The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 761 - 723: The Winter Solstice Uprising

After a night of wind and snow, the palaces of the Imperial City lay under a veil of melancholy.

When Princess Consort Duan arrived, Emperor Guangxi had just finished his medicine and was about to lie down. Upon seeing her, he sat up again.

Even with his frail and emaciated body, his eyes still carried the unfathomable majesty accumulated from ruling the world for decades.

Princess Consort Duan thought of that secret message and felt a chill run down her spine.

It seemed only at this moment did she truly grasp the meaning of "the awe of an Emperor".

"How is it?" Emperor Guangxi looked at her, asking casually.

Princess Consort Duan halted her steps, knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, I have sinned. I failed to complete the task."

"Oh?" There was no fluctuation on Emperor Guangxi’s face, "The secret message was intercepted?"

"Yes." Princess Consort Duan lowered her eyes, "As soon as I left the palace, I was followed. The secret message fell into others’ hands before it even reached Duke Lu Mansion."

As her words fell, the entire inner hall sank into silence.

No one spoke, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Princess Consort Duan dared not look directly at Emperor Guangxi, yet she could feel his gaze on her, almost tangible.

The oppressive aura of imperial majesty chilled her heart with dread, and cold sweat broke out on her back.

After an indeterminate length of time, Emperor Guangxi chuckled lightly, "It’s nothing important, let it be intercepted."

Though the words sounded relaxed, they actually revealed his probing intent towards her.

Princess Consort Duan swallowed with difficulty, almost able to hear her own thumping heartbeat.

"Come here." Emperor Guangxi gestured to her.

Princess Consort Duan stood up and moved towards the Dragon Couch.

Emperor Guangxi took a handkerchief from under the pillow and wiped her forehead, "Even in this cold weather, sweating—must be ill. Have the Imperial Physician take a good look at you later."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Princess Consort Duan forced a smile and then asked, "Over at Duke Lu Mansion..."

"It’s of no importance." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Emperor Guangxi withdrew the handkerchief and leaned back, "It’s the Tongji Association that’s truly giving me a headache."

After the incident with Song Wei, the court did not dispatch support, and the Tongji Association continues to act rampant.

The latest news suggests that the Tongji Association has reached Tongzhou and could enter the capital within a day.

Looking at the silent Princess Consort Duan, Emperor Guangxi asked, "Does Zhenzhen have any good ideas to properly handle this group of people?"

Princess Consort Duan deliberated, "I think it would be better to deploy the Jinyi Guard; there’s no case they cannot solve."

"If the Jinyi Guard could be dispatched, Chief Minister Yang would not have sent Song Wei to suppress them initially," said Emperor Guangxi.

Princess Consort Duan felt guilty.

That Chief Minister Yang had sent Song Wei was naturally with ulterior motives.

Emperor Guangxi continued, "The Tongji Association is connected to the Crown Prince. My stance towards the Tongji Association is the stance towards the Crown Prince. Zhenzhen, do you think this Tongji Association should remain or not?"

The implication was whether the Crown Prince should be deposed.

Princess Consort Duan replied cautiously, "As a woman, I should not meddle in court affairs."

"But feel free to speak." Emperor Guangxi said, "I pardon you of any fault."

Forced into a corner, Princess Consort Duan had no choice, "With the truth unclear, for the Emperor to hastily bring up deposing the Crown Prince might be a bit premature."

"Oh, what a ’truth unclear’!" Emperor Guangxi’s eyes flickered coldly, "Perhaps you should go to the Imperial Clan Court and inquire on my behalf, what exactly are his intentions?"

Princess Consort Duan trembled with fear, "The Emperor is confused. The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, interrogation is the duty of the Imperial Supervision Office. How can I, a mere concubine, bear such a responsibility?"

Emperor Guangxi chuckled ambiguously.

Princess Consort Duan had been frightened several times today, her heart pounding like a drum, "I..."

"The interception of the secret message doesn’t matter." Emperor Guangxi interrupted her, "Getting words from the Crown Prince’s mouth would suffice as well."

