Ruling over the Court Arc
Abandoned Empress 16
On the day of the autumn hunt, the weather was clear and pleasant, making it a rare and comfortable day.
The Emperor wore equestrian attire, with a smile on his face that had been rare in recent days. The ministers who were skilled in horseback archery also changed into their equestrian gear, while the other ministers stood aside, cheering and encouraging.
This time, Wu Yanqing went for the autumn hunt without bringing any concubines, not even Concubine Xi, who had previously been considered intimate.
As an Emperor, Wu Yanqing repeatedly stumbled because of women, clearly not a ruler obsessed with beauty, yet he kept encountering troubles. When he thought about the issue of heir, Wu Yanqing became irritable. He knew he had to visit those people, but just thinking about the last time when he had no provisions left and was forced to continue, he felt a pain in his lower body.
He clenched his fist, dispelling the jumble of thoughts in his mind. When he thought about his arrangements for today and the scenes he would see later, he felt a sense of pleasure in his heart.
He endured hardships for nearly four years and finally was about to remove the Xin family from his presence.
He didn’t know if it was the good fortune accumulated from his past life that allowed him to meet such a wonderful person like Qu Zhi’an in this lifetime.
Not only was she beautiful, but she was also exceptionally intelligent. Her abilities in the court were top-notch, as she quickly forced the Prime Minister to retreat step by step.
Xin Lan, hiding in the shadows, watched the Emperor’s satisfied expression and a smile curved on her lips.
In fact, if it weren’t for the cooperation of the Prime Minister, Qu Zhi’an’s actions might not have progressed so quickly. From the current perspective, it seemed like a matter of two or three months. If the Prime Minister hadn’t yielded, it would have taken one or two years to completely eradicate the Xin family.
Wu Yanqing was truly defenseless. Instead of pondering why the Prime Minister’s power was easily dismantled, he simply believed that Qu Zhi’an was formidable, and it was only natural for the Prime Minister to meet such an end.
The Prime Minister, who had been informed by Xin Lan, already knew that there would be a setup today. However, he pretended to know nothing, waiting to be framed, standing below and speaking words of praise to the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at the Prime Minister and emitted a cold sneer in his heart.
The Prime Minister looked at the Emperor, eagerly anticipating the spectacle.
Xin Lan, dressed in assassin’s black attire with a black cloth covering her face, stood high up in a tree, holding a bow and arrow in her hand.
She only brought two arrows, but two arrows were enough.
One arrow could also be sufficient, but Xin Lan wouldn’t give him an arrow through the heart.
According to her plan, Wu Yanqing would shoot the prey while a group of guards and eunuchs followed behind to retrieve them. However, as Wu Yanqing went deeper into the forest, some of the people behind couldn’t keep up, and only a few were chasing from behind.
Wu Yanqing whistled, and dozens of black-clad individuals dashed out from the woods.
“Protect the Emperor!”
The leader of the Imperial Guards drew his sword from his waist and shouted.
Wu Yanqing pretended to be overwhelmed, intentionally allowing his arm to be slightly injured. The assassins then pretended to be stabbed by him and rolled aside.
While Wu Yanqing appeared flustered, there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Xin Lan squinted her eyes, raised her bow and arrow, aiming at her target.
Amidst the chaos, Wu Yanqing heard a sound breaking through the air. He abruptly turned around and saw an arrow coming towards him. Before he could react, the arrow pierced into his thigh.
Wu Yanqing was filled with shock and anger. These were definitely not the people he had arranged.
However, before he could react, the second arrow swiftly followed, accurately piercing his other leg.
“Send someone to pursue them!”
Wu Yanqing endured the pain and urgently ordered his men to chase after the assailants.
The approaching individuals rushed towards the direction of the arrows, while others lifted the injured Emperor and hurriedly sought the Imperial Physician.
Xin Lan accomplished her goal and retreated, disappearing into the woods with her bow.
There was no way those people could catch up with her.
Zero Nine: Host, you were amazing just now. I took a look, and both sides are still symmetrical!
