For Emperor Mingxian, who automatically thought of these things, this idea displeased him, but looking at the little guy making a fuss, Emperor Mingxian really couldn't continue to display his majesty, and said, "Bring Su'er here so I can see him."
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of uncertainty in each other's eyes. They were unsure whether Emperor Mingxian intended to harm Baili Su. They and Baili Chang had been summoned today because of the incident involving Xia Guang and Ku Cao. Could he be trying to use this opportunity to get rid of a child?
Ouyang Yue held Baili Su tightly, a hint of coldness showing on her face. Although it was not obvious, her nervousness towards Emperor Mingxian was still faintly visible. This so-called father emperor made them feel resentful and even distrustful.
Emperor Mingxian looked at the two of them coldly. Baili Chen narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, then picked up Baili Su and was about to step forward. Before leaving, he gave Ouyang Yue a reassuring look. Under these circumstances, Emperor Mingxian would not do anything. Even a tiger would not eat its cubs. Emperor Mingxian valued his reputation so much that he would not do something so reckless. Baili Su would definitely be fine.
Strangely enough, Baili Su, who had been crying incessantly just moments before, suddenly stopped crying as soon as he was in Emperor Mingxian's arms. He opened his big, watery eyes, clear and calm like the purest lake water in the world, without a trace of impurity. His clarity seemed to cleanse one's soul, giving Emperor Mingxian a jolt in an instant. Those eyes stared straight at Emperor Mingxian, as if he had seen a wonderful toy, unwilling to look away. After a moment of silence, when even Baili Chen and Baili Chang's couple were a little nervous, Baili Su suddenly smiled and giggled at Emperor Mingxian. Baili Su was already exquisitely cute, and this smile seemed to melt all the softness in one's heart, making one's heart feel gentle, beautiful, and joyful.
"Good grandson!" Emperor Mingxian's eyes couldn't help but show a hint of joy, and the corners of his eyes even lifted slightly. This smile was definitely not the fake one he had shown before; it came from the depths of his eyes.
Baili Su waved his arms haphazardly, making "ee-ee-ya-ya" sounds, and continued to smile, looking at Emperor Mingxian as if he had seen his favorite thing. His little face was full of interest. Emperor Mingxian couldn't help but laugh and said, "This child is quite interesting."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but look down. Emperor Mingxian didn't tell them to get up, so naturally no one dared to. He smiled and said, "Why are you still kneeling? Get up. Fourth Prince's wife is pregnant. Aren't you afraid something might happen? Please take a seat."
Emperor Mingxian naturally tried to save face, and no one took it seriously. They all thanked him and sat down. But then Emperor Mingxian suddenly gasped, and Fu Shun's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Everyone was puzzled, and Baili Su was happily tugging at Emperor Mingxian's beard with his two short, chubby little hands, looking adorably adorable and infuriatingly cute.
'cluck cluck'
Keep pulling!
Before long, Emperor Mingxian's face darkened, and Fu Shun trembled, unsure of what to do. Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue stood up at the same time and walked over quickly, fearing that Emperor Mingxian might throw Baili Su to the ground in a fit of anger. However, when they were only two steps away, Emperor Mingxian suddenly raised his head and glanced at them indifferently. His eyes made it clear that they should not come any closer.
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue stiffened, fearing for Su'er's safety and unwilling to understand. At this moment, Baili Chang suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Baili Chen, lowering his voice to say, "Seventh Brother, don't be impulsive. Father may be angry, but he wouldn't do such a thing. Don't you know that?" Given Emperor Mingxian's doting affection for Baili Chen, such a thing was impossible. However, there were some things Baili Chang didn't know. Baili Chen frowned, shook off Baili Chang, and strode out, leaving Baili Chang somewhat stunned. Ouyang Yue, however, had already rushed forward.
