"I will hold on to the good fortune in my hands and not let it slip away."
Jiang Yan stared at Gu Jiu, "But I need Madam's help."
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow. "Your Highness is a noble lady, deeply favored by His Majesty. How can I, a mere wife of the Emperor's grandson, help Your Highness? Your Highness, please don't joke."
Jiang Yan shook her head slightly and said, "Back then, when I was penniless, you were able to help me. Now that I am a noble lady, Madam will naturally be able to help me. Please, Madam, don't turn me away."
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, "Is this the reason why the Queen wants to see me?"
Jiang Yan faced it calmly, "Yes, this is my goal. My foundation is not solid, and I am only able to get to this day thanks to Your Majesty's favor. If one day, Your Majesty's favor is shared with someone else, how will I stand firm?"
"You have the Imperial Concubine. The Imperial Concubine is your support."
"I don't believe it. Madam didn't see what happened in the hall earlier. I and the Imperial Concubine are already in a relationship. The Xue family has been rich for generations, and I am just a commoner. I have been blessed by heaven to have achieved my current status. I simply don't have the capital to fight Imperial Concubine Xue."
"You don't need to fight the Imperial Concubine. As long as you are willing to surrender, the Imperial Concubine will stand up for you, just like in the past."
Jiang Yan sneered, "Madam, you don't even believe this, so why are you trying to deceive me? Noble Concubine Xue and I can't go back to the past, and I can't bow to her."
Gu Jiu said directly: "I can't help you deal with Concubine Xue."
Jiang Yan said, "I know. That's why I didn't plan to ask Madam for help in dealing with Concubine Xue. My family has already arrived in the capital, and I hope Madam can take care of them for me."
Gu Jiu was suspicious, "Is that all?"
Jiang Yan smiled softly, "I hope to join forces with Prince Ning's Mansion to deal with the Xue family. What do you think, Madam?"
Not very good!
Jiang Shuyi seems to be favored, but in fact her situation is very embarrassing.
She did not have the confidence of Li Zhaoyi because she was not pregnant.
At the same time, she offended the concubines in the harem headed by Concubine Xue. Once she fell out of favor, she would be doomed and would not even have the capital to turn things around.
Li Zhaoyi at least has a child, and she can turn her life around with the help of the child.
Jiang Shuyi, the only thing she can rely on is the emperor's favor.
However, the emperor's favor is the most unpredictable thing.
So she was very panicked. She brought her family to the capital, hoping that one day they could help her.
On the other hand, she wanted to unite with a powerful foreign aid to ensure that she could remain invincible. After much deliberation, the Ning Wang Mansion behind Gu Jiu was the best choice.
So, she wanted to see Gu Jiu.
She wanted to try to persuade Gu Jiu to accept her conditions.
However, she forgot that she was Gu Jiu's student. With her level, she was not enough to surpass Gu Jiu, her teacher.
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Hasn't Empress Shuyi teamed up with Li Zhaoyi? You and Li Zhaoyi worked together to kill Empress Xianfei. As long as you continue to cooperate, Empress Shuyi will naturally be able to gain a foothold in the palace."
Jiang Yan looked shocked and confused.
Gu Jiu said softly, "Everyone saw everything that happened in the hall. Although the Empress and Li Zhaoyi didn't communicate the entire time, anyone with a brain could see that you had broken away from the control of the Imperial Concubine and were working with Li Zhaoyi. Otherwise, how could the virtuous concubine have suffered such a terrible defeat?"
Li Zhaoyi wanted to deal with Concubine Xian, and her plan was good, but she also needed someone to spread rumors in front of the emperor and fan the flames.
Because there are some things that others can say but Li Zhaoyi cannot.
If Li Zhaoyi said it out loud, it would definitely arouse the emperor's suspicion.
At this time, Li Zhaoyi thought of Jiang Shuyi, who was the best foreign aid.
Jiang Yan didn't think about it for too long before agreeing to cooperate with Li Zhaoyi and promised to overthrow the three concubines together: Concubine Xue Guifei, Concubine Xiao Shufei, and Concubine Xian (Shu Jieyu).
Today was a day of great victory for the two of them, and everything went according to plan.
