Tianyuan looked at Qingluan with loving eyes, stroked his beard, and gazed into the distance, as if recalling: "Twelve years ago, my senior brother and I observed the celestial phenomena at night and discovered the appearance of the Imperial Star. This foreshadowed the unification of the world, but also the impending bloodshed. For the sake of the well-being of the people, my senior brother and I descended the mountain to find the Imperial Star, hoping to assist it in achieving its great cause, and also hoping to do our best to reduce bloodshed. During the search, we both hoped that the Imperial Star would be a virtuous emperor who understood the suffering of the people." Having said this, Tianyuan looked at Jun Yifeng with satisfaction.
"Thank you for your guidance over the years, Master. I will always have a compassionate heart and end this chaotic world as soon as possible so that the people can live a peaceful and stable life!" Seeing his master's expression, Jun Yifeng, sitting behind the desk, quickly and obediently replied.
Tianyuan nodded in satisfaction and said, "We found Yifeng, who was still a prince in the Zhou Kingdom, and we are teaching him with all our might, hoping to complete our mission."
"And what about me?" Qingluan asked, her small oval face full of anticipation.
"Well, after we found the Emperor Star, we originally planned to teach him and assist him together. However, the celestial phenomena changed again. A small star appeared next to the Emperor Star. Although it was small, it shone brightly. My senior brother deduced that it was an auxiliary star, an indispensable aid for unifying the world. So we went to find you!" Tianyuan finished speaking and patted Qingluan's head with a smile.
Qingluan rarely showed a girlish expression, and said shyly, "Am I that important?" After a pause, she asked, "Then what does it mean when Master said I would have a great calamity when I turn 20?"
Tianyuan's expression was solemn: "Well, your senior brother has performed a divination for you, but it can only predict up to the age of 20. After 20, it's all blank, so your senior brother is worried that you will face a great calamity!"
"So that's how it is." Qingluan looked somewhat dejected and lowered her head.
"Don't worry, your master has been traveling all over the world for the past few years, hoping to find a way for you to overcome your tribulation. There are still three years until your 20th birthday, and your senior brother will definitely be able to find a way to break the cycle before your birthday!" Tianyuan comforted Qingluan, feeling a little sorry for this girl with such a tragic fate.
Qingluan nodded, thinking to herself, "So Master has been running around for me all these years." She was deeply moved, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Jun Yifeng looked at Tianyuan and Qingluan with a complicated expression. When Tianyuan and Qingluan looked at him, he regained his usual calm and composed expression, as if the moment just now was just someone else's illusion.
☆、XI、Seizure of Power
Recalling the day she heard she was about to face a great calamity, Jun Yifeng looked at her tenderly, as if there was a hint of heartache in his eyes. Qingluan's heart seemed to pause for a moment. Feeling his comfort, all of Qingluan's unease was soothed into a quiet stream, flowing gently through her heart, and a warm feeling spread through her body.
But right now, the most important thing was how to get revenge within her limited time. Qingluan filtered out everything else and left it all behind. This included the fact that someone in the harem wanted to harm her, her upcoming 20th birthday, and Jun Yifeng's warm gaze...
Just as Qingluan said when she first met Jun Yifeng in the imperial study, "To repel external threats, one must first secure internal stability." In the current Zhou Kingdom, although Jun Yifeng is the emperor, the real power in the court rests with Prime Minister Wei Zhili and General Linghu Hongyu. These two hold both civil and military power, and their followers are spread throughout the court, making their influence immense and unbreakable. Jun Yifeng inevitably has to be mindful of their opinions in court, and many policies are impossible to implement without their support. Now, Qingluan understands Jun Yifeng's actions. Selecting the daughters of these two men into the palace, making them both one of the four consorts, showering them with favor and treating them as equals—isn't this also an attempt to win them over and compromise?
The only solution now is to remove these two obstacles. Their power is undeniable, but it's not without weaknesses. Qingluan laughed, "Impassable? I'll test that!" Qingluan had an idea: she could exploit their discord!
That day, Jun Yifeng happily said to Qingluan, "Qingluan, I want you to meet someone!"
When Qingluan entered the palace, she was given someone else's name, Murong Bingyu. Now, for the sake of convenience, Emperor Jun Yifeng has issued an edict to bestow a name upon her, and Qingluan has returned to her own name. However, to avoid suspicion, she still has to use the surname Murong.
