Even knowing that Chu Baiwei was ruthless, Wuyou never expected that after pleading for the death or impending death of his loved one, he would never utter another word. He would quietly copy scriptures and chant Buddhist prayers in Chengqian Palace, appearing very well-behaved.
As early as when the imperial edict was issued, he had given the General of Zhennan the order to kill the entire Cheng'en family on the spot. This family had provided considerable assistance to Chu Baiwei before she became empress, eliminating many dissentful individuals; they were his most effective weapon. Taking advantage of the recent turmoil in Chuzhou, he could not miss such a legitimate opportunity to wipe them out.
As for who should take the blame, it would naturally be Zhou Changqing. Anyway, he had always wanted this family to die, so this would fulfill his wish. I believe he wouldn't mind taking the blame this time.
A month later, General Zhennan returned to the capital in triumph, the rebellion in Chuzhou was successfully quelled, and the Chengen Duke's family also perished in the uprising.
Wuyou went to Chengqian Palace to see Chu Baiwei with the message and was surprised to find that the other woman had changed. Although Chu Baiwei was deeply favored by the emperor before, she always took the lead, leading Helan Wuyou by the nose, and acting spoiled and willful. But now she was gentle and obedient, with the gentleness of a woman, and had truly changed a lot.
"My beloved consort, you have truly impressed me." Wuyou reached out and grasped Chu Baiwei's hand, speaking softly.
After getting used to it for a while, Wuyou was able to become a little closer to the women in the harem. Of course, in his mind, this was just an evolution of sisterhood. As for what they were thinking, Wuyou said he had no idea and didn't want to know.
"Your Majesty, I offended you with my rude words some time ago. During this period, I have been quietly praying to Buddha and have felt enlightened. Please do not blame me, Your Majesty, otherwise I am afraid I will be saddened to death."
Chu Baiwei's eyes reddened, and she bowed slightly, about to kneel down, but Wuyou stopped her with a hand.
"My beloved concubine is so gentle and obedient, how could I possibly blame you? The court and the harem should not be too intertwined." Wuyou gently patted Chu Baiwei's shoulder with a light and gentle touch. His eyes were bright, like a clear spring, clear and bright.
"Your Majesty, I thank you." Chu Baiwei smiled shyly, her bright eyes filled with gentleness, while the madness deep within them was carefully concealed.
The two chatted idly for a while before Wuyou remembered the important matter, her tone becoming inscrutable. "The unrest in Chuzhou has been resolved; General Zhennan did a great job. However, my beloved concubine, your family..."
Wuyou paused deliberately, glancing at Chu Baiwei's expression out of the corner of her eye. The other woman's hand, which was pouring tea, froze on the spot, and the tea spilled uncontrollably, leaving water stains all over the table.
"Those who unfortunately perished can be considered to have sacrificed for the court, and I will grant them posthumous honors."
Chu Baiwei only came to his senses after Wuyou finished speaking. He looked at Wuyou in a panic and hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness. Wuyou expressed his understanding and comfort, but what Chu Baiwei said was unexpected.
"It is my honor that Your Majesty is willing to grant my relatives posthumous honors. However, they are criminals, so please handle this matter impartially. I will have no complaints."
Kneeling upright on the ground, Chu Baiwei's gaze towards Wuyou was filled with unwavering determination. There was not a trace of reluctance, as if the person being dealt with was not his parents or relatives, but merely a complete stranger.
"That being said, my beloved concubine has given me a princess after all. Even for your sake, I should give them some dignity." Wuyou stroked the jade prayer beads in her hand, her tone hesitant.
Chu Baiwei kowtowed deeply, remaining kneeling and not rising. Her voice was muffled, tinged with a sob, "Precisely because they are my maternal clan, Your Majesty should handle this matter impartially and not disappoint the court officials and the people. I am unharmed. Since becoming Your Majesty's concubine, I am no longer a member of the Chu family. I am a member of the royal family."
With all his family members dead, what use is posthumous honors? It would be better to earn some dignity for himself and gain the emperor's favor so that he can make his move slowly and he can take revenge in the future.
"My beloved consort is so understanding and righteous, I am deeply gratified. Bring an imperial decree to confer upon Consort Chu the rank of Second-Rank Imperial Consort, and bestow upon her the title of Shun." Wuyou stepped forward, bowed to Chu Baiwei, and embraced her. He then shouted loudly to the outside world. Thus, Chu Baiwei became a Second-Rank Imperial Consort, stepping over the corpses of her clansmen.
Chu Baiwei entered the palace less than four years ago, rising from a lowly concubine to a second-rank imperial consort—a speed of promotion rarely seen in history. When this news reached the court and the inner palace, it inevitably drew sneers. The fact that someone could rise to power by stepping on their relatives was something to be ashamed of.
However, this also showed how much the Emperor valued her, making Zhou Changqing and others even more eager to get rid of her. The Empress couldn't help but have her doubts, but after a recent reprimand, she had become much more composed. She simply exempted Chu Baiwei from her daily morning and evening greetings, allowing her to focus on official duties in the palace, instructing the little princess, and avoiding any confrontation.
It was precisely this action of the Empress that made Chu Baiwei even more smug, even though she was only a second-rank concubine. Even the Empress dared not compete with her, which gave her a sense of pride in being the most favored concubine in the harem.
Three more years passed in this manner, and the power struggles within the court began to emerge. Because Wuyou acted so discreetly, promoting only unknown figures, Zhou Changqing and his associates remained unaware. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late; this group had already firmly established themselves in the court and were staunch royalists. Neither coercion nor bribery, neither soft nor hard tactics could sway their will.
The important officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty were all from aristocratic families, of noble birth, and their power bases were deeply intertwined, so much so that a single move could have far-reaching consequences. Zhou Changqing was even the emperor's brother-in-law, but Helan Wuyou was not the eldest son of the emperor and had a shallow relationship with this brother-in-law. Because he was being manipulated by him, he had no choice but to treat this brother-in-law with utmost respect.
But how could he allow others to sleep soundly on his own bed? Helan Wuyou was a coward, but he was not without courage. However, his skills were limited, and he could not do anything to Zhou Changqing.
Who can blame them when Zhou Changqing, both personally and with his family, wields considerable influence?
The Great Zhou Dynasty was largely ruled by the powerful and wealthy, leaving no hope for those from humble backgrounds to rise in society. This set a precedent for the Great Zhou Dynasty by valuing those from poor families and employing commoners. This was undoubtedly a great favor to the proud and aloof commoner scholars, and it also subtly reassured the people.
Most scholars are pedantic and stubborn, and deeply grateful to Wuyou. To them, the attempts by high-ranking officials to win them over are like a bottomless abyss, which they naturally do not wish to accept.
The chess pieces, which had been used for three years, finally came into play at this moment, and Wuyou began to take action against some of the veteran ministers.
On a sweltering summer day, the bamboo grove outside the window rustled in the breeze, its delicate fragrance filling the Yiyuan Hall. The emperor, clad in a yellow robe, sat upright at his desk, repeatedly perusing the memorials in his hands, his smile growing ever wider.
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