Chapter 670: Chapter 477: Little Crybaby, Beautiful and Charming, The Rugged Man Spoils His Wife with Seduction 27
When Su Zhiruan first arrived in this world, she quickly grasped the composition of the Imperial Family.
The Old Emperor was lustful, with three thousand beauties in the harem and numerous offspring; there were over twenty Princes and Princesses combined. The youngest Prince was ranked eleventh and still in swaddling clothes. Among the Princesses, apart from the legitimate Eldest Princess, the Third Princess, and the Second Princess born to the Favored Concubine, most Princesses lived in hardship, just like the original host, buried deep in the palace, without the Old Emperor’s attention, possibly being pulled out one day as tools for political exchange.
The Wan Dynasty had yet to establish a successor, with Princes embroiled in fierce struggles, none willing to yield, all desiring to eliminate their brothers to seize the supreme status.
As Su Zhiruan swept the floor, she contemplated this breakthrough point. As long as she could seize the key point and ignite a fuse, she could sit back and watch the tigers fight.
The Empress had given her this role perfectly suited, not drawing too much attention. The Palace Attendants who knew her identity naturally dared not slack off. Those below watch for expressions and understood not to easily offend Su Zhiruan, thus she did trivial tasks at the back of the hall.
Su Zhiruan recalled the Princes she had met during her brief time before leaving the Imperial Palace. The Eldest Prince and Second Prince were most likely to ascend the throne, among other Princes also competing for power, unwilling to give way.
The Eldest Prince was the eldest son born to the Noble Consort of the Old Emperor, with her maternal family wielding great power and many court officials supporting them. The Second Prince was the second legitimate son born to the Central Palace Empress, having a legitimate status, with many feudal ministers also aligning, and both sides vying fiercely, ambitions abound.
The Third Prince was irascible but ambitious. Though of legitimate birth, he carried no title of eldest son, making him a good choice as a breakthrough point.
Standing at the strategic point, Su Zhiruan smiled, having made up her mind.
The Empress gracefully stepped down from the palanquin, immediately assisted by a careful Palace Maid beside her. Spotting a figure in the distance, she inquired of her attendant maid, "Has Jialan shown any anomalies lately?"
The Chief Court Lady took one glance and understood, lowering her voice, "Don’t worry, Lady. She’s constantly doing chores at the back halls, nothing unusual."
"Such an unfortunate fate," the Empress dismissed the dense entourage behind her, sighing to the Chief Court Lady, "having spent over ten years in the deep palace unanswered, finally granted a marriage task, still marrying the Regent King of the Wang Dynasty, only to be ambushed, trapped among commoners, even marrying a hunter, her identity replaced, uncertainly returning, and nearly by Your Majesty..."
The Empress timely paused and switched the topic, "The full moon of Prince Shiyi is approaching. How is the Noble Consort’s banquet preparation?"
"Reporting to Lady, the Noble Consort’s side sent word that preparations are complete, inviting Lady for a review." The Chief Court Lady knew well of the strife between the Empress and Noble Consort since their entry to the palace, now during the succession dispute stage, tensions flared, and she hesitantly added, "Does Lady desire to attend?"
"Forget it," the Empress shifted her gaze from Su Zhiruan’s distant silhouette and sighed, "Let her handle it; if anything goes wrong, the Noble Consort will surely drag me into it. If trouble arises, let her deal with it herself."
"Yes."
*
Ten days later.
Prince Shiyi’s full moon.
Su Zhiruan gleaned some information through the palace maids’ idle chatter.
Prince Shiyi was conceived when the Old Emperor was drunk, with a low-status Palace Maid. Typically, a Prince born to such a maid was insignificant, let alone a full moon banquet; surviving ten days after birth was unlikely.
However, coincidentally, he was the first Prince born three years after Prince Ten. The Noble Consort needed to hold a banquet to rally her maternal clan’s influence, paving the way for her Eldest Prince.
As for the full moon banquet of Prince Shiyi, it wasn’t the focus. The Noble Consort’s path for her son was the true objective.