Chapter 41
"Hui'er, it's useless. Shen Chaoyan not only provided evidence, but also had Official Li and Official Zhang as witnesses. If your grandfather stubbornly refuses to admit it, his crime will only be aggravated." After saying this, Helian Yuxi picked up the jue cup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
Helian Yuxi put down the cup, looked calmly at Ying Zihui, and said word by word, "Hide your capabilities and bide your time, waiting quietly for an opportunity."
This was Ying Zihui's only chance.
After this incident of colluding with the enemy and treason, although Ying Zihui retained his status as a prince, the position of Crown Prince was already beyond his reach unless he could clear the Helian family's name.
Not to mention anything else, just the fact that his maternal family committed collusion with the enemy and treason was enough to cause court officials to oppose him. Those ministers who had aligned themselves with Ying Zihui were probably already cutting ties with them.
"Mother Consort, if that's the case, doesn't that mean I can only watch helplessly as Ying Ziheng ascends to the Crown Prince position?"
"Mm." Helian Yuxi nodded with a heavy expression. "Hui'er…"
"No!" Ying Zihui interrupted angrily, "I've worked so hard to get to this point, why should I fail just like this? I absolutely cannot let that fellow Ying Ziheng get the Crown Prince position. Mother Consort, you must have another way… Mother Consort… Mother Consort, what's wrong with you… Mother Consort…"
Ying Zihui watched as blood suddenly spilled from the corner of Helian Yuxi's mouth. He was instantly stunned and instinctively rushed over to support the faltering Helian Yuxi.
Helian Yuxi ignored Ying Zihui's worry, her face pale as she instructed, "Hui… Hui'er… remember to hide your capabilities and bide your… your time… must not act impulsively…"
"Mother Consort, why are you suddenly spitting blood? Could it be that what you drank just now was poisoned wine?" In his panic, Ying Zihui quickly remembered the cup Helian Yuxi had drunk from earlier.
"Mm."
Helian Yuxi nodded weakly, her breathing growing shallower.
"Mother Consort, have you gone mad?" Ying Zihui widened his eyes in disbelief. "Father Emperor had no intention of blaming you just now, why did you seek death?"
"Hui'er… The… The Emperor never intended to spare me… Just now… just now he didn't punish me… it was only for your sake… cough cough…"
From the moment Ying Zhengjing said those words about the entire Helian family being bestowed a cup of poisoned wine, Helian Yuxi knew she could not escape death. By taking the initiative to drink the poisoned wine first now, it was solely for the sake of Ying Zihui's future.
Helian Yuxi understood better than anyone that as long as she remained alive, it would be very difficult for Ying Zihui to make a comeback.
"Mother Consort, don't speak, I will immediately go find a imperial physician."
"It's already… already too late…" Helian Yuxi used her last bit of strength to clutch Ying Zihui's clothes. "In the future… you must… must be careful in your… your actions…"
After saying these words, Helian Yuxi breathed her last.
"Mother Consort… Someone, quickly, someone call the imperial physicians over…"
____
On the other side.
When Shen Chaoyan and He Danyan first arrived at Shen Qianxue's palace, the Second Prince Ying Ziheng, who had been waiting inside the palace early on, immediately stood up and bowed to Shen Chaoyan. "Uncle, thanks to your help this time, otherwise Ying Zihui would have truly obtained the Crown Prince position."
Ying Ziheng's mood was exceptionally good now. With Ying Zihui in trouble, it would make him, Ying Ziheng, the only suitable candidate with the capability to become Crown Prince.
Shen Chaoyan shook his head. "Second Prince, you still need to watch your words and actions. The Emperor is suspicious by nature. Until the day he officially names you Crown Prince, we cannot relax for a single day."
Shen Qianxue also agreed with Shen Chaoyan's words. "Heng'er, your uncle is right. Although the current situation is advantageous for us, we cannot guarantee that problems won't arise."
"Mother Consort, Uncle, rest assured, I will be careful." Although Ying Ziheng was somewhat displeased with Shen Chaoyan's caution in his heart, on the surface he would not say it out loud, lest Shen Chaoyan develop a negative opinion of him.
"Heng'er, it's good that you understand." Shen Qianxue nodded with relief, then looked at Shen Chaoyan and said, "Brother, since we have already caused the Eldest Prince's faction to collapse like a tree losing its monkeys, we should follow up victoriously and proceed with the next step of the plan."
[树倒猢狲散 (shù dǎo húsūn sàn): lit. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; fig. When a leader or patron falls from power, their followers and hangers-on quickly disperse.]
Shen Chaoyan nodded. "Mm, after I leave the palace later, I will immediately visit Li Huaian and Zhang Yan. With the help of these two censors, the Emperor will inevitably be unable to hold out and will have to establish a Crown Prince sooner or later."
Shen Qianxue asked curiously, "Brother, Officials Li Huaian and Zhang Yan are famously unaligned and very stubborn. How did you persuade them to help?"
To be honest.
When she saw Li Huaian and Zhang Yan actually come out today to join forces with Shen Chaoyan, Shen Qianxue was truly surprised, as these two people were not part of the plan from the beginning.
Shen Chaoyan smiled. "They aren't exactly on our side. I just used a little trick, that's all."
Even Shen Chaoyan himself hadn't expected to utilize these two censors, but as it happened, it was just that coincidental. While Shen Chaoyan was at Zhou Lian's residence arranging for the so-called evidence to be secretly planted, just as he was about to act according to plan, he unexpectedly saw Li Huaian and Zhang Yan entering together, so he adapted the plan and used them.
Sure enough.
With the help of the two censors, Shen Chaoyan's scheme against the Eldest Prince's faction proceeded with unusual smoothness.
"Brother is still the best."
Shen Qianxue secretly sighed, inwardly exclaiming her relief.
Fortunately Shen Chaoyan was her older brother. If Shen Chaoyan were on the opposite side, he would definitely be a serious threat.
Bang bang.
Suddenly, a series of knocks came from outside the door.
"What happened?" Shen Qianxue narrowed her eyes slightly and looked towards the main door.
Everyone in this palace was Shen Qianxue's person. Knowing that Shen Qianxue was currently discussing important matters with Shen Chaoyan and the others, anyone daring to knock at such a time definitely meant a major event had occurred.
The palace maid outside immediately said, "Replying to Consort Chun, Consort Shu has passed away."
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