Empress Zhou Zhao nodded, feeling somewhat troubled. She set down her jade porcelain cup, having lost the desire to continue drinking.
Zhang Baohuan was aware that although the Empress claimed illness and didn’t attend court, her mind was still preoccupied with state affairs. Noticing the Empress’s low spirits, she plucked a blooming lotus flower and tucked it into the Empress’s hair. She then held up a mirror before the Empress, smiling as gently as a spring breeze.
In the mirror, the woman reflected had a phoenix-like grace and a dragon-like neck, her beauty unparalleled and her nobility beyond words. However, a few strands of white hair had appeared at her temples, fine lines marked the corners of her eyes, and the passage of time was evident in her gaze. She was no longer as youthful as in years past.
Zhou Zhao raised her hand to touch her face, forcing a smile. “It does look nice. The lotus is beautiful, but perhaps the morning glory would be more fitting.”
Zhang Baohuan grew anxious. “Your Majesty mustn’t think that way. To me, Your Majesty is eternal and always the most beautiful.”
She pouted, somewhat upset. “It’s my fault. This lotus is indeed unworthy of Your Majesty. Only the peony, the king of flowers, is worthy of Your Majesty.”
“Ah, peonies,” Zhou Zhao sighed, her thoughts drifting far away. “The peonies in Luozhou are the best.”
“It’s a pity. Like me, their blooming season has passed.”
Zhang Baohuan slapped herself, leaving a clear handprint on her fair cheek. Zhou Zhao was startled and grabbed her hand, angry. “What are you doing, slapping yourself for no reason? You’re making me worry.”
“If Your Majesty worries, I don’t feel the pain,” Zhang Baohuan looked up with a smile, her eyes as moist as if covered in morning dew. “It’s my fault for causing Your Majesty distress. I’m punishing myself.”
Zhou Zhao stood up, pulling Zhang Baohuan to sit beside her. She tilted her head, looking at Zhang Baohuan for a while, then held her hand in her own.
Zhang Baohuan’s face stung, but seeing the Empress’s mood improve, she was quite pleased. She sat quietly, not daring to say more.
The early autumn breeze passed through the pavilion like a swing, lifting the curtains to reveal the two figures sitting close together.
As Zhou Zhao applied ointment to Zhang Baohuan’s face, she casually asked, “You mentioned Zhang Xingwei earlier. Do you have any good ideas?”
Zhang Baohuan’s large, watery eyes moved slowly as she spoke, “Grand Secretary Zhang is an old minister. He was a trusted advisor to Emperor Gaozong and had outstanding political achievements and strategies. He is of high moral character and was appointed as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor by Emperor Gaozong to educate the prince. He has a deep affection for the Crown Prince. Now that Your Majesty has removed the Crown Prince, Grand Secretary Zhang is naturally dissatisfied.”
Zhou Zhao nodded. This was indeed her current headache. “But I can’t beat or scold him. He comes to the court every day to submit memorials and kneel. What can be done?”
The Empress appeared quite troubled, but Zhang Baohuan knew the calculations in her heart and followed along, saying:
“They don’t understand Your Majesty’s good intentions. The Crown Prince is now in a weak position, and Your Majesty took this drastic measure to protect his life. They don’t understand, so they’re causing such a fuss.”
“Why doesn’t Your Majesty listen to Consort Xu’s suggestion and simply choose someone satisfactory to settle the matter, ending their hopes?”
As for who to choose, Zhang Baohuan didn’t dare say. It wasn’t her place to speak on such matters, and it certainly wouldn’t fall to her. She had no such ambitions.
Zhou Zhao naturally understood Zhang Baohuan’s meaning, but this wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Given the current situation, is there a temporary solution?”
Zhang Baohuan’s mind was clear as a mirror. She rose and knelt:
“This humble servant has a crude plan.”
The Empress had indeed deposed the Crown Prince, but she didn’t want to establish anyone else. She only wanted to use this to accomplish her goals.
Zhou Zhao looked at her, gesturing for her to continue.
“Your Majesty is distressed about the Crown Prince matter and plans to go to Luozhou Palace to recuperate. You could have Princess Chaoyang handle court affairs in your stead. With Princess Chaoyang attending court, those ministers surely wouldn’t dare to trouble her.”
