Xiao Mingrou called out, “Your Majesty.”
The Emperor quickly crouched down and held her in his arms. “Beloved consort, exactly how did you fall into the water?” This gesture was witnessed by the various consorts, as well as the Empress, their hearts burning with fury.
“This consort doesn’t know what happened either. At the time, Your Majesty the Empress told this consort I needn’t go down to the stern to release lanterns, but this consort thought, even if I couldn’t personally release lanterns to pray, standing closer to watch would also be good. This consort heard that Your Majesty had also come onto the lake, so I looked toward the lake surface. Unexpectedly, I was suddenly pushed forcefully from behind and fell into the water.”
After Xiao Mingrou finished speaking, the Empress’s complexion became extremely unpleasant. “You’re saying I deliberately pushed you?”
Though the Emperor was mindful of their marital affection, seeing the Empress like this, his tone couldn’t help but turn cold. “When did Imperial Consort Chen say you did it deliberately? How is it you’re being so unreasonable now?”
Seeing the Emperor doting on Imperial Consort Chen before everyone while reproaching herself, the Empress’s heart filled with deadly hatred, though her face showed only sorrow as tears fell. “Your Majesty, this consort was anxious and improper, misunderstanding Imperial Consort Chen’s meaning.”
The Emperor huffed. “An upright person need not fear a crooked shadow. Empress, you’d better say less.”
The Empress lowered her head, drew a handkerchief from her sleeve, and quietly wiped her tears.
“Your Majesty, this consort believes Your Majesty the Empress wouldn’t have done it deliberately.” Xiao Mingrou had coordinated her testimony with Mo Zi. “The boat was unstable. The Minister’s wife fell, and Your Majesty the Empress turned back to look. Perhaps in her haste, she bumped into this consort.”
The Empress secretly thought that she had indeed underestimated Xiao Mingrou in the past. Just as she couldn’t destroy Song Mo Zi today, Xiao Mingrou also couldn’t immediately destroy her—it was merely a battle of minds. If handled well, it could be repaired in the future.
“Thanks to Miss Wang for helping me.” Xiao Mingrou carefully remembered Mo Zi’s words—the more fair and magnanimous she appeared, the more the Emperor would favor her.
“Wang family’s Shiniang, bold and fearless, saved Imperial Consort Chen. I reward you with five bolts of twelve-colored cloud brocade, five trays of jade and gold ornaments, and one thousand taels of gold.” The Emperor didn’t forget Imperial Consort Chen’s “benefactor.”
Wang Shiniang immediately knelt. “This one thanks Your Majesty.”
Empress Wang immediately seized this opportunity. “Your Majesty, if this consort wanted to harm someone, I wouldn’t have my own niece go rescue her.” The implication was that she had Wang Shiniang jump into the water.
This lie looked easily exposed, but no one exposed it. Wang Shiniang wouldn’t expose her aunt, Princess Consort Jing wouldn’t expose her daughter’s superior, the noble ladies wouldn’t expose the mother of the nation, and Mo Zi wouldn’t expose someone that everyone else wouldn’t expose. Therefore, everyone remained silent.
However, silence could sometimes express another meaning. In the Emperor’s view, everyone’s silence was merely giving the Empress face. A way out.
“With such an incident occurring, forget about releasing lanterns.” The Emperor had someone help Imperial Consort Chen onto his own boat. “Everyone return to shore.”
“Your Majesty, Yuan would like to share a boat with my wife.” As soon as Yuan Cheng finished speaking, Huayi and Zan Jin jumped onto the pleasure boat.
The Emperor’s mind was preoccupied with Imperial Consort Chen’s condition and didn’t care about these minor details. “Baiyu, you and Zhong An bring guards over as well. Minister Yuan and the Minister’s wife are honored guests of our Great Zhou. Prevent any further complications.”
Seeing these guards holding steel blades, which of the noble ladies still dared approach the Empress to whisper? Even including Shan Shi, all stayed as far away as possible. Instead, Xiao Wei stepped forward to invite this seemingly grief-stricken mother of the nation into the cabin. This way, the stern cleared out quietly, leaving only Mo Zi, Yuan Cheng, and their few companions.
