FBC -Chapter 297 Turmoil of Imperial Power

Mu Junyan cupped her face and kissed her lightly. “Nothing can be hidden from you.” …

A month later, news arrived from the capital.

The Empress’ clan had been in close contact with the Yuan family.

With the Yuan family’s support, all the commanders of the imperial guards in the capital had been replaced.

Another month passed.

The Emperor fell gravely ill, on the verge of death.

The Crown Prince took over state affairs, and the Empress ruled from behind the curtain.

…

At this moment, Wang Heng was meeting Duan Yu.

“King Duan, I have been ordered by Her Majesty the Empress to deliver a congratulatory gift—congratulations on your eldest son reaching six months of age. Consort Yu is truly a blessed woman. The Empress has specially prepared a precious ruby hair ornament set for Consort Yu as a gesture of celebration.”

Zhao Luoxuan was sitting beside Duan Yu, yet Wang Heng didn’t spare her a glance.

Zhao Luoxuan smiled, but her heart felt cold.

Her mother was willing to aid others in stepping on her for the sake of power.

She was the Empress’ own daughter!

Duan Yu’s eldest son was already over a year old, but the child was not Zhao Luoxuan’s—he was born to a side consort from the Yu clan.

Coincidentally, this side consort from the Yu clan was someone sent by the Yuan family.

Duan Yu glanced sideways at Zhao Luoxuan’s calm expression, then turned back to Wang Heng and smiled. “I’m afraid Lady Yu cannot bear such grace from the Empress. The prince has already been recorded under the Princess Consort’s name and is now recognized as the legitimate heir. If Her Majesty wishes to send a gift, should it not be for the Princess Consort?”

Zhao Luoxuan also smiled. “Your Majesty jests. Since Mother wishes to reward Lady Yu, it should naturally go to her. How would I dare take what is not mine?”

Duan Yu gave her a deep look. “Princess, you are truly magnanimous. Come, send the gift to Consort Yu.”

Wang Heng smiled deeply and bowed again. “I have important matters to discuss with King Duan.”

The meaning was clear—Zhao Luoxuan should withdraw.

Zhao Luoxuan sensibly rose. “Your Majesty, I take my leave.”

Duan Yu nodded. Zhao Luoxuan did not look at Wang Heng as she turned and left.

Once she disappeared through the doorway, Wang Heng said, “King Duan, Her Majesty the Empress is grateful for your friendship with Liang over the past year, and so she intends to present you with a grand gift.”

Duan Yu smiled faintly. “Oh? And what grand gift?”

“The five southern border cities of Liang.”

Duan Yu raised his brows. “That truly is a grand gift. What does Her Majesty expect me to do for her?”

Seeing his deeper smile, Wang Heng felt pleased.

He had already negotiated with several small kingdoms in the south—they had agreed that as long as Duan Yu joined them, they would unite with him to pressure the Mu army once again.

Confidently stepping forward, lowering his voice, Wang Heng said, “Her Majesty requests King Duan’s aid in taking control of the Mu family army.”

Duan Yu suddenly laughed. “I do not understand. How does the Empress benefit from betraying the Mu family army?”

Wang Heng froze for a moment.

He hurriedly explained, “You misunderstand. The Empress is not betraying the Mu family army. Rather, the Mu army has grown too powerful. Ever since being enfeoffed as nobles, they have been recruiting excessively. They are a threat to Liang.”

“So you all intend to unite with foreign nations to destroy your own fiercest beast?”

Wang Heng’s expression tightened.

“If we do not, where would Her Majesty obtain the five cities to offer you?”

Duan Yu smiled. “The envoy speaks quite reasonably.”

Wang Heng felt secretly delighted.

Interests were the true bond between nations.

The Empress feared the Mu army, but the Yuan family alone could not wrest control from them. Only by using the southern nations to pressure the Mu army could her goal be realized.

After sending Wang Heng off, Duan Yu headed straight to Zhao Luoxuan’s palace.

Upon entering, he saw Zhao Luoxuan playing with the little prince.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and rose to bow.

Duan Yu lifted her up. “Did I not tell you not to keep bowing to me?”

“Etiquette cannot be abandoned.”

Zhao Luoxuan smiled faintly at him. “Wang Heng came to persuade you to move against the Mu army, didn’t he?”

Duan Yu took her hand. “Yes. What do you think?”

Zhao Luoxuan sneered. “Foolish! If the Yuan family grows too powerful, how could they possibly spare Mother or my brother the Crown Prince? Mother has never been farsighted.”

Duan Yu raised a brow. “And if I agree? The five cities are quite tempting.”

Zhao Luoxuan immediately withdrew her hand, serious. “Then I will ask Your Majesty to divorce me. Send me back to the southern kingdom.”

“You are my princess consort. How could I divorce you?”

Zhao Luoxuan said solemnly, “I married into this kingdom for the sake of peace between our nations. If that purpose is gone, I have no reason to remain.”

