Chapter 783: The Supreme Master of Palace Intrigue
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Galetron]
O R A N G E S T A R
[Alma S.] [Christine G.-L.] [K.Rom]
[Suong D.] [Ziana K.-P.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Anasi G.] [Passerby]
G O L D S T A R
[Nevy] [Roxanne C.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Debra W] [Kiiayame]
T H E S U N
[kuroneko_chan] [Michelle K.] [Tionna M.]
C E L E S T I A L C O N Q U E R O R
[Ava C.] [Hong] [Leeyue] [Lily J.] [Manon] [Smurfinbatik] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes]
Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)
Shangguan Yan spoke through the curtain and screen as she recounted the events of delivering the incriminating evidence in the imperial palace.
Although Gu Chengfeng already knew the plan, hearing the entire process still left him in awe. The operation was nothing short of brilliant.
Those imperial consorts and concubines would never have imagined that Shangguan Yan had repeated the exact same lines to each of them.
And she even left written evidence! How sincere and believable!
“But will they really take the bait?” Gu Chengfeng couldn’t help but worry that these people might back out at the last moment or sense that something was amiss.
Grandaunt said calmly, “They are wary of each other and won’t share information, so there’s no risk of exposure. As for whether they’ll take the bait… we’ve cast such a wide net; we’re bound to catch a few fish. Besides, the temptation of the Empress’s position is simply too great.”
In the State of Zhao, Empress Xiao’s position was solid, and the Crown Prince had the support of Marquis Xuanping, making their rule almost unshakable. As a result, the imperial court remained relatively stable.
It wasn’t until Gu Chengfeng came to Great Yan that he realized how much intrigue and bloodshed could exist in a harem. “There’s still something I don’t understand. It makes sense for Imperial Consort Wang and Imperial Lady Fang to be tempted since they don’t have sons. Supporting the Third Princess is their best way to consolidate power. But what about the other three? Don’t they all have grown sons?”
Xiao Heng explained, “They plan to first support Shangguan Yan to the throne. Once she becomes the Crown Princess, they’ll find an opportunity to depose her. They had already become the Empress by then, so their sons will become legitimate heirs to the throne, inheriting it without dispute.”
Empress Dowager Zhuang nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly it.”
Gu Chengfeng was struck by sudden realization. “So, in the end, it’s still all about mutual exploitation.”
There were no simple women in the harem. Who survived the longest depended on who had the deepest schemes.
Empress Dowager Zhuang yawned, “Alright, everyone go to bed. The rest is up to them. How they proceed and whether they succeed is their concern.”
“Oh.” Gu Jiao stood up, tidied the table, and prepared to retire for the night.
“I’ll come by again tomorrow.” Xiao Heng said softly to her.
Gu Jiao nodded and smiled faintly. “See you tomorrow.”
Old chief also rose from his seat. “This old man is tired too. Time to head back to my room for some rest!”
Gu Chengfeng stood there, utterly bewildered, watching as everyone left one by one.
Wait, are you all just leaving like this?
Aren't you going to worry a little more?
How can you all be so carefree?
Gu Jiao said, “Grandaunt, you go ahead and sleep. I’ll head over to Gu Changqing’s place tonight.”
Empress Dowager Zhuang waved her hand dismissively. “Got it. Go ahead.”
Gu Chengfeng was left in deep self-doubt, muttering to himself, “Is something wrong with me, or is something wrong with all of you?”
……
In Xianfu Palace.
Imperial Consort Wang, with her long hair cascading down her back, was dressed in a silk nightgown, sitting quietly by the window.
“Your Highness.” Grannie Liu, holding a candle, approached her.
Grannie Liu was the older palace maid who had recognized Shangguan Yan earlier. She was a close attendant whom Imperial Consort Wang had brought into the imperial palace from her family when she was just eleven or twelve years old.
She was undoubtedly Imperial Consort Wang’s most trusted palace maid.
“Chunxiu, what do you think about tonight’s events?” Imperial Consort Wang asked.
Grannie Liu gently placed the candle on the windowsill and thought for a moment. “It’s hard to say.”
Imperial Consort Wang said, “There’s nothing between us that can’t be said. Whatever’s on your mind, feel free to speak.”
Grannie Liu replied, “I feel that the Third Princess is very different from before. Her change is quite significant, much more than the rumors suggest.”
A hint of agreement flashed within Imperial Consort Wang’s eyes. “I feel the same. Her performance tonight was truly full of schemes.”
Grannie Liu looked at Imperial Consort Wang, saying, “But, Your Highness, you still decided to take a gamble, didn’t you?”
Grannie Liu was the person who understood Imperial Consort Wang better than anyone else. She knew exactly what was going on in Imperial Consort Wang’s mind.
