Xue guifei’s reaction amused Fang shaojian.
He smiled and said, “Guifei niangniang, don’t misunderstand me. The Empress niangniang did not send me a dream. The Empress was a woman of flawless foresight. Before her death, she had already instructed me that, when the time came, I must meet with niangniang and make things clear.”
Xue guifei stared at Fang shaojian with suspicion. “What time? Just how many instructions did Rui Zhen Empress leave you?”
Fang shaojian spoke unhurriedly: “Her Majesty had long foreseen that Mei pin, that foolish woman, would come to such an end. She commanded me that once Mei pin’s crimes came to light, I must seek out niangniang, and reveal the truth about the Fourth Prince’s death.”
“What did you say?” Xue guifei was struck with horror.
The Fourth Prince had been her eldest son, yet he had died at the age of twelve. It had been twenty years since then. What purpose did Fang shaojian have in bringing it up now?
As for Mei pin’s abuse of the Eighth Princess, everyone inside and outside the palace knew the truth, everyone but the Emperor himself. But no one had ever dared to expose it.
To do so would bring no benefit, only disaster.
And indeed, the Eighth Princess had now died, her mistreatment laid bare before the Emperor.
The Emperor’s wrath was boundless; blood flowed like a river.
In a single day, more than a hundred servants had already been executed. Who knew how many more would perish?
Xue guifei’s eyes flashed with fury and hatred. She sneered coldly.
“Empress Ruizhen Cui is already dead. Do you mean to redress her name on her behalf?”
The death of the Fourth Prince was Xue guifei’s deepest regret. From that time on, she had opposed Empress Ruizhen Cui at every turn.
Fang shaojian’s eyes shifted slightly. He spoke softly: “Of course not to vindicate the Empress. I only wish to tell niangniang the truth.”
“The truth is that my son was killed by that woman, Empress Ruizhen Cui!” Xue guifei snapped. “She may be dead, but the Crown Prince lives. I will never forgive him.”
Fang shaojian lifted his eyelids slightly. “Does niangniang truly believe the Fourth Prince was killed by the Empress niangniang?”
“Who else?” Xue guifei laughed coldly, her eyes full of scorn.
“Certainly not,” Fang shaojian said firmly.
Xue guifei gave a dismissive laugh and leaned back in her chair.
“You think mere words will make bengong believe you?”
Fang shaojian lowered his head slightly. “Think carefully, niangniang. If the Empress had truly killed the Fourth Prince, why would His Majesty have merely scolded her a few times, then let the matter drop?”
Xue guifei sneered. “Because the Empress’s family was powerful, and His Majesty feared them.”
“Not so!” Fang shaojian said with sudden force. “The reason His Majesty did not pursue it was because the true culprit was none other than His Majesty himself.”
The words fell like thunder.
“You dare spout such nonsense!” Xue guifei shouted. “Do you take bengong for a three-year-old child, to believe whatever lies you tell?”
Fang shaojian smiled faintly. “Am I really speaking nonsense? Niangniang, recall carefully – what happened in the months before the Fourth Prince’s death?”
Xue guifei’s expression wavered. Despite herself, she began to think back. The years were distant, much forgotten, but some things remained clear.
She remembered well: at that time, a palace diviner had once read the Fourth Prince’s face, declaring him extraordinarily gifted, a dragon among men.
She had been overjoyed. From the age of three, the boy had shown uncommon brilliance. He could memorise books at a glance, reason from one point to another, and by a tender age already converse with great scholars, even offering insights on matters of state.
She had been so proud of him. Ministers and officials alike had praised the Fourth Prince.
And yet, a mere bout of cold had taken his life.
His death had plunged her into despair. All signs pointed to the Empress.
At that time, the court had been debating the choice of Crown Prince. The precocious Fourth Prince was an obvious threat to the Empress and her son.
And so, Xue guifei had always thought, the Empress had killed him to clear the path for her own child.
But His Majesty’s handling of the affair, loud thunder, little rain, had left her bitterly dissatisfied.
The matter was like a thorn forever lodged in her heart. Whenever an opportunity arose, she sought to trouble the Empress and the Crown Prince.
Over nine long years, she had allied with every anti–Crown Prince faction in court and palace alike, until the Crown Prince had no advocates at all.
And now, Fang shaojian was telling her the Empress was not the killer, that it had been the Emperor himself. Impossible!
Fang shaojian watched her grave expression and smiled. “Surely niangniang has recalled those events of old.”
Xue guifei gave a sharp laugh. “Absurd. Why would His Majesty harm the Fourth Prince? That was his own son, his most gifted son.”
Fang shaojian’s face did not change. “It was precisely because he was too gifted, so gifted that even His Majesty grew fearful.”
“Insolence!” Xue guifei cried.
But Fang shaojian was unmoved. His voice turned cold. “Does niangniang not know His Majesty’s nature by now?”
Her face grew heavy.
Of course she knew. It was because she knew that she never voiced opinions on state affairs or on the princes, lest she provoke the Emperor’s suspicion.
He had won his throne by stepping over the corpses of his father and brothers.
