Chapter 1574

Recently, Empress Dowager Jiang has been in a foul mood; every eunuch and palace maid in Cien Garden has been scolded by her at least once, even Old Eunuch Dong, who has served by her side for decades, was harshly rebuked yesterday for dropping a cup. Consequently, the palace staff now tread carefully whenever they face Empress Dowager Jiang, avoiding her as much as possible, for no one wishes to invite misfortune, punishment, or even needless loss of life.

"Little Dong?" Empress Dowager Jiang shouted, calling several times with no response, whereupon she flew into a rage and snapped, "Are you all deaf? I summoned you—can't you hear?"

Several palace attendants dropped to their knees with a thump, frightened; one eunuch, summoning his courage, replied, "Your Ladyship, Eunuch Dong has gone out…"

Empress Dowager Jiang gave him a cold look, pinching her voice as she said, "Impudent wretch, slap him!"

Another eunuch raised his hand and dealt the outspoken unfortunate a resounding slap—smack! —so sharp it rang; the terrified eunuch knocked his head repeatedly, begging forgiveness.

At that moment a light, bell-like laughter came from outside: "What are you doing? All this crying and carrying on—people say Cien Garden is a place to cultivate the mind and nurture nature, yet I don't see it." It was the Long Princess, Xue Lingjun, arriving; seeing her, the palace folk silently breathed a sigh of relief, for everyone knew Empress Dowager Jiang doted on this princess, who was the old dowager's joy, and as long as she was by her side, the Empress Dowager had no worries.

Indeed so; upon seeing her daughter appear, Empress Dowager Jiang's anger turned to delight, and she laughed while scolding, "Lately you've been thinking only of your own pleasure and have forgotten me, haven't you?"

Xue Lingjun waved her hand, signaling the attendants to withdraw, then giggled and said, "I haven't forgotten, but hearing that the world's foremost tigress is roaring, I thought better not to provoke this ill omen—otherwise I'd be asking for trouble." Only she would dare speak and laugh so freely in the Empress Dowager's presence.

Empress Dowager Jiang not only wasn't angry but burst out laughing: "Pah! You insolent little slut who respects no elders—you're the real tigress. My foul mood isn't due to anything else; it's because of you children, and even at your age I still have to worry about you."

Xue Lingjun went behind her mother, pinched a pair of pink fists, and lightly pounded her shoulders, saying, "Mother Empress, I don't understand what you mean."

Empress Dowager Jiang sighed and said, "Your royal brother is a widower, and you are like this." She had wanted to say that Xue Lingjun was a widow, but checking herself for her daughter's dignity, she softened her words.

Xue Lingjun pressed harder with her hands.

Empress Dowager Jiang exclaimed exaggeratedly, "You dead girl, are you trying to beat your mother to death?"

Xue Lingjun replied, "If you want to call me a widow, just say it straight; stop beating around the bush here."

Empress Dowager Jiang sighed, "I have only you three; Shengkang died young in his prime, and you two are just like this. How could I not wish for a house full of descendants, to see each of you find your own place? I am old, and my health declines day by day; I likely have little time left. In my remaining years I only hope to see you each have a complete family and someone to care for you." Upon reaching this poignant point, the old dowager's eyes filled with tears.

Xue Lingjun produced her own silk handkerchief to wipe the Empress Dowager's tears and said softly, "Mother Empress, actually we're not as miserable as you say; my second brother has vowed never to marry. Even so, he's never lacking young women around him—who knows how happy he is. Why do you worry about him?"

Empress Dowager Jiang replied, "Even if he needs no worry from me, what about you? You are in the prime of your youth; surely you know that beauty fades quickly—why not marry while you are still young and lovely?"

A bitter smile touched Xue Lingjun's lips: "Is there anyone who would dare marry me?"

Empress Dowager Jiang said, "How could there be none? In our Da Yong, who knows how many people wish to propose to you."

Xue Lingjun said, "Mother Empress, I am an ill-omened person, destined to harm my husband; why would I bring harm to others?"

Empress Dowager Jiang declared, "Anyone who manages to marry you would have blessings from a past life; whoever dares claim my daughter is a husband‑killer, I will surely take his head!"

Xue Lingjun sighed, "People may not say it openly, but surely they think so; those who dare come to propose are not truly fond of me—they are only after my imperial status. I have resolved never to marry in this lifetime."

Empress Dowager Jiang replied, "You may say that now, but you will surely regret it later."

Xue Lingjun said, "Mother Empress, let's not speak of that. There is something you may not know: because of the Emperor's assassination attempt, Yongdu has become tense with suspicion, and the Jinlin Guard has been massively detaining anyone possibly linked to the attack; thus over three hundred people have already been imprisoned for investigation."

Empress Dowager Jiang furrowed her brows and said, "I have no desire to hear court affairs."

Xue Lingjun continued, "Mother Empress, although you don't wish to hear it, I must say a few words: you surely understand how the Bohai affair began; the Emperor's actions are not merely a simple investigation of the assassin." Xue Lingjun had previously been sent on a mission to Bohai, where she narrowly escaped harm, and had it not been for Hu Xiaotian's intervention, she might not have made it back to Yongdu safely.