...

After the snow, the sky cleared, the winter sun mixed with a chill, casting a delicate golden light over the pristine snow on the glazed tiles.

The Imperial Clan Court sat in the northwest corner of the inner city, with soaring eaves and imposing high walls.

When Princess Consort Duan visited in person, the heavy doors gradually opened, and Zong Zheng personally escorted this most favored consort of the palace to the inner hall.

Zhao Xi had just finished bathing, today he had used cold water, and a layer of chill surrounded him.

Upon seeing Princess Consort Duan, he quickly donned his outer robe, deftly gathered his wet hair with his jade fingers, and looked toward the one at the door, "So it’s Lady Duan, please sit."

Princess Consort Duan curtsied, "Your Highness, I pay my respects."

"No need for formalities." Zhao Xi raised his hand, picked up the purple clay teapot, and poured two cups of hot tea, "Please."

Princess Consort Duan stepped over the threshold and slowly took a seat.

Zhao Xi sipped his tea, "I have been at the Imperial Clan Court for over half a month without inquiries. I did not expect the first to see me would be Your Grace, quite a surprise indeed."

Princess Consort Duan said, "I have come by order."

Zhao Xi seemed unsurprised, "Interrogation, or an imperial decree directly?"

Princess Consort Duan sighed, "His Highness is the Emperor’s only Prince about to come of age thus far, and now he is the Crown Prince, bearing the heavy expectations of countless people. With such deep popularity among the people, why does he still resort to an assassination act?"

Zhao Xi said, "The bustle of the world is all for profit, and the haste of the world is all for profit. What I seek is to benefit the world and eliminate its harms."

Hearing him evade the question, Princess Consort Duan spoke bluntly, "The Emperor has considered deposing the Crown Prince."

Zhao Xi smiled faintly, "As Your Ladyship said, I have the advantage of being ’the only one.’ Do you know what that means? It means I cannot be replaced by a mere child still wet behind the ears."

Princess Consort Duan smiled lightly, "Whether or not you can be replaced is not for His Highness to decide."

Zhao Xi looked at her, his eyes filled with coldness, "Colluding with eunuchs, plotting against the Empress, controlling the Emperor, intending to forcefully seize the throne, I truly underestimated you before."

Princess Consort Duan met Zhao Xi’s gaze, "Blame only the fact that, Your Highness, you were born to the wrong womb. If you were my own, with the power of the Liang and Yang Families, it would be enough to help you ascend the throne, securing the empire, but alas..."

"Alas, the final moment has not yet arrived, the outcome is undecided." Zhao Xi swirled the white glaze cup in his hand, toasting her from afar, "Let us wait and see."

...

In the past, there were still concerns, but after meeting the Crown Prince once, Princess Consort Duan finally believed her uncle’s words.

Once Zhao Xi ascends the throne, the first to be eliminated will be the Second Prince, who poses a potential threat.

She sent a message to Chief Minister Yang, indicating that she was ready.

Forcing the Emperor’s hand is, of course, not a matter of one stroke; the Imperial Jade Seal is in Emperor Guangxi’s possession. To make him hand it over, some extraordinary measures are indispensable.

And to freely place a knife against the Emperor’s throat, collaboration with the eunuchs and the Imperial Army is necessary.

The eunuch, Chief Eunuch Mr. Cui, has already been bribed.

The Imperial Army Commander Zhu Wu, known as the Cold-faced Yama, is not easy to win over. Chief Minister Yang devised a plan, causing Zhu Wu’s eldest son to flirt with the Fourth Miss of the Yang Family, Yang Xueshan, thus forcing a marriage agreement.

Zhu Wu was compelled to align with Chief Minister Yang.

Besides bribing the eunuchs and the Imperial Army, there must also be precautions against the Jinyi Guard.

Thus, in a few days, several officials from Guangnan Prefecture were killed in succession, shocking the court, and Emperor Guangxi ordered the transfer of most of the Jinyi Guard to investigate.

...

