Chapter 1 The Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace, Hall of Diligent Governance.

Jiang Chen sat upright behind his imperial desk, his expression沉凝 (chen ning – grave).

"Feng Jin, you heard it at the Han family earlier. Lü Wangshu's contact with the outside world has become much more frequent recently than before."

"I think this matter is not simple. They may be plotting something behind the scenes… If you were an accomplice of Lü Wangshu, what would you do now?"

A pensive look flashed across Feng Jin's eyes, and he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, if this old servant were the person behind the scenes, I would only choose to be patient in a disadvantageous situation."

"Now that Mei Wenshi has fallen, the power in the court has been taken into your hands, and the army has also been purged. If you want to win back a city under such circumstances, you must not act rashly."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen frowned, a disapproving look on his face. "Think again!"

"Although I don't know the true identity of the person behind the scenes, I still know a little about his behavior after dealing with him so many times."

"Although he is cautious, he is not a cowardly wretch, and he will not just admit defeat."

Feng Jin thought for a moment, then said solemnly: "Your Majesty, if it's as you said, the only possibility this old servant can think of is."

After a pause, he said, word by word, "The Fengchan (封禪) ceremony at Mount Tai!"

"Going to Mount Tai is a long journey, and the personnel are also mixed. It is an excellent opportunity to attack you. If the person behind the scenes wants to do something, he will not let this opportunity pass."

Jiang Chen nodded, without any surprise on his face.

That was what he thought too. Insisting on going to Mount Tai for the Fengchan ceremony was also meant to be a bait to lure the person behind the scenes to take the hook.

However, there was no need to say this plan. If the people around him knew, they would definitely try their best to stop him. Jiang Chen didn't want to cause trouble for himself.

After a few moments of silence, he changed the topic: "Feng Jin, send some people to keep a close watch on the Jiangzuo Prince. I want to know what relationship he has with Lü Wangshu!"

"I don't believe that a vicious woman would show favor to a strange man for no reason."

"There must be a secret between the two of them!"

Feng Jin's expression was a little unnatural. After all, Concubine Lü was the late emperor's concubine. If something taboo really happened, the entire royal family would lose face.

Of course, this matter certainly could not be ignored.

After hesitating for a moment, Feng Jin cautiously suggested: "Your Majesty, why not send the secret guards to secretly search the Jiangzuo Prince's residence?"

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, then frowned and said, "No, Lü Wangshu was just warned by me some time ago, and she is now on alert. If I act rashly at this moment, I am likely to startle the snake and let the big fish escape."

"In this way, Feng Jin, you send someone to investigate the Jiangzuo Prince's background, especially his experiences before he was conferred the title of prince, to see how he hooked up with Lü Wangshu."

As Jiang Chen said this, his tone suddenly turned cold, causing the hairs on Feng Jin's neck to stand on end. He quickly said, "Your Majesty, this old servant knows about these things."

"The Jiangzuo Prince's birth mother came from a humble background. She was a maid who served Concubine Lü. However, this woman later gained favor and was made a concubine, and she parted ways with Concubine Lü."

"However, this woman's final fate was a bit tragic."

"When she was pregnant, the Qintianjian (钦天监 – Imperial Astronomical Observatory) calculated that the child in her womb was destined to bewilder the country, so she was disliked by the Gaozu (高祖 – founding emperor) and thrown into the Cold Palace."

"Later, this woman died in depression in the Cold Palace, and her son, the Jiangzuo Prince, was also not welcomed. He was sent to the most remote palace in the palace. However, Concubine Lü was very kind to him and often helped him."

"After the late emperor ascended the throne, Concubine Lü also specially asked for an favor, asking the late emperor to confer him the title of prince, which can be regarded as a good life."

After listening, a thoughtful look flashed across Jiang Chen's face.

Although his interaction with Lü Wangshu was not very deep, he could be sure that this woman was not a soft-hearted person and would not casually show kindness to others just because they were pitiful.

There must be something hidden between her and the Jiangzuo Prince!

"Feng Jin, thoroughly investigate this Jiangzuo Prince!"

"This person is so close to Lü Wangshu, he is definitely not a simple character. Monitor him for me!"

Feng Jin bowed: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"May I ask Your Majesty, will the subsequent Fengchan ceremony not change its itinerary?"

Jiang Chen shook his head: "Just do it according to the original plan. I just want to wait for these people to take action. Otherwise, they are hiding so well, when will I be able to kill them all?"

Feng Jin hesitated, but in the end, he did not persuade him any further. He signaled to a nearby eunuch to present the harem plaques.

Respectfully said: "Your Majesty, it's getting late. Which madam will you spend the night with today?"

Jiang Chen put down the memorial in his hand and glanced at the plaques in front of him.

On the tray held respectfully by someone, there were densely packed jade plaques, with the names of various concubines written on the back.

Jiang Chen's original plan for tonight was to go to the Virtuous Consort, after all, he had promised that the first prince would be born by her.

However, thinking that the Virtuous Consort was so tired by him that she could barely get out of bed, Jiang Chen hesitated.

After practicing the Qiankun Guidance Technique (乾坤引导术), his physique was far beyond that of ordinary people, and it was not a problem for him to sleep with several women a night.

However, all this energy was now vented on the Virtuous Consort alone, and Jiang Chen was sometimes really worried that she would not be able to bear it.

After much consideration, Jiang Chen still stretched out his hand and flipped a plaque.

On the back of the jade plaque were carved three small characters, Xie Zhiwei.

Xie Zhiwei?

Jiang Chen frowned and asked curiously, "Who is this person? Her name is quite elegant."

Feng Jin leaned over and explained, "Your Majesty, this is the young lady of the Yong'an Marquis family. She comes from a noble family and is quite famous in the Imperial City."

"Not long ago, she was selected by Concubine Lü and the various adults of the Ministry of Rites and summoned into the palace."

"This old servant has investigated, and this Miss Xie has a clean background and is not a spy. You can rest assured and favor her."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen revealed a relaxed smile: "Well done, since this woman has no ulterior motives, then I will spend the night in her room tonight."

"Yes, this old servant will prepare the carriage now!"

…

Half an incense stick later, the imperial carriage slowly stopped at Xie Zhiwei's Autumn Frost Palace.

Perhaps because it was a new person entering the palace, the location of this palace was very remote. If Jiang Chen hadn't accidentally drawn her, he probably wouldn't have passed by this place even after ten years.

Thinking of this, Jiang Chen couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

In this harem, I don't know how many women are waiting bitterly night after night, praying to win the favor of him, the king, and not waste their youth.

But the reality is that they may not even see him once in a year and a half, let alone receive any favor…

Putting away his thoughts, Jiang Chen jumped out of the carriage.

At this time, the main gate of the Autumn Frost Palace was already full of palace servants who had come to welcome him, their expressions respectful, but with a hint of suppressed excitement in their eyes.

Seeing Jiang Chen walk in, they all knelt down and said, "We, your servants, pay our respects to Your Majesty!"

Jiang Chen didn't look at them much, and walked straight to an elegant woman wearing a hibiscus blue palace dress, her pretty face exquisite, different from the people around her, making it impossible to mistake her identity.

"Rise." While speaking, Jiang Chen's eyes remained locked on Xie Zhiwei.

The fiery gaze made people dare not look directly at him…