“And what about the matter of the Imperial Horse Bureau? Are we just going to ignore it?” Chen Chang asked with a frown.
Chang Jingxiu smiled. “Sir Chen, it is not about ignoring it—it’s just not the right time yet.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The entire court is aware of the enmity between the Imperial Horse Bureau and the Eastern Palace. Now that the Duan family has entered the Imperial Horse Bureau, if anything happens there, no one will suspect the Eastern Palace.”
“That’s easy for you to say. We don’t have anyone inside the Imperial Horse Bureau,” Chen Chang scoffed.
“Precisely. And that makes things even easier to handle. The Duan family enjoys making money, and they are good at it. Let them earn as much as they want—for in the end, if Your Highness emerges victorious, all of their wealth will belong to Your Highness anyway, won’t it?”
Hmm, that made a lot of sense.
Chen Chang and Ji Huai fell into deep thought and exchanged glances.
The Crown Prince also had a sudden realization. He had been targeting Duan Mingxi all this time, but in the end, it was merely a matter of wounded pride.
In truth, his actions were a case of harming both the enemy and himself. Chang Jingxiu’s words had been a wake-up call.
Leaving the Eastern Palace with a pile of rewards in his arms, Chang Jingxiu was soon caught up to by Ji Huai.
“Lord Chang, please wait.”
Chang Jingxiu stopped and handed his belongings to his attendant before turning to Ji Huai with a respectful bow. “Lord Ji, what guidance do you have for me?”
Ji Huai chuckled. “We both serve in the Eastern Palace—‘guidance’ is too formal. Come, let’s have a drink. My treat.”
Chang Jingxiu hesitated briefly but did not refuse. Smiling, he replied, “In that case, I humbly accept.”
Ji Huai led him to a familiar tavern and invited him inside.
Seated in a private room, the two were soon served wine and dishes. After the waiter closed the door behind him, their attendants remained outside, standing guard.
After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became more relaxed.
Ji Huai looked at Chang Jingxiu and smiled. “Lord Chang, your words today truly made me see you in a new light. You have always been too reserved.”
Chang Jingxiu understood Ji Huai’s meaning but remained unfazed. He smiled lightly and said, “His Highness summoned me for counsel today, and I simply did my duty.”
Not too aggressive, not seeking credit. Ji Huai chuckled. “Since Liang Xun was exiled, Chen Chang has had no one to keep him in check and has become increasingly arrogant in the Eastern Palace. We serve the same master, and we should work together. After all, if His Highness prospers, so will we. Don’t you agree?”
“Lord Ji speaks wisely,” Chang Jingxiu said, pouring Ji Huai another drink. “However, this humble official holds little influence and fears I may not live up to your expectations.”
Ji Huai laughed heartily. “You’ve already done well today.”
Chang Jingxiu understood—Ji Huai wanted to recruit him to counter Chen Chang. Naturally, he wouldn’t agree, but he also wouldn’t outright reject the offer. He simply remained vague.
Let Ji Huai and Chen Chang fight it out while he sat back and watched—it was the best strategy.
Ji Huai, not receiving a direct commitment, wasn’t too concerned. As long as Chang Jingxiu didn’t side with Chen Chang, that was enough.
As the wine flowed, Chang Jingxiu asked casually, “Lord Ji, so the matter of the Imperial Horse Bureau is settled?”
Ji Huai looked at him. “Huang Shao is an immovable force, and he already holds a grudge against the Eastern Palace. Trying to pry open a gap in the Imperial Horse Bureau would be nearly impossible.”
“You are absolutely right, Lord Ji.”
“Do you have a plan?”
Chang Jingxiu smiled bitterly. “To be honest, I don’t. The twenty-four bureaus of the Imperial City answer directly to His Majesty. The Eastern Palace is already under scrutiny, so we must tread carefully.”
Ji Huai studied him. “So you’re saying we should give up on the Imperial Horse Bureau?”
