Chapter 179:

Due to the Empress Dowager’s poor health and her insistence on witnessing Shen Layue’s ascension to the position of Empress, everything suddenly became hectic. Normally, an Empress enthronement ceremony would require at least a year or half a year of preparation, but the reality didn’t allow for delays, and the Emperor was eager to fulfill the Empress Dowager’s wish. Consequently, the preparations were in utter disarray. Layue even had no time to sleep.

Everyone knew the Empress Dowager wouldn’t last much longer. Due to the tight schedule, all possible steps had been omitted, making this the most modest ceremony ever held for an imperial enthronement. Even though it was as simple as having practically nothing, everyone still eagerly pursued the position.

Layue had been busy all day, and it was already the second watch of the night before she could finally rest. Jin Xin comforted her, saying, “My Lady, endure for a few more days. Everything will get better after this.”

Layue smiled tiredly. “You rest too. You’ve been exhausted these days as well.”

Jin Xin smiled along with her mistress and murmured, “My Lady, I feel like everything is just a dream.”

Just yesterday, it seemed like her arrival at the palace was still fresh in mind, yet now she was about to ascend to the position of Empress. Not only others, even Layue herself found it hard to believe. However, she quickly calmed herself.

“Actually, even after becoming Empress, I will still be myself. We’ve come step by step to today. Although the path hasn’t been smooth, it hasn’t been entirely full of hardships either. Even after becoming Empress, it will be the same. Since I entered the palace, I had always aspired to reach the highest position one day. Being in a high position enables me to better protect what I value.”

Upon hearing this, Jin Xin nodded, though she expressed it differently, “My Lady, you still say it hasn’t been entirely full of hardships. What more hardships would it take to be truly considered difficult? You and the Emperor nearly fell off a cliff, and there was also the smallpox incident—both were life-threatening events. Not to mention, the palace has always been full of hidden dangers.”

“As long as you are by my side, even if there are these problems, what does it matter? They will pass eventually.”

Layue smiled. While Layue and her maid were having this late-night conversation, there were many others who were also awake with their own thoughts. Fu Jinyao was one of them.

In Zhuxuan Pavilion, Fu Jinyao was still sitting on the upper floor of the pavilion late at night. She recalled how, when she first moved into Zhuxuan, the Emperor visited her often. They spent time writing, painting, playing music, and dancing together, so joyfully.

But today, he was going to crown another woman as Empress, and that woman was none other than Shen Layue, whom she had always looked down upon.

She had loved the Emperor since childhood. For the Emperor, she had even been willing to harm her own elder sister. So why, in the end, did she end up with nothing?

Even Fu Jinyan, that seductive woman, could meet the Emperor more often. Yet the Emperor paid no attention to her, not even bothering to spare her an extra glance.

No one knew how much pain and sorrow she endured.

Yun Lan and Yun Xue were serving nearby, watching their mistress writing continuously and advised, “My Lady, it’s late. Please rest early.”

Fu Jinyao paid no heed and continued writing. Yun Lan stood slightly behind and to the side, looking from afar, and saw that the pages were filled with the word “love.”

It was somewhat chilling.

“This is my affair. You two had better not meddle. Do you, mere maids, dare to interfere in my business?” Fu Jinyao snapped, seemingly recalling something, her mood worsening as she tore up the pages.

“The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager—it’s all because of her, that old woman. If it weren’t for her, how could Shen Layue ascend to the position of Empress? Since the day I entered the palace, she has always disliked me. Now she’s about to die and still wants to scheme. Why doesn’t she just die already? Why won’t she die?” Fu Jinyao’s voice was filled with resentment.

Her words, however, terrified the two maids.

If anyone else heard what she had said, they would commit a grave crime, one that could even result in the execution of their entire families.

Yun Xue pleaded, “My Lady, please refrain from speaking like this. We absolutely cannot utter such words.”

Fu Jinyao sneered, “Misplaced words? What’s wrong with saying that? There are only the two of you here. Surely you wouldn’t betray me?” She looked suspiciously at the two of them.

Yun Lan and Yun Xue quickly knelt down repeatedly, claiming they would never dare.

Fu Jinyao let out another cold snort.

“How? How can I prevent Shen Layue from becoming Empress? Ah, right! If the Empress Dowager dies right now, the Emperor will definitely not crown another Empress for at least three years. Yes, the Empress Dowager must die—she must die immediately…”

Fu Jinyao’s self-mutterings nearly scared the two maids to death.

Plotting to murder the Empress Dowager—what a grave crime they couldn’t even imagine. They dared not ignore it, yet they couldn’t do nothing either.

They also had family members in the Fu household. If this matter were discovered, they would all be doomed.

They kept kowtowing, “My Lady, please reconsider carefully. If this matter is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable. We beg you to think carefully!”

Fu Jinyao was somewhat agitated, repeatedly clutching her chest.

After a long while, she looked at the two of them.

“You are both my trusted attendants. I trust you, which is why I spoke these words. But don’t think this gives you the right to lecture me.”

“We dare not.”

“If you dare not, then behave yourselves.” Fu Jinyao said fiercely.

After the two left, they both felt a cold sweat on their backs.

Yun Xue steadied herself and reminded Yun Lan, “Be more cautious. Our mistress is just extremely angry, but she won’t actually do anything like that.”

