She understood! She understood everything! When Gu Chaobei had rescued the Emperor at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, he had been helping the Crown Prince. He borrowed the Crown Prince’s blade to kill the Sixth Prince, then personally killed the Crown Prince himself, making himself the only legitimate blood relative of the imperial family. All along he pretended to be a wastrel, pretended to be ignorant, piling all his achievements onto Shen Guiyan’s head!
Everyone, including her, had been deceived, thinking Gu Chaobei was easy to control, that his rise in officialdom relied entirely on Shen Guiyan’s luck and tactful conduct. He himself was just a worthless scoundrel who couldn’t amount to anything.
Back then, when the Empress Dowager exposed his identity as a prince but said he was a palace maid’s son, she completely dropped her guard. Thus she naturally gave the throne to this ambitious wolf, wholeheartedly believing that making him Emperor would allow her to control the empire.
After scheming for half a lifetime, she was now being toyed with by a young upstart! The person she hated and resented most—not only had she spared him, she had personally placed the dragon crown of the Emperor upon his head!
Unable to release her rage, she turned and leaned over the bedside to vomit, actually spitting up blood. Empress Dowager Wen’s eyes were filled with crimson as she raised her head to look at Gu Chaobei: “I will kill you… I must kill you…”
Gu Chaobei wore a slight smile, looking down at her: “Mother Empress, do you know? When I saw Consort Zhuang’s corpse, I also had the thought of killing you.”
Empress Dowager Wen froze.
“Such a vibrant woman—how could you bear to have someone hang her alive from the rafters? In the dead of night, have you never seen Consort Zhuang’s shadow?”
Her body trembling slightly, the blood at the corner of the Empress Dowager’s mouth still wet, she opened her eyes wide in terror and shouted: “Fanghua!”
Nanny Fanghua from outside quickly entered. Seeing the Empress Dowager in this state, she was greatly alarmed and stepped forward to block the Emperor: “What have you done to the Empress Dowager?”
Shen Guiyan smiled slightly, reaching out to pull Nanny Fanghua aside: “Why must Nanny be so anxious? His Majesty is telling the Empress Dowager old stories. The Empress Dowager listened with such pleasure that she expelled the stagnant blood from her heart. This is a good thing.”
Nanny Fanghua frowned at her.
“Drive them out! Drive them out!” The Empress Dowager wanted to scream, but Gu Chaobei reached out and seemingly casually touched the Empress Dowager’s temples. Her body stiffened, and she became completely quiet.
“Mother Empress is always so agitated. Your health is already poor—you should calm down and listen to what this son has to say.” Gu Chaobei smiled, turning to look at Nanny Fanghua who wanted to approach: “Nanny, don’t move. Mother Empress has calmed down. You may wait outside.”
Nanny Fanghua felt uneasy. She glanced at the Empress Dowager, who raised her hand to rub her temples, seemingly truly calmed down. She said nothing, merely leaning against the soft pillow and supporting her forehead.
She could move and hadn’t been knocked unconscious. Nanny Fanghua felt reassured and turned to leave: “If the Empress Dowager needs anything, just call for this servant.”
The Empress Dowager didn’t keep her—not because she didn’t want to, but because Gu Chaobei had smeared something on her temples. She couldn’t speak when she opened her mouth, and even moving her body was difficult. She could only reach up to touch her temples.
Cold and icy.
Empress Dowager Wen suddenly felt somewhat afraid. What if Gu Chaobei poisoned her to death right now—what would she do?
“Mother Empress needn’t be afraid. This is merely paste-form anesthetic powder. Your tongue is just numb, and your mind isn’t very clear. It’s not poison.” Gu Chaobei kindly explained: “How could this son bear to poison you directly? If you died, wouldn’t the Wen family hold me accountable? National Uncle Wen commands heavy troops abroad—I am still somewhat wary.”
Wen Xiuli was furious, her body limp and weak, her head beginning to feel dizzy. She could only glare at him with her eyes.
“This son hasn’t finished speaking. It wouldn’t be good if others overheard—this is an imperial secret.” Gu Chaobei looked at her: “The Sixth Prince was stabbed through the abdomen with a sword, wasn’t he? That sword was called Ciging—a very sharp precious blade. After assassinating the Sixth Prince, that sword was confiscated by the palace. This son only recently found it and thought perhaps I should give it to Mother Empress as a keepsake.”
Shen Guiyan couldn’t help but turn her head away. She really couldn’t bear to watch this scene. Gu Chaobei was deliberately stepping on the Empress Dowager’s sore spots. Seeing the Empress Dowager trembling all over with rage, unable to control herself, Shen Guiyan felt this was truly…
Truly wonderful.
She quickly brought over a stool and chose an angle where she could best see the Empress Dowager’s expression. With a solemn face, Shen Guiyan placed the spirit tablets of Consort Zhuang and Si Xi’s family on top, then bowed respectfully.
If their spirits were watching from heaven, they should finally feel some satisfaction.
Gu Chaobei described in great detail to Empress Dowager Wen how he had planned and executed the Crown Prince’s murder, then thanked the Empress Dowager for all her support along the way.
By the end, Empress Dowager Wen finally lost consciousness and became senseless. Gu Chaobei even pressed her philtrum to wake the Empress Dowager before continuing: “I haven’t finished yet.”
Empress Dowager Wen finally had a stroke. Under Gu Chaobei’s vivid and emotional description, she suddenly fainted, her mouth twisted to one side, never able to speak again.
Gu Chaobei calmly watched her convulse for a while, then stood up and walked to Shen Guiyan’s side, nodding slightly toward the spirit tablets on the stool: “That’s enough.”