In a concealed location, Xin Lan changed out of her black attire and held her outer robe in her hands. She headed towards the Jade Moon Palace.
Chun Yue and Si Tong were bored in the courtyard, embroidering flowers. Since their master started going out frequently and seemed busy, they didn’t have much to do. They spent their days talking to each other, sometimes with Si Tong reading a book to Chun Yue. Si Tong knew some characters that Chun Yue didn’t recognize. Other times, Chun Yue taught Si Tong how to embroider, passing the time in this manner.
The two of them vaguely knew that something was about to happen, but they couldn’t pinpoint the specifics.
After Xin Lan returned, she handed the rolled-up clothes to Chun Yue and asked her to fold and put them back in the wardrobe.
Then, all they could do was wait.
Xin Lan didn’t leave the palace but waited there for news.
There were certain secretive pieces of information that the palace servants wouldn’t be able to uncover. Xin Lan directly instructed Zero Nine to live-stream and relay the information.
At this moment, the Emperor was still being treated for his injured leg at the autumn hunting grounds. The situation was chaotic due to the assassination attempt on the Emperor.
The Prime Minister had no idea that Xin Lan would actually take action. When he heard that the Emperor was seriously injured, he felt a shock and exchanged a glance with Qu Zhi’an from a distance.
Qu Zhi’an gave him a shallow smile, and the Prime Minister breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as everything was under control, the Prime Minister thought, the Emperor’s injury must have a significant connection with Qu Zhi’an or, more specifically, with Xin Lan behind her.
The Prime Minister couldn’t help but sigh when he thought of his daughter, who had become a stranger to him.
She used to be different, and he didn’t know when she had changed.
But perhaps it was for the better. If she hadn’t changed, the situation probably wouldn’t be like this now.
Qu Zhi’an entered the tent and looked at the pale-faced Wu Yanqing. The Imperial Physician below was sweating profusely as he prepared to remove the arrows.
Wu Yanqing was in so much pain that he was almost on the verge of passing out, but he continued to endure.
He met Qu Zhi’an’s calm gaze, feeling a sense of unease in his heart without knowing why.
But in the next moment, he noticed the concern in Qu Zhi’an’s expression. However, that feeling of unease still lingered in his heart, making him feel restless.
As the arrow was removed, blood began to flow, and the physician quickly sprinkled medicinal powder and wrapped it with a layer of gauze.
Qu Zhi’an stood there, observing his pitiful state, a hint of a subtle smile playing on her lips.
It was almost time. Once she took her place beside the Prime Minister, she could release Xin Lan to do what she desired.
The Emperor was carried back to the palace, while the few guards were taken to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation.
After several days of harsh torture, the Chief Minister of the Ministry of Justice knelt before the officials and openly stated that the assassin still hadn’t revealed the truth. However, the Deputy Chief Minister of the Ministry of Justice stood up and confronted him, claiming that the assassin had already confessed. Yet, the Chief Minister believed that the assassin still hadn’t spoken the truth and insisted on further torture.
Filled with anger, the Emperor demanded that the Deputy Chief Minister reveal the person behind the assassin’s confession. When the words “Prime Minister” escaped the Deputy Chief Minister’s lips, it caused a commotion among the courtiers.
With a grim expression, the Emperor, looking at his immobile legs, sent the Prime Minister back to the dungeon once again.
This time, no one dared to plead for the Prime Minister’s mercy. Wu Yanqing sat in his study, touching his legs, still harboring deep resentment.
Who was it that sent someone to harm his legs? That question remained in his mind.
The assassin’s marksmanship was superb. If their intention was to assassinate him, they could have easily taken his life instead of deliberately shooting through his legs.
Why did it happen this way? Wu Yanqing couldn’t figure it out, and the investigators had no leads. The matter had to be left unresolved.
However, these things couldn’t dampen Wu Yanqing’s good mood because everything was going according to his plan.
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It was going extremely smoothly, yet Wu Yanqing couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.