Yun Lan nodded.

Late at night, a dark figure slipped past the gate of Zhuxuan Pavilion.

That person was Yun Lan.

At dawn, Fu Jinyan rose and immediately noticed her maid Xiu’er looking somewhat unwell.

“What’s wrong?” The next day would be the Empress enthronement ceremony, and the palace was in a frenzy.

Xiu’er was indeed anxious, “At dawn, Yun Lan came to deliver news. The Lady Hui is out of her mind. She wants to stop the Emperor from crowning Shen Guifei as Empress and even plans to assassinate the Empress Dowager.”

Fu Jinyan staggered, never expecting her second elder sister to harbor such thoughts.

“What did you say? Is this information reliable?”

Xiu’er was also anxious. How could she not be? Once this matter was exposed, the Fu family would face great disaster. Her own family also belonged to the Fu clan!

“Yun Lan said that Lady Hui only spoke of it but hasn’t ordered them to act yet. However, the specific situation remains unknown. We must come up with a plan immediately!”

Fu Jinyan decisively said, “This matter must not reach the Emperor’s ears. Otherwise, the Fu family will suffer greatly. While the palace is busy preparing for the enthronement ceremony, you must immediately arrange several trusted people to guard Zhuxuan Pavilion and ensure no problems arise. Even if we notify the family now, it would be of no use. We must stop this ourselves. As long as we hold out until tomorrow’s ceremony is over, it will be fine. This matter must be treated as potentially real rather than dismissed as false!”

“Yes, I understand. I will go arrange it right away.” Xiu’er was about to leave.

“Wait.” Fu Jinyan called Xiu’er back.

“My elder brother should be entering the palace today. Arrange everything properly, and we will go to intercept him along his usual route. We must meet him. My brother is clever and has a good relationship with the Emperor. He will surely think of a better solution.”

“Yes!”

The two immediately sprang into action.

Xiu’er was clever and soon had everything arranged.

At this point, Fu Jinyan no longer thought about the Emperor’s secret guards. Even if they suspected her, she hadn’t actually done anything wrong, right? Watching her elder sister closely couldn’t be considered a mistake, could it?

Then she, along with Xiu’er, waited along Fu Jinyu’s usual path into the palace.

Indeed, if she hadn’t previously befriended Yun Lan, she wouldn’t have learned of this news today. Yun Lan had been continuously mistreated at Lady Hui’s side. Although she felt distressed, she had never considered betraying her mistress. But this time, she was truly frightened.

How could she not be afraid? Her mistress was even contemplating treason. She dared not continue like this any longer.

Precisely for this reason, she informed Fu Jinyan, urging the Fu family to come up with a plan.

Fu Jinyu had come to the palace today specifically to handle matters related to the Empress enthronement ceremony. He had been entering the palace daily these past few days.

Seeing Fu Jinyan by the roadside, he furrowed his brow. Why would she be waiting for him at a time like this?

Seeing her watching him anxiously, Fu Jinyu asked permission from the eunuch Laifu, who was accompanying him.

“Master Laifu, may I speak a few words with my sister?”

Laifu glanced at Fu Jieyu and smiled in agreement, “Of course, Minister Fu, please go ahead.”

Fu Jinyu nodded slightly and walked toward Fu Jinyan.

Laifu was considerate enough to stay at a distance.

At this moment, only the two siblings were present. Xiu’er also stood a bit farther away.

Before he could even ask, Fu Jinyan began, “Time is pressing. I’ll be brief. Early this morning, I received a message from Yun Lan. My second elder sister is trying to prevent Shen Guifei from ascending to the position of Empress and even plotted to kill the Empress Dowager to stop the ceremony. Although she hasn’t assigned any tasks to her attendants yet, the specific situation remains unknown. I’ve already arranged people to guard Zhuxuan Pavilion, but my resources are limited, and I don’t know what exactly my second elder sister intends to do. I hope my elder brother can help.”

Fu Jinyan spoke quickly, but Fu Jinyu still inhaled sharply. He never imagined his second younger sister could be so foolish. She had done something similar before, harming the innocent without remorse. Now, she was again recklessly endangering the entire family.

After calming himself, he thought carefully and responded calmly.

“The people around her lack the capability to do such things, and she doesn’t have access to any poisons. If she intends to harm someone, she must rely on external forces. That external force would naturally be our Fu family’s influence. You only need to temporarily prevent her from acting within the palace. As for those external forces, I will handle them. As long as no one helps her, she won’t have the opportunity to strike.” Fu Jinyu didn’t have time to scold his sister but instead focused on finding the best solution.

“You must also be vigilant within the palace. If you truly can’t stop her, you must confess everything to the Emperor. Although our family might lose favor, it would be better than facing total annihilation.”

Fu Jinyan nodded.

She had naturally prepared for the worst-case scenario.

“I can only hope my second elder sister was merely speaking in anger and won’t actually do anything reckless.” She sighed.

Fu Jinyu furrowed his brows, equally worried.

Ever since childhood, she had regarded the Emperor as her entire world. It wasn’t surprising that she might do something like this.

However, he didn’t sigh but instead instructed, “Alright, we must each do what we must do immediately. No matter what, remember one thing—we are all members of the Fu family.”

Fu Jinyan bit her lip and nodded.