Chapter 49

Three days before the Wen Clan was to formally ask for the Grand Princess’s hand in marriage, the Recorder of the Court of Judicial Review, Yang Xiyuan, was implicated in a case of accepting bribes and wrongly adjudicating a false verdict. Even Si Yunqin hadn’t expected this false case.

The case Yang Xiyuan was involved in actually dated back to the beginning of this year, when the late Emperor passed away. A batch of officials had committed crimes—the crime of colluding with the enemy. Due to his own biases, Yang Xiyuan had fabricated evidence to frame several officials.

This truly shocked both the court and the public. And the Eldest Son of the Wen Clan was also somewhat implicated.

Shen Yanxin’s methods were truly brilliant. She pretended to give the Wen Clan a favor by not investigating the matter deeply, merely breaking off the engagement between the Grand Princess and the Wen Clan.

The case was reopened, and the investigators were Shen Yanxin’s people. Naturally, the position of Recorder of the Court of Judicial Review was also replaced by one of Shen Yanxin’s men.

After Si Yunqin had been mixing in the imperial harem for a few days, quite a few people had already been swapped in the former imperial court.

She accompanied Grand Consort Yuande in making incense. As they casually chatted about this matter, Si Yunqin played dumb, claiming she didn’t know the details—she truly didn’t understand Shen Yanxin’s intentions.

Grand Consort Yuande thought for a moment and said softly, “A Yan is going to make a move against the aristocratic families.”

Si Yunqin watched her prepare the incense beside her, surprised that Grand Consort Yuande could see it so clearly.

“The aristocratic families have deep accumulations; it won’t be easy to move against them.”

“But if they aren’t moved, their prestige might even surpass that of the Emperor,” Si Yunqin added.

Grand Consort Yuande smiled at her. “A Yan didn’t lie; Yunqin truly is not someone who would be confined to the harem.”

Si Yunqin shook her head with a smile. “You flatter me.”

After finishing the incense with Grand Consort Yuande, she entrusted Si Yunqin with delivering a share to the other two Grand Consorts. Si Yunqin lingered for a while at the palaces of Grand Consort Xi and Grand Consort Shu, and even gave Grand Consort Shu a Buddhist sutra she had brought from the temple earlier. Grand Consort Shu nearly kept her to discuss the sutras.

Si Yunqin barely managed to find an excuse to escape—after all, she had no desire to become a nun. She still had worldly desires; her six senses were not pure, so she couldn’t spend the rest of her life accompanied only by the dim lamp and ancient Buddha.

Leaving Grand Consort Shu’s palace, Si Yunqin changed course and headed to Yuwen Qiyue’s place. Today, both Xi Fengyu and Consort Chen were there, playing a game of cards.

Seeing Si Yunqin arrive, they quickly called out that they were short a player and dragged her over to play mahjong.

The imperial harem seemed to rarely get involved in the struggles of the former court—that was truly rare.

But Si Yunqin roughly guessed that Grand Consort Xi and Grand Consort Yuande were also supporters of Shen Yanxin.

After all, the maternal families of those who could be made Grand Consorts were not weak. Only Grand Consort Shu came from the Guan Clan, one of the five great clans, but she was wholly devoted to serving the Buddha and had no interest in meddling in court affairs.

Thus, Grand Consort Shu would never become an obstacle for Shen Yanxin.

After playing mahjong all afternoon, Si Yunqin returned to her own palace in the evening. She finished reading the few chapters of the story she had saved up and felt like going to pester Xi Fengyu for more.

Whenever she urged Xi Fengyu, the latter would always give her two eye rolls. “Do you think this is our past life, where you could type on a computer and write ten thousand words a day no problem? This all has to be written stroke by stroke with a brush. How about you write it while I dictate?”

Si Yunqin naturally refused. She liked reading, but she didn’t want to write it herself.

“Then stop rushing me. If my hand gets crippled, will you take responsibility?” Xi Fengyu pinched her cheek. Sometimes Xi Fengyu really felt that Si Yunqin didn’t act like a twenty-five-year-old—she certainly didn’t have the mindset of a twenty-five-year-old.