That sense of unease came from an unknown source, reminding him that something was amiss.
Wu Yanqing meticulously reviewed the situation but couldn’t find anything amiss. He thought that he might be overthinking things. The downfall of the Xin family this time was significant, with the Prime Minister already imprisoned in the dungeon. To avoid suspicion, the Chief Minister of the Ministry of Justice had been temporarily suspended from duty and others were rejoicing, except for the members of the Xin family.
Upon hearing the news, Xin Long was in a state of panic in the palace.
She thought that after being in the palace for so long, she should have learned to remain calm. However, with the current grave situation, which affected the fate of the Xin family, she couldn’t calm down at all. She wanted to find her aunt, but she was under house arrest. She could only pace anxiously in the Changqiu Palace, feeling like an ant on a hot pan.
Wu Yanqing was aware of Xin Long’s reaction, which brought him some satisfaction. The Xin family was in a state of panic, and the more frantic they became, the happier he felt.
It was at this moment that Wu Yanqing remembered a member of the Xin family whom he had long forgotten. Since that person had been demoted, he had only seen her once, and that encounter had left him with unfavorable thoughts.
Now, upon reflection, there was no need to care about those things. After all, the Xin family was no more, and she had no bright future ahead of her.
Out of consideration for their past marriage, he would let her stay in the Cold Palace for the rest of her life.
Things were progressing methodically. When the weather turned colder, the verdict for the Prime Minister came down. Although it couldn’t prove that he was the one who ordered the assassination of the Emperor, there were still suspicions. The Prime Minister was dismissed, and the Chief Minister of the Ministry of Justice and other members of the Xin family were not spared either. Demotions and dismissals were handed out accordingly.
On the day the Prime Minister was released from prison, the Emperor visited him.
The Prime Minister didn’t fare well in prison. He had become thin and frail. As he walked out of the dungeon, dressed in plain white garments, he looked like an ordinary old man.
“Did you ever consider this day when you ascended to power?”
Wu Yanqing approached, whispering quietly beside him. Although he was sitting in a wheelchair, his presence remained undiminished.
The Emperor’s legs were not completely paralyzed; they were temporarily unable to function properly.
Xin Sheng’s expression remained calm as he bowed to the Emperor.
“From the day Your Majesty ascended to the throne, I have anticipated this day. Now, there is nothing more to say. I wish Your Majesty a prosperous reign, year after year.”
Xin Sheng bowed slightly and, after saying those words, walked away.
Wu Yanqing frowned as he watched Xin Sheng depart. The old man’s words brought back that sense of unease within him.
However, as he looked at the courtiers in the court, his unease dissipated.
The once towering tree that had overshadowed him had finally fallen before him.
With the former Prime Minister stepping down, this position couldn’t remain vacant. As expected by everyone, Qu Zhi’an assumed the role swiftly, garnering great attention and admiration.
Qu Zhi’an dealt with another high-ranking official who came to establish connections, and the warehouse in her residence was filled with gifts.
“It seems like I arrived at an inconvenient time. The esteemed Prime Minister is quite busy.”
A figure appeared in the courtyard, and it was none other than Xin Lan, who didn’t enter through the main gate.
“Ah Lan, always making fun of me. Come, have a seat. Dealing with people can be exhausting.”
Indeed, her residence was bustling today, and Qu Zhi’an was visibly tired from handling everything.
“Take a break. There shouldn’t be many people around at this time.”
Xin Lan said as she sat beside Qu Zhi’an. A servant immediately brought a cup of tea.
“How is it in the palace? When do you plan to take action?”
“I’ve calculated it, and how about tonight?”
“Good.”
The two of them exchanged a smile, understanding each other without the need for words.
Today was the middle of the month, and the moon was exceptionally round in the evening.
Wu Yanqing lay in bed when he suddenly felt thirsty. He called out for Mei An a few times, but there was no response.
He furrowed his brow, becoming impatient, and called out two more times.
A gust of wind blew in, causing his expression to change.
