novelraw Chapter 1253 - 468: Court Intrigue Is No Match for Rebellion (Part 5)_3
Chapter 1253 - 468: Court Intrigue Is No Match for Rebellion (Part 5)_3
Zheng Nianer once again received a signal from her mother, knowing that her ’dream of becoming Empress’ was shattered.
She was unwilling to accept it yet dared not reveal it before Emperor Yongcheng.
She pinched her palm hard, the strands of pain reminding Zheng Nianer.
She sobbed with tears streaming down, her eyes full of reluctance, yet she still ’generously’ expressed, "It’s my fault, I, I shouldn’t have developed greed just because I like Erlang!"
"Erlang, you just go and marry those noble ladies who can assist you, don’t worry about me, as long as you have me in your heart and are willing to leave a small corner for me in the palace, I’ll be satisfied!"
She could not be the Empress, but she must be the Emperor’s most beloved woman!
Zheng Nianer’s ’gracious compromise’ only made Emperor Yongcheng feel more sorrowful.
However, the stance of the wet nurse and Nianer eventually dispelled the hesitation in Emperor Yongcheng’s heart.
Lady Hu’s understanding and Nianer’s concessions further strengthened Emperor Yongcheng’s resolve—
He couldn’t make Nianer the most honorable woman of the Dayuan Dynasty, but he could make Nianer the most important woman in his heart!
That night, Emperor Yongcheng, Lady Hu, Zheng Nianer, and others had different thoughts and didn’t sleep well.
But He Tiantian was extremely content, and slept comfortably through the night.
Early the next morning, He Tiantian woke up according to the original host’s biological clock.
After washing and changing clothes, she rode the Empress Dowager’s carriage to Taiji Hall.
This was the central court of Taiji Palace, where the Emperor held grand court meetings.
Since Emperor Chengtai had yet to marry, naturally, he hadn’t assumed direct power.
As the Empress Dowager at the imperial throne of Dayuan, the original host needed to attend court to listen to government affairs.
After the court meeting ended, if there were significant matters, Empress Dowager He would summon the Chancellor, the six ministry officials, and other key ministers to discuss in the Political Affairs Hall.
However, today there were no significant matters, so according to protocol, the officials reported some political affairs and then withdrew from the court.
He Tiantian didn’t rush to Liangyi Palace to review petitions but instead ordered someone to find Grand Scribe Wang Yuan.
Wang Yuan was one of the Three Great Ministers left behind by the late Emperor and also the Family Head of the Langya Wang Family, the legitimate grandfather of Wang Shijiu.
Among the Three Great Ministers, Wang Yuan was the target for Empress Dowager He to win over and differentiate.
Wang Yuan was astute, cunning, and adept in strategy.
Back then, during the late Emperor’s uprising, he was the first noble family to support the late Emperor.
After the new dynasty was established, due to Wang Yuan’s precise ’investment,’ the Wang Family maintained the status of a top noble family in Langya.
However, the Xie Family, which was once as famous as the Wang Family and a thousand-year-old family as well, due to being overly ’reserved’ and looking down on someone as crude as Zhao Jiong, the late Emperor, wouldn’t ’join their ranks’ and missed the best time to board the ship.
Eventually, the Xie Family could only use women to consolidate its power and gradually fell behind the Wang Family.
Wang Yuan approached the side hall and formally saluted He Tiantian, and as soon as he sat down, he heard He Tiantian sigh from above:
"...Grand Scribe Wang, I have wronged you!"
Wang Yuan sat properly and showed no obvious surprise on his face, a glint of sharpness flickered in his eyes.
Hmm?
The Empress Dowager seemed somewhat unusual today.
Empress Dowager He had always been known for her strong nature, even when betrayed and suppressed by the late Emperor; she never showed weakness in front of others.
She always held her head high, like a proud phoenix.
Today, suddenly sighing and saying words like ’I have wronged you’ was indeed rare.
"I am anxious!"
Wang Yuan deliberately made a worried expression.
He Tiantian waved her hand, lacking the majesty of the Empress Dowager at the imperial throne.
At this moment, she was just an old woman heartbroken by her son, um, although she was only in her thirties.
But in ancient times, being in one’s thirties or even forties was the age of becoming a grandmother.
And the men could humbly refer to themselves as ’laofu’ (old man).
"Yesterday, my house discussed the matter of marriage with the Emperor..."
He Tiantian did not keep people in suspense nor sugarcoat the situation, she straightforwardly recounted the conversation between He Taohou and Emperor Yongcheng from the previous day.
Finally, she straightforwardly stated that she was so shocked for a moment that she even fainted.
Wang Yuan:...
He really didn’t know how to react!
He indeed intended to ally with the Empress Dowager and her son, but he was not yet considered one of Empress Dowager He’s trusted confidants.
Even for a confidant, such ’frankness’ was unprecedented.
To openly speak of various unflattering actions of the Emperor in the presence of an external minister seemed quite inappropriate.
Yet He Tiantian seemed oblivious to Wang Yuan’s embarrassment, she rambled on like a typical old woman who had been hurt, complaining incessantly.
Gradually, Wang Yuan suddenly understood the Empress Dowager’s intention and looked at He Tiantian with a mix of shock and suspicion...