He was ever suspicious, never trusting anyone completely.
In the imperial family, before father and son came the ruler and subject.
Could it be that the Emperor had indeed killed the Fourth Prince, out of fear of his brilliance?
Could he have been so cruel, so ruthless?
Yes. He was exactly that cruel and ruthless.
A flicker of panic crossed Xue guifei’s eyes. Fang shaojian caught it, though he did not press.
“But he was just a child, ungrown. How could His Majesty bear such a hand?” Xue guifei felt her whole body grow cold.
Fang shaojian said: “Precisely because the Fourth Prince was still a child, it made him an easy target. Niangniang, do you know that back then, that daoist cast the Fourth Prince’s fate, twice?”
“Why would bengong not know?” Xue guifei’s face showed suspicion.
Fang shaojian gave a small smile. “This matter was known to only four people, the Emperor, Chen Dachang at His Majesty’s side, the Empress, and myself. But I only heard it from the Empress.”
Xue guifei’s expression turned grave. “What did the daoist say on the second casting of the Fourth Prince’s fate?”
“The daoist said only one line: The son harms the father.”
“Nonsense!” Xue guifei’s face went pale. Just three words had sealed the Fourth Prince’s fate, what a vicious Daoist, what a vicious Emperor.
Her expression twisted. “How does bengong know you’re not making this up? Perhaps that daoist was invited into the palace by the Empress on purpose, to sow discord, to drive a wedge between His Majesty and the Fourth Prince.”
Fang shaojian unhurriedly: “I knew niangniang would suspect as much. Then let me tell you another thing. That same year, the Emperor also asked the Daoist to divine the Empress’s fate. The daoist said: The empress harms the emperor.”
“You must be fabricating this! Trying to shake bengong’s resolve, bengong will not fall for it.”
Though Xue guifei clenched her teeth and denied him with words, inwardly, she already believed.
She remembered: before the Fourth Prince’s death, that daoist suddenly vanished from the palace one day; whether alive or dead, no one knew.
And afterwards, the Emperor and Empress, who once shared a decent bond, began to clash openly.
If not for the Empress’s elder brother, the former Zhen guogong, who held the Emperor’s deepest trust, the Emperor might have already deposed her.
The Empress had her means, her schemes, her powerful backing, and her own formidable strength to fight the Emperor to a stalemate. Thus, she survived, living on until this year, when she finally passed away.
The Fourth Prince back then was just a boy, utterly defenceless before his father. For the Emperor to harm him was all too easy; he could even shift the blame onto the Empress.
Though it was May, the heat stifling, Xue guifei felt as though she had been cast into the depths of winter, chilled to the bone.
Fang shaojian saw clearly; her heart had been moved.
He said to her, “Whether this is fabrication or not, I think niangniang already has your own judgment.”
Xue guifei gave a cold snort. “You claim His Majesty killed the Fourth Prince. Then why would the Empress willingly bear the crime of murdering him? She could have spoken the truth. If she had produced evidence, bengong would have believed her.
“But the matter was twenty years ago. The Empress has already passed. And only now do you come to me with this so-called truth? Fang shaojian, what exactly do you want?”
Fang shaojian’s brows shifted slightly. “The Empress back then chose to carry the blame rather than reveal the truth, for the sake of survival.
“Only if niangniang and the Empress stood as bitter enemies would the Emperor feel at ease. You know His Majesty’s suspicion runs deep. He cannot bear to see harmony, as if everyone were one family. Only when there is strife and blood-feud can he rest easy.”
Xue guifei’s face was set, yet doubts still churned in her heart.
“Then why reveal this truth now? What is Empress Ruizhen Cui really scheming?”
Fang shaojian spoke earnestly: “The Empress only hoped people would not go on slaughtering one another.”
He paused, then lowered his voice: “His Majesty is old.”
The meaning was clear without further words.
The Emperor was old; his time was running short.
To keep on fighting and killing now would only please him, but bring suffering to all others.
Xue guifei let out a mocking laugh. “Enough. Bengong understand your purpose. Bengong thanks you for telling the truth, but bengong will never ally with the Crown Prince. Whoever killed the Fourth Prince, it was twenty years ago. That cannot affect the decision bengong makes today.”
Fang shaojian smiled. “I understand niangniang’s meaning. To be honest, I never expected you to cooperate with the Crown Prince. His Majesty dislikes the Heir; the Eastern Palace is already in decline; everyone can see it. I only came today to ask for your protection.”
Xue guifei was first doubtful, then burst into laughter.
She laughed until tears came. “The mighty Fang shaojian, seeking protection from bengong? You must be joking.”
“I’m not joking. My situation now, niangniang knows it better than anyone. I only ask that, in light of my revealing the truth, you grant me shelter when the time comes.”
Xue guifei narrowed her eyes. “The affair of Mei pin’s downfall, was it your doing?”
Fang shaojian smiled faintly. “Niangniang is perceptive.”
Xue guifei frowned in puzzlement. “Why would you do such a thing?”
Fang shaojian chuckled softly. “Of course, to kill with a borrowed knife.”
