Chapter 113: Arriving at One's Doorstep
Consort Lian’s face paled. Was she unable to hide the slightest of her thoughts from her opponent’s eyes? As her heart quickly raced, Li Wei Yang said: “Rest assured, since those people were from your Mu Rong Imperial family are already dead, no one knows who you are.”
Consort Lian raised her eyes, her eyebrows slightly knit together: “You don’t blame me?”
Li Wei Yang slowly said: “Of course you are at fault. You just wasted a perfectly good opportunity, and your previous actions put us all in danger. If you were a bit careless, we all will be buried together.”
Consort Lian’s face grew paler by the moment, and her bright red lips became more distinct, bearing a strange demonic resemblance. A flash of hope appeared in her eyes: “That building is still there. The commoner woman that reported that is still being kept. Tomorrow, I’ll find a mercenary—”
Li Wei Yang sighed: “It’s too late.”
Shock appeared on Consort Lian’s face. Li Wei Yang looked at her. A moment later, she smiled slightly and said: “The Jiang family was already prepared for it. I think that without waiting for His Majesty to sent anyone out, that building would have long ceased to exist. Your Highness, if you had brought the commoner woman looking to report it to the main hall today, and kill them before they could act, there may have been a bit of hope. Unfortunately, you made the wrong move with this pawn.”
There was also regret on Consort Lian’s face. Li Wei Yang sincerely believed that she was suffering more than what was apparent on her face. She softly said: “But I understand you and know why you did that. If it was me, and my family met an unfortunate end, I would stop at nothing to avenge them as a member of the Mu Rong Imperial family. You want to restore the dignity and honor of the Imperial family and right the wrongs, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, you were too hasty, as long as you overturned the Jiang family today, the Mu Rong Imperial family matter will certainly be investigated. Then, of course, your grudge will be settled.”
Consort Lian’s beautiful face was stained with tears. She couldn’t even say a word. She was a clever person. If she wasn’t blinded by revenge, she would understand the reasoning in doing that.
Li Wei Yang continued to speak: “Consort Lian, do you know where you went wrong? It wasn’t because you were too anxious for revenge, nor because you went against our agreement, but you took the wrong approach to revenge. Perhaps, even if you are by the Emperor’s side, you do not understand how to please and control this man.”
Consort Lian’s skipped a beat. She looked in Li Wei Yang’s direction and saw that although she always had an idle and calm smile on her face, her eyes were gleaming with sincerity, but only for a moment and then immediately replaced by other emotions: “Your Highness, do you understand what I mean?”
Maybe it was the sound of the wind and rain pouring in from outside, but Li Wei Yang’s words were vaguely hard to hear.
Consort Lian smiled slightly, took a deep breath, and began to speak again: “I want to hear the details.”
Li Wei Yang looked at her with a smile on her face, but the smile had left her eyes. She was a someone who was difficult to read and projected a shadow of herself, a flickering shadow that did not seem to finally overlap with reality at any point.
“Mu Rong Xin—” Li Wei Yang uttered, referring to her with a name never used before. Every syllable seemed to be dragged across burning coals, tempered by fire. Once spoken, it had a significant impact, “You were born into the Imperial family, but Da Li’s Son of Heaven is completely different from the lavish and empathetic Son of Heaven of your Mu Rong Imperial family. You share the same bed as him, breaths mingling with one another, but you still don’t understand him.”
The wind outside suddenly got stronger, rain splattering into the hall, sending the silk curtains flying and dancing.
Li Wei Yang’s voice, each and every word that reached her ears were vivid and decisive—
“Our Son of Heaven is clever and suspicious. His cleverness allowed him to utilize his talents and ascend to the throne from a mere prince. His paranoia makes him toy with court ministers in the palm of his hand. However, a clever person has a bad habit. If they are too clever, they will have a tendency to restrain themselves. He is indeed a wise ruler, able to face anything and adopt any means he finds useful. This is also the reason he made use of my solution, even though I am only a young girl of the inner household. However, at the same time, His Majesty is also someone who is vindictive and vengeful, deciding everything in an unconventional manner and shocking court officials.”
“You know, my father is a respected official with a high position, but there are many people who envy him and want to claim his position as Prime Minister. So over the years, reports of his misdoings are as plentiful as snow, but in front of His Majesty, my father always kept the appearance of someone afraid, pitiful and wrongly accused. Every time, he will solemnly kneel before His Majesty to show how he had been singled out and left helpless. He will plead guilty, failing to perform his duties and even offending many court officials. He would ask to be dismissed and to return to the countryside. The more he does this, the more His Majesty will refuse. On the other hand, His Majesty will feel that he is a well-intentioned, loyal subject, which is why others isolated and targeted him, so he always protected and believed my father. This is one of the reasons why my father has stood unwavering for many years, because his understanding of His Majesty had soon surpassed his opponents.” Li Wei Yang emphasized every word and revealed a shocking truth.
