Ru Zhou entered its coldest season in November, with snow falling eight out of every ten days.

Heavy snow blocked doors and sealed roads. Ministers initially commuted to work on sleds, but later the Emperor issued an edict allowing officials to work from home, gathering for court discussions every five days, which somewhat alleviated the hardship of daily travel through snow.

Yet the ministers felt little gratitude. In previous years, Ru Zhou had heavy snow annually, but the roads they traveled would be clear of accumulated snow. Guards from various households and the Five Cities Military Commission would be dispatched to clear snow, and the palace would distribute high-quality silver charcoal each year, keeping their residences warm and steamy throughout.

But this year there was no charcoal. Not only was there none, but the annual festival gifts customarily given to ministers were particularly shabby and meager. For Mid-Autumn Festival, just a box of mooncakes made by palace eunuchs themselves with pickled vegetables. For Dragon Boat Festival, each person received one string of plain rice dumplings. Spring Festival was even better—each person received one “fortune” character, and if it had been written by the Emperor’s own hand it would have been something, but reportedly no one even knew which attendant had filled in as a substitute.

No benefits, no one to clear snow. Of course they still had their own money and could clear it themselves, but the problem was no one dared send their numerous household guards onto the streets to clear snow for them, fearing such “luxurious and particular” behavior would catch the Emperor’s eye, and before long he’d find various excuses to come “inspect their assets.”

Previously, when Right Chancellor Yin Feng celebrated his birthday extravagantly—burning bright candles through the night, decorating long streets with colorful banners, and dispatching a hundred household guards to welcome guests—

Less than ten days later, Yin Feng was imprisoned on charges of colluding with others while serving in the Ministry of Revenue to sell spoiled grain as good grain. His assets were immediately inspected, and those bright candles, colorful banners, pearls, precious jade—everything was sold and the money sent directly to Broken Mirror City.

This was not an isolated case. During Murong Yi’s two years in power, countless wealthy and noble families had fallen. Their assets were completely confiscated. Apart from portions used to repair dangerous buildings in Ru Zhou, provide disaster relief, supplement the treasury, and supply Ministry of Revenue allocations, most was sent to Broken Mirror City.

So much so that among the officials circulated an unspoken saying: every brick and tile of Broken Mirror City was soaked with the blood and tears of Ru Zhou officials.

In such snowy weather, a convoy of carriages struggled out of the imperial palace, advancing against the wind.

At the palace gates, Mu Si stood holding a telescope checking the situation, seeing the carriages approaching from afar, his lips curling coldly downward.

A subordinate beside him rubbed his hands together: “General, is Noble Consort Bao leaving the palace again?”

The Emperor would never leave the palace in such weather, wouldn’t even leave Chenglong Hall, practically growing onto his couch.

But Noble Consort Bao seemed to have had a change of heart. In the past half year, she had been amiable toward ministers and frequently left the palace. Initially she said she wanted to go out for fresh air, later saying she was inspecting people’s livelihood on behalf of His Majesty who disliked leaving the palace. Mu Si had mentioned this to Murong Yi several times, asking whether to assign people to follow her, but Murong Yi always smiled without speaking, so Mu Si stopped bringing it up.

Today was again a very touching reason—Noble Consort Bao was concerned about Ru Zhou’s people and wanted to check if any shacks in the slums had been crushed by snow. When this was reported to Chenglong Hall, the hall directly ordered the palace gates opened.

Mu Si’s lips pressed down.

Someone who had always only cared about herself—when had she become so compassionate, rushing out in such weather?

The convoy reached the gates but didn’t leave directly. Palace maids got out of the rear carriage and had little eunuchs bring over a large bucket. Removing the lid revealed steaming hot mutton wontons. A palace maid said crisply: “Noble Consort Bao says that in this freezing weather, all those on guard duty are working hard. Please drink some hot soup to warm yourselves.”

Recently Noble Consort Bao often did this, bringing food when going in and out, also frequently sending flowers, fruits, and food to Murong Yi’s palace. Sometimes Murong Yi accepted them, sometimes he just threw them away.

Mu Si led his subordinates in kneeling in the snow to express gratitude.

The palace maid quickly said: “Noble Consort Bao said General Mu need not be so formal. General Mu should quickly eat some hot food.”

Mu Si nodded his thanks, holding a bowl of wontons, watching the convoy disappear into the wind and snow.

Two quarters of an hour later, the convoy stopped in the western part of the city. Noble Consort Bao alighted and entered a shelter erected by Ru Zhou Prefecture to rest, where officials would come report on potential disaster situations without her needing to personally inspect such places.

