Ch 69: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

No one expected that Prime Minister Yuan would return to court, let alone that he was Fang Jun’s mentor!

It must be noted that Prime Minister Yuan was the father of Empress Dowager Xiao An and held the prestigious title of Grand Tutor. Renowned for his extensive knowledge and having countless disciples across the nation, his name carried immense weight. However, after Empress Dowager Xiao An passed away, Prime Minister Yuan, overwhelmed with grief, left the capital to live in seclusion, and for ten years, no news of him emerged. Over time, people gradually forgot about him.

Yet, with his sudden return, numerous officials visited him immediately, many of whom were his former students who had benefited from his teachings—though none as intensively mentored as Fang Jun. In other words, even after ten years of absence, Prime Minister Yuan’s influence was undiminished, and with it, Fang Jun now had a powerful ally. Consequently, both became vital pillars of support for Imperial Consort Xian and the young prince.

Who said Imperial Consort Xian and her brother were foolish? Who mocked them for severing ties with their family, predicting they’d regret it? It turns out they had the support of Prime Minister Yuan, a force that even ten Shen families couldn’t rival!

After only a few days of acclimatizing, Prime Minister Yuan managed state affairs with ease. With the assistance of his diligent student Fang Jun, the mess deliberately left by Prime Minister Shu posed no difficulty. Meanwhile, those under Prime Minister Shu’s command could handle individual officials but stood no chance against Yuan and his numerous supporters. They didn’t dare to act rashly, as it would be futile.

Thus, Prime Minister Shu was left utterly defeated! Laughing bitterly twice at home, he lamented, “The heavens do not favor me! The timing is not on my side!” before coughing up blood and collapsing, throwing his household into chaos as they scrambled to summon the imperial physicians.

This time, Prime Minister Shu genuinely fell ill and no longer needed to feign sickness. The Emperor promptly approved his resignation, permitting him to retire to his hometown. However, none of the usual honors accompanied this departure. All the court officials understood this was the Emperor’s expression of dissatisfaction, and they naturally distanced themselves from Shu.

Before even leaving the capital, the former Prime Minister Shu felt the sting of losing his influence. Once at the pinnacle of power, he was now utterly abandoned. This stark change was unbearable for him, especially knowing that his failure had doomed his family. The Emperor would never tolerate Consort Shu or the Shu clan after this. Having led the Shu family to its peak, he had now dragged it into ruin. He had become their greatest disgrace.

If he had known this would happen, he would never have underestimated the Emperor or pursued power so recklessly. He certainly wouldn’t have clashed with Imperial Consort Xian and her brother. But it was too late; nothing he did now would change his fate. Overcome with regret, Prime Minister Shu closed his eyes, looking as though he had aged decades.

This incident significantly impacted the court, albeit subtly. With the Emperor and Prime Minister Yuan in control, the court became more stable than before. However, the repercussions within the palace were most evident with Consort Shu. Upon hearing of her father’s forced resignation, she was devastated and rushed to the imperial study to seek an audience with the Emperor.

At that moment, Fang Yunxuan was visiting the imperial study with her two children. The Emperor, having missed them dearly due to his recent busy schedule, had arranged for them to be brought to him, instructing Li Defu not to allow any interruptions. Li Defu stopped Consort Shu outside, but she insisted on barging in. Upon entering, she saw the Emperor laughing with Fang Yunxuan, each holding a child, and her eyes immediately turned red with anger.

Consort Shu exclaimed, “The Emperor has no time to see me because he’s playing with Imperial Consort Xian and her children?”

The Emperor, puzzled, looked at Li Defu, who quickly responded with a nervous chuckle, “Your Majesty, it’s my fault. You instructed not to be disturbed, so I told Consort Shu to come tomorrow. But she, being impatient, forced her way in.”

The Emperor handed the children to their nursemaids and frowned. “Forcing your way into the imperial study, Consort Shu, your behavior has become increasingly improper.”

Having previously been humiliated by Fang Yunxuan for her lack of decorum, Consort Shu hated being criticized for it. She calmed herself, performed a proper greeting, and urgently asked, “Your Majesty, I heard you’ve allowed my father to retire? Why? Even if my brother made mistakes, my father surely knew nothing of it. Please reconsider and spare him.”

