Chapter 44: A Bloodless Victory
In the study of the garden, the candlelight flickered until the third watch. Huairou sat alone at her desk, the hooting of owls outside the window adding to her loneliness. Now, her mind was focused, all her energy concentrated on "Plan Three," a plan more in line with her style. The core of this plan lay not in direct confrontation, nor in risky evidence gathering, but in time—time could catalyze a transformation in people's hearts.
She spread out a blank sheet of paper, but didn't immediately begin writing. Instead, she meticulously rehearsed each step of the plan in her mind, ensuring its logical rigor and feasibility. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment adventure, but a carefully calculated psychological game.
She knew she had neither the standing nor the status to petition the Emperor. She could only feign ignorance of Jiancheng Jun's identity and utilize the only remaining, clandestine communication channel—the specially trained carrier pigeon "Feiyan," capable of traversing the palace. She offered advice and suggestions through a letter. The two plans that had previously clashed fiercely in her mind—one relying too heavily on fragile physical evidence, the other touching upon the insurmountable red line of imperial power—had been completely discarded.
The night grew deeper, yet the air in the study seemed to freeze. Huairou sat upright at her desk, the lamplight occasionally flickering softly, illuminating her serene face. She picked up her brush again, dipped it in ink, and the flowing strokes were delicate characters, composed yet unable to conceal her deep sorrow:
"To Your Excellency: "
"Several months have passed since we parted, and the situation in the capital has changed dramatically. I imagine you have heard of this as well. The Crown Prince has been implicated, causing shock throughout the court and the country. Huairou is heartbroken and unable to sleep at night. I know this is a matter of state, and not something I can comment on. However, I have a foolish opinion that I cannot help but express. I recall our past discussions about world affairs, and I know that you have exceptional insight and a broad mind. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of writing this letter as a humble opinion between close friends. I hope you will consider it."
She deliberately maintained the old titles and tone, wrapping her next plan in the guise of "advising a trusted member of the royal family or a high-ranking official."
"In my opinion, the key to this framing is the sudden appearance of the '100,000-strong army.' If this army is real, Your Highness will be unable to defend yourself; if it is fake, we must make it collapse on its own. Forcibly investigating it may lead to a trap; a direct confrontation may cause unforeseen circumstances. It would be better to... remain still and wait for the situation to change."
At this point, Huairou paused slightly to ensure the logic was clear enough to impress the politically astute "Jiancheng Jun".
"Imagine, an army of 100,000 cannot be formed overnight, nor can it be built from nothing. How much does it cost to feed the men and horses, and to supply the army with weapons and provisions every day? If this army is truly being supported by Your Highness, how can you sustain such a huge expenditure now that Your Highness is imprisoned and has lost external support? Once the army's pay is cut off, the morale of the troops will inevitably waver, which is only natural."
"Conversely, if this army is amassed by someone else with the intention of framing you, then the person behind it will need to continuously invest huge sums of money to keep the army from disbanding and to solidify Your Highness's guilt. However, such investment is like a bottomless pit; the longer it goes on, the greater the pressure becomes, and the more flaws will emerge."
She wrote down the core of the plan, which she believed would be most persuasive to the emperor:
"The best course of action now is to suggest a delaying tactic to His Majesty. We should request that His Majesty postpone the final decision and publicly state that the case is complex and requires careful investigation. At the same time, His Highness should be moved from his place of house arrest to a location with better information flow and flexibility, such as... my daughter's 'Liyuan'? This place can isolate His Highness from outside disturbances and prevent villains from framing him again. It is also outside the palace, which will make his opponents complacent and think that there is no way to turn the tide, so they will not plot anything else. The Guo family can guarantee His Highness's safety here."
She knew that proposing to confine the Crown Prince to her own garden was extremely audacious. But she had to seize this opportunity, not only to protect Yunji, but also to facilitate the implementation of her subsequent plans.
She then elaborated on how this "delaying tactic" could be the key to breaking the deadlock:
"The key to this move is that Your Majesty can take the opportunity to spread the word that if the 'unknown army' is willing to lay down their weapons, the court will temporarily not pursue their crime of treason, allowing them to retire and make a living on their own. Jiancheng Jun should know that for ordinary soldiers, joining the army is mostly for making a living. Once their livelihood is not secured for a long time, even the most tightly organized organization will develop cracks from within. As long as one person causes trouble because they cannot get their pay, then it will be obvious who is truly supporting the army. The 100,000 troops are not a monolithic force; their fear and anxiety will be the best breakthrough point."
"Or, we could petition His Majesty to issue an imperial edict announcing the reorganization of this army and its inclusion in the border army. The person behind the scenes who raised the army would be willing to sacrifice all the troops he had painstakingly built up to frame someone else. At that time, the alliance would be shaken, and he would inevitably lose his composure and expose his true colors."
Having written this far, Huairou poured all her heart and soul into her pen, concluding with:
"This plan may seem passive, but it is in fact a strategy to cut off their resources at the root. Instead of fighting for short-term gains, it aims to deplete their resources, disrupt their morale, and break their alliances. Delaying time is advantageous to us, but it is a death knell for them. I hope you can understand the key points here. If you think it is feasible, find an opportunity to speak to His Majesty. I am but a humble person with little influence, and I can only offer this clumsy plan to do my best to clear up the fog, restore His Highness's innocence, and ensure the safety of the court and the nation."
"This letter was written hastily, and my words cannot fully express my thoughts. I hope you take good care of yourself and await your reply."
She didn't sign her name, but instead, in a corner of the letter, she drew a small, supple blade of grass swaying in the wind with extremely fine strokes. This was a secret mark between her and "Jiancheng Jun," unknown to anyone else.
The ink dried, the letter was complete. She carefully rolled up the letter, put it into a small letter tube, and tied it to "Flying Swallow's" leg. Pushing open the window, the night was deep. She gently stroked the carrier pigeon's smooth feathers and whispered, "Go, Flying Swallow, take this hope to him."
The carrier pigeons flapped their wings, disappeared into the deep night, and flew towards the center of imperial power.
Huairou closed the window, leaned against the cold windowpane, and let out a long sigh. She had done all she could. At this moment, she placed all her hopes on the wisdom of "Jiancheng Jun," and on any lingering trust and affection he might have for her. She gambled that he would understand the deeper meaning of the letter, that he would adopt this seemingly roundabout but actually crucial strategy, and that, given his dual role as emperor and father, he would be willing to give Yunji, and herself, a chance to uncover the truth.
What followed was waiting. In the silence of the garden, beside Yunji's grief and indignation, she would wait with utmost patience for time to ferment, for the distant army to become restless under the pressure of the cut-off pay, and for the fragile alliance of betrayal to collapse from within.
She subdued the enemy without fighting. She laid out a silent game, a game of chess with people's hearts and interests as the pieces. And she herself would be the most silent guardian in this game.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com