And Noble Consort Ying.
“You…” She uttered one word. Then she smiled, the smile containing both ruthlessness and finality. “You can’t blame me for deceiving you.”
Mo Zi also smiled, quite indifferently. “Did I say I blamed you? After you repaid your debt to me, there was no need for you to help me anymore. If I believed you, I’d be the fool. Besides, you’re not completely heartless. Speaking of the Great Zhou imperial family’s foundation, it’s not the child in Imperial Consort Chen’s belly, but the mother of the nation, right? Though Empress Wang has only borne two princesses, Great Zhou now has only one young prince who’s already been placed under her name. In the future when he ascends the throne, he will certainly honor her as Empress Dowager—her position cannot be shaken. Whether Imperial Consort Chen’s child is male or female is still unknown—how can it be called the imperial family’s foundation?”
Noble Consort Ying looked at her again and again, then slowly turned around. “Song Mo Zi, from now on, we each go our separate ways.”
Everything that needed to be said had already been said that day in the red leaf forest. When Mo Zi discovered that Noble Consort Ying had deliberately left clues for her to detect the lies, she knew the two had become enemies from that point forward.
At this moment, their brief alliance was officially declared broken.
“The women around Wu Yanqie are all formidable.” Yuan Cheng said to Mo Zi.
“Are you praising him?” Mo Zi didn’t know if his words also included herself.
“Naturally I’m praising him. The strong don’t keep the weak around them—it’s the result of constant elimination, regardless of gender.” Yuan Cheng felt he was saying something positive.
“The strong without compassionate hearts are merely outwardly strong but inwardly weak. One day they’ll be betrayed and abandoned by all.” Mo Zi countered.
Wu Yanqie’s principles for handling matters had no compassion or kindness, only cruelty and tyrannical power—thinking about it now, this was his greatest obstacle to unifying the realm. But what Wu Yanqie lacked, Yuan Cheng possessed. Yuan Cheng wasn’t a good person in the ordinary sense, but neither was he a bad person by common definition. His actions and treatment of people seemed arbitrary, yet due to his objectivity, he could navigate both positive and negative sides. Absolute righteousness and absolute evil don’t actually exist—both have gaps on their opposite sides that can be exploited. Yuan Cheng aimed precisely at these gaps. So he could maneuver with corrupt officials to achieve his own goals, while maintaining appreciation for people like Xiao Wei and Wei Jia, willing to cooperate and extend trust. Looking at those around Yuan Cheng, one could see that those who remained weren’t the corrupt stream but the upright stream, while also not being rigid.
“The strong without compassionate hearts?” Yuan Cheng smiled at Mo Zi. “Another admonitory saying.”
Mo Zi sighed. “Yet such a person might also control the realm.”
Yuan Cheng understood her meaning but said nothing, because at this time, anything said would be premature.
Central Palace Hall.
Wang He walked inside following a palace maid. Seeing his younger sister’s expression cold as ice though her eyes burned with fury, he knew she had made other plans.
“Your Majesty the Empress.” He called her back from her distraction.
“Elder Brother, we cannot wait any longer.” Empress Wang went straight to the point.
Though Wang He was mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but tremble. “Your Grace, might I discuss this further with the Daqiu side?”
“The more I think about it, the more something feels wrong. The Song people clearly suspect our Wang family, which is why they mentioned Father and dared to frame me. And His Majesty’s attitude also makes me uneasy. He has never spoken a single cold word to me, yet today he rebuked me before everyone. If he hadn’t developed suspicions, he wouldn’t have done that.” Empress Wang had lived with the Emperor for many years and understood him very well.
“But His Majesty cannot possibly find evidence.” They had been very careful in their actions.
“No, we cannot take risks. His favoritism toward Yuan Cheng and the others has long been traceable. Cooperating with Daqiu against Song—I feel it’s already impossible. And Yuan Cheng and Song Mo Zi—if they uncover even the slightest trace of our connection with Daqiu, they will certainly investigate thoroughly. Our schemes will be exposed sooner or later. The best plan now—rather than wait for them to act, we should act first. Immediately find the King of Daqiu and have him prepare.” A vicious look suddenly appeared on Empress Wang’s face.
