The bloodshed at the Imperial Guard camp that night was like a lingering shadow over the capital. Although dawn had arrived, the chilling and rusty smell still seemed to linger in everyone's nostrils.
In the days that followed, the entire court fell into an unprecedented and eerie calm.
At the morning court session, Regent Xiao Yuan, sitting beside the dragon throne, for the first time withdrew all his sharpness and power. He lowered his eyes and concealed his gaze, as if he had become a clay Bodhisattva. No matter what decree Xiao Che issued, whether it was promoting the newly appointed commander of the Imperial Guards, Shen Lian, or rewarding the loyal Dragon Scale Guards, he remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
His once arrogant cronies were now completely silent, like quails struck by frost, wishing they could hide their heads inside their court robes, afraid of attracting any attention from the young emperor on the dragon throne.
Everyone was on edge, and the air was thick with fear.
Everyone knew this was by no means the end, but merely the suffocating calm before the storm. A far more violent and thorough political storm was brewing in the shadows.
In the midst of this tense atmosphere, an imperial edict from Cixi Palace, like a stone thrown into stagnant water, instantly shattered the delicate balance.
The Empress Dowager is hosting a family banquet.
The imperial edict was gentle and appropriate, filled with the love and care of an elder. The Empress Dowager said that she had heard of some recent turmoil in the palace, and that a rift seemed to have developed between the Emperor and his nephew, the Regent. She earnestly stated that the imperial family was the foundation of the nation, and that internal strife must not be allowed to occur; there should be no grudges between family members that last overnight.
Therefore, she specially prepared a family banquet at Cixi Palace, inviting the emperor, empress, and regent to enjoy a family reunion, intending to "bury the hatchet".
When the imperial edict was respectfully delivered to Kunning Palace by the Empress Dowager's trusted nanny, Lin Wanwan was pruning a pot of clivia by the window.
After hearing the nanny's message, she continued cutting the flower branches without pausing for a moment.
"I understand." She replied indifferently, tossing a withered leaf she had cut into the wastebasket. "Go back and report to the Empress Dowager that His Majesty and I will attend the banquet on time."
"Yes, then this old servant will take her leave." Seeing that the Empress's attitude was indifferent, the old nanny did not dare to say anything more. After bowing, she hurriedly left.
Only after the old woman's figure completely disappeared outside the palace gates did Ruolan, who was standing to the side, step forward and say with a worried expression, "Your Majesty, this...this is clearly a trap! The Empress Dowager and the Regent are always in cahoots. The Imperial Guards have just been purged, and the Regent has suffered such a great loss. How could they possibly want to reconcile sincerely? There must be a trap ahead!"
Lin Wanwan put down the silver scissors in her hand, carefully wiped her fingers with a silk handkerchief, and a meaningful, cold smile appeared on her lips.
"Ruolan, I know everything you've said."
“Precisely because it’s a trap,” she raised her head, her eyes calm yet sharp, “that’s why we have no choice but to go.”
This is by no means a reconciliation.
This was a political test.
This was the first political counterattack launched by the Regent and the Empress Dowager after losing control of their most direct armed force—the Imperial Guards. They wanted to see whether Xiao Che would press his advantage after this bloody purge, or choose to temporarily compromise for the sake of the so-called "face of the imperial clan."
They were more interested in seeing what role their queen had played in this storm.
As a matter of personal feelings, the Empress Dowager was Xiao Che's biological mother. Under the guise of a "family banquet," she mediated "family conflicts," and as her son, Xiao Che could not refuse.
Logically, the Empress Dowager was the former Empress Dowager, and the Regent Prince was the head of the imperial clan. The "reconciliation banquet" they jointly hosted represented the attitude of the old forces. As the emperor, if he openly refused, he would be announcing to the world that he wanted to be an enemy of the entire imperial clan, which would be an unwise move.
Therefore, even knowing it was a dangerous place, they had to accept the appointment without hesitation.
Because retreating means having a guilty conscience.
But an emperor can never be insecure.
In the evening, after finishing his official duties, Xiao Che arrived at Kunning Palace.
As soon as he entered, he saw that Lin Wanwan had changed into a dignified and proper palace dress, clearly ready to attend the banquet.
"Have you received the Empress Dowager's decree?" Xiao Che's voice was calm.
"I received it and have already agreed." Lin Wanwan walked to his side and naturally straightened his slightly wrinkled collar. "Your Majesty, tonight, I'm afraid there will be a tough battle to fight."
Xiao Che grasped the hand she used to adjust his collar, pulled her close, looked into her eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Are you scared?"
Lin Wanwan met his gaze and smiled.
That smile was confident and composed, with a sharpness that mirrored his own.
"With Your Majesty here, what do I have to fear?" she retorted. "I'm just wondering what kind of show our good uncle, who just suffered a great loss, will prepare for us tonight?"
Seeing the eager glint in her eyes, Xiao Che couldn't help but smile. The seriousness in his heart was instantly dispelled by her composure.
Yes, with her around, what do I have to be afraid of?
He gently squeezed her hand and said in a deep voice, "Let's go. I'm also very curious about what tricks my good uncle can still play after losing his henchmen."
As he spoke, he took her hand, and the two walked side by side toward the Cixi Palace, which had long been shrouded in a web of traps, with composure.
...
Inside Cixi Palace, the lights were bright and the atmosphere was warm as spring.
The palace servants stood silently with their hands at their sides, the air thick with the scent of fine sandalwood and a subtle tension.
The tense atmosphere reached its peak the moment Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che stepped into the palace gate hand in hand.
The scene inside the hall was both within their expectations and somewhat unexpected.
The Empress Dowager sat high on the main seat, a graceful and dignified smile on her face, as if the bloodshed and turmoil of the past few days had nothing to do with her.
To her left and right, Regent Xiao Yuan, who was supposed to be one of the main characters of the night, was already waiting.
He was no longer the gloomy and ruthless man he always was; instead, he wore an almost gentle smile. He was dressed in the casual clothes of a prince, not in court attire, which made him appear less oppressive than a powerful minister and more approachable like an elder. He held a cup of tea in his hand, sipping it slowly and deliberately. His composure and calmness made it seem as if he were not the one who had fled in disarray from the Imperial Guard camp that night.
It was as if all the unpleasantness before had never happened.
Upon seeing the Emperor and Empress arrive, Xiao Yuan slowly put down his teacup and stood up.
Then, under the slightly scrutinizing gazes of Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che, he bowed to them, performing an impeccable courteous gesture.
"Your subject is Xiao Yuan."
His voice was gentle and respectful, without a trace of resentment or unwillingness.
"Greetings, Your Majesty; greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
This attitude was so humble that one might almost think he was just an ordinary royal uncle who had come to a family gathering to show respect to the monarch and affection for his niece-in-law.
A hint of coldness flashed in Lin Wanwan's eyes.
She knew that the dogs that bite the most are often the ones that don't bark.
Tonight's banquet, a trap set by the enemy, is likely to be even more spectacular than they imagined.
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