Chapter 38 + 39

After that, everything went according to plan.

When Shen Yun left the palace, she met Sheng Jing’an, the youngest Duke of the Yong Dynasty. He was tall, handsome, and had the demeanor of a nobleman. He had also inherited the title of Duke. Both his appearance and status made Shen Yun uncontrollably attracted to him. They didn’t say anything, but it seemed like they understood each other and went their separate ways.

After returning home, Shen Yun lay in bed thinking about it for half the night. Sometimes, she thought about the crime of plotting against the princess. If it were exposed, she and her mother would die miserably; sometimes, she thought about Sheng Jing’an’s tall and powerful figure and noble status, which she could never hope to reach with her background. Now that the opportunity had fallen from the sky, she shouldn’t miss it.

Sometimes, she thought about the wealth and glory in front of her. As long as she could accomplish what Consort De had instructed, her and her aunt’s lives would get better, and they would no longer have to be cautious and look at others’ faces.

That night, someone took her to the back door and then, in a sedan chair, brought her to the Sheng family, where she unsurprisingly met Sheng Jing’an. They talked for a long time that night.

Shen Yun’s face grew paler, her voice sorrowful, “Sheng Jing’an told me that he already knew the emperor’s plan. The reason for letting Consort De’s family execute it was to completely bring Consort De to his side, making her and the Shen family loyal to him because the Shen family had once been supporters of the deposed crown prince.”

After the deposed crown prince was executed, the Shen family was not implicated. The emperor might have had his own plans, but as a daughter of the Shen family, Consort De had to consider her family. So, the task given by the emperor had to be completed by any means necessary, whether by threat, inducement, or other means, as long as the goal was achieved.

Feng Yaoguang sneered, “It sounds grand, but in reality, it’s just men wanting to achieve their goals without taking responsibility, pushing this matter towards the direction of jealousy among wives and concubines.”

The emperor let Sheng Jing’an and Shen Yun take action, one inheriting the Duke’s title and the other promising marriage, simply exploiting human greed.

If things went wrong in the future and didn’t develop as he planned, the emperor could entirely blame Sheng Jing’an and Shen Yun—these two having an illicit relationship, insulting the grand princess, and poisoning her together would be the most unforgivable crime.

Poor Sheng Jing’an, that fool, really thought the emperor trusted him, but in reality, he was just a tool for killing, a pawn to be discarded at any time.

Shen Yun bit her lip, her face showing regret, “At first, I was attracted to Sheng Jing’an’s appearance and status, foolishly dreaming of rising to wealth and glory. Fearing that Sheng Jing’an would break his promise, I became pregnant as a precaution.”

Yan Donghuang asked indifferently, “Did Sheng Jing’an not intend for you to have a child at first?”

“No,” Shen Yun shook her head, “Every time after the incident, he would have someone send me a bowl of medicine, but I only drank it twice. I tricked him the other times.”

She laughed bitterly and self-deprecatingly, “I thought I was smart and lucky, thinking that having a child would secure my status, that the child would be another bargaining chip besides the antidote, allowing me to live smoothly in the Sheng family.”

But reality proved her wrong. A child that didn’t belong to her would come and go. She was neither smart nor lucky, or she wouldn’t have ended up in such a situation.

Yan Donghuang was silent for a moment, “You said Consort De’s maid gave the poison and antidote, so you don’t know medicine?”

Shen Yun nodded almost imperceptibly, “What I said in the Sheng family was all false. I don’t know medicine or how to detoxify. I just had the ready-made formula and prescription, and I fancied myself a poison master, thinking I could control the Grand Princess with it…”

Saying this, she bowed her head and knelt down, “I know my mistakes. I have already paid the price for my actions. Whether the Grand Princess wants to kill or punish me, I have no complaints.”

In the deep of the night, the palace lanterns shone brightly.

Emperor Zhaoming had stayed in the Fengyi Palace and had not left. When Li Dean was out of the palace, he kept pacing inside the hall, his anxiety visibly apparent. Even in just one day, his fatigue was evident, almost exhausted.

The atmosphere in the hall was always oppressive, making people feel uneasy.

Even though Qi Fangfei was a wise woman, she had no idea how to handle the current situation. She came from a noble family; her grandfather was the Grand Tutor of the dynasty, and her father held a position in the Hanlin Academy. She had been meticulously taught and trained since childhood, excelling in all the arts and managing the household with ease. Even when she entered the palace to become the Empress, she managed to avoid mistakes and became a virtuous and kind empress after a period of adaptation. But her duties and abilities were limited to this. The concubines of the harem were not allowed to interfere in state affairs.

Moreover, in today’s situation, not only the women but even the most cunning ministers of the previous dynasty would have no solution, so they could only wait quietly.

“Your Majesty, the chief eunuch has returned.” The respectful report broke the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.

Qi Fangfei’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t help but turn her head to look.

