Twilight descended.

Lanterns were just being lit.

Yun Chu’s lips held a cold smile: “Indeed, why needlessly increase the killing?”

“Yun Chu, what I said before still stands.” Chu Rui’s voice became gentle. “Change your identity, marry me, and let your biological son become Emperor.”

“But Jue’er is not your biological son.” Yun Chu spoke. “Are you willing to let someone not of your bloodline inherit the throne?”

Chu Rui’s expression became even more tender.

Every previous time this matter was mentioned, Yun Chu had been visibly angry.

But this time, she began to question back.

That meant she was starting to waver.

She had always been a clever woman. She understood very clearly that this back-and-forth confrontation brought no benefits to Great Jin.

So, she would compromise.

Chu Rui nodded: “I only want to restore my father’s realm. As long as the realm continues through me, it will complete my father’s dying wish.”

Yun Chu’s beautiful eyes shifted, her gaze falling on a young eunuch who had been keeping his head lowered behind Chu Rui, maintaining an extremely low presence: “Since the Prince Regent is willing to part with even the imperial throne, I imagine you would also be willing to lend me a person to use.”

The tenderness on Chu Rui’s face instantly vanished.

Yun Chu smiled: “Because the throne doesn’t belong to you yet, you can generously give it to anyone, but this young eunuch truly belongs to you, so you’re reluctant to part with him. It seems the Prince Regent’s words are not trustworthy after all.”

“Choose someone else.” Chu Rui spoke. “Any other person, I can give to you.”

“Since the Prince Regent has no sincerity, this matter need not be mentioned again.”

After speaking, Yun Chu turned and left.

After reaching Kangning Palace, she instructed Qiutong: “Investigate thoroughly the background of that young eunuch called Duobao beside Chu Rui.”

Duobao was the person Chu Rui trusted most. If they could work through Duobao… But it was hard to say—Chu Rui protected Duobao so much that Duobao might not betray Chu Rui.

Regardless, they should investigate his background first.

At the next day’s court session, the selection of a new Minister of the Court of Judicial Review became the focus, with many people recommending various officials.

Yun Chu selected a neutral party member to serve as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

After the court session ended, Yun Chu had someone invite Grand Secretariat Li over.

“This subject greets the Empress Dowager.”

“No need for such formality, Minister Li, please sit.” Yun Chu had palace maids serve tea, then dismissed everyone and spoke frankly: “The Nie family served loyally for three generations, yet ended in tragic death. I imagine Minister Li would not wish to see such scenes either.”

Grand Secretariat Li’s mood was somewhat heavy.

Recently, sixth and seventh-rank officials in the court often died mysteriously, and then the Prince Regent would promote his own people to fill these vacancies.

The exiled Feng family—the maternal family of the former Empress Dowager—and the Lin family of the Prince Regent’s mother who had fallen from grace, had all had people promoted into court positions by the Prince Regent one by one.

The court was becoming increasingly corrupt and chaotic.

He spoke in a deep voice: “I wonder what the Empress Dowager means?”

Yun Chu enunciated each word: “I wish to unite the civil and military officials to depose the Prince Regent.”

The Prince Regent had been appointed by the late Emperor and was the foremost minister assisting the state. Without committing the great crime of treason, even the current Emperor had no authority to depose him.

If they could mobilize all the officials to collectively pressure him, the Prince Regent could only be dismissed.

In Great Jin’s previous dynasty, after one emperor ascended, he behaved dissolutely and immorally, so all officials jointly petitioned and directly deposed the reigning emperor.

Now it was merely a matter of uniting to dismiss a prince—not an earth-shattering act.

Grand Secretariat Li couldn’t help but pick up his teacup and take a sip.

If they could gather the power of all court ministers, they could indeed overthrow the Prince Regent.

But what about afterward?

Wouldn’t the Empress Dowager’s faction hold sole power, with the Yun family’s external relatives interfering in government? Would the court still be just as corrupt and chaotic?

Moreover, the current Emperor was not the Empress Dowager’s biological child.

