Chapter 146: The Pie

Chapter 146: The Pie

Qiu Kui, carrying the candlestick, followed her, continuing, "If so, Yi Pin’s ambition grows ever larger."

Yi Pin eliminated Sun Pin, who was about to be promoted, as well as Wan Cai Ren, who might have been elevated due to her child. Her ambition seems to extend beyond merely raising a princess while holding the title of consort.

"When has her heart ever not been ambitious?" Jiang Hui spoke in a light tone.

"But Yi Pin knows about the agarwood incident. If in the future..." Qiu Kui expressed her concern.

"After her miscarriage, she wouldn't dare to speak out. If it ever comes to a point where she's desperate enough to reveal everything, I won't give her the chance," Jiang Hui said as she turned around the screen, sitting at the dressing table to remove her hairpins, smiling at Qiu Kui's expression in the mirror, "Qiu Kui, do you think I dominate the palace now?"

Qiu Kui paused, then realizing, lowered her head and said, "Yes."

Since Wang's demotion, no one could rival her mistress. Although there were still higher-ranked consorts like De Fei and He Fei, they lacked favor - one too straightforward, the other limited by her status, posing no threat to Jiang Hui in the foreseeable future.

"With most mid-level generals in the Northern Army still in place, and my father still alive, the Emperor placed me on this throne. Apart from his genuine affection, he's probably unafraid of this situation. Just look at his boldness in surveying military land, the entire court is within his grasp."

"But people change. Watching me on this throne day by day, who knows how long this ephemeral favor will last. Do the consorts really not want to dislodge me from the Emperor's heart? The ministers serving the previous dynasty, don't they deserve some reward?"

"In my position, I must govern accordingly. Being the sole power as Empress is not necessarily good."

Qiu Kui understood Jiang Hui's point but countered, "My lady, elevating them all would be like nurturing a threat for the future..."

Jiang Hui, combing her hair with a brush, calmly said, "If I suppress them, won't the Emperor favor others? People always come and go in the harem, and someone will always rise to power. If I worry about everything, I might as well die of anxiety. Rather than letting those of noble families climb up, letting a clever person like Yi Pin gain power will keep those who threaten her in check."

Qiu Kui, taking over the brush, gently smoothed her mistress's hair, wanting to say something but ultimately remaining silent.

She thought to herself, if the mistress truly asked the Emperor not to favor others, perhaps he would oblige. But the mistress would never harbor such expectations.

After helping Jiang Hui with her bedtime preparations, Qiu Kui was about to extinguish the candle when Jiang Hui softly asked, "Has Wan Song returned?"

The Emperor had been discussing state affairs until late, hosting several senior officials in the palace. Wan Song had been sent by Jiang Hui to Jian Zhang Palace with a gift of gold and jade soup.

"He has returned," Qiu Kui immediately replied.

Jiang Hui nodded and instructed, "Tomorrow, Lady Zhong Qin and several generals' wives are coming to the palace to pay respects, likely concerning the military land issue. Have Shan Zha invite De Fei, Lu Cai Ren, and Tang Xuan Shi to Feng Yi Palace to accompany me. I'll deal with Sun Pin's matter later."

She needn't rush to deal with Sun Pin's matter. By simply keeping these ladies waiting, they would soon grasp the underlying message.

"Lu Cai Ren?" Qiu Kui was puzzled. She understood the selection of De Fei, due to her rank, and Tang Xuan Shi, from a military family, but Lu Cai Ren's inclusion was baffling.

"Given De Fei and Tang Xuan Shi's temperaments, dealing with those noble ladies requires someone to mediate. Lu Cai Ren is quite suitable for that role," Jiang Hui explained.

"I see, I understand now," Qiu Kui realized.

The next day, Jiang Hui rose early to receive the salutations of the consorts, inquired about the investigations at Jiang Xue Xuan and Zhu Xia Xuan from Qing Feng, and then headed to Chong Hua Palace in her phoenix carriage.

The newly born Fourth Prince had been temporarily moved to Yan Qing Palace. Wan Cai Ren's body had already been sent away, and due to the Emperor's preoccupation, Jiang Hui ordered her burial according to the rites of a consort.

