Chapter 17: Shen Ning Must Die

Upon returning to the palace, the Empress Dowager had smashed countless pieces of tea ware and porcelain, yet the fire in her heart still raged unabated.

“What exactly is Shen Ning?” The Empress Dowager’s brows and eyes were shrouded in a layer of gloom, her appearance one of extreme fury. “She has such audacity to even strike and kill a princess’s maid!”

The entire palace maids knelt on the ground, trembling, none daring to speak.

The palace lanterns shone brightly, illuminating the resplendent decor of the Empress Dowager’s chamber.

This night was anything but peaceful for everyone.

The events at the Regent’s estate, Shen Ning’s defiant attitude, had shattered the Empress Dowager’s years of cultivation and elegance, leaving only a heart full of anger and a stern expression.

Even during the fierce competition for favor among the concubines in the imperial harem, she had never been so disheveled.

The legitimate daughter from the Duke of the State’s residence had truly opened her eyes.

Damn Shen Ning!

“Please calm your anger, Mother.” The young Emperor sat beside her, politely offering her a cup of hot tea. “Uncle now holds great power, and it is truly not wise for us to confront him head-on. When Shen Ning was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of the State, an imperial decree could decide her life or death. But now that she is the wife of the Regent, even if she is arrogant and overbearing, we can only endure it for the time being.”

The Empress Dowager fumed, “Am I, the mother of the nation and the Empress Dowager, supposed to endure a mere teenage brat?”

“We must endure it, whether we want to or not.” Ji Jin’s tone was indifferent. “Regardless of Shen Ning’s age or abilities, she is now Uncle’s person, representing his face. If Uncle is determined to protect her, she can even represent the power of the Regent’s estate.”

The door of a prime minister is guarded by an official of the seventh rank.

The gatekeeper of a high-ranking and powerful person is equivalent to a seventh-rank county magistrate, let alone his lawfully wedded wife.

The Empress Dowager sat on the phoenix couch, her expression cold and gloomy: “We can endure them for at most another year. Once you take power next year, both Ji Yucang and Shen Ning must die.”

They must not only die but die in a gruesome manner, preferably by a thousand cuts, so they can fully taste the consequences of offending the imperial might.

“Mother will see that day will come, for now, please restrain your impatience.” Ji Jin sipped his tea, his tone calm. “Once the Regent loses power, with Mother’s status, dealing with Shen Ning will be as easy as turning one’s hand.”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager imagined the eventual fate of Ji Yucang and Shen Ning, and the fire in her heart seemed to subside a little. She spoke indifferently, “Jiahe suffered considerable grievances today. As her brother, don’t forget to comfort her properly.”

Ji Jin said indifferently, “There’s no need for me to comfort her. After returning to the princess’s estate, she already whipped her husband. I heard this time it was quite severe, and the imperial physician has been there.”

The Empress Dowager paused slightly: “And that Shen Huai, couldn’t he just comfort Jiahe when she was in a bad mood?”

Ji Jin remained silent, sipping his tea with downcast eyes.

The young man’s handsome features, illuminated by the lamplight, exuded an air of refined nobility, like a gentle and harmless gentleman. However, when he lowered his eyes, no one could ever see the gloom and deep melancholy in his eyes, nor a hint of an unknowable, strange light.

Shen Ning, the legitimate daughter of the Shen family, was indeed quite different from the women he had imagined.

“How is Yanshu’s hand?” The Empress Dowager inquired.

“The imperial physician said it’s not serious.” Ji Jin regained his composure and put down his teacup. “Mother need not worry.”

“Once his injury is healed, we should quickly arrange his marriage to avoid any unforeseen complications.” The Empress Dowager held her teacup, her exquisite nail guards gleaming coldly. “Also, the Emperor has too few concubines in the harem. Why not select Shen Yan, the second daughter of the Shen family, to enter the palace as a concubine? What does the Emperor think?”

Ji Jin was surprised to hear this: “Shen Yan?”

“That’s right.” The Empress Dowager’s face was cold. “The more the Regent tries to sever the ties between the Duke of the State’s residence and the Imperial Uncle’s estate, the more we need to bring the Duke of the State’s residence to our side.”

Ji Jin was silent for a moment before nodding slowly: “Yes.”

“With Shen Yan in the palace, we can also use her to deal with Shen Ning.” The Empress Dowager’s gaze was cold, her tone adding a sense of killing intent. “Daring to lay hands on a princess, I must make her pay the price.”

The young Emperor remained silent, his gaze calm and mysterious.

Dealing with Shen Ning?

A mere Shen family’s legitimate daughter who had lost her chastity, what was there to fear? If they couldn’t remove the Regent, even if they killed one Shen Ning, there would be a second Shen Ning.

What he most wanted to do was to weaken the Regent’s power. Once he handed over the great power of regency, the military power, without the support of the iron cavalry, Uncle would just be a royal uncle who must bow down and acknowledge his subordination…

What would it feel like to see such a proud and cold person bow and kneel before him?

Ji Jin suppressed the restlessness in his heart, concealing the unruly ambition in his eyes, and spoke indifferently, “The urgent task at hand is to have Qin Yanshu marry the Princess of Pingyao. That is the important matter, as for the rest, Mother need not be in a hurry.”

The Empress Dowager pondered and remained silent.

As long as the Regent was not removed, any other actions they took would be in vain, not only useless but also a provocation to the Regent.

Once Yanshu married the Princess of Pingyao, with the military power of the Qin family as support, the Emperor would have the confidence to confront the Regent.

Next year, using the Emperor’s coming of age and taking power as a pretext, they would have the Regent hand over the great power of regency and further weaken his military power. By then, his time as the Regent would be over.

The Empress Dowager thought coldly, turning her head to look at the Emperor sitting beside her, his features clear and handsome. Her irritated emotions gradually calmed down.

This world would eventually belong to them, mother and son.

As long as they could endure for another year, until the Regent handed over the great power of regency.

No one in this world would dare to offend them again.