Chapter 955: At Death’s Door
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After returning to the Jiushao Courtyard, Yu Youyao dismissed the servants. From the secret compartment at the head of the bed, she took out the ebony box inlaid with treasures that the Empress Dowager had sent over and solemnly handed it to Yin Huaixi.
There were nine dragons and nine phoenixes carved on the box. On the top lid of the box was a huge dragon head. The dragon head bared its teeth and glared at him. Its whiskers danced wildly, and its two scaled toes tore forward.
At a glance, it was as if a huge dragon was tearing over with monstrous might. Coupled with the golden patterns on the ebony, a suffocating divine might surged over, almost making people not dare to look at it directly.
Yu Youyao urged, “Open it.”
Yin Huaixi tore open the lock on the box and lifted it. He saw the “privilege proof” in the box. The heavy page exuded a heavy aura.
“Is this why you urged me to come back?!” Yin Huaixi picked up the privilege proof and looked at the contents. He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Yu Youyao nodded. “You’re implementing the national policy in the North. This is an extraordinary contribution to stabilizing the country and a.s.sisting the country. Even if the Empress Dowager wants to give you the privilege proof, it’s only logical. Why should she keep it a secret and make the additional move of sending the privilege proof to you through me?”
Yin Huaixi placed the privilege proof back into the box and locked it. “Of course it’s to avoid attention.’
What the Empress Dowager wanted to avoid was Empress Nings eyes and ears. Yu Youyao was still puzzled. “Could it be that Empress Ning still has the ability to stop the Empress Dowager from giving you the privilege proof?”
That was unlikely.
Yin Huaixi said meaningfully, “Previously, Eunuch Zhu sent news that the Empress Dowager’s condition had worsened and no one was allowed to enter or leave the Longevity Palace. Even the palace guards were secretly mobilized.
I think that she’s at death’s door.’
She had mobilized the imperial guards and palace guards to prevent anyone from stealing power and messing up politics when she was sick.
Yu Youyao gasped. “So— So, is the Empress Dowager…” As she was too shocked, her voice subconsciously trembled, and she couldn’t even speak properly. She couldn’t help but clench her fists tightly. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. “Is the Empress Dowager making arrangements for her funeral?! ”
She couldn’t tell what she was feeling.
She and the Empress Dowager were only involved in endless schemes and benefits, but it had been a long time. She had indeed received the Empress Dowager’s protection to reach this point step by step.
Yin Huaixi nodded and continued, “Instead of saying that she’s making arrangements for her funeral, it’s better to say that the Empress Dowager is arranging a backup plan.”
Yu Youyao came to a realization. Yin Huaixi was the backup plan. He needed to deliberately avoid Empress Nings eyes and ears. It was obvious who this backup plan was targeting.
Yin Huaixi continued, “The privilege proof is very rare in the Great Zhou Dynasty. It has the privilege to refute the holy will and kill traitors. It has very great power. Generations of emperors almost never give it easily, in case the ministers use the privilege proof to coerce the emperor and order the va.s.sals to steal power and mess up politics.” At this point, he paused for a moment and smiled playfully. “The Empress Dowager is worried that Empress Ning will fight for the throne and mess up the court. She’s also worried that the Great Zhou Dynasty will be entrusted to an inhumane person. Thus, she gave me the privilege proof.”
Yu Youyao’s heart trembled. She thought of the contents of the iron contract. “On the basis of privilege, the privilege proof emphasizes the ‘orthodox’ lineage. It even provides the privilege of calming the chaos and enforcing justice on behalf of the heavens.”
Since ancient times, the only person who could enforce justice on behalf of the heavens was the emperor. As the saying went, the authority of the sovereigns was determined by the heavens.
If there was a conflict in the harem, and the three princes were not worthy of their positions, then Yin Huaixi would be the only legitimate one. At that time, it would be even more logical for the privilege proof to appear…
“Put it away.” Yin Huaixi pushed the box in front of Yu Youyao. “The privilege proof isn’t very useful to me, so you don’t have to care too much.” Yu Youyao only took a glance. “Since it’s given to you by the Empress Dowager,you…”
“You’re wrong.” Yin Huaixi shook his head. “On the surface, the privilege proof was given to me by the Empress Dowager, but in fact, it was given to you in my name.”
Yu Youyao looked confused. “Why is that?”
Yin Huaixi held her hand. “You’re a descendant of loyalty and ferocity. You’re famous for being kind and benevolent. You’ve been raised by Grandmother since you were young and have inherited her chast.i.ty. You’re a rare virtuous woman in the world. You have the kindness to help the world, and you also have the intention to do nothing to manage it. You’re a person with virtue. The Empress Dowager knows very well that only when the privilege proof is in your hands will you treat it carefully and play its true role. You won’t be driven by selfish motives and use it to scheme for benefits.”
In other words, the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty depended on Yu Youyao, and Yu Youyao was not alone. She had the loyal Yu Clan behind her. Even if there were thousands of schemes, she could always ask for justice for the people. There was also King Yue Fei, who had been given a marriage. Although his contributions were great, he was still her strongest support.
This was what made the Empress Dowager so brilliant.
Yu Youyao was enlightened. The battle for the upper position was simply breathtaking, especially the use of power and the calculation of the human heart.
There were too many trade-offs.
The Empress Dowager had clearly taken a fancy to the Fourth Prince, which was why she had allowed Empress Ning to get involved in the royalist party. She hoped that she could use Empress Ning to let the Fourth Prince fight for the opportunity to stabilize the royal court.
With a heir to the throne in the Great Zhou Dynasty, there was no need to hide the emperor’s illness. It was only logical for the crown prince to supervise the country and rule the world.
As the Empress, Empress Ning was superior to Concubine Lan and Imperial Concubine Xu in terms of status. With her methods and the support of the royalists, Concubine Lan and Imperial Concubine Xu were not her match.
However, due to the old matter between the Ning Residence and the emperor’s eldest son, the Empress Dowager did not trust Empress Ning.
She did not even hesitate to give Yin Huaixi a privilege proof to guard against Empress Ning.
Yin Huaixi changed the topic. “The Dragon Boat Festival is in two days. At that time, I’ll accompany you to watch the dragon boat race.”
Yu Youyao suddenly thought of the first Dragon Boat Festival that “Zhou Linghuai” had celebrated in the Yu Residence. She couldn’t help but laugh. “I remember that you promised me back then that you would personally bring me to watch the dragon boat race after your leg recovered.”
At the mention of what had happened back then, she couldn’t help but smile.
All the secular etiquette in her heart — either because she was getting older, or because she was wary of men and women, or because of that betrothal — suddenly reduced the distance she felt towards Yin Huaixi.
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, there was a strong festive atmosphere in Xiangping City.
The Xie Residence had joined forces with the Bai Residence and a few rich families in Xiangping City to hold the Dragon Boat Festival’s “spring talent compet.i.tion” and “Hundred Herbs” activities. Under the rule of Xiangping City, all unmarried women who had reached the age of 11 and men who had reached the age of 15 could sign up to partic.i.p.ate, All partic.i.p.ants would be given the Dragon Boat Festival sachets for free. The winners would also be rewarded with food, medicinal herbs, and money..