Li Dean entered with a pale face and knelt with a thud: “Your Majesty, this servant deserves to die!”

Emperor Zhaoming’s heart suddenly sank to the bottom.

“Eunuch Li,” Qi Fangfei frowned and spoke, “What did the Grand Princess say?”

Li Dean lowered his head and replied, “Princess Fengyang went to persuade her, even knelt to the Grand Princess, but the Grand Princess was unmoved. She also said… she said she would not accept any threats from anyone. If Your Majesty uses anyone to threaten her, she will continue to confiscate the corrupt officials’ mansions tomorrow.”

Who knows who the next unlucky person will be?

“Such audacity!” Emperor Zhaoming grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it hard, his face livid with anger.

“She is truly lawless, lawless!”

“Your Majesty, please calm down!” The palace attendants knelt in unison, trembling with fear.

Qi Fangfei’s face turned pale, and she knelt as well. “Your Majesty, please calm down.”

Emperor Zhaoming closed his eyes. “What else did she say?”

Li Dean, kneeling on the ground, dared not lift his head. “The Grand Princess said that unless Your Majesty or the Empress Dowager personally delivers the antidote to her, she will not believe… will not believe that Your Majesty has no intention of harming her…”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaoming’s face twitched twice, then he squinted slightly, a hint of sinister mockery in his eyes. “She knows I have the antidote, so she deliberately uses such ruthless means to force it out?”

Yan Donghuang is indeed extremely cunning. He thought she was really not afraid of death, but it turns out that was all just a smokescreen.

Antidote? Qi Fangfei was shocked and looked at the emperor in disbelief.

Since the emperor had the antidote, why didn’t he send it to the Grand Princess earlier?

To prove that the person who poisoned the Grand Princess was not the emperor, wouldn’t sending the antidote be the best way?

“Your Majesty,” Qi Fangfei steadied herself and spoke calmly, “The Grand Princess has troops. Your Majesty might as well send the antidote to the Grand Princess first. As long as the Grand Princess’s poison is cured, it shouldn’t be difficult to make her withdraw her troops.”

“What do you know?” Emperor Zhaoming’s voice was cold, his eyes filled with intense killing intent. “Originally, I didn’t intend to kill her. I would have stood up for her if she had come to the palace for help immediately after being wronged at the Duke’s mansion. But she mobilized troops into the city without a word, clearly threatening me!”

Qi Fangfei bit her lip, unable to help but defend Yan Donghuang. “But when Sheng Jing’an poisoned her, he insisted it was Your Majesty’s doing. Even if the Grand Princess didn’t believe Your Majesty would harm her, she would inevitably take precautions.”

“Empress, are you questioning my decision?” Emperor Zhaoming looked down at her, his eyes cold.

Qi Fangfei hurriedly said, “I dare not.”

“In the end, Yan Donghuang just doesn’t trust me.” Emperor Zhaoming’s tone revealed a hint of murderous intent. “Since that’s the case, is there any need for me to show brotherly affection?”

Qi Fangfei clutched her handkerchief, kneeling stiffly on the ground, her back cold. She looked at the gentle and elegant emperor in front of her, her husband. She once thought he was a tolerant and magnanimous emperor; even her father believed the emperor was reliable. When he was a prince, her father said that the second prince, Yan Ming, had the broadest mind and was the most accommodating, worthy of lifelong trust.
If he became emperor, he would surely be a benevolent ruler. But her grandfather had warned her not to regard the emperor as her husband. He was, first and foremost, an emperor. After entering the palace, she should just fulfill her duties as an empress and not invest too much emotion and dependence on the emperor, or she would be disappointed and heartbroken in the future. Her grandfather said that people could disguise themselves. For the throne, for power, everyone could resort to any means.

Some use schemes and some use emotions.
It turns out her grandfather was right.

Qi Fangfei suppressed the turmoil in her heart, slowly lowered her eyes, and said softly, “Your Majesty, the Chu family is the Empress Dowager’s maternal family. They are in the hands of the Grand Princess, and their fate is uncertain.”

Corruption is already a crime, not to mention that Minister Chu embezzled military funds and provisions. The Qingluan Army probably hates him, wishing to cut him into pieces. Even if Yan Donghuang wanted to spare the Chu family, the Qingluan Army soldiers might not agree.

“Uncle brought this upon himself. I can’t save him.” Emperor Zhaoming’s face was grim, his tone filled with a sense of righteous indignation. “He could have gotten away with embezzling a little, but he dared to touch military funds and provisions. Isn’t that courting death?”

Qi Fangfei listened quietly, wanting to ask if the delay in provisions was really solely Minister Chu’s doing. She remembered that when this happened last year, some ministers requested the emperor to punish Minister Chu severely, but the emperor remained indifferent. Even Prime Minister Pei pressured the emperor, but the Empress Dowager suppressed the matter single-handedly. The emperor firmly believed in Minister Chu, stating that it must have been the work of someone with ulterior motives. He would have the truth investigated to give the Qingluan Army an explanation. But in the end, the investigation pointed to the deposed crown prince.

