Chapter Forty-Nine
Surprised that his actions were actually a move in someone else's chess game, Wen Weili's silence clearly made Duanmu Qing misunderstand him. Duanmu Qing couldn't help but laugh smugly, "You little kids are getting involved in these messy things. I don't want you to be bothered by them. If you can still be a good girl, change these mischievous things from now on and live a good life with Huai'er, that will be fine."
Seeing that Wen Weili remained silent, Duanmu Qing sighed and said, "Why are you so stubborn? Have I ever been harsh on your Wen family? I love Ci'er, and I love you even more. You're going down this wrong path, making Ci'er sad. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse? To me, you're being disloyal, and to your parents, you're being unfilial. If you're so disloyal and unfilial, how can you live in this world with dignity?!"
Such a deep rebuke actually came from the mouth of the emperor Duanmu Qing. Even the seasoned secret guards gasped. They who always followed the emperor secretly knew best that His Majesty's attitude was really strange. Facing the "rebel" who wanted to kill him, instead of beating him to death with sticks so that his body could be kept intact, he was even willing to pretend nothing happened and persuade the "rebel" to repent. If all this had not happened before their eyes, they would have thought it was a dream.
"Your Majesty is so generous," Wen Weili said with a sarcastic smile on her face - she had decided to continue this drama, "but it's a pity that Huaixin won't appreciate it." Now that she knew that the emperor deliberately let her do all this, she was afraid that the little tricks she used on Duanmu Huaixin would soon be discovered.
Wen Weili's attitude softened, and Duanmu Qing smiled gently, saying, "Don't worry about that. I believe Huai'er will find the truth on his own. Of course, I will teach him more from now on. After all, he has a heavy responsibility to shoulder, so you must take good care of Huai'er."
Duanmu Qing had made it very clear that he intended to pass the throne to Duanmu Huaixin. As long as Wen Weili stayed with Duanmu Huaixin honestly, with the affection between them and Wen Weili's means, it would not be difficult for her to become the queen, second only to the emperor.
Duanmu Qing has clearly placed a 'road to heaven' in front of Wen Weili. Everything is within reach and everything seems flawless. No one would refuse this temptation full of wealth, prosperity, comfort and simplicity.
Wen Weili obviously couldn't do it either. Although she still had a cold face, the smile on her lips had become gentle. Her voice was still calm, but the action of leaning forward to thank him revealed her inner thoughts: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wen Weili escaped from this "assassination" unscathed. Of course, she would not be able to meet Duanmu Huaixin so soon. Although Emperor Duanmu Qing was in control of the overall situation behind the scenes, he used himself as bait and took this opportunity to purge the palace.
Those in the palace who were related to this incident were either publicly executed, silenced, or committed suicide out of fear of punishment. In the hot and bloody summer, the long daytime was even more terrifying than the night. Every day, everyone in the palace opened their eyes trembling with fear. Perhaps during the day, someone would be taken away before completing a task, and would almost never come back.
Naturally, the Empress and the Crown Prince's schemes did not escape the Emperor's calculations. Duanmu Qing had long felt threatened by the Empress and the Crown Prince's maternal families and supporters. Now he uprooted them and dealt a heavy blow to the Crown Prince's faction. For a time, the government became exceptionally peaceful, as if Duanmu Qing was still in his prime and in power, and no court official dared to have any ulterior motives.
The emperor's purge came so swiftly that the spies who served the empress as the prince's confidants in Fengxiang Palace should have all been taken away. However, for many days, Lu Fei and her group of people with the "Green" generation had been living in peace and tranquility, as if they were really ordinary palace maids, and as if the empress had nothing to do with this matter.
But the people who disappeared every day told the queen that the emperor had no intention of letting her go.
"Lu Fei, what do you think His Majesty means?" The Empress had feigned illness for days, refusing to see the concubines. She simply sat in the palace each day, awaiting the Emperor's arrival. Her elaborate palace attire and accessories had long since been removed. She was ready for death. Even if the Emperor merely took her title, she would not live in vain. She would rather die cleanly. Perhaps the Crown Prince would still have a chance. Yet, Fengxiang Palace was utterly silent, and Duanmu Qing had not come to question her.
"I don't know, but I think that maybe the master has made some arrangements to save the queen." Lu Fei carefully tidied up the queen's fallen hair. Everyone in Fengxiang Palace has been in danger these days. They have been prepared to die for their master since the day the prince was scolded.
However, the Emperor had overlooked Fengxiang Palace during his reckoning, which only made the Empress even more anxious. She had never believed that Duanmu Qing had any feelings for her, let alone that he would let her go just because of the pitiful affection between them. Seeing the Crown Prince being suppressed to the point where he couldn't even drink to drown his sorrows in the palace, the Empress knew that the Emperor - her husband - would never let go of this opportunity!