When Gu Chaobei first told Shen Guiyan he had a method to make Empress Dowager Wen fall naturally ill and never speak again, she had been doubtful. She thought he would use some strange poison.
She never expected he would anger the Empress Dowager into having a stroke.
This would work. The decree the Empress Dowager wanted to issue to demote her to the Cold Palace could never be issued now.
So people who are too petty are really just making things hard for themselves—dying of anger themselves while delighting others.
Gu Chaobei took Shen Guiyan’s hand and said gently: “Cover your ears.”
Shen Guiyan looked at him questioningly but obediently complied, raising her hands to cover her ears.
Gu Chaobei stood up, took a deep breath, gathered his energy in his lower abdomen, and shouted loudly: “Mother Empress—”
Even with her ears covered, she was startled. The unconscious Empress Dowager Wen on the bed seemed to tremble. With lightning speed, Gu Chaobei rushed to the bedside and wailed in grief.
The door was pushed open. Nanny Fanghua rushed in with guards, looking anxiously at the Empress Dowager’s bed: “What happened?”
Gu Chaobei cried with great emotion: “This son merely said he was willing to let Mother Empress regain control of court affairs. Mother Empress was so overjoyed that she fainted directly. Quickly! Summon the imperial physicians!”
Wails filled the Eastern Palace. Imperial Physician Guo came personally. After diagnosing it as stroke, Nanny Fanghua looked up at the Emperor.
Gu Chaobei sighed with great regret: “I don’t wish to see Mother Empress become like this either, but there’s no help for it. With Mother Empress fallen, the harem can only be managed by Empress Dowager Nian. As for court affairs, I will handle them well.”
He had clearly angered the Empress Dowager into having a stroke! Nanny Fanghua wanted very much to speak out, but considering the Empress Dowager couldn’t speak and she herself was just a palace maid, speaking would be useless and would only give the Emperor an excuse to punish her.
So Nanny Fanghua remained silent.
Gu Chaobei glanced at Nanny Fanghua, instructed the imperial physicians to care for the Empress Dowager well, then left with Shen Guiyan.
Departing under everyone’s gaze, the Emperor felt no guilt at all. Strokes were something no one could control, right? No one could blame him for it either. This was much more reliable than poisoning.
Shen Guiyan carried the spirit tablets as she left, Gu Chaobei’s arm around her waist. As soon as they left the Eastern Palace grounds and reached a deserted palace path, the man beside her turned and held her tightly, his warm breath all exhaled by her ear.
“Yan’er, I succeeded.”
Shen Guiyan froze. Her hands were holding the spirit tablets, making it inconvenient, but this person clung to her and refused to let go.
“That old fellow Father Emperor must have waited for this day for a very long time. So have I. Starting tomorrow, I can do what I want to do and favor whom I want to favor.”
Just hearing this made one feel happy. Shen Guiyan smiled and let him hold her, her heart warm as well. After waiting so long, it hadn’t been in vain. He hadn’t disappointed her.
Gu Chaobei raised his head, looking at her with eyes full of stars, just about to lower his head to kiss her lips when he heard:
“Your Majesty.”
The two turned their heads to see Consort Hua hurrying over. Looking somewhat embarrassed at their embrace, she lowered her head: “This concubine was standing outside the Eastern Palace for a while earlier. I saw Nanny Fanghua leave carrying the Eastern Palace’s token, heading directly toward the palace exit.”
Shen Guiyan’s heart jumped. Gu Chaobei pressed his lips together: “I understand. Shortly, Scholar Fu and General Yuwen will certainly enter the palace. I am prepared.”
With the Empress Dowager’s stroke, the court would surely be in an uproar. Scholar Fu would definitely come to see.
With foreign envoys coming to pay tribute soon, if rumors spread that he had poisoned the Empress Dowager, that would be terrible. He might as well open the Eastern Palace gates and allow anyone to visit.
“Yan’er, you should go to the Northern Palace first.” Gu Chaobei turned to look at Shen Guiyan: “I’ll go to the Imperial Study with Consort Hua to wait.”
“Very well.” Shen Guiyan nodded, bowed to the Emperor, and continued walking forward with the spirit tablets.
Missing out on a tender kiss was somewhat regrettable. But with Empress Dowager Wen fallen, there would be many more opportunities in the future.
Baoshan waited ahead, took the spirit tablets to arrange them properly, then supported her as they walked cheerfully toward Empress Dowager Nian’s palace.
“With so many wronged souls in Xiuzhuang Palace, they’ve finally vented their grievances today. Master need no longer worry about anyone blocking His Majesty from favoring you.”
Shen Guiyan glanced at her and shook her head: “Things aren’t as simple as you think.”
“Without Empress Dowager Wen, hasn’t everything become simple?” Baoshan frowned: “What other troubles could there be?”
Shen Guiyan shook her head and smiled: “The position of Emperor itself comes with many troubles. Even without Empress Dowager Wen, the Emperor won’t be free to do whatever he wants. He has his own plans.”
Baoshan’s face fell as she rubbed the silk cord: “I thought Master could reach the heavens in a single step.”
“Steps taken too large make for unsteady walking.” Shen Guiyan looked at the Northern Palace ahead: “Let’s take it slowly.”
As long as Gu Chaobei had her in his heart and valued her most, she would have an infinite future.
The gates to Empress Dowager Nian’s palace were tightly shut. Princess Duanwen stood outside with a worried expression. As soon as Shen Guiyan approached, Princess Duanwen rushed over: “Guiyan, quickly come see Mother Empress. Since returning from court, Mother Empress has locked herself in the palace. No matter what I say, she won’t open the door.”
Shen Guiyan was startled. Today Empress Dowager Nian had solidified her title as Empress Dowager—she should be happy.