Zhou Zhao’s face lit up with pleasure, and she nodded in approval. “Excellent. Let’s do that. Summon Consort Xu to the Purple Pearl Hall.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The next day, the Empress once again claimed illness and didn’t attend court. The ministers thought it would be like the previous days and were preparing to withdraw early. However, they were surprised to see Princess Chaoyang seated to the left of the dragon throne in court attire, with Consort Xu assisting on the right. Zhang Baohuan was nowhere to be seen.
Seeing this, the ministers had to recalculate their plans, not daring to mention the matter of deposing the Crown Prince.
And so, the matter was settled for the time being.
After the court session, Lai Luozhi could barely contain his joy. With the Crown Prince deposed and the Empress having Princess Chaoyang manage court affairs, the Crown Prince’s path back to power was blocked.
No matter what, one obstacle had been removed.
As soon as he returned to his residence, a secret letter from Princess Yong’an arrived, once again mentioning their cooperation. Thinking of Princess Chaoyang’s demeanor in court today, he felt somewhat indecisive. Placing one’s bets was fine if correct, but if wrong, it could cost one’s head.
Ah, it would be best if he sat on that throne, free to do as he pleased.
Shortly after, another letter from Gannan Circuit appeared on his desk. Lai Luozhi, already worried about Princess Yong’an, felt his heart skip a beat upon seeing this letter.
His situation here was already precarious; there must be no mistakes in Yingzhou.
Opening the letter, a familiar yet jarring name caught his eye.
“Mo Qianzhi,” he repeated the name several times.
Years ago, when the Shen family was exterminated, this person had only recently become Shen Shijie’s disciple and had little involvement, with a clean background. He was pardoned, but he fearlessly insisted on their innocence, crawling on his knees from Vermilion Bird Avenue to the Empress to plead for mercy, leaving behind the troublesome Shen Du.
Later, the Empress, admiring his courage, didn’t blame him and personally awarded him an imperial examination quota. Mo Qianzhi became the top scholar and was appointed as the Magistrate of Chang’an County, with a promising future ahead.
At that time, Lai Luozhi had already sent people to collect evidence of Mo Qianzhi’s crimes. Yes, Mo Qianzhi had no dark history or evidence of wrongdoing, but what was the Court of Judicial Review for? If they wanted to bring someone down, finding evidence was easy. If there was none, they could create it. He was quite adept at such matters.
Just as he was about to make his move, the Empress ordered Mo Qianzhi to be demoted to Assistant Governor in Yingzhou.
Going from Chang’an County Magistrate to Assistant Governor before even taking office became a topic of discussion in the streets, and Lai Luozhi lost his chance to act, watching helplessly as Mo Qianzhi left for Yingzhou to assume his post.
After all these years, if Mo Qianzhi hadn’t written a memorial requesting the Court of Judicial Review to investigate the “Half-faced Ghost” case in Yingzhou, the Empress might have forgotten about him entirely.
What was even more puzzling was that the Empress didn’t involve the Court of Judicial Review, but instead sent Shen Du and that unremarkable Zhu Yan to Yingzhou to thoroughly investigate the “Half-faced Ghost” matter.
Because of this, Lai Luozhi had once suspected that the Empress might have discovered the connection between the Fire Moth Party and himself. However, the Empress continued to trust him as before, and now she had even ordered Princess Chaoyang to fully trust him as well.
But as long as Shen Du remained alive, he couldn’t rest easy.
Thus, seeing the name “Mo Qianzhi” again, Lai Luozhi’s vindictive nature took over, and he was about to write back ordering Mo Qianzhi’s elimination.
However, he quickly abandoned this idea as he glimpsed the content that followed, leaving him dumbfounded.
Mo Qianzhi had joined the Fire Moth Party. And become Lai Lufu’s right-hand man? And even raised troops to attack Yingzhou City?
This… was indeed very much like Mo Qianzhi.
Realizing something, Lai Luozhi quickly disposed of the letter and hastily wrote a few sentences.
Mo can be kept if useful; if not, kill him. As for Shen, he must not return alive. Use any means necessary.
After sealing the letter, Lai Luozhi personally selected several capable subordinates to rush to Yingzhou together, ensuring nothing would go wrong.
He was certain that if Shen Du didn’t die this time, the outcome would be a fight to the death.
After sending the letter, Lai Luozhi sat in his original position, thinking carefully. The Empress had suppressed the news of Mo Qianzhi’s rebellion, suddenly deposed the Crown Prince, and supported Princess Chaoyang to govern. How was this game of chess to be played?
His expression turned vicious. No matter how it was played, there could only be one outcome.
“There’s no choice. If I don’t sit on that throne, when you pass away, it will be the time of my death.”