Jing Palace.
Before Yuan Yun even reached the door of the house, she heard shouts coming from inside. She quickened her pace toward the house, but the two eunuchs at the door stopped her.
"Your Highness, the Emperor is currently..."
"Get out of here!!" Yuan Yun shouted before the eunuch could finish speaking.
The two eunuchs were stunned by Yuan Yun's imposing manner. Yuan Yun pushed their hands aside and entered through the door.
Inside the room, thirteen-year-old Yuan Xiu lay naked on the ground, a palace maid holding his hand down, and a disheveled woman sitting arrogantly on top of him.
Yuan Yun recognized the woman; she was sixteen years old and was Jia, the imperial concubine chosen by Empress Dowager Feng for Yuan Xiu.
Seeing the scene before her, Yuan Yun felt as if her heart was being torn apart. In a fit of rage, she rushed forward, pushed Consort Jia aside, and took off her outer garment to cover Yuan Xiu.
"Sister!" Yuan Xiu felt as if he had seen a lifeline when Yuan Yun appeared, and she hugged him tightly.
Yuan Yun looked at the numerous red marks and bruises on Yuan Xiu's body and legs, and felt heartbroken. She angrily said, "He's still a child!"
Consort Jia straightened her clothes and said shamelessly, "But he is also the Emperor. The Empress Dowager has instructed me that the foundation of the nation is of utmost importance, and that I should conceive a prince as soon as possible."
Yuan Yun said, "That would have to be done if the Emperor were willing!"
Consort Jia scoffed and said, "Princess, the Emperor's private life is also a matter of state. Are you trying to interfere in politics?"
"Get out of here!" Yuan Yun pointed to the door.
A palace maid standing nearby shouted, "How dare you..."
"Smack!"
Yuan Yun suddenly stood up, slapped the palace maid across the face, and shouted, "What are you, daring to be so insolent in front of me!"
The palace maid was stunned by the beating and stared blankly at Consort Jia.
Yuan Yun looked at Consort Jia and said seriously, "Consort Jia, some things need to be done slowly. You are the only consort in the palace, and you may become empress in the future. Think about it carefully. Pushing the emperor too hard may benefit others, but will it benefit you in any way?"
Just as Consort Jia was about to speak up for the palace maid, her expression turned serious upon hearing Yuan Yun's words.
In particular, Yuan Yun emphasized the word "Empress," which Jia Guifei took to heart.
After a moment of silence, Consort Jia walked outside.
"Let's go!"
After confirming that Consort Jia and her mistress had left, Yuan Xiu could no longer hold back, and the tears that had been welling up in his eyes finally flowed down.
Yuan Yun looked into Yuan Xiu's eyes, which were filled not only with murderous intent, but also with resentment, humiliation, and inner turmoil... emotions completely unlike those of a child his age.
Despite his words brimming with boundless hatred, he still had to lower his voice and say, "Empress Dowager Feng, Consort Jia, they all deserve to die! Consort Jia's maids also deserve to die! In this world, besides my sister, I hate all women!"
A hint of resentment flashed in Yuan Yun's eyes as she said, "Don't be afraid or resistant when you encounter this kind of thing in the future. Jia Shi can't get pregnant."
"Sister, you..."
“I have people among the imperial physicians who tampered with Jia’s tonics.”
Yuan Xiu nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
Empress Dowager Feng hoped that Yuan Xiu would have an heir soon, but Yuan Yun was afraid that someone would give birth to a son for Yuan Xiu before things were settled.
By then, Yuan Xiu will be getting older, and Empress Dowager Feng will become more wary of him. She may very well kill Yuan Xiu and then support his son to ascend the throne.
The emperor is easier to control when he is younger, and Empress Dowager Feng can also rise to become Grand Empress Dowager, and her power will become even more overwhelming.
That's why Yuan Xiu was resistant to having children.
"Sister, if you hadn't told me to hold back, I would have killed her!"
"Patience is the only thing you can do right now; leave everything else to me."
"How are things going with the Grand Marshal and the Imperial Uncle?"
"It will take more time."
Yuan Yun placed her hand on Yuan Xiu's shoulder, stared into his eyes, and said confidently, "Little brother, you must have faith. You must remember that a person can be destroyed, but not defeated. As long as you hold onto this spirit, we will definitely see our day come."
“Yes! I’ll listen to my sister!” Yuan Xiu nodded emphatically.
...
Streets of Changsui City.
Zhao Huan and He Zhi stood on the street corner, watching a porridge stall not far away distributing porridge. There were about a hundred poor people queuing in front of the porridge stall.
Zhao Huan glanced into the distance and asked, "It seems the poor and refugees in the vicinity have all received the news and are rushing this way. Is there enough porridge?"
"I've checked it out. It can manage at least a thousand people, but it can't handle any more than that."
"Let's do what we can."
Zhao Huan sighed: "It's truly sad that the capital of the mighty Great Jing Kingdom could cause such a commotion just by hearing about a place distributing porridge."
He asked in bewilderment, "Why don't you show yourself, Master? Such a good deed will make the people grateful to you."
Zhao Huan said, "I do these things not for fame. Moreover, given the current state of the court, I might gain the gratitude of the people, but I would also incur their resentment. It's not worth it."
He Zhizheng was in the prime of his life, his fist clenched, and he angrily punched the wall next to him.
"You dog Empress Dowager!"
"Be careful what you say," Zhao Huan cautioned.
Just then, a commotion arose beside the porridge stall, and a procession of nearly a hundred people came in a grand procession.
In the middle was a magnificent carriage, led by cavalry who pierced through the line of people waiting to receive porridge like a sharp blade, whipping those who blocked their way.
"Get out of my way!"
"Where did this filthy thing come from? Get lost!"
"Don't offend the Emperor's brother-in-law's eyes!"
The sounds of whips lashing and the cries of the people rose and fell. Zhao Huan pulled He Zhi, who could no longer bear it, and the two mingled into the crowd.
"Don't act impulsively."
The common people were frightened and retreated, but a group of richly dressed people swarmed toward the carriage.
"Your Majesty the Emperor's Brother-in-Law! I am the second son of the Chen family!"
"Your Excellency, I am from the Su family of Yanchuan!"
"Your Excellency, my master! Please do me the honor of meeting you. I am from the Lu family of Shangyang!"
The carriage stopped briefly, and a voice came from inside: "Those who come to me are all ambitious and aspiring individuals. Register their names."
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in excitement.
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
"Long live the Emperor's brother-in-law!"
Seeing this, He Zhi was stunned and murmured, "This..."
Zhao Huan said, "They've all come to Feng Bao to buy official positions."
He Zhi said, "This is too unscrupulous!"
Suddenly, a girl's voice came from behind Zhao Huan: "Selling official positions to this extent is unprecedented in the history of Da Jing. With such people in control of the government, even if the Grand Marshal's passion is burning hot, it cannot warm this chaotic world."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan didn't even need to turn around to know that Yuan Yun had arrived.
“When I was young, I was handsome, dashing, and extraordinary, and I have never been entangled by a woman like this before.”
He kept looking ahead and said softly, "Your Majesty, you really won't let me go."
Yuan Yun said, "Because only you can save this chaotic world."
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