After Noble Consort Bao entered the shelter, the curtain was lowered.

Inside the shelter, Noble Consort Bao quickly changed clothes and entered a carriage that had been waiting long inside the shelter. A palace maid with a similar figure donned her cloak and took her place in the main seat.

The ordinary carriage traveled a distance before stopping in front of an ordinary three-courtyard residence not far from the western part of the city. In the heavy snow with no one around, the palace maid lifting the curtain still cautiously looked around before helping down the plainly dressed Noble Consort Bao.

The main gate opened, and an expressionless old servant led the way. They passed through the front two courtyards, around a corridor, and the door of the eastern wing opened to reveal a room full of people.

Noble Consort Bao stepped inside, displaying a warm smile before even arriving, saying gently: “I’ve kept you gentlemen waiting.”

A group of old and young men in the room rose to greet her, most dressed simply, but anyone familiar with court would recognize that each person before them was a court figure of power wearing vermillion robes and purple sashes.

Grand Minister of Education, Minister of Public Works, Imperial Censor, Palace Attendant Commander, Court of Judicial Review, Palace Guard Commander… Almost concentrated were the highest officials holding the most crucial authority over civil administration, military preparedness, judiciary, security, equipment, and various palace departments.

Some of these people were political enemies, some didn’t get along well with each other, some were even hereditary enemies who ignored each other when meeting at court. Yet today in this wind and snow, they had unexpectedly gathered in this unremarkable small courtyard.

They bowed to Noble Consort Bao with respectful demeanor.

Noble Consort Bao was also much more amiable than usual, hurriedly helping them up before taking the main seat.

After sitting, without time for pleasantries, she eagerly said: “Gentlemen, have you worked out a plan?”

The Grand Minister of Education and Minister of Public Works exchanged glances—two of the Three Excellencies, with only the newly promoted Grand Marshal absent.

Naturally everyone looked to these two for leadership.

After hesitating, the Grand Minister of Education said: “We have discussed it. Ru Zhou’s defenses are currently firmly controlled by His Majesty. If we were to act, the risks would be very great…”

The Minister of Public Works sighed: “To speak honestly, since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has been reasonably diligent and allowed the people to rest. His governance has no major faults. For us to gather like this to discuss such matters, is it perhaps…”

The Court of Judicial Review said angrily: “He treats the people well enough, but he’s too harsh toward his ministers! Those who know understand we’re subjects—those who don’t might think he’s dealing with enemies!”

“Exactly! He abolished the Embroidered Uniform Guard but created Guatian Division. These gutter rats can even know what you ate today, how many times you used the latrine, how many concubines you slept with. Under melons and plums, they stir up trouble everywhere, disturbing us so we can’t eat or sleep peacefully!”

“Beheading for embezzling a hundred taels, and not allowing us to own too much land or industry—how are we supposed to support such large households? By begging!”

“At court we face trouble at every turn. Daily we practically carry coffins to court. I’ve been sleeping at the government office for a month!”

“My in-law committed a small offense and his entire family was expelled from Ru Zhou. The family cries and wails at my gate daily. My daughter-in-law, six months pregnant, wants to divorce my son. I went to plead with a stiff neck and was beaten ten heavy strokes. Covering my buttocks when I returned home, my daughter-in-law had already left… Life has become unbearable!”

For a time they spoke heatedly and cursed vigorously, almost becoming a denunciation meeting against Emperor Chongjiu. Only when the Minister of Public Works couldn’t stand it anymore and clapped several times did everyone stop.

Noble Consort Bao listened from the head seat, her expression changing. Having lived long in the deep palace with Murong Yi giving her no opportunity to associate with ministers and never telling her anything, this was the first time she was hearing these things.

Listening now, she was also amazed, thinking that Murong Yi had been this good at angering his father, and now his skills had obviously become even more profound.

But angering his father—his father had great talent and strategy, didn’t hold personal grudges, only considered the big picture, and became even more determined to have him succeed to the throne.

But angering these ministers—ministers weren’t your father who would tolerate you. Ministers had private desires and selfish hearts. You forced everyone to be upright ministers, pure ministers—but why should they?

Pushed to the extreme, unable to endure any longer—look, here in the wind and snow, half the high court officials had gathered here to plot against you.

Even your mother was forced by you to have no choice but to unite with your ministers against you.

Is this how you treat your own mother? Two years on the throne and you haven’t even made me Empress Dowager!

How do you expect your mother and consort to face the ministers and the world, how to face the Murong ancestors after a hundred years!

