Chapter 83

Yan Donghuang was silent for a moment, then turned to signal Imperial Physician Wen and Rong Chun to leave.

Rong Chun bowed, dismissed all the palace servants from the hall, and then left as well.

Yan Donghuang picked up a bowl of fresh shrimp tofu soup and placed it in front of Emperor Wu Lie, handing him a spoon before speaking, “Father, do you believe in prophetic dreams?”

“Prophetic dreams?” Emperor Wu Lie’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he suddenly understood, “You had a prophetic dream?”

“It’s quite a coincidence,” Yan Donghuang looked down at the soup in front of her, her expression dazed and bewildered, “During the hour when Father was unconscious, I had a dream. I dreamt that the Second Prince ascended the throne, and then I went to the battlefield. Two years later, I returned to the capital, and the following year, I married Sheng Jing’an, but on the day of the wedding, Sheng Jing’an poisoned me.”

Emperor Wulie’s hand tightened around his chopsticks.

Was this a dream?
Could a prophetic dream be so detailed, even specifying the time?
Poisoning… No wonder she wanted to break off the engagement with Sheng Jing’an.

“Sheng Jing’an said he was acting on the Emperor’s orders to eliminate me because the existence of the Qingluan Army made the Emperor uneasy. He wanted to kill me and the seven generals,” Yan Donghuang casually added while eating a mouthful of lean meat porridge, “Then I dreamt that I led a rebellion.”

Emperor Wu Lie was stunned, then suddenly laughed, “A rebellion?”

Yan Donghuang nodded, “Yes, a rebellion.”

“Not bad, as expected of my daughter, even dreaming so boldly!” Emperor Wu Lie suddenly laughed, his complexion brightening significantly, “Whether this dream is true or not, it can be taken as a warning from the heavens. Although the rebellion is bold, it is not as legitimate as inheriting the throne.”

Yan Donghuang responded, “I have military power in my hands. No matter who becomes the Emperor, they will inevitably be wary of me.”

Emperor Wu Lie stopped smiling and nodded slowly, “That’s right. Only when the ruler’s abilities surpass those of his ministers and has the courage to control them, will the fear be lessened. If the ruler is weak and the ministers are strong, it will inevitably lead to a desire to eliminate them.”

This is human nature and the ruler’s suspicion and incompetence cause it. When a ruler feels he cannot control a powerful minister, many would choose to eliminate them.

Emperor Wu Lie lowered his head to eat. After finishing a bowl of soup, he wiped his mouth and was about to go to the inner hall when a cry suddenly sounded outside, “Your Majesty, I have something to say. I am wronged, Your Majesty! I am wronged!”

Emperor Wu Lie frowned, “Is Consort De going to start her crying and making a scene again?”

Rong Chun hurried in, knelt down, and reported, “Your Majesty, Consort De is making a fuss and wants to see you. Do you want to see her?”

“See her,” Emperor Wu Lie said coldly, “I want to hear what grievances she has.”

“Yes.” Rong Chun went out.

Soon, Consort De stumbled in and knelt down with a thud, “Your Majesty, I want to accuse the Grand Princess of using private punishment on the Prince! Your Majesty, I am wronged. Please seek justice for me and Prince Jing—”

Consort De was about to cry and complain about Yan Donghuang whipping Yan Ming, but when she looked up, she suddenly saw Yan Donghuang sitting at the table, and her expression froze.

The expression of wailing accusation froze on her face, and Consort De was speechless, “Dong… Donghuang?”

Yan Donghuang looked at her calmly, her voice as cold as frost, “Consort De, you may continue.”

Consort De’s face turned from white to green, then to pale, her eyes reddened, and she cried out, “I know I have never done anything to wrong the Grand Princess. I have no daughter and have always treated you as my own, but you… for the throne, you not only dealt with my brother but also harmed your own brother…”

Emperor Wu Lie impatiently frowned.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty…” Consort De took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, crying so desperately that she could hardly speak, “My brother has always been loyal. I can’t understand how so much silver suddenly appeared in the Chu family’s warehouse, and I can’t understand… how the Grand Princess was so sure there was silver in the Chu family’s warehouse. Please, Your Majesty, order a thorough investigation and clear my brother’s name…”

“You mean to say the Grand Princess framed your brother?” Emperor Wu Lie looked at her expressionlessly, “Those boxes of gold and silver, antiques and jade, were all placed in the Chu family’s warehouse by the Grand Princess?”

Consort De cried, “I didn’t see it with my own eyes. I don’t dare to wrong the Princess…”

Rong Chun stiffened, looking at Consort De as if she were an idiot.

Didn’t see it with her own eyes?
Does this mean she really suspects the Grand Princess of foul play?

Emperor Wu Lie’s face darkened, not wanting to hear her nonsense anymore, “Guards, confine Consort De to Ganquan Palace. Without my orders, she is not allowed to move around the palace.”

“Yes.”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Consort De struggled and cried, “The Grand Princess used private punishment on her own brother. Won’t Your Majesty do something? If she ascends the throne, she will surely eliminate the royal offspring! Your Majesty, I am not doing this for myself but for the sake of the country, Your Majesty!”

“Private punishment?” Emperor Wu Lie narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze intimidating, “Since you insist it was the Grand Princess, I will summon Yan Ming to ask. Rong Chun, send someone to invite Prince Jing to the palace.”