“Today, His Majesty clearly intended to let Jiang Nan go, but my father said a few words and moved His Majesty to murderous intent. Do you know why this is? Because my father raised Jiang Nan and the Jiang family high with praise, making the Emperor feel that the Jiang family was now beyond his control. He can tolerate corruption and bribery, smuggling, acting on self-interests, and even allow them to falsely report military affairs and kill innocent people, but he will not allow a subject to escape his control!”
Consort Lian stared intently at Li Wei Yang as if listening very closely.
Li Wei Yang continued: “However, Jiang Xu is also considered to be someone who understands the Emperor’s bad habit. When the Emperor wanted to execute Jiang Nan, he acted out a play in front of the Emperor, letting him feel that a single decision from him could destabilize the Jiang family. The Emperor would feel that the Jiang family is only a dog of the Imperial family, not worth worrying about, so Jiang Nan lost his official position but kept his life. When speaking of understanding the Emperor, you cannot compare to my father. When speaking of grasping the situation, you cannot compare to Jiang Xu. Those two have great influence on the Emperor, but in the Emperor’s eyes, they are only his subjects, and these subjects in reality control the Emperor’s decisions.”
Li Wei Yang’s words stunned Consort Lian, leaving her wide-eyed, but her face remained very calm. However, Consort Lian, who was only half a step away from her, felt as if Li Wei Yang was very distant, as if she was in a faraway place, watching the struggle without involving herself—this was rather frightening.
Consort Lian felt afraid and anxious. She suddenly realized how grave of a mistake she made today. Li Wei Yang was right. When faced off with the large and powerful Jiang family, she needed to understand her opponent and understand everything within her control that could be utilized. In the end, she did not have enough control over the situation, nor did she have any grasp of the Emperor’s temperament, so she was failed miserably.
Li Wei Yang smiled: “On the surface, every decision is made by the sacred decree, but as long as you understand him well enough, you can manipulate him, letting him think that every decision he makes is his own. In truth, it will be because you indirectly influence him to make such a decision. Of course, this is very dangerous. If you let the Emperor realize your intentions, you will be shackled and left to die without being buried. So, this is a game, and only when you understand the rules do you have a chance of winning. The most dangerous thing now is that your opponent has studied and learned the Emperor’s personality, knows what he pays attention to, where his weaknesses are, and so what do you have to win?”
Consort Lian’s face revealed her shock, as if she had expected this. Li Wei Yang smiled and said: “If that woman was successful, I will tell you what would have happened. The Emperor would have immediately sent someone to verify this matter. Then, he will discover that the Jiang family built a mansion that is inferior to the Imperial Palace, yet holds more treasures than the Imperial Palace itself. Bright pearls even bigger than the Eastern Sea pearls on Imperial crowns, buildings taller than the Imperial Palace. The Emperor will be furious, and the court officials will plead for action. His Majesty will give the decree to appease the court and take the Jiang family aside for a scolding until they do not dare to go outside. In the middle of the road, the Jiang family could hold celebrations of victory, thinning His Majesty’s patience. After that, Duke Jiang will be forced to return and explain, but in any case, the Jiang family would bear the crime of treason, their entire family annihilated!” Li Wei Yang’s voice grew more and more urgent, revealing that her own impatience was no less than Consort Lian’s.
“At that point, their past wrongdoings will be brought to light. In that way, the bloody case of your Mu Rong Imperial family will have another path and become evidence that they deceived the Emperor, an act of treason and deceit! Of course, there is a second possibility. That is, the Emperor imprisons the Jiang family, but Duke Jiang resists it. This is even better. Dispatching nameless armies, unrighteous schemes, condemned by eight parties, the Jiang family committed treason and must die without a doubt. So, at an intersection, all roads lead to death! Wouldn’t you say this is very good? No need to dirty your hands, yet you can have bloody vengeance. But today, you saw for yourself, there was a drawn-out chaotic struggle to force out a crime of false reporting, but it only made them spill a bit of blood. It simply did not shake them, what a pity.”
Every sentence, every word, Li Wei Yang spoke them with nonchalance. Consort Lian did not expect her to have planned everything out so meticulously, so arrogant and determined… But she vaguely felt that following Li Wei Yang’s script, everything will happen as she said because Li Wei Yang truly understood the Emperor...
“I… I used the wrong crime.” Consort Lian suddenly wanted to laugh, but for some reason, the smile that appeared on her lips turned bitter, “I was too foolish…” Head bowed, she sighed deeply, “What is called bullying commoners, how could it compare to treason? Missed an opportunity, it’s too late to regret it…”
Li Wei Yang’s voice was jarring and ruthless, that cold yet lovely face had captivating strength and dignified air.
Consort Lian looked to her, stunned, then conviction appeared in her eyes...
