Chapter 128: Deviation
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“I don’t ask for much, I just want that person.” Jiang Shanshan’s expression was both sad and melancholic. “Ying Wang was supposed to be my husband originally, and Fu Mingzhu was supposed to be your Consort. I just hope everything returns to the right path.”
If the Great Empress Dowager were to pass away, if Fu Mingzhu lost her overwhelming power, if he could regain his rightful honor and authority, if Fu Mingzhu had no one to rely on, would she regret her decision? Yuwen You was lost in thought, momentarily forgetting that Jiang Shanshan was waiting for his response.
Jiang Shanshan coldly observed his expression, knowing that she had already swayed him, and added, “I heard that the late Emperor originally favored you to inherit the throne. If he hadn’t died so early, who knows what the situation would be like today?”
“You talk too much.” Yuwen You snapped out of his thoughts and said coldly, “Leave, I’ll wait to see your sincerity.”
Jiang Shanshan respectfully nodded and withdrew. As she put on her hood at the door, she glanced back at the desolate lights in the distance with a sarcastic smile. Who dared to command her like this? When the day comes, she’ll have these people kneeling before her, acknowledging her superiority. He wanted to be a pile with Fu Mingzhu? She would lock these two despicable people in the dungeon, letting them rot together, inseparable.
Jiang Shanshan silently returned to the Marquis of Changxing’s Mansion. The Marquis was waiting for her and frowned when she entered, “Where did you go again? There was a major incident in the palace today, everyone is on edge. You running around like this, aren’t you afraid of causing trouble?”
“I went to Linan Wang’s Mansion.” Jiang Shanshan didn’t show the usual deference that a daughter would show to her father in front of the Marquis. Instead, she was quite relaxed and casual. “Don’t worry, this fire won’t reach us.”
The Marquis was extremely nervous, “Why did you go there?”
There was a strange light in Jiang Shanshan’s eyes. “Can’t let a cooked duck fly away for nothing!”
“I’ve already sent someone to plead with Imperial Consort Min, asking her to help persuade the Great Empress Dowager and prevent you from marrying the Eighth Prince. She agreed. I think Imperial Consort Min has already convinced the Great Empress Dowager, and with Imperial Consort Min’s help, this matter won’t be brought up again.” After hesitating for a long time, the Marquis whispered, “But if you miss this opportunity, you won’t find a better marriage. You’re not becoming the main wife, but aiming for the position of a side consort. Fu Mingzhu is arrogant and intolerant, and she’ll surely suppress you. Do you really have confidence in Ying Wang? Can he really…” Ascend to the highest position?
Jiang Shanshan asked back, “Father doesn’t believe his daughter’s words? Yuwen Chu will definitely be the ultimate winner.”
Changxing Marquis shook his head and sighed, “I don’t know why you have such confidence in him, but you should know that this is a matter of life and death, involving not only the Marquis Mansion but also the lives of nearly a thousand people in our clan…”
Jiang Shanshan became impatient, “Father, ever since I was sensible, which of the things I’ve done for you was wrong?”
The Marquis was speechless for a moment. This daughter had shown extraordinary intelligence and competence since she was born. At a young age, she could compose poetry, manage the household, and even helped him navigate through several major crises in the court, ensuring the safety and prosperity of the Marquis Mansion until now. But before, she hadn’t directly confronted Fu Mingzhu. This time, she would be facing Fu Mingzhu head-on, which made him break out in a cold sweat, unsure if this was a blessing or a curse.
Jiang Shanshan said calmly, “Don’t worry, Father. The things I’ve done are very secretive, and no one will know. Even Empress Dowager Min doesn’t know it was me.” Thinking about how she had narrowly avoided Fu Mingzhu’s schemes twice, she couldn’t help but feel annoyed. Truly, she was a calamity passed down through the ages.
The Marquis of Changxing, though uneasy, had long placed great trust in his daughter. After a brief hesitation, he regained his composure. “By the way, there’s another matter. Earlier, you sent word that someone from Ying Wang’s residence might come, but no one did.”
Jiang Shanshan’s mood suddenly turned sour. She recalled the peculiar expression on Yuwen Chu’s face before, feeling a sense of unease for reasons she couldn’t quite grasp. Was it that he didn’t understand what the half-picture signified, or was there some other reason she wasn’t aware of? No, his reaction at the time indicated he clearly knew what it was, but his lack of interest must have been due to other reasons. Could it be because the significance wasn’t enough to sway him, or perhaps he was wary of the Fu family and unwilling to take risks?
Unfortunately, she only knew the final outcome, not the intricate details. Otherwise, she could have pursued her plans more freely and realized her ambitions. After pondering for a while, she asked softly, “Father, did you manage to find skilled craftsmen for the device I requested last time?”
So many constraints hampered their efforts in this place. Without the ability to manufacture powerful weapons and items, what significance did Fu Mingzhu hold? She couldn’t believe Yuwen Chu could resist such deadly temptations.
The Marquis replied, “We found a few. Whenever you have time, you can go and see.”
Jiang Shanshan nodded. “There’s one more thing I need your help with. Please facilitate the marriage between the Princess of Wusun and Linan Wang.”
The Marquis was taken aback. “That’s not easy. The Great Empress Dowager is the first one to object.” For those with promising futures, marrying the Princess of Wusun is akin to limiting their prospects. Everything must be guarded against, and it’s not a favorable matter. But not just anyone can marry the Princess of Wusun. For instance, those with military power must be wary of them colluding with the Wusun, showing signs of disloyalty to the court. Yuwen You, who harbors hatred, must be guarded against even more. Insufficient status also precludes consideration.”
Jiang Shanshan said confidently, “There’s always a way. In the end, the world still belongs to the Yuwen family. Among the royal family, Zhongshan Wang is the most respected and has military power. Many people listen to him, even Fu Mingzhu dares not offend him. The reason why the Min family dared to challenge the Fu family is largely because Zhongshan Wang secretly supports them. As long as Zhongshan Wang speaks, many people will support him. I will also find a way with the Great Empress Dowager. Father, you don’t need to do anything. Just unite with the neutral and watchful. No opposition is needed.”
After careful consideration, the Marquis sighed. “It seems that’s the only way.”
Jiang Shanshan recalled a phrase inadvertently etched into her mind: “Emperor Wu married the Jiang family, showing great respect.”
History wouldn’t deceive her. She had personally verified it before, whether it was the death of Consort Zhou and the accession of Emperor Zhengqian, or the early demise of Emperor Zhengqian, the ascension of Yuwen Bai, the rise of the Fu family, and the rise of Min family. Zhongshan Wang amassing forces – they were all realized one by one. The twists and turns in her marriage with Yuwen Chu were only due to some deviation—why did Fu Mingzhu suddenly regret the marriage when she clearly liked Yuwen You so much?
She paced restlessly in the room, regretting that she had only focused on those few famous political events at the time and hadn’t paid attention to these trivial matters of love and romance. But it didn’t matter; she was the protagonist. The wheel of fate rolled on, and she would eventually destroy Fu Mingzhu. After all, the throne belonged to her!
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