The Phoenix Seal has been restored to its rightful place, and the Empress's name has been officially recognized.
This great victory in the court, based on the will of the people and driven by the interests of the officials, had far-reaching consequences than anyone could have imagined. The Regent's Palace, which once held immense power and was bustling with visitors, fell into a deathly silence within just a few days.
The mansion gates were tightly shut, and no carriages or horses were seen. The vermilion gates that once symbolized supreme power now looked more like the entrance to a cage, trapping the once arrogant prince firmly in the shadow of his crushing defeat.
Inside the study, the incense had long since gone out, leaving only a lingering sense of oppression and gloom.
Regent Xiao Yuan sat behind his desk, his face still pale, but his eyes, which had once been bloodshot with rage, had now cooled down, settling into a bottomless, icy pool.
He was defeated, utterly and completely, utterly powerless to fight back.
He reviewed the entire incident over and over again, from the floods in Jiangnan to the goddess's dream, to the mass umbrellas sent to the capital, and finally to Grand Tutor Wen's tearful remonstrance. At each stage, an invisible hand was pushing things along, and the owner of that hand was, without a doubt, the empress he had never truly taken seriously—Lin Wanwan, whom he had married to ward off bad luck.
“Your Highness,” a trusted advisor knelt on the ground, his voice hoarse, “we all underestimated that Empress. She…she is no longer His Majesty’s weakness, but his most indestructible armor and sharpest blade. Now that the Emperor and Empress are allied, and the people’s hearts are with them, mere suppression in the court will probably not be able to shake her in the slightest.”
Xiao Yuan didn't speak, but simply tapped the table lightly with his knuckles. His advisor's words were the conclusion he had reached after several days of painful reflection.
Lin Wanwan had become a force to be reckoned with. She was no longer the palace woman who could be manipulated at will; she had grown into the emperor's most steadfast political ally. Her wisdom, her shrewdness, and her terrifying ability to transform the ethereal sentiments of the people into tangible weapons filled him with unprecedented apprehension.
The old methods of using power and ancestral rules to oppress the emperor in court are no longer viable. Behind the emperor stands an empress who can turn every disadvantage into an advantage.
Seeing Xiao Yuan remain silent, a ruthless glint flashed in the advisor's eyes. He crawled forward two steps, lowered his voice, and offered a vicious plan.
"Your Highness, since the fortified city cannot be breached from the outside, then let it... decay from the inside."
Xiao Yuan paused, then looked up at him.
The advisor's voice grew increasingly cold: "No matter how strong the Emperor and Empress's feelings are, they are still just the Emperor and his consort. Since ancient times, emperors have been known for their many affections, but which emperor could truly have no other consorts in the harem and only favor one person? Your Majesty's deep affection for the Empress is only because there is no one in the harem who can match her in terms of talent, appearance, and wisdom."
He paused, a calculating glint in his eyes: "But what if... a woman appears? A woman whose birth is no less than the Empress's, whose beauty and talent surpass all others in the capital, whose methods and intellect far exceed those of ordinary women... Over time, even the deepest feelings will eventually be worn away. As long as a rift appears between the Emperor and Empress, we will have an opportunity to exploit it!"
Xiao Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood what his advisor meant.
Involuntarily, a face of unparalleled beauty and extraordinary talent appeared in his mind. It was his daughter, Xiao Yu Ruo, hailed as "the most talented woman in the capital."
The advisor, as if reading his mind, continued, "The princess is beautiful and talented, renowned throughout the capital. If she could enter the palace, she would surely eclipse the Empress's favor. More importantly, the princess is Your Highness's daughter. If she could establish herself in the harem, she would be our deepest and most advantageous pawn planted beside His Majesty! At that time, when the harem is in turmoil, His Majesty will be too preoccupied to care for himself, and in the court, wouldn't Your Highness be able to... set things right?"
A long silence fell over the study once again.
After a long while, Xiao Yuan slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all the struggle in his eyes had faded, leaving only a cold and resolute determination to achieve his goal by any means necessary.
"Prepare the sedan chair," he said calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion. "Tomorrow, I will personally attend court."
...
The next day, at the Golden Palace.
Following the return of the Phoenix Seal to its rightful place, the atmosphere in the court underwent a subtle yet profound change. Emperor Xiao Che's authority grew stronger day by day, the pro-royalist officials were in high spirits, while the once arrogant regent's faction was now trembling with fear, not daring to raise their heads too high when attending court.
Everyone assumed that the regent would feign illness and remain in seclusion for a considerable period of time.
However, to everyone's surprise, Regent Xiao Yuan appeared in the court on time today.