From then on, Si Yunqin never dared to urge her again. After finishing the story, she had nothing to do, so she lay in bed and tried to fall asleep.

The next day, Si Yunqin was no longer bored. Early in the morning, Shen Yanxin arrived at the Eternal Peace Palace, along with the Young Emperor.

The Young Emperor brought her homework and asked for guidance. Si Yunqin suddenly remembered that the Young Emperor’s birthday was coming up in a few days.

The Emperor’s birthday was no small matter, but Shen Yanxin hadn’t asked her to prepare anything. She figured the Ministry of Rites was handling it, so Si Yunqin was happy to be idle. But she also realized she hadn’t prepared any gift for the Young Emperor.

That worried her again—picking gifts for others was the most troublesome.

Yuwen Luo finished her studies and then came to pester Si Yunqin to practice martial arts. Si Yunqin sent her off to play with a wooden sword, then walked over to Shen Yanxin, who was watching from the side. “Empress Dowager, do you have something important today?”

Shen Yanxin took a memorial from her sleeve and handed it to Si Yunqin. It stated that the Great Zhao had achieved a great victory in the battle against Southern Yue, and the King of Southern Yue had surrendered by offering up his city.

“Your elder brother can return safely.” Shen Yanxin didn’t say anything else; she simply told Si Yunqin this. Si Yunqin took it and read it, then said to Shen Yanxin, “Congratulations to Your Majesty.”

Shen Yanxin shook her head lightly. “Taking the land of Southern Yue is also a headache. The terrain is mountainous and transportation is inconvenient, and the people are mostly ignorant and barbaric, hard to manage.”

Shen Yanxin sighed softly. Hearing this, Si Yunqin quickly shook her head. “I really have no constructive suggestions, Your Majesty.”

At her words, Shen Yanxin chuckled. “I’m just complaining. I’m not a god who can handle everything. There are always difficult matters—can’t I even complain a little?”

“Of course you can.” But it felt a bit strange for Shen Yanxin to complain to her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll consult the court officials. The court keeps them on the payroll not just for them to eat idly—they have to work.” Shen Yanxin took the memorial back.

“Luo’er’s birthday is in a few days. We can combine it with the victory celebration.” Shen Yanxin said.

Si Yunqin thought for a moment. “That’s a good idea. Did Your Majesty already plan it?”

“How could I plan something like that? I can’t calculate battlefield affairs. Do you think I’m someone who craves great achievements?” Shen Yanxin laughed lightly. “Even if the Sikong said our army would win this battle, I wouldn’t rest easy.”

As they talked, Lin Feng came over to ask if they wanted to have a meal. Si Yunqin looked at Shen Yanxin, who nodded slightly. Si Yunqin then called Yuwen Luo to join them for the meal.

As she walked over to Yuwen Luo, the Young Emperor’s desire to share was truly strong. Her little mouth chattered nonstop about what the Grand Tutor and her little friends had said.

Si Yunqin was inwardly helpless, but she responded with good patience.

Shen Yanxin listened to the two of them chatting. Sometimes Yuwen Luo didn’t speak clearly, but Si Yunqin could still understand her. That wasn’t easy—even she, the mother Empress, couldn’t fully grasp everything Yuwen Luo said.

After finishing breakfast, Si Yunqin thought Shen Yanxin would leave, but instead she stayed and had Lan Xi bring over a pile of memorials. Si Yunqin was dumbfounded.

Shen Yanxin asked her to grind ink, so Si Yunqin had to obediently stay by her side, watching her review the memorials, and occasionally being asked questions. The Young Emperor, however, had already slipped away.

“I heard His Majesty has gained several new companions,” Si Yunqin said. Among them were children from the aristocratic families, and she was curious why Shen Yanxin had done this.

“Yes. The son of Minister Lu and the son of the General of the Left Guard. They are the same age as Luo’er, suitable as companions.” Shen Yanxin answered directly.

“But one is from the Lu Clan and the other from the Guan Clan. Aren’t you worried?” Si Yunqin asked.

