Chapter 31 Winning Over
Although Liu Xi only asked Xia to bring two questions to Huo Lin, those two questions were enough to stump Huo Lin to death.
For the next two weeks, Xia would shake her head repeatedly like a rattle-drum every time she returned to Yi Huai Ge in Liu Xi.
Although he didn't find out the key to the problem, Huo Lin still brought back good news.
Liu Yan was in charge of escorting the relief grain to Ningbei, and sure enough, something happened on the way.
Liu Xi doesn't need to worry about this. The power dynamics of the previous dynasty are unpredictable, and there are many who want to take advantage of this batch of disaster relief grain. Liu Xi only needs to stay in the harem and listen to all sorts of entertainment.
Besides this fun, there were other new things in the harem that caught Liu Xi's attention.
For half a month, the emperor visited Consort He's Xingyun Pavilion, but he did not mention promoting Consort He's rank.
If Xiangying hadn't brought the news, Liu Xi would never have expected that He Miaoling's helper this time would be Xiao Wenwen, the daughter of her wet nurse, Xiao Shi.
In this life, the person who failed to sleep with Liu Yan and ended up with him became Xu Zhaozhao by a twist of fate. This serves as a lesson from the past, which explains why Xiao Wenwen didn't do anything as shocking as she did in her previous life.
Liu Xi admitted that Xiao Wenwen was quite skilled at seduction, and that even the girls in Hongxiangyuan might be inferior to her.
However, Xiao Wenwen was highly valued by He Miaoling and gradually replaced Xiang Ying's original position.
Xiangying is now rarely able to serve He Chongyuan in person, which makes Liu Xi a little wary.
"Be careful. Perhaps Madam He has already noticed that Xiangying is acting strangely and is taking this opportunity to avoid her notice."
Although Xiangying, who stayed by the Consort's side, was determined to die, Liuxi hoped that her hatred wouldn't lead her to lose her own life.
Now, Consort Xian is in charge of managing the six palaces, and Jingyang Palace, where she resides, has become a favorite place for the concubines in the harem to gossip.
"Sister, haven't you heard? Consort He is indulging in lewd and obscene songs every night in the palace. It's a disgrace to our imperial family."
"Yes, she used such despicable methods to seduce His Majesty into spending every day at her Xingyun Pavilion, and she even had to show off in front of her sisters."
Consort Xian sat in the main seat, and she really looked like a virtuous empress.
"Indeed, Consort He should not be indulged in this way. If all the concubines follow this method of vying for favor, a trend of seduction will rise, and the harem will surely be in chaos."
Even when Consort Xian used her power to punish Consort He in charge of the six palaces, the Emperor would reject her with various reasons. When the matter reached the Empress Dowager's ears, Consort Xian was severely reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, who said that she could not even handle such a small matter, so how could she take on the responsibility of managing the six palaces?
The Empress Dowager summoned the Emperor to Shou'an Palace for a reprimand, symbolically punished Consort He with half a month of confinement, and then decided not to concern herself with the matter any further.
"Has His Majesty been bewitched by the He family? Even if it's a vulgar and despicable charm, wouldn't he get tired of it after half a month?"
Consort Song chattered incessantly beside Consort Xian, buzzing around like a bee.
"No matter how you look at it, it's just a means of vying for favor, and it hasn't caused any major disaster. His Majesty is enjoying it, and there's nothing we can do about it."
"Could it be that you, sister, are just going to let that vixen seduce His Majesty?"
Consort Xian remained calm and composed, replying serenely.
"What use is temporary favor? Lady He just wants to take advantage of her youth and conceive a prince as soon as possible."
"Besides, my sister also said that even the most amazing charms will eventually become tiresome. The selection of contestants is just around the corner, so how long can the He family be so smug?"
The most important thing right now is to get His Majesty to decide on the candidate for the position of Crown Prince as soon as possible.
If the Second Prince Liu Cheng enters the Eastern Palace, Consort Xian will be getting closer and closer to becoming Empress.
Consort Xian's ambition never rested on the emperor's momentary favor.
"Oh, sister is so lucky. Not only did she give birth to a son, but the Second Prince is also the most promising prince in the palace right now. Sister's life is settled."
Consort Xian smiled but did not reply, only sighing inwardly.
Yes, I didn't expect the Fifth Prince to be so naive. She only had her father secretly tamper with the total amount of disaster relief grain, and Liu Yan was thrown into a panic.
He's attempt to compete with herself using such a large bag of rice is nothing but a pipe dream.
However, the fourth princess Liu Xi, who shares the same mother as Liu Yan, is not to be underestimated. Consort Xian suspects that perhaps when Jiang gave birth to the fourth princess, she gave her an extra brain, so that when it came to the fifth prince, only half of him could be squeezed out to make up the numbers.
"I really can't figure out what the Fourth Princess is planning."
Consort Xian suddenly uttered a sentence that left Consort Song completely bewildered.
"The Fourth Princess is just a woman, and she will most likely be married off to a distant place for political reasons in the future. Why is my sister concerned about her?"
"I think she has great wisdom that is no less than that of men, but she doesn't seem to have any intention of secretly helping the Fifth Prince."
Consort Song clicked her tongue in disdain. "If I were the Fourth Princess, I would not want to associate with my younger brother who is mingling with the man who killed my mother."
Consort Xian nodded thoughtfully, "That does make some sense."
