General Xie had always fiercely protected his own, valuing his two children more than his own life. If he learned that something had happened to his daughter, who knew what he might do?
It was a grave taboo in warfare: trouble at home could distract a general commanding troops in battle. Once his attention wavered, who knew what unforeseen disaster might follow?
That fool, the Ninth Prince, had never considered the consequences if anything happened to his consort!
How had he fathered such a stupid son?
As for Concubine Jin, with the Ninth Prince's temperament, there was no way he would let her off. Her days ahead would likely be a living hell.
It was precisely because the emperor had thought of this that he had not issued an edict ordering Concubine Jin's death.
Sometimes, living was far more painful than dying.
A mere side consort had dared to blot out the sky with one hand in the inner quarters of the Ninth Prince's Manor. She had to pay the price!
The emperor looked over the information gathered by the Shadow Guards. Concubine Jin had always been arrogant and overbearing, offending countless people on the strength of the Ninth Prince's favor.
Which concubine in the Ninth Prince's Manor had not suffered her harassment and torment? She treated the servants as less than human, and beating them to death or injuring them was an everyday occurrence.
Now that Concubine Jin had fallen from favor, many would surely seize the chance to take revenge and grind her beneath their heels!
The emperor had heard something of the methods used in the inner quarters.
Concubine Jin could savor every moment of the days to come!
Meanwhile, after Song Yaoyao and the others left the Imperial Study, she explained to Xie Jinglou what to