The Emperor handed her a document and said coldly, “Prime Minister Shu was unwell and requested to retire. Perhaps he was affected by your brother’s disgrace.”

“No, that’s impossible!” Consort Shu refused to believe it and turned to Fang Yunxuan. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re seeking revenge on me by framing my father, aren’t you?”

Fang Yunxuan sneered. “Mind your words, Consort Shu! What have you done for me to seek revenge? Your brother’s crimes are well-documented, and your father’s illness was diagnosed by the imperial physicians. How could I frame anyone?”

Consort Shu almost blurted out her role in the assassination attempt on Fang Jun but stopped herself just in time. Yet, she continued to glare at Fang Yunxuan with bloodshot eyes.

The Emperor furrowed his brow. The palace had been peaceful for months, and he had almost forgotten the schemes and hidden tactics of the past. When Prime Minister Shu had been powerful, the Emperor had to tread carefully. But now, with Consort Shu effectively isolated, her potential to cause harm was a risk he could no longer tolerate. His children were too young for him to take any chances.

The Emperor immediately ordered, “Escort Consort Shu back to her quarters and confine her there. Li Defu, investigate everyone in Consort Shu’s service thoroughly. I want to know what she’s done to make her so afraid of retaliation.”

“Your Majesty!” Consort Shu’s eyes widened in shock.

The Emperor looked her in the eye and asked coldly, “If you are innocent, I can promote you to Noble Consort. Are you?”

Consort Shu staggered back, her face drained of all color. The Emperor must know about her deeds, or he wouldn’t have said such a thing. Once her servants were interrogated, her crimes would come to light. It would be over for her and her family.

Consort Shu collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, and Li Defu immediately called for attendants to take her away. Inwardly, he sighed, lamenting that Consort Shu had made the worst possible move. Had she spent these days living quietly, praying, and keeping a low profile, the Emperor might not have pursued her faults. Perhaps after a year or two, when the court stabilized, the Emperor could have even restored her title to show compassion toward an old minister.

Unfortunately, a single misstep can sometimes be irrevocable. Consort Shu barged into the imperial study at the worst time—right when the imperial prince and princess were present—inevitably reminding the Emperor of her past misdeeds. Naturally, he wouldn’t forgive her.

If Imperial Consort Xian were ever in such a predicament, she would undoubtedly make the wisest choice, perhaps even eliciting guilt from the Emperor and earning compensation.

As Li Defu pondered this, he chuckled to himself. He sincerely hoped for the Emperor and Imperial Consort Xian to have a long-lasting relationship. With the Emperor in a better mood, life for servants like him became much easier.

After the palace attendants withdrew, the Emperor asked Fang Yunxuan, “Do you think I was too harsh?”

Fang Yunxuan was surprised. “How could that be? I know you’re protecting me, our children, and addressing past issues. I’m too pleased to feel otherwise. I’m not like her; I don’t pity those who bring trouble upon themselves. But is this the first time you’ve truly dealt with a consort? Did you hesitate?”

The Emperor fell silent briefly. “In the past, my mother often suffered at the hands of other consorts, enduring withheld allowances and countless grievances. When I ascended the throne, she told me that palace women have it hard. If anyone made mistakes, it was enough to confine them, reduce their allowances, and prevent them from causing harm again. But after all that’s happened, I no longer wish to be soft-hearted—nor should I be.”

Fang Yunxuan fully agreed. “I’d do the same. Being kind to the wicked is cruel to oneself. There’s so much to accomplish in life; I don’t want to waste energy guarding against enemies. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on what we can do for the people?”

She smoothed the Emperor’s furrowed brow and smiled. “I’ve been working on some new farming tools. The palace workers who help me with the fields say they’re much easier to use, cheaper to make, and simpler to operate. Would you like to take a look?”

“New farming tools? Sure, let’s go see them.” The Emperor welcomed the break and decided to escort them home as well.

Fang Yunxuan had indeed developed some new farming tools. While her previous lives as a wealthy heiress and an actress didn’t involve farming, she had visited rural areas for filming and learned to use various tools. Drawing from these memories, she created several improved implements. Though the craftsmanship was rough, they were significantly better than the empire’s current tools.

