CH 39

Abandoned Empress 14

Xin Lan selectively controlled certain individuals, turning them into her puppets.

One reason was that the Lost Soul Incense was not easy to come by, so Xin Lan had to be frugal and not waste it on insignificant people.

Another reason was that the fragrance of the Lost Soul Incense was too strong. If it were used in places like Hongxiu Pavilion, where people sought pleasure and revelry, it wouldn’t stand out much. However, if the intense aroma suddenly wafted through other locations, anyone would become suspicious.

Fortunately, among the people Xin Lan wanted to control, none of them avoided those places, so she systematically infiltrated them one by one.

Apart from the Commander of the Imperial Army, she also controlled three individuals holding important positions.

As a result, four courtesans were redeemed. Three of them went their separate ways, while one willingly stayed by Xin Lan’s side. That one happened to be the courtesan they initially redeemed, named Qingqing.

Xin Lan had intended for her to be redeemed and leave, and Qingqing did just that, happily setting off to find the physician she had taken a liking to, lingering by his side.

However, it didn’t take long for Ah Rou to discover her sitting at the entrance of the medical clinic and report it to Xin Lan.

Xin Lan asked why she had come, and Qingqing looked at Xin Lan, her eyes as lifeless as a stagnant pond.

“You are a formidable person. I want to follow you.”

“What about the lover you fancy?”

“He’s getting married.”

Qingqing’s expression remained calm, as if she didn’t care at all. But if she truly didn’t care, her eyes wouldn’t be so dull and lifeless.

“He doesn’t mind my tainted past.”

That’s what Qingqing said.

“But he desires someone pure enough.”

“If you want to stay, do your job well. I don’t keep idle people around here.”

“Yes.”

It turned out that Qingqing might not have the business acumen of Ah Rou, but she definitely knew how to please.

Each time, she negotiated with the medicine merchants or procured the things Xin Lan desired from elsewhere.

As time passed day by day, everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

Unbeknownst to her, the leaves in the courtyard had already fallen, signaling the changing seasons.

When Xin Lan first arrived, it was the scorching heat of summer. Now, the lotus flowers at the lake she once visited with Qu Zhi’an to escape the summer heat had withered away.

Autumn clouds lingered, and frost descended in the evening, leaving behind the dry lotus to listen to the sound of rain.

The pitter-patter of raindrops tapped against the eaves, tracing their way down.

Xin Lan stood in front of the hall, gazing at the curtains of rain outside.

The rain suddenly intensified, and the wind lifted Xin Lan’s hair and the corners of her clothes, bringing with it a touch of chilly rain.

The wind roared like a mountain being uprooted, and the rain poured down like a river unleashed. This was no exaggeration.

“As the weather turns cooler, my lady, please be cautious not to catch a cold.”

Chun Yue stepped forward and draped a sable fur coat over Xin Lan, standing by her side.

Xin Lan softly responded, feeling that these days had lost some flavor.

The game of politics was destined to be a patient process.

In the two or three months she had been here, apart from the first month when there was more commotion, leading to the downfall of Concubine Man, controlling a few puppets, communicating with the Prime Minister, and liaising with Qu Zhi’an, she hadn’t done much else.

The Emperor was preoccupied with the affairs of the previous dynasty’s harem, and he had no time or attention to spare for plotting against her.

Gradually, the entire court was falling under her control. Qu Zhi’an knew it, the Prime Minister knew it, but the Emperor remained blissfully unaware.

A month and a half ago, the grand selection of Imperial Concubines began, and the final group was placed in the Chuxiu Palace. It took quite a while for the beauties to be meticulously chosen and finalized, with each woman being assigned a specific rank and title. The Noble Consort and Concubine Xi were busy inspecting the newcomers, bringing liveliness back to the palace, except for the Liangyue Palace, which remained as desolate as ever.

Whether it was bustling or desolate, Xin Lan paid no mind. She had become a forgotten existence, which made it even more convenient for her to come and go from the palace.