Mei An usually stood guard at the entrance. Even if it wasn’t his turn to keep watch, there would be other eunuchs present. However, now the door was wide open, and there was no response. Something was definitely amiss.
Wu Yanqing could feel his heart pounding with anxiety. With his legs unable to move freely, he tightly gripped the brocade quilt.
A faint sound of footsteps reached his ears, causing his heart to skip a beat.
“Who’s there? Who’s there!”
He called out, but received no response. The candles in the hall were still lit, but they provided him with no sense of security.
A figure gradually emerged from the darkness, and Wu Yanqing widened his eyes as he saw that face.
“Xin Lan? How could it be you? How dare you escape from the Cold Palace without permission!”
He sternly rebuked, trying his best to hide his unease.
Xin Lan took slow steps toward him, looking him up and down, her gaze piercing as if she could see through him. After scrutinizing him, she let out a disdainful sneer.
“What are you laughing at?”
Wu Yanqing became infuriated and embarrassed.
“You truly are pitiful, Your Majesty. You have lost all your former glory. Back then, you were so mighty when you humiliated others in the palace. You said I couldn’t bear children, but can you? Do you have any heirs now? Moreover, you know perfectly well why I couldn’t conceive. “
Xin Lan didn’t bother hiding her disgust, deliberately adopting a scornful expression that mirrored Wu Yanqing’s previous demeanor.
“How should I know the reason for your infertility? Guards, take this person away!”
Upon hearing Xin Lan’s words, Wu Yanqing felt his heart skip a beat. The panic of being exposed was evident, but he forcefully feigned composure, loudly calling for the guards.
Footsteps could be heard approaching from outside, and a glimmer of hope sparked in Wu Yanqing’s heart. When he saw that it was Qu Zhi’an, his expression of joy intensified. However, in the next moment, the smile froze on his face.
Qu Zhi’an shouldn’t have appeared here at this time.
“You all conspired to harm me!”
“Your Majesty, that’s quite amusing. Who harmed whom? Do you think I’m unaware of all the things you’ve done? Shall I remind you of how you drugged me at that banquet and rendered me unconscious?”
Wu Yanqing was stunned, staring wide-eyed at the two women before him.
“It turns out you knew…”
These words were not directed at Xin Lan, but at Qu Zhi’an.
“Yes, I knew all along. I knew that Your Majesty is a hypocritical and despicable pseudo-gentleman, a true villain. You may pretend to be a noble figure, but in my eyes, you’re nothing but a stinking rat. Do you realize how ridiculous you appear to me?”
Qu Zhi’an’s face was filled with cold sarcasm as she stood by Xin Lan’s side.
“How dare you speak to Us like this! Well, Qu Zhi’an, it seems that your previous demeanor was all a deception. We have truly raised a white-eyed wolf. Your power was granted by Us. If it weren’t for the slight favor We had toward you, We would have exposed your true identity as a woman and executed you on the day of the imperial examination. Yet here you are, daring to be so insolent before Us!”
Wu Yanqing’s face turned red, his neck bulged, and his trembling hand almost shouted in anger.
Before Qu Zhi’an could speak, she heard the sound of Xin Lan clapping her hands beside her.
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“Your Majesty, this investigation is truly marvelous. But have you ever considered that if I hadn’t married you, the Fifth Prince, and if you hadn’t relied on our Xin family, do you think you could have triumphed over your brothers and ascended to your current position? To think that you had the wickedness to drug me when I was a newlywed. Now, it’s time for you to pay for all of this.”
Xin Lan didn’t particularly want to say these lines, feeling somewhat weak, but it was through these words that she could make Wu Yanqing understand the reality.
“Hong Huan! Dong Huaixi! Mei An!”
As the Emperor shouted those names, his heart grew colder and colder.
No one responded, and as he looked at the faces of Xin Lan and Qu Zhi’an in front of him, the echoes of his own shouts felt like a slap, harshly striking his own face, leaving a burning sensation.
