After wiping her tears, Empress Dowager Wen sat up and leaned against the headboard, her face stern as she contemplated. Gu Chaobei had managed to control the civil and military officials without her knowledge—she had been too careless. Once she recovered her strength, she could have Fu Xueshi work to regain ground. After all, there were still people in court who listened to her.
What she needed to do now was restore her health.
Just as she was thinking this, Gu Chaobei’s voice came from outside: “This son has come to pay respects to Mother Empress.”
Empress Dowager Wen choked, unable to catch her breath, and began coughing violently. Gu Chaobei must wish her dead—why else would he come to pay respects?
Nanny Fanghua quickly helped her sit properly and brought a Shu brocade shawl to drape over her shoulders. By then, Gu Chaobei had already entered with a flock of women.
Shen Guiyan stood beside Gu Chaobei, while Lady Xi and Consort Hua stood close by. Consort Shen led the other women of the harem, though they stood somewhat farther away.
Gu Chaobei’s face was full of warmth, yet he didn’t bow. He simply sat down beside the Empress Dowager and said with a smile: “Mother Empress, in just the blink of an eye, how is it that your hair has turned somewhat white?”
Empress Dowager Wen started, instinctively reaching to touch her hair bun. She was only in her forties—where would white hair come from?
Gu Chaobei reached out and gently pulled a strand of the Empress Dowager’s hair, smearing it with his finger before yanking it out: “Look.”
Standing beside Gu Chaobei, Shen Guiyan maintained a solemn expression without breaking into laughter.
He had smeared white paint on his finger. She had wondered earlier why he was applying it, but now she understood—it was simply to frighten the old Empress Dowager.
Since ancient times, nothing was more unbearable to witness than a hero’s twilight years or a beauty’s white hair.
Empress Dowager Wen’s eyes widened, but before she could see clearly, Gu Chaobei had already tossed the white hair away: “Mother Empress still has more on your head. Would you like this son to pluck them for you?”
“Ah!” Empress Dowager Wen thrust her hand out, shoving Gu Chaobei away forcefully and covering her hair bun, her eyes bloodshot: “Don’t touch this dowager!”
Nanny Fanghua quickly came to stand beside the Empress Dowager, frowning at Gu Chaobei: “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is emotionally unstable today. Why must you provoke her further?”
“I have no choice but to come,” Gu Chaobei said very seriously. “Matters of the harem fall under the Empress Dowager’s management, so this son has come specifically to request an edict. I wish to make Yan’er Empress. What does Mother Empress think?”
“Impossible.” Empress Dowager Wen shook her head without thinking, looking coldly at Shen Guiyan. “As long as this dowager lives, she will never allow you to ascend to the position of Empress. As long as the harem remains under this dowager’s control, Shen Guiyan can forget about becoming Empress!”
Shen Guiyan stepped forward half a pace, neither angry nor annoyed, and looked at the Empress Dowager: “Since Empress Dowager Wen is currently ill, His Majesty feels sorry that you must worry about court matters while also managing the harem. Therefore, he wishes to issue an edict transferring power over the harem to Empress Dowager Nian. From now on, all promotions of concubines in the harem will be decided by Empress Dowager Nian.”
After all, she was still an Empress Dowager.
Strip her of harem authority? And let that wench Nian Chanjuan become arrogant? Empress Dowager Wen snorted coldly: “This dowager does not agree.”
Gu Chaobei smiled and pulled out a scroll with an imperial edict: “I have already written the decree and will have it proclaimed shortly. Whether Mother Empress agrees or not doesn’t matter—I’m only going through the formality. Mother Empress has already seen today’s situation in court. You are old now. These matters should be left to this son to handle.”
No matter how much you protest, no one listens to you anymore. I have the final say.
Understanding this meaning, Empress Dowager Wen’s breathing became labored with anger. She pointed at Gu Chaobei: “You bastard, trying to seize absolute power!”
Gu Chaobei’s expression darkened. Shen Guiyan also frowned: “Empress Dowager, this concubine boldly reminds you—His Majesty is the Late Emperor’s own blood. Those two words you just spoke are disrespectful to the Late Emperor. If submitted to the Imperial Clan Court, you could be convicted.”
Empress Dowager Wen slapped toward Shen Guiyan’s face, her eyes filled with venom. Shen Guiyan had long anticipated that this old woman loved to slap faces. She leaned back, and the Empress Dowager’s slap landed on Nanny Fanghua beside her instead.
Nanny Fanghua was stunned.
“You dare dodge?” Empress Dowager Wen was furious beyond measure. She tried to rise and strike again, but Gu Chaobei had already pressed down on her hand.
“Mother Empress, this son came to discuss matters with you, not to watch you strike my consort.” Gu Chaobei said softly: “This son holds reverence for Mother Empress, which is why I came to ask your opinion. Between court affairs and the harem, Mother Empress must choose one. If you insist on managing both, you’ll inevitably exhaust your mind and body. Who knows—you might faint from anger again next time.”
Empress Dowager Wen froze.
Gu Chaobei’s meaning was that she must either hold power over the harem or participate in court politics?
She wanted to choose participating in court politics, but had the Emperor left her even the slightest room for it? Today in court, her dignity as Empress Dowager had been trampled. Even if she wanted to return, could she still dictate matters as she had before?
This was clearly a trap he’d set for her. If she chose the court, she would lose harem authority and become nothing but a puppet in the imperial court.
If she chose the harem… Empress Dowager Wen looked coldly at Shen Guiyan.