When the rain subsided, Xin Lan went to Qu Zhi’an’s residence.

Qu Zhi’an no longer lived in that small courtyard. Her mansion had been renovated a month and a half ago, and she had moved in. The small courtyard that Xin Lan had purchased was now rented out to someone else.

“Why did you come in the rain?”

Qu Zhi’an saw Xin Lan walking over without even holding an umbrella, her dark hair dampened with droplets, her clothes and skirt bearing watermarks. She frowned.

“I had someone prepare a bowl of ginger soup for you.”

Qu Zhi’an used a handkerchief to wipe away the watermarks on Xin Lan’s face, her gaze fixed on the gently trembling eyelashes, feeling her heart soften.

“I only came when the rain subsided a bit. Otherwise, judging by the sky and the rain, it would have lasted a long time.”

Not long after Xin Lan’s words faded, a rumbling sound echoed from outside. The thunder seemed capable of shattering the entire world, as dark clouds crowded the sky, enveloping the entire capital in rain.

Xin Lan looked at Qu Zhi’an with an expression that said, “See, I told you.”

“But is there something urgent that couldn’t wait?”

“Are you saying Yan Yan doesn’t welcome me?”

“How could that be? Oh, Lan’er, you’ve misunderstood me. The moment you arrive, my world lights up with radiance. I’m so delighted, I couldn’t possibly find fault with you.”

Qu Zhi’an found a set of clean clothes for Xin Lan and placed them in her hands.

Xin Lan didn’t refuse and stood up, moving behind a folding screen to change her attire.

Qu Zhi’an didn’t leave either; she watched the graceful silhouette behind the folding screen.

“To be honest, there isn’t anything else. I just wanted to ask how your conversation with my father went?”

Xin Lan draped her wet clothes over the folding screen and put on the soft, clean ones.

She would occasionally come here, so Qu Zhi’an had two sets of women’s clothing stored in her wardrobe, tucked away at the very bottom.

“The plan went smoothly. The pawns under the Prime Minister’s control were seemingly rendered useless, but they still serve a purpose.”

“I see.”

“However, even if it’s just for show, the Xin family has been significantly weakened. If one day you truly achieve what you want, do you intend to slowly rebuild it?”

Qu Zhi’an wasn’t surprised that Xin Lan managed to persuade the Prime Minister. She and the Prime Minister appeared to be adversaries in the court, but in reality, many things were carefully orchestrated.

“Let’s see how things unfold. I don’t have that intention in my heart. I cannot afford to become the second Wu Yanqing.”

Xin Lan recalled her conversation with the Prime Minister two months ago. It was an afternoon when she had sent someone to invite him to a teahouse. When the Prime Minister arrived and saw that it was his estranged daughter in the Cold Palace, his eyes were filled with disbelief, as if they were about to fall out of their sockets.

Xin Lan didn’t bother with pleasantries or pretend to have any father-daughter sentiments. She poured a cup of tea for the Prime Minister and began discussing matters at hand.

As the conversation progressed, the Prime Minister’s initial excitement and astonishment gradually cooled, and his expression turned icy as he pondered the situation.

Xin Lan wasn’t persuading him; she was simply presenting the facts before the Prime Minister.

The decline of the Xin family was inevitable. No matter how they tried to maintain their position, it would be futile. After all, even if he stretched his limits, he was still a subject. If the Emperor wanted to take action, there was little they could do.

In the palace, Xin Lan and Xin Long both faced dire circumstances. One was deposed, while the other was merely a facade. Moreover, the Emperor had no interest in deceitful gestures. If the original owner, who had accompanied him for five years, could be deposed, there was no way the Xin family could rely on the palace to save them.

Xin Lan told the Prime Minister that if they wanted to preserve the lives of the Xin family, they must first sacrifice something.

For example, the tightly held, unwilling-to-be-relinquished power in their hands.