Fang Yunxuan demonstrated them to the Emperor, who personally tried them and immediately noticed the difference. Gripping her hand, he marveled, “How many more surprises do you have?”

Fang Yunxuan laughed. “Who knows? I love exploring random ideas, and it’s thanks to your support that I’ve been able to experiment freely. Even if I run out of ideas someday, I’m not worried. With so many people in the world, encouraging them to think outside the box and test viable ideas is bound to yield countless innovations.”

The Emperor thought of the recently developed firearms, which were indeed more effective than before. He agreed with Fang Yunxuan and began considering whether to apply this collective brainstorming approach to other areas. Could ordinary citizens also be encouraged to contribute ideas?

In recent years, he had deeply felt the scarcity of talent. Establishing more academies and encouraging education among the populace might cultivate more capable individuals for the court in the future. However, expanding academies required funding, and the treasury was depleted—another problem to address.

Developing a crumbling nation was no easy task. After dinner, the Emperor returned to the study to handle state affairs.

The tools Fang Yunxuan designed received high praise from the Ministry of Works, and the Emperor summoned Fang Jun to discuss promoting them. However, Fang Jun declined, choosing to forgo the credit. Though capable, as a newcomer to court, he had already achieved significant contributions by promoting cowpox vaccination and fish farming in rice fields.

Taking too much credit might make him a target. Fang Jun and his sister aimed to serve the country and ensure stability. By allowing others to share the accolades, they fostered harmony at court.

The Emperor was pleased with Fang Jun’s foresight and assigned the task to the Minister of Works, who thereafter showed a much-improved attitude toward Fang Jun. This shift was noticed by others, who began subtly aligning themselves with him.

Shen Xiuyuan attempted to mend his relationship with Fang Jun but was treated like a stranger, much to his frustration. Drinking heavily out of anger, he neglected his duties. The Emperor, offering no second chances, reassigned Shen Xiuyuan to a minor, powerless position, effectively ending his influence.

The Shen family panicked. Shen Xiuyuan sought out Fang Jun late at night but wasn’t even allowed to meet him. Once, he had driven Fang Jun out of his home. Now, gaining entry to Fang Jun’s home was nothing but a delusion!

Madam Liu rushed to the Shao household to confront Shen Yunrong. “Didn’t you say your father would only lose his position years later because of a concubine’s death? How is he already reassigned to a sinecure? Your brother and younger brother haven’t even established themselves yet, and now your father has lost his power. What will become of the family? Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan is already Imperial Consort Xian, and her son is highly likely to be the next emperor. What’s wrong with your dream?

Shen Yunxuan hates us so much. Do you think she’d ever let the emperor grant Shao Kun the title of marquis?”

Shen Yunrong ignored most of her mother’s complaints, thinking it didn’t matter since they were destined to end up miserable. She could throw them some money when they were down and out. However, when Madam Liu mentioned the last point, Shen Yunrong couldn’t stay calm.

Why hadn’t she thought of that? Shen Yunxuan hated her family so much that she had even changed her surname to Fang. Moreover, she had schemed to swap Shen Yunxuan’s marriage partner. With such deep hatred, how could Shen Yunxuan allow her to become a marquis’s wife and enjoy wealth and glory? Even if Shao Kun made great contributions, Shen Yunxuan would likely whisper into the emperor’s ear to block his career.

What could she do now? How could she fix this? Even if she wanted to make peace with Shen Yunxuan, she couldn’t even enter the palace! She had just started to feel relief now that the Shu family had fallen and she no longer needed to be afraid of going out. But now, another disaster loomed!

Seeing Shen Yunrong’s silence, Madam Liu suddenly slapped her hard and grabbed her collar, seething with rage. “This is all your fault! Everything started with you swapping marriages! What dream? It was all lies you made up! Not a single thing you predicted has come true! You’ve ruined the whole family—you deserve to die!”

Shen Yunrong shoved her mother away, letting her fall without helping her up. She said coldly, “I’ve told you everything truthfully. Believe it or not, it’s up to you. If marrying into the palace were as good as you think, would I have left the position of noble consort to marry Shao Kun? But you’d better keep your mouth shut. If even a hint of this gets out, the emperor won’t let you off! Servants, escort her out!”