"Zhiyun, go to the storeroom and prepare some small gifts to send to the princess. I intend to invite the Fourth Princess to visit Jingyang Palace."
"Sister, what does this mean?" Consort Song asked hurriedly.
"Perhaps the Fourth Princess can reach a consensus with us on the matter of choosing an heir."
Consort Song's eyes widened in disbelief at what she had just heard.
"Even if the princess does have some dissatisfaction with the fifth prince, they are still siblings!"
The Consort Xian suddenly smiled, "It's precisely because they are siblings that this matter is even more interesting."
"If the princess is willing to disregard blood ties to achieve her goals, then I will gladly accept this sharp knife."
However, Zhiyun, the head maid of Consort Xian, ran away empty-handed and failed to meet Liu Xi in Yihuai Pavilion as she had hoped.
Before Consort Xian could even consider it, Consort He sent someone to Yihuai Pavilion to invite the Fourth Princess over for a short visit. Liu Xi was genuinely curious about her intentions and set off immediately without hesitation.
The furnishings of Xingyun Pavilion were completely different from those of Jinle Palace, where He Miaoling had previously lived. Even He Miaoling's personality seemed to have changed completely.
When Liu Xi entered the hall, Xiao Wenwen was helping Consort He to restyle her hair.
"The princess has arrived. Xiangying, serve the princess tea."
A steaming bowl of tea was handed to Liu Xi, with a few slender, needle-like tea leaves floating in the clear tea.
"Your Majesty's tea, I dare not drink it."
He Miaoling knew perfectly well why Liu Xi said that. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and smiled freely.
"Is Your Highness worried that I have poisoned this tea? Your Highness is overthinking it."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xi generously took the teacup from Xiang Ying's hand and used the porcelain lid to scrape away the foam on the surface of the tea.
"Indeed, the Imperial Observatory has not reported any bad news to His Majesty for a long time, so there is naturally no need for madmen to spout nonsense in the harem."
"Your Majesty, this tea smells wonderful."
He Chongyuan raised her right hand, signaling Xiao Wenwen to stop what she was doing. Then she stood up and walked towards Liu Xi, stopping in front of the princess.
"I know that you plotted against the child in my womb."
Liu Xi readily agreed, "Of course, this princess never intended to hide this from Your Majesty. Wouldn't it be better if we gave and received in return?"
In the past, He Miaoling would have been furious, but now, Liu Xi only had a serious expression for a second before she quickly put on a smiling face again.
"Didn't the princess ever consider that we should have been on the same side?"
“You, the Fifth Prince, and I could have been each other’s support, sharing both glory and loss.”
Liu Xi stared at her without changing her expression. "Has this princess now become someone Your Majesty can rely on?"
He Chongyuan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. It was remarkable that she could lower herself to such a humble and subservient manner in front of Liu Xi.
"All that happened before was because I misjudged the princess, and it was indeed I who wronged the princess first."
"But Liu Yan is, after all, your own brother. Does the princess intend to jeopardize her brother's future and oppose me because of me?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Xi almost burst out laughing.
If blood ties were truly the strongest bond in the world, Liu Xi wouldn't have died at Liu Yan's hands in her previous life.
Although Liu Xi secretly laughed at the absurdity of He Chongyuan's reasons for trying to convince herself, she still spoke up.
"Your Majesty is right."
"I can let go of the matter of the princess's plot to harm the prince in my womb, but the princess must also promise me that from now on she will do everything she can to help the Fifth Prince win the position of Crown Prince."
He Chongyuan's words made it sound as if she had made a great sacrifice for Liu Yan's future.
Liu Xi feigned agreement, but inwardly she sneered.
Liu Xi will take revenge on He Miaoling for the murder of her mother and the humiliation she suffered.
As for Liu Yan, the biggest murderer in his previous life, he can forget about living a peaceful life in this world.
“The princess can distinguish between what is important and what is urgent. I was right about her.”
He Chongyuan's lips curled up, her tone slightly smug.
"Right now, the Fifth Prince is imprisoned because of disaster relief efforts. As long as the disaster relief grain does not reach Ningbei in sufficient quantities, he will not be able to return to the capital."
Liu Xi was a little curious, "With a commander accompanying us, what's so difficult about the amount of disaster relief grain not being in line with the actual amount?"
"Furthermore, Your Majesty should know the principle that women in the inner palace should not interfere in politics."
At this point, He Chongyuan felt even more troubled.
After the princess was assassinated, His Majesty followed the trail of the bandits who were captured alive and found Zhang Feng, who had once been a retainer of He Zhengmei, the prefect of the capital.
Even though all the evidence showed that He Zhengmei had long since severed ties with Zhang Feng, and that He Qing had never had any private dealings with Zhang Feng, His Majesty still harbored considerable suspicions about He Qing.
It was precisely the time when He Qing needed to lay low, so even if he had a way to help Liu Yan with the disaster relief grain issue, he couldn't actually take action.
In his letter, He Qing repeatedly accused He Miaoling of raising a stupid burden, scolding her for being more trouble than she was worth, which made He Miaoling even more irritable and depressed.
"Everything I have done is to give the Fifth Prince a chance to rise in the ranks. The fact that there are problems with the disaster relief grain must be due to the framing and scheming of others in the palace."
"Does the princess really want to watch Liu Yan become a stepping stone for the other princes to rise in rank?"
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