CHAPTER 461: CHAPTER 461: COUNTERATTACK (PART 2)

Eunuch Ge and Mr. Zhao each received orders from their masters and immediately began investigating Mr. Wei.

Mr. Wei was beaten to death, but there was a little eunuch who served him closely and could be interrogated. Through the interrogation, it was discovered that Mr. Wei had a secret relationship with a palace maid.

It’s not unusual for eunuchs and palace maids in the palace to form such relationships. Someone of Mr. Wei’s power generally has very high standards and wouldn’t easily take interest in an ordinary palace maid. For example, Mr. Wei’s partner was named Zhuxiang, a twenty-three-year-old maid with a tall stature and striking beauty, who served closely beside Empress Dowager Li...

Eunuch Ge didn’t dare investigate further and immediately went back to report to Emperor Taihe, seeking guidance from the Emperor on what to do next.

Emperor Taihe sat on the Dragon Throne with an unpleasant expression, gripping its handles tightly with veins bulging on the back of his hands. After a long pause, he said, "No need to investigate further, I will personally ask my mother."

Mr. Zhao also reported this matter to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sneered several times, "So it turns out it was my good daughter-in-law’s handiwork. She hasn’t held the position of Empress Dowager for long and already finds this old woman in her way."

Although Mr. Zhao was usually silver-tongued, he dared not speak at this moment, keeping his head bowed in silence.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng said coldly, "For now, let this matter rest. How it’s handled next will depend on what the Emperor says."

...

Emperor Taihe sat with a solemn face before Empress Dowager Li.

With such a major disturbance in the harem, it was impossible for Empress Dowager Li to be unaware. She looked deeply aggrieved, crying to her son, "...My child, you must believe your mother. I truly had no knowledge of this matter. I wasn’t aware of Zhuxiang’s secret relationship with Mr. Wei. And as for Mr. Wei suddenly causing a scene at Jingyang Palace, I have no idea what prompted it."

"I’ve privately complained about your grandmother being too controlling as a mother-in-law, but we are all family. The dignity and reputation of the Imperial Family are paramount. No matter how unreasonable I am, I wouldn’t resort to such things."

Emperor Taihe looked at his mother, crying in despair and fear, feeling exhausted: "I believe what Mother says. It’s just that I fear Grandmother might not."

Empress Dowager Li’s tears halted, "I’ll go to Jingyang Palace right now to beg forgiveness from your Grand Empress Dowager, allowing her to vent her anger."

Emperor Taihe almost found it amusing: "Is Mother performing for her son now? Have you not grasped the nature of our current situation?"

"There have been consecutive issues in the court, the Wang Family has already been dragged into this turmoil, and Prime Minister Wang is using his illness as leverage to press me into concessions. Now the only ones I can rely on are Grand Empress Dowager and Duke An and his son. At this critical moment, suddenly Mr. Wei and Zhuxiang surface—regardless of how we handle this issue, the relationship between Grandmother and Mother is irreparably strained, and there will be a rift between the Zheng and Li Families."

"For me, this is like having a leaking roof while enduring a prolonged storm."

"If a scolding could fix everything, I’d go to Jingyang Palace right now and let Grandmother vent her anger there."

This isn’t something that can be resolved simply by venting anger!

No matter who set this trap, the move was sharp and vicious, plunging the harem into a whirlpool of scandal and intrigue and further distancing the Zheng and Li Families.

Hearing Emperor Taihe’s words, Empress Dowager Li became truly scared and anxious: "Then what should we do?"

Emperor Taihe composed himself and replied, "Have someone bring Zhuxiang here immediately; I want to question her personally. Then I will go to Jingyang Palace to offer my apology."

Empress Dowager Li couldn’t help but cry, "I truly haven’t done these things. My child, you must trust me!"

Emperor Taihe wearily rubbed his forehead and patiently comforted his mother, waiting for Zhuxiang to be brought. Unexpectedly, news soon came that Zhuxiang had poisoned herself to death.

Empress Dowager Li was completely shocked, "I had someone watching Zhuxiang! How could she suddenly poison herself to death! Where did she get the poison! What about the people guarding Zhuxiang? What happened?!"

Empress Dowager Li’s panic was genuine.

But now, not even her own son could tell if she was pretending or if she had truly been caught off guard.

Zhuxiang’s death meant there was no witness to testify. This case became utterly unclear.

Emperor Taihe felt his temples throbbing violently, suddenly standing up, "I will go to Jingyang Palace now."

...

At the Prince Mansion, Prime Minister Wang lay on a sickbed, receiving care as he drank his medicine.

Jiao’s advisor whispered a few words into his ear.

Prime Minister Wang coughed, then smirked slightly, "It seems the harem has been quite lively recently."

Jiao’s advisor chuckled softly, "Indeed it is lively. Mr. Wei was executed by order from Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, Zhuxiang poisoned herself, and two little eunuchs serving Mr. Wei—one hanged himself in the middle of the night, and the other died from sheer fright."

"Eunuch Lan, who was castrated again, is suffering from excessive bleeding and a persistent high fever, and doesn’t have many days left."

"With so many dead, it’s impossible to cover this matter up; it’s spread both inside and outside the palace."

Prime Minister Wang responded with a mere "Oh," and said, "What rumors are circulating? Let’s hear them."

Jiao’s advisor perked up and relayed the rumors from inside and outside the palace, "Some say that both Eunuch Lan and Eunuch Xiao Yuan were sent to the palace by the Zheng Family specifically to serve the Grand Empress Dowager. That the Grand Empress Dowager privately maintained male favorites, causing chaos in the harem—the Zheng Family’s actions have made people scornful."

"Others claim that Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Li have always been at odds, and this incident was orchestrated by Empress Dowager Li in secret to disgrace Grand Empress Dowager Zheng."

"Additionally, Minister Li personally went to the Zheng Family to explain and apologize, only to be ridiculed by Duke An and thrown out."

"The palace itself is in chaos. The Emperor went to Jingyang Palace on behalf of Empress Dowager Li to offer apologies, but Grand Empress Dowager Zheng openly scolded Empress Dowager Li in the Emperor’s presence, leaving the Emperor embarrassed and stuck in the middle."

"Even the once well-regarded Zheng Sheren has been keeping a low profile lately."

Prime Minister Wang said leisurely, "I’ve been absent from court for a few days due to illness, and it seems the palace has become quite entertaining."

Jiao’s advisor, as one of Prime Minister Wang’s trusted aides, had been secretly maneuvering and propelling this series of events in the palace.

Seeing Prime Minister Wang in high spirits, Jiao’s advisor chuckled softly, "Without Prime Minister presiding, court affairs are disorderly, and the palace follows suit into chaos. Neither the court nor the palace can do without Prime Minister. Your illness must get better soon."

Prime Minister Wang replied calmly, "No hurry. I, the Prime Minister, have been overworked and hardworking, yet everyone accuses me of monopolizing power. Now I’ll take this time to recuperate properly and let everyone see just how chaotic Da Liang Dynasty is without me."

"By the way, are people still discussing Wang Yi’s corruption case?"

"Hardly anyone mentions it anymore; everyone is busy talking about the fallout between the Zheng and Li Families."

Prime Minister Wang stroked his beard, "The Li Family is not deeply rooted and is far weaker than the Zheng Family. Empress Dowager Li, that foolish woman, is no match for Grand Empress Dowager Zheng."

"In such a conflict, it’s inevitable that Grand Empress Dowager and the Zheng Family will have the upper hand. I must support the Li Family somehow. Have someone send a message to Imperial Censor Jiang, telling him to submit a memorial in a few days."