Chapter 50: Control

Chapter 50: Control

Thunder rumbled outside the window, lightning flashing briefly.

Wan Song closed the windows and tied the corners of the bamboo curtains tightly to prevent them from banging against the window frames at night, ensuring Jiang Hui could sleep peacefully.

Inside the chamber, Shan Zhuo lit the candles beneath the silk shade. Behind her, Jiang Hui looked much calmer than she did during the day, lying on Qiu Qiu's lap, quietly enjoying a gentle head massage.

"My lady, His Majesty went to Cining Palace and hasn't returned to Jianzhang Palace yet," Qing Feng reported from beside the screen.

Jiang Hui hummed in response and asked, "Has Bi Yue been sent to the Punishment Office?"

"Yes," Qing Feng replied respectfully, "An Jing personally escorted her. This way, the spies from other palaces can also be removed."

"Not necessarily," Qiu Qiu countered, "As long as the Internal Affairs Office keeps sending people, there will always be spies. Sometimes, these spies can be useful."

Qing Feng, not arguing, smiled apologetically, "Like Bi Yue in the Punishment Office, she'll surely reveal something related to Cining Palace."

Shan Zhuo expressed her doubts, "Last time, Qing Feng, you mentioned that Bi Yue's family in Shangjing was fake, she had no background. Deliberately planted in Yaohua Palace, how could she reveal anything?"

"Her silence makes her even more suspicious," Jiang Hui explained, eyes closed, "Such unwavering loyalty, even facing death without revealing anything, clearly indicates who's behind her."

The Empress Dowager is the Emperor's biological mother. Even if she goes too far, the Emperor can't really punish her. If Jiang Hui presses too hard, it might harm her relationship with Xiao Sheng.

Thus, Jiang Hui had to appear weak, stepping out to open the gates of Yaohua Palace when Xiao Sheng was pressured by Madam Li about mother-son affection.

Xiao Sheng clearly hesitated at that moment. If he personally refused Master Hui An, there'd be no issue for the moment. But how would the Empress Dowager view him if she "fell ill" again? Wouldn't he feel guilty and blame Jiang Hui?

If Xiao Sheng allowed Master Hui An into Yaohua Palace, ending the framing drama, he might feel more guilty towards Jiang Hui. But those in power often justify their actions. The more they justify, the more they care. Over time, seeing Jiang Hui would remind him of his guilt. How much love can withstand that erosion?

Therefore, Jiang Hui needed to intervene at the right moment, making a choice for him when Qing Guo appeared and Madam Li used the Empress Dowager to pressure him. This way, the Emperor would feel both love and pity for her, ensuring the least trouble.

Now, with Xiao Sheng visiting Cining Palace and Madam Li's obvious behavior during the day, with Master Hui An's testimony and the evidence of the dolls, their mother-son relationship faces a test.

Bi Yue's steadfast silence in the Punishment Office adds fuel to the fire.

However, even if Xiao Sheng learns the truth, he surely won't implicate the Empress Dowager as the mastermind.

The idea of a nation's Empress Dowager engaging in witchcraft to harm a favored concubine is preposterous and a disgrace to the state. For both public and private reasons, the Emperor would never reveal such a scandal to the world.

Therefore, to vent his anger and justify Jiang Hui's situation, Xiao Sheng will find a perfect scapegoat. This scapegoat will be both a beneficiary of the original framing and a warning to the Empress Dowager.

And all Jiang Hui needs to do is add fuel to the fire.

"Has Lady Sun heard the news?" Jiang Hui asked softly.

"Yes," Qing Feng replied quietly, "All the ladies of the palace are inquiring about Yaohua Palace. The path to the Punishment Office is not easy, but Du Juan used to serve there. Her leaking information to Lady Sun won’t raise suspicions."

With Lady Sun's condition worsening and near death from "inflammation," she sees no future in the harem. Adding quiet whispers about the calamity of witchcraft in Yaohua Palace could push her to desperation and self-destruction.

Moreover, she possesses the capability for such a risky move.

Back in Chuxiu Palace, she managed to place Qi Xiu's body on Feng Pingping's bed without a sound, revealing her extraordinary abilities.

After tying up the bamboo curtains, Wan Song returned to the inner chamber and picked up her needlework, sitting under the light to sew personal garments for Jiang Hui and the Crown Prince.

She quietly said to Jiang Hui, "My lady, why didn't you just replace those dolls when they were first found? Keeping them exposed you to unnecessary grievances. What if Master Hui An hadn’t changed her statement? That would have been dangerous for you!"

She didn’t suggest simply disposing of the dolls, as that would only be a temporary solution.

Jiang Hui smiled and asked, "How could Jing'an Jushi, of humble origins and nearly confined in Puluo Temple with constant surveillance, find an opportunity to send messages to me, and have Master Jingyuan help relay them?"

"It’s because someone in Puluo Temple is assisting her," she continued after a pause, "Jing'an Jushi, coming from a lowly background and selected from the populace, is nearly forty now. Master Hui An, over eighty years old, might have some connection with her."

Even without Jing'an Jushi's help, Jiang Hui could have overcome this obstacle. But indeed, she did utilize Jing'an Jushi's help. The nun’s assistance was not out of kindness, but because she was also a thorn in the Empress Dowager's side.

"As for those dolls..." Jiang Hui's eyes flashed coldly, "Direct replacement? With dolls of myself and my son? His Majesty is not a fool. If, after such a performance by Cining Palace, the dolls excavated from Yaohua Palace turned out to be mine and my son's, what would His Majesty think?"

Wan Song now understood Jiang Hui's intention, softly saying, "His Majesty would think you discovered Cining Palace's actions and decided to counter their scheme. Then, your illness after returning from Puluo Temple could also seem deliberate, and any future illnesses would inevitably raise His Majesty's suspicions."

"Exactly," Jiang Hui nodded, "If so, even if Cining Palace took the first step, my actions would prevent His Majesty from fully siding with me."

"But adding your and the young master's dolls beneath the others changes everything," Wan Song timely added, "First uncovering the dolls planted by Cining Palace and then the real ones buried deeper, it clearly looks like a frame-up to His Majesty!"

Jiang Hui smiled slightly: "We also owe thanks to the Empress Dowager's devout Buddhist beliefs. She dared not place a silver needle at the 'third eye' of her own puppet, making this play seem more convincing."

Shan Zha, dazzled and admiring, following the train of thought Jiang Hui had taught her, asked, "My lady, won’t His Majesty suspect why Master Hui An changed his statement?"

"Master Hui An is highly respected, and it was Madam Li who strongly persuaded His Majesty to summon him to the palace. He has no connection to me. During my time at Pulo Temple, I never met Master Hui An. Even if His Majesty harbors doubts, they won’t extend to me," Jiang Hui stated indifferently.

Another lightning bolt streaked across the sky, followed by a sudden burst of thunder. Jiang Hui sat up and instructed Qiukui, "Go bring Nian'er here. It's thundering, and yet he hasn’t cried."

Qiukui bowed and left. Shan Zha, smiling, remarked, "Not afraid of thunderstorms, the young master is indeed blessed!"