“Why have you stopped calling? Keep calling, let’s see if anyone will come to save you.”
Xin Lan calmly remarked. She intentionally changed her voice, and indeed, she witnessed a drastic change in Wu Yanqing’s complexion.
“That day, it was you!”
Xin Lan deliberately used the eerie voice of the old man, reminding Wu Yanqing of that terrifying and unforgettable night.
“Yes, it was me. And it was also me who injured your legs.”
Xin Lan said gleefully, observing Wu Yanqing’s increasingly ashen face.
Qu Zhi’an didn’t know exactly what had happened, but she vaguely sensed that it must be Xin Lan’s revenge.
“You’re not Xin Lan, who are you!”
Wu Yanqing’s mind raced quickly. He may not know others well, but he had a thorough understanding of Xin Lan. When did Xin Lan possess such peculiar martial arts skills, let alone the audacity to commit such acts?
“I am indeed Xin Lan, without a doubt.”
Xin Lan replied calmly, crossing her arms.
“What do you plan to do?”
With the situation at hand, Wu Yanqing realized that neither shouting nor pleading would be of any use. He quickly regained his composure. His legs were immobile, and even if they could move, he doubted he could overpower Xin Lan. The fact that they dared to come so openly and confidently indicated that they had already gained control over the palace.
“What do we plan to do? You’ll find out soon enough.”
Xin Lan approached him and rendered him unconscious.
“Proceed with the plan.”
Xin Lan said to Qu Zhi’an, who was beside her, as they looked at the unconscious figure on the bed.
The next day, the Emperor was too ill to attend the morning court session.
Doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau came and went, sighing with disappointment as they left the palace.
For several consecutive days, the Emperor remained gravely ill and unable to participate in court affairs. In his absence, a royal decree was issued by the trusted eunuch Mei An, appointing the former Left Chancellor as the temporary regent.
No one in the court doubted this decision, as the Left Chancellor had always been favored by the Emperor.
With the Emperor’s severe illness, the concubines from various palaces were also unable to visit him. Though they felt dissatisfied, there was nothing they could do but accept the situation.
Concubine Xi, rarely showing signs of anxiety, became increasingly worried in the palace. Her foster brother served in the Imperial Medical Bureau, so she sought him out for information, but he could only provide grim updates on the Emperor’s condition.
Concubine Xi had worked hard to see the downfall of Xin Lan, the deposed Empress, and Concubine Man, one after another.
Now, with the Emperor facing troubles, her biggest support was at stake. If the Emperor were to fall, she would surely suffer the consequences.
However, no matter how hard she tried to inquire about the situation, all she could gather was news of the Emperor’s grave illness.
Mei An, the dutiful eunuch, stood guard at the door, preventing anyone from entering.
In reality, there was no seriously ill Emperor in the hall; it was merely a decoy.
However, Mei An knew what needed to be done to ensure his own safety.
While Qu Zhi’an was busy handling memorials, Xin Lan remained in the palace, observing the pitiful state of Wu Yanqing before her.
Wu Yanqing was chained in a room, with meals delivered to him daily. However, no utensils were provided, forcing him to eat with his bare hands.
Initially, Wu Yanqing reacted angrily, smashing the bowls and overturning the food. But after days of enduring hunger, he finally reached his breaking point.
Xin Lan pushed open the door and looked mockingly at the disheveled person.
Wu Yanqing’s eyes were somewhat dull, having been deprived of light for several days. When he saw Xin Lan entering, he squinted his eyes.
“I thought you had some backbone, but it seems you’re nothing special.”
Wu Yanqing recognized the person and rushed towards her, not to attack, but to plead, with a flattering smile on his face.
“Lan’er, I know I was wrong. It was all my fault. I should have never treated you the way I did. Please let me out, and I’ll make you Empress again. We can live like we used to in the palace, enjoying harmonious days together. What do you say?”
“Of course… not.”
Xin Lan dragged out her tone, watching as the expression in Wu Yanqing’s eyes turned from dullness to disgust, and she let out a light laugh.