“Unless we can eliminate Huang Shao in one decisive move.”
But that was impossible. After the last incident, Huang Shao would be even more cautious. He would not leave them any openings.
Ji Huai sighed. “When Duan Wang returns to the capital with military honors, the political landscape of the city will shift. That won’t be good for His Highness.”
“The Crown Prince is the heir to the throne. His duty is to assist His Majesty, study governance, and manage state affairs. Warfare and bloodshed are not the concerns of a crown prince—why fight a battle in which he holds no advantage?”
Ji Huai was taken aback. He stared at Chang Jingxiu in silence.
He was right. The Crown Prince was of noble status. He could not simply charge into battle. As the heir to the throne, his focus should be on the responsibilities of a future emperor.
They had been too fixated on Duan Wang’s military achievements and had lost sight of the bigger picture.
The next day, Ji Huai drafted a memorandum and submitted it to the Crown Prince. He let out a long breath—his report contained not a single mention of Chang Jingxiu.
The Crown Prince later visited the Empress, and after discussing the matter, they agreed that this strategy was indeed the best course of action.
From that day on, whether it was the Empress or the Crown Prince, they would frequently speak well of Duan Wang in front of the Emperor, praising his ability to share the burden of the state and his skill in leading troops.
Consort Shu, ever well-informed, turned gloomy upon hearing the news, but she quickly came up with a strategy. Using the Empress’s praises of Duan Wang as a pretext, she began frequenting Kunde Palace more often.
While attending the Emperor, she praised both the Empress and the Crown Prince lavishly.
For a time, the Emperor’s harem appeared extraordinarily harmonious, full of sisterly affection.
Consort Gui, Consort Xian, and Consort De were all baffled by this sudden display, completely unable to figure out what the Empress and Consort Shu were up to.
Consort Xian, after her own son’s incident, had become much more tight-lipped. She placed great importance on the child Yu Wangfei was carrying. With her son stationed outside the capital, she had no interest in getting involved in these palace intrigues. All she cared about was how to get her son recalled to the capital.
She was just waiting for Yu Wangfei to give birth, hoping the Emperor would show leniency for the sake of his grandchild and pardon Yu Wang.
Consort Gui had fallen out with Consort Xian over He Wanyi’s matter, and their relationship had soured considerably. When Jin Wangfei entered the palace, Consort Xian didn’t even bother to give her a friendly face.
It was Consort De who had grown closer to Consort Gui lately.
“Elder Sister Consort Gui, what do you think the Empress and Consort Shu are really up to?” Consort De, feeling uneasy, came to probe for information.
Though she was the youngest of the four consorts, she was not the most favored.
In earlier years, Consort Gui had been the Emperor’s favorite. Now, because Duan Wang was away on campaign, the Emperor spent more time with Consort Shu.
Her own son wasn’t the worst among the princes, but he also wasn’t particularly outstanding. With several older brothers ahead of him, it wouldn’t be easy for him to rise above.
Consort Gui had just finished making a new set of nail guards and was admiring them with delight. Hearing Consort De’s question, she replied offhandedly, “Whatever they’re doing has nothing to do with us.”
Consort Gui had her own troubles. In the past two years, Jin Wang had grown increasingly defiant, no longer listening to her, and doted on Side Consort Qian.
Side Consort Qian appeared respectful in front of her, but back at the manor, she clashed fiercely with Jin Wangfei.
As a result, both women had suffered miscarriages—turning into sworn enemies.
Consort Gui was already planning to select two more beauties for her son, to dilute Side Consort Qian’s influence and send a warning to both women.
But these household matters were not something she’d allow Consort De to mock her for, so she said nothing of it.
“How can it have nothing to do with us?” Consort De was displeased by Consort Gui brushing her off. “Elder Sister Consort Gui, you’re the senior among the four consorts, yet now Cuiwei Palace is hogging all the attention.”
She didn’t believe Consort Gui wasn’t bothered by it.
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