With that, she knelt and bowed deeply.

“Please release me, Your Majesty.”

Duan Yu’s smile turned cold.

“Zhao Luoxuan, do you even have a heart!”

He stood and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Zhao Luoxuan frowned.

Madam Qi emerged from behind the screen and helped her up.

Zhao Luoxuan apologized. “Mother, I…”

“Good child,” Madam Qi’s eyes were red.

“I’ve long wanted to tell you—Duan Yu treats you very well. You should consider him.”

Zhao Luoxuan was stunned.

Madam Qi continued, “You have observed mourning for Qi Jun for over a year. We are grateful—Qi Jun, in the afterlife, must be deeply moved. But he would also feel guilty. We have treated you as our own daughter. You should let go.”

Zhao Luoxuan looked up abruptly. “Mother, what are you saying?”

Madam Qi held her hand. “You’re so young. You should not dedicate your entire life to someone who has already passed. Otherwise, we would feel ashamed—not only to you, but to Qi Jun.”

“I won’t…”

“Your mother is right. We already see you as our real daughter,” Father Qi said as he walked out.

“Child, you should think about your own future.”

Zhao Luoxuan could only stare blankly.

Ever since marrying Qi Jun, becoming a young widow, she had never thought of remarrying. Agreeing to the political marriage was solely for Gu Hua, for the southern people, for the Mu family army.

Thinking back over the past year, Duan Yu truly treated her well.

He gave her status.

To preserve her dignity, he spent far more nights with her than with favored Consort Yu.

Yet he had never overstepped once—he respected her fully.

He cared for her daily needs. Anything good he obtained always went to her first.

He never expressed displeasure at her insistence on plain clothing while mourning Qi Jun.

As a king, such tolerance was extremely rare.

But despite all that, her heart remained still as water.

Madam Qi looked at her with sympathy and whispered, “I heard what King Duan said just now. Think carefully—if he really let you go, it would mean he agreed to the Empress’ conditions. If he refuses to let you go… doesn’t that mean he’s still willing to support the Mu army?”

Father Qi added, “Child, your loyalty to Qi Jun is also loyalty to the Mu family army.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s mind was in turmoil.

She thought all night and could not sleep.

The next morning, before dawn, she rose early.

“Where did His Majesty spend the night?”

“Your Highness, the King was with Consort Yu,” the maid replied carefully while combing her hair.

Zhao Luoxuan’s expression did not change. “Go tell him I invite him to lunch.”

“Would breakfast not be better?”

Duan Yu appeared behind her with a smile.

Zhao Luoxuan was startled and rose to bow, but he pressed her shoulders down.

“I’m here. Go bring breakfast,” Duan Yu said as he took the comb from the maid.

The maid happily handed him the jade comb and ran to the kitchen.

Zhao Luoxuan eyed Duan Yu suspiciously through the bronze mirror.

It wasn’t the first time Duan Yu had combed her hair.

He played with her silky black hair with one hand while gently combing with the other.

For a long time, neither spoke.

Zhao Luoxuan, straightforward by nature, could not stand the silence and spoke first. “Your Majesty, I—”

“Do you truly wish to return?” Duan Yu interrupted.

Zhao Luoxuan froze.

Madam Qi and Father Qi’s words echoed in her mind.

Seeing her stunned, Duan Yu set the comb aside, turned her toward him, and leaned in.

“Zhao Luoxuan, I will say this only once more. As long as you remain in Dali, I will remain allied with the Mu family army. If you dare leave… I will declare war on them instantly.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s face darkened. “Even if you start a war, you cannot win.”

Duan Yu sneered. “What do you think I’ve been doing for the past year? And tell me—why has the Mu army fought the southern nations for decades without breaking through? Because the southern states are many. If we unite, and add the Yuan family’s army… how confident do you think the Mu army really is?”

Zhao Luoxuan’s face changed. “You mean my mother has allowed the Yuan clan to join forces with you to attack the Mu army?!”

“What else did you think?”

Duan Yu straightened, hooked her chin, and smirked. “Think very carefully, Zhao Luoxuan.”

Zhao Luoxuan looked blankly at the child staring up at her with wide eyes.

Little Duan Qi, Duan Yu’s eldest son.

But in truth—not born of Consort Yu.

He was the posthumous child of Ji Xuanyu.

In fact, Consort Yu’s own child had mysteriously died shortly after birth.

Then the Queen Dowager brought Zhao Luoxuan a swaddled infant, claiming it was Consort Yu’s son and should be recorded under the Princess Consort’s name.

It was Chiyan’s scouts who secretly told her that the child was already six months old. His mother had been dying in childbirth, leaving the weak infant barely alive—small and frail as a newborn.

A six-month-old child hardly bigger than a days-old baby.

Zhao Luoxuan never exposed the truth, and the royal household remained unaware.