Chapter 363: Heaven‑Bestowed Good Opportunity

As expected, your hearts are all black, spending the whole day scheming and plotting against each other.

Gao Yang hummed twice, "You are even the top among them, spreading rumors, manufacturing public opinion, inciting popular anger, then completely abandoning the matter, and still hoping the Wei family will be attacked en masse."

"I think, when the timing is right, you'll still jump out to get a share."

"Truly, you play a fine game of calculation."

"Heh heh!" Chen Yan leaned in the carriage, sarcastically, "So, my heart is black; as someone who grew up in the harem, is your heart then white?"

"When you two sisters fought back then, did you use fewer tactics?"

At those words, Gao Yang and Li Lizhi instantly became embarrassed, instinctively glanced at each other, then tacitly averted their gazes.

Li Lizhi silently gave Gao Yang a rolling eye, then shifted the topic, "Husband, which forces do you think will act against the Wei family next?"

"Isn't it necessary to secretly apply some effort later?"

"Not at all!" Chen Yan said lightly, counting on his fingers, "First, your Father Emperor will certainly act covertly; next, the Du Family, which is as renowned as the Wei family; after that, the five surnames and seven prestigious families, and then the remaining large and small clans."

"When a century‑old clan suffers such a massive blow in a single day, other families will be like wolves smelling blood, at some moment tacitly launching a charge, tearing a piece of flesh from the Wei family."

"Father Emperor?" Li Lizhi was surprised that Chen Yan's first mention was her Father Emperor.

Gao Yang couldn't help but question, "That shouldn't be, Father Emperor's relationship with Consort Wei is still good, and no one from the Wei family has reached the true pinnacle of power. Not to mention the Three Departments' Chancellor, the highest current office in the Wei family is the newly promoted Ministerial Attendant Wei Ting. Father Emperor is wary of the five surnames and seven prestigious families, so the Wei family shouldn't be at risk yet, right?"

"If Father Emperor would act against the Wei family, then would the equally renowned Du Family also be suspected by Father Emperor?"

"So that's why you're stupid," Chen Yan habitually mocked, turning to Li Lizhi, "Come, Lizhi, explain to your silly sister."

Gao Yang's face instantly darkened.

I tolerated being called stupid, but letting Li Lizhi do the explaining is too much!

Li Lizhi gave an awkward smile, fidgeted for a while, then whispered, "Husband, I… I share Zhao Tang's view…"

"Father Emperor is a man who values emotions; Consort Wei gave Father Emperor a son and a daughter. Even for the sake of the children, I think Father Emperor wouldn't act against the Wei family."

"Moreover, what you can see clearly, how could Father Emperor not see it? He has no need to act covertly; the mere existence of the clan is enough to destroy the Wei family…"

Chen Yan: "......"

"Alright, you two sisters are half a catty to eight taels." He concluded, "It's not that you're not smart, it's that your experience is too limited, your perspective too narrow, causing you to misread the situation."

"Then tell me, why can't we see the situation clearly?" Gao Yang retorted.

Just now you called yourself stupid, now you say your perspective is insufficient.

She was angry too.

"This matter, ah, isn't as simple as you think." Chen Yan began analyzing for the two, "First, the Du Family and the Wei family appear equally renowned, but in fact there is a world of difference."

"The Wei family's brilliance doesn't come from high official ranks; it stems from having many clan members and deep foundation. Though no one holds a third‑rank official post, they occupy numerous other positions, large and small."

"Noble Consort Wei is undeniably the second most influential person in the harem, someone who can whisper into Father Emperor's ear at bedtime."

"In terms of influence, the Wei family far surpasses the Du Family!"

"The Du Family was once just a small clan; its glory relied entirely on Du Ruhui, who was relatively upright, and his support for Du family members was limited, at most making their paths smoother, nothing more."

"And as soon as Du Ruhui passes away, the Du Family will naturally decline from a top clan."

"In contrast, the Wei family is different; their foundation, influence, and network are there. If allowed to develop, they could become a great clan. Your Father Emperor is intent on eliminating clans; do you think he would tolerate a new powerful clan emerging?"

Would he?

Li Lizhi and Gao Yang couldn't help but ask themselves internally, then denied it without hesitation.

The answer is absolutely no.

Just look at the now low‑key, almost ignored Zhangsun Wuji; even the Zhangsun family is like that, so what right does the Wei family have?

"Also!" Chen Yan, seeing they understood, continued, "Yes, I admit Noble Consort Wei indeed commands everyone's attention, because of her status and because she bore imperial princes and princesses."

"But sometimes, that's a good thing, and also a bad thing."

"I'll ask you a question," Chen Yan said seriously, "For example, suppose the three princes born to Her Imperial Highness the Empress cannot inherit the throne, then who is most likely?"

When the question was posed, the two sisters were stunned.

Li Lizhi was the first to react, spitting out a name, "Li Ke!"

"Father Emperor once described him as 'outstanding, like me.'"

"Incorrect!" Gao Yang retorted, "Li Ke's birth mother is a Princess of the previous dynasty, possessing its bloodline, making it hard for him to inherit the throne."

Hearing that, Li Lizhi hesitated, thought for a moment, and nodded.

Eliminating Li Ke, the sibling Li Yun, who shares the same mother, is naturally excluded.

The two sisters' minds flashed through many brothers' names, finally settling on one, and fell silent.

"Li Shen, right?"

Chen Yan, on their behalf, uttered that name.

The two sisters remained silent.

Chen Yan said lightly, "Li Shen's bloodline is fine; his birth mother is Noble Consort Wei, the harem's second most influential person. Likewise, Li Shen's maternal clan's power and influence are ample, able to give him strong support."

"Various reasons led you to think of him."

"Since you could think of him, others naturally could as well."

"You also know the situation of your Crown Prince brother; once the Crown Prince's position changes, Li Shen and Noble Consort Wei become figures no one can ignore."

Gao Yang lifted her eyes and said, "That's just a metaphor. In fact, based on my understanding of Father Emperor, the throne will only fall to the Crown Prince, the Prince of Yue, and the young Li Zhi."

Li Lizhi nodded heavily in agreement.

"Thus your perspective is insufficient, you don't see broadly enough!" Chen Yan said sternly, "The higher the position, the more situations one must consider; even low‑probability events must be taken into account."

"For His Majesty, this is literally a heaven‑blessed good opportunity, isn't it?"

"Just by covertly stirring the waters, one can in one stroke eliminate a century‑old clan that could become a great house, and also avoid many hidden dangers; why wouldn't one do it?"

"More importantly, this move weakens the aristocratic privilege of 'king and horse, sharing the world'!"