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If Wanjun hadn’t miscarried back then, her belly failing her, his schemes would have already... How could he be subjected to such humiliation today!

Over the years, he’d been feeling increasingly powerless, his influence in the court waning year by year. Though still the Minister of Revenue, his sway, even within the Ministry, was nowhere near what it used to be.

His own people, too, for various reasons – whether quietly promoted to obscurity, transferred elsewhere, or removed from important posts after being caught in a trap to protect greater interests – had been sidelined. By the time he realized it, it was too late.

Yuchi Zhao wasn’t as easy to fool as the Late Emperor had been.

When he had switched allegiance to him, he knew Yuchi wasn’t simple, but at that time, with the Crown Prince backed by the strong support of the Former Empress Dowager and his power growing, he’d have missed his chance if he didn’t switch sides then.

So he married his most intelligent daughter to the Eastern Palace, but man’s plans are no match for heaven’s. His life at the Late Emperor’s court had been smooth sailing until someone intervened, and his daughter lost her position as Crown Princess Consort. Otherwise, she would already be Empress.

Over the years, his daughter had risen to the position of Noble Consort, managing the entire harem – the only difference between her and the Empress was her title. Yet, she was unable to take that final step to ascend to the throne, which vexed him greatly.

When he heard that the Favored Concubine was pregnant, he panicked and had Imperial Censor Wu step forward to impeach, throw a stone to probe the road, testing the Emperor’s intentions. The next step would be a concerted attack to bring the Favored Concubine to her demise.

Even if she didn’t die, the Favored Concubine would be saddled with a bad reputation and stains. Her child, the dragon progeny, wouldn’t be able to ascend to the throne easily, buying him time for his plans.

But Imperial Censor Wu, that fool, was not virtuous himself, leading his first step in the scheme to fail. Having lost the initiative, he didn’t dare make any more reckless moves.

Only after Wu was imprisoned did he slowly come to a realization: his daughter had always been just a Noble Consort, and perhaps this was the scenario the Emperor enjoyed seeing?

Maybe the Emperor never intended to make his daughter the Empress from the start, instead allowing him to labor under the delusion that she was destined for the throne.

A suspicion grew in his heart. As Crown Prince, had the current Emperor helped stir the waters, using the hand of the Former Favored Concubine to foil the rightful place of his daughter?

Yet, upon further thought, he felt it impossible. The person who thwarted his plans saw the Crown Prince as a thorn in his side. How could the Crown Prince conspire with that person in the selection of consorts?

Moreover, the daughter of the minor official selected, far from being a help, repeatedly blundered, nearly jeopardizing the Crown Prince.

And back then, the Crown Prince himself was in need of support, merely fifteen, not even fully grown. How could he have plotted such a deep and far-reaching scheme to this day?

Xue Ping shook his head, chiding himself for overthinking. Indeed, as he aged, his boldness diminished and he became more suspicious and paranoid.

What use was there in thinking about these past matters? He’d rather figure out what that bunch of brutes were up to.

In the usual court sessions, those brutes would either be dozing off or daydreaming, acting as if the people’s livelihoods had nothing to do with them, or they’d engage in hasty and irrelevant disputes, missing the main points.

But today, they were all acting as if possessed, excitedly barking and shouting, giving him a headache that still lingered, leaving him to wonder what they were up to. Those unaware might even think these savages were staging a coup.

Xue Ping inwardly sneered.

He didn’t believe those brutes had the brains for any cunning plots. If that were the case, they wouldn’t have been suppressed all these years.

The most likely reason was that they were instigated by someone to bring up Shen Ming’s case again, and the most likely instigator was Xu Hu, since Shen was his prospective son-in-law.

Xu Hu’s daughter, Rong Ying, used to clamor for justice for Shen. Now that she had ascended to the rank of Consort and could oversee the harem, she could no longer hold back, urging her father to take the lead.

Still too young. She rose to the rank of Consort and leapt out in just two days – too hasty, without fearing the Emperor’s disdain over this matter.

He criticized in his heart and then began to speculate. What exactly was the Emperor’s intention in summoning people back to the Capital to defend their cases? This matter somehow always made him feel uneasy.

If it weren’t for the fact that the people being summoned were not all secretly in contact with him, indeed many had connections with the events of the past, he would have thought that the Emperor had discovered his actions.

Filial piety is the most important of all virtues, and the Son of Heaven is no exception. This case was settled during the Late Emperor’s reign, wouldn’t overturning it be slapping the Late Emperor’s face?

During the Late Emperor’s funeral, the Emperor had a cold demeanor, earning an unkind reputation for being heartless and unfilial. He probably wouldn’t overturn the case for a worthless, deceased Shen Ming, would he?

Moreover, this person was Consort Xu De’s former fiancé. It simply didn’t make sense.

And besides, in order to salvage his reputation, Imperial Censor Wu, that fool, merely mentioned the Late Emperor once and was thrown into prison by the Emperor. Wasn’t this to inform the public that the Emperor was not unfilial to the Late Emperor?

If this was the case, then there was nothing to fear this time. Even if the Emperor believed Consort Xu De’s words, in order to uphold his name as a filial ruler and his dignity as a wise monarch, he would only lift it high to set it down gently.

Thinking this way, Xue Ping felt somewhat reassured.

However, it’s always good to be cautious; a gentle hand steers the ship for ten thousand years. It would be wise to send a letter to remind them to be more careful and to pay more attention to the direction of the wind in the palace.

No matter what, he must protect these military connections. These people and the troops he had nurtured were his last amulet; there could be no mishaps...

Thinking this, Xue Ping suppressed the urgent desire to ask for leave to write a letter, patiently enduring until he left the Yamen.

At lunchtime, the Emperor looked up habitually toward the outside of the hall and remembered that no one would bring his meal today. He felt somewhat helpless and disappointed. It was lonely at the top; being the Emperor wasn’t always as one wished.

He called over Zhang Qing, "Has the decree been sent to Huaying Hall?"

Zhang Qing replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, as soon as I received your decree, I immediately sent someone. Consort De said she is aware and awaits Your Majesty’s arrival."

The Emperor nodded, "Prepare the carriage."

As he spoke, he got up and walked outside.

"Yes," Zhang Qing hurriedly followed with the attendants.

He was finding it increasingly difficult to understand His Majesty. It had been so many days since he dined in another palace, why suddenly decide to dine in Huaying Hall? And what about Master Lian?

As he left Star Palace and reached the crossroads, the Emperor pondered over matters while habitually lifting his feet towards the direction of Canglan Court.

"Your Majesty~" Zhang Qing quickly reminded from behind.

The Emperor snapped back to his senses, shook his head, and laughed at himself for being muddled. These days, he had become so accustomed to going towards his Little Concubine’s place in the west that he wasn’t used to heading to the Eastern Palace.

This time, he would make a grand display, striding towards Huaying Hall. It was best if word of this spread throughout the entire harem and reached the ears of those with ulterior motives.

Thinking of his Little Concubine, the Emperor felt worried, wondering if she would understand the words he had left her.