@Yalu12 I disagree, the empress is not only fighting against those nobles but also against those who helped them.
The corrupt nobles have many "ties" and she did well to investigate every little thing, a death sentence could not be given without all the evidence also for fairness to those who have been harassed by these nobles.
20 chapters are right, at least in this case.
By pretending, the empress was able to let the corrupt nobles lower their guard, if she had hastily given the sentence her image would have suffered. :)
I’ve heard this is a harem and it’s also why I desperately want to drop it because I don’t like harems but not only am I not sure but I also really like the story so far. If she ends up with anyone I’d prefer Eusto tho or whatever his name is