Chapter 63: Kill Dong Changrui, There Is a Reward
"Princess, His Majesty requests your presence."
A little eunuch came to the Princess Mansion and respectfully invited Xiao Li to the palace.
In the past, these eunuchs never had such an attitude. But now that the Emperor held the Princess in high regard and consulted her on everything, this crowd of opportunists had improved their attitude toward her significantly.
The Emperor was already waiting for Xiao Li. The moment they met, before Xiao Li had even finished her perfunctory courtesies, he rushed over to question her.
"There’s no concrete evidence right now, so we can’t convict the Lu family. Taking them down is just empty talk. In a few more days, this whole affair might just blow over."
The duck was practically cooked. How could he accept it if it were to fly away now?
Xiao Li thought for a moment. ’How did the plot describe the Emperor again?’
Incompetent, mediocre, obstinate, self-righteous, narrow-minded, suspicious, and intolerant.
’The description isn’t wrong,’ she thought. ’Of course, I’d have to add one more thing: no patience.’
"Today is only the tenth day. What’s the rush, Brother?"
Of course the Emperor was in a rush. If he missed this opportunity, he had no idea when the next chance to strike at the Lu family would come.
Seeing that the Emperor was truly on pins and needles, Xiao Li offered him a plan. "This case is currently being investigated by the Ministry of Criminal Justice and the Ministry of Justice. The people involved are either from the Lu family or other aristocratic families. They’re all trying to check and balance one another, so they won’t dare to act recklessly without evidence. But men die for wealth as birds die for food. A great reward will always find a brave man. Brother, you can offer up the position of Minister of the Ministry of Justice as a prize. First, berate the current minister for his incompetence. Then, issue a decree: if he can’t solve the case, he will be dismissed. Whoever solves it gets the job."
The position of Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice was too high for the Emperor to easily remove, but the post of Minister of the Ministry of Justice—a fourth-rank office with real power—was perfect.
It happened to be a position the Emperor could appoint and dismiss at will, and it also happened to be exactly what those aristocratic families coveted.
The Empress Dowager had been frightened; if they couldn’t find the culprit, they could not escape blame.
Whether it was the current Minister of the Ministry of Justice trying to protect his job or the aspirants who wanted to seize it, they all needed to understand one thing: what result the Emperor truly wanted from this investigation.
Only by satisfying the Emperor could they secure the position.
This wasn’t just bait; it was a prime cut of meat. Even if the tigers and wolves turned up their noses, there were still jackals.
In any world, there is no shortage of people who will do anything to climb the ladder. Whether they are loyal or treacherous depends entirely on how the one in power uses them.
To be honest, Xiao Jingyun’s throne wasn’t as precarious as it looked. At least, in Xiao Li’s opinion, he was holding a good hand of cards.
The borders were peaceful and the court was stable. The only problem was the court was filled with a forest of aristocratic families, secretly corrupt, diminishing the Emperor’s power.
But you don’t have to be stronger than the tigers to sit on a mountain and watch them fight. He could have made the tigers devour the wolves, then killed the wounded tiger, reaping all the benefits. He could have easily cleansed the entire court.
Unfortunately, Xiao Jingyun’s throne had come to him too easily.
The Empress’s legitimate son, the revered Crown Prince... the old Emperor passed the throne directly to him on his deathbed. The late Emperor had paved the entire way for him. He never experienced the dark struggles of the court or had to personally execute a close blood relative, so naturally, he never grew.
That was why, a year later, he would be killed and replaced by Prince Chen. Prince Chen would use Liu Xueyin to get a hold on Lu Yanzhi, then use the Lu family to topple the Wang family, seizing control of the court.
The entire, great Wang family ended up as a funeral sacrifice for this incompetent Emperor.
Xiao Li sighed. ’I really want to just shove the Emperor aside and do it myself.’
’What a piece of trash.’
"Princess."
Xiao Li had just finished walking the Emperor through her scheme, and she was mentally exhausted as she left. She hadn’t gone far from the Imperial Study when a shrill voice stopped her.