He was dressed in royal court attire, and although his face was somewhat pale, he seemed to be in good spirits. What was even more surprising was that the gloom and arrogance that had always lingered on his face had completely disappeared, replaced by an almost humble peace.
The morning court session proceeded smoothly without any major incidents.
Just when everyone thought the day would pass uneventfully, Regent Xiao Yuan slowly walked out of the queue.
This move instantly drew everyone's attention. The royalist officials immediately became alert, thinking he was about to use the same old trick again to provoke trouble.
However, Xiao Yuan's next move surprised everyone.
He walked to the center of the hall, faced Xiao Che on the dragon throne, and bowed deeply, his posture extremely respectful.
"Your subject, Xiao Yuan, has a matter to report."
His voice was calm and steady, without a trace of his usual sharp and confrontational tone.
Xiao Che sat on the dragon throne, his expression calm, and said indifferently, "Uncle, please speak."
Behind the screen, Lin Wanwan frowned, alarm bells ringing in her mind. Something was definitely amiss; this Xiao Yuan was definitely up to no good.
Xiao Yuan spoke in a very earnest tone, "Your Majesty, the previous floods in Jiangnan and the turmoil in the court were all due to the differences in our ideas and the many disputes that led to the difficulties in the affairs of the country. I have been reflecting on my mistakes at home recently and have suddenly realized that I have failed the late Emperor's trust and Your Majesty's trust."
These words left the entire court dumbfounded. Could this be the very regent, who held such immense power, utter such words?
Xiao Yuan seemed oblivious to the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, and continued in that sincere tone, "Now that His Majesty is wise and the Empress is virtuous, the great victory in Jiangnan has won the hearts of all the people, which is truly a blessing for our Great Liang! As the head of the imperial clan, I should share His Majesty's burdens and set an example for the unity of the royal family."
He suddenly changed the subject, finally revealing his true intentions.
"I have a young daughter named Yu Ruo, who is seventeen years old and has some talent. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to send her to the palace. Firstly, she can serve Your Majesty and help the royal family produce offspring; secondly, she can accompany the Empress and share the burdens of the six palaces. In this way, we can both demonstrate the close bond within the royal family and assist Your Majesty, which is truly a win-win situation!"
He raised his head, his eyes full of sincerity and expectation, and looked at Xiao Che humbly: "I hope Your Majesty will grant my request for the sake of the unity of the imperial clan!"
boom!
This proposal, ostensibly a marriage alliance but actually a scheme to plant spies, exploded like a silent bomb in the quiet imperial palace!
All the officials, regardless of their faction, instantly understood the Regent's sinister intentions.
This is hardly a gesture of goodwill; it's blatantly bringing the flames of war from the imperial court directly into the emperor's harem!
He intends to use his daughter, whose talent and fame are renowned throughout the capital, to deal with the Empress who has just taken over the Phoenix Seal!
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire hall became incredibly eerie. Everyone's gaze swept back and forth between the emperor on the dragon throne and the seemingly humble regent.
This is an open conspiracy! A deadly conspiracy disguised under the sugar-coated guise of "royal unity"!
To agree would be like inviting a wolf into the house, planting a time bomb between the emperor and empress that could explode at any moment.
Refuse? An elder with a guilty conscience offers his most beloved daughter as a sign of loyalty and unity. If you, as the emperor, refuse, wouldn't you appear narrow-minded and disregard kinship? At that time, the regent can stand on the moral high ground and win the sympathy of the people!
Behind the screen, Lin Wanwan's fingers had already quietly clenched.
She knew this old fox wouldn't give up so easily. Unable to win a direct confrontation, he resorted to these underhanded tactics!
Just as Xiao Che's gaze turned cold and he was about to speak, another unexpected event occurred!
Within the ranks, several officials from the Regent's faction, led by the Minister of Rites, immediately stepped forward, knelt before Xiao Che, and shouted in unison.
"Your Majesty! His Highness the Regent is utterly devoted to the country and the monarch. This act is truly a model for the royal family and a blessing for the nation!"
“That’s right! Your Highness is willing to send your precious daughter into the palace to show that the emperor and his subjects are of one mind and that the imperial family is harmonious. Such a wonderful thing is rare throughout the ages! I humbly request Your Majesty’s permission!”
"Your Majesty, please grant my request! This will reassure the imperial family and solidify the foundation of the state!"
The voices of agreement, like heavy hammer blows, pounded across the court. They skillfully elevated this matter from a simple request to "take a concubine" to the level of "political correctness."
An invisible net, woven from public opinion and morality, instantly opened up and descended upon the emperor on the dragon throne.
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