Chapter 186 Everything has been arranged for Uya.
Knowing it was time to reveal her hand, Qi Jia solemnly said.
"Princess, my help to you stems from my sincere desire to serve you. In the future, within this harem, I will follow your lead without question. Apart from the Empress, I will be the vanguard for anyone who dares to make things difficult for you! However, my current status is lowly, and my words carry little weight, making it difficult for me to accomplish many things. If, in the future, the Emperor bestows titles upon the six palaces, you could speak well of me before him, allowing me to be promoted… then I will be able to better serve you!"
Tongjia suddenly realized that this was a promise of promotion.
She looked at Qi Jia Shi, pondering in her heart.
This person who came to find her was quite cunning and daring.
If we can truly bring them under our control, they would indeed be a great asset.
The promise of a concubine rank was not difficult for Lady Tongjia.
But the prerequisite is that this person must prove her worth.
"I understand what you mean."
Tongjia spoke slowly, with the composure of someone in a superior position.
"First, you help this princess get things done, so she can see your ability and loyalty. Then, you will naturally receive what you deserve."
Qi Jia cursed the little fox in her heart, saying he wouldn't act until he saw the rabbit.
But she also knew that empty words were not enough to convince people.
"It's already a great achievement to have made this connection today," she immediately declared, expressing her loyalty.
"Princess, rest assured! I will think it over carefully when I get back tonight, and I will act as soon as possible. I will not let you down!"
Tongjia nodded in satisfaction after hearing this.
"Alright, then I'll be waiting to see how you perform."
She did indeed intend to cultivate her own power within the harem.
Without true allies to help her, and fighting alone, she couldn't even handle a small-time clansman like Uya.
She never wanted to live that stifling life again.
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Qi Jia said a few more words to express her loyalty, and then tactfully took her leave.
Watching the figures of Qi Jia and her servant disappear into the night.
Tongjia's previously depressed mood seemed to have become much more relaxed, and a hint of expectation flashed in her eyes.
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In the east wing of Yonghe Palace, the night was deep, and the candlelight flickered.
After dismissing the eunuchs around him, he closed the main gate of the bedchamber, leaving only his trusted maid Yunxiu by his side.
Qi Jia tapped the edge of the bed lightly with her fingers, making a soft tapping sound that broke the silence in the hall.
"Yunxiu?"
She suddenly spoke, her voice extremely low.
"We've made contact with Princess Tongjia for now. But this pledge of loyalty needs some real merit. Tell me, how should we deal with Wuya Clan in a way that's both clean and efficient, without getting ourselves into trouble?"
Upon hearing this, Yunxiu realized it was a difficult problem, and her expression became serious. She leaned closer and whispered.
“My lord, in this harem, there are only a few ways to make someone disappear or no longer pose a threat: poisoning, creating an accident, or using someone else to do the dirty work.”
Qi Jia nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.
"Poisoning..."
Yunxiu carefully considered the words.
"We can't do it openly; we have to be secretive, administering the medicine slowly and over a long period. However, we don't have reliable connections within the palace to obtain those colorless and odorless secret medicines. The risk is too great; if we're discovered..."
Qi Jia nodded slightly after hearing this.
"Yes, this method is indeed inappropriate, mainly because it is too dangerous and cannot be accomplished in a short time."
"Then...using someone else to do the dirty work?"
Yunxiu's eyes darted around.
"Your Majesty, if we could find a pretext to make Lady Uya offend the Empress's bottom line, perhaps... involving the imperial heir? The Second Prince, who is a concubine in Yanxi Palace, is still young. If we could devise a plan to make Lady Uya clash with the Second Prince, perhaps..."
"No!"
Qi Jia interrupted abruptly, her expression serious.
"You're foolish! The heir to the dragon is the Empress's and even the Emperor's Achilles' heel. Anyone who dares to make a fuss about this is courting death. How could the Empress be so shrewd? How could such a clumsy frame-up escape her notice? In the end, not only will we fail to get rid of the Uya clan, but we'll also drag ourselves down with her. The Empress's knife is too sharp; we can't hold it, and we'll only end up cutting ourselves."