Shen Yanxin laughed softly. “She will be an emperor after all. To be an emperor means she must inevitably give up some things. She cannot be overly indecisive or emotional. If these two are used well, they will become Luo’er’s allies.”

“And if they are not used well?” Si Yunqin asked, a faint guess forming in her heart.

“If not used well, then either the Lu and Guan clans will be destroyed, or Yuwen Luo will be destroyed. Those are the only two outcomes. It’s not easy to be an emperor. What do you think, Empress?” Shen Yanxin said calmly, but Si Yunqin was not calm.

Yet she had to admit that Shen Yanxin’s words were reasonable.

“If I successfully ascend the throne, it means the aristocratic families are no longer so powerful; these two will cause no harm to Luo’er. If I fail, these two are both her fallback and her calamity. Success or failure depends on her own fate.”

Si Yunqin’s brows relaxed. She understood Shen Yanxin’s approach.

After Shen Yanxin finished reviewing the memorials, she took a sip of tea. “I thought you would ask about Yang Xiyuan.”

“What’s there to ask about that?” Si Yunqin shook her head, not curious.

“Don’t you think that I knew he had handled a false case but did nothing, only bringing it up now, causing innocent people to suffer injustice?” Shen Yanxin asked teasingly.

Si Yunqin sat down across from her. “Your Majesty, you don’t need to be so open with me.”

Frankly, when a leader tells you everything, it’s still quite terrifying.

“Reasonable.” Shen Yanxin’s smile faded slightly, but then Si Yunqin added, “But I imagine there aren’t many people inside or outside the court that you can talk to. I’ll just listen.”

Shen Yanxin let out a strange snort. “So you’re generously willing to listen to me talk for a bit.”

Si Yunqin nodded fearlessly. “Is that not so?”

Shen Yanxin curled her lips into another smile. “Forget it, there’s nothing to say. The weather is nice today—why not come hunting with me?”

Si Yunqin’s eyes immediately lit up. “Now?”

“Yes. You can bring your little sisters along too.”

“Your Majesty is wise.” Si Yunqin threw out a few words of flattery, then stood up to leave. But at the door, she suddenly turned back. “Actually, you don’t need to explain yourself to anyone. As long as you’re clear in your conscience, it’s fine. Of course, I believe you didn’t know about it before.”

“You dare to guess my thoughts? You’re quite bold.” Shen Yanxin deliberately tried to scare her.

Si Yunqin snorted lightly. “It’s because you hinted at it.”

Watching the figure scurry away, Shen Yanxin raised her eyes to take in the scenery of the Eternal Peace Palace. It was completely different from when she had first moved in.

Everything had been changed to Si Yunqin’s liking, as if the entire Eternal Peace Palace had become much more lively.

According to the late Emperor’s teachings, an emperor must never get this close to anyone. So the late Emperor had ended up alone in his old age. Shen Yanxin didn’t want that.

She had already had one foot on that path, but then such a lively figure appeared in this palace. All the consorts in the harem liked her, and Shen Yanxin couldn’t help but look at her differently.

Si Yunqin’s talent and ambition seemed to surprise and delight Shen Yanxin.

Having received Shen Yanxin’s permission, Si Yunqin had Lin Feng and Si Yin go notify Yuwen Qiyue and Xi Fengyu. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to bring others, but hunting required some martial arts skill—there was no way around it.

As for the fact that Yuwen Qiyue could shoot arrows, Si Yunqin was actually surprised. She only found out when Yuwen Qiyue was sparring with Xi Fengyu. Yuwen Qiyue said she had learned it from Luo Jiuwei, the eldest daughter of the Luo Clan, when they were young.

Si Yunqin tried to pry for gossip from Shen Yanxin, who said that Luo Jiuwei, the sole daughter of the Cloud Prefecture Administrator, had been Yuwen Qiyue’s childhood companion and was now stationed in Cloud Prefecture with her father.

Si Yunqin had never heard of this person and didn’t know much about her. But if Yuwen Qiyue could ride horses and shoot arrows, then she could come out and play.

Si Yunqin didn’t care what Shen Yanxin’s intentions were—opportunities to hunt in the imperial hunting grounds were rare.