"Who could make you so proud to bring them to me?" Qingluan was also very interested, because Jun Yifeng usually didn't show his emotions, and it was rare to see him so obviously happy.
Jun Yifeng clapped his hands, and a young man in armor walked in, kneeling and bowing: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Please rise, my dear minister."
Upon hearing the young military officer's voice, Qingluan was slightly puzzled, but was even more surprised when she saw him stand up! It was him.
"Ye Zhanqing, how have you been?" Qingluan asked.
Ye Zhanqing was also delighted to see Qingluan, but he remembered what Qingluan had told him before. He wanted to pretend he didn't know her, but now that Qingluan had taken the initiative to greet him, he didn't know why, but he still went along with Qingluan's wishes and greeted her as well: "Thank you for your concern, sister. Zhanqing is doing well."
"How come you two know each other?" Jun Yifeng was even more surprised.
"Your Majesty, I met Ye Zhanqing when I was fleeing in Qi. At that time, he was homeless and a beggar. I took pity on him and took him in, but he disappeared again after a few days. It turns out he came here and became a military general. It's true that you never know where you'll meet someone in life!" Qingluan explained slowly.
Qingluan thought to herself that the fewer people who knew Ye Zhanqing's original identity, the better. Moreover, his motives for joining the army were impure, so Jun Yifeng absolutely couldn't find out, otherwise...
Upon hearing Qingluan's words, Ye Zhanqing went along with it, saying, "Your Majesty, my sister took me in after I fainted from hunger on the street. However, one day I was kidnapped by human traffickers and taken to the Zhou Kingdom. I managed to escape, but had nowhere to go, so I had to join the army. Now, thanks to Your Majesty's kindness in entrusting me with this important task, Ye Zhanqing swears to serve Your Majesty to the death!" He then knelt down again.
"Oh, since you know each other, that's even better. You and Zhan Qing are both my confidants now. I plan to have him take over Linghu Hongyu's position and help me regain military power!" Jun Yifeng seemed confident.
Remembering the suggestion she had made to Jun Yifeng a few days ago, Qingluan understood Jun Yifeng's thoughts. The two smiled at each other, everything understood without words!
After discussing the details, Ye Zhanqing took his leave. Taking advantage of Jun Yifeng's inattention, Qingluan quickly made a gesture to him. Ye Zhanqing nodded slightly and left.
The bright moon hung high in the sky, but Qingluan couldn't sleep. Suddenly, she heard a soft knocking sound outside the window—three long knocks followed by two short ones. It was the pre-arranged signal. Qingluan was delighted; they had indeed come. She got up and opened the door. Standing in the doorway was a handsome young man in black robes, his eyes and brows always brimming with smiles!
It was Qingxi's turn to keep watch today. She rushed over when she heard the commotion. When she saw that there were other people there, her eyes turned sharp. Qingluan quickly told her, "It's nothing, they're our own people. Go down!" Only then did Qingxi lower her guard and leave.
"Zhanqing, you've really grown up! Not only are you handsome, but you've also achieved great military exploits and become the Emperor's confidant," Qingluan teased with a smile.
Ye Zhanqing scratched his head sheepishly, no longer displaying the composure he had shown when facing the Emperor in the Imperial Study during the day, as if he had returned to the little boy he once was.
“Sister, thank you for your teachings back then. It was through your guidance that I was able to achieve great things and gain the Emperor’s trust in such a short time. I have not forgotten my original purpose for joining the army. I have not dared to slack off in the army these past few years. Now—we are one step closer to our plan! But sister,” Ye Zhanqing asked, puzzled, “didn’t you say that we couldn’t recognize each other?”
Qingluan understood his doubts and explained what had happened during this time to him, omitting the matter of Dark Night Tower and only saying that those people were the forces she had cultivated.
"Zhan Qing, now that I have allied with Jun Yifeng, this is greatly beneficial to our plans. I have also settled Mother and Zhan Hong in a safe place. I will arrange for someone to take you to see them another day, so you don't need to worry. Our acquaintance will not affect the overall situation. In order to avoid it becoming our weakness in the future, we should not hide our acquaintance from the Emperor now. However, we must not tell him about your background or your purpose in getting close to him."
"I'll do whatever my sister says!"
