Chapter 1054: Secrets of the Palace
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
It was clearly what Empress Ning had said to Princess Liyang.
At this moment, when Princess Liyang spoke, it seemed as if Empress Ning was talking to Yu Youyao, who was sitting beside Princess Liyang at this moment, through Princess Liyang.
Yu Youyao looked up and met Princess Liyang’s probing and scrutinizing gaze. She smiled faintly. “You’re quite naive.”
She couldn’t tell if it was a consensus or a sarcastic remark, but it made Princess Liyang feel stifled. She subconsciously looked away. “My Mother said that it’s only right and proper for a man to have four wives and four concubines. You only saw the longevity of the descendants of the Yin family, but you didn’t see that behind it were Emperor Gaozu and the Empress. They were of the same mind, but they still accepted Madam Hua, the daughter of a commander, as a concubine.”
“Not only that, but Emperor Gaozu respected Madam Hua as if she was his first wife. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he conferred the t.i.tle of first wife to the Empress, and conferred the t.i.tle of Imperial Consort Mu to Madam Hua. The Imperial Consort has never appeared in all the dynasties. Emperor Gaozu set a precedent.”
All the blood in Yu Youyao’s body immediately froze. She heard Princess Liyang’s deliberately cheerful voice.
“You only saw that Emperor Mingzong doted on the former head palace maid alone and did not enter the harem for many years. However, Emperor Mingzong had two sons and five daughters, and none of them were born by the head palace maid. However, for this unique favor, the palace maid drank childless medicine, causing damage to her body and causing her to contract an incurable illness. She died of illness before she was 30 years old.”
“Emperor Xianzong was even more loyal to the Empress. However, the Empress was accused of being unscrupulous and jealous. She hadn’t been pregnant for many years and almost ended the emperor’s heir. There are three types of unfilial behavior, and the most severe type is to have no descendants. The Great Zhou Dynasty is governed with filial piety. The emperor had no children, was immoral, and disobeyed filial piety. In helplessness and despair, the Empress drugged Emperor Xianzong and asked the palace maid following her to put on her clothes and accessories, put on her makeup, sprinkle her usual incense powder, and personally send her to her bed. As a result, the husband and wife became estranged until the Empress pa.s.sed away from illness and Emperor Xianzong followed her.”
Yu Youyao’s heart was in turmoil. Outsiders did not know about these palace secrets. She only knew that Emperor Cheng succeeded Emperor Xianzong and the Empress, but she did not know that there was such a secret.
Her entire body went cold, and even her voice was a little impatient. “I’m very busy. I don’t have time to listen to you talk about these palace secrets.”
“That’s true.” Princess Liyang smiled and did not embarra.s.s herself anymore. “The Eldest Princess is so smart. She’s definitely a sensible person. It’s not my place to say anything. I’m the one who spoke too much.”
Through her knowing face, Yu Youyao saw the ambition in her eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.
Princess Liyang changed the topic. “King Yue Fei has been out on an expedition for a year. I’m sure the Eldest Princess is very concerned. Now that Thief Liang has broken through the capital, King Yue Fei should have returned successfully. I specially came over today to let the Eldest Princess know that King Yue Fei has other important matters that will delay him for a while. However, as this is a serious matter, it’s not convenient for me to tell you. Eldest Princess, don’t worry. I think you’ll understand everything soon.”
Yu Youyao found it funny. As Yin Huaixi’s fiancée, she still had to let others tell her about Yin Huaixi. Did others actually know more about Yin Huaixi than her?
Was there something even she couldn’t know?
Princess Liyang’s gentle and magnanimous att.i.tude made Yu Youyao very sick of it. She also knew very well that although Princess Liyang seemed to have said a lot, she had actually not said anything. She seemed to have taken the initiative, but she was actually bluffing. She knew even better that this was just Princess Liyang’s way of sowing discord.
However, it was this seemingly instigation that was really brilliant.
This was because there were some things that she had to face sooner or later.
Princess Liyang only placed what she had always buried deep in her heart and did not dare to face in front of her.
Yu Youyao chuckled. “Thief Liang broke into the capital and killed many people outside the palace, but there’s still no news from Empress Ning. I’m sure that even before Thief Liang broke into the capital, Empress Ning was already hiding somewhere in the palace. After all, there are many places to hide in the inner courtyard of the palace.”
Previously, she had heard Yin Huaixi mention that there were many secret pa.s.sageways in the palace. As the Empress, it was impossible for Empress Ning not to know at all.
After Thief Liang broke into the capital, Princess Liyang did not panic. She was still in the mood to chat with her about some interesting topics. It was obvious that she knew Empress Ning’s situation quite well.
“In that case, it’s not difficult to guess. It’s nothing more than King Yue Fei using Empress Ning’s control of the inner palace. Before Thief Liang broke through the capital, King Yue Fei planned in advance in the palace. Once Thief Liang invades the capital, he’ll be like a turtle in a jar. Then, he’ll cooperate from the inside and out. Thief Liang is nothing to be afraid of.”
This should be what Princess Liyang meant by “other important matters”.
Princess Liyang was shocked and speechless for a long time.
Yu Youyao continued, “Empress Ning sent you to Xiangping to be protected by Yin Huaixi because of Yin Huaixi’s sincerity to her. You’re also a hostage and a p.a.w.n of Yin Huaixi. From the looks of it, the cooperation between Empress Ning and Yin Huaixi is nothing more than to protect you. As for anything else, it’s just your own scheme.”
She found it funny and really laughed.
However, her smile was a little pale.
It turned out that the so-called sisterly relationship that Princess Liyang had with Yu Youyao was actually such a “sisterly relationship.” No wonder she was willing to lower her status and express her goodwill repeatedly. Even though she was treated coldly, she did not seem to care and could still mind her own business.
What was this?
After being exposed, Princess Liyang’s expression did not look too good. “King Yue Fei probably did not tell the Eldest Princess that the previous emperor had left behind an edict. This edict concerns King Li of Zhou. It used to be in the hands of Duke Ning, but now it’s in my mother’s hands.”
Yu Youyao’s heart was in turmoil.
Yin Huaixi had a lot to do with Empress Ning in the palace. He did not deliberately hide it from her, but he did not deliberately mention it. She did not deliberately probe further. She would eventually know what she needed to know.
However, she knew that their cooperation was definitely not as simple as ordinary cooperation.
Princess Liyang smiled again. “The previous emperor was sick and couldn’t take it anymore. He had once wanted to make the fifth son of the emperor the crown prince. However, as the fifth son of the emperor didn’t have any external protection and was weak in the court, and because Concubine Hui was of low birth and had always been sick, he had very few supporters in the court. The previous emperor valued literature over martial arts and had offended many generals in his recuperation. As a result, Concubine Hui died early, and the fifth son of the emperor was secretly harmed several times.”
Yu Youyao understood. The former fifth son of the emperor was the current King Li of Zhou.
The edict in Duke Ning’s hand was very likely to be the edict of the heir.
The ancestors of the Ning Residence had contributed greatly. Just like the Zhenguo Marquis Residence, they were old n.o.bles whose power had been pa.s.sed down from their great ancestors. The position of the old n.o.bles had been pa.s.sed down for generations and had a huge power in the court. The benefits behind them were even more complicated and deeply rooted. They were often involved.