Chapter 68 The Eldest Son? He Won't Grow Up Even If He Doesn't Die.
The Empress naturally understood the meaning of open schemes, but in the past, she was the one who had the final say, and she could punish anyone she didn't like.
What other open strategies are needed?
Seeing the young master's disdain, Granny Jing explained even more patiently.
"What is an open strategy? It is to rely on your status and power as the Empress to act openly and aboveboard, so that even if people are dissatisfied, they cannot find fault with you or resist you. For example, you can arrange the concubines' nights with you in accordance with palace rules. You can distribute the concubines' allowances according to the system, or you can increase or decrease them according to their merits and demerits. As the legal mother, you have the right to inquire about the education and upbringing of princes and princesses. There are too many things you can do here. These are the powers you should hold firmly in your hands. As long as you do not make any major mistakes and stand firm in your position as Empress, even the Emperor cannot easily touch you in the slightest."
The Empress seemed thoughtful, but remained worried.
"But, Granny, if there are too many princes and princesses in the harem, it will inevitably threaten the position of my legitimate son..."
Granny Jing shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of admonition.
"Your Majesty, you are wrong again. The nobility of a legitimate son lies precisely in the number of illegitimate sons. Without the surrounding and contrasting presence of many illegitimate sons, how can the nobility and distinction of a legitimate son be highlighted? Furthermore, you are the Empress, the mother of the nation. The abundance of offspring in the harem is a testament to your virtue and magnanimity, which will only further solidify your position. If you were the only one in the harem with a prince, that would place you and your legitimate son in the eye of the storm, giving the court an excuse to attack you for monopolizing the Emperor's favor and not allowing illegitimate children to be born!"
These words were like a wake-up call, leaving the Empress stunned on the spot.
Seeing her deep thought, Granny Jing added a meaningful remark.
The voice was kept extremely low, so low that only the two of them could hear it.
"Your Majesty, what you should be thinking about now is not the distant succession to the throne. The Emperor is only fourteen years old, in the prime of his life, and has a long future ahead of him. To put it bluntly, how many years do you think the Emperor can rule the country? Fifty years? Sixty years? What you should be doing now is ensuring that your legitimate son is born safely, grows up healthy, and becomes the Emperor's most favored prince. As long as your position is secure, your legitimate son is outstanding, and you have the support of the Hesheli family... In short, right now, you should remain calm, take good care of your pregnancy, and firmly grasp the reins of power. That is the right path."
Upon hearing this, a calm light, as if planning for the long term, shone in the Empress's eyes.
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The main hall of Yikun Palace seems to be perpetually filled with a sense of seclusion and coldness.
Consort Niohuru sat upright on the heated kang by the window, holding a cup of tea that had already cooled down.
His gaze lingered on the snow in the courtyard, as if admiring the scenery, yet also as if nothing caught his eye.
She was like a jade statue, dignified and serene, yet exuding a chill that seemed to emanate from her very bones.
The sound of footsteps rang out, and her trusted nanny quickly entered the hall.
With a hint of seriousness on his face, he approached her and whispered.
"Your Majesty, this old servant has something important to report."
Consort Niohuru did not turn around, not even her eyelashes trembled, and her voice was calm and still, like a deep pool.
"Granny, there is no need to panic. As far as I am concerned, apart from seeking revenge against the Hesheli clan, there is nothing else in this world worth worrying about."
The old woman composed herself and spoke a little faster.
"Your Majesty, regarding Kunning Palace... Today, the Hesheli family sent a new old nanny in. She is Lady Hesheli's most trusted confidante, known as Granny Jing. As soon as she entered the palace, she acted swiftly and decisively, removing and cleaning all the incense, sachets, and even scented items from the Empress's bedchamber. Our tampering with the incense has probably been discovered, or at least stopped."
Consort Niohuru's fingers, which were holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.
She finally turned her head slowly, her gaze falling on the old woman's face.
His gaze was deep and unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger, but rather an invisible pressure.
"The Hesheli family couldn't sit still any longer, but isn't it a bit too late for them to arrive now?"
She spoke softly, her tone carrying a hint of knowing mockery.
"That's right. The Empress and her unborn son are the hope of the Hesheli family for the next few decades. How could they give up so easily? It's only reasonable to send a capable person to oversee things."
She didn't seem particularly surprised; instead, she asked a crucial question.
"Granny, how long has the Empress been using our secret medicine?"
The old woman thought about it carefully and replied affirmatively.
"Your Majesty, it has been three months since our people found the opportunity to strike."
"Three months..."
Consort Niohuru repeated the number in a low voice, a cold smile slowly curving her lips.
"Time flies. Three months, day by day, little by little, should be enough. The flesh in Hesheli's belly must have been damaged to the core and is now terminally ill."
She looked up at the old woman, her gaze sharp.
"In your opinion, will this child ultimately be stillborn, or will it be born a sickly child who will never grow up?"
The old woman pondered for a moment, a hint of certainty flashing in her eyes.
“Your Majesty, that medicine is extremely insidious and harmful, requiring long-term accumulation. Judging from the time and dosage used by the Empress, it is inevitable that the fetus will be severely damaged. This old servant believes that even if it is not stillborn, it will certainly be born with congenital deficiencies, weak and sickly, and it will be extremely difficult for it to grow up safely…”
She was almost certain the child wouldn't survive.
Consort Niohuru nodded in satisfaction, a look of pleasure flashing in her eyes.
"Very good. In that case, we have already achieved most of our goal."
She turned her gaze back to the window, regaining her previous aloofness and coldness.
"Now that the Hesheli family has sent someone knowledgeable, they will surely be on high alert. Pass down the word that all our people must lie low and not make any moves without my order. To force an attack now would be tantamount to walking into a trap."
"Your Majesty is wise."
The old woman bowed and replied, her tone tinged with resentment.
"But this way, it benefits the Empress, allowing her to give birth to the child safely."
Upon hearing this, Consort Niohuru let out a cold laugh, her laughter full of mockery.
"Peaceful? She might be more at peace—I won't take action anymore, firstly because it's not worth the risk, and secondly, I'm just waiting to see her make a fool of herself. I'll wait and see if she gives birth to a lifeless baby or an auspicious creature destined to die young. Wouldn't it be more interesting to see her fall from joy to despair?"
The old woman's eyes flashed, and she immediately understood.
"This old servant understands. I will go and instruct the men to remain calm and not to act rashly."
After the old woman left, the hall returned to silence.
Consort Niohuru stood alone, gazing at the desolate winter scenery outside the window.
After a long while, he muttered to himself in an almost inaudible voice.
"The Hesheli family has sent a formidable one... Will Consort Jin be able to keep the Empress firmly under her control as before?"
A hint of anticipation, like watching a good show, flashed in her eyes.
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Despite the cold winter, the main hall of Yongshou Palace was warm and cozy thanks to the burning charcoal fire.
It was time for the triennial evening audience, and the concubines from all the palaces arrived one after another, taking their seats quietly according to their rank.
Since the Empress was confined to her quarters and Consort Jin took over the Phoenix Seal, the three-day evening greeting has become the new rule for the inner palace.
They discovered that as long as they didn't cause trouble or cross Consort Jin's bottom line, this mistress was actually quite easy to talk to.
She would even readily grant some reasonable small requests, which was much more relaxed than when the Empress was in charge.
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I've drawn a huge mooncake to send to all of you, my darlings. Everyone gets one, and it's all you can eat. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all of you!
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