“Wu Yanqing, oh Wu Yanqing, why do you still think I’m easily deceived like in the past?”
Xin Lan found him quite amusing; his self-perception was too good.
Wu Yanqing shrunk back and remained silent.
Xin Lan looked at him pretending to be a turtle and called the person outside the door.
“Hong Huan?!”
Wu Yanqing saw his personal guard standing at the door and clenched his fists.
“Do you still remember what you planned to do to me that day? It was you who knocked me unconscious, right? Oh, and there was another time, that night. I believe you haven’t forgotten.”
“What do you want?”
Wu Yanqing looked at the expression on Xin Lan’s face and couldn’t help but shrink back.
“Whatever you had in mind, I had the same thoughts. I just might have taken it a step further, more thoroughly than you did.”
Xin Lan shook the bell in her hand, and Hong Huan’s gaze became vacant.
“I buried a silver needle in his waist. I wonder if it will have any impact on that aspect. You can enjoy him for now. If he fails to satisfy you, I can always find someone else.”
Xin Lan calmly finished speaking, turned around, and walked out. Hong Huan, who was under her control, lunged towards his former master. Xin Lan closed the door, cutting off Wu Yanqing’s desperate cries.
She brushed off the dust from her skirt. If she had known it would come to this, why did she do it in the first place?
On the following day, around noon, Xin Lan finally appeared in the room.
The strong scent of musk mixed with the smell of blood, creating a nauseating odor.
Xin Lan covered her nose, shook the bell, and had Hong Huan stand aside.
Wu Yanqing’s gaze had completely become vacant. His body was marked with the remnants of violence, and he appeared lifeless, like someone on the brink of death.
“It’s really pitiful.”
Xin Lan expressed her sympathy half-heartedly.
Wu Yanqing seemed as if he hadn’t even noticed her presence, still staring into empty space.
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“What’s the matter? Can’t handle it like this?”
Xin Lan observed Wu Yanqing, surprised by his poor mental resilience.
Only a few days of hunger and a small retaliation, and yet he ended up like this? And all on his own, not even a group of people. How could he be in such a state?
Xin Lan couldn’t find any interest in dealing with him in his current condition.
“One day, sooner or later…”
Wu Yanqing suddenly stared at Xin Lan, his eyes filled with resentment like an evil spirit. He muttered these words before losing consciousness.
“That day will never come.”
Xin Lan didn’t even want to personally deal with someone like Wu Yanqing, so she had him transported out of the palace and sent to a specialized facility.
In that place, even those with strong wills would be gradually worn down, let alone someone like Wu Yanqing who lacked backbone from the start.
While Xin Lan was taking action, Qu Zhi’an was also hastening her steps.
The Emperor’s condition deteriorated over the course of half a month until he couldn’t hold on any longer.
Mei An presented the Imperial Edict and read out the Emperor’s final wishes.
The Emperor abdicated the throne in favor of the child of one of the three princes from before. He disbanded the harem but made an exception for Concubine Xi, whom he wanted to accompany him.
No matter how incredulous or indignant Concubine Xi was, her actions were futile. She was sent to guard the Imperial Mausoleum, where she would spend the rest of her life in seclusion.
The young boy, the child of the three princes, was around fifteen or sixteen years old and had a composed demeanor. He was specially chosen by Qu Zhi’an and Xin Lan.
With the new Emperor ascending the throne, a general amnesty was declared, and the harem of the former Emperor was disbanded. The former Empress Consort, who was now the deposed Empress, was honored as the Empress Dowager. These actions sparked widespread discussions among the people of the previous dynasty.
The author has something to say:
I haven’t finished explaining yet. Tomorrow morning at nine o’clock, we’ll continue with the detailed updates. Don’t miss it, mwah!
Little Emperor: Mother!
Sister Lan: Yes.
Commander: What about me?
Little Emperor: Left… Left Prime Minister?
Commander: Understood. The thrilling story of the Empress Dowager and the Left Prime Minister that must be told. Exciting!