However, Emperor Mingxian, who had been looking down at Baili Su who was constantly causing trouble, suddenly burst into laughter when he saw Baili Su's cheerful, innocent, and joyful expression: "For so long, no one has ever dared to pluck my beard in front of me. What do you call that? Daring to pluck the hair on a tiger's head, is that what you mean? My grandson is quite a daring fellow."
Everyone stopped what they were doing, waiting for Emperor Mingxian's next move. But at this moment, Baili Su was still mischievously tugging at Emperor Mingxian's beard, looking like he was having a great time. Emperor Mingxian's face stiffened, and he reached out and held Baili Su's small hand. The soft feeling in his hand made Emperor Mingxian's heart skip a beat. When he looked down, Baili Su had been grinning foolishly for a long time, looking very silly. But for some reason, Emperor Mingxian just felt that he was so cute.
Living in the palace, Emperor Mingxian learned from a young age that to survive, one had to be a good actor. If others could act convincingly, one had to act even better, capturing the essence of the role. Emperor Mingxian's heart had long since hardened. Even after he became emperor and the most powerful person in the Great Zhou Dynasty, many things left him feeling powerless and even more constrained. He loved only one woman in his life, Empress Bai. But when it came to the throne, to secure his position, wasn't Emperor Mingxian also a cold-blooded man? He could make many promises to Empress Bai, but even if he had truly known back then, could he have prevented his beloved woman from dying before him? The outcome might still have been the same.
To be an emperor, one cannot be a soft-hearted person. Who among them is not heartless? For the sake of power, they can give up many things, including conscience, love, and so on. Emperor Mingxian never felt there was anything wrong with this, but for some reason, when facing this pure-hearted little man in front of him, he felt that this idea seemed somewhat ridiculous. He couldn't explain the feeling, but he just felt that he had been wrong before and had missed out on many things.
Emperor Mingxian's eyes flashed with a hint of confusion. Even when Baili Su was pulling his beard, Emperor Mingxian did not react. Everyone was very suspicious. Baili Chang looked at Baili Su with a flicker in his eyes. His father was always the most serious and earnest, but now he was being pulled by Baili Su without showing any resentment. It seemed that not only his seventh brother was favored by his father, but Baili Su would probably follow in his footsteps and even be more favored. Baili Su was truly the first person to dare to be presumptuous in front of his father.
"Hehehe," Baili Su felt a little pleased. This old rascal was quite sensible, knowing to let him vent his anger.
Baili Su was smarter than most children, but he was still a child at heart. It was impossible for him to come up with any grand schemes, but he could certainly cause some trouble for his servants. When Emperor Mingxian brought him here, he could feel the tension between Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue, which made him even more resentful towards Emperor Mingxian. Seeing that his beard was particularly shiny, Baili Su immediately thought of plucking it all off. However, this man really was a bit crazy. Plucking his beard seemed to amuse him. Was he a born masochist?
Baili Su was speechless. If this old man really had a masochistic streak, then his actions just now would have been exactly what the old man wanted. That wouldn't do! He was trying to get revenge on his parents. Humph, he wouldn't let the old man have his way. Baili Su's little head started to wander into wild thoughts. If someone was born a masochist, most of them would extremely enjoy being abused. Some would enjoy emotional abuse, but most would prefer physical abuse. Both emotional and physical abuse would happen at the same time. With his current small body, it wouldn't be easy for him to physically abuse the old man. And if he really abused the old man, wouldn't he be even happier? So, he had to think about it the other way around. The more they liked to abuse, the more uncomfortable and uneasy they would feel if others were kind or gentle to them.
Hmph!
Baili Su's delicate red lips curled into a smirk, his eyes gleaming. He reached out his chubby little hand and grabbed Emperor Mingxian's beard, pulling the emperor's head down. Yet, Emperor Mingxian remained indifferent, showing no displeasure. Baili Su became even more convinced that the old man was a masochist. He snorted inwardly, then gently rubbed Emperor Mingxian's chin, feigning deep regret for pulling his beard. The soft little hand on his face made Emperor Mingxian feel his heart melt, and he involuntarily furrowed his brow slightly. How could he, the emperor of the Great Zhou, be so easily swayed by a child's unintentional act? If he were so easily manipulated, he would have been killed countless times over.
