Chapter 950: Beat Her At Her Own Game
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
As the saying went, the emperor loved his eldest son, and the commoners doted on him.
However, this was not applicable to the previous emperor.
Yin Huaixi continued, “Ever since the previous emperor ascended the throne, he hasn’t recruited any new concubines. Most of the concubines in the palace are recruited to balance the power of the royal court. Therefore, behind these concubines, there’s a huge force of relatives. However, the previous emperor, who has always been benevolent, has become unyielding for his youngest
son. ”
Yu Youyao came to a realization. She had heard from her grandmother that the previous emperor had five sons. The first three princes were born to daughters of meritorious generals. All of them had very prominent backgrounds.
Only the Fourth Prince, who was the current emperor, was born to a palace maid beside the previous emperor.
It was almost impossible for the previous emperor to “nurture” the Fifth Prince.
Indeed!
Yin Huaixi sighed softly. “Then, my father fell from the rockery and injured his head, almost losing his life. Although the previous emperor didn’t pursue the matter for his youngest son, he was still furious. Many people in the harem were implicated. There were rumors outside the palace that Concubine Hui was a demon concubine who caused trouble for the king. The rumors became more and more intense. Not long after, Concubine Hui fell sick from depression and passed away in a few years.”
The emperor, who had always been benevolent, was blinded by lust. For a woman, he became tough, domineering, and bloodthirsty. This also became the most favorable evidence for Concubine Hui causing trouble for the emperor.
Concubine Hui doted on the six palaces alone, and many concubines in the palace already had a grudge. However, because the Empress Dowager, who was still the Empress at that time, was suppressing them, they had never made a fuss.
However, the previous emperor’s intention to “establish a heir” had touched the interests of all the concubines who had given birth to princes in the harem. The interests of the Empress were also touched.
One could imagine what happened after that.
The reason why the Fifth Prince had fallen from the rockery was because of a scheme against the Fifth Prince and Concubine Hui.
The previous emperor couldn’t help but love his son. He was worried that if he didn’t issue a punishment, he would become worse in the future and still fall for it. Concubine Hui also knew very well that as long as she was alive, the previous emperor would always be in a dilemma for her. Her son would also become a sacrifice for the concubines to fight for power. That was why she died of depression.
Yin Huaixi continued, ‘After Concubine Hui passed away, the previous emperor suppressed the imperial family and the generals wantonly. He still didn’t give up and had the intention to support his youngest son to ascend the throne. Unfortunately, not long after, the previous emperor worked so hard that he fell sick.’
“The struggle for the throne became more and more intense. At that time, the Empress Dowager was still the Emperor. As she did not have any children, in order to protect herself and the interests of the family, she joined forces with the imperial family and the generals who had been suppressed to launch a palace riot and support the Fourth Prince to ascend the throne.”
“l wonder what kind of agreement the Empress Dowager and the previous emperor had reached. Later on, the Empress Dowager took out the previous emperor’s edict. The Fourth Prince successfully ascended the throne. After that, my father was protected. The other princes who participated in the palace riot were all killed for treason. The forces behind them were defeated.”
Her grandmother was also vague about what had happened when the current emperor ascended the throne.
She only mentioned that the previous emperor had made a will before he died and passed it on to the Fourth Prince.
She had never mentioned a palace riot.
Back then, among the old officials who had read the will and informed the world, there was an old official of the Yu Clan. Not long after the new emperor ascended the throne, he retired because of his old age.
Generally speaking, the old ministers who had been entrusted with the will were all personally appointed by the previous emperor to assist the new emperor. Not only did they assist the new emperor, but they also had the responsibility of persuading, teaching, and rejecting him. As the previous emperor had appointed them, the new emperor had to treat them with respect.
The fundamental reason why the current emperor had always treated the Yu Clan preferentially was because the Yu Clan had contributed to following the dragon back then. After that, that old minister of the Yu Clan was also obedient. He did not rely on the credit of the previous emperor entrusting him with the will to criticize the new emperor in the court. Instead, he took the initiative to resign and hand over his authority.
For someone like Grand Tutor Yang from the Ning Residence, it was probably not a temporary disaster.
Instead, it was like three feet of ice.
It wasn’t without reason that Yu Youyao thought this way. It was just that the dog emperor didn’t have tolerance and liked to play with power. How could he tolerate someone criticizing him?!
Yin Huaixi smiled. “My connections in the palace are all the connections that the previous emperor left for my father, including Eunuch He.”
“I heard that Eunuch He is the dog emperor’s companion when he was in the palace. He follows the Fourth Prince’s biological mother.” Yu Youyao was shocked. She had always thought that Eunuch Zhu was Yin Huaixi’s subordinate. Who knew that Eunuch Zhu was only working for Eunuch He?!
Yin Huaixi continued, “The Fourth Prince’s biological mother was originally from the previous emperor’s palace. She was a knowledgeable…” He paused for a moment. “A palace maid.”
Whether it was in the palace or in a wealthy family, when the descendants of the family reached the age of 15 or 16 years old, they would arrange for a beautiful and “knowledgeable” palace maid to guide men and women.
At this age, men would naturally have some fantasies about women. If their families did not guide and resolve them, their families were afraid that they would mess around behind their backs and ruin their bodies.
Young men at this age were still ignorant about this matter and couldn’t taste it. When they understood the matters between men and women, it was just to prevent them from being too outstanding.
As she was the first to follow the previous emperor, her status was low and she could not obtain a true title. She could only serve him as a palace maid.
However, her relationship with the emperor was ultimately different from other women who were accepted into the palace for benefits.
That was why she was allowed to give birth to an emperor’s child.
However, it wasn’t good for him to say this to Yu Youyao directly, lest it dirtied her ears.
Yu Youyao came to a realization. “The Fourth Prince’s biological mother is a slave. The people following her were specially bestowed by the previous emperor. The ones who are truly loyal are also from the previous emperor.”
It was no wonder that Yin Huaixi always knew the news in the palace so well and could scheme accurately.
Yin Huaixi nodded. “l received news earlier that the Empress had secretly sent someone to investigate your situation. The Precious Peace Temple and Mr. Xian Yun didn’t fall behind. Monks don’t lie. The Precious Peace Temple didn’t really reveal anything, but it was inevitable that it was revealed. Grandmaster Hui Neng did two readings for you and revealed that your fate is precious.”
Be it a marriage with a wealthy family or an ordinary family, they had to investigate in advance. They had to deduce the other party’s rough fate since they were young. Then, they had to find someone to combine their fates to see if this marriage was auspicious.
The Empress’s actions had already revealed some clues.
Yu Youyao’s eyes widened. “Did you know long ago that the Empress wanted to scheme for my marriage?” In a flash, she thought of the secret marriage decree sent by the Empress Dowager. “So, you revealed the news to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager understood the Empress’s intention to compete for the position of heir. In order to curb the Empress’s ambition, she gave us a marriage in advance, right?” She was a little confused.
How much had Yin Huaixi hidden from her?