“You! Shen Yunrong! Let’s see if you ever become the marquis’s wife you’ve been dreaming of!” Madam Liu stormed out in a rage, ending any semblance of their relationship.

News of Shen Xiuyuan’s demotion and the falling out between Shen Yunrong and her mother quickly reached Madam Shao. Finally relieved, she brought her trusted servants to Shen Yunrong’s quarters, forcefully took back the keys to the storeroom and account books, and reclaimed control of the household. She even declared that if Shen Yunrong dared to cause trouble, she would let her son divorce her.

Having just severed ties with her family, Shen Yunrong had nowhere to go if she left the Shao household. Besides, she still harbored some hope of becoming the marquis’s wife. After a heated argument, Shen Yunrong feared Madam Shao would drive her out, while Madam Shao worried Shen Yunrong might reveal the marriage swap. Both parties had their concerns and eventually compromised: Madam Shao regained control of the household, while promising to recognize Shen Yunrong as her sole daughter-in-law and never divorce her.

On the surface, the Shao household seemed to have settled down, but underneath, both women harbored deep resentment. During her time managing the household, Shen Yunrong had placed her own people in key positions, and Madam Shao wasn’t aware of all of them. As a result, the Shao household staff split into two factions, engaging in open and covert struggles.

Shen Yunrong felt both exhausted and afraid. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Yunxuan’s life at the Shao household in her previous life had been different. Regret began to consume her. Seeing Shen Yunxuan easily become an imperial consort, give birth to twins, and gain control of the palace, Shen Yunrong deeply regretted her choices.

Why did she swap marriages? She had known so much about the palace and its figures from her past life—why didn’t she enter the palace herself? She could have lived far better than before. Even if she didn’t vie for favor, she would have been Consort Shen, elevated and respected. No matter how far the Shen family fell, as long as she followed the rules, she could have enjoyed a lifetime of wealth and status.

She wouldn’t have ended up in the cold palace! Why had she been so jealous of Shen Yunxuan’s life and insisted on swapping places with her? The Shao household turned out to be nothing like she imagined, and she had handed Shen Yunxuan a smooth path to success.

Meanwhile, the Shen and Shao families had undergone significant changes, but no one informed Fang Yunxuan, who remained indifferent. Regarding the farming tools, the Emperor publicly credited Fang Yunxuan as their inventor. Although few officials had seen her, they began to hold her in high regard, speaking of her with utmost respect.

This respect and status were earned through tangible accomplishments.

The investigation into Consort Shu in the palace also brought everything to light. It was revealed that she often smashed items in her chambers and cursed other consorts. While two of her loyal servants refused to confess, the testimonies of others were enough to convict her. Consort Shu had been jealous of Fang Yunxuan’s favor, scheming to frame her and have her sent to the cold palace. She had extracted information from Shen Yunrong via the Shu family and leaked it to the Empress, leading to the flower banquet incident. Out of resentment for losing her title, she had even conspired with the Shu family to eliminate Fang Jun and deal with Shen Yunrong. Worse, when Consort Shu first entered the palace, she had secretly poisoned the Empress with a banned substance from the previous dynasty, rendering her infertile for life.

The palace staff provided detailed accounts, revealing many things the Emperor had not previously uncovered. Upon learning the full truth, he said little but immediately ordered Consort Shu to be sent to the cold palace. The implicated palace staff and those from the Shu household who conveyed her messages were punished accordingly.

Prime Minister Shu, who had just recovered from his illness and was preparing to leave the capital with his family, was shocked when investigators arrived at his residence. They arrested several servants and questioned a steward, who took the blame, claiming he had acted under Consort Shu’s orders. Further investigation led to a former strategist of Shu Dong, revealing that Shu Dong had sent four assassins to kill Fang Jun under the pretense of assigning them elsewhere.

Prime Minister Shu now realized that Fang Jun’s retaliation had begun.

Once, he thought Fang Jun was powerless, with no support or backing, someone he could bully at will. Even later, when he began weighing risks and benefits, it was only in relation to the Emperor, never considering Fang Jun as a threat. It wasn’t until he discovered that Fang Jun’s teacher was Prime Minister Yuan and saw Shu Dong’s downfall that it dawned on him—he had underestimated Fang Jun. They all had.