“This dowager understands His Majesty’s meaning.” Composing herself, Empress Dowager Wen calmed down: “The Emperor is grown now and should rule personally. This dowager won’t stand in your way and will simply enjoy her twilight years peacefully in the harem.”
Gu Chaobei was delighted, saying with a smile: “That Mother Empress thinks of this son so considerately makes me very happy. Then let it be settled. If Mother Empress doesn’t agree to making Yan’er Empress, I won’t force it.”
Shen Guiyan also stepped back, standing obediently to the side: “This concubine and her sisters will certainly serve the Empress Dowager well in the future.”
Empress Dowager Wen frowned. Her own decision shouldn’t have any problems. Even without attending court, she had her own forces. Compared to losing power over the harem, not attending court was certainly better.
But somehow, the expressions on everyone’s faces looked as if they had succeeded in their scheme.
What were they planning now? A knot formed in Empress Dowager Wen’s heart. Filled with suspicion, her head began to ache.
“Empress Dowager should rest and recuperate well.” Consort Shen spoke softly: “Once your health recovers, you’ll have the strength to manage the harem.”
Empress Dowager Wen glanced at her. Since emerging from the Cold Palace, Shen Hanlu seemed much more sensible, which at least gave her some peace of mind. But she wasn’t favored—what use was obedience?
“I still have words for Mother Empress.” Gu Chaobei smiled: “Consort Yan will remain. Everyone else may leave and return to your palaces to pray for the Empress Dowager.”
“Yes.”
The Emperor’s words made it sound as if Empress Dowager Wen were terminally ill. Praying, indeed. Empress Dowager Wen was extremely displeased, but the concubines had already departed.
“Nanny Fanghua, please step outside as well.” Gu Chaobei smiled: “This concerns imperial secrets. Nanny, please stand guard outside.”
Nanny Fanghua frowned. She felt uneasy. Though the Emperor before her was smiling, he looked terrifying.
Empress Dowager Wen snorted coldly: “Fanghua, go outside. These two can’t harm this dowager. Guard outside.”
“Yes.” Only then did Nanny Fanghua comply, withdrawing and closing the door.
“What imperial secrets?” Empress Dowager Wen looked at Gu Chaobei with half-lidded eyes: “You can only be considered half a member of the imperial family. Could you know more than this dowager?”
“Naturally.” Gu Chaobei smiled slightly: “Mother Empress doesn’t know by whose hand the Sixth Prince died all those years ago. I do.”
Empress Dowager Wen paused, her mind unable to process this, staring blankly at the Emperor.
Shen Guiyan brought out two spirit tablets and stood beside the Empress Dowager’s bed, smiling very warmly: “Can the Empress Dowager read?”
Empress Dowager Wen flew into a rage: “This dowager comes from a scholarly family—how could I be illiterate? You’re incredibly bold!”
Shen Guiyan wasn’t frightened. She simply turned the two spirit tablets in her hands respectfully toward Empress Dowager Wen.
One tablet read “Consort Zhuang, née Bai,” and the other read “Si Xi and his entire family.”
Empress Dowager Wen drew in a sharp breath, waving her hand to sweep the tablets away: “What filthy things dare you bring before this dowager? Shen Guiyan, you truly have tremendous audacity!”
Protecting the two tablets swiftly in her embrace, Shen Guiyan smiled slightly: “This concubine’s courage is not great at all. On the contrary, this concubine is timid, knowing that heaven’s justice has its cycles, and whatever evil deeds one commits will surely bring retribution. Therefore, this concubine dares do nothing.”
“Empress Dowager, is your courage great or small?”
Empress Dowager Wen shifted further into the bed, averting her eyes: “You madwoman are completely unworthy of serving the Emperor. This dowager will issue a decree to demote you to the Cold Palace!”
“If Mother Empress understands what this son is saying and can still issue decrees, this son won’t stop you.” Gu Chaobei took over, smiling: “Didn’t Mother Empress once say that whatever you dislike, with a light touch, simply disappears?”
Empress Dowager Wen looked at him in terror.
“When I was still merely a subject, I also greatly disliked the Sixth Prince—incompetent and foolish, only knowing how to listen to his mother’s words. Such a person wanted to inherit the throne.”
“So I devised a method to ensure he couldn’t inherit it. Even if the Crown Prince was gone, it wouldn’t be his turn.”
Images flashed through her mind—her imperial son covered in blood, the Sixth Prince on his last breath before being murdered, ultimately meeting his death in the underworld.
Heaven knows how miserably she wept when the Sixth Prince died. Setting aside interests, he was still her own son. For a very long time, Empress Dowager Wen dreamed of personally slaying the murderer.
Her imperial son had died so unjustly!
Now Gu Chaobei said he knew who killed her son, and said he disliked her son.
Her mind went blank. Empress Dowager Wen couldn’t connect these words, but her hands had already moved ahead of her consciousness, grasping Gu Chaobei’s throat.
“You… you…”
“Mother Empress, it’s me.” Gu Chaobei showed no panic at all, prying away the Empress Dowager’s hands and saying softly: “Killing the Sixth Prince was the Crown Prince’s idea at the time, and the one who executed the order and arranged the personnel happened to be this son. Mother Empress, please accept this with equanimity. You needn’t always think of the Sixth Prince. Look—this son, whom you personally helped onto the throne, am I not also your imperial son?”
After stabbing at people’s hearts in court, he now delivered a divine finishing blow.
The murderer you hate most, the mortal enemy you most wish to slay with your own hands, was placed on the throne by you personally, to enjoy a lifetime of glory and wealth!
Empress Dowager Wen drew in a deep breath but couldn’t exhale for a long time. Her bloodshot eyes bulged as if trying to escape their sockets!