Empress Xiao lowered her head, seemingly still immersed in the grief of losing her beloved.
In fact, she is thinking about these things.
The lesson of Empress Ashina was too tragic, and Empress Xiao took it as a warning.
She was also worried that Xie Yuan, her daughter-in-law, would be difficult to deal with.
However, since she had not yet met the person and did not know their character or abilities, Empress Xiao would not act rashly.
Empress Xiao had been embroiled in palace intrigue for over twenty years. Her greatest skill was never direct, frontal attacks, but rather using subtle, insidious tactics and employing others to do her dirty work.
She won't easily get into conflict with anyone unless she's absolutely certain.
They won't easily make enemies!
Once she has enough power, she will strike her enemy dead in one blow, eliminating any future threat.
Just like how we treated the late emperor.
Empress Dowager Xiao did not turn against him until the very last moment.
Her methods of killing were not bloody, nor did she directly use her hands.
To kill someone, you must first destroy their spirit!
With just one sentence, she literally angered the late emperor to death.
"Ah, Ashina, she still lives too carefree. Even though she has become more low-key over the past three years, it hasn't diminished her pride and willfulness as a Turkic princess!"
Empress Xiao glanced at Empress Ashina out of the corner of her eye and sighed inwardly.
Unlike her, a noble lady from the Southern Dynasty was turned into a prisoner of war and a female slave. For more than 20 years, she could only live in fear and trepidation.
Even if one wants revenge, one must plan everything out and leave oneself a way out!
"And what kind of person is this Xie Shi A Yuan?"
Empress Dowager Xiao pondered to herself.
She did hear some things from Xiao Zixiu.
For example, Xie was extremely beautiful, of noble birth, and highly learned.
Many of the rules of the Yue Prince's Mansion were established by her.
For example, Xie and Helian Jue had an extremely good relationship.
After three years of marriage, Xie had no children, and Helian Jue did not take any concubines or maids.
Upon returning to the capital, Helian Jue was not accompanied by any trusted palace maids or other women.
Of course, Helian Jue had important business to attend to when he returned to the capital, and it was inappropriate for him to bring a woman with him.
But it's perfectly normal for men, especially princes and nobles, to have close maids or palace maids.
Helian Jue didn't have it!
Besides his self-discipline and ability to control himself, it is likely also due to his close relationship with the Xie family.
"What good is a good relationship? Once you enter the palace, that cesspool of power, even a good person can turn into a demon!"
Empress Xiao had spent more than 20 years in the inner palace and had long been accustomed to the intrigue, deception, and scheming there.
Even without personal experience, history is full of unresolved grievances, and how many loving couples have become unrecognizable once they ascend to the throne of power.
The fact that Liu Yezhu and Chen Ajiao once kept each other as mistresses suggests that they may have had feelings for each other.
However, they still ended up turning against each other.
"Chen's biggest mistake was not her arrogance or jealousy, but her childlessness. If she had been able to have children, there would have been no Wei Shi later on."
"As for the Xie family, they have been married for three years but have not yet given birth. This is an excellent entry point!"
Empress Dowager Xiao was unaware that her good daughter-in-law already had both a son and a daughter.
She gave birth to four children in one pregnancy, which was enough to outshine all the noblewomen in the capital.
It wasn't that Empress Dowager Xiao lacked information; rather, it was that the Prince of Yue's residence did a good job of maintaining secrecy.
Looking across the entire capital, it is estimated that only Empress Dowager Ashina knew about it.
Unfortunately, Empress Dowager Ashina and Empress Dowager Xiao were rivals in love, so how could she possibly tell the other about such a joyous occasion?
Moreover, with the death of the late emperor and the ascension of Helian Jue, Empress Dowager Ashina was only concerned with vying for power and profit, and had long forgotten about her grandson.
Even if we assume that Empress Dowager Ashina desired a grandson, she would still want the child of Helian Jue and the Turkic princess.
Only in this way can her grandson be related to her by blood.
In the past, Helian Jue was just the King of Yue, and Xie Yuan, as a virtuous wife, was highly regarded by Empress Dowager Ashina.
Times have changed. Now that she has become Empress Dowager, Ashina has even greater ambitions.
The once-good daughter-in-law and auspicious grandchildren have now all become an eyesore.
She was just an orphan who had lost both her parents, yet she occupied the position of Helian Jue's legal wife.
And that little brat, the eldest son of the legitimate wife, isn't he the future crown prince?
Helian Jue even wanted to make her empress!
What should be done about the daughter of the Ashina family?
Does she mean she's going to become Helian Jue's concubine?
Empress Dowager Ashina could not bear the thought of her niece having to kowtow and pay respects to a woman from the southern barbarians.
And most importantly, her heir has absolutely no bloodline of hers!
In her desperation, Empress Dowager Ashina made a foolish move, attempting to use Turkic troops to coerce Helian Jue!
Empress Dowager Xiao saw all of this and had her own guesses. While she despised her old adversary's stupidity, she also secretly reminded herself: Stay calm! You must stay calm!
Everything will be planned slowly after we meet the Xie family and understand them!
Empress Dowager Ashina wanted a grandson who was related to her by blood, and Empress Dowager Xiao also wanted to increase her family's influence on the successor.
"...No rush! We just need to wait for the Xie family to arrive in the capital!"
...
Achoo! Achoo!
Three or four thousand miles away in the Yue King's Palace, Xie Yuan sneezed several times in a row.
"Sister, are you alright?"
Li Baozhu asked with concern.
"It's nothing!" Someone was probably talking about her.
Xie Yuan rubbed his nose and continued chatting with Li Baozhu, "This batch of rubber has all been harvested, and our Yue Prince's Mansion will purchase it according to the agreement."
"Next, you can plant more rubber trees and build a rubber plantation for your Li tribe."
Xie Yuan still has high hopes for rubber.
Tires, pistons, seals, and even sleeves are all closely related to rubber.
However, due to current technological limitations, we cannot yet maximize the potential of rubber.
However, these things can be done slowly.
We can start by planting more rubber trees. With enough raw materials, artisans can experiment as they please.
Technology will naturally improve as a result.
At least, the tire had already taken on a rudimentary form. Although it couldn't compare to later models, it was still better than a bare wooden wheel.
After Helian Jue left, Xie Yuan was busy managing the Prince's Palace and the military camp, while also instructing craftsmen to develop tires and modify oxcarts.
As a raw material supplier, Li Baozhu's Li tribe naturally gained Xie Yuan's attention.
"Okay! Don't worry, sister, I've remembered everything you said."
"In the future, I will plant more rubber trees in my village!"
Li Baozhu nodded vigorously. She was not only obedient, but she had also earned enough money from rubber.
She now has complete faith in Xie Yuan, her half-sister.
"Sister, are you going back to the capital?"
Li Baozhu trusted Xie Yuan and therefore cared for her even more.
The news of Helian Jue's return to the capital was kept secret, but recently the atmosphere in Yuezhou has been rather delicate.
Li Baozhu may seem carefree, but she is actually very meticulous.
She sensed something was amiss less than half a day after arriving at the Prince of Yue's residence...
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