Chapter 986: Slander

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The one who had advocated the expedition was the emperor, and it was also the emperor who had insisted on going against everyones opinions. Now that the entire expedition to the North had been destroyed, Duke Ning and his son had taken the blame, still causing the emperor to lose all his dignity and face. The emperor couldnt wait to settle the matter. If Concubine Lan didnt know her place and continued to attack Empress Ning, the matter would escalate.

Not long after, she realized that the emperor had rejected the Zhan Residences suggestion to choose teachers for the emperors eldest son.

The Zhan Residence wanted to build a solid foundation for the emperors eldest son in advance.

These people would be the teachers of the emperors eldest son when he was

young.

When the eldest son of the emperor grew up and was conferred the t.i.tle of crown prince, they would be the crown princes aides.

When the crown prince ascended the throne, they would be the emperors right-hand men.

Ever since the emperors eldest son was young, the teachers would have been tied to his interests. They shared honor and disgrace, and the status of the emperors eldest son had become unshakable.

Therefore, choosing teachers for the eldest son of the emperor was the most important. It often took a year and a half, or even a few years, to go from inspection to selection. The sooner they prepared, the better.

At that time, the emperor had high hopes for the crown prince. He even wanted Mr. Hu Shan to return to the court and raise the emperors eldest son.

The emperors sudden rejection of the Zhan Residences suggestion made Concubine Lan acutely realize that the emperors intention to nurture the emperors eldest son had faded.

The majestic ambition in Concubine Lans heart was like wild vines.

She made a crazy and bold move.

She took the opportunity to attack the crown prince.

Not long after the emperors eldest son was born, his soul was very light. The empress was too sad and neglected the emperors eldest son, causing him to die prematurely. It was reasonable.

The emperors eldest son had died prematurely, and the empress was no longer a threat to Concubine Lan.

It was also the Empresss fault for losing her virtue.

The Empress lost all her dignity, and her position was nothing.

Empress Ning continued, You controlled the Ganji Palace and instructed the Senior Imperial Censor to write a warning to bring the news of the emperors serious illness to the surface, further inciting conflict in the court. Ill govern Consort Xus harem, and the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince will compete for the throne. Then, you will be able to contact the ministers in the court who support the Second Prince and enter the Ganji Palace to ask the emperor to appoint the Second Prince as the heir.

Concubine Lan subconsciously denied. Youre talking nonsense. The emperor has the final say in the matter of choosing the heir. Im just a concubine. How can I have the ability to control the emperors heart?

Empress Ning sneered. You cant change the emperors mind, but youve always been good at a.n.a.lyzing his heart. Youre also the best at catering to his will. By serving the emperors heart, you can always achieve your goal.

Concubine Lan still refused to admit it. The Weining Marquis Residence owes the emperor a favor. Its only right for us to share the emperors burdens.

Empress Ning did not argue with her. Back then, the Xu Residence partic.i.p.ated in the old matters of the Ning Residence. Although it went according to the emperors wishes, it also became a thorn in his heart. All these years, the emperor has been very tolerant of the Xu Residence because of this. The Xu Residence relied on the emperors kindness to form cliques in the court for personal gain. Theyre deeply rooted, causing the emperor to be afraid and want to get rid of them.

Concubine Lans heart skipped a beat. She had a bad feeling.

Indeed!

Empress Ning changed the topic. However, the Ning Yuanbos Residence was hiding behind the scenes and helping to encourage it. You used the Xu Residence to uproot the Ning Residence.

At that time, the Ning Residence was supporting the new ruler, and they were like the sun in the sky.

As the first wife, her position was very stable.

Concubine Lan had been conferred the t.i.tle of Imperial n.o.ble Consort. In terms of status, she would never surpa.s.s the Empress, and she was still a concubine.

However, the position of Imperial n.o.ble Consort was only a step away from the Empress, as if it was at hand.

The defeat in the north had allowed Concubine Lan to find a chance to rise to power.

At that time, the general guarding the North was one of the generals who had partic.i.p.ated in the expedition to the North.

This person was greedy for credit and advanced rashly, flattering the emperor. When he was on the northern expedition, he often slandered the emperor, causing the relations.h.i.+p between him and her father and brother to become more and more tense.

Discord between rulers and ministers was a huge taboo on the battlefield.

It was precisely because of this person that the emperor was so smug as a result of winning a few rounds of battle, causing the calamity of Lishan.

At that time, the emperor had wanted to push the blame to this person. However, the emperor did not wrong him completely.

It was the Weining Marquis Residence who had interfered, causing the bad reputation that shouldnt have been borne by Empress Nings father and brother to fall on them.

However, Concubine Lan had never expected the Empress Dowager to step in to protect the Empress.

This had completely cut off Concubine Lans path to success.

However, she had also lost her eldest son because of this.

Concubine Lan sneered. Empress, dont slander me.

Empress Ning was not angry. The Xu family forged evidence of my father and brothers mistakes on the battlefield. The Weining Marquis Residence was hidden and helped to encourage them, so they know very well. They even took the opportunity to preserve the evidence of the Xu family framing loyal officials. They secretly have something on the Xu family.

Therefore, Concubine Lan had never taken Imperial Concubine Xu seriously.

From the beginning, Imperial Concubine Xu was like a gra.s.shopper in her hands.

Concubine Lan held her breath for a moment, but she quickly calmed down. All of this is just the Empresss wild guess.

Empress Ning did not mind if she admitted it or not. You just have to tell the emperor that back then, the reason why the emperor was trapped in Lishan was because Duke Xu had colluded with the enemy and betrayed the emperor by selling his information to the Di people. After that, Duke Ning and his son died tragically when they saved the emperor. Duke Xu was shameless and stood up to save the emperor righteously. Then, he was ungrateful and played the blame game. He slandered Duke Ning and his son, and blamed the Ning Residence for the crus.h.i.+ng defeat of the expedition to the North. As a result, he achieved his goal of framing loyal and kind people.

At that time, the emperor was besieged, and her father and brother led troops to Lishan to save him. At that time, Duke Xu, who was still a small general under Duke Ning, was arranged to wait at the foot of Lishan to receive the emperor.

Although her father and brother had died tragically, they had still severely injured the Di Army who had been lying in ambush at that time.

That was why Duke Xu could successfully save the emperor.

Concubine Lans expression changed drastically. Dont slander me.

Empress Ning sneered. Back then, the Xu family could forge evidence of my father and brothers mistakes on the battlefield. Why cant Ning Yuanbos residence forge evidence of the Xu family colluding with the enemy to betray the country? After so many years, there are already some slight flaws. I dont think theres any way to investigate. Ning Yuanbos residence doesnt have to worry about being exposed at all.

This was why Concubine Lan was so brilliant.

It was as if a dirty poisonous snake was spying on the enemy at all times, not missing any opportunity to bite back.

Concubine Lan couldnt help but gasp and take a deep breath. The Ning Yuanbos residence has always looked up to Duke Ning and the heir for loyalty and righteousness. We happened to find out the tip of the iceberg behind the crus.h.i.+ng defeat of the expedition to the North. I couldnt bear to see Duke Ning and the heir be so loyal, yet end up with a reputation full of dirt. Therefore, for so many years, Ive been secretly investigating the truth of the crus.h.i.+ng defeat in the northern expedition back then. I wanted to avenge Duke Ning and the heir.

When Empress Ning heard this, her face was filled with mockery. The emperor might fall for it, but I wont fall. Forging evidence and framing charges are all the usual methods of Ning Yuanbos residence. How did King Li of Zhou die back then? You did it once in the past. This time, youre even more proficient..