Chapter 59

This was a game of imperial power. Recently, the court was filled with anxiety, both inside and outside. Those who had chosen sides feared they had backed the wrong one, while those who hadn’t were also terrified. Everyone could see the undercurrents surging beneath the surface of the court.

The rumors of a woman ruling the world spread far and wide, even ordinary people drinking tea in teahouses would chat about it. Some said a woman ruling the world was against the Way of Heaven; others said it didn’t matter who became emperor as long as their own days were good.

The Chancellor seemed to have made contact with the aristocratic families, but not all families were willing to align with him. For instance, the Zhao family’s stance was ambiguous, and the Wen clan had not made any major moves.

The Guanzhong region was now overpopulated, and some families wouldn’t mind if part of the population could flow outward. Therefore, the opposition to Shen Yanxin’s policies was not as high as the Chancellor’s faction had imagined.

But neither Si Yunqin nor Shen Yanxin expected that these people, in order to deal with Shen Yanxin, would poison Yuwen Luo. The toxin was not strong enough to kill, but it would gradually weaken Yuwen Luo’s body, turning her into a sickly, frail child.

They intended to use this to claim that the Empress Dowager wanted to control the child emperor and realize her ambition of a woman ruling the world.

Although Si Yunqin thought the idea was utterly absurd—if Shen Yanxin wanted a woman to rule the world, she would never resort to such methods—they still did it. If not for the people Shen Yanxin had placed beside Yuwen Luo noticing that she had been unwell for a few days, the poison might have seeped into her organs and become impossible to eradicate.

The poison was not fatal, and the imperial physicians said that since it had been discovered early, it could be cured.

But this had truly crossed Shen Yanxin’s bottom line. She immediately launched a thorough purge of the palace harem.

The harem was filled with all kinds of cunning and treacherous people; that was nothing new. Both Shen Yanxin and Si Yunqin knew it. But poisoning the Son of Heaven was far too audacious.

However, the Chancellor was ultimately cautious. Shen Yanxin couldn’t find evidence immediately. Si Yunqin suggested that the abbot of Yunfu Taoist Temple was skilled in medicine and could treat the young emperor discreetly, away from prying eyes.

After listening, Shen Yanxin pondered for a long time. “You and Qiyue will take Luo’er to the temple for treatment. I will issue an imperial decree and send heavy troops to protect you.”

Si Yunqin thought it over. The plan was feasible. Having Yuwen Qiyue accompany Yuwen Luo would also reassure the Chancellor.

Once the decision was made, Shen Yanxin returned to the Imperial Study. In less than the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, the imperial decree was issued from there.

Si Yunqin and Yuwen Qiyue set off immediately, taking imperial physicians with them to Yunfu Taoist Temple.

No sooner had the decree been issued than many court officials rushed to stop it.

Shen Yanxin looked at those kneeling outside the Imperial Study. Her expression hardened, and her gaze turned cold. “The abbot of Yunfu Temple was personally appointed National Preceptor by the late emperor and is well-versed in medical theory. If you do not trust me, do you not trust the late emperor? Or do you think that I am sending His Majesty out of the palace to assassinate him?”

She made it sound so grave that none of the civil and military officials dared to agree. They could only shake their heads in denial. But that denial cost them the upper hand.

“If that’s the case, are you all planning to install a new emperor?” Shen Yanxin asked coldly.

As soon as she finished speaking, the leading official immediately led the courtiers in a kowtow. “We dare not. We beg Her Majesty to see clearly. It is only that outside the palace, there are many people of mixed backgrounds. We are merely concerned for His Majesty’s safety.”

Shen Yanxin’s face showed neither joy nor anger. She said calmly, “If that’s the case, then there is no need to worry too much. I have sent the Imperial Forest Army to protect him, and the director of the Imperial Hospital will accompany him. Why are you still uneasy?”

With her words, the officials indeed had no counterargument. They had no choice but to withdraw obediently.

But the next day, rumors spread that the Empress Dowager had deliberately poisoned His Majesty in order to control him.

After hearing this, Shen Yanxin thought she must have lost her mind to do something like that.

Later, when Si Yunqin heard about it, she also thought it was ridiculous. But by then, she was already on the road out of the city and did not yet know.

Yuwen Qiyue sat in the carriage with her. Both of them sighed deeply.

There was no telling who might be among the escort, so they did not speak much, only asking about Yuwen Luo’s condition from time to time.

“Is it really all right for the Empress Dowager to send us out like this?” Yuwen Qiyue was still worried.

Si Yunqin comforted her. “It’s fine. Trust her. She has handled situations more complicated than this. Don’t worry too much.”