Yunxiu was scolded and shrank back in fear, quickly saying...
“Your Highness is right; it was my oversight that led me astray.”
Qi Jia took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Using someone else to do the dirty work is not an option for now. It seems that creating an accident is the only way left."
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"What do you think... if we found a secluded spot in the Imperial Garden and pushed her into the water?"
A hint of agreement flashed in Yunxiu's eyes, but then she shook her head as if she had just thought of something.
“My lord, this method seems feasible, but how can you be sure she can't swim? If she's lucky enough to survive, and someone identifies her, we'll have a hard time getting away with it. Secondly, the Imperial Garden is always bustling with people; even though it's a secluded spot, there's no guarantee there weren't witnesses. Thirdly…”
She lowered her voice.
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten what happened to Lady Wanyan before? She used this method to harm Consort Daijia, and as a result, she was beaten to death by the Empress! If we use this method again, wouldn't we be insulting the Empress?"
Qi Jia was startled upon hearing this.
Yes, the lesson of the Wanyan clan is still fresh in our minds.
If Her Majesty the Empress were to encounter such a clumsy and unskilled trick again...
She probably felt utterly humiliated—to be disturbed by such low-class means was simply an insult to her eyes!
She quickly shook her head, rejecting the idea.
Her absent-minded gaze swept across the furnishings in the hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of inspiration.
When my gaze settled on that solid, rock-solid rosewood display cabinet, a sudden inspiration struck me!
It's not good to cause accidents outside, so...
What about inside Yonghe Palace?
Or perhaps it was in her own east wing?
A bold and insidious plan gradually took shape in her mind.
A relaxed smile appeared on her lips as she lowered her voice and spoke to Yunxiu.
"Yunxiu, what do you think... if we trick Wuya into coming to our east wing, and then... accidentally let some heavy object in the hall, like that curio cabinet, fall down and hit her... what do you think?"
Yunxiu thought it over carefully at first, then her eyes lit up with excitement.
She instantly understood what her master meant!
Creating an accident indoors!
This is much safer than outdoors!
"My lord, this plan is brilliant!"
Yunxiu lowered her voice excitedly.
"For example, Your Highness, you can invite Lady Wuya over for tea and a chat. I can pretend to accidentally knock over the Treasure Pavilion, or we can do something beforehand to loosen it... When the heavy object falls, if she is crushed to death on the spot, it will be a flawless accident! Even if she survives, she will definitely be seriously injured and crippled. What future can a crippled concubine have in the harem? Our pledge of loyalty will be complete."
Qi Jiashi found it more and more feasible as she listened, and a smug look appeared on her face.
"That's right! The key is to get her into our territory without any suspicion. We also need to distance ourselves from her beforehand, so we need to build a good relationship with her first."
A calculating glint flashed in her eyes.
“Starting tomorrow, you should spend more time with the palace maids around Lady Wuya. I will also find opportunities to have private conversations with her and act friendly. Once you get to know her well, it will be natural for her to visit the East Annex Hall often. After you get to know her well, when we suddenly make our move, others will only think that she was unlucky and encountered this unexpected disaster. They will never suspect us. Even if they suspect that the Treasure Pavilion has been tampered with, we can cry out that someone else is plotting to harm us. Lady Wuya just happened to take the blame for us.”
Yunxiu nodded repeatedly in realization, expressing her genuine admiration.
"Your Excellency is absolutely right, and your thinking is extremely thorough. Getting close to them before making a move is the only way to clear your name from suspicion. I understand!"
Qi Jia leaned back on her pillow, smug and self-satisfied, as if she could already foresee Wu Ya's tragic end.
She gave a soft snort, her tone carrying a hint of ruthlessness.
"Let Wuya live in peace for a while, until she enjoys this last bit of tranquility—when the time comes, we will make her bleed to death and never return."
The master and servant exchanged a smile.
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Uya: I'm going to die, I'm going to die! This is unpredictable, there's no way to defend against it, I can only pray to God for protection!
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