Qu Zhi’an was currently favored by the Emperor, a trusted confidant, and an indispensable minister. The Emperor saw her as a sharp sword.

What Xin Lan wanted to do was make that sword appear even sharper, causing the Emperor to let down his guard and ultimately impale himself.

At first, the Prime Minister hesitated, but Xin Lan displayed a strong stance.

She openly declared that Qu Zhi’an belonged to her. If the Prime Minister was unwilling to cooperate, then she would have no choice but to disregard their familial ties and proceed with what she needed to do.

Initially, the Prime Minister worried that it might be a trap set by the Emperor, designed to make the Xin family willingly relinquish power.

However, Xin Lan slowly revealed the sufferings endured by the original owner, recounting one ordeal after another. No one hated Wu Yanqing more than she did, and no one desired to see Wu Yanqing meet a miserable end more than she did.

However, no matter what, the Prime Minister was still the original owner’s father, someone who had watched his beloved daughter grow up. After hearing Xin Lan’s explanations, he was deeply shaken.

Yet, he still did not give an immediate answer, and Xin Lan didn’t push him. The conversation ended there.

Later, Xin Lan commanded her puppets to act according to Qu Zhi’an’s wishes. Qu Zhi’an had become the leader of a new faction in the court, removing a lucrative position held by the Xin family. It was then that the Prime Minister finally relented.

In these two months, the Prime Minister and Qu Zhi’an seamlessly cooperated. One pretended to have their influence dismantled, while the other pretended to be diligently working. Wu Yanqing was delighted, and because of this, he regarded Qu Zhi’an as a capable individual, restraining himself from making any further advances. This spared Qu Zhi’an from some harassment.

Xin Lan reveled in this development. She was creating a beautiful dream for Wu Yanqing, making him happy, allowing him to become increasingly complacent and joyful. When he woke up from this dream, he would realize how painful the fall would be.

From the very beginning, Xin Lan had no intention of continuing to support the Xin family. What she wanted was her own power, not to control a power that controlled her. Although the Xin family was her nominal maternal side, it held no significance to her. She would rather see Qu Zhi’an ascend to a position above ten thousand others than let the Xin family linger on a single peak.

Xin Lan emerged after changing her clothes, her hair loosely cascading over her shoulders. As she sat on the chair, Qu Zhi’an pushed a cup of hot tea in front of her.

“If not the Xin family, then who do you plan to support?”

Qu Zhi’an asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear Xin Lan say it herself, to hear it with her own ears.

“So now Yan Yan has also learned the art of asking rhetorical questions. Besides you, who else in this court can put my mind at ease?”

“Like Xiao Daren and Li Daren?”

Qu Zhi’an smiled as she mentioned a few names, all of whom were puppets manipulated by Xin Lan.

“But all of them combined still can’t compare to you, Yan Yan.”

Xin Lan propped her chin up and looked up at Qu Zhi’an, speaking earnestly.

The hand that Qu Zhi’an had placed at her side couldn’t help but curl and relax again, struggling to contain the pounding sound in her chest.

In the face of those eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a slight palpitation.

“Lan’er, you’re overestimating me.”

Qu Zhi’an replied, speaking calmly without showing any signs of being flustered.

“Speaking the truth.”

Xin Lan said with a slight smile. She stood up and opened the window slightly, observing the pouring rain outside.

“Such heavy rain. I wonder if it will stop tonight.”

“If it doesn’t, it’s no problem. You can stay here with me.”

Xin Lan nodded in agreement and continued to gaze at the large raindrops, falling like detached beads from the sky, scattering and merging with other droplets on the ground.

In truth, Xin Lan didn’t have a pressing need to make this trip today. There wasn’t any urgent information she needed to know about.

It was just that as she looked at the heavy rain, memories of lotus flowers and Qu Zhi’an came rushing back.

She felt like visiting, so she did.

No particular reason was needed.