"Zhanqing, you're all grown up now. You don't have to listen to me in everything. Besides, I'm not that much older than you! Now is the time for you to show your talents. Let's work together to assist the Emperor and create a great era. You will be remembered in history for your unparalleled achievements!" Qingluan described the future, and these words opened up a glorious chapter in Ye Zhanqing's life.
Ye Zhanqing was deeply moved, his face full of longing!
As expected, things proceeded according to Jun Yifeng and Qingluan's plan. Jun Yifeng first summoned Prime Minister Wei Zhili to the palace for a day of secret talks. Then, the next day, the Prime Minister recommended Ye Zhanqing at the court meeting. The Emperor readily promoted Ye Zhanqing to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards, in charge of the palace's imperial troops. Even if Linghu Hongyu was dissatisfied, he could not resist the Emperor's close ties with the Prime Minister. Fortunately, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards was not a high-ranking officer, so he had no choice but to compromise.
"How did His Majesty persuade Lord Wei to help us?" Qingluan smiled faintly.
"It's very simple, just lure him with benefits! I just told him that I am his nephew, and that if Linghu Hongyu is eliminated, he will be second only to the king in the Zhou Kingdom. He knows what to choose!" Jun Yifeng still had his usual gentle smile.
No matter what difficulties he encounters, Jun Yifeng always appears calm and composed, as if he has everything under control. No wonder he is the emperor destined by heaven! I believe that after he unifies the world, he will surely enable the people to live a good life! Qingluan thought.
The curtain has officially risen on the struggle for power. Although Jun Yifeng is a gifted genius, Prime Minister Wei and General Linghu are not to be underestimated either, so this war without gunpowder is not easy to fight.
Having gained control of the entire Imperial Guard, Jun Yifeng enjoyed greater freedom of movement, no longer fearing surveillance, which facilitated his actions. Strangely, the Grand General suddenly became arrogant, accused of forcibly occupying civilian residences to expand his mansion and illegally possessing forbidden imperial clothing and weapons. Crucially, one of the accusers was a relative of the Grand General, making the evidence irrefutable. The Emperor was furious and ordered the confiscation of his property. It is said that when the Emperor personally saw the forbidden imperial clothing and weapons, he turned ashen with rage and was speechless…
"Your Majesty, your 'luring the enemy into a trap' strategy was truly brilliant!" Qingluan exclaimed admiringly.
Yes, the person who reported him was arranged by Jun Yifeng, the person who suggested expanding the General's Mansion was arranged by Jun Yifeng, the person who suggested that Linghu Hongyu manufacture prohibited clothing and weapons was also arranged by Jun Yifeng, and even the person who provided the prohibited clothing and weapons was arranged by Jun Yifeng... Such an intricately linked trap, seemingly paved with flowers, even the seasoned General Linghu could not resist the temptation and fell into it.
Jun Yifeng merely smiled faintly, but his mind was already plotting his next scheme...
"What does Your Majesty intend to do with Linghu Hongyu's family?" Qingluan asked, recalling the arrogant Consort De, Linghu Ling, wondering if she was still as domineering as before.
Jun Yifeng pondered for a moment and said, "Linghu Hongyu has made outstanding military achievements. A hasty decision might offend those veteran officials—" He then reached for a writing brush and wrote an imperial edict. After finishing, he handed it to Qingluan and said, "What do you think?"
Qingluan stood up, took the document, examined it closely, and nodded with a smile: "Your Majesty truly lives up to the name of a benevolent ruler!"
The following day, an imperial edict was issued to punish Linghu Hongyu. Linghu Hongyu was guilty of deceiving the emperor, a crime for which he could not be forgiven, and was ordered to be beheaded at the Meridian Gate three days later. The remaining criminals were exiled to the frontier. His family was spared the death penalty, but was instead reduced to government slaves. Consort De, Linghu Ling, was banished to the Cold Palace.
Such a punishment was indeed extremely lenient. The grave crime of deceiving the emperor usually warranted the execution of nine generations of one's family. Jun Yifeng's actions prevented many innocent people from dying unjustly. With the imperial edict issued, everyone praised Jun Yifeng as a benevolent ruler of the time. The will of the people was now firmly established, and a bright future was just around the corner!
