Chapter 106: Killing Intent

Chapter 106: Killing Intent

The Empress's hand tightened slightly within her sleeve. Another twenty percent increase, on top of the increase at the beginning of the year. This nearly matched the treatment of the Imperial Noble Consort... And a princess title for a newborn, while her own Wan'er still had no title!

But she couldn't reveal her feelings at such a moment. She quickly adjusted her expression, smiling and approaching Xiao Sheng, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Consort Zhao has blessed you with another child!"

Although Xiao Sheng was somewhat disappointed it wasn’t a son, he was still happy with a daughter. In a good mood, and considering the Empress had been there the whole night, he handed Princess Huayang to a wet nurse and smiled at the Empress, "You’ve also been here all night, Empress. There’s no need to stay any longer. You should go back and rest."

The Empress naturally didn't wish to stay and needlessly upset herself. After offering a few words of graceful magnanimity, she left with her attendants, heading back to Fengyi Palace.

It was already the hour of Chou, and there wasn’t much time before the princes and princesses from various palaces were to visit Fengyi Palace to pay respects. Deciding against sleep, the Empress headed to the eastern annex to visit the eldest princess.

The night-duty maids silently greeted her and lit candles, covering them with silk shades. They stood aside as the Empress sat quietly by the bed, gazing at the eldest princess.

The princess was sleeping soundly, seemingly having pleasant dreams, a smile at the corner of her lips.

"Wan'er…" the Empress tucked in her daughter’s blanket, a smile unconsciously forming on her face.

She stood up, instructed the maids to extinguish the candles, and left the eastern annex to return to the main room. She didn’t ask for the lights to be turned on, sitting in the dark, deep in thought.

The moon was almost full, casting its round, pearly light through the latticed windows, illuminating the Empress in her embroidered gold dress, making it shimmer slightly.

Chunyan brought the Empress some hot tea. Usually quick to offer advice, she now didn’t dare to speak, silently standing aside, glancing at her equally silent companion Xiachan.

Xiachan, trying to console, spoke softly, "Mistress, Consort Zhao’s health is delicate, and her safe delivery today probably delighted His Majesty, prompting him to immediately bestow the title on the Third Princess..."

"Moreover," she continued cautiously, "this is also good for us. The children born to Consort Zhao, with the Crown Prince being frail and the Third Princess merely a princess, even if favored, will not pose a threat..."

Her words were cut off by the Empress.

"I am aware," the Empress said calmly. "I was just wondering, with His Majesty so fond of her, why he hasn’t yet deposed me to elevate her to the Empress position."

"Mistress?!" Surprised by such a statement, Chunyan and Xiachan exclaimed in unison.

Tentatively, Xiachan said, "Mistress, you are the Empress, mother to two daughters and a son, without any significant faults... How could His Majesty easily, easily depose you?"

"No significant faults?" The Empress scoffed, her usually dignified face softening in the moonlight, "His Majesty indeed lacks evidence, but he's well aware. His tacit approval of the aconite soup for Lady Liu was justified, as even in common households, concubines don’t bear children before the legitimate wife..."

"But after Wan'er was born, there were no more happy tidings from Prince Cheng’s mansion, until Jiang and Hu were bestowed in marriage by the late Emperor... What strangeness lies between these events, does His Majesty not know?" the Empress said sarcastically, "He knows but doesn’t care, as at that time I still held some sway, and the other women were mere diversions. Children born to thoughtless women are not necessarily intelligent..."

"But..." Chunyan swallowed nervously and cautiously countered, "Mistress, when Consort Liu had her joy, His Majesty seemed very happy, didn’t he? And Consort Liu... isn’t exactly smart..."

"Why wouldn’t he be happy?" The Empress actually laughed, "Having children is always a joyous event, especially since His Majesty has so few heirs. But did you see him show even a hint of sorrow after Consort Liu’s miscarriage?"

So this means, for women to whom he has no attachment, His Majesty is happy if they conceive, but indifferent if they do not?

Indeed, when Consort Liu miscarried, His Majesty only confined Min Jieyu to her quarters. Despite the Empress Dowager's involvement, if His Majesty really wanted to punish, could the Empress Dowager have stopped him? Afterwards, His Majesty’s behavior remained unchanged, showing no sign of distress...

Chunyan bowed her head, remaining silent.

After a moment of silence, the Empress continued, "Later, I fell into the Noble Consort's trap, mistakenly believing her to be feigning pregnancy. I acted twice and even got entangled with Consort He, resulting in losing half of the Internal Affairs Department..."

The Noble Consort did nothing. She didn’t act against the Empress, simply choosing the day when Imperial Physician Liu was off duty to reveal her pregnancy and "coincidentally" having a weak pulse. And the Empress, relying on the physician’s earlier assertion that she was unlikely to conceive within three years, had walked right into this trap.

Because deep down, she didn’t want the Noble Consort to truly be pregnant, fearing the birth of another healthy prince would render her position as Empress meaningless.

"Mistress, even so, His Majesty hasn’t truly acted against you. You still hold the phoenix seal and remain the legitimate Empress of the Great Zhou," Xiachan said gravely, trying to console.

"That’s what I’ve been thinking, why is that?" the Empress mused softly.

Because you've raised three children, and you've left no obvious evidence...

Xiachan opened her mouth, realizing she had already said these things before, and closed it again, listening as the Empress spoke to herself, "Because His Majesty is waiting, waiting for me to make an irreparable mistake, waiting for the Marquis of Ningyuan to pass away."

Chunyan widened her eyes in the darkness, wanting to say something but hesitating, swallowing her words back.

"If I wish to secure this position as Empress, there are only two ways. One is to be absolutely virtuous and faultless, gaining the support of the court officials, especially the old conservatives. Then, even if His Majesty wants to depose me, with many ministers objecting, it won’t be easy."

"And the second way...?" Chunyan asked in a low voice.

"The second way," the Empress narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp, "With the Crown Prince being frail, the Second Prince is essentially the true heir. Once he grows older, to an age where he can stand firm, if His Majesty unexpectedly passes away, I would naturally become the Empress Dowager."

"Whoosh—"

The crisp sound of porcelain shattering echoed through the dimly lit chamber, half in darkness and half in moonlight, as Chunyan, shocked, stumbled backward and knocked over a teapot.

"Mistress?!" Chunyan, with sweat pouring down her temples, tremblingly urged, "This... this is a grave crime punishable by the execution of the entire family... His Majesty is heavily guarded..."

"That’s why thorough preparation is crucial. I will not act rashly until the very last moment," the Empress said lightly, touching the jade bracelet on her wrist.

Xiachan, unlike Chunyan, didn’t react so dramatically. After her initial shock, she pondered deeply and then spoke softly, "Mistress, considering the Second Prince is of the Changping Marquis’ bloodline, he might not necessarily be closer to you in the future..."

The Empress looked at her approvingly and chuckled, "That’s why the Empress Dowager’s passing came at just the right time."

Pausing, she lowered her head, gently touching her abdomen, and spoke tenderly, "If I could bear another legitimate son, that would be even better."