Just as the late Emperor was not the late Empress Dowager’s biological child, which was why the late Empress Dowager had secretly plotted treason.

“What is Minister Li worried about?” Yun Chu’s voice was steady. “Are you worried that I will monopolize power, worried that the Yun family will grow too powerful, or worried that I will support a young son as Emperor?”

Grand Secretariat Li was astonished by Yun Chu’s perceptiveness. He stood up: “This subject knows such suspicions are greatly disrespectful, but indeed has these concerns.”

“Then let me tell Minister Li a truth.” Yun Chu spoke softly. “The current Emperor is my biological child. The specific details are inconvenient to elaborate.”

Grand Secretariat Li’s face showed complete disbelief.

His first reaction was that it was impossible, but then he thought of Eldest Princess Chu Changsheng’s features, which were virtually identical to the current Empress Dowager’s.

His wife had once said that the Eldest Princess and the Empress Dowager strongly resembled mother and daughter, with no difference from actual biological mother and daughter.

So it really was biological.

“As for whether I will monopolize power, Minister Li need worry even less.” Yun Chu smiled. “Once the Prince Regent is deposed, at the same time, I will cease attending court behind the curtain and return governance to the young Emperor.”

Her purpose for attending court was to oppose Chu Rui.

With Chu Rui gone, she would have no need to continue attending court.

She had no interest in such power and authority to begin with—it was entirely to protect Yu’er.

“Since the Empress Dowager has said so, then this subject is willing to serve the Empress Dowager.” Grand Secretariat Li bowed with clasped hands. “The court officials belong to complex factions. Please give this subject some time to persuade these people. When the time is ripe, the great deed can be accomplished.”

Yun Chu stood: “I trouble Minister Li.”

In the blink of an eye, it was quickly New Year’s Eve.

Early in the morning, Nie Zhou’s funeral procession departed, and Yun Chu left the palace discreetly to personally see him to his burial.

Heavy snow fell in flurries. The entire imperial city was wrapped in silver. Palace servants swept snow from morning to night.

Since the birthday banquet had only been held a few days ago, Yun Chu had people arrange a simple palace banquet for the New Year’s Eve feast. She didn’t invite court ministers—just the imperial family members gathering to eat a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve.

“This winter seems particularly cold.” Dowager Consort Yin, wrapped in a fox fur cloak, sat in her seat and couldn’t help but sigh. “I wonder how Yi’er is…”

Yun Chu interrupted her: “Today is New Year’s Eve. Let’s speak of happy things.”

Dowager Consort Yun smiled with pursed lips: “Look at Yu’er, he’s increasingly resembling an Emperor.”

“Being Emperor is so troublesome.” Chu Hongyu pouted. “Getting up so early every day, still having to attend court, and then having to go to class afterward, and at night still having to study reviewing memorials. Ah, why are there so many things? I don’t even have time to study martial arts anymore.”

Hearing him complain like this, everyone present laughed.

The Tenth Prince said in his childish voice: “When I grow up, I’ll help you review memorials.”

His birth mother immediately covered his mouth and scolded: “Memorials are not for you to review. If you don’t understand, don’t speak carelessly.”

Then she looked toward Yun Chu: “Empress Dowager, the Tenth is still young and doesn’t understand. He didn’t mean that.”

“We’re all family, Dowager Consort Xuan need not be so cautious.” Yun Chu spoke. “Whether the former Crown Prince Chu Yi or the current Emperor Yu’er, neither is ruthless and cruel. The Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth—you can choose to enter court as officials, or you can choose to go to your fiefdoms. It’s entirely up to you.”

Dowager Consort Xuan hesitated before speaking: “If we go to the fiefdom, can I… can I go along?”

The imperial city’s situation was too complex. She feared that if they continued to stay, her son would be drawn into the vortex and die tragically.

She only had this one son, who was her support for the latter half of her life. She had no interest in the throne—she only wanted to stay far away and seek self-preservation.

“Since ancient times, there has been no precedent for palace consorts to follow to fiefdoms.” Dowager Consort Yun sighed. If it were possible, she too would want to go to Xiaochang to be with the Eighth Prince.