“You’re not afraid of hurting yourself?”
“That’s why I seek your protection.”
Xue guifei sneered coldly. “Don’t tell me all your actions were at the dying command of Empress Ruizhen Cui?”
“Of course not. The Empress only asked me to reveal the truth, so the Eastern Palace could buy time.”
Fang shaojian wore an expression of frank sincerity.
Xue guifei gave a scornful laugh. “Empress Ruizhen Cui really did rack her brains for the Eastern Palace. And you, you betray her so quickly. Exchanging truth for your own safety. Aren’t you afraid she’ll die with eyes unclosed, and come find you in the night?”
Fang shaojian replied with solemn seriousness: “I do not believe in ghosts or gods.”
“Hahaha… You truly are cunning. You want bengong to shelter you? A trivial matter. But one truth alone isn’t enough to buy bengong’s protection. Have you thought it through?”
Xue guifei’s expression was half-smile, half-sneer. Just moments ago, she had let herself be unsettled by his so-called truth, led around by Fang shaojian.
Now, it was time for her to seize control of the pace, and lead him by the nose.
Fang shaojian frowned slightly. “What does niangniang want me to do?”
“Bengong wants you to move against the Eastern Palace. Are you willing?”
The very first words out of her mouth were of hellish difficulty.
Fang shaojian didn’t even need to think before shaking his head. “Impossible. The Empress niangniang once saved my life and recognised my worth. I could never help you act against the Eastern Palace.”
“Righteous words, so noble-sounding, how shameless. Don’t forget, you’ve already betrayed Her Majesty just now.”
Fang shaojian shook his head. “I did not betray the Empress. I merely realised that one truth alone wasn’t enough to secure niangniang’s cooperation. So I changed tactics, in hopes of winning your protection.”
Xue guifei mocked, “You gain bengong’s protection, then turn around and aid the Eastern Palace against bengong? Do you take bengong for some gullible three-year-old? Fang shaojian, if you still want to play games, don’t blame bengong for being merciless. Know this, the Emperor burns with fury at this very moment. One word from bengong, and your dog life is gone.”
But Fang shaojian only shook his head slightly, speaking with certainty: “Niangniang would not be willing to take my dog life, because I am still useful.”
Xue guifei gave a cold laugh. Indeed, she was unwilling to kill him… but letting him taste some fleshly suffering, that she could do.
Relaxing back, her tone turned icy. “Speak, then. What exactly can you do for bengong?”
Fang shaojian fixed his gaze on her, his words dripping with temptation. “I can avenge you, avenge the death of your son.”
Xue guifei shot upright, spine stiff, her expression a storm of shock, panic, and confusion.
Her voice dropped, sharp with fury: “Do not spout nonsense! Revenge? Bengong has never thought of revenge.”
Fang shaojian pressed on, seductive still: “For the death of the Fourth Prince… are you truly untouched, truly unmoved?”
Her emotions burst forth, she shouted: “Silence! Bengong commands you to hold your tongue, do you hear? Bengong will not hear such words again!”
Fang shaojian knew when to stop. “Please, niangniang, do not be angered. I shall take my leave.”
“Get out. Get out for bengong at once!”
She hurled a teacup at him. He dodged, straightened his back, and walked out of the hall.
Xue guifei was seething, her chest heaving violently. She flung every throwable object around her until the grand hall lay in ruin.
Palace attendants rushed in to clean up. Her trusted maid urged, “Niangniang, calm yourself. That Fang shaojian is no good. Better to use this palace purge as a chance to rid ourselves of him.”
“Not yet.”
Panting, Xue guifei said, “Help bengong back to my chambers.”
Her maid hurried to support her into the bedchamber.
She lay stiff upon the guifei couch, her whole body tense. Unbidden, her mind kept replaying Fang shaojian’s words.
Revenge. Avenge the death of her son.
The unspoken meaning was to kill the Emperor?
Xue guifei’s hands flew to her mouth, terrified that her innermost thought might slip out.
Her heart raced, messy and panicked, thoughts tangled into chaos.
She clenched her teeth, waved her maid out, and forbade anyone to enter without her command.
At last, alone within the chamber, she no longer needed to conceal.
Her hands trembled. Her heart thudded faster. Her face turned pale, her ears flushed red, yet strangely, there was a thrill in it.
She knew this was not normal.
What should she do? She asked herself.
As time passed, her excitement and panic ebbed, leaving cold clarity.
Could Fang shaojian’s talk of revenge be a trap?
Perhaps one last snare laid for her by the late Empress Cui Ruizhen.
To kill the Emperor was a crime that wiped out nine clans. If even a trace of such intent were exposed, if the Son of Heaven came to know, then she, her son Zhao wang, her grandchildren, her natal family, all would be doomed.
At that point, let alone contending for the throne, they would not even keep their lives.
Xue guifei paced her chamber, teeth clenched.
It had to be a trap. That Empress Ruizhen Cui was dead, and she was still scheming against her. A venomous woman indeed.
Xue guifei gave a cold laugh. “Attend me! Pass down bengong’s order, Fang shaojian is to be seized at once.”
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