"You will remember how ugly Consort Ke's death was. You will remember how tragic Consort Jing's death was. You will also remember how ugly the late Empress's death was. But in fact, in the harem, the end of many more people is actually silent. Consort Xiangxian is one such example."
“Your Majesty is right, but for someone like her, it must be even more painful to end things so quietly,” said Shuanzi.
"Perhaps. Perhaps I will be like that too?" Yan Nangui asked rhetorically.
"Your Majesty will not," Shuanzi affirmed.
"Why not?" Yan Nangui chuckled.
“This servant can’t explain it, but Your Highness isn’t that kind of person. If Your Highness were like her, even if you fell out of favor, you wouldn’t look bad. This servant doesn’t know about that situation, but it certainly wouldn’t be like that. If you fell out of favor, if you lost, you wouldn’t bother to recall the past,” Shuanzi said.
Yan Nangui laughed: "I always thought no one understood me. Shuanzi, you really understand me."
Shuanzi smiled and said, "Ever since I came to serve you, I have always seen you this way. If you win, as you are now, you will be in great glory. Even if you lose, it will be a clean and decisive defeat."
Yan Nangui smiled again, looked at the snow scene, and said nothing more.
Maybe.
In fact, she is now able to understand the women in the harem.
Not everyone has gone through as much as she has.
They were just ordinary women, and the late empress was no less capable, but she was not thorough enough.
Consort Jing was reckless and foolish, but she was not ruthless.
Consort Xiangxian was shrewd and ruthless, but she had no trump cards. She couldn't rely entirely on the emperor's favor, had no children, and no family background.
It's not easy to persevere to this point.
Consort Ke ended up looking ugly, but her real mistake was that she revealed her ambition as soon as she entered the mansion, which led to her being disliked.
Unfortunately, she was unlucky enough to give birth to a prince.
And then there's the unfathomable Consort Ning; she's already quite formidable.
Yan Nangui sat there, lost in thought for a long time.
Gradually, my thoughts began to wander further and further into the future, transcending time and space.
These past few days, she has found it difficult to calm down, and she doesn't know why, perhaps it's because of worry.
But she knew it wasn't just worry.
On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month in the nineteenth year of the Jingjing reign, the palace prepared for the Laba Festival.
Early in the morning, Yan Nangui had just gotten up and hadn't even combed his hair when Shuanzi rushed over in a hurry.
"What's wrong?"
"Your Majesty, news from the front lines: His Majesty has appointed the eldest prince as crown prince! This happened four days ago."
Yan Nangui was taken aback: "They've established a crown prince?"
"Yes, the news has spread."
Yan Nangui looked at Shuanzi for a long, long time, then smiled and said, "The crown prince was established on the battlefield. The emperor... has passed away."
"Huh?" Shuanzi was taken aback: "Your Majesty?"
"Shu Chengfeng is dead." Yan Nangui smiled, his thoughts of the past few days finally coming to a conclusion. So that's how it was.
"Your Majesty, you..." Shuanzi and the others were shocked.
"Immediately send men out of the capital to Bailu Prefecture. Shuanzi, you go personally. Tell Yan Nanji to escort the Seventh Princess back to the capital. Tell him of the great changes in the capital and to lead troops to escort her. Bailu Prefecture should be taken now," Yan Nanji said.
"Your Majesty, are you alright? This... there's no imperial edict..."
"Shuanzi! What are you still thinking about after hearing Her Majesty's words?" Jiangxiang asked.
Shuanzi was stunned again: "Yes, I was confused. I'll go right away."
After Shuanzi left, Jiangxiang still helped her sit down: "Your Majesty, although... but what if His Majesty is alright? You should do this..."
“Jiangxiang, you know me. As for him… although I’m not entirely devoted, I have no intention of harming him. I understand him. If he hadn’t failed, I wouldn’t have appointed a crown prince on the battlefield.”
Jiangxiang understood this as well, and took the lead in kneeling down.
"Get up. There are many things to do. Now that a crown prince has been appointed, he will be back soon. Since the emperor's death was not announced immediately, even if the war is urgent, it will soon be over. Just pretend you don't know," Yan Nangui said.
"Your Highness, please tell us what's wrong. We know this is a critical moment," Jiangxiang said.
"Summon Zuo Zhizhen and Zhang Shaoyang to see me, but at different times," Yan Nangui said.
"Yes, this servant will go right away." Jiang Xiang left.
"Yuanhua, immediately send a message to my father, telling him to hold the line. No matter what changes occur, do not make any moves," Yan Nangui said.
“Your Highness, I will go myself,” Yuanhua said.
“I will ride a horse. Although I may not be faster than the messenger, it will be safer,” Yuanhua said.
“No need. Go to the estate to find them immediately. You’re too slow,” Yan Nangui said.
"Yes, this servant will go right away."
"Bai Wei, do my hair and makeup," Yan Nangui said.
Bai Wei responded and stepped forward to comb her hair. She listened intently, feeling a mix of fear, nervousness, and...excitement.
After getting ready, she didn't even bother with breakfast. Zhang Shaoyang arrived.
Yan Nangui sat in the hall: "Zhang Shaoyang, I have summoned you here today to ask you to do something."
"Your Majesty, please give your orders, and I will obey without question." Zhang Shaoyang had been waiting for this day for far too long.
"A business that could cost you your head," Yan Nangui said.
Zhang Shaoyang was taken aback, but remained resolute: "Your subject is willing to do it."
“Good, you have guts. Lord Shangguan has already returned to his hometown. Although Xu Chong is also an important official, I know that he cannot win the hearts of the people. Over the years, I have promoted you so that you would become the head of the city patrol office. Now, the opportunity has come.”
"Your Majesty, just give the order, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation!" Zhang Shaoyang understood that it was definitely risky, but if he didn't take the risk, when would he ever get his chance?
"Since that's the case, I'll tell you plainly. His Majesty is in trouble. I have an agreement with His Majesty, but I won't go into the details. His Majesty's favor is not the First Prince. The fact that he's suddenly being chosen at the front lines must be suspicious. Therefore, I want you to replace Xu Chong and take control of the military in the capital. There are many young princes and princesses in the palace, and they don't know how His Majesty is doing at the front. We absolutely cannot allow the Ning family traitors to harm them. Do you understand?" Yan Nangui asked.
Zhang Shaoyang opened his mouth wide in surprise: "Yes! Your subject understands, your subject will take care of it immediately."
"Very well, as long as I and the royal family are safe, you will be a meritorious official when His Majesty returns. Remember, you are working for His Majesty. As long as you live, you will have all the riches and honors you deserve. As for what pretext to use to capture Xu Chong, I don't need to teach you, do I?" Yan Nangui said.
“Yes, but what if he resists?” Zhang Shaoyang asked.
“There is no concrete evidence, so try not to kill him. But if he fights to the death, then go ahead and do as you please,” Yan Nangui said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand. Rest assured, Your Majesty, as long as I live, I will protect the capital," Zhang Shaoyang said.
“Alright, go ahead,” Yan Nangui said.
As soon as Zhang Shaoyang came out, he met Zuo Zhizhen standing outside. After bowing to her, he was even more convinced that something must have happened.
When Prefect Song entered, Yan Nangui waved his hand and said, "Zuo Zhizhen, I have summoned you here because I have something to tell you."
"Your Majesty, please speak freely." Zuo Zhizhen was the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards. He was the Left Guard in those days.
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