Do you really plan to bury your own mother in a consort’s tomb!

Have you thought about this—my husband was Emperor, my son is Emperor, but I myself am not Empress Dowager—how am I to conduct myself!

You madman, forcing your most important subordinates and your closest and only relative to become enemies—what exactly are you thinking?

Clever all your life, but become muddled once you became Emperor?

She took a deep breath, glanced at the wind and snow outside, and said coldly: “Enough. This is not a denunciation meeting.”

Everyone sullenly stopped talking.

Noble Consort Bao said: “Action can only happen soon. I know him—he left health problems when he ascended the throne. Every snowy day is particularly difficult for him, and he won’t step out of the palace. So it doesn’t matter that we don’t control Ru Zhou’s defenses. As long as we control the palace defenses and can trap Chenglong Hall, that will suffice.”

Everyone then looked toward Palace Guard Commander Fang Qiu, who was responsible for palace gate defense.

Fang Qiu showed a bitter smile: “Though I’m Palace Guard Commander, supposedly the highest official over palace guards, it’s really nominal. After all, everyone knows His Majesty trusts Mu Si most. Though he’s only a deputy general rank, subordinate to me, he holds all authority for palace guard deployment and command…”

Noble Consort Bao said: “Mu Si is nothing to fear. Recently I’ve frequently left the palace, daily giving them soup and water. Mu Si was initially cautious, but after using it and seeing nothing happened, he accepted it. Now that he’s dropped his guard, afterward when I arrange soup and water, I’ll ensure he has a good sleep.”

Everyone praised Noble Consort Bao’s far-sighted planning. Noble Consort Bao slightly raised her chin, looking pleased.

Fang Qiu said: “If so, mobilizing my trusted men to surround Chenglong Hall won’t be difficult. At that time outside the palace gates, I ask that you gentlemen take care of everything.”

The Minister of Public Works said: “We will monitor and detain Ru Zhou’s military officers at all levels. If Noble Consort Bao can help detain His Majesty, we can transmit orders as the Minister of Public Works, summoning military officers in the capital for a military preparedness meeting to detain them all. As long as we detain them one night, afterward they won’t be able to turn the tables.”

Noble Consort Bao smiled: “That’s not difficult.”

The Grand Minister of Education said: “His Majesty is by nature cautious and suspicious, and…”

He looked at Noble Consort Bao, ultimately not daring to say that your mother-son relationship is thin—the fact that you’re not even Empress Dowager by now shows this clearly. Do you really have confidence that you can control His Majesty when you want to?

Noble Consort Bao vaguely understood his meaning and became angry, unable to help saying: “If I hadn’t acted, do you think he would really continue to be bedridden with illness?”

With these words, everyone was shocked.

Someone couldn’t help saying: “You mean…”

Noble Consort Bao’s expression was somewhat unnatural, but she didn’t hide much: “Recently I’ve sent many flowers, fruits, and food to Chenglong Hall…”

She said half and stopped. Her palace maid glanced at her.

She’d never seen someone poison their son and remain so calm about it, even proud.

Noble Consort Bao had lived in the deep palace for years. With great ambition and ruthless nature yet always preserving her life, she naturally wasn’t as gentle as the Queens. Speaking of palace intrigue methods, she was quite a tenth-level expert.

The things sent to the Emperor were varied and diverse. But poison wouldn’t be placed in food or on flower petals, mostly in containers, water vessels, charcoal blocks… these inconspicuous places people wouldn’t think of.

The pastries on a plate might not be eaten, but the plate wouldn’t be casually smashed.

The plum vase holding plum branches was worth a fortune. The plum branches might be thrown away, but the vase would certainly remain.

Silver frost charcoal with some inconspicuous paper scraps attached was common—packaging paper not completely torn off, which no one would specially tear away.

Once burned, the poison absorbed on the paper scraps and dried would mix into the smoke, leaving no trace.

All were ingenious and secretive palace methods.

The poison used naturally wasn’t anything life-threatening. Noble Consort Bao still knew that even poisonous tigers don’t eat their cubs. But making her son, who already had health problems, frequently fall ill and be bedridden was enough to chill hearts.

The palace maid felt mixed emotions and unconsciously moved further back.

After hearing this, the ministers didn’t ask more questions, but inevitably looked at Noble Consort Bao with complex expressions.

Noble Consort Bao took this expression as awe and was quite content.

The Minister of Public Works continued: “If so, we should also plan the aftermath. If we succeed, we will respectfully request His Majesty to abdicate. As for the successor…”