Chapter 306 (2/2)

While Ji Man obediently listened to Marquis Moyu's words, Nie Chenyu seemed have gotten some hidden information too. Thinking that she could rely on the imperial n.o.ble consort to support her, Nie Chenyu thought she had endless opportunities. She tried all sorts of tricks on Ning Yuxuan such as dancing to seduce him and drugging him with aphrodisiac drugs.

Ning Yuxuan didn't avoid her and accepted all of her attempts. He even blatantly sought publicity by frequently taking Nie Chenyu outside to look at colored lanterns and stroll around the markets at night. It was all very romantic.

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Sooner or later, this day was bound to come; the emperor fell seriously ill, and a prince had to be named as his heir. Once there was a crown prince again, the situation in the imperial court would become clear. And naturally, a large group of people had to be sacrificed, and a great wave of people would rise up as well. In the middle of all this, the members of each of the prince's maternal clan would become implicated.

Ji Man wasn't someone that possessed remarkable abilities. She could only sit and wait as the changes unfolded. As Nie Qingyun rushed about and was deeply troubled, Ji Man could only help him by giving him banknotes using Errong's name.

While the imperial court was undergoing change, money was naturally a resource that needed to be used for bribes. Ji Man took the savings she had kept with Miss Shui and gave it Nie Qingyun by saying that Errong had given this to her.

As a result, Nie Qingyun refused to accept the money and even intensely questioned her on why Errong would have so much money. Unable to fabricate a good excuse, Ji Man could only tell Nie Qingyun about her private business.

Nie Qingyun's face became deathly pale. Squeezing her shoulder, he said, ”I'll take the money. You have to quickly sever your relations.h.i.+p with that shopkeeper. As for everything else that she's keeping for you, just treat it as giving her a gift. It's more important to ensure your safety.”

Ji Man nodded and planned on finding a day to visit Miss Shui to discuss this matter.

However, before she had time, the emperor's illness rapidly took a turn for the worst. It had only been a few days ago when she heard the news of the emperor's illness.

Two days after her conversation with Nie Qingyun, the death bells tolled inside the palace. The court officials lamented to the Heavens and uttered cries of anguish. Why? It was because the emperor hadn't chosen a crown prince yet!

The struggle between the empress's faction and the imperial n.o.ble consort's faction formally started. On one side, there was the empress, who said that the oldest son should be the next emperor. On the other side, there was the imperial n.o.ble consort, who had always been favored by the emperor and said that she had a posthumous imperial edict written by the late emperor.

Since the imperial n.o.ble consort had the posthumous imperial edict, it naturally didn't even need to be said what was written in the edict. The two factions clashed, and countless people became embroiled. However, at the end, Ning Mingjie and Marquis Moyu, who led a group of old court officials, escorted the third prince onto the throne.

The empress and the imperial n.o.ble consort were respectfully given the t.i.tles Renxiao Dowager Empress and Huizhuan Dowager Empress, respectively. The first prince was conferred a t.i.tle and would be sent away to his new fiedom, Yidu.

This was the public news that Ji Man heard, but she didn't know about the stormy behind the scenes development. She only knew that Zhao Jue's wish had been fulfilled; he had ascended the throne. He granted a general pardon to the opposing side as well as declaring Nie Qingyun, Marquis Moyu, and Ning Mingjie as officials that had performed outstanding services. They were given a lot of deferential treatment and bestowed countless gifts.

As Zhao Zhe peacefully departed for his fiefdom with his princess consort and the rest of his harem, he looked extremely unfettered.

It was as if there had been warning rumbles of a thunderstorm and you had already taken your clothes off the drying line and checked that drainpipe was working, but then after only a light drizzle, spring had arrived.

It was difficult to accept this outcome. The emperor had died too simply. What happened to the usual drama of forcing the emperor to abdicate? How could the first prince magnanimously let Zhao Jue become the emperor?

Still, after the third prince became the emperor, Ji Man received a ton of benefits. As the new emperor's younger cousin, she was on the same level of t.i.tled prince's daughter.

Like a withered tree that was experiencing spring, Nie Clan had gotten a new lease on life. Nie Xiangyuan also received the new emperor's favor and decided to return to the capital to resume being an official.

Sighing with emotion, Ji Man thought; fate had been changed.