Wang Feifei gave a haughty sniff. “Feifei originally assigned Little Wan to guard the bedchamber. But some days ago, Her Majesty personally reassigned Wei Nian here. How was Feifei supposed to know Wei Nian had a problem before that? If I’d known, I would’ve arrested her long ago.”
Shangguan Yuchan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So the decision for Wei Nian to guard the bedchamber was Her Majesty’s own?”
Wang Feifei nodded rapidly. “That’s right, Her Majesty’s.”
“I see.” A look of sudden realization dawned on Shangguan Yuchan’s face. “Now I understand. Her Majesty saw through Wei Nian’s issues long ago and deliberately transferred her to her own side.”
Hearing Shangguan Yuchan’s words, Wang Feifei and the other ministers were all stunned.
“Her Majesty did it on purpose? Why would she do that?” Wang Feifei asked, looking completely baffled.
“You still don’t understand? Her Majesty was giving Wei Nian a chance,” Shangguan Yuchan said with a sigh of admiration. “Her Majesty knew Wei Nian had a problem but didn’t deal with her immediately. Instead, she brought Wei Nian to her side, deliberately creating an opportunity for Wei Nian to make a move against Her. If Wei Nian had not acted, she would have seized that chance and received Her Majesty’s merciful pardon. Unfortunately, she failed to grasp it.”
“So that was it!”
At Shangguan Yuchan’s explanation, the surrounding ministers all adopted enlightened expressions.
Wang Feifei blinked her large eyes, thinking it over carefully. It seemed Shangguan Yuchan’s reasoning made sense. She had never understood why Di Lingwei had transferred Wei Nian, and now she finally did.
…
A new day arrived.
Upon rising, Di Lingwei pulled the bell cord by her bed. Palace maids immediately entered to attend to her.
Once inside, Xing Ruolan reported, “Your Majesty, Chancellor Shangguan and many other ministers have been waiting outside Phoenix Perch Palace since last night, seeking an audience.”
“Let them wait,” Di Lingwei said dismissively.
A night’s rest had left her feeling considerably better. The palace maids’ service was impeccable, allowing her to complete her morning wash comfortably. She donned a clean, magnificent Pomegranate Skirt, looking as lovely as the moon and as beautiful as the most exquisite flower.
Only then did Di Lingwei step out of her bedchamber.
“We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”
As Di Lingwei emerged, everyone waiting outside immediately knelt in greeting.
Her gaze swept over the crowd, and she stopped, giving a light snort. “What are you all standing around here for? Since you know what happened, investigate it thoroughly and report back to Zhen. Surely you don’t think that everyone who wishes to kill Zhen has already been brought to justice?”
As she spoke, her eyes lingered pointedly on Ding Ling, the Minister of Justice, for a long moment.
Ding Ling was getting on in years. His face was pitted and scarred, and he sported a small mustache above his lip, giving him a slightly sly, weaselly appearance. He had held his post for a long time, having served as Minister of Justice under the previous emperor. During the coup last year, he had coincidentally been away from the capital and thus avoided the maelstrom. Upon his return, the dust had already settled, and he went with the flow, pledging loyalty to Di Lingwei. Seeing that he had committed no crimes and seemed sincere, she had allowed him to retain his position.
When a new sovereign ascends the throne, it’s unwise to replace every official. Keeping some people in their original posts helps calm the public.
Now, under Di Lingwei’s prolonged gaze, Ding Ling’s back was soaked with sweat. His aging body was not in the best health, and having stood outside the bedchamber for half the night, combined with his sudden anxiety, he began to sway slightly on his feet.
Di Lingwei withdrew her gaze and continued, “Wei Nian had accomplices. Investigate this. Anyone who flushes them out will be richly rewarded by Zhen.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The crowd responded in unison.
“Members of the Imperial Guard, remain. The rest of you are dismissed,” Di Lingwei commanded.
“We subjects take our leave.”
Shangguan Yuchan and the other ministers departed.
Only two members of the Imperial Guard remained: Wang Feifei and the other Vice Commander, Mu Fuwan.
Di Lingwei’s gaze settled mainly on Mu Fuwan.
She was a woman with a slender figure who looked rather delicate. Her uniform was neat and immaculate, projecting an air of excellent composure and spirit. Her features were quite attractive and refined, overall giving her the gentle, sheltered charm of a pretty girl from a humble family.
Gazing at Mu Fuwan, Di Lingwei fell into deep thought.
She felt that if the original host had chosen Mu Fuwan to guard the bedchamber, perhaps she actually trusted Mu Fuwan more. If so, then her previous decision to transfer Mu Fuwan away had been a grave mistake.
With that thought, Di Lingwei addressed Mu Fuwan, “When Zhen transferred you away and replaced you with Wei Nian, did you feel wronged in your heart?”
Mu Fuwan’s voice was soft and gentle as she replied, “This Humble Subject is slow-witted. I confess I was perplexed at first. But after hearing Chancellor Shangguan’s earlier explanation, I am suddenly enlightened and understand Your Majesty’s intentions.”
This time, it was Di Lingwei’s turn to be stunned. “What did the Chancellor say?”
Mu Fuwan answered respectfully, “The Chancellor said Your Majesty had long since known Wei Nian was problematic, and therefore transferred her to your side to give Wei Nian an opportunity to make a move against you. It was also a chance for Wei Nian. Had Wei Nian behaved herself, she would have seized that chance. It is regrettable she failed to do so.”
Di Lingwei: “…”
Was that what she had thought? She didn’t even know she’d thought that.
But this wasn’t the kind of thing she could openly deny. She could only silently accept the interpretation.
“Next, Zhen intends to return the responsibility for the Phoenix Perch Palace’s security to you. Do you have any objections?” Di Lingwei asked Mu Fuwan.
“It is this subject’s honor. I will ensure the Phoenix Perch Palace is absolutely secure,” Mu Fuwan declared, her words resolute.
Di Lingwei felt she had no other choice. She didn’t know whom to trust and could only place her faith in the original host’s arrangements.
Even now, the situation with Wei Nian left her feeling helpless. Wei Nian’s displayed personality had seemed fine on the surface, yet she had turned out to be an assassin. It made Di Lingwei question everything.
Under these circumstances, how could she determine if a person was an asset or a threat?
Perhaps she needed to unlock more achievements and obtain more Trait information.
Traits like Regret, Heart’s Desire, and Purpose existed. If she could view such traits in others, could she then more clearly discern whether someone posed a danger to her?
Realizing this, Di Lingwei knew what she needed to do.
Based on what she’d seen so far, unlocking traits required spending more time with people. As interactions deepened and they experienced various situations together, she might unlock achievements.
This behavior felt almost like… trying to raise someone’s affection in a game.
So, whom should she target first?
Di Lingwei’s gaze swept over Xing Ruolan, who was doggedly following her, then to Wang Feifei and Mu Fuwan nearby. A decision quickly formed in her heart.
It’s decided—you’re the one!