Although Empress Dowager Jiang is advanced in years, she fully grasped her daughter's meaning, and she sighed, "If Da Yong wishes to return to the prosperity it enjoyed when your elder brother reigned, our Xue family must be united top and bottom, sincerely cohesive, and must never turn on one another."

Xue Lingjun said, "I am merely a humble woman and originally harbored no ambition for power, but today I have spoken a word I ought not have; the Emperor seems overly suspicious, and his entourage is exploiting this, fanning the flames to eliminate dissenters."

Empress Dowager Jiang asked, "Are you referring to Li Chenzhou?"

Xue Lingjun nodded and said, "The Emperor relies too heavily on Li Chenzhou; nowadays Li Chenzhou's influence keeps growing, and his prestige rises ever higher—this is certainly no good thing."

Empress Dowager Jiang asked, "Do you fear he will overshadow the throne with his achievements, or perhaps nurture rebellious thoughts?"

Xue Lingjun said, "The Emperor heeds Li Chenzhou's every word; the Bohai affair is tied to him. Last time, if not for the Empress Dowager's intervention, I and my second imperial brother would surely have run into trouble."

Empress Dowager Jiang sighed again, "Others may not understand Shengjing, but how could I fail to know my own son? Though he appears aloof from worldly strife, he has always harbored ambitions for power. Having him relinquish the Treasure Hoard Studio was actually to protect him; if the Treasure Hoard Studio remained in his hands, disaster would surely follow."

Xue Lingjun replied, "Mother Empress, do you think that by handing over the Treasure Hoard Studio he would be free of trouble?"

Empress Dowager Jiang remained silent, but she had indeed noticed that Xue Daohong never abandoned his notion of eliminating rivals. She had personally witnessed three emperors take office, each initially undertaking the same purge of anyone who could threaten their throne. Though she is old, she still holds considerable influence among the court officials; the Bohai incident was quelled only because she intervened, and Xue Daohong still holds some awe for her. Yet if one day she were to die, would he unleash a great slaughter? The answer is certainly yes.

Xue Lingjun said, "Mother Empress, Daohong's goal has always been misaimed."

Empress Dowager Jiang, somewhat weary, closed her eyes and murmured, "When my Shoucheng arrives, I will have a proper talk with him."

Xue Lingjun said, "Li Chenzhou's power is too great; someone must step forward to balance it, and only the Empress Dowager can say such a thing."

Empress Dowager Jiang replied, "Very well, I shall play the villain myself!"

As Xue Lingjun left Cien Garden, her mood grew ever heavier with the falling night; she noticed that the Empress Dowager had become unprecedentedly passive in state affairs, perhaps because of her age, truly wishing to enjoy her twilight years without politics, and another reason being that the Empress Dowager's influence was steadily waning—so much so that she could no longer sway the present Emperor.

Xue Lingjun even regretted her earlier support for Xue Daohong; after his accession, his conduct has fully shown that he is not an enlightened ruler—his wisdom is spent mostly on eliminating rivals, inheriting Xue Shengkang's suspicion and cruelty but not his grand talent and strategy. Faced with external threats, instead of seeking internal unity, he remains obsessed with purging dissent to consolidate power.

Although Xue Lingjun is merely a woman, her vision is not narrow; she perceives the grave mistakes Xue Daohong has made since taking office, and also sees that this recent assassination attempt is somewhat out of the ordinary. The Empress Dowager's condition worries her greatly; in the present Da Yong, only the Empress Dowager is her strongest bulwark—if that bulwark were to fall, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She herself harbors such thoughts, and her second brother Xue Shengjing surely does as well; Xue Lingjun knows her second brother is a person of extraordinary intelligence. Last time in Bohai, she does not know what means he used, but he had Hu Xiaotian step forward to help with affairs, and the Empress Dowager also perceived that although her second brother appears aloof from worldly contention, he actually harbors great ambition and will not sit idle awaiting doom. Xue Lingjun even dares to predict that before long Da Yong will plunge into a power struggle, perhaps unfolding between her second brother and the current Emperor.

Returning to her mansion, she entered the Study and sat down, her mind still a tangled mess. She picked up the letter originally intended for the Empress Dowager's perusal, held it to the lamp flame to burn it, and while gazing blankly at the sputtering fire, she heard a voice from behind say, "Are you burning a love letter?"

Xue Lingjun startled, the still‑unburned letter slipped from her hand and fell onto her long skirt, instantly igniting it.

A figure lunged forward and stamped out the flames on her skirt. Xue Lingjun, heart still pounding, lifted her head to see Hu Xiaotian suddenly appear before her, his bright eyes smiling warmly; her heart fluttered for a moment, then she quickly regained her composure and, with alluring charm, tossed a flirtatious glance, saying, "Sneaking into the inner chambers—what is your intent?"

Delivering the First Update; I'll resume normal updates tomorrow—I think I can manage! (To be continued…~^~)