In the winter solstice of the 134th year of the Chu Calendar, it is historically known as the "Winter Solstice Chaos."

This day, amidst a raging snowstorm, all ministers attending court were trapped in the Political Discussion Hall.

Chief Minister Yang went to the harem, personally handing the unsigned succession edict to Princess Consort Duan.

Princess Consort Duan took it and asked, "Are there precautions against the Crown Prince?"

Chief Minister Yang coldly replied, "Rest assured, he won’t survive the night."

Princess Consort Duan let out a sigh of relief and began to dress and put on makeup after seeing off Chief Minister Yang.

The bronze mirror reflected the sleeping Second Prince Zhao Nuo on the small bed behind her. Thinking of what was about to happen, a cold and venomous smile appeared at the edge of Princess Consort Duan’s crimson lips.

"Your Ladyship, Miss Yang San requests an audience." The voice of the Chief Palace Maid pulled her thoughts back.

Princess Consort Duan frowned slightly, "What is she here for?"

"I do not know," the palace maid replied. "If she can’t see Your Ladyship, she will kneel and not rise."

In such cold weather, kneeling for long would most certainly cripple her legs.

Princess Consort Duan looked at the sky; it was still early. She composed herself, "Let her in."

Before long, Yang Xueru was brought into the inner hall, covered in snow, looking disheveled, with bruises on her forehead, sharply contrasting Princess Consort Duan’s radiant appearance.

"Aunt," Yang Xueru knelt on the ground, crying helplessly, "I beg you, save His Highness, grandfather is going to kill him."

Princess Consort Duan remained unmoved, "I heard you’ve been confined these days. How is it you suddenly ran out today?"

At this moment, Yang Xueru couldn’t listen to anything else and kept repeating, "Aunt, I beg you."

As she spoke, she heavily knocked her forehead on the ground.

At the Yang Mansion, she had already broken her skin, and now, as she knocked again, the wound split open, oozing blood.

Princess Consort Duan commanded someone to pull her up, reprimanding, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"I am not talking nonsense!" Yang Xueru retorted, "I eavesdropped; grandfather has already arranged for assassins to act tonight at the Imperial Clan Court, aunt, you are the only one who can persuade grandfather now, please save His Highness, he did not attempt to assassinate the Emperor, it’s all false, someone is framing him."

Princess Consort Duan said, "Your grandfather has always meant what he says. What he decides, I have no right to interfere."

"But grandfather is only doing it for the Second Prince," Yang Xueru earnestly stared at Princess Consort Duan, "As long as Your Ladyship declares that the Second Prince does not want the Crown Prince position and will not partake in the struggle for the throne, grandfather can stop."

Hearing this, Princess Consort Duan was furious, "Yang Xueru, do you know what you are saying?"

"The position of Crown Prince rightfully belongs to His Highness, why do you fight over it?" Yang Xueru bit her lip in hatred, then pointed at the still-sleeping Zhao Nuo on the small bed, "Him? How can he compare to His Highness? Even if he was immediately made Crown Prince and ascended as Emperor, what could he do?"

Princess Consort Duan walked over and slapped her, "As a member of the Yang Family, to say such things, I think you are mad!"

"I’m not mad," Yang Xueru covered her face, eyes red, "I only know I am His Highness’s fiancée, and you all are plotting and scheming, wanting him dead, wanting me to be a widow, I disagree!"

Princess Consort Duan sneered, "Disagree? What can you do? Do you think he can last through tonight?"

Yang Xueru clenched her fists, suddenly stood up, and rushed to the small bed, choking Zhao Nuo’s neck, "Aunt, you are forcing me."

Zhao Nuo immediately awoke, but before he could cry, he was already breathless, his little face turned bright red, eyes filled with tears, helplessly looking at Princess Consort Duan.

Princess Consort Duan’s face changed dramatically, "Yang Xueru, let him go!"

"I won’t!" Yang Xueru shouted, "Unless you go to the Imperial Clan Court, bring His Highness to me, otherwise I’ll let you feel the pain of losing a son."