After the Emperor left, Jiang Xinyue's expression darkened. "Jiang Chuan, send soone to investigate who has been whispering in the Emperor's ear. How could he start to waver?"
She knew very well that the Emperor had initially crowned her as the Empress and issued new decrees according to her wishes because of her defiance—because she wanted to stand as his equal.
At that ti, the Emperor, blinded by love, had wanted her to forgive him quickly. In a mont of impulsiveness, he summoned his ministers and pressured them to support his decision.
Now, several months had passed, and the noble families and court officials were all opposing her. So even threatened to boycott court sessions unless the Emperor stripped Jiang Xinyue of her power.
At first, the Emperor had stood his ground, but as the opposition grew louder, he began to waver. Every ti he tried to speak his mind, Jiang Xinyue would cut him off, and he would soon find himself lost in her tender embrace.
As he walked out of Kunning Palace once more, the Emperor sighed. He had always been the one to outsmart others throughout his life, so how had he ended up being the one constantly outmaneuvered by Jiang Xinyue?
The words he had been holding back still lingered in his throat, unspoken.
Thinking of this, he touched his Adam's apple and paused by the lake.
A faint smile curled at the corners of his lips, and he chuckled softly.
Jiang Xinyue had just told him that his Adam's apple was very attractive. Was it really?
He had never noticed it before.
That soft chuckle made Mu Qianqian look up. A cold breeze swept past, lifting the heavy bangs on her forehead and revealing a face that bore an uncanny resemblance to Jiang Xinyue's.
"You..."
The Emperor's gaze darkened. "Look up."
The face before him was strikingly beautiful, almost a carbon copy of Jiang Xinyue's at first glance. But upon closer inspection, it was clear that it was more of a cheap imitation.
In terms of the delicacy of her features, the allure of her eyes, and the noble aura she carried, anyone familiar with Jiang Xinyue could easily tell the two apart.
But why would such a beautiful woman deliberately conceal her stunning looks?
There were two reasons: one, to avoid unwanted attention, and two, to play hard to get and pique a man's interest.
"Your... Your Majesty..."
Mu Qianqian knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please forgive . I didn't an to resemble Empress Jiang. I've done my best to conceal it so no one would notice."
She had concealed it well, moving about under the Emperor's very nose every day. Not a single person in Chengqian Palace had noticed her extraordinary beauty.
So, what kind of concealnt was this?
anwhile, at the Jing Family residence—
The second, third, and fourth sons of the Jing Family, along with several branch family leaders closely associated with the main line, had gathered in the study.
They all looked at Master Jing, seated at the head of the room, their faces flushed from the heated argunt. They glared at each other, each harboring a sense of dissatisfaction.
"Are you suggesting that Father should oppose Empress Jiang? Have you forgotten that Father is now the Crown Prince's tutor, and Empress Jiang is the Crown Prince's mother?"
"Precisely because she is the Crown Prince's mother, we must suppress her. If we allow her ambitions to grow unchecked, won't she beco another Dowager Empress? Do you rember how Father was forced into retirent? It was because the Dowager Empress couldn't tolerate our Jing Family!"
"But that's different! The Dowager Empress killed our sister and made the Emperor recognize her as his mother. She was guilty and couldn't stand us. Empress Jiang is the Crown Prince's mother and always acts in his best interest. If Father stands by her side, the Jing Family's forr glory will be restored in no ti."
During the reign of the late Emperor, when the Jing Family's influence was at its peak, they had been a prominent noble family in the capital, the subject of endless flattery.
Master Jing had served as the late Emperor's tutor and held a high position in the cabinet, wielding imnse power.
But after the late Emperor's passing, the Dowager Empress had targeted the Jing Family relentlessly. The young Emperor, powerless at the ti, had been forced to pressure Master Jing into retiring.
"Restore the Jing Family's glory? Hmph! Empress Jiang's own family is thriving, with talented individuals erging one after another. If she wants to promote anyone, it will be her own Jiang Family. Why would she rember us? I fear she'll discard us like used tools once she's done."
"You..."
"Enough!"
Master Jing's aged voice cut through the tension like a blade. "What's wrong with Empress Jiang elevating the status of won? Has it infringed upon your rights?"
"In the future, your wives, daughters, and concubines will have opportunities to achieve greatness. If a talented woman erges from our family, she could even serve in the court. Isn't that a great honor for our family? n achieve glory and bring honor to their ancestors, but it shouldn't co at the expense of suppressing won. If we want a strong nation, we must first strengthen ourselves. If everyone can contribute their talents to the prosperity of the Great Yan Dynasty, who would dare to invade our borders?"
The vision of a prosperous nation, with all countries paying tribute and the people living in peace, would be realized under his grandson's rule. This would be a monuntal achievent, worthy of being recorded in history for eternity. Why oppose it?
Only your enemies would wish for your people to be weak and incompetent.
"But Master Jing, if the Jiang Family gains too much power, and Empress Jiang begins to interfere in court affairs, creating chaos, where will the Jing Family stand? I fear a sword will hang over our heads!"
Master Jing exhaled heavily, clearly displeased. "I have taught the Crown Prince and have spoken with Empress Jiang. She is not an ambitious woman. She simply pities the hardships won face and wants to do sothing for them. You are all n, and you think it's natural for won to sacrifice for you, to remain subservient under male authority. But have you ever considered what would happen if they stood as your equals, competing fairly? Could you still look down on them from your high pedestal?"
"Aren't you curious? How far could they go?
"Would they be weaker than you, or stronger?"
After Master Jing's questions, the study fell into an unprecedented silence.
They had always been afraid—afraid that won, once freed from societal constraints, would rise like dragons unleashed upon the water.
What were they so afraid of?
The n, realizing this, broke into a cold sweat. Why were they so terrified of won's rise?
Master Jing stroked his beard and smiled knowingly, ruthlessly tearing away their facade. "Because you call them 're won,' refusing to acknowledge their contributions to the family. You belittle and suppress them with your words, but deep down, you know they are just as capable as you are. If given the chance, they might even surpass your achievents."
Only weak n are afraid, which is why they desperately try to stop it.
The n, who had been arguing fiercely monts ago, now turned even redder with sha.
Their dark, hidden fears had been laid bare, and they could hardly accept it themselves.
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