Wang He gritted his teeth and nodded. “This step must eventually be taken. The Song people being here has always been a hidden danger. Then you’ll act tonight?”
“Yes.” Empress Wang curled her lips in a cold smile. “Didn’t the Song people send over several fresh fish? Perfect. If framing them once doesn’t work, can framing them twice also fail? The Imperial Medical Bureau is entirely ours. During this time, we’ve been supplementing His Majesty’s health according to my wishes—it’s time to apply some strong medicine. He can disregard over twenty years of marital affection, focusing his heart entirely on that little vixen Xiao Mingrou—then don’t blame me for being ruthless and vicious.”
Wang He still had one last bit of hesitation. “Father actually doesn’t approve.”
Empress Wang immediately waved her hand. “In Father’s eyes, we’re always children who never grow up, but our Wang family has abundant talent, far superior to the Wu clan. In the past there was Wu Zetian—today there can also be me, opening the most noble path for the Wang family. After the matter succeeds, it won’t be too late to bring him to enjoy blessings.” Song Mo Zi was lying—Father wouldn’t die. He was brilliant beyond compare, the smartest person in the world—how could he be together with a homeless dog?
Wang He had always deferred to this extraordinarily clever younger sister. In twenty years, she had quietly caused the Emperor’s descendants to be few, firmly controlled the rear palace, and later became thoroughly familiar with court politics. Using the Wang family’s power in officialdom, she had secretly cultivated her own influence. Aspiring to compete with Wu Zetian, she was a woman with remarkable ambition.
“Then I’ll await Your Grace’s news.” Ten years of effort—it all came down to this moment. Wang He seemed to hear urgent drums and gongs, and his footsteps couldn’t help but hurry.
A palace maid approached, the tray in her hands holding two bowls and a small purple clay dragon-carved medicine cup. “Your Grace, sent from the Imperial Medical Bureau.”
Empress Wang swept her sleeve and walked outside without even glancing at the tray. “To the Imperial Study.”
Early the next morning, all the officials arrived for court, only to be urgently informed that the Emperor had fallen gravely ill and could not hold morning court.
One stone stirred up a thousand waves.
The entire court buzzed with discussion. When the news reached the Yuan Mansion, it was still burning hot.
The one who brought the news was their neighbor separated by only a wall—Xiao Wei.
He said, “The imperial physicians only say that His Majesty has contracted a strange illness. His body alternates between hot and cold, he’s weak and without strength, and further diagnosis is needed.”
The news cooled at Yuan Cheng’s brush tip. He was writing characters, extremely calm and unhurried.
Mo Zi was reading a book nearby. Hearing this, she set down the book. “He was perfectly fine yesterday. Today he’s fallen ill, and they can’t even determine the cause—it’s somewhat strange.”
“I also find it too coincidental.” Xiao Wei’s peak-like brows formed a cliff. “Yesterday the Empress caused Imperial Consort Chen to fall into the water, arousing His Majesty’s displeasure. Early this morning, His Majesty fell seriously ill—it’s truly suspicious.”
“Have you been able to see His Majesty?” Yuan Cheng asked.
“I wanted to visit, but the Empress didn’t allow it, saying His Majesty needs quiet rest.” After Xiao Wei finished speaking, he snorted coldly.
“So she’s placed His Majesty under house arrest?” Mo Zi’s voice rose slightly. “If the Empress can control the Imperial Medical Bureau, administering poison to the Emperor would be as easy as turning her hand.”
“She wouldn’t be so blatant. Poisoning the Son of Heaven—would she still want to control court politics? Moreover, to implement house arrest, she must control the Qianniu Guard. From what we know, General Geng Wo is still utterly loyal to the Emperor. The Left Guard he commands won’t obey the Empress.” Yuan Cheng was very familiar with personnel matters in the Great Zhou palace. “The urgent priority is for General Xiao to see His Majesty and confirm his safety.”
Xiao Wei felt Yuan Cheng made good points. “This time I won’t let the Empress discover me.”
After Xiao Wei left, a person flipped down from the ceiling beams.