Jun Yifeng's only regret was that the matter had been handled somewhat dishonestly. Seeing his somber eyes, Qingluan gently comforted him, "Those who achieve great things throughout history have not been bound by trivialities. Your Majesty need not be saddened by this!"
"Call me Yifeng!" Jun Yifeng gazed at Qingluan with gentle, clear eyes. Qingluan was somewhat lost in thought, looking into his eyes as if she were being drawn into a deep vortex.
"Yifeng," Qingluan whispered. When did she start wanting to call him that? Was it when they smiled at each other during their daily discussions of important matters, or when she saw him working tirelessly for the sake of the people, or perhaps when he cast a gentle glance at her when she heard she was about to face calamity...? Qingluan didn't want to think about it; she was lost in that deep vortex.
☆、12、The Net Closes
With Linghu Hongyu overthrown, military power finally returned to Jun Yifeng's hands. Jun Yifeng appointed the senior General of the Cavalry, Kang Le, as Grand General, and Ye Zhanqing as Grand General of the Cavalry, each holding half of the military power. Having witnessed the upheaval caused by Linghu Hongyu, the veteran officials in the court understood the Emperor's intentions and methods, and became much more subdued. Kang Le, who succeeded as Grand General, was already over sixty years old. He understood that the Emperor's appointment was merely a formality, so he simply relinquished his command, determined to be a mere figurehead. It could be said that although Ye Zhanqing was not yet Grand General, it was only a matter of time; besides, he already held real power, so why bother with empty titles?
And Prime Minister Wei Zhili has achieved his wish and become the number one person after the Emperor of Zhou! The arrogant Prime Minister Wei is completely unaware that his nephew has already put a noose around his neck. He is still very proud and complacent about working with the Emperor to bring down his mortal enemy, Linghu Hongyu.
With Linghu Hongyu's death, the Linghu family collapsed and disappeared from the Zhou Kingdom. In the harem, without the rival Consort De, Consort Xian, Wei Lanyi, rose to prominence and became the most powerful woman in the harem, acting as if she were the Empress. No one in the harem dared to challenge her.
Thinking of Linghu Ling's mindset, Qingluan felt a little worried. Would she easily admit defeat and be content to live out her days in loneliness in the cold palace? She summoned Zhi Qiu: "Send someone to keep an eye on Linghu Ling. Report back immediately if there is any movement." Zhi Qiu accepted the order and left.
Ever since Consort Xian received the privilege of entering the Imperial Study to pay her respects from Emperor Jun Yifeng, she came every day to pay her respects and talk about trivial matters, with Qingluan, a lady-in-waiting of the Zichen Palace, attending to her. After listening to Consort Xian's unoriginal greetings and mundane tales for several days, Qingluan grew quite annoyed. But Emperor Jun Yifeng seemed to think differently, always listening with interest. Seeing the Emperor's reaction, Consort Xian, as if encouraged, intensified her behavior.
Qingluan was impatient but couldn't show it openly. Finally, one day, unable to bear it any longer, she added a colorless and tasteless substance to the tea she served to Consort Xian. Watching Consort Xian drink it with relish, Qingluan felt a surge of pleasure and couldn't help but smile. She thought no one would notice, but when she looked up, she saw Jun Yifeng glancing at her subtly, his eyes full of doting affection. Qingluan panicked and quickly excused herself.
The moon was cold and the stars were sparse. Zhi Qiu gently combed Qing Luan's long, loose hair, casually reporting on the situation in the palace: "I heard that Consort Xian has been unwell these past few days, suffering from diarrhea for several days and unable to even get out of bed. The imperial physicians couldn't diagnose the cause, only saying it was food poisoning, which infuriated Consort Xian, who punished her by deducting her monthly salary." Qing Luan chuckled. Zhi Qiu understood: "My lady, could it be...?"
“That’s right, it’s me.” Qingluan smiled smugly.
"Did she offend the landlord?" Zhi Qiu asked.
"No, I just hate that she comes to the Imperial Study every day and says the same things. I'm so tired of hearing it!" Qingluan pouted and said childishly.
Zhi Qiu paused for a moment, then smiled ambiguously: "Master, you hate him because of the Emperor, right? Are you jealous because she monopolizes the Emperor every day?"
"You silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about!" Qingluan blushed. "I'm hungry, go get some snacks." Qingluan quickly sent Zhiqiu away, afraid that she would say something inappropriate again.
