Chapter 943: Grand Secretary’s Daughter
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Empress did not care and chuckled. “Money is just a worldly possession.
Eldest Princess Shaoyi is the only eldest princess in the Great Zhou Dynasty in three generations. Her status is second only to the Empress. What priceless treasure can’t she take?! Since she’s a meritorious family member, I’ll reward her heavily to show my virtue.”
Auntie Dan Hong quickly said, “The Empress is right.”
“It’s just that it’s a pity in the end.” The Empress sighed softly and continued, “Eldest Princess Shaoyi is as kind as water. Water benefits all things without competing. Water doesn’t compete, but no strong force can defeat it. In addition, she’ll do anything. Not only is she famous for her good reputation of being virtuous, but there are also two merit memorials in the clan. Not only is she the child of the first wife, but she’s also the eldest. There’s no such dignified person. If she’s matched with the Fourth Prince, it’s time for a conclusion to the battle for the throne.’
Auntie Dan Hong did not dare to say anything else.
The Empress picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea. She said in a low voice, “The Empress Dowager doesn’t want me to partic.i.p.ate in the struggle for the position of heir. During this period of time, I’ve already been warned many times, openly and secretly. However, if I don’t fight, who will help me settle the blood debt of hundreds of lives in the Ning Residence? Who will help me avenge the pain of losing my son?”
When she said this, the Empress’s slightly sallow face was still calm, as if no gloom or resentment could be seen. She was just talking.
However, no one knew that the hatred had turned into a flame of revenge that burned fiercely in her heart.
Her entire heart had been refined repeatedly with the hundreds of people in the Ning Residence and the pa.s.sion of her beloved son, forming a sword of revenge.
Auntie Dan Hong lowered her head, wishing she could cover her ears.
Fortunately, the Empress Dowager changed the topic after saying that. “Do you think that you can stop me just because you’ve blocked my path to plotting against Eldest Princess Shaoyi’s marriage?” She laughed silently. Her laughter was crazed and cold. “You’re wrong. You’re simply wrong.”
Her laughter echoed in the room like a ghost. Wisps of coldness crawled up her spine, making her hair stand on end. Auntie Dan Hong subconsciously held her breath, not daring to breathe too loudly.
“Yu Youyao has been conferred the t.i.tle of Eldest Princess, and her status is
only second to the Empress’s. It’s indeed not good for me to continue using the heavy reward to scheme for her marriage, but…” At this point, a crazy scheme flashed across the Empress’s eyes. “Eldest Princess Shaoyi is a daughter of the Yu Clan. She has been raised by the Yu Clan and has received the Yu Clan’s kindness. Even though she has been conferred a t.i.tle, she is bound by filial piety. Eldest Princess Shaoyi and the Yu Clan will still be bound together, for good or ill.”
The room fell silent again.
It wasn’t until Auntie Dan Hong almost thought that the Empress wouldn’t mention this anymore.
The Empress suddenly smiled and said, “The more she values Eldest Princess Shaoyi, the more I can’t bear to let go. Now, she wants to match Eldest Princess Shaoyi with King Yue Fei. She has taken a fancy to the Yu Clan. The Yu Clan is loyal and dedicated. She wanted to use the Yu Clan’s daughters to restrain King Yue Fei’s ambition.”
Most men in the Yin family had the habit of being infatuated. To put it bluntly, heroes were short-tempered. Previously, there had been rumors outside that Yin Huaixi admired Eldest Princess Shaoyi. When she arrived in Liaodong, it was Yin Huaixi who personally brought people to welcome her. It was said that Yin Huaixi had personally ordered someone to repair the “Yu Garden” where Eldest Princess Shaoyi lived.
Previously, she had only listened and did not care.
Now that she thought about it, these rumors were not groundless. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would not have made such an arrangement.
“The Yu Clan has been in dire straits for many years. Although the Yu Clan can’t compare to many old n.o.bles in the court, the people who were vying for the position of heir, being entrusted with orphans, and receiving the will in previous generations have never been families with status, but loyal families with deep foundations like the Yu Clan. According to what I know, the old ministers of the Yu Clan partic.i.p.ated in the last edicts of the previous emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty.”
The Yu Clan had a merit monument bestowed by their great ancestor. This was the best kind of political cover. The Yu Clan was extremely famous among scholars. To this day, the Yu Clan’s school was a place of “pilgrimage” for thousands of scholars.
This was also the reason why she had long planned to target the Yu Clan.
“The Empress Dowager can tell that the Yu Clan has a huge impact on the struggle for the position of heir. Considering that the Yu Clan has conflicts with Concubine Lan and Imperial Concubine Xu, in order to prevent the Yu Clan from getting involved in the battle for the position of heir, she has thought of a way out for the Yu Clan in advance. With King Yue Fei!s support, no matter who takes over the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the future, no one will dare to touch the Yu Clan.’
Now that the Yu Clan had nothing to worry about, who would still get involved in those headless matters? It wasn’t like they were full or bored. Were they so free that they were courting death?!
It could be said that two birds were killed with one stone.
Even she couldn’t help but admire the Empress Dowager’s far-reaching plan.
“But.” The Empress Dowager’s smile deepened. “The Empress Dowager’s scheme is right, but at the same time, it has also strengthened the Yu Clan. How can I let go of such a powerful aid so easily?”
Dan Hongs heart trembled. She knew that whoever the Empress wanted to scheme against, she would eventually achieve her goal.
This time, there were some mistakes in plotting against Eldest Princess Shaoyi.
However, in fact, the Empress’s plan was still successful. It was just that the Empress could not disobey the Empress Dowager on the surface and disrespect her. She was also unwilling to s.n.a.t.c.h Eldest Princess Shaoyi from King Yue Fei, so her plan was stopped.
The Empress suddenly asked, “l remember that the Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Imperial Pavilion, Lord Yu, is the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. He has a legitimate daughter. What’s her name? Do you know her age and if she’s engaged?”
Auntie Dan Hong quickly replied, “This woman’s name is Shuangbai. She’s the second child in the residence. She’s 13 years old this year and will turn 14 in the second half of the year. As Old Madam Yu pa.s.sed away suddenly, Second Miss Yu has to observe mourning for her grandmother for a year and has yet to be engaged.”
The Empress looked thoughtful. “They’re about the same age.”
Auntie Dan Hong felt as if her neck was being strangled by a pair of invisible hands. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. She also understood what the Empress had meant by “for good or ill”.
If she couldn’t scheme against Eldest Princess Shaoyi, it would be the same if she targeted Second Miss Yu.
As long as the Yu Clan was pulled onto the Empress’s ship, the Yu Clan would still be used by the Empress. As a daughter of the Yu Clan, Eldest Princess Shaoyi naturally had to contribute to the clan.
In addition, as the daughter of the Grand Secretary and the first wife, Second Miss Yu had good parents. It was even more straightforward for her to be the Fourth Prince’s princess consort than Eldest Princess Shaoyi.
Indeed!
The Empress smiled. “What a coincidence. I’ve also heard a little about Lord Yu’s first wife, Madam Yao. Madam Yao’s family is n.o.ble and has a n.o.ble personality. On the surface, she looks gentle and magnanimous, but she’s actually arrogant and compet.i.tive.’
Dan Hong did not dare to say anything else.
However, she understood in her heart.
The Empress had said that it was a “coincidence”, but it was actually not a coincidence. She had long understood the influence of the Yu Clan in the struggle for the heir. She had targeted the Yu Clan and thought about everyone in the Yu Clan..