Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 582

Huo Tingsheng stared with disgust at the space about two feet above her head—his habit required him to look people in the eye when he spoke, but looking at Jiang Yunwan's face, he felt like he was going to throw up his dinner from the night before and have nightmares all night.

"Your face is injured and won't heal, why didn't you tell me?"

If he had told him earlier, as the ruler of a country, he would have searched the world for the best doctors for her, and her face might have been healed long ago, instead of ending up in this terrible state!

Jiang Yunwan burst into tears: "Your Majesty, I dare not tell you... If Your Majesty sees my face in such a state, you will surely never favor me again..."

Huo Tingsheng's anger flared up instantly: "All you think about is favoring others! You are the Empress! Aside from vying for favor, do you never consider your other responsibilities? You're already in this state, don't you have any self-awareness? The truth will out! You dare to attend the most important occasion, the sacrificial ceremony, wearing a hood!"

Huo Tingsheng was so angry when he said this that he smashed a teacup.

"Look at this now! You've completely ruined the sacrificial ceremony! There must be all sorts of rumors going around, the people are in chaos, saying that a demon has appeared and brought disaster to the country, and that the Western Qi's fate is sealed! I'll have to issue an edict of self-reproach and reopen the altar to apologize to Heaven!"

Throughout history, the greatest fear has been something going wrong during the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven.

If a natural accident occurs during the sacrificial ceremony, it means that Heaven is dissatisfied with the Western Qi and is using this as a form of protest; while if a human error occurs, it means that Heaven may be angered and bring disaster upon us in the future.

Back then, Empress Xie Qingmo of Western Qi was banished to the Cold Palace because she disrupted the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven. Even though she had made numerous contributions, the people could not tolerate her destroying the ceremony and affecting the fate of Western Qi. This gave Huo Tingsheng ample reason to banish her to the Cold Palace, so he wouldn't be accused of being ungrateful.

Huo Tingsheng paused for a moment, lost in thought, when he thought of Xie Qingmo.

He hadn't thought about Xie Qingmo for a long time.

After he destroyed the Xie family, he deliberately avoided memories of her for many years.

It makes me upset just thinking about it.

He just wanted to forget her as soon as possible, so that it would be as if she had never existed, and as if the things he did to her and the Xie family had never happened.

Jiang Yunwan sobbed uncontrollably, "Your Majesty, I know my sins! I only wanted to complete the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven as planned... How could the Queen of the nation not appear on such an important occasion..."

When she started crying, her already terrifying face became even more grotesque, tears mixed with pus on her face, dripping down and onto the floor.

Huo Tingsheng was about to vomit; he simply couldn't bear to watch any longer. If she stayed in front of him any longer, he would never be able to eat again.

Speaking of feelings, Huo Tingsheng truly had feelings for Jiang Yunwan in the past, and he really did a lot for her.

But over the years, his feelings have been gradually taken away and diluted by the countless younger concubines who have entered the palace.

She had long disliked Jiang Yunwan, deeming her merely a lowly concubine with no real talent or ability. Besides vying for favor and serving men, she was utterly useless. She was also inferior to the daughters of noble families, lacking the bearing of an empress.

He still had some lingering feelings for Jiang Yunwan, but now, facing this monster that was neither human nor ghost, all those feelings had vanished.

"Enough! I don't care whether you were framed or not. You ruined the sacrificial ceremony, and I can't protect you!"

Huo Tingsheng said, raising his voice, "Guards, issue the decree: Jiang interrupted the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, a crime that cannot be forgiven. Her virtue and appearance are no longer worthy of being the head of the six palaces. She is hereby deposed as Empress and banished to Beiying Palace!"