Chapter 295: Two Perverse Women
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Except for the Empress Dowager, the Emperors trusted aides, and a handful of imperial physicians, only Qin Zhenzhen and her grandma were privy to the events unfolding within the palace. The veil of secrecy was carefully maintained.
To confuse the Jiang family and gather further evidence of their collusion with the Eighth Imperial Uncles rebellion, the Empress Dowager executed a clever ruse. She feigned benevolence by sending Beauty Jiang and Imperial Concubine Jiang back to their residence, all the while placing them and their loyal followers under discreet house arrest.
To the public, a different narrative was concocted that they were suffering from an undisclosed illness, accompanied by troubling rashes that made close contact with others perilous.
Simultaneously, the Emperor dispatched the Dragon Guards to apprehend the Eighth Imperial Uncle. Remarkably, the Eighth Imperial Uncle was absent from the capital at the time. Yet, this did not deter the Dragon Guards from accomplis.h.i.+ng their mission with remarkable efficiency. In a mere three days, they captured the unsuspecting Eighth Imperial Uncle and delivered him back to the palace.
As word of these developments circulated throughout the capital, the Jiang family initially attributed the plot to Qin Zhenzhens supposed machinations. They surmised that it was an attempt to sway public opinion, preventing the Empress Dowager from executing them.
Master Jiang dismissed this notion with a contemptuous snort, even going so far as to mock the ineffectiveness of such a strategy. In his view, it would only hasten their demise and bring ruin upon their kin. After all, he was acutely aware of the gravity of their crimes, which had led to the execution of his entire family.
Regretfully, the head of the Jiang family shook his head, uttering a somber lament. What a wasted opportunity.
He couldnt help but feel a pang of compa.s.sion for Qin Zhenzhen, who possessed the unique Jiang family lineage. They had contemplated various methods to coerce her submission, but before they could set their plans in motion, they found themselves ensnared in a self-imposed, nonsensical predicament.
Saving Qin Zhenzhen had become an insurmountable challenge, a lamentable truth considering her exceptional capabilities, talents, and unique physical attributes.
Nonetheless, their demise was a silver lining in the dark cloud of the situation. They had been left with no other option but to make them vanish, a plan that had been on their agenda from the outset. Now, it spared them the effort of taking drastic measures.
As the head of the Jiang family grappled with regret, an unexpected message arrived from grandma Qins eldest sister, inviting the familys patriarch for a conversation. She claimed it concerned a matter of great importance.
This elderly woman was responsible for the harm inflicted upon grandma Qin in the past, culminating in her marriage to the Seventh Prince as the Seventh Imperial Concubine. Subsequently, when the Seventh Prince discovered her role in harming grandma Qin, her fate was even harsher than that of the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager, despite her status as a bereaved widow, maintained a position of prominence. The Crown Prince dared not forsake her, and she had consistently held a position of influence, from Crown Princess Consort to Empress, and finally to Empress Dowager.
On the other hand, the Seventh Imperial Concubine found herself in a pitiable situation, bereft of both children and attention. Years later, she faced conviction, instigated by the Seventh Prince, and was ultimately divorced, returning to the Jiang Family.
Due to the prestige of the royal family, the Jiang family hesitated to provoke the Seventh Prince, ultimately accepting her back into their fold. However, who would dare to wed a woman who had been discarded by a prince, bearing the stigma of such a fall from grace?
She didnt dare to entertain the thought of secretly cultivating a relations.h.i.+p with a man. The Jiang family maintained strict surveillance over her, curtailing her freedom and forbidding her from engaging in any activities that might lead to trouble.
This situation only fueled her resentment toward grandma Qin, surpa.s.sing even her animosity towards the Empress Dowager. Upon learning of Grandma Qins gifted granddaughter, she promptly conveyed this information to the palace and suggested to the Empress Dowager that she summon both Qin
Zhenzhen and Grandma Qin.
Her sinister plan was to manipulate the Empress Dowager into executing Grandma Qin, using the imperial authority to serve her own vendetta. In her twisted mindset, she mirrored the Empress Dowagers malevolence. Despite both being responsible for grandma Qins suffering, they bizarrely regarded her as their adversary.
In her mind, she believed she had devised a brilliant scheme. Whether or not Qin Zhenzhen could alleviate the Empress Dowagers headaches, she was convinced that both Qin Zhenzhen and Grandma Qin would meet their demise.
As she anxiously awaited news of Grandma Qin and Qin Zhenzhens impending fate from the confines of her home, she overheard clandestine rumors circulating outside. The shock of these rumors made her realize that someone might be setting a trap for the Jiang family.
Curiously, it seemed that no one within the Jiang family was cognizant of the impending danger looming over them..