The Qiping Prefecture case involved too many people and had caused terrible fallout. Even if the Emperor wanted to protect the Crown Prince, he couldn’t. Placing him under house arrest in the Eastern Palace was already the greatest leniency he could offer.
The most d*mning evidence was the letter from Madam Zhang, delivered by Qu You. That letter directly proved Zhang Guangan’s loyalty to the Crown Prince.
Qu You had read that letter. So had the Emperor. But no one else knew what it actually said.
For the next half-month, storm clouds rumbled inside and outside the palace. Meanwhile, Mingxi quietly rested at home, nurturing her pregnancy. After checking her pulse that day, Ren Mian said she no longer needed to take medicine.
Mingxi finally let out a long breath. This child had come so suddenly—before she even realized she was pregnant, she had already endured the peril in the palace.
Fortunately, she hadn’t gone too far at the time and taken a large dose of the Xiao Ji San, or else this child would certainly not have survived.
Xiao Muchen returned to the residence amid the autumn breeze. Upon hearing the news, a relaxed smile appeared on his face. Looking at Mingxi, he said, “That’s good. Our child will surely be born safe and sound, healthy and well.”
“I heard Consort Gui held another banquet?” Mingxi asked, looking at Xiao Muchen.
Fang Momo came in with tea just in time to hear Mingxi’s words. She looked up at Wangye and gently set the teacup beside him before slowly saying, “Back when Consort Gui first entered the palace, she was the most favored of all the consorts. At her peak, she even overshadowed the Empress.”
Mingxi immediately understood Fang Momo’s meaning. Consort Gui had never been the type to be patient when she was young. When she was proud, she was arrogant. Now that the Empress had suffered a heavy blow and the Crown Prince had been confined to the Eastern Palace, Consort Gui held the second-highest position in the harem. Moreover, she had given birth to the Emperor’s eldest son. If the Crown Prince fell, Jin Wang and Consort Gui would be the biggest beneficiaries.
So now, Consort Gui couldn’t hold back her ambition any longer—she wanted to strike while the Empress was down.
If the Empress completely collapsed, the Crown Prince would lose all support. His fall would be only a matter of time.
Mingxi looked at Fang Momo. “Then how did the Empress later manage to completely suppress Consort Gui?”
Fang Momo let out a cold laugh. “Consort Gui got carried away. Once, she was playing in the imperial garden with the Eldest Prince and happened to run into the Crown Prince. The Eldest Prince bullied the Crown Prince—and the Emperor witnessed it with his own eyes.”
Mingxi: …
There was nothing more to say.
“I’ve seen Consort Gui a few times when entering the palace. She doesn’t seem that foolish. How could she be caught by His Majesty at just the right moment?” Mingxi asked doubtfully.
Fang Momo looked at her and replied, “Consort Gui acted arrogant and unrestrained because of the Emperor’s favor. She’s offended many in the palace. What’s more, the Eldest Prince had targeted the Crown Prince more than once or twice. If the Empress had wanted the Emperor to witness it, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.”
The Empress had made her move, and the other consorts had helped push Consort Gui down. How could Consort Gui come out unscathed?
Mingxi nodded thoughtfully. “Even so, the fact that Consort Gui managed to keep her position afterward shows she’s no simple woman.”
“Consort Gui’s arrogance came from two sources—first, the Emperor’s indulgence, and second, her powerful natal family. At that time, her father wasn’t yet a Gelao, but he was already a highly valued official who had done much for the Emperor.”
Seeing Mingxi’s heavy expression, Xiao Muchen spoke: “Zhang Gelao may be Consort Gui’s father, but he has always been a principled man. Back then, the reason Consort Gui was able to keep her position was entirely due to his loyalty.”
“Now I haven’t heard of Zhang Gelao having much contact with Jin Wang. What’s going on there?”
“Zhang Gelao is a very clever man. Supporting Jin Wang would mean going against the Emperor. The more distant he appears from Jin Wang, the more secure Consort Gui and Jin Wang’s position becomes.”
While Wangye and Wangfei discussed state matters, Fang Momo quietly closed the door and slipped away.