That's how the misunderstanding arose. In Baili Su's eyes, this masochistic old man couldn't stand being looked at, and now he was unhappy, which was well-deserved. He would make him even more depressed. Thinking this, he couldn't help but turn around and look at Ouyang Yue, as if to say, "Mom, you are my guardian angel. Please show me your love and praise me." Her little hands had already crawled towards Emperor Mingxian's face, and then she wrapped her arms around him in a friendly manner.
"Oh, Prince Chen..." Fu Shun was terrified. He had served Emperor Mingxian for many years, and Emperor Mingxian had only held Baili Zhi a few times. He had never held any of the other children, no matter whose they were. He hated being around children. Fu Shun was afraid that Baili Su would be punished, since the child was so cute. He was also afraid that Emperor Mingxian would really be angry, otherwise those of them around him would be in trouble.
But after a while, they saw that Emperor Mingxian's face did not change, but instead carried an indescribable complex emotion.
"Smack, smack, smack."
'cluck cluck'
Just then, several spitting sounds rang out. Everyone was stunned. They saw Baili Su holding Emperor Mingxian's head and smearing saliva on his face. It really was smearing saliva. Every time he kissed Emperor Mingxian, his face would have a glistening substance. In no time, Emperor Mingxian's face looked like it had been drenched in water. Emperor Mingxian was stunned. Everyone was embarrassed and worried. Baili Su was still laughing heartlessly. Ouyang Yue almost picked him up and spanked his little bottom.
Fu Shun, trembling, stretched out his handkerchief to wipe Emperor Mingxian's face, his heart pounding in his chest. Would the Emperor, in a fit of rage, drag everyone away and punish them? Baili Su, however, was furious. He snatched the handkerchief from Fu Shun's hand and threw it heavily to the ground. The handkerchief, seemingly weightless, floated in the air for a moment before slowly landing. Fu Shun, still trembling with fear, yelled at Baili Su. But Baili Su then grabbed Emperor Mingxian's face and wiped it with his breath. Afterward, he grinned smugly at Baili Chen, Emperor Mingxian, as if his actions were incredibly impressive.
Indeed, it was quite remarkable. Emperor Mingxian had been sitting there in a daze for a long time, his face flashing with various expressions. No one knew what he was thinking, but most people thought he was probably angry. Baili Chen remembered how much Emperor Mingxian hated children. Not to mention Baili Cheng, Baili Jian, and others were children born to women he disliked, even his son, who had caused the death of his beloved woman, was treated as if getting close to him was dirty when Emperor Mingxian was very young. At that time, he was just a child, longing for his father's love. Unfortunately, he later realized that it would never belong to him.
Even for Baili Zhi, the child Emperor Mingxian truly loved, the time spent truly close to him, hugging and joking with him would never exceed five fingers. His heart was like a layer of iron, and no one could break through that layer of warmth.
But this time Baili Chen guessed wrong, because the next moment, Emperor Mingxian burst into laughter: "My grandson is indeed clever, he even knows how to comfort his grandfather, good child." Although Emperor Mingxian was laughing, the look in his eyes when he looked at Baili Su was somewhat complicated.
Baili Su and Baili Chen look very alike, and Baili Chen has inherited a large part of the White Empress's beauty. Looking at the cute and innocent Baili Su, Emperor Mingxian seems to see the White Empress when she was young. Back then, they were still young and naive, and they loved to play together. The White Empress would always look at him with her big, cute eyes and an expression of admiration. Unconsciously, Emperor Mingxian has superimposed the images of Baili Su and the White Empress.
Wow!