The virtuous concubine was demoted to a concubine, and the Prince of Yan was also finished.
But it was not so easy to bring down Concubine Xiao Shufei and Concubine Xue Guifei.
The families behind these two people are powerful and have deep roots in the court.
One wrong step could backfire.
Especially when facing Concubine Xue's gaze, Jiang Yan felt scared.
Only then did she realize that her previous agreement to cooperate with Li Zhaoyi was too hasty.
She had forgotten that the harem and the imperial court were inextricably linked, and she had assumed that everyone was like her, with no one to rely on, including her parents and brothers.
She can't be relied upon, but others can.
Not only can you rely on it, but you can also turn the tables.
She felt scared because she didn't have Li Zhaoyi's luck and didn't have a baby in her belly to serve as a talisman.
Moreover, Li Zhaoyi's father and brothers have already networked a group of people in the court who can help her when necessary.
But Jiang Yan had nothing, no help from her father and brother, no external aid, and no amulet.
It was at this time that Jiang Yan realized that cooperating with Li Zhaoyi was a bad move.
Her foundation is unstable, so the safest thing to do is to protect herself and not get involved in any struggle.
But she was too anxious and wanted to climb up so badly.
When I really climbed up and looked down, I was scared to death.
It turned out that what she was standing on was not a golden throne, but a rotten wooden board. One wrong step could lead to eternal damnation.
So she found Gu Jiu.
I hope to cooperate with the Ning Palace and let the Ning Palace ensure my safety.
She said to Gu Jiu, "I can help Consort Shu deal with Consort Gui and help Prince Ning seize the throne. I just want a life of wealth and glory."
Gu Jiu lowered his head and smiled contemptuously.
She had told Jiang Yan back then that it was okay to work slowly, as long as she was steady. She should never be impatient.
However, to this day, Jiang Yan still hasn't changed her impatience.
They keep saying they are helping Concubine Shu and Prince Ning, but that's not how negotiations work.
From the moment she said this, she was doomed to fail.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I can't make the decision on this matter."
"I understand. You can convey my intentions to Prince Ning and the Concubine Shu."
Gu Jiu lowered her head and smiled. She was so panicked and anxious that she spoke without thinking. If she really told the Concubine Shu about this, Jiang Yan would be dead.
Just because Jiang Yan was two-faced, Li Zhaoyi, Concubine Xue, and Concubine Xiao Shu would definitely join forces to kill Jiang Yan first. Then the three of them would fight among themselves.
Gu Jiu pondered for a moment and said, "There's no rush for this."
How could Jiang Yan not be anxious? She had the illusion that she would be killed at any minute.
She desperately wants a strong foreign aid.
Gu Jiu said to her solemnly, "As for your family, I will send someone to look after them after I return. As for the palace, since we are old acquaintances, I would like to offer an idea. You can listen to it for the time being, but don't take it seriously."
"Madam, please speak."
Gu Jiu said softly: "The old three-party balance in the palace was broken tonight, but a new three-party balance will be established soon.
Once Li Zhaoyi successfully gave birth to a prince, she would have the ability to compete with the imperial concubine and the others.
Therefore, Empress Shuyi must make a decision quickly: whether to continue to cooperate firmly with Li Zhaoyi or to take another path."
Jiang Yan frowned, "Madam, why do you say there should be a three-way balance? Can't there be a four-way balance in the palace?"
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, "Empress Shuyi, have you ever discovered a pattern in your reading of history books? Among the forces that can compete with each other at the same time, three is the best and most stable. If a fourth force joins, it will soon become a situation of three forces being evenly matched. One of them will either die or be swallowed up by the other three forces. What do you plan to do, Empress Shuyi?"
Jiang Yan's expression was uncertain. "If Prince Ning's Mansion is willing to support me, I can also become one of the three forces."
Gu Jiu lowered his head and shook his head slightly.
With Concubine Xiao Shufei in the palace, Prince Ning's Mansion would never support Jiang Yan as one of the three forces.
She wouldn't say these words explicitly.
Jiang Yan is smart enough. If she is willing to think calmly and carefully, she will understand the implied meaning of her words.
However, if you don't change your impatience, you will end up in trouble one day.
