Chapter 90: Lying Through One’s Teeth

As for the notion of yin flourishing and yang declining…

It’s simply nonsense.

Although Princess Pingyao is unconventional and the Regent’s Consort is quite different from ordinary women, the entire court is still under the control of the Regent.

If the Regent had not tacitly approved it, the two of them wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to attend the banquet, so where does the idea of yin flourishing and yang declining come from?

It’s truly lying through one’s teeth.

Due to Nan Dynasty’s poor attitude, the negotiations naturally became tense. The Nan Dynasty envoys looked displeased, and the Yong Kingdom’s ministers also wore unfriendly expressions.

In the midst of this stifling atmosphere, Princess Pingyao smiled nonchalantly: “Since we can’t agree on the conditions, why not put them aside for now? I have a question I’d like to ask everyone.”

Minister Ji hurriedly said: “Please ask, Princess.”

Princess Pingyao pretended to recall: “The general who came with you this time is named… Ling Fengyang, right? How come no one seems to care about him?”

Minister Ji’s expression was complex: “He…”

“I remember he was quite capable in leading troops into battle.” Princess Pingyao raised an eyebrow, “What’s the matter? Doesn’t your Emperor trust him?”

“General Ling suffered a defeat at the beginning of the year, losing eighty thousand troops.” Minister Ji smiled bitterly, “He should have been punished, but General Ling said he could redeem himself by achieving merit.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers of the Yong Kingdom were all surprised.

They had attended Princess Pingyao’s wedding that day and were drinking in the banquet hall. Some had witnessed Ling Fengyang rushing over to try and stop the wedding, and they were all surprised that he was still alive.

Hearing that someone said the Regent’s Consort recognized the clothes he was wearing as the attire of a Nan Dynasty general, and there were still some who doubted, wondering how the Princess Consort could recognize the attire of a Nan Dynasty general at a glance.

Unexpectedly, he had actually become a Nan Dynasty general and suffered a defeat.

This… what exactly is going on?

“How does he plan to redeem himself? By coming to Nan Dynasty personally to borrow troops?” Princess Pingyao curled her lips, the sarcasm on her face impossible to hide, “Your Nan Dynasty truly has exhausted its fate.”

Minister Ji’s expression stiffened, and then he smiled bitterly with a hint of despair. Wasn’t it true that their fate was exhausted?

The War Goddess Princess had fought on the battlefield for seven years, and it was only with great difficulty that she had stabilized the country. It was the time to recuperate and restore vitality, but unfortunately…

“I have always suspected that the Western Zhou Dynasty has planted spies within the Nan Dynasty capital.” Minister Ji said, his voice somewhat weak. “After the War Goddess Princess’s marriage, she was always ill and never showed her face. In the first year, the Western Zhou Dynasty was still somewhat cautious, but in the second year, they directly tested us with small-scale military forces. After that, time and again, it seemed they were deliberately trying to confirm whether the War Goddess Princess could still lead in battle. Later… sigh.”

Shen Ning remained silent, her eyes downcast.

“To this day, the ministers of Nan Dynasty do not know what illness the War Goddess Princess suffered from or the cause of her death. ” Minister Ji looked up at Shen Ning. “If you, Regent’s Consort, are truly the disciple of the War Goddess Princess, have you had any correspondence with her over the past two years?”

Shen Ning was indifferent: “I am from the Yong Kingdom, and she was from Nan Dynasty. If there had truly been any correspondence, it would only lead to suspicions of colluding with the enemy and betraying one’s country. How could there possibly be any?”

Minister Ji thought about it and agreed.

In fact, he suspected that the cause of the War Goddess Princess’s death was suspicious, but last year, when Nan Dynasty was repeatedly defeated, someone suggested that the princess should continue to lead the army, but the Emperor said that the princess’s old wounds had recurred, and she was bedridden, forbidding anyone from disturbing her.

So whether she died from her injuries or from illness, no one knew.

…

In the Longevity Palace, the meticulously made-up Empress Dowager was so angry that she almost tore the handkerchief in her hands to shreds.

Her well-maintained face was fair, and usually, she appeared quite dignified and graceful, but at this moment, due to her overwhelming anger, her expression was grim.

Crash!

The cups and saucers on the small table were swept to the ground, shattering instantly, just like the Empress Dowager’s dignity at this moment:

“That damned Regent, does he not know who the true ruler of the country is?”

“Hosting a banquet for foreign envoys without even allowing the Emperor to attend, and instead bringing a Consort who is not fit to be seen in public!”

“What exactly does he want to do? Can’t he hide his ambitious nature anymore?”

“Damn it!”

“Your Highness, please calm your anger!”

Numerous palace attendants knelt on the ground trembling, carefully cleaning up the mess.

After venting her anger, the Empress Dowager leaned weakly against the phoenix bed, viciously cursing the late Emperor in her heart for being blind and handing over the regency to a prince with a strong military force, resulting in the current situation where the Emperor had become a puppet.

If only Ji Yucang didn’t have so many troops, if only the late Emperor had taken back Ji Yucang’s military power before his death, she and the Emperor wouldn’t have ended up in such a predicament.

What was poison compared to this?

Ji Yucang was a madman. He would never accept their control. If he was truly determined to die and overthrow the court, who in the vast Yong Kingdom could stop him?

“Your Highness. ” A clever little eunuch knelt before the bed, “I have a strategy, I don’t know if it’s feasible.”

The Empress Dowager said coldly, “Speak quickly.”

“There is a young lady named Gu Yanran in the Regent Palace. ” The little eunuch whispered in the Empress Dowager’s ear. “She is the Regent’s cousin and has always admired him without success. If she were to take action, firstly, the Regent would not be on guard against her, and secondly, even if the truth were to come out, the Regent would not do anything to her.”

The Empress Dowager slowly sat up: “Gu Yanran?”

“Yes.” The little eunuch nodded. “Princesses Jiahe and Jiayu have met her before at the Left Prime Minister’s residence.”

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment: “Go and call Princess Jiayu over.”

“Yes.”

The Regent had ordered the Emperor to be placed under house arrest, and Princess Pingyao had ordered Consort Hui to be confined, but others in the palace, such as the Empress Dowager and the eunuchs and maids in the Empress Dowager’s palace, still had their freedom.

Princesses Jiahe and Jiayu, who had already married, could also enter the palace at any time to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager if summoned.

However, there was still some distance between the palace and the outside world, and it would take at least half an hour for a palace attendant to deliver a summons and return.

The Empress Dowager carefully contemplated the plan in her heart. To be on the safe side, it would be more appropriate for Jiayu to carry it out.

Jiayu had met Gu Yanran, and given Gu Yanran’s status, if the princess were to invite her, she would surely be eager to accept. At that time, as long as Jiayu gave the medicine to Gu Yanran, Gu Yanran would likely be more willing to have a fait accompli with the Regent.

The Empress Dowager sneered coldly. There were many tactics in the palace, and many kinds of drugs as well.

Even if the Regent was cautious, he couldn’t guard against thieves every day, could he?