"Your Majesty, are you truly at ease leaving this matter to His Majesty Yun Huang?" Yun Wei Shu asked, watching the two figures outside the window.
Although His Majesty Yun Huang's expression was serene, the woman kneeling on the ground wept heartbrokenly.
"Otherwise?" Xue Zi Ning turned to ask Yun Wei Shu.
Yun Wei Shu faltered, "Your Majesty, you..."
Xue Zi Ning gazed at the figures outside the window, surprised by how harmonious they appeared.
Perhaps, when she was gone one day, Yan Zhao would not be lonely.
At least with so many women who liked him, he would gradually grow accustomed to her absence.
Yet, she was also selfish, selfish enough to wish for his heart to hold only her.
But she knew she couldn't think that way; selfishness and jealousy had no place with her.
"Your Majesty..." Seeing her silence, Yun Wei Shu called out.
"If someone truly cares for you, they wouldn't do anything to betray you." She had always believed this.
Yun Wei Shu remained silent. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't believe them, but she believed in Xue Jing Yun.
Xue Jing Yun met her clear gaze and offered a slight smile.
Then he turned and left.
"Help me to rest." Xue Zi Ning stood up, and Yun Wei Shu quickly stepped forward to help her to the bed.
Lying down, she closed her eyes and drifted into dreams.
Yun Wei Shu dismissed everyone and walked out.
Seeing Li Yao Qin still kneeling in the courtyard, she slowly approached and said coldly, "How long do you intend to kneel?"
Li Yao Qin looked up at her and sneered, "My fate today will be yours tomorrow."
Yun Wei Shu looked at her indifferently, "That is unlikely to be the case. If one guards their heart, they will not err."
In the past, she had admired Xue Jing Yun, but now she felt not a trace of it. It was important to know one's place; since she was not worthy, why force it?
Li Yao Qin snorted coldly, got up, and turned to leave.
"Miss Li, my final advice is to cease your petty schemes. All your actions are under His Majesty Yun Huang's surveillance. Do not commit any irreparable mistakes."
"I don't need you to teach me how to act." With that, Li Yao Qin departed.
Yun Wei Shu sighed.
Xue Yan stepped forward and said, "It's useless to say those things to her; she won't listen."
Yun Wei Shu replied helplessly, "I just feel it's a pity for the capital's foremost talented woman. With so many fine young talents, why must she fixate on one person?"
Xue Yan scratched her head upon hearing this, "There's no reason for liking someone. If she can't understand it herself, nothing anyone else says will help."
Yun Wei Shu nodded, "That's true. Why should we judge others? I only wish for Your Majesty to safely give birth to the little prince. As Your Majesty's time draws nearer, I don't know why, but I feel uneasy."
Xue Yan's expression turned solemn, "Nothing will go wrong. Before that, I will purge everyone in the harem."
Li Manor
Madam Xu saw Li Si Nian rush into the study, and she was blocked from entering.
Li Si Nian looked at the people in the study and asked, "Why are you all here? Were you discovered?"
"Don't worry, we sent replacements to the Feng Yue Lou."
Li Si Nian breathed a sigh of relief, "It seems Your Majesty's delivery is expected next month, but the exact date is unknown. This is because His Majesty is attended by Master Qing Yi, who is exclusive to His Majesty and cannot be summoned by anyone else."
"Lord Li, do we truly have to do this? My heart is filled with unease. If successful, we will have rendered great service to the dragon; failure means annihilation of our nine generations of kin."
Li Si Nian chuckled upon hearing this, "What, Minister of Rites, are you afraid?"
Minister of Rites, Lord Lin, said, "It's false to say I'm not afraid. The four of us have risked our families' honor to do this with you."
Minister of Works, Lord Sun, nodded, "Indeed. Moreover, we all know His Majesty Yun Huang's methods. He is the one who conquered this empire. I fear he will discover our plotting?"
Minister of Revenue, Feng Yu, said optimistically, "If you ask me, you all need not worry. Who doesn't wish to be king or emperor? We simply cannot stand the fact that the empire is ruled by a woman. Compared to the Empress, His Majesty Yun Huang is the best candidate for the throne, possessing both talent and capability."
Li Si Nian nodded, "Lord Feng speaks the truth. Perhaps due to various reasons at the time, Yun Huang was compelled to yield the empire. But after so many years, does he have no ambition at all? Does any of you believe that?"
The other three ministers fell silent, for Li Si Nian was not wrong. At least in their eyes, no one disliked power; they loved women and even more so the empire.
"Then it is settled. We will 'clear the court' on the day the Empress gives birth," Li Si Nian declared.
Minister of Works, Lord Sun, asked, "But our personal guards are limited."
Minister of Revenue, Feng Yu, sneered, "Isn't it clear? The Minister of War, Wen Yu Xi, and the Minister of Justice, Shen Yun Xuan, are both the Empress's people. The Empress holds tight control over the positions of justice and military. Therefore, we can only rely on strategy."
Li Si Nian nodded, "Indeed. However, I can summon the Imperial Guards on that day."
"I believe the most crucial thing is to get His Majesty Yun Huang out of the way," the Minister of Rites, Lord Lin, suddenly said.
Li Si Nian's eyes lit up, "You are correct."
"But how can we get His Majesty Yun Huang to leave? That is a difficult matter," the Minister of Works, Lord Sun, expressed his concern.
"Leave that to me. I have a way," the Minister of Revenue, Feng Yu, offered.
"We must be extremely cautious in this matter," Li Si Nian finally cautioned the other three ministers.
Exiting the study, Li Si Nian gazed into the distance, wondering if his actions would be recounted in later generations.
"My lord..."
Li Si Nian turned to look at Madam Xu behind him, stepped forward, and took her hand, saying, "Don't worry, Yao'er will be fine. She will return soon."
"My lord, I ask for nothing else; I only wish for Yao'er's safety. As for your grand endeavor or whatever it may be, I never wish to know. I have only this one daughter; I don't want her to be wasted in the palace." Madam Xu choked out.
Li Si Nian sighed, "Do you think I am willing to have my daughter in the palace? You know her temperament, don't you? Who can shake even half of what she decides? It's just that stubborn character of hers, refusing to turn back until she hits a brick wall. But it's good, let her experience setbacks. Everything will be over soon anyway."
Madam Xu was startled, "Over? What is over?"
"Madam, some things are better left unknown to you."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu asked no further. She knew that if he didn't say it, it was because he didn't want her to know. Thus, she would act as if she were mute.
"My lord, this concubine understands. This concubine will not ask again," Madam Xu said.
Li Si Nian held Madam Xu in his arms and said, "Don't be afraid. Everything will soon have a conclusion, and then no one will dare to bully Yao'er again."