Ouyang Yue inwardly cursed. What kind of look was Emperor Mingxian giving her son? The palace was full of intrigues and dirty tricks. Could it be that Emperor Mingxian had a pedophilic tendency?! Ouyang Yue's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward, lifting Baili Su into her arms. Emperor Mingxian immediately realized that the weight in his arms was light. Seeing Ouyang Yue's actions, his face darkened, but he heard Ouyang Yue feign anger and say, "Su'er, you are too disobedient. How could you be so rude to your imperial grandfather? You have no respect for elders! Your father is still young and doesn't understand anything. Please don't blame him for his disrespect."
Emperor Mingxian also came to his senses, realizing that he had been completely unprepared just now, which was truly dangerous. He glanced at Baili Su and then looked away, saying, "Su'er is quite adorable. Seventh Brother's wife, don't be too strict with him. It's a good thing for the child to be lively."
"Yes, Father." Ouyang Yue stared intently at Emperor Mingxian with eyes like lightning. Seeing that the latter's expression was calm and that his gaze towards Baili Su was also normal, she thought that she might be overthinking it. She also knew that Su'er resembled Baili Chen and Empress Bai.
Emperor Mingxian sat up straight, and Fushun had already tossed him a wet wipe. Emperor Mingxian took it and wiped his face, then said to Baili Chen and the others, "Do you know why I summoned you here today?"
"Please enlighten me, Father."
Emperor Mingxian glanced at Baili Chen and Baili Chang and said calmly, "You both know that the Empress Dowager and I have our own destinies. I am more inclined towards Buddhism, while the Empress Dowager prefers Taoism. For the past few years, the Empress Dowager has been using beauty and health-preserving pills refined by Master Lingyun of Baiyun Taoist Temple. However, recently, something seems to have happened at Baiyun Taoist Temple, and they haven't sent any pills for half a month. Yesterday, all the flowers and plants in the Empress Dowager's palace withered and died, and the Empress Dowager was very worried. I am concerned about the Empress Dowager's health, so I want to send someone to check on the situation. However, the choice of this person cannot be taken lightly."
What's not to understand? Emperor Mingxian wants someone to investigate the Baiyun Taoist Temple. For years, the temple has regularly sent elixirs to the Empress Dowager, who still trusts it. This is partly because the Empress Dowager's health has indeed improved in recent years, boosting the temple's popularity. The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty have a very positive impression of the temple. If it's about the elixirs or the Empress Dowager, it's only natural for Emperor Mingxian to send someone to investigate. The key is that Emperor Mingxian has always held a detached attitude towards Taoism. In his eyes, Buddhism should be the most important religion, and he naturally values Buddhism more. Taoism, in reality, wouldn't benefit him. Sending someone now is for the Empress Dowager's sake, and perhaps also for Emperor Mingxian's. But whoever it is, they must have experience. At least Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen already understand that the Empress Dowager is no ordinary kind old lady, but a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Emperor Mingxian glanced at Baili Chang and Baili Chen: "Seventh Brother, are you willing to go?" Everyone knew that Baili Chang was in poor health. Baili Chen was originally in poor health, but Emperor Mingxian not only knew that he was faking it, but in recent years Baili Chen had also gradually stopped pretending and looked like a normal person. Naturally, Baili Chen was the better choice.
Ouyang Yue kept a straight face. Baili Su looked at his mother like this and stretched out his little hand as if to do something, but Ouyang Yue grabbed it and pressed it down: "Su'er, be good and take a nap." Baili Su was a little drowsy, but he had actually been tired earlier. His little body didn't have much strength, and he had exhausted it all just now. As soon as Ouyang Yue said that, he yawned and closed his eyes and fell asleep.
After speaking, Emperor Mingxian glanced at Baili Chang and Bai Ying and said, "Fourth Prince's wife is newly pregnant and needs someone to take care of her. Fourth Prince, you shouldn't go. Go back and take good care of your wife as she prepares for childbirth."
"Yes, Father."
"Well, you may leave now." Emperor Mingxian waved his hand, and Baili Chang and Bai Ying withdrew. However, after leaving the imperial study, the expressions on their faces were somewhat strange. "Your Highness, you should go and pay your respects to the Empress Dowager first."