Because of their old acquaintance, she reminded Jiang Yan to avoid a dead end. But that was all.
By the next time, the two may be strangers and hate each other.
But it doesn't matter. Gu Jiu always does things with a clear conscience and according to his heart.
Gu Jiu said: "I've been out for a while, it's time to go back."
"Madam, take care."
Gu Jiu stood up and said goodbye, leaving the side hall.
She saw Zhou Miao, and then he disappeared in a flash.
Gu Jiu smiled knowingly and said to Nanny Fang and the others, "Let's go back."
Jiang Yan sat in the side hall in a daze.
Zhou Miao walked out of the darkness, "My Lady, why are you so worried?"
"You heard everything Madam Zhao said, didn't you?"
Zhou Miao nodded.
"What does she mean?"
Zhou Miao lowered her head and smiled, "Your Majesty, did you really not understand what Madam Zhao meant? She has already made the decision on behalf of Prince Ning's Mansion and refuses to cooperate with you.
She also reminded the queen that if she wanted to save her life, she could only choose between Li Zhaoyi and Concubine Xue. It would be best to choose Li Zhaoyi, because the queen could no longer go back to Concubine Xue.
Jiang Yan's face turned pale. "Does she really mean that?"
Zhou Miao said with certainty, "Madam Zhao's meaning couldn't be clearer. She's made it clear. The new three factions in the harem must be Consort Xiao Shufei, Consort Xue Guifei, and Li Zhaoyi. Your Majesty's foundation is unstable, and your father and brother are not supportive, so you can't become the fourth faction. You can only cling to those three, and Li Zhaoyi is the best choice."
Jiang Yan's face flushed red, she was too embarrassed.
So Gu Jiu had been mocking her the whole time? She sincerely wanted to cooperate, but in Gu Jiu's eyes, she became a ridiculous clown.
This is too much!
Zhou Miao added, "Madam Zhao is indeed very smart and capable."
Jiang Yan smiled coldly, "Of course she's shrewd and capable. When she was penniless, she was able to escape from her stepmother's schemes and even scheme against her stepmother's family."
Zhou Miao was very interested when he heard it, but he didn't know that now was not the time to ask this.
He reminded Jiang Yan, "Your Majesty's foundation is not stable, and she will still rely on Madam Zhao in many ways in the future. So, Your Majesty, please do not quarrel with Madam Zhao."
Madam Zhao also promised to send someone to look after the Empress' family. With Madam Zhao watching over her, the Empress can rest assured.
I don't know much else, but I know Madam Zhao is very reliable. She doesn't make promises easily, but once she does, she will keep them."
Jiang Yan was dissatisfied, "You think very highly of her."
Zhou Miao laughed. "Isn't it all thanks to Madam Zhao that Your Majesty is where she is today? If it weren't for Madam Zhao teaching you how to read and write, would you have been able to seize the opportunity and gain His Majesty's favor?"
"Shut up!"
Jiang Yan angrily scolded Zhou Miao, "Which side are you on?"
Zhou Miao whispered in her ear, "Of course I stand by the Empress. I'm not saying this to provoke the Empress, but to remind her that she can learn more from Madam Zhao. Her advice is honest advice, and it's for your own good. So not only should the Empress not bear a grudge against Madam Zhao, but she should be grateful to her."
"I am grateful to her? Are you kidding me?"
"I'm not kidding. She has already promised not to harm the Queen. For this alone, the Queen should be grateful to her."
Jiang Yan was suspicious. "How could she possibly harm me? Don't talk nonsense."
Zhou Miao reminded Jiang Yan, "Have you forgotten what you said, Madam Zhao, tell Concubine Xiao Shu and Prince Ning that you can help them deal with Concubine Xue and help Prince Ning seize the throne.
Fortunately, Madam Zhao rejected your proposal. Otherwise, she would have told Concubine Xiao Shufei what you said, and Your Majesty would have been banished to the cold palace and committed suicide."
Jiang Yan's expression changed. "Explain yourself clearly."
Zhou Miao sighed, "Your Majesty, think about it calmly. If Madam Zhao really tells Concubine Xiao Shu about your words, what will Concubine Xiao Shu do?