“The abbot of Yunfu Temple is skilled in medicine. The urgent matter is to expel the poison from Yuwen Luo’s body before it leaves lasting effects. Elder Sister Qiyue, Shen Yanxin may not have good intentions toward the Yuwen clan, and she may indeed have ambitions, but she is one of the few people in this world who would never harm Luo’er. If you cannot trust her, then no one else is trustworthy either.” Si Yunqin knew that Shen Yanxin would eventually choose to ascend the throne. When that day came, she had no idea what Yuwen Qiyue’s attitude toward Shen Yanxin would be—maybe enmity, maybe support.

She could not demand anything from Yuwen Qiyue, after all, her surname was Yuwen.

Yuwen Qiyue smiled at Si Yunqin. “I understand.”

But Si Yunqin’s smile was no longer as easy as before. She had chosen Shen Yanxin. If Yuwen Qiyue and Shen Yanxin became enemies in the future, it would mean she and Yuwen Qiyue would also have to break.

Neither spoke further. The procession traveled to Yunfu Taoist Temple, where the abbot personally came out to greet them.

The carriage stopped. The temple’s residents knelt and bowed. Yuwen Luo was too weak to speak, so Si Yunqin spoke on her behalf.

The abbot wore a Taoist robe, held a dust whisk in hand, and had a full head of white hair, giving off an immortal demeanor.

“Abbot.” Si Yunqin smiled at her. The abbot bowed again. “Your Majesty, the Empress.”

“You need not stand on ceremony. Let us go inside first.” Si Yunqin said softly.

The abbot had already received word that His Majesty and the Empress were coming and had prepared a guest room.

As soon as Yuwen Luo arrived, the abbot took her pulse. She also met with the director of the Imperial Hospital. After discussion, they came in together to perform acupuncture on the young emperor. At one point, they pricked the young emperor’s finger, and the blood that came out was black, which frightened Yuwen Qiyue terribly.

Si Yunqin had visited Yunfu Temple many times before, so many of the temple’s Daoists recognized her. She was familiar with the place and knew the abbot’s medical skills. Moreover, the director of the Imperial Hospital was there, and he had said it would not be life-threatening—that should not be a lie.

After the acupuncture, the young emperor’s breathing seemed steadier and smoother.

Then they prescribed medicine for the young emperor. Only then did Si Yunqin and Yuwen Qiyue step forward to ask about her condition.

“Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Grand Princess, His Majesty is now out of danger. He will need to take a few more doses of medicine and recuperate properly.”

Hearing this, Yuwen Qiyue was finally able to relax completely. “Thank you, Abbot, and Director.”

After the prescription was written, the two left. Si Yunqin also breathed a sigh of relief. If the young emperor had really been seriously harmed, that would have been a real problem.

She walked outside and looked at the waning moon hanging at the edge of the sky. She sighed softly. At this moment, Shen Yanxin proposing to encourage the relocation of the common people would surely make her a target. Although the aristocratic families did not openly oppose it, there were always objectors, and they were not few in number.

Suddenly, Si Yunqin understood some of Shen Yanxin’s difficulties. Sitting alone in the court, facing those people each with their own agendas—it was truly not easy.

The next day, Si Yunqin heard the common folk rumors. They said the Empress Dowager had harmed His Majesty in order to ascend the throne, and that the Grand Princess had discovered His Majesty’s discomfort and had him taken out of the palace in time. The Heavenly Peace Temple also spread news that a woman would rule the world, and the abbot had entered closed-door cultivation.

Rumors never appear out of thin air. There is always a source.

Si Yunqin gave a scornful laugh. They really were impatient.

But, historically, many things are won by acting decisively and catching the opponent off guard. Many times, there is no need for a chain of intricate schemes. The Chancellor’s move was indeed quite feasible. If it weren’t for her, an acting queen piece, the outcome would have been uncertain.

She had done everything she could. The rest was up to Shen Yanxin to handle. If even that didn’t work, then it really wouldn’t.

Three days later, the rumors grew fiercer, to the point where they were practically saying the Empress Dowager would ascend the throne any day.

The Chancellor led the courtiers to confront Shen Yanxin in the court.

Hearing their accusations one after another and their earnest exhortations, Shen Yanxin couldn’t help but laugh.

“Is the Chancellor suggesting that I intend to murder His Majesty and ascend the throne myself?” Shen Yanxin asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

“Your Majesty naturally knows that I do not mean that, but with rumors spreading like this, I fear the various princes might use this as an excuse to rebel, throwing the realm into chaos.” The Chancellor’s words sounded nice.

At the same time, the Left Imperial Guard General, who was in charge of guarding the imperial city, stepped forward to support him. “The soldiers are restless. I am powerless to calm them.”

Many court officials echoed him, though the Censorate vehemently opposed.

“The Empress Dowager was personally appointed Regent Empress Dowager by the late emperor and is His Majesty’s maternal aunt. The child emperor is not yet of age. How can we let the schemes of traitors and rebels cause turmoil in the court?”

The two sides began arguing fiercely. At the same time, the imperial city guards appeared in the hall.

The Chancellor looked at Si Yan. “What does Sikong think?”