At such a young age, Fang Jun could destroy his son without breaking a sweat and retaliate fiercely. It was clear he was destined for greatness, not someone who would remain insignificant. Prime Minister Shu realized, too late, that he had grown old and forgotten the importance of caution.

Prime Minister Shu coughed up another mouthful of blood. He had only one son and one daughter. His son was foolish and met such a tragic end. His daughter, spoiled as she was born late in his life, had now been sent to the cold palace. He had once thought that with him around, she would enjoy a life of luxury and might even secure the crown prince’s position for his grandson. Yet now, she was completely ruined.

Relatives and family members were now blaming him, and the Shu clan was on the verge of collapse. Weak and powerless, Prime Minister Shu could no longer manage anything. Even sick, he boarded the carriage and left the capital.

The Shu family disappeared from the capital so swiftly that it was as if their once-great presence had never existed.

This sent a clear signal to all officials and noble families: the Emperor would not tolerate powerful ministers acting arrogantly. This was a strong-willed emperor with ruthless and decisive methods, leaving no room for leniency. Many officials became more cautious, keeping a low profile. However, others saw this as an opportunity—a diligent, fair-minded emperor who rewarded good service offered a chance for merit-based advancement. Gradually, the court became more stable and orderly.

The charges against Consort Shu were not fully disclosed. The matter of the Empress’s infertility was tied to her status as the nation’s mother, and such details could not be made public. However, the Empress herself had to be informed. Upon learning the truth, she rushed to the cold palace, furiously beating Consort Shu and demanding an antidote.

But how could there be an antidote for a sterility-inducing poison? Overcome with rage, the Empress fainted. When she regained consciousness, she wept before the Emperor, lamenting that she had believed her inability to bear an heir was her own failing and felt deeply ashamed. To learn now that she had been poisoned was devastating.

The Emperor continued reviewing memorials, saying nothing. Gradually, her sobs subsided, and she looked at him in uncertainty. “Your Majesty, as the Empress, I was harmed so grievously by Shu. Do you… have nothing to say to me?”

She had hoped to use this opportunity to regain her former glory. After all, she had suffered a great injustice. But the Emperor’s indifference left her stunned.

Without lifting his head, the Emperor replied, “When it was discovered that the harmful objects found in Imperial Consort Xian’s palace were sent by you, I had nothing more to say to you. ‘Empress,’ do you think you are worthy of this position?”

The Empress was shocked. “Your Majesty, someone must be framing me. How could I do such a thing?”

The Emperor scoffed, as if hearing a joke. “Then do you dare have Li Defu interrogate all your palace staff as Shu was interrogated?”

Panic crept into the Empress’s voice. “Your Majesty, I am the mother of the nation! Must you humiliate me this way?” Forcing herself to remain calm, she added, “If Your Majesty wishes to convict me, it is clear you want me to abdicate. But would Imperial Consort Xian allow Li Defu to interrogate her staff?”

The Emperor chuckled, setting down his brush. “She would, naturally. Qin Mama, Xiaolin, Yuexia, and Yuetong are all my people. They are with Yunxuan every day, and she has never hidden anything from me, nor has she ever harmed anyone. Since she took charge of the inner palace, there hasn’t been a single incident. How about during your tenure?”

A chill settled over the Empress’s heart—not from fear but from the realization that she had lost completely and irreversibly. Who else but Fang Yunxuan would dare to expose everything so plainly to the Emperor? Despite the many people in the palace, Fang Yunxuan had no fear of being scrutinized. Finally, the Empress understood where she had failed. But it was too late; she could never be the kind of person who could maintain such honesty and openness. Her downfall was inevitable.

The Emperor did not depose her as Empress, likely because of the ongoing border conflicts. Losing the nation’s mother during such times would destabilize the court. However, she was effectively stripped of her power as Empress.

Not wanting to meet the same fate as Consort Shu, nor to drag her family down with her, the Empress accepted the situation. She knelt and pleaded guilty, retreating to a life of prayer and scripture to pray for the border soldiers.

The inner palace became firmly under Fang Yunxuan’s control. Remarkably, she had only been in the palace for a year. Both officials and their families, when speaking of Fang Yunxuan, couldn’t help but marvel at her extraordinary fortune, with many vowing to build ties with her. After all, she might bring them unexpected opportunities in the future.

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