Would she really accept you? Absolutely not. The Empress is two-faced, and everyone will be on guard. Concubine Xiao Shufei will only team up with Concubine Xue and Concubine Li Zhaoyi to kill the Empress and leave you with no place to bury your body.
The people in the palace won't want an ally who's two-faced and willing to do anything to climb the ladder. They're afraid you'll sell them out one day."
Jiang Yan trembled all over, her face pale, "Are you telling the truth?"
"Of course it's true. So Your Majesty should be grateful to Madam Zhao, because she has already rejected you and has no intention of spreading your words."
Jiang Yan's breathing became rapid and she felt uncomfortable.
She covered her chest and said, "I actually handed such a big handle to Madam Zhao with my own hands. Haha, I must be stupid enough to die."
After she said that, she started crying again, crying very sadly.
Zhou Miao comforted her.
"It's because we don't have a good family background, good parents, and can't receive a good education since childhood, and don't understand the hearts of the harem. Your Majesty, every failure is a lesson learned. Be more careful with your words in the future."
Jiang Yan wiped away her tears and smiled coldly, "You're right. I suffered because my family was poor, I didn't have much education, and no one taught me many things. I had to rely on myself to figure things out. I've come all the way to where I am today, so I have to suffer some losses and learn some lessons. Just think of it as paying tuition."
Zhou Miao nodded, "I feel relieved that Your Majesty thinks so."
Jiang Yan gritted her teeth and said, "But I won't stay like this forever. One day, I will sit in that position, and everyone will kneel at my feet."
"I will lend a helping hand, Madam."
…
Gu Jiu returned to the main hall, which was filled with smoke.
Because it was a family dinner and there were no outsiders present, the royal family members behaved in a very unrestrained manner.
The Shaofu Household Manager was very old and disrespectful to his elders. He took off his clothes and sang two songs with the singing girl.
There were also members of the royal family who took over the musician's job and played a piece of Qingpingle.
Pei had a headache and wanted to return to the palace early.
She said, "Follow me to say goodbye to the Queen, and then return home."
"Don't care, Your Majesty?"
King Ning sat on the ground, holding a wine jug in one hand and singing loudly.
The emperor didn't care and was quite happy.
Pei said, "Don't worry about the prince, we will go back to the mansion first."
Pei stood up and led everyone to Concubine Xiao Shufei, "Mother, I will take everyone back home first. I will come to the palace to pay my respects tomorrow morning."
Concubine Xiao Shufei looked tired. "Go ahead. Before entering the palace tomorrow, send someone to the palace gate to check the situation. Maybe we won't have to go into the palace."
"Why is this?" Pei was shocked.
Concubine Xiao Shu gave a bitter laugh, "Didn't you see everything? It's such a mess, let's talk about it tomorrow."
Pei was very nervous and could only say goodbye and leave.
Gu Jiu followed behind and saw Jiang Yan when she turned around.
Jiang Yan returned to the emperor's side, chatting and laughing. She kept following Gu Jiu's figure from the corner of her eye.
When Gu Jiu turned around and saw her, their eyes met in the air.
Jiang Yan pursed her lips and smiled without any aggression.
Gu Jiu smiled and lowered his head, determined to stay away from Jiang Yan.
"Farewell, Madam!"
Zhou Miao suddenly emerged from the darkness, and Gu Jiu was startled.
Gu Jiu glared at him and whispered, "Follow me."
In order to prevent others from noticing anything unusual, Zhou Miao had no choice but to blend in with the crowd and go with her to the palace gate.
Zhou Miao was one step behind Gu Jiu and lowered his voice to say, "Empress Shuyi asked me to thank Madam on her behalf. I will definitely repay you if I have the chance in the future."
Gu Jiu looked straight ahead and walked slowly, already falling behind by about ten steps.
She said coldly, "No need to repay. She and I owe each other nothing."
"I know Madam wants to distance herself from the Empress, but is she really able to do so?"
Gu Jiu still didn't turn around, "Did Shuyi ask you to come, or did you make the decision on your own?"
"Is there any difference?"
"Of course."
"It was I who wanted to see the lady."
Such frankness was beyond Gu Jiu's expectation.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
