The trip to the Imperial Garden ended amicably with Consort Zhuang sulking and being labeled as having poor taste. Song Xia returned to Fengyi Palace, escorted by the other concubines.
As Consort Xian watched her retreating figure, she asked Consort Shu, "What does Consort Shu think of our new Empress?"
Consort Shu smiled gently, not falling for the trick: "Your Majesty the Empress is of the highest rank and most precious, how dare I speak so presumptuously?"
Consort Xian smiled enigmatically: "Even now, Consort Shu is still so cautious. The Fifth Prince is all grown up now. Does Consort Shu really have no thoughts at all?"
Consort Shu feigned ignorance: "The Fifth Prince is so young to be establishing his own residence. I'm afraid His Majesty won't agree to it, especially since the First Prince is still in the Princes' Residence!"
Consort Xian was annoyed: "Sister knows that I am not talking about leaving the palace to establish a residence. The eldest prince is the legitimate son of the Empress, and now he has the support of the new Empress. The Prime Minister's residence has produced two Empresses. Why didn't you say anything about it to the Empress Dowager?"
“My aunt never interferes in politics. Who is chosen as empress is His Majesty’s decision. Sister, you should ask His Majesty about this.”
Seeing that she was impervious to water and fire, Consort Xian had no intention of continuing the conversation. She flicked her long sleeves, turned around, and left.
Consort Shu wasn't angry. Did she want to win her over to deal with the Empress? Knowing it was a trap, she still wanted to fall into it? She was afraid that no matter what she said today, if something happened to the Empress tomorrow, it would all be blamed on her.
His Majesty is still young and currently has no interest in politics; he is pursuing a balance. If he were to disrupt this balance, I fear even his aunt would not be able to protect him.
She sighed inwardly, wondering how long this balance could last. Her son was still young, and she really didn't want him to get involved in the struggle too early, because if he got involved now, neither she nor her son could make the decision.
On the other hand, Consort Zhen, the birth mother of the sixth prince, did not rush back to the palace. Instead, she strolled around in the Imperial Garden. Since entering the palace, she had faced danger at every turn. Although her father was the Governor-General of Huguang, his power was in the south and he had no influence over the harem. She did not want to compete for the emperor's favor, but the situation was beyond her control. She finally managed to give birth to the sixth prince a few years ago, which helped her stabilize her position in the harem.
They thought they would have a few years of peaceful life, but unexpectedly the late empress suddenly died.
She remains deeply troubled by the passing of the late empress, and has yet to find out who was responsible.
Although the Empress was often reprimanded by His Majesty, she was still the Empress. It is said that the late Empress refused to take her medicine out of spite, which aggravated her illness. But the eldest prince was only eight years old at the time. Given the late Empress's love for the eldest prince, how could she have abandoned him and left him alone?
Who on earth is it? Who is so bold as to lay a hand on the late Empress?
What suffocated her was that anyone in the harem could be a potential threat. After all, the eldest prince held the position of legitimate heir, there was the prime minister in the court, and the late empress in the harem. If the late empress were removed, the eldest prince would lose the support of the harem, which would be a major blow to his power.
She had even suspected that one, after all, the eldest prince was the most likely to make that person wary, in terms of status, reputation and power. But the new empress she had appointed confused her. If it was really the empress that had dealt with the previous one, why would she appoint a new empress from the same family?
At this moment, Song Xia, who had already returned to Fengyi Palace, also thought of this matter. She knew better than anyone who had harmed her cousin.
It's estimated that after she was made empress, none of the concubines in the harem would suspect the emperor, but he was the murderer.
In fact, the emperor originally did not want to kill his cousin directly. After all, his cousin had already been stripped of her power over the harem, and the eldest prince was often criticized for being dull and slow-witted. It seemed that the eldest prince had the greatest advantage, but precisely because of this, the mother and son were often suppressed, and the situation was already balanced with that of the other concubines and princes.
That day, the emperor took the elixir, which caused him to hallucinate. During the argument, he lost control of his strength. At the time, his cousin was in solitary confinement, and no one knew that the emperor had visited her that night. Therefore, in everyone's eyes, his cousin died suddenly.
How ridiculous! The emperor actually strangled his empress after taking a poisonous pill, and not only did he not quit, he became even more convinced of the art of alchemy.
It's no wonder that such a great dynasty was destroyed because of such an absurd emperor.
"Your Majesty, all the court ladies have come to pay their respects."
"Let them in."
Song Xia managed her expression. Previously, her cousin was the birth mother of the eldest prince. Because of his fear, His Majesty stripped her of a series of powers over the harem. Now, she didn't know if it was out of guilt or because His Majesty felt that she was no longer a threat, but yesterday, during the investiture ceremony, he gave her the power of governance.
However, after years of infighting in the harem, with power intertwined, she was nominally the mistress of the harem, but in reality, managing it was extremely difficult. Even among the female officials, eunuchs, and palace maids serving her now, she didn't know who she could trust.
But it doesn't matter. At least her status as Empress gives her the biggest advantage, and His Majesty won't contradict himself and disrupt the current balance in the short term.
After chatting with the various court ladies for a while, Song Xia had gained a basic understanding of their personalities. Some of them showed a clear inclination to side with others, while others, at least on the surface, were trying to protect themselves.
That makes things easier. She doesn't need everyone to switch sides. She just needs to ensure that the orders she gives are carried out. As for the rest, she needs to find an opportunity to prepare a sorcerer whom His Majesty can completely trust, and then slowly infiltrate him.
Once His Majesty ceases to question the measures he has taken, the plan can proceed, and the palace officials will have no further say.
"Your Majesty, the First Prince is coming this way after class."
Song Xia was taken aback. Was she going to meet Xiao Jin so soon? Although she and her cousin weren't very close at home because of their age difference, they shared the same surname and came from the same family. Naturally, her feelings for Xiao Jin were different from her feelings for the other princes.
"Let him in quickly."
Outside the palace, Jiang Jin hesitated. He was surprised that his father would choose his aunt to succeed his mother as empress. He thought his father had completely given up on him.
Does the fact that my aunt was made empress mean that I have a powerful backer in the harem?
But the wet nurse said that her aunt would have to give birth to her own child someday and wouldn't really care about her. Is that really true?
Actually, he didn't need any plans. He just wanted his aunt to help him find out the truth about his mother's death. Just a few days ago, his mother said she would teach him her lessons. How could she suddenly die? When the imperial physicians took her pulse, they all said that his mother's health was fine and that she just needed to rest more and avoid overexertion. How could a storm have taken her life?
He knew that everyone in the imperial court and the inner palace was eyeing him covetously, so he never showed his true feelings. Was his aunt another person he could trust besides his mother?
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