The Queen's guess about the Emperor was not wrong, but she missed one person, Wen Weili.
Since the emperor already had a clear grasp of the rebellious forces inside and outside the palace, and Wen Weili was unable to leave the harem, she simply made a request to the emperor. Sure enough, a few days later, Duanmu Qing did not directly eliminate the prince's forces in the queen's palace. Instead, he gave Wen Weili the power to eliminate the forces in the queen's palace.
Wen Weili then led a team of guards to Fengxiang Palace. The palace attendants along the way understood that the Emperor was about to take action against the Empress, but they wondered how much dignity the Empress could retain. After all, the Crown Prince's mother might be banished to the cold palace, or even demoted to a lower rank, meaning she would no longer have the same glory as the Empress.
"It's you?" The Queen looked at Wen Weili, who was walking in the backlight, in surprise. She couldn't help but laugh knowingly. "Haha, it's something he could do... Wen's daughter, please come here. I have something to tell you. It can be regarded as advice from your elders."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but it's not too late to say this when we meet in the underworld." Wen Weili casually accepted the red teacup presented by the eunuch and walked forward to hand the teacup to the queen. "Please, have a safe trip, Your Majesty."
The queen clenched her fists, blood flowing between her palms where her long nails had dug into them. She looked around the magnificent Fengxiang Palace. This vast palace had never given her a sense of security. Her maids had all been taken away. Those people had never been loyal to her, but now they were going to die with her.
Red liquid flowed in the queen's throat, and her expression was painful. She looked at the wide-open palace gate, and the scorching summer heat rose from the soles of her feet to her forehead. She seemed to see the time when she was married to the emperor. At that time, she was the smartest and most beautiful girl in the family. She had become the queen who was second only to the emperor and above everyone else so smoothly, and had a smart and lovely eldest son. She almost thought she was the happiest woman in the world.
However, from the moment the daughter of the Wen family entered the palace, she realized that all this was just a mirage, false and fragile. So, she joined forces with the prince. Since she could be above everyone else, why should she be inferior to him?
It's a pity that we lost in the end...
The queen leaned back in the soft chair as if she was asleep, but she would no longer call her over with a smile, nor would she touch her head and ask her if she liked the prince. All the good things in the past were false, which everyone knew, but Wen Weili had also indulged in that moment. After all, the queen was indeed a very gentle and good mother, and also a master of acting.
"Clean it up and seal this palace from now on." After Wen Weili gave instructions to the eunuchs, he quickly walked towards the place where the palace maids were imprisoned.
In a group of people, although the expressions of the spies were not much different from those of others, the difference could still be seen. Wen Weili smiled slightly, called Lu Fei's name, and looked like she wanted to say something to her.
In the compartment, Lu Fei knelt down in front of Wen Weili without hesitation: "Please spare Lu Zhi's life! I still have information about the Third Prince and the Master to give you."
"Not to mention that I may not be able to let you go, why don't you beg for mercy?" Wen Weili didn't rush to help Lu Fei up. "Besides, there are more than just a few of you with the Green Card. Take that Lu Yu, for example. Isn't he your predecessor?"
"You won't waste your time," Lu Fei smiled upon hearing Wen Weili's words. "I only pray that we sisters are safe. Lu Yi escaped on her own terms. Lu Lin is with the master and I can't save her. I'm afraid you won't be able to find Lu Yin either. The others have nothing to do with me, so I only ask that you spare Lu Zhi's life."
Lu Fei said it very clearly. If she said that, she would only expose the situation of herself and her sisters, and it might not be useful. However, faced with this situation, even if this sisterhood would be used for something in the future, she would still rescue Lu Zhi.
"Indeed, I really need your information. I agree to this deal." Wen Weili nodded affirmatively, took the token handed to her by Lu Fei, and let her go back.
Wen Weili crossed out Luzhi's name from the list of those to be executed. Sure enough, the next moment Duanmu Qing sent someone to take Luzhi away.
At the same time, Wen Weili also received Duanmu Qing's warning not to go too far. Therefore, Wen Weili knew that being able to save one of them was the best outcome. If Luzhi confessed something during the interrogation, at least she would be able to come to work for her alive.
As the emperor, Duanmu Qing certainly did not give Wen Weili the power to handle this matter for no reason. After Wen Weili agreed, he would decide her marriage.
However, Wen Weili herself doesn't care who she marries. Besides, if the person behind this matter really wants to achieve their ulterior motives, they will not let go of such a useful chess piece like her, a black piece that is naturally close to the emperor and full of rebelliousness.
Then, Wen Weili will wait patiently for that opportunity when they arrive.
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