"good!"
In the Imperial Study, only the three from Prince Chen's residence remained. Emperor Mingxian waited quietly for their reaction. After a while, no one spoke. Emperor Mingxian then said, "Seventh Prince, are you unwilling to go?"
"Your Majesty, I did not say that." But that was what he was thinking. Emperor Mingxian looked at Baili Chen, then turned to Ouyang Yue: "Seventh Prince's wife, you go out first. I have something to say to the Seventh Prince."
Ouyang Yue bowed and withdrew, but as she left, her dark eyes still swept over Emperor Mingxian. The matter of the rosy clouds and withered grass had probably really moved Emperor Mingxian. Was he starting to suspect him?
In the imperial study, Emperor Mingxian pointed to a chair and said, "Sit down."
Baili Chen didn't stand on ceremony and strode over to sit down without any regard for his image. Emperor Mingxian frowned slightly, then put his hand down again: "So many years have passed, yet you are still so unruly in your actions and even your sitting posture is improper."
Baili Chen looked at Emperor Mingxian strangely. This man had never cared about him since he was a child. He had gone from expecting him to feeling some resentment. There was no interaction between them like that between a father and son. Why was he acting like he was the father and trying to control him now? Wasn't it too late? Baili Chen said nonchalantly, "I'm used to it. Nobody has ever cared about me. It's good this way. If everyone becomes as strict as an old man, and everyone in the world looks the same, what's the point?"
Hearing the sarcasm in Baili Chen's tone, Emperor Mingxian's eyes darkened, and he said, "Su'er looks quite like your mother when she was young."
"Is that so? That's normal. He's the Empress's grandson. If he doesn't resemble the Empress, who else would he resemble?" Baili Chen said calmly and dismissively. Emperor Mingxian suddenly felt speechless and said after a moment of silence, "I sent you to Baiyun Temple because there's something I need you to investigate."
"As expected, Your Majesty understands." Baili Chen sneered. Would Emperor Mingxian even want to see him now that he's alright? He probably wishes he'd disappear forever. Ha!
Emperor Baixian frowned slightly: "Find an opportunity to investigate the situation of Master Lingyun. Over the years, the Empress Dowager has had close ties with Baiyun Temple. I have long felt that something is not right about Baiyun Temple."
“If Grandmother has any problems at that time, she can use the withered grass or the glow of the sunset to make a big fuss. Then she can make your son die, and I will have no words to say, right?” Baili Chen sneered at Emperor Mingxian. Emperor Mingxian’s face darkened: “I have never thought of that.”
“But that’s exactly what Father Emperor did.” Baili Chen was increasingly angry. Thinking of everything that had happened before, and the constantly changing expression on Emperor Mingxian’s face as he held Baili Su, he thought, “If you don’t want to let him go, then you can’t even let his son go? Does this father want to cut off his lineage?” “No matter what, if anyone dares to harm the people I’m watching, I’m capable of anything.”
"What do you mean by this? Am I trying to harm you?" Emperor Mingxian frowned deeply, feeling somewhat guilty. His summoning of Baili Chang and Baili Chen was merely a smokescreen. In truth, Emperor Mingxian had long wanted to investigate this matter but had never found the opportunity. This time, however, several things happened at the same time, so he could find someone to go and take a look. He had originally intended to send Baili Zhi, but because of the previous incident at Prince Chen's residence, he thought that by using this matter, neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress could say anything. After all, the matter of the withered grass was mysterious, and it couldn't be left unresolved, as it would make him, as a son, seem like he didn't care about his mother. Since the matter originated from Prince Chen's residence, Baili Chen was naturally the best choice.
"How many harms has Father caused over the years?" Baili Chen's eyes flickered with a hint of resentment as he spoke.
Emperor Mingxian paused for a moment and said, "I... I have indeed... but that was an agreement with your mother. Didn't you have no complaints at all, and even cooperated very well?"