Si Yan met his gaze, then stepped forward and said to Shen Yanxin, “In my humble opinion, what the Chancellor says is for the stability of the court. Returning the reins of government to His Majesty would indeed be one solution.”

The Chancellor looked at Shen Yanxin with some provocation, but before he could even gloat for half a moment, Si Yan continued, “But in my opinion, that is a plan of last resort.”

The Chancellor seemed not to have expected Si Yan to turn against him. “Your Majesty, the Royal Rescue Army is already on its way. Have you considered how to respond?”

“The various princes are very eager to know about His Majesty’s safety.”

Using Yuwen Luo’s safety to threaten Shen Yanxin—she stood up and laughed coldly. She raised her eyes to look at the dragon throne beside her, gave a scornful laugh, and without answering, sat down on it.

“What of it if I sit on this dragon throne?” Her words were utterly treasonous, but the Chief Justice of the Grand Court stepped forward. “Your Majesty naturally may sit. According to the late emperor’s edict, before His Majesty comes of age, the Empress Dowager is to perform the emperor’s duties. Since she is acting in his stead, there is no harm in her sitting on the dragon throne.”

“I’m a rough man, but I think the Chief Justice has a point.”

Si Yan’s betrayal was something the Chancellor had truly not anticipated. He wasn’t trying to usurp the throne himself; he only wanted Shen Yanxin to hand over the regency. He couldn’t understand why Si Yan would steadfastly support Shen Yanxin even when Si Yuanju was on the verge of execution.

The situation in the court changed instantly. Many who had just been following the Chancellor’s lead now began to speak in support of Shen Yanxin, every word defending her.

“Left Imperial Guard General, did I issue a decree allowing you to freely mobilize the guards?” Shen Yanxin asked coldly.

The Left Imperial Guard General was stunned by the question and, in his rage, stepped forward. “Poisonous woman! You harm the realm, frame loyal generals, break the Grand Princess’s betrothal, and bring disaster upon the world. The late emperor was deceived by you. Now the Royal Rescue Army is coming. Whether you like it or not, you will hand over the regency.”

The Chancellor felt uneasy, but there was no time to stop the man’s reckless rambling. After all, the imperial city guards were still in their hands.

“Where is the Right Imperial Guard General?” Shen Yanxin asked coldly.

Si Yuanju, clad in armor and holding a spear, strode in. “Your servant is here.”

His appearance truly surprised everyone.

Only then did the Chancellor realize that this had all been a setup. He had been too impatient.

“Seize them.”

“At your command.”

Then Shen Yanxin took out a list. “There are some rather interesting matters. Would you all like to hear them?”

The courtiers dared not answer, and Shen Yanxin did not need them to. Sitting on the dragon throne, she unfolded the list. “The Grand Court recently conducted a thorough investigation into the corruption case involving disaster relief funds and uncovered some things that surprised me greatly. For instance, I only learned before obtaining these items that the Left Imperial Guard General and the Chancellor are father and son. Isn’t that interesting?”

She sat there, her tone even, listing one matter after another that should have remained hidden from the light of day. Every official whose name was called broke out in a cold sweat. Those with weaker nerves even trembled and knelt down.

Seeing the situation, the Chancellor knew that his cause was lost. He had thought he still controlled the guards of Heavenly Light City and the troops stationed outside the city, but now, at this critical moment, neither side had made any move. Something must have gone wrong.

But all these unexpected events for him were part of the trap Shen Yanxin had long laid out. Thinking further, he couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. Even the late emperor in his youth had not possessed Shen Yanxin’s depth of scheming and composed ability to orchestrate.

For a moment, the Chancellor felt that even if Great Zhao really did one day have a woman ruling the world, it would not be strange.

Shen Yanxin read out most of the names on the list, then put down the evidence. “I just find it interesting. The investigation of this case should be left to the Grand Court to handle.”

The Chief Justice of the Grand Court stepped forward. “Your servant accepts the decree.”

That day, many civil and military officials were imprisoned for forming factions, corruption, and embezzlement. In one fell swoop, a large number of people were purged from the court.

“Don’t you fear that His Majesty might really be in danger?” the Left Imperial Guard General asked resentfully as he was led away.

“The Left Imperial Guard is referring to the Imperial Forest Army? The Imperial Forest Army is naturally loyal to His Majesty. The Left Imperial Guard need not concern himself.” The people she had sent out were those she trusted, and besides, Si Yunqin was there. Shen Yanxin was not worried.

And on Si Yunqin’s side, she indeed did not disappoint Shen Yanxin’s trust. Just as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Forest Army was about to make a move to seize control of the commander and kidnap the young emperor, she struck first.

After the court session ended, news that all was well at Yunfu Taoist Temple reached the palace, and Shen Yanxin breathed a sigh of relief.

But Si Yunqin did not rush back to the palace. She continued to stay at the temple.