiracy with the prince to rebel and usurp the throne is conclusive. Don't try to struggle anymore." I stood there, my posture upright and my eyes firm, in sharp contrast to the queen's panic.

The Queen turned her gaze towards me, full of resentment: "It's you, Concubine Yu! You must be the one behind this, ruining my good deeds!" Her eyes seemed to be able to shoot poisonous arrows, and she wished she could cut me into pieces immediately.

"Your Majesty, please don't wrongly accuse a good person. You and the prince secretly colluded with foreign officials and intended to rebel. This is a heinous crime you committed yourself. How can you blame me?" I responded calmly with a hint of sarcasm in my tone.

"What evidence do you have? It's just empty talk. Don't frame me!" The Queen retorted with forced composure. She raised her chin slightly, trying to maintain her last bit of dignity.

"Evidence? You want evidence, don't you? Then I'll tell you everything." I stepped forward and began to expose her crimes. "I've long since intercepted the letters you secretly exchanged with the foreign minister, Lord Li. They clearly outline your rebellious plans, including how you planned to attack the king during the hunting expedition and how you would control the court officials. Do you still want to quibble?" As I spoke, I pulled a forged letter from my sleeve and waved it in front of her. This letter was a meticulous replica of the intercepted original, just to panic her at this moment.

The queen's expression changed slightly, but she still said stubbornly: "Perhaps you forged that letter just to frame me." Her hands clenched unconsciously, and her nails dug deep into her palms.

"Forgery? Then do you know this eunuch named Xiao Fuzi?" I waved my hand, and a eunuch was brought up. Xiao Fuzi had already been frightened to the point of being pale and his legs weak.

Xiao Fuzi said tremblingly: "Empress, now that things have come to this, please don't struggle anymore. It was you who asked me to pass the message to Lord Li, and I have already confessed." His voice was filled with tears, and he didn't dare to look up at the queen.

The queen widened her eyes and pointed at Xiao Fuzi angrily: "You traitor, I treat you well on weekdays, how dare you betray me!" Her body trembled slightly, and the pearls and jade on the phoenix crown collided with each other, making a slight sound.

"Your Highness, what you call treating him well, is it that you let him participate in the rebellion? Not only did you collude with foreign officials, you also bribed assassins to want my life. Before the hunt, weren't those assassins who attempted to assassinate me many times but failed, all arranged by you?" I continued, staring at the queen, not missing any change in her expression.

"You are slandering me!" the Queen screamed. Her voice echoed in the air, sounding particularly harsh.

"Slander? Then let me ask you, what are you secretly hoarding weapons and provisions for in the palace? Is it just for fun? I already know where these weapons and provisions are hidden, and I have witnesses to prove it." I spoke sharply, not giving the queen any chance to breathe. My spies in the palace had already learned all this, and I was exposing it now, hoping to completely break her psychological defenses.

The queen's lips trembled slightly. She knew that the situation was hopeless, but she still refused to admit defeat: "So what if all this happened? I am the queen, and all this is for the future of this palace. His Majesty is old and incompetent, and it is in accordance with the will of heaven for the prince to succeed to the throne." She tried to use this last reason to excuse herself, but her eyes revealed despair.

"Your Majesty, this is treasonous! Your Majesty has diligently governed the country, yet you, driven by selfish desires, have fomented war and plunged the people into dire straits. Your actions are simply outrageous!" I righteously rebuked her. My voice was firm and powerful, echoing around us, and the soldiers and courtiers present nodded in agreement.

Just then, the king arrived. He rode a majestic horse, followed by a phalanx of guards. His face was livid, his eyes filled with anger and disappointment. He dismounted and slowly walked into the encirclement.

After hearing what I said, his face became even uglier: "Queen, I never thought you were so vicious. I doted on you, but you repaid my kindness with hatred and conspired with the prince to usurp the throne." His voice was low and suppressed, like the calm before the storm.

When the queen saw the king, she knelt down with a thud and said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! It was Concubine Yu who slandered me. Your Majesty must stand up for me!" She crawled to the king's feet and tried to grab the corner of his clothes.

I took out the intercepted letters and witness statements and presented them to the king: "Your Majesty, these are the evidence, please consider them." I handed over the evidence respectfully, with determination in my eyes.

The king took the evidence and examined it one by one. The more he looked, the angrier he became: "Queen, what else do you have to say?" He threw the evidence to the ground and glared at the queen.

The queen knew she could no longer deny it, so she slumped to the ground, her eyes empty. Her phoenix crown tilted to one side, her hair disheveled, her once noble image utterly gone.

The king gave a loud order: "Capture the queen and all the prince's followers, don't let any of them go! I will make them receive the punishment they deserve!" His voice resounded throughout the palace, full of majesty.

The soldiers sprang into action, apprehending the Empress and those involved in the rebellion. As they were taken away, the terrifying rebellion finally subsided. Looking at the Empress being escorted away, I felt a surge of emotion. This palace struggle had finally ended with the victory of justice, but I knew the road ahead would be filled with uncertainties and challenges. I must remain vigilant and safeguard this hard-earned peace and tranquility.

After the Queen and the others were taken away, I walked up to the King and bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, although this rebellion has been quelled, the people in the palace are in a state of panic. Your Majesty still needs to step in to appease them."

The king nodded slightly. "Concubine Yu, I am grateful to you for this opportunity. If it weren't for your wit and wisdom, and your timely detection of their plot and your fierce resistance, I and this palace would have been in great danger."

"Your Majesty, this is my duty. However, there may be some hidden forces in the palace that are related to this rebellion. We need to be careful and investigate carefully." I said worriedly.

"I know, I will arrange loyal people to investigate this matter thoroughly. You are tired today, go back and rest first." The king looked at me with concern.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will take my leave." I bowed again and turned to leave.

When she returned to her palace, Wanqing came to greet her: "Your Majesty, you are finally back. You must have worried so much."

I smiled tiredly. "It's all over now. But I don't know how long the peace in this palace can last."

"Your Majesty, with you here, any difficulty can be solved." Wanqing comforted.

I shook my head gently. "The palace struggle is complex and ever-changing. We cannot take it lightly. From today on, we must pay closer attention to every move in the palace, maintain contact with loyal ministers, and jointly safeguard the peace of the palace."

"Yes, your majesty." Wanqing nodded in response.

I sat in my chair, reflecting on today's events, realizing that my position and responsibilities within this court have grown even greater. Not only must I protect myself, but I must also plan for the court's future and prevent similar rebellions from happening again. I must use my wisdom and modern knowledge to establish a more solid presence within this court, ensuring the enduring rule of justice and peace.