The Imperial Palace, Imperial Garden.
Sui Zihua accompanied Qin Ziheng on a walk.
Qin Ziheng's complexion was clearly poor, and the exhaustion he could not hide showed in his expression.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager Xiao is still waiting in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Her health is poor, so perhaps you should not keep her waiting too long?"
Sui Zihua looked at Qin Ziheng's face and asked cautiously.
The case of Ye Ze'an had implicated all Ten Great Clans, naturally including the Xiao Family.
The Xiao Family was related to the Imperial Family by marriage. Xiao Ruiming's younger sister, the Xiao Family Head, was the current Empress Dowager!
Xiao Ruiming had been personally suppressed by Li Fei and then thrown into the imperial prison.
After the incident, Empress Dowager Xiao had used every means at her disposal to plead for her elder brother, but none had succeeded.
In the end, Empress Dowager Xiao had appeared in person and bitterly begged Qin Ziheng.
In truth, how many people had come before the Son of Heaven to plead for mercy during this period, besides Empress Dowager Xiao?
The Yan Family and Prince Qing's estate had been joined by marriage for generations, making them Imperial relatives as well. Though their relationship was not as close as the Xiao Family's, how could Prince Qing sit by while something happened to the Yan Family?
These past few days, this Imperial Uncle of the Son of Heaven had also been running to the palace every day.
Moreover, the Ten Great Clans and the Imperial Family were all related to one another to some degree. Once all these connections were brought into play, Qin Ziheng's days had been truly miserable.
Since ascending the throne, this Son of Heaven had been diligent every day, rarely indulging in pleasure.