An Sheng asked with keen interest, "Why would you think that?"
"Consort Xue wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Prince Qin even if she had a hundred lives to spare! As for Murong Jin, he’s certainly not the kind of fool to bungle things so badly!" Yan Zheng narrowed his sharp, piercing eyes. "Didn’t I warn you before? Don’t touch the Chu family!"
An Sheng raised an eyebrow. "Is it ‘don’t touch the Chu family,’ or ‘don’t touch your sister-in-law’?"
Yan Zheng scoffed. An Sheng burst into laughter. "Zheng’er, don’t worry. Your mother knows her limits. A dose of ‘Awakening Blossom’ to gift your sister-in-law a fine marriage—wouldn’t that be ideal? With Prince Qin as your brother-in-law, wouldn’t you be even more formidable?"
Prince Qin, Murong Jin, had temporarily taken command of the three armies after his father’s departure.
Though lacking in battlefield experience, he was exceptionally shrewd. Upon assuming control, he swiftly promoted a group of young generals.
Within just a few months, he had firmly established his authority in the military—a rare feat indeed!
Yan Zheng’s pupils constricted. "So, he’s your target?"
An Sheng set down her scissors, wiping her hands with a white handkerchief. "Indeed. This ninth brother of mine is far more useful than his elder siblings. He’s a natural at leading troops, and there’s a ruthless edge to him. Anyone else, and I wouldn’t bother wasting so much effort."
"So, he should be grateful for your high regard?" Yan Zheng mocked.
An Sheng wasn’t angered. Instead, she smiled warmly at him. "Don’t be upset, my son. Ninth Brother is capable, but he’s nowhere near as brilliant as you. So many others failed to suspect me, yet you figured it out at once. Isn’t that proof of our mother-son bond?"
Yan Zheng felt a wave of nausea but kept his expression neutral. "So, you intend to unite them. But now the Second Daughter of the Chu Family refuses to marry. Doesn’t that mean your plan has failed?"
A flash of malice crossed An Sheng’s brow, though her voice grew even gentler. "When have I ever failed in what I set out to do?"
With that, she extended her sleeves. "Yu Hui, fetch my robes. I’m going to see Her Majesty."
Cining Palace.
Consort Xue knelt at the center of the hall as Empress Dowager Su hurled a teacup at her feet. "Look at the mess you’ve made!"
The cup shattered into pieces, startling Consort Xue into trembling. "Your Majesty, it wasn’t this concubine—"
"Then who was it? Do you take me for a fool?" the Dowager Empress snapped. "You rushed here in a panic, claiming the Second Daughter of the Chu Family had defiled the inner court and even dragged Prince Qin into it! That’s why I followed you to Yuxiu Palace! What, afraid the truth would come out, so you used even me as a pawn? And now you won’t admit it?"
Consort Xue shuddered, kowtowing repeatedly. "This concubine admits her fault! This concubine was blinded by hatred over what happened to my elder brother! Please, Your Majesty, spare me this once!"
At the mention of her family, Empress Dowager Su recalled the Marquis of Pingjing and let out a cold laugh. "Avenging your family is only natural. Is that why you think I’m reprimanding you?"
Consort Xue, still prostrate, exhaled in relief. "Then, Your Majesty, you’re angry because…?"
"Because you’re an idiot! If you’re going to frame someone, at least cover your tracks! Couldn’t you have killed Pei Qing first? Or at least avoided using imperial gold for bribes?" The Dowager Empress strode forward, jabbing a finger at Consort Xue’s forehead. "Even if you’d succeeded in pinning this on Pei Zhuo, do you really think he wouldn’t have uncovered the truth?"
Consort Xue froze, then brightened as she recognized the guidance in the Dowager’s words. "Please, Your Majesty, teach this unworthy one!"
"Hmph." Empress Dowager Su finally relented, returning to her seat. "At least you’ve got some sense left. I’ll be frank—dragging Prince Qin into this infuriated me. But the Chu family’s eldest daughter murdered my nephew, and if you fall, the Empress will dominate the inner court. The Pei clan is already too powerful. I won’t let history repeat itself like in Emperor Yunning’s reign, where imperial in-laws seized control. That’s the only reason I’m shielding you now."
"But you must be smarter! Never make such sloppy mistakes again! I can save you this time, but not the next!"
Consort Xue hastily agreed, then ventured cautiously, "But this mishap has tied the Second Daughter of the Chu Family to Prince Qin. What should we do…?"
The Dowager Empress’s temper flared again. "That ungrateful wretch! A mere official’s daughter, yet she dares to scorn the position of a consort! Though, truthfully, I don’t want her in our household either. It’s just that Jin’er is too soft-hearted, insisting on compensating her—what a headache…"
Just as Consort Xue was about to chime in, a eunuch hurried in. "Your Majesty, the Grand Princess has arrived!"
An Sheng swept in moments later, clad in resplendent court robes.
The Dowager Empress brightened. "Qin’er, perfect timing! Help me think of a way to dissuade your ninth brother from taking a consort!"
An Sheng smiled faintly, first glancing at Consort Xue. "Ah, Consort Xue is here too."
For some reason, Consort Xue instinctively shrank back at the sight of the Grand Princess. "Y-Yes… Your Majesty, this concubine must return to her palace for reflection. I beg leave to withdraw."
Empress Dowager Su waved dismissively. Once Consort Xue had left, she patted the cushion beside her, inviting An Sheng to sit.
An Sheng obliged. "Mother, I’ve heard about Ninth Brother’s situation. You don’t wish for the Second Daughter of the Chu Family to enter our household?"
The Dowager Empress frowned. "Enter? You know full well about his arrangement with Miss Feng! Once General Feng returns from the border, their wedding will proceed! Taking a consort now would only complicate things!"
An Sheng nodded agreeably. "But Mother, have you considered that this match might actually benefit Ninth Brother?"
Empress Dowager Su blinked as her daughter elaborated, "Since the Grand General’s passing, Ninth Brother has only been acting commander of the three armies. That ‘acting’ title has lingered till now. To remove it, he must first get past Grand Tutor Rong and the civil officials. Now, Chu Huaishan oversees the Ministry of Personnel—the foremost of the Six Ministries—and is revered by the literati. If he were to speak up, Ninth Brother’s ‘acting’ status could be legitimized."
The Dowager Empress, though versed in court affairs, lacked An Sheng’s razor-sharp insight.
After a thoughtful pause, she mused, "So you’re saying that if the Second Daughter of the Chu Family marries Jin’er, Chu Huaishan might advocate for him as a father-in-law?"
An Sheng smiled without confirming.
The Dowager Empress grew intrigued. "But that Chu girl is stubborn. What if she refuses?"
An Sheng waved a hand dismissively. "You’re the Empress Dowager. Why concern yourself with the whims of a mere girl?"
Realization dawned. "True. A decree from me, and how dare she disobey?"
She tapped An Sheng’s nose playfully. "You… just as your father said—had you been born a man, the throne might not have gone to your brother!"
An Sheng lowered her lashes, masking a flicker of scorn as she sighed. "What’s the use of saying such things now, Mother? I’m just a woman after all. With my husband gone, the Grand General gone… all I have left is Zheng’er…"
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Su's heart raced, and she couldn't help but ask nervously, "Qin'er, you... you still haven't let go of Yan Xu?"