She knew in her heart that this was Jun Yifeng's tactic to lull Wei Zhili into a false sense of security, but she still felt a dull unease. Why was that?
Under Jun Yifeng's leniency, both the former Prime Minister Wei and the virtuous concubine in the harem became powerful figures in the Zhou Kingdom. As their arrogance grew and they committed numerous evils, the other ministers and concubines in the harem, who were already dissatisfied, began to show signs of erupting from their previous forbearance.
"Yifeng, how long are you planning to wait?" Qingluan asked softly, sipping her tea.
Jun Yifeng put down the impeachment memorials submitted by the court officials, gazed out the window in a daze, and said, "They are, after all, my uncle and cousin. If I could, I wouldn't have wanted to—"
"We must focus on the big picture and not let personal feelings ruin important matters!" Qingluan reminded him.
“That’s right, you’re right.” Jun Yifeng seemed to have made up his mind, and said, “My uncle wields power in the court, acts against the natural order, and bullies the people; Lan Yi is also too harsh and cruel to the concubines in the harem. Now, even I—can’t protect them!”
Jun Yifeng's concession did not stop Prime Minister Wei and Consort Xian from committing evil deeds. Amidst sighs, Jun Yifeng finally made up his mind to eradicate the cancer and rid the people of harm, thus breaking the bond between uncle and nephew!
Jun Yifeng secretly summoned several censors to the Imperial Study to discuss a plan to eliminate Prime Minister Wei. However, Wei Zhili's precautions were airtight, and Jun Yifeng and the censors had been racking their brains for several days and nights without sleep in order to find evidence of his wrongdoings.
Qingluan silently poured hot tea for Jun Yifeng, while also pondering quietly in her heart.
"Let's stop here for today. Everyone has worked hard these past few days. Go back and get some rest. You may all leave now!" Seeing that everyone was exhausted, Jun Yifeng had no choice but to stop for the time being.
The censors bowed and took their leave.
Hearing Jun Yifeng's tired and hoarse voice, Qingluan felt a pang of heartache. These past few days, while everyone was discussing things, she had secretly instructed Anmei to send a few people to the Prime Minister's residence to gather information, hoping to find Wei Zhili's weakness. Moreover, after pondering for several days, an idea was gradually taking shape, though she wasn't entirely confident and wanted to refine it further. However, seeing Jun Yifeng like this, Qingluan had no choice but to share it first to reassure him.
Qingluan briefly explained her idea to Jun Yifeng, and said that she was not comfortable entrusting this matter to others and insisted on going out of the palace to handle it herself.
Upon hearing this, Jun Yifeng's face cleared of the fatigue from not sleeping for several days, and his eyes lit up. He said to Qingluan, "Qingluan, it's fortunate that you are my junior sister, not my enemy. I am so lucky to have your assistance!" He immediately granted Qingluan permission to leave the palace and bestowed upon her the Nine Dragon Pendant, allowing her to freely enter and leave the palace and command the Imperial Guards. This also signified that it was as if the Emperor himself were present!
Seeing how much Jun Yifeng trusted her, Qingluan felt a warmth in her heart and thought that she must solve this problem for him this time.
She summoned Ye Zhanqing, told him her plan, and instructed him to deploy a squad of Imperial Guards to await orders. However, this squad was merely a cover; Qingluan's true intention was to bring her own agents from the Dark Night Tower within the Imperial Guards. This plan, though brilliant, could not be leaked in the slightest. Otherwise, not only would the elimination of Prime Minister Wei's faction fail, but it would also provoke a counterattack with unimaginable consequences. Therefore, only those she trusted could be mobilized.
Having arranged the personnel, Qingluan, disguised as a man, led two maids, Qingxi and Zhiqiu, along with several spies disguised as attendants, out of the palace.
"The imperial examination is in a few days. Where do all the scholars who are going to take the exam like to gather?" Qingluan asked Qingxi casually, fanning herself with a fan.
Qingxi was still marveling at how dashing and handsome the host was even disguised as a man when she was suddenly asked a question. She quickly composed herself and replied, "The teahouses, inns, and—brothels in the city."
Qingluan hesitated for a moment and decided to go to the teahouse.
Tingfeng Shuixie, the largest teahouse in Beijing.