Baili Chen remained silent, and Emperor Mingxian's expression changed as well. Looking at Baili Chen, his eyes flickered, and finally he said, "Go and handle this matter well, and I will grant you one request."
Baili Chen's sneer deepened: "An equal exchange, is that it? Very well, I accept. But as long as Father Emperor thinks it through, you may not be able to fulfill this request."
"Don't worry, I will never break my promise. I will send secret guards to follow you and ensure your safety. You don't need to worry about things in the capital either; I will protect the Prince Chen's residence."
"Hmph!" Baili Chen turned and left, his lips pressed tightly together.
As Emperor Mingxian gazed at Baili Chen's retreating figure, he suddenly felt that the boy had a tall and straight back, a broad and sturdy build. Emperor Mingxian suddenly said, "Over the years, whether it's my affairs or the affairs of the third prince, the seventh prince has always done a very good job and has never disappointed anyone."
"Yes, Prince Chen is actually quite talented."
Emperor Mingxian lowered his voice slightly: "Originally, he was just a pawn I placed in front of others. He was only there to protect the third prince. But now I've discovered that the seventh prince has already crossed that line."
Fu Shun's body trembled. Those who crossed the line were the most hated by those who held great power. However, Emperor Mingxian's expression was indifferent: "What news do you have?"
Fu Shun hesitated for a moment, but dared not say anything: “Your Majesty, the Third Prince had previously summoned a doctor to examine him, but was unable to get any information out of the doctor. However, the Third Prince’s residence did purchase several kinds of medicinal herbs.”
"Um……"
"It's...it concerns a man's vital energy, yes...it seems to be about that aspect..."
!
Emperor Mingxian suddenly raised his head, his eyes cold and sharp as he looked at Fushun. Fushun was so frightened that he immediately knelt down with a thud. Emperor Mingxian said with a stern face, "Is what you said true?"
"This servant didn't dare force the doctor to tell the truth, but... but according to the medicinal herbs, it is possible." Fu Shun said with a pale face. The prince on whom Emperor Mingxian placed the greatest hope might be impotent. Such a prince probably wouldn't be able to inherit the throne. Even if he could, he would have to be adopted by someone else in the future, which would be a disgrace to the emperor. But no wonder there has been no news from the Prince Zhi's residence for so long. So the Third Prince is impotent?
Emperor Mingxian's face was ashen, and his cheeks seemed to be clenched so tightly with anger that they were about to burst out. He said impatiently, "You can leave now. I need to be alone."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Fu Shun immediately withdrew, but dared not go far. He stood outside, keeping his ears open and listening to the sounds inside, afraid that he might miss what Emperor Mingxian was saying.
As soon as Fu Shun left, Emperor Mingxian suddenly closed his eyes, his brows furrowing tightly, his face showing great irritation. He rubbed his temples, never imagining that the future hope he had so lovingly nurtured would actually… He suddenly felt that his past actions seemed somewhat ridiculous. He had made mistakes because of his promise to Empress Bai, and because of his unwillingness to accept reality, he had been extremely harsh on Baili Chen, to the point that this familial bond could no longer possibly improve. At least he still had a sensible child, but now…
Emperor Mingxian wondered if this was fate playing a cruel trick. The person he had painstakingly cultivated had ended up with this problem, becoming his biggest obstacle. Was everything he had done before just a joke? He was prepared to abandon one child for the sake of another, but in the end, it was all for naught.
He couldn't help but think of the little body that had been happily laughing in his arms just moments before, and suddenly he felt a pang of regret. Was it possible that some things were wrong from the very beginning?
After sitting quietly for a long time, Emperor Mingxian let out a long sigh: "Fu Shun!"
"Your Majesty, this servant is here!" Fu Shun replied as he strode in.
"Secretly seek out the best doctors and medicines to treat the Third Prince."
"I understand, I'll go and do it right away."
Fu Shun went out again, and Emperor Mingxian clapped his hands. A man in black walked out from the secret passage of the imperial study. Emperor Mingxian looked at him and said, "You will take a team of elites and secretly protect Prince Chen from now on."