Right, she designed a trap for them before, of course, she could do it a second time.
As long as she cooperated with her, someday she would have her revenge!
Elation flashed across Consort Lian’s eyes: “What should I do now?”
Li Wei Yang smiled and said: “Wait.”
Consort Lian hesitated a bit: “Until when?”
Li Wei Yang smiled lightly, “Until you can control the Emperor and influence his decisions. Until he cannot leave you, and your influence surpasses all others, including my father and the Jiang family as well.”
Consort Lian fearfully looked at her: “I… Do I have that power?”
Li Wei Yang had to laugh: “Of course you do! Because you are not only beautiful but clever, and most importantly, you risked your life to save the Emperor! Of course, it was because you arranged it, but he doesn’t know that. On the other hand, you will become the most beloved woman in his life because you have done things even the Empress could not do! As long as you convey it well, you can have the Emperor’s power in your hand, let him be happy for you, angry for you, and kill for you!”
The Emperor’s prestige…
The Emperor had sovereign authority, so he could do as he wished and conveniently change others’ destinies. With his identity and status, he could have everything. As long as she could control him, sooner or later, there will be a day she could avenge her Imperial family!
Li Wei Yang’s eyes clearly conveyed those words, but Consort Lian also understood, so the mournful hesitation and reluctance in her eyes gradually receded and became determination.
As if hypnotized, Li Wei Yang firmly took Consort Lian’s hand and led her to the balcony. Their shoulders were damp with rain as water seeped in beneath their feet. Every step felt rather heavy, but Li Wei Yang still walked on, slowly, step by step, calmly and stubbornly pulling her along. They walked to the edge of the balcony, where she pointed to a distant place: “What do you see there?”
Consort Lian followed her line of sight. Father and son of the Jiang family, the pair was still kneeling outside the hall, completely soaked. No matter how frightening the wind and rain were, they kept clenching their teeth and persisted, with no intention of leaving.
“Your Highness, do you understand now?” Li Wei Yang asked with a smile.
Consort Lian gritted her teeth: “A plan gone to waste.”
Li Wei Yang’s smile had a hint of mercilessness: “So, what should you do?”
Consort Lian smiled lightly, her smile beautiful and captivating: “I understand now. Thank Xianzhu for your advice.”
Li Wei Yang took two steps back, gently performed the ceremonial greeting and said: “Your subject withdraws.”
As she watched Li Wei Yang and Min De leave, Consort Lian subconsciously touched the mouth of the wound on her neck and wrists left behind by her act and smiled.
The Empress told the Emperor that the father and son of the Jiang family continued to kneel in the heavy rain. The Emperor did not believe it and went out to see for himself. He did indeed find two people in the thick curtain of rain. Jiang Xu was able to meet the Emperor, immediately kowtowing and admitting to the crime. Jiang Nan clenched his teeth and followed, kowtowing as well.
“Understand your crime?” The Emperor solemnly asked.
Jiang Xu’s voice trembled, his face streaming with tears: “Your Majesty, thousands of mistakes all belong to this subject. It is because your subject failed to strictly discipline his son. As long as it lessens Your Majesty’s anger, this subject now asks Your Majesty to punish this father and son more heavily!” His face changed to shame, and he let a few tears fall, quite pained. His voice was choked as he said: “Your subject’s son falsely reported battle results and was impetuous. Even if Your Majesty executes him, your subject would not dare to be resentful in the least…”
Compared to Marquis Yongning, who had just lost his daughter and still kept a composed face, Jiang Xu’s expressions made the Emperor feel at ease. He thought to himself and wondered if he had been too harsh with punishment. In any case, Jiang Xu did not do anything wrong. The Emperor solemnly looked at them, his face calm as water. He waved his hand a bit tiredly: “Forget it, get up!”
“Your subject, thanks your lordship’s grace.” A glimmer of hope surfaced in Jiang Xu’s heart as he waited for the Emperor to continue. According to his understanding, the Emperor would comfort him with a few words, then a year later, there was still hope for military power.
Just as the Emperor was about to say something, an eunuch suddenly ran over and whispered a few things. The Emperor’s face drastically changed: “What? Consort Lian was overly frightened and has a worsening fever?” The Emperor’s face suddenly fell.
“Your Majesty—” Jiang Xu began to panic and could not help but take a step forward.
The Emperor did not even look at him once, turning and hurrying away. The eunuch holding the umbrella quickly ran after him. No one paid attention to the father and son anymore.
Jiang Nan frowned: “Father, let’s go back!”
Jiang Xu turned back, and his left hand dealt a fierce slap to his face: “Go! Go! Go! Truly are a wretched animal!” He looked up at the sky and sighed. There was no distinguishing between the tears and rain on his face. He only knew that today, their Jiang family had lost their possessions and was left crippled!