"When My Flower Blooms, All Others Wither" - Search for the latest chapter!
Once the Emperor departed, the others naturally didn't linger, gradually taking their leave. Bu Shulin, who intentionally stayed behind, couldn't help but turn around and clasp her hands in salute to Shen Xihe as a gesture of admiration.
Bu Shulin wasn't the only one who admired Shen Xihe. Anyone with some political acumen knew that the An family were the Emperor's trusted followers—who would dare attempt to climb into the Emperor's bed? Otherwise, their entire clan would inevitably incur the Emperor's displeasure. Since it wasn't the An family seeking to climb into bed, then both the Emperor and the An family must have been framed.
Who would currently scheme against the An family while implicating the Emperor? The answer was self-evident. The Crown Princess was not only bold and cunning but also ruthless enough. Just look at the fates of the two young ladies who tried to court the Crown Prince's favor:
One was a noble Tibetan princess, left hanging in the wilderness to endure a night of cold wind; the other was the only daughter of a powerful military governor, who lost her chastity and was burdened with the crime of defiling the Emperor, implicating her entire clan's interests and barely preserving her own life.
This sent shivers down everyone's spines, prompting them to consider returning home to warn their own daughters not to entertain improper thoughts about the Eastern Palace and to guard against being used as pawns in the power struggle between the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
Neither the life-and-death-wielding Son of Heaven nor the Crown Princess who openly dared to challenge the Emperor were people they could afford to provoke.
The most terrified by this incident was undoubtedly Pingyao Marquis. The sika deer had been hunted by him at An Erlang's request, providing the antler blood for the Emperor. As soon as they returned to their courtyard and closed the doors, Pingyao Marquis sternly rebuked his son: "Today's events nearly dragged our entire marquisate into ruin!"
"Father, how could I have foreseen such profound consequences?" The heir of Pingyao Marquis felt aggrieved. It was just an ordinary matter—he fancied An Erlang's ginseng and casually helped him hunt a sika deer.
Such things were commonplace. Although their families weren't aristocratic clans, they were both important court ministers. When someone came seeking help with generous gifts, even if one wasn't coveting the ginseng, it would be impolite to refuse.
Pingyao Marquis thought it over and felt he shouldn't blame his son. But recalling the An family's fate and the Crown Princess's exquisitely laid trap sent chills down the spine of this old fox who had navigated officialdom for decades.
Every step appeared ordinary, arousing no suspicion, yet each move was executed with such precision, interlocking to form a deadly trap that neither the victims nor those implicated could detect before it was too late.
By the time it was discovered, they were already tightly bound with no escape.
Taking a deep breath, Pingyao Marquis turned to admonish his silently following daughter: "Second Daughter, you are about to marry into the imperial family. Our Yu family has always been loyal only to the Emperor. Prince Zhao doesn't seem to be without ambition either. If you can advise him more, do so diligently."
The Crown Princess—she practically announced to the world that she held no regard for the Emperor. Her ostentatious behavior was meant to tell everyone about her ambitions. Becoming the Crown Princess was merely her starting point.
With such meticulous planning and ruthless methods, backed by the Northwest's power—and considering how the Northwest had completely fallen into the hands of Shen Yueshan and his son, with the Emperor's carefully planted agents thoroughly eradicated—Pingyao Marquis faintly sensed ominous times ahead.Your Majesty appears to be at the zenith of his power, but in truth, the hidden injuries accumulated from years of northern and southern campaigns have already begun pushing him toward sunset. Meanwhile, the Crown Princess shines like the rising sun—unstoppable. When two tigers fight, one must yield. After today's events, no one would dare predict the outcome.
"Yes, Father." Yu Sangning replied obediently.
Even without Pingyao Marquis's warning, her fear of Shen Xihe ran deeper than anyone else's in the Marquis household. Long ago, she had witnessed Shen Xihe's dominance and personally experienced her ruthlessness.
Back then, she had assumed Shen Xihe's arrogance stemmed solely from her privileged background. But today's events revealed the truth: Shen Xihe's strength came not from external support, but from her own formidable presence that commanded awe.
When Shen Xihe pressed the Emperor step by step, her aura never wavered—this alone made Yu Sangning realize she could never hope to match her.
For the first time, Yu Sangning saw her own insignificance before Shen Xihe...
The Eastern Palace had long been overlooked. Most took for granted it would fade from memory after Xiao Huayong's passing. But Shen Xihe's unexpected move had thoroughly polished the Eastern Palace's reputation.
Many felt conflicted. They had speculated that Shen Xihe married into the Eastern Palace for the legitimate heir status, planning to fight for influence later. At the time, no one believed she possessed such capability—it seemed a choice made from lack of options.
Now, no one dared think this way. Should the Crown Princess bear the legitimate eldest grandson... No, even if she couldn't, her strategic mind alone could stir the imperial family into perpetual unrest.
"Are you pleased?" After everyone left, Shen Xihe entered the bedchamber to find Xiao Huayong sitting on the edge of the bed in snow-white inner robes.
"Pleased or not—it's hard to say." Shen Xihe approached, took a robe from the clothes rack, and draped it over Xiao Huayong's shoulders.
Warmed by the garment, Xiao Huayong grasped her hand and pressed it against his shoulder. "Still not pleased?"
Having made her name in one battle, the Eastern Palace would now become the focus of all attention. But these observers would only have eyes for the Crown Princess. He, the Crown Prince destined to die young, would henceforth be seen as a puppet manipulated by his wife—a stepping stone on the path to imperial power.
"I was born into nobility and demonstrated wit from youth. Though I cannot match your strategic brilliance, I have never miscalculated or been outmaneuvered. After countless experiences, such matters no longer stir me." Shen Xihe spoke mildly.
Many considered her inhuman. Beyond the restraint forced upon her by childhood health concerns, she had never faced true setbacks. Those she targeted, those she wished dead—none escaped once she made her move.
Others might revel in having trampled even the Emperor's dignity, but Shen Xihe found nothing worth celebrating.
Xiao Huayong tilted his head to study his wife's exquisitely beautiful face. Her features were brilliantly striking, her eyes profoundly mesmerizing. Such beauty should have been dazzling and aggressive, yet her aura held the immeasurable depth of an unrippled sea. This paradoxical blend made her appear utterly unapproachable.
As he gazed, the corners of Xiao Huayong's eyes suddenly crinkled with profound amusement, his bold eyebrows lifting in genuine delight."You're happy? Why?" Shen Xihe couldn't fathom why Xiao Huayong suddenly laughed.
"Yes." Xiao Huayong nodded. "I'm happy, because I suddenly think being a puppet emperor is a wonderful idea."
Since this was all Shen Xihe's doing—if she wanted to appear as the dominant party on the surface while he remained the pitiful one—he might as well play along to the end. For your convenience in reading next time, you can click the "Bookmark" below to record this reading session (Chapter 620: The Crown Princess, Feared by All). The next time you open your bookshelf, you'll see it!
If you enjoy "When My Flower Blooms, All Others Wither," please recommend this book to your friends (via QQ, blog, WeChat, etc.). Thank you for your support!! ()
OpenNovel