Chapter 471: Jointly Scheming Against His Majesty
"This is your best option." Shen Xihe nodded, acknowledging her speculation.
"Why haven't you chosen this path yourself?" Princess Yaoxi retorted.
Weren't their circumstances quite similar? Shen Xihe clearly knew the Crown Prince was afflicted with a unique poison that was difficult to cure, so why did she choose him?
Was it merely for love?
Princess Yaoxi didn't believe it. With her father's poor health, she had handled much of Tubo's political affairs on his behalf. Having encountered countless people, she could tell at a glance that Shen Xihe was not a woman bound by romantic sentiments. She carried an air of solitary pride that overshadowed all others, a transcendence beyond worldly conventions.
Shen Xihe's flower-soft lips curved slightly: "I am of higher status than you. The path you can take is not an option for me."
One-third of the military power lay in Shen Yueshan's hands, controlling the Turks to the north and restraining Tubo to the south.
For the Youning Emperor to marry her, he would have to open the Vermilion Bird Gate and welcome her into the Imperial Harem with the dignity befitting a nation's mother.
Leaving aside the fact that the Youning Emperor had sworn never to appoint another empress in his lifetime, even without that vow, he could never allow her to become Empress.
In this dynasty, if permitted by His Majesty, the nation's mother held the authority to participate in court governance—far from merely managing the Imperial Harem as in previous dynasties.
Thus, she could only marry a prince. Choosing Xiao Huayong had been a matter of chance.
Naturally, Shen Xihe would not explicitly explain these reasons to Princess Yaoxi.
Seeing that Princess Yaoxi still hadn't fully grasped the situation, Shen Xihe added, "His Majesty dare not take me as a consort, nor dare he make me his Empress."
Taking her as a consort would trample upon Shen Yueshan's dignity—Shen Yueshan would certainly refuse on the grounds that he and His Majesty were sworn brothers, making it improper by etiquette. Making her Empress would also be unacceptable to Shen Yueshan, though if she herself were willing, Shen Yueshan could not stop it.
Having handled Tubo's political affairs, Princess Yaoxi possessed some political sensitivity. She understood the implications of these words and believed what Shen Xihe said.
"His Majesty would not make me his Empress either." Princess Yaoxi seriously considered Shen Xihe's suggestion. "If I become His Majesty's imperial consort... if I bear no children, according to your heavenly dynasty's customs, I would be sent to a temple."
By then, she would be powerless and without status in the heavenly dynasty, and her younger brother would likewise be in danger.
As long as Princess Yaoxi was willing, everything could be negotiated. Shen Xihe gestured for Princess Yaoxi to sit: "If you are willing, we can collaborate through an alternative method."
"Please elaborate." Princess Yaoxi took a seat accordingly.
Shen Xihe poured her a cup of tea: "Regardless of whether the Crown Prince can accompany me to the end, you should know that I have no retreat. I must become the final victor. In the future, whether the Crown Prince ascends the throne or my own flesh and blood does, I can ensure you enjoy honor and wealth within the palace, preventing the Xiaza family from acting recklessly."
This was dual insurance: while His Majesty lived, she would be his imperial consort; after His Majesty passed, she would have the support of Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong.
Compared to marrying Xiao Huayong, this path at least allowed her to protect her royal brother through her own efforts before His Majesty's demise. Of course, there were risks—specifically, that Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong might not emerge as the ultimate winners—but this risk existed regardless of which prince she married.
Princess Yaoxi was indeed tempted, but she did not agree immediately. She knew that once she consented, she would become Shen Xihe's spy beside His Majesty, and in the future, she might even have to conspire with Shen Xihe to assassinate the sovereign."I have heard His Majesty has not taken any consorts for many years. How could he possibly accept me into the palace?" Princess Yaoxi pressed.
"Princess Yaoxi, allow me to speak frankly." A faint light glimmered at the corner of Shen Xihe's lips as they curved upward. "His Majesty had long abandoned thoughts of political marriage, yet he permitted your arrival in the capital—not merely because it involves a princess marrying into the Heavenly Dynasty rather than the dynasty sending a princess to Tibet.
My speculation is that His Majesty has learned of Tibet's current internal strife. He has long coveted Tibet but lacked a justifiable pretext for action. If you boldly declare your admiration for His Majesty, particularly before a public audience, he would never refuse."
The Emperor could never shame a woman who publicly professed her feelings by marrying her off to his son. Nor would he miss this chance for political marriage, as with slight manipulation, it could achieve his goal of deploying troops to annex Tibet. Such tender meat delivered to his lips—how could he not partake?
"His Majesty intends to mobilize against Tibet?" Princess Yaoxi's fingers clenched, her expression darkening.
Shen Xihe cast her a calm glance. "Ambitious nations always follow this pattern. When Tibet was powerful, did it not campaign against the northwest and conquer Yunnan?"
Princess Yaoxi stiffened momentarily at these words, then relaxed—for Shen Xihe spoke truth. "Allow me to consider this."
"I shall await your favorable reply." Shen Xihe showed no urgency.
Her disclosure to Princess Yaoxi wasn't meant to slander the Youning Emperor—these were plain facts.
The Youning Emperor wouldn't hesitate to use Princess Yaoxi to gain control of Tibet's governance. The true concern was whether the princess might lose clarity and fall for a honey trap.
Though nearing fifty, the Emperor maintained himself well, especially with recent focus on health preservation—appearing several years younger than Shen Yueshan. One might mistake him for barely thirty. Such a mature ruler commanding the world could easily capture a naive maiden's heart.
The Emperor's inner circle remained impenetrable. Even Xiao Huayong could only place the Emperor's trusted aides but couldn't infiltrate his daily life. Though their act with Xiao Juesong made the Emperor contract gu poison, monitoring his every move remained difficult.
But if the Emperor's pillow companion—especially one he needed to cultivate for manipulation—became their spy, he would never escape the net woven by her and Xiao Huayong.
Moreover, with her imminent marriage into the Eastern Palace, having an imperial consort in her faction would greatly aid her consolidation of the Imperial Harem.
The next day, when Shen Xihe met Xiao Huayong as arranged to accompany him in the Eastern Palace, she informed him of this matter. Upon hearing it, he clapped admiringly. "Marvelous! Truly marvelous!"
He had never considered planting Princess Yaoxi beside the Emperor as their spy.
Had they sent anyone else, the Emperor would surely suspect. While Princess Yaoxi might still face doubts, as a Tibetan princess she would draw less suspicion than others.
"However, having Princess Yaoxi publicly declare her feelings would indeed secure her position as the Emperor's woman." Yet Xiao Huayong proposed a better approach. "Doing so would make her intentions too obvious, making the Emperor more cautious. Instead, let her display some interest in marrying me or other princes while subtly enticing the Emperor to develop interest first."
This way, the Emperor would be the one actively seeking her, potentially even feeling some guilt toward her."Your Majesty is not particularly interested in women." During the banquet for the envoys that evening, it was evident that His Majesty had no particular interest in Princess Yaoxi.
"Princess Yaoxi comes from Tubo. My aunt was married off to Tubo..." Xiao Huayong smiled meaningfully.
His Majesty's cherished one should be acquainted with Princess Yaoxi. We could start from there.
Hahahaha, six thousand words, mua! Actually, though it may seem like I've updated less this month, I've already written one hundred and thirty thousand words.
(End of Chapter)
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