“Yes.”

Yan Donghuang ignored Consort De and continued eating. After finishing the lean meat porridge, she also ate a bun and a plate of vegetables in front of her.

After eating, she took out a handkerchief and elegantly wiped her mouth before turning to Consort De, “Consort De, you stay in the harem while the Second Prince is outside the palace. How did you know so quickly about what happened at the Grand Princess’s residence this afternoon? It seems your information is quite well-informed.”

Upon hearing this, Consort De’s face turned ashen, the color draining from her face visibly.

Chapter 84

It is taboo for the harem to have fornication with the previous dynasty, and it violates the palace rules.

After a moment of stiffness, Consort De quickly cried and defended herself: “I… I was just too worried about my brother’s family and wanted to know if there was any news outside the palace, so I sent someone to inquire. I didn’t expect to learn that the Grand Princess had punished Prince Jing… Donghuang, Prince Jing is your elder brother. Just because you have the emperor’s favor, does that mean you can whip your elder brother privately?”

Yan Donghuang said indifferently: “Prince Jing voluntarily sought punishment. I merely fulfilled his wish.”

“You’re lying!” Consort De looked at Yan Donghuang with red eyes, accusing her with grievance, “Donghuang, we have always had a good mother-daughter relationship. Everything was fine yesterday… What did I do wrong? Can you tell me? At least let me die understanding, can you?”

Yan Donghuang said calmly: “Until today, you haven’t done anything wrong. I confiscated the Chu family’s property not to target you but because Minister Chu was corrupt, and his crimes were unforgivable.”

Lies!

Consort De clenched her handkerchief, her eyes suddenly cold and sharp: “If Minister Chu hadn’t been the first to stop you from becoming the crown princess, would you think he deserved to die? Yan Donghuang, you’re just using public office to avenge private wrongs!”

Yan Donghuang looked at her steadily, suddenly mocking: “Consort De and the second prince are truly mother and son. Your ability to shift blame is exactly the same.”

Consort De stiffened at these words, then began to cry again: “Donghuang, for the sake of our past mother-daughter affection, can you spare your uncle? He is my closest relative—”

“Consort De has always been good at this trick.” Yan Donghuang stood up, looking at her expressionlessly, “But crying and making a scene is only suitable for usual tantrums. You’re using it in the wrong situation now.”

After saying this, she ignored Consort De’s crying and accusations, turned around, and walked towards the inner hall, looking at Emperor Wu Lie sitting in front of the couch: “I have sent for a divine doctor. If he can restore your health, I will have more time to do what needs to be done.”

Annoyed by Consort De’s distress, Emperor Wu Lie raised an eyebrow at these words: “Such as?”

“The corruption of Minister Chu was condoned by those above and used by those below. Besides military funds, he also amassed a lot of wealth from other sources, all of which were extorted from the people. If his faction is not eradicated, the local people will continue to suffer.”

Emperor Wu Lie nodded slowly, holding a teacup: “You are thoughtful. However, you can send trusted officers to investigate these matters. The most important task now is to win over the court ministers.”

Yan Donghuang responded: “I understand.”

Emperor Wu Lie said: “Grand Tutor Qi and Prime Minister Pei are both important ministers in the court. One has a noble reputation and many disciples; the other is a powerful minister, the head of all officials. If you can win their hearts, most of the obstacles in handling state affairs will be removed when you ascend the throne.”

Yan Donghuang nodded: “Yes.”

Both Prime Minister Pei and Grand Tutor Qi are trustworthy people. And Grand Tutor Qi’s granddaughter, Qi Fangfei, is engaged to Yan Ming.

Yan Donghuang thought of her previous life, in which she was implicated by Yan Ming, and pondered: “I want to recruit a few female companions to study with me so they can help me in state affairs in the future.”

Emperor Wu Lie thought for a moment: “That is appropriate. Since you are a woman, having a few female assistants around will make things easier.”

Yan Donghuang considered the candidates for companions.

Emperor Wu Lie continued: “You can also start considering candidates for the emperor consort.”

Yan Donghuang did not speak.

Emperor consort. It was a strange term. Since the founding of the Yong Dynasty, there has never been a female emperor, so there is no such position as emperor consort.

“Donghuang, as a woman, as long as you are skilled in battle, the soldiers will submit to you because warriors respect those with real skills. But the court is different.” Emperor Wu Lie earnestly advised, “In the court, you must win people’s hearts. Military suppression can make people afraid to rebel, but winning their hearts will make them willingly serve you.”

Yan Donghuang listened quietly.

“You must understand that the Yong Dynasty is vast, and the court ministers are not solitary officials. The noble families have their influence, and the powerful ministers have their power. Besides using both grace and power, marriage alliances are the most effective way to win people’s hearts.”

“The ministers may proclaim loyalty but care most about their interests. Loyalty bound by interests is the most reliable.”

“That’s why I suggest you can first decide on a few candidates for emperor consort to assist you, so you won’t be overwhelmed after ascending the throne.”

Yan Donghuang was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: “I will consider it carefully.”

Emperor Wu Lie said no more. Many principles were not unknown to Donghuang, but she was still young and had not been involved in state affairs, so she hadn’t thought of them yet—a little guidance, and she would understand.

Someone entered outside the hall, knelt, and reported: “Your Majesty, Prince Jing has arrived.”