maidservant

Chapter 31: Courtiers' Prejudgment of the Relatives Yunshan's Strategy to Protect Lin Yu
When Lin Yu heard this, his body trembled slightly and the smile on his face froze instantly.

She opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but found that her throat seemed to be blocked and no sound came out.

Her eyes gradually became empty and her thoughts drifted away involuntarily.

Yunshan squatted down slightly and stroked Lin Yu's shoulders with heartache, remembering that she had once accompanied Lin Yu to pray for marriage in Yue Lao Temple with full of longing.

At that time, Lin Yu hoped to be with her lover for the rest of her life.

But now that she is in this complicated palace, it is hard to predict whether this marriage she is seeking will be a blessing or a curse.

As the power of the prince's mother's family grew, the situation in the court became increasingly delicate.

Finally, the Zong family and their old ministers stopped hindering each other and united to launch an uprising.

They first listed to the emperor the many evil deeds of the prince's maternal family, including the brutal acts of robbing beautiful women from decent families and breaking up countless families;
There were also acts of greed and evil that involved privately occupying large amounts of fertile land, causing many people to become homeless.

These evil deeds, whether true or false, were exposed one by one, like bombshells, causing an uproar and shocking the entire court.

Some veteran ministers even gave sincere and frank advice, saying that if the foreign relatives' excessive interference in government affairs continued, it would probably lead to huge disasters.

"Your Majesty, in the late Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang monopolized power. He gradually gained power by relying on his status as a relative of the emperor. He eventually usurped the Han Dynasty and established the Xin Dynasty, causing chaos throughout the country!"

"Your Majesty, the overpowering power of foreign relatives is a grave taboo in governing a nation. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, foreign relatives like Liang Ji dominated the government, leading to corruption and the people's suffering, thus laying the seeds for the Han Dynasty's downfall."

Later, he even pointed the finger at the harem:
"If Concubine Li were to take power in the harem, I've heard that many women officials have close personal relationships with Concubine Li and have frequent interactions with her. Your Majesty! If Concubine Li were to collude with the imperial relatives to interfere in state affairs, ultimately triggering a coup, our Celestial Empire would be plunged into turmoil!"

For a time, the prince's mother's family was pushed to the forefront of public opinion.

Deep in the harem, Concubine Li sat alone in her bedroom. The atmosphere inside was oppressive and suffocating. She was filled with worry, her slender eyebrows knitted together, and her eyes were filled with anxiety.

Ever since she heard the rumors about the previous dynasty, she has been on pins and needles, and the fear in her heart is like a tide, coming in waves.

She knew full well that within the inner court, the Emperor's thoughts were as unpredictable as the weather. Her own fate hung like a thread in mid-air, vulnerable to being severed at any moment by the Emperor's gentle pull. In this complex court dynamic, she was but a pawn in the Emperor's hands, a potential soft spot for the Crown Prince.

If the emperor was really afraid of the power of the prince's mother's family, what kind of cruel decision would he make in order to consolidate his imperial power?
Even a chilling thought flashed through his mind - would the emperor follow the example of Emperor Wu of Han, and in order to consolidate his rule, when the prince ascended the throne, would he ruthlessly kill the prince's mother and eliminate his relatives to prevent future troubles?
On this day, the Crown Prince went to Concubine Li to pay his respects as usual. After hesitating for a moment, Concubine Li finally sighed and poured out all the worries and fears that had been accumulating in her heart for recent days.

"My son, my son! We should be prepared for both scenarios. If the Emperor discovers the truth about the deposed Crown Prince forcing the emperor to abdicate, we will be completely reduced to being prey at his mercy, powerless to resist!"

The prince listened quietly. As his mother spoke, his expression became more and more solemn, and his brows were furrowed.

He held Li Fei's trembling hands:

"You should stay in the palace. Today, you should report your illness to your father. You are seriously ill and cannot leave your bed. Even if you are summoned, do not go. I will take care of the rest."

The turmoil in the court quickly spread to the East Palace like a surging wave, and people were in panic.

These days, Yunshan is always haunted by nightmares when it's late at night and everyone is asleep.

In his dream, the tragic scene of the Shangshu Mansion being ransacked in the past was vividly replayed again and again. The chaotic scene and sad atmosphere were deeply engraved in his heart like a chisel.

"No matter what, we must never let tragedy happen to Lin Yu again." Every time Yunshan woke up, this was the only sentence in her mind.

She had to take action.

So the next morning, she asked Lin Yu for sick leave, and she left the East Palace alone, hurriedly heading straight for the Marquis' Mansion.

Arriving at the Marquis's residence, they met Madam Lin. Madam Lin waved away the servants around her. In a blink of an eye, they were the only two left in the large room.

Yunshan's expression was solemn. She knelt heavily with a plop, and said in a sincere and urgent tone, "Madam, I dare to discuss an important matter with you."

"speak."

"Given the current situation, Liangdi is in danger all alone in the Eastern Palace. If the day ever comes when the traitors invade the Eastern Palace, Liangdi will probably have no chance of escaping!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Lin's face was immediately filled with rage. She shouted, "How dare you, servant! How dare you speak nonsense and exaggerate so much!"

Yunshan lowered her head, not daring to make any excuses. She just kowtowed heavily again and again in silence.

After a while, Mrs. Lin's mood calmed down a little, and her voice was no longer so sharp:
"I know you're worried about Yu'er, and how dangerous this situation is that I know for sure. But if the Marquis' Mansion makes any move, even the slightest mistake, it could bring disaster upon Yu'er!"

Yunshan still lowered her head and said firmly:
"I understand the pros and cons. I also know that if a difficult decision is ever made, Madam, the 'virtue of a woman who dies for her husband', as admired by the aristocratic families, will certainly not outweigh the life of Concubine Liang. Right now, I do have a somewhat imprudent plan: if a riot occurs, I will flee the capital with Concubine Liang, hiding my identity and simply hoping to save my own life."

"——Good! She's a loyal and brave girl!"

"Please, Madam, help me prepare two fast horses and station them outside the west corner gate of the East Palace. Liangdi is unaware of this matter. If the news leaks out, I will bear all the blame alone!"

After agreeing on the specific action, Mrs. Lin had a basin of medicinal juice mixed with concentrated aconitine and mercury prepared, and arranged for an old slave who had signed a death contract to disfigure him with the medicinal juice.

"Go and build a small courtyard outside the west corner gate of the East Palace, prepare two fast horses, and release them to the person who brings my warrant. As long as my mansion remains, your son and daughter will be safe for the rest of their lives."

By the time Yunshan left the Marquis' Mansion, the streets had gradually become lively with people coming and going.

　Everyone~ From February 2th to February 18nd, this novel will be participating in the ranking. Please read the two newly updated chapters every day. This "reading rate" is very important to me! Thank you! ~~~
　　(End of this chapter)