Mingxi looked at Xiao Muchen. “Is Royal Father just allowing Consort Gui to do as she pleases?”
Back then he had suppressed Consort Gui and her son—now he was letting them rise again?
How strange.
Xiao Muchen shook his head slightly. “Royal Father’s thoughts are hard to guess. Zhang Gelao didn’t do anything to harm the Eastern Palace during the Qiping Prefecture case.”
Mingxi caught his meaning. Zhang Gelao was sharp—he likely sensed something was wrong early on and knew someone was targeting the Eastern Palace. He didn’t get involved, didn’t push things forward, and didn’t add to the pressure. Compared to other officials, that restraint stood out in the Emperor’s eyes.
The older the ginger, the spicier it gets.
As a result, Zhang Gelao’s standing with the Emperor might be even stronger now.
Mingxi let out a long sigh. No wonder Consort Gui dared to step forward so boldly—she had a strong mountain at her back.
She looked at Xiao Muchen and said in a soft voice, “There’s no rush for us. Royal Mother said that without her word, we’re not to enter the palace. I need to rest and protect the baby anyway. As for the palace mess, we can take a page from Zhang Gelao’s book.”
Xiao Muchen replied solemnly, “That was exactly my intention.”
The couple exchanged a smile—and felt relieved.
After the Crown Prince was placed under house arrest, Jin Wang’s faction began purging the Crown Prince’s loyalists. Many officials in the court who had aligned with the Eastern Palace started to feel uneasy.
Xiao Muchen followed Zhang Gelao’s example: he stayed out of it, didn’t meddle, didn’t kick anyone while they were down. He continued to carry out his duties conscientiously at the Dali Temple. After a month, the Emperor suddenly transferred him to the Ministry of Personnel.
When Mingxi heard the news, she couldn’t help but curse the old fox. Xiao Muchen was keeping a low profile and avoiding factional struggles, yet the Emperor still didn’t trust him and sent him to the Ministry of Personnel—clearly testing him.
How could Mingxi not be angry?
Jin Wang was causing such a stir, yet the Emperor hadn’t restrained him at all. Meanwhile, Xiao Muchen had done nothing, but now he was under scrutiny.
On the other side, Qi Wang, observing the current situation, realized that his formerly innocent and easygoing nature now seemed useless in the Emperor’s eyes. That disposition was fine for showing filial piety and cheering the Emperor up—but utterly unfit for handling state affairs.
Qi Wang thought long and hard before coming up with a plan. He roped in Yu Wang to put on an act: pretending to persuade his older brother to change his ways and take on more responsibility for the Emperor’s sake.
At first, Consort Xian was quite pleased. But later, she happened to overhear Consort Shu grumbling: “Why is Qi Wang acting so proper all of a sudden? It’s not like him at all. Hmph, now that Jin Wang has gained ground, the other princes are starting to shape up too.”
Consort Xian suddenly realized—her foolish son was being used by Qi Wang.
She dragged Yu Wang into the palace and scolded him harshly. Yu Wang left the palace with a gloomy face.
Don’t strive, and you’re useless. Strive, and you’re still in the wrong. What was he supposed to do?
Leaving the palace, Yu Wang felt even more frustrated. Ever since He Wanyi’s miscarriage, her personality had changed dramatically. When he went to visit her at the secondary residence, she would always question him about how He Wanyu died.
Yu Wang told her that He Wanyu brought it upon herself and hanged herself. But He Wanyi didn’t believe him—she insisted someone had murdered her sister and demanded he take revenge for her.
At first, Yu Wang had a bit of patience. By now, he had none left. He hadn’t visited He Wanyi in a long time. Just thinking of her raving and yelling made him feel disgusted.
The newly installed concubine, Side Consort An, was gentle and obedient—but Yu Wang had little interest in her. He always felt like something was missing and couldn’t summon much enthusiasm.
As for Yu Wangfei… Yu Wang always felt guilty around her and was even more unwilling to see her.
The world was vast, yet he felt he had nowhere to go—Yu Wang was nearly falling into depression.