Imperial Consort Wang did not deny it. “She is indeed a more suitable candidate than the Sixth Prince. The chances of her helping me ascend to the Empress’s position are much higher.”
Upon hearing this, Grannie Liu understood that Imperial Consort Wang had already made up her mind. She no longer tried to persuade her but instead asked, "But Imperial Noble Consort Han’s side won’t be so easy to handle."
Imperial Consort Wang replied calmly, “If it were easy, she wouldn’t have come to me. She could have just done it herself.”
Suddenly, Grannie Liu, confused, asked, "What’s the reason she’s so fixated on the Han Family, when all the major noble families were involved in the plot against the Xuanyuan Family back then?"
Imperial Consort Wang sneered. “Isn’t it because the Crown Prince started it? Not only did he send people to assassinate her at the imperial mausoleum, but he also sent Han Family members to kill her son. It would be abnormal if she could swallow this grievance.”
Grannie Liu nodded. “The Crown Prince was too hasty. Shangguan Qing was already a dying person. Was there really a need to go after him?”
Imperial Consort Wang gazed out at the moonlight. “The Crown Prince must have been worried that Shangguan Qing would use the Emperor’s sympathy in his final moments to help the former Crown Princess restore her position.”
Otherwise, Imperial Consort Wang couldn’t fathom why the Crown Prince would target the dying Eldest Imperial Grandson.
“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore.” Imperial Consort Wang glanced at the documents on the table. Not only did they contain the details of the transaction between her and the other party, but they also had both their seals and signatures. It was a shady deal, but it was a binding one.
She said, “We can move our people in the Guiyi Palace now.”
Grannie Liu hesitated for a moment before saying, “Your Highness, that person is our biggest trump card. Are you sure you want to use them for this matter? Once exposed, we’ll no longer be able to monitor Guiyi Palace’s movements.”
Imperial Consort Wang picked up Shangguan Yan’s signed agreement and said with a calm demeanor, “Once Imperial Noble Consort Han is out of the picture, there’s no need to monitor Guiyi Palace anymore, is there?”
The next day.
Imperial Consort Wang set her plan into motion.
She instructed Grannie Liu to find the pawn she had placed in Guiyi Palace, a spy who, like Little Li, had been planted years ago.
Imperial Noble Consort Han always thought she was the smartest, but sometimes the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. One mountain might seem high, but another one was higher.
However, Imperial Noble Consort Han was incredibly cautious. Even after many years, that pawn still hadn’t gained her full trust.
But it didn’t have to be Imperial Noble Consort Han’s closest confidant to do the job.
“Did you understand the instructions from Her Highness?” Behind the rockery, Grannie Liu handed over a long brocade box from her wide sleeve.
The eunuch took it, tucked it into his sleeve, and whispered, “Her Highness can rest assured. I will handle this properly! Afterward, please take care of my family!”
Grannie Liu nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry. Her Highness will take care of them.”
The eunuch cautiously scanned his surroundings, carefully making his way back to Guiyi Palace.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Imperial Consort Dong and her group had also begun their respective actions.
Imperial Consort Dong didn’t have spies within Guiyi Palace, but the intelligence controlled by the Dong Family was no less than what Imperial Consort Wang had at her disposal.
She had communicated with the Dong Family and borrowed a skilled expert from them.
The female guard accompanying the expert said, “The family head said that there’s a very capable aide by Imperial Noble Consort Han’s side, so we need to avoid him.”
Imperial Consort Dong sneered sarcastically, “Is she really so careless? She even lets an outsider enter her private chambers!”
The female guard replied, “That person isn’t often in the imperial palace; he only comes when there’s something to discuss with Imperial Noble Consort Han.”
Imperial Consort Dong replied indifferently, “Fine, do whatever you need to do. I don’t care what methods you use, just make sure you get this thing into Han Shi’s chambers for me!”
……
On the first day, there was no news coming from the imperial palace.
On the second day, the imperial palace remained silent, with no developments.
Gu Chengfeng could no longer hold back. That night, as he secretly snuck into the Imperial Advisor's Hall, he couldn’t help but ask Gu Jiao, “Do you think they’ve made their move yet? Why is there still no news?”
They had definitely made their move; whether or not it succeeded depended on whether they had the capability to pull it off.
As the saying went, plans were made by people, but success was determined by fate.
On the fourth day, the Emperor accompanied the Little County Princess to the Imperial Advisor’s Hall to visit Xiao Heng and Shangguan Yan.
They had barely sat down when Zhang Dequan hurriedly approached, looking flustered. “Your Majesty! There’s trouble in the imperial palace!”
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn't finished his lines yet though…