Chapter 243
**Chapter 241: The Tactics of the Dantai Family**
Li Yuanjing's thin lips curled into a smile. "If there's anything you don't understand, both the Empress Dowager and I can offer you some advice. What is there to fear?"
Shen Wei affectionately wrapped her arms around Li Yuanjing's neck, her eyes sparkling with unabashed love. "With Your Majesty here, I fear neither the mountains of knives nor the seas of fire."
The coolness of late spring enveloped them, and a faint fragrance wafted from Shen Wei.
Li Yuanjing felt a tightening in his throat, his pupils slowly darkening. Shen Wei had a way of igniting his passions, drawing him into a whirlpool of desire.
With a large hand encircling Shen Wei's slender waist, Li Yuanjing leaned in, conquering her heart and soul.
The room was filled with warmth, while the begonia flowers in the courtyard bloomed vibrantly in the deep of night.
...
The next day, during the morning court session, a group of over ten newly appointed officials from humble backgrounds united to launch a fierce attack on the Dantai family, exposing their various crimes: oppressing the common people, committing murder and arson, and illegally trading salt and iron.
After the court session, the Emperor summoned the head of the Dantai family and the old matriarch.
Gong De Shun stood at the entrance of Chang'an Palace, straining to listen as the Emperor's furious shouts and the Dantai family's desperate defenses echoed from within.
About an hour later, the commotion inside subsided.
The head of the Dantai family supported the old matriarch as they emerged, both trembling and drenched in sweat, their faces reflecting a sense of relief after a near escape.
The Empress had committed a grave mistake. To preserve her position as the Empress Dowager and maintain the Dantai family's honor, they offered up thousands of acres of fertile land, surrendered their privately owned iron mines and salt pits, and relinquished over thirty important official positions—sacrificing their own flesh to barely earn the Emperor's forgiveness.
The old matriarch did not leave the palace immediately; instead, she leaned on her cane and made her way to Kun Ning Palace to see the Empress.
...
Kun Ning Palace.
In just one night, the entire palace had lost its luster. The servants attending the Empress, including the head palace maid and the chief eunuch, were all executed, while the remaining maids and eunuchs were sent to the Yeting to perform hard labor.
Rumors swirled through the palace.
Some said the Empress was punished for mistreating Princess Wan'er; others claimed the Dantai family's illegal dealings with salt and iron had implicated her; a few even speculated that the Empress had fallen ill due to some malevolent force and could not be seen...
In any case, the Empress "needed to recuperate." The Emperor appointed Consort Chen to assist in managing the harem alongside Consort Shu.
The old matriarch, supported by the old maid, slowly entered Kun Ning Palace.
The Empress was in a state of panic, her hair unkempt, clutching a string of prayer beads. Hearing the commotion at the door, she looked up to see her white-haired mother, and tears instantly streamed down her face. "Mother! You and my brother must save me!"
The old maid closed the door behind them.
The old matriarch raised her hand and slapped the Empress hard across the face.
The Empress's head buzzed from the blow, disbelief etched on her face as she stared at her mother. "You... you actually hit me! No one has ever dared to strike me!"
The old matriarch, fuming, jabbed her finger at the Empress's nose and scolded, "You foolish girl! I should never have given birth to you! Poisoning Consort Chen was one thing, but you even dared to poison the Empress Dowager. What will the common people think of our Dantai family? How will history record this? Will our daughters ever find husbands again?"
The old matriarch seemed to age ten years in that moment.
The Empress had lost her mind! Wasn't it enough to sit securely in her position as the Empress Dowager? Why did she have to resort to such clumsy schemes to harm the Consorts and the Empress Dowager?
Now, the Empress had become the weak link that outsiders could exploit to bring down the family.
The officials from humble backgrounds launched a full-scale attack on the Dantai family, while other noble families watched coldly, waiting to divide the spoils once the Dantai family fell.
The Empress, feeling wronged, covered her face and protested, "Mother! You have no idea what I've endured! That wretched Shen Wei returns to the palace and captures the Emperor's favor, with a general brother to protect her. Shen Wei has two sons, and I have only one! If I don't take action, she will eventually harm me!"
The Empress was truly terrified.
She feared returning to the days of hardship in the Wang residence, locked away in a small Buddhist hall, with nothing but prayers to sustain her.
The old matriarch was so furious she nearly fainted, repeating, "Fool! Fool! Fool!"
How could the Dantai family have produced such a fool?
Worrying unnecessarily, digging her own grave.
The Empress felt even more aggrieved, tears streaming down her face. "I only want what's best for the Dantai family. If we don't eliminate Shen Wei, how can Chengzhen ascend smoothly? Mother, you and my brother must think of a way to help me regain the Emperor's trust, please?"
The old matriarch closed her eyes for a moment, while the old maid hurriedly patted her back, helping her regain her composure.
The old maid shot the old matriarch a meaningful glance, reminding her not to forget the purpose of their visit.
After a while, the old matriarch slowly opened her eyes, her tone softening slightly. "Your brother and I did our best to vouch for you, which is why the Emperor spared your position as Empress. For now, you must reflect on your actions in Kun Ning Palace and refrain from causing any more trouble."
The Empress was taken aback. "Mother, will I still be able to regain control of the harem?"
The old matriarch's gaze was deep. "You are still the Empress. Once the Emperor and the Empress Dowager's anger subsides, your brother and I will find a way to assist you. Shuy, listen to your mother. For these next few months, do not stir up any more trouble."
The Empress's heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally found some peace.
Fortunately, with her family's support, she could still make a comeback.
"It's getting late; I must take my leave. You stay put in Kun Ning Palace," the old matriarch said, not lingering, as she leaned on her cane and departed with the old maid's assistance.
The Empress stumbled after her, calling out, "Mother, I await your good news."
The heavy red doors of Kun Ning Palace slammed shut.
The Empress's eyes widened in shock as the view outside the palace gates grew smaller, gradually shutting her in—trapping her for the long haul.
It felt as if she were cut off from the world, forever confined within those walls.
Clutching the prayer beads tightly, the Empress murmured to herself, "I still have my family... Once the storm passes, I will deal with Shen Wei."
...
Outside Kun Ning Palace, the palace path stretched long and winding.
The old matriarch looked weary, a fleeting expression of disgust and sorrow crossing her face as she lamented, "I should never have married Shuy into the royal family."
Overindulgence had raised a truly extreme fool.
But it wasn't too late to pull back from the brink.
The old matriarch turned to the old maid and asked, "Is Dantai Yinxue ready?"
The old maid nodded. "Rest assured, old matriarch. Miss Yinxue is exceptionally talented and clever. At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet tomorrow night, we will arrange for her to perform. She is sure to catch the Emperor's eye."
The Empress was too dull-witted to rely on.
The Dantai family had discussed strategies late into the night, planning to send Dantai Yinxue from the second branch into the palace to serve the Emperor, hoping to siphon off the affections of Consort Shu and Consort Chen.
The current Emperor was in his prime; if a new consort could bear him several sons, the Dantai family would have new hopes.
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