The man in black was taken aback: "Your Majesty, I am here specifically to protect Your Majesty's safety."
Emperor Mingxian's eyes were cold and piercing: "I am giving you an order!"
The man in black trembled and immediately bowed his head, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty, I swear to protect Prince Chen and ensure his safe return to the capital."
"Hmm, go and prepare." The man in black left through the hidden door, wondering why the Emperor was suddenly paying so much attention to Prince Chen. However, he couldn't ask too many questions; as a secret guard, he only had to obey orders and had no right to question. But he was already thinking that he needed to leave two teams of elite guards to protect the Emperor's safety.
Emperor Mingxian sat alone in the imperial study, the empty room echoing softly with each word he spoke. He felt a strange sense of loneliness in his heart: "I am only doing this for the sake of my grandson, not for that scoundrel."
Afterwards, Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen went to Chengxiang Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. Upon learning that Baili Chen would soon be going to Baiyun Temple to investigate for her, the Empress Dowager was naturally delighted and very pleased. She praised Baili Chen for being filial and a rare good child. Half an hour later, Ouyang Yue sat in the carriage, holding Baili Chen and patting him lightly, asking, "What exactly does Your Majesty mean by this?"
Baili Chen sneered: "Isn't it just that you want me to go and die? The Empress Dowager has close ties with Baiyun Temple, and Master Lingyun rarely goes out to meet people. It's mostly his three disciples who handle the affairs of Baiyun Temple. It's been a bit strange all these years. Others may not know, but the Empress Dowager and Father have been secretly vying for power."
Ouyang Yue was puzzled: "A secret contest? But the Lin family is at the height of its power right now. What's the point of offending the Emperor like this? The Empress Dowager isn't that foolish."
Bai Lichen's expression turned cold and grim: "What if she wants to be the emperor herself, or rule from behind the curtain?"
"You mean!" Ouyang Yue was shocked. Did the Empress Dowager really have such ambitions? But she was already this old, and although there were undercurrents in the court, it would be impossible to turn the tide and rewrite history in less than several decades. What trump card did the Empress Dowager have that gave her such confidence? It was simply unbelievable.
Ouyang Yue considered herself a capable person, and she didn't subscribe to the traditional female virtues of obedience and subservience. She was very self-reliant and could accomplish many things in modern times that men couldn't. However, upon arriving in ancient times, she never entertained such ambitions. Her only concern was self-protection, because she understood that no matter how powerful she became, it was impossible for this patriarchal society to accept her. Wu Zetian's success in history was due to her talent, shrewdness, opportunity, and ambition. The Empress Dowager's situation was vastly different. She wasn't the biological mother of Emperor Mingxian, and her previous admiration stemmed from her understanding of boundaries and her tact, rarely overstepping her bounds. The Empress Dowager undoubtedly possessed shrewdness, but as for governing talent, she had never heard of it. Anyone who dared to think that way must be ambitious. Even if all these factors were present, she lacked one crucial element that would prevent her from ever succeeding: opportunity.
Historically, Wu Zetian had that opportunity because Emperor Gaozong of Tang, out of favor and because of her extraordinary talent, trusted Wu Meiniang. However, in this parallel universe, Emperor Mingxian didn't possess these qualities. He not only distrusted her but likely hated her. Empress Lin's entry into the palace was probably a contributing factor to Empress Bai's eventual death. Given her constant attempts to use her family's power to challenge Emperor Mingxian, he wouldn't give her that opportunity. Moreover, the Empress Dowager was no longer young; how many more years did she have left to harbor such ambitions? Ouyang Yue couldn't understand it at all, finding Baili Chen's idea unreliable. However, she had a vague feeling that this wasn't just speculation. But what were the Empress Dowager's trump cards? Where did her confidence come from? Under these unfavorable circumstances, why did she dare to dream such a dream? She wasn't stupid; she shouldn't think like this. What was she hiding behind her audacity?