Chapter 51 - How to betray teammates without alliances? (1/2)

Yuan Lianniang, who was glaring at Xi Jing, instantly widened her eyes, “What did you just say?”

Then she immediately gave a gasp of astonishment, “Are you crazy? Absolutely not!”

“Absolutely not?” Yun Fenghuang looked at her with a faint smile, and waved her hand to sign Xi Jing and Xi Le to leave. After that, she said leisurely, “Then Jie Yu, please tell me, is His Majesty able to fight with Ji’s Family now?”

Before Yuan Lianniang answered, she continued to say, “If he is able to do it, how can you be degraded to be Jie Yu? His Majesty is still dormant, but Ji’s Family has already been suspicious. What should he do now? Fight with them? If he fights with them, the result will be what I just told you. Even if Noble Consort Gui can’t give birth to a boy this time, according to what they had done eight years ago, they can select a few ignorant children among so many Princedoms, right?”

“Given the situation, he can only take a step back and continue to endure.”

There was a light flashed in Yun Fenghuang’s eyes, and she said softly, “In fact, your father, Queen Mother of Mercy and His Majesty are right to choose this opportunity to take actions now. Noble Consort Gui is pregnant, and Mr. Ling Shan enters the Prince Regent’s Mansion as a tutor. It’s the time that the balance of the Imperial Harem and Imperial Palace is broken. As long as they operate well, they will benefit greatly, and even gain the power then!

“But now Queen Mother of Honor and the Empress are already in doubt…”

Yuan Lianniang said nervously, “They are just in doubt! They have no evidence! People of Ji’s Family don’t like Queen Mother Ji and Empress Ji to interfere the political affairs the most, and they will not believe what they would say at all.”

Yun Fenghuang refuted, “Do you even believe this kind of bullshit? Queen Mother Ji and Empress Ji are the offspring of Ji’s Family. They only earned their current identity and status because of Ji’s Family, not the grace and favor of the Emperor! They won’t be stupid to abandon Ji’s Family but favor His Majesty?! Usually, Ji’s Family may not like the women in their family to interfere the political affairs, but how can they not be cautious about the big affairs that could decide their fates!”

She sneered again, “Maybe Ji’s Family is using such rumors to cheat others at the criminal moment!”

“You are just a girl from a humble family. You know nothing!” Yuan Lianniang said upset, “When Emperor Shenzong died, Emperor Xiaozong just ascended the throne. He didn’t like Ji’s Family to domineer, so he wanted to suppress Ji’s Family. However, because he was young and didn’t have great foundation in the Imperial Court then, his plan was immediately discovered by Ji’s Family… Afterwards, he failed to get his wish anyway. During the process, because the Empress Dowager loved her son, she gave Emperor Xiaozong much partial favor, and even convinced Queen Mother of Honor to help Emperor Xiaozong… But Ji’s Family won in the end, and even Queen Mother of Honor finally turned her coat and stood the same side with her family…”

“Despite this, Ji’s Family still thought that women were like the water being splashed out of the door once they got married, and they couldn’t be trusted!”

“In order to avoid a similar situation, people of Ji’s Family took the lead in not allowing women of the Imperial Harem to interfere the political affairs. They not only gained a good reputation, but also prevented the daughters in their family from helping Gongxiang’s Family to fight against them!”

Yun Fenghuang finally understood how the situation developed like this. No wonder that Empress Ji tried her best to repay her family, but she was not trusted… However, it was too much for Ji’s Family to abandon food because of choking. The Empress Dowager was the biological mother of Empress Xiaozong, and it was human nature that a mother loved her son than her natal family. However, neither Queen Mother of Honor nor Empress Ji had a son.

Although Yun Fenghuang was not clear the affections between Queen Mother of Honor and Emperor Xiaozong, as for those between Empress Ji and Emperor Chunjia…

Anyway, Yun Fenghuang didn’t think the Empress preferred the Emperor than her tribe.

As Yun Fenghuang thought about it, Yuan Lianniang continued to say, “However, Queen Mother of Honor and Empress Ji are both restless. Apart from taking charge of the Imperial Harem, they always try to interfere the political affairs in the Imperial Court… Duke Ye, Marquess Haixi and Marquess Minyang are very annoying about this. Even at the palace banquet the year before, they openly advised the Empress Dowager to restrain her daughter-in-law and grand-daughter to obey their duties… So…”

“So, why are these two women still monitoring and suspecting His Majesty?” Yun Fenghuang interrupted her leisurely. In fact, she still wanted to hear more information, but she couldn’t. If she allowed Yuan Lianniang to continue, Yuan Lianniang’s confidence would gradually increase, and the effect of her previous formidable speech would be greatly reduced.

It was reasonable that the lobbyists in ancient times always liked to intimidate someone in the beginning if they wanted to convince the one.

Yun Fenghuang must keep Yuan Lianniang maintaining the fear and awe toward the situation and her, so that every word she said could make a vivid impression in Yun Lianniang’s mind, and she could maintain her authority. At this moment, she deliberately sneered and said, “The two women’s current status and powers both rely on Ji’s Family. If Ji’s Family really wants to control them, can’t they make it?”

“But how about the results?”

“They were warned from time to time, and even someone advised that women of the Imperial Harem were not allowed to interfere the political affairs, but now what? These two still tirelessly keep interfering the political affairs like men?”

“If you really believe the fake scene they created, I have nothing to say… I can only say that Lord Fuyang’s offspring does not have the blessings to see the Emperor in power!”

Yuan Lianniang’s face was very dark, “Well, even if Ji’s Family has believed these two women’s words and have already doubted His Majesty, why should my dad die?”

“If His Majesty wants to do something at this time, besides your father and Duke Yi, who else can he rely on?” Yun Fenghuang sneered. “It’s a big thing. Just admitting mistakes and declaring where the Emperor stands are not enough to dispel Ji’s Family’s suspicion! How can Ji’s Family rest assured if the Emperor doesn’t sacrifice a person of enough weight? If your father doesn’t die, do you expect Duke Yi to suicide? My following words may sound uncomfortable. Not to mention that Yun Zhao wouldn’t do it, even if he is really so loyal, you must prevent this from happening if you still love His Majesty!”

“After all, with regard to the importance to His Majesty, your family is not comparable to Duke Yi’s Mansion!”

“But that’s my dad!” Yuan Lianniang said sullenly. “You mean I should kill my father for His Majesty?! Are you still a human!?”