Feng's initial title was Wan Cai Ren, and after nearly five years of turmoil, she died with the same title. Normally, she would be buried as a Noble Lady, but since she died in childbirth and was the mother of the Fourth Prince, her status was posthumously elevated two levels to Wan Pin.

The palace servants were efficient. Yesterday's bustling Jiang Xue Xuan was now quiet. Wan Pin's belongings were removed, leaving the place somewhat empty as new items had yet to arrive.

Jiang Hui walked to the opposite Zhu Xia Xuan and quietly commanded amidst the greetings of the palace staff, "Open the main gate."

Inside Zhu Xia Xuan, the sleepless Sun Pin, hearing the noise, clutched the dress-fixing Du Juan and asked again, "Was it delivered?"

"Rest assured, my lady, I personally handed it to Princess Huai Qing's maid Xia Chan," Du Juan reassured.

"Good," Sun Pin sighed softly, "Come with me to meet the Empress."

Restricted to her quarters, she quickly left with Du Juan and knelt in the courtyard to pay respects to Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui did not respond but glanced at her and softly said, "Qing Feng, you speak."

"Yes," Qing Feng bowed and stood up straight, then turned to Sun Pin, "Consort Sun, yesterday we found half a bag of unused lily pollen and a large amount of silver in maid Xiao Die's chest, as well as a grinder for making lily pollen in Zhu Xia Xuan's servant quarters. Xiao Die confessed that she was following your orders to secretly pass messages to Wan Pin. The silver was also given by you. With both human and physical evidence present, what do you have to say?"

With that, Feng Shi and Feng Guo placed a pile of evidence before Sun Pin.

"Impossible!" Sun Pin, unable to maintain her kneeling posture, fell to the ground, then asserted with panic and firmness, "Empress, I did nothing! The lily pollen must have been deliberately placed in Xiao Die's room by someone!"

Qing Feng calmly responded, "Consort Sun, your maid Hua Mei in the Judicial Bureau also admitted to bribing Xiao Die. If you had no intention of harming Wan Pin, why did you bribe her chief maid?"

"Hua Mei?!" Sun Pin suddenly looked up at Qing Feng, then lowered her head again, "She must have been coerced at the Judicial Bureau. Hua Mei would never say such things. Empress, I truly did nothing!"

Unmoved, Qing Feng produced a signed testimony from her robe and handed it to Sun Pin: "Your attempt to harm Wan Pin is evidenced beyond doubt."

Sun Pin snatched the thin testimony, reading it rapidly, her voice rising slightly, "Empress, Hua Mei only admitted to bribing Xiao Die. She mentioned nothing about using lily pollen to harm Wan Pin. Besides, I was unaware of Hua Mei bribing Xiao Die; she acted on her own. Please see the truth, Empress!"

Jiang Hui, seated on a chair brought by a servant, spoke calmly, "Sun Pin, I will report this matter to His Majesty. With clear evidence of your plotting against other consorts and the royal heirs, you are demoted to Imperial Female Attendant and confined to Zhu Xia Xuan, pending the Emperor's judgment."

Sun Man Yun collapsed on the ground, suddenly attempting to grab Jiang Hui's robe, but was blocked by Qing Feng. She laughed abruptly and exclaimed loudly, "Empress, who will raise the Fourth Prince? Is it Yi Pin? She framed me! She did this to me!"

But Sun Man Yun had misjudged the Emperor's intentions.

In the evening, the exhausted Emperor finally joined Jiang Hui for dinner at Feng Yi Palace. After the meal, she mentioned, "Your Majesty, since Wan Cai Ren died birthing the royal heir, I've arranged her burial with the status of a consort."

Xiao Sheng, perhaps worn out from consecutive days of toil, was resting on Jiang Hui's usual couch, half-listening. He hummed softly in response, "Do as you think best, Hui'er."

Jiang Hui approached him, massaging his temples, and continued, "The imperial physician examined and found that Wan Pin's child, the Fourth Prince, is very healthy, despite her difficult birth. He is temporarily in Yan Qing Palace. Do you have any other arrangements, Your Majesty?"

With eyes still closed, Xiao Sheng remained silent for a while before saying, "Promote Xue Gui Ren to consort, move her to Chang Chun Palace, and let her raise the Fourth Prince."