It was Dong Changrui, the Chief Eunuch.
He was slightly plump, his face coated in white powder. Holding a duster, he stood there with a faint smile, looking like a paper effigy from the Netherworld. His eyes were especially unsettling—filled with a sinister cold that made one’s skin crawl.
’Thinking of Lou Yan... they’re both eunuchs, so why is there such a huge difference?’
"Mr. Dong."
Dong Changrui stepped forward, his smile gentle. "The Princess is wise. The late Emperor would surely be gratified. But matters of the court concern the fate of the nation. They are not as simple as you imagine, Princess, and certainly not something Your Highness should be meddling in."
"His Majesty’s words and actions are guided and supervised by the Grand Tutor, the scholars, and others. Princess, do not lead His Majesty astray, lest it lead to disaster. It is possible to be too clever for one’s own good."
His tone was earnest, like that of a senior patiently instructing a junior.
But paired with his face, which was painted a ghastly white, it conveyed not a trace of benevolence, only a nauseating chill.
"Mr. Dong, you speak too gravely. I don’t understand matters of state. It’s just that the Lu family has gone too far, and I want my Brother to stand up for me. I’m sure if Father were still alive, he would never watch me be bullied by the Lu Family."
’He’s just using the late Emperor as a shield. Who doesn’t know that trick?’
Of the four great eunuchs today, besides Chief Eunuch Lou Yan who killed his way to the top, the other three were all old retainers from the late Emperor’s time.
But just because they served the late Emperor didn’t give them the right to treat the princes and princesses as their juniors.
Dong Changrui’s smile faltered. "This old servant watched you grow up, Princess. You were never so sharp-tongued before."
Xiao Li replied, "You say you watched me grow up, Mr. Dong. Then why didn’t you help me when I was being bullied?"
Dong Changrui was at a loss for words. The Princess certainly knew how to press an advantage.
"As far as I know, the Lu family has repeatedly made concessions to you, Princess. It is you, on the other hand, who have been aggressive and relentless."
Xiao Li retorted, "I am the Emperor’s own sister. I’d dare to make a scene even if I were in the wrong. So now that I’m in the right, why should I forgive anyone?"
"Did my father become the Emperor just so his daughter could be pushed around? Did my Brother become the Emperor just so his sister could be pushed around? It has always been that Imperial Power is inviolable, the Imperial Family’s bloodline supreme. Yet from your tone, Mr. Dong, it sounds like I, a Princess, should bow my head to the Lu family. What’s next? Are you going to tell me that a wife must be virtuous and demure, that a daughter-in-law must serve her in-laws?"
Xiao Li’s smile deepened as she spoke, but her eyes grew colder. "Putting aside whether I would ever do such a thing... could the Lu family even withstand it?"
"Or perhaps, Mr. Dong, despite being esteemed by the late Emperor and my Brother and living on the Royal Family’s stipend, your heart actually lies with the Lu Family?"
"Princess!"
The color drained from Dong Changrui’s face, but before he could retort, Xiao Li had already strode away.
As luck would have it, she had just turned a corner when she came face to face with Lou Yan, who was just returning.
"Lord Chief Incense."
Xiao Li raised a hand to stop him. Her gaze flickered to the empty space behind him as a wicked smile played on her lips. "I hear you killed your way to the top, Lord Chief Incense. You kill anyone who stands in your way. In that case, I think ’Incense’ doesn’t sound as mighty as ’Seal’."
She bent her elbow, her fingertips tracing a line across his cheek before pressing lightly against the corner of his mouth. "Kill Dong Changrui," she whispered, "and you’ll be rewarded."
’Just an old eunuch pulling rank,’ Xiao Li thought. ’He uses his status as a veteran of two reigns to throw his weight around the palace. He’s close with Grand Secretary Lu, and in the end, he’ll betray his master to side with Prince Chen for his own glory.’
’If he hadn’t popped up on his own, I wouldn’t have even remembered him.’
’I can’t let anyone interfere with my plans. So, he’ll just have to die.’