Because the deposed crown prince was unwilling to let Yan Ming take his throne, he secretly arranged for people to intercept the provisions halfway, even assassinating the soldiers escorting the provisions, intending to wipe out the Qingluan Army on the battlefield.

How ridiculous.

A deposed crown prince, almost dying in confinement, could still orchestrate such a serious matter.

Qi Fangfei remembered that the deposed crown prince was soon executed, and the emperor finally eliminated this threat that was once a step away from the throne.

“Empress, what are you thinking?” Emperor Zhaoming’s deep gaze fell on her, his eyes filled with probing.

Qi Fangfei was startled back to reality, suppressing all her emotions, and spoke softly, “Provisions are vital to the soldiers’ survival. Since Minister Chu dared to touch the provisions, even a thousand cuts wouldn’t be enough to vent the anger. But I remember that last year, it was found that the deposed crown prince was responsible for the provisions incident, wasn’t it?”

Emperor Zhaoming’s face stiffened, and then he frowned. “Are you suggesting that uncle had already colluded with the deposed crown prince?”

Qi Fangfei’s face changed drastically, and she replied in fear, “I didn’t mean that. Minister Chu is Your Majesty’s uncle, the Empress Dowager’s brother. How could he collude with the deposed crown prince?”

Emperor Zhaoming restrained his expression, personally helping her up from the ground, his tone seemingly helpless. “Regardless of the truth back then, Uncle is now in a precarious position. I can only sacrifice him to appease the anger of the 200,000 soldiers of the Qingluan Army.”

Qi Fangfei calmly looked up, gazing at the dragon pattern on his chest, wanting to ask if it was still up to the emperor to decide whether to sacrifice the entire Chu family.

The people are in Yan Donghuang’s hands, and Yan Donghuang is the one truly in control.

“Your Majesty, the ministers are still waiting in the Qin Zheng Hall.” Li Dean cautiously reminded, “Should Your Majesty let them go home first?”

Emperor Zhaoming frowned at the words and began pacing again. The civil and military officials of the court certainly couldn’t stay in the palace. But if they were allowed to leave the palace and go home, what if Yan Donghuang detained them?

There were upright ministers in the court. If they were not afraid of death and insisted on questioning Yan Donghuang, what would happen if a conflict arose?

Emperor Zhaoming was momentarily troubled.

Yan Donghuang’s actions today were too outrageous, making it impossible not to be cautious.

After long contemplation, he ordered in a deep voice, “Li Dean, convey my decree. Starting tomorrow, court sessions will be suspended for three days. All officials are to return home and keep their gates closed, arrange for household guards, and avoid provoking the Grand Princess and her Qingluan Army.”

“Your servant obeys.” Li Dean accepted the order and left.

Qi Fangfei looked thoughtfully at Li Dean’s departing figure. “Eunuch Li seems to be injured. I wonder how serious it is.”

“He can walk and run, he won’t die.” Emperor Zhaoming’s tone was gloomy, clearly not having the energy to care about a eunuch. “Empress, you should rest early.”

Leaving these words, he turned and walked out.

Qi Fangfei lowered her eyes and respectfully knelt to see the emperor off.

Rest early?

In the entire imperial city, no one would probably sleep well tonight.

After leaving Fengyi Palace, Emperor Zhaoming immediately summoned Ying Rong and coldly ordered, “Choose a few unfamiliar experts to follow the officials out of the palace. Tomorrow morning, as soon as Yan Donghuang steps out of the Grand Princess’s mansion, find an opportunity to kill her.”

Seven days?
No, he couldn’t wait even one day.
If Yan Donghuang caused trouble for seven days, how could he, the Son of Heaven, maintain his dignity?

Ying Rong accepted the order: “I obey.”

Emperor Zhaoming stared at his pale face. “How is your injury?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine,” Ying Rong lowered his eyes. “Just now, a guard reported that the Empress Dowager has been causing a commotion in Cian Palace, saying that if Your Majesty doesn’t let her out, she will die in front of you. She asks for Your Majesty’s instructions.”

The Empress Dowager was the emperor’s biological mother, and her commotion was different from that of the concubines in the harem. If a concubine dared to cause a commotion, the emperor could directly order her to be sent to the Cold Palace in anger. But could he do that to the Empress Dowager?

Not only could the Empress Dowager not be sent to the Cold Palace, but she also couldn’t be allowed to be in any danger. Otherwise, the emperor would be labeled as unfilial, and scholars across the land would condemn him. How could he continue to be emperor?

Emperor Zhaoming’s face turned livid, and he had no choice but to order again, “Prepare to go to Cian Palace.”