Regent's Mansion
Xue Wenjie vaguely heard a commotion outside. He opened his eyes and, once his senses cleared, said, "Someone, come."
A servant soon entered, "Your Highness."
"What's happening outside?" Xue Wenjie asked.
"Your Highness, Lord Lin and Lord Li request an audience!"
Xue Wenjie furrowed his brow slightly and said coldly, "What time is it?"
The servant replied, "It is already the second watch."
"Tell them to come tomorrow morning," Xue Wenjie said, lying back down and closing his eyes. Suddenly, he opened his eyes again. "Tell them to wait for me in the study."
Xue Wenjie entered the study, and a figure practically lunged at him. "Your Highness, save my Yanzhi."
Xue Wenjie frowned and said impatiently, "Lord Lin, speak your mind properly. Don't be like a woman, weeping and wailing."
Lin Feng wiped his tears. "Your Highness, Yanzhi has been summoned to the palace."
Xue Wenjie was stunned. "What do you mean?"
"The Empress Dowager is selecting consorts, and Yanzhi is one of them. Your Highness, you know my son is frail and sickly, his time is limited. If he enters the palace, can he survive?" Lin Feng, though he stopped crying, his voice was still choked with sobs.
Xue Wenjie knew that Lin Feng cherished his only son, born late in life, more than his own life.
"Your Highness, my son is unruly. How can he be a consort in the palace?" Imperial Censor Li Shengming echoed.
Xue Wenjie rubbed his forehead. "Since you did not wish for them to enter the palace, why did you not refuse?"
Why weep and wail here with him?
Where did their ability to argue and debate go?
Lin Feng and Li Shengming exchanged glances. Lin Feng spoke, "Your Highness, I wish to defy the decree, but do you know who delivered the imperial edict?"
"Could it be someone you fear?" Xue Wenjie scoffed.
They were both powerful ministers, second only to the emperor. Would they fear a young empress dowager who was barely out of her diapers?
He did not believe it.
"Feng Yin," Lin Feng said, enunciating each word.
Xue Wenjie's gaze turned cold. After a moment, he burst into laughter, but the laughter did not reach his eyes, which grew increasingly frigid, like frost.
"A masterful move, a complete drain of resources."
"Your Highness..."
"You may both leave. This matter requires my careful consideration," Xue Wenjie said.
Lin Feng and Li Shengming exchanged another look, realizing they had achieved the opposite of their intention. The rest now depended on the Regent.
After Lin Feng and Li Shengming departed, Xue Wenjie let out a cold snort. "Indeed, she has grown up. She no longer hides her intentions."
He raised his head and said coldly to the outside, "Go and invite Young Master Jin."
After a while, Jin Ming hurried in and bowed. "Your Highness, do you have an urgent matter for me?"
"The Empress Dowager is selecting consorts and has chosen the sons of Lord Lin and Lord Li," Xue Wenjie said directly, without beating around the bush.
Jin Ming's expression became grave upon hearing this. "Your Highness, this may not be in your favor."
Xue Wenjie nodded. "It is. That is why I have summoned you to discuss a counter-strategy."
"The Empress Dowager's move is brilliant, a complete drain of resources. If Your Highness cannot satisfy Lord Lin and Lord Li, they may hesitate in their actions out of concern for their sons, which would be detrimental to Your Highness's ambition."
Xue Wenjie sneered. "It seems I have underestimated her."
Jin Ming's eyes darted, and he said in a low voice, "Since Your Highness cannot change the selection of consorts, why not place your own people among them?"
Xue Wenjie's gaze flickered, and he raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
Jin Ming smiled mysteriously. "Your Highness, you cannot interfere with the selection of consorts, but you can decide who is chosen for the harem."