Chapter 187

She was not like Cao Xi, who had no favor at all.

In the entire palace, aside from Jiang Xiurun, she alone enjoyed the emperor’s exclusive affection.

During the two years when Jiang Xiurun was absent, the emperor only spent his nights with her.

If Jiang Xiurun were to disappear for good and the emperor gave up on her completely, then she would undoubtedly regain the emperor’s favor.

Since that was the case, she could not allow Jiang Xiurun to dominate alone.

Fortunately, she had prepared for this in advance.

Back when the former emperor was still alive, Feng Wu had once tried to befriend her.

With mutual exploitation in mind, the two had maintained contact.

However, after Feng Wu’s rebellion, Tian Ying feared being implicated and dared not associate with him any longer.

But ever since Jiang Xiurun returned to Qi, Tian Ying found herself losing ground and once again started scheming.

Now, with the three counties locked in a stalemate, Feng Wu was in urgent need of military provisions.

But Feng Liwu was determined to starve his brother to death, continuously exerting pressure on other states, cutting off all previous supply routes one by one.

With no other choice, Feng Wu had to resort to underhanded methods to resolve the financial crisis in the three counties.

As for Jiang Xiurun’s route back to the capital, Tian Ying had put much thought into it.

She ordered her maid to seduce a palace guard officer and even pawned the most valuable jewelry from her dowry, using the money to bribe him heavily.

Under the double temptation of beauty and wealth, the officer’s courage grew.

When the imperial guards received the emperor’s drawn route map, they followed protocol and made a copy to send to the general responsible for the escort.

The officer secretly placed a specially treated hemp parchment beneath the supervisor’s silk map while it was being transcribed.

Once the supervisor finished copying, he took advantage of tidying the study to retrieve the parchment.

Then, following the ink traces, he carefully redrew and transferred a duplicate copy.

After completing everything, he discreetly handed it to Tian Ying.

Tian Ying, having obtained the map, passed it on to a eunuch bribed by Feng Wu, who then delivered it.

As for what would happen next, Tian Ying had no need to worry—Feng Wu would take care of it.

It was said that Feng Wu had long coveted Jiang Xiurun.

Once he captured her, besides using her to threaten Feng Liwu, he would also fulfill his long-held desires.

And by then…

Thinking of this, Tian Ying felt a surge of satisfaction.

The rest would be handled by Feng Wu’s virtuous empress, Yang Ruxu.

Believing her plan flawless, Tian Ying settled in to wait for news.

Feng Wu was already a starving wolf—if he were to make a move against Jiang Xiurun, he would undoubtedly give it his all.

Tian Ying was certain of that.

For the next few days, the palace remained peaceful.

Perhaps due to Jiang Xiurun’s departure, Feng Liwu suddenly visited her palace one day.

In the past, the emperor always arrived at night, when rouge and powders were unnecessary.

But today, he came in broad daylight—a rare occasion.

Tian Ying quickly ordered her maids to apply makeup in preparation to receive him.

However, Feng Liwu was clearly not in the mood for pleasures.

After entering, he sat down without drinking tea, his expression dark and unreadable. Then, he suddenly spoke:

“The Empress was ambushed by mountain bandits near Shen Prefecture, close to Han. These bandits were highly skilled in combat and have taken her hostage. Her whereabouts are currently unknown.”

Tian Ying had not expected Feng Wu to succeed so quickly.

Her heart was elated, but she dared not show it.

Instead, she feigned deep concern and said anxiously:

“This… the Empress has been kidnapped! What should we do? Shen Prefecture is close to Han. Your Majesty, should I write a letter to my father immediately and ask him to send troops to assist in the rescue?”

Feng Liwu had been watching her closely. Hearing this, he said,

“That would be best. That is precisely why I came here. It is rare for you to be so sensible and mindful of the greater good. However, news of the Empress’s abduction must not be spread. It would be a grave insult to our nation’s dignity. What I have told you stays here—do not speak of it to anyone else.”

Tian Ying, appearing shy and obedient, gracefully accepted the emperor’s praise and swore to keep it a secret.

Unfortunately, since the Empress was in mortal peril, it was not appropriate to keep the emperor for the night.

Thus, after he finished speaking, she respectfully escorted him out of her chambers.

Watching Feng Liwu’s tall and powerful figure disappear into the distance, Tian Ying felt triumphant.

She was certain that her decision had been the right one.

As long as Jiang Xiurun was out of the picture, regaining the emperor’s favor would be effortless.

The only thing she had to ensure was that Feng Wu wouldn’t foolishly release Jiang Xiurun once he had received his provisions…

With that thought, Tian Ying carefully crafted a letter to her old acquaintance, Yang Ruxu.

In the letter, she disclosed Jiang Xiurun’s abduction by Feng Wu.

She also reminded Yang Ruxu of the Second Prince’s past infatuation with the Empress and pointed out that if Jiang Xiurun were to lose her honor and choose to remarry, she would never settle for the rank of a mere consort.

As her former sister, Tian Ying expressed her deep concern for Yang Ruxu.

Tian Ying knew that Yang Ruxu was far from the gentle and virtuous woman she pretended to be.

This letter was not merely for her—it was meant for the entire Yang family.

Even if Yang Ruxu suspected her of sowing discord, it didn’t matter.

The truth about Jiang Xiurun’s abduction would soon come to light.

Since it was an undeniable fact, she was confident the Yang family would take the bait.

A threat to Yang Ruxu’s position as Empress was something the entire Yang family would never allow to live.

Thinking of this, Tian Ying smirked.

Now, she only needed to seize the opportunity.

With the emperor in distress and no one to console him, she would win back his favor and bear his child as soon as possible.

She had already bribed the palace eunuchs to replace the contraceptive decoctions meant for her.

In addition, she had been meticulously nurturing her health.

She was determined—she would conceive the imperial heir and solidify her place!

Following her usual method, she had her maid deliver the letter in the dead of night.

It was taken to a deserted area behind the Cold Palace, where a eunuch she had bribed would later retrieve it under the guise of running errands outside the palace.

Once the letter was sent, Tian Ying felt entirely at ease.

She ordered a nourishing soup to be personally prepared and had it delivered to the emperor, along with an invitation for him to visit her chambers that evening.

That night, she meticulously shaped her brows and applied makeup, adorning herself with an exquisite touch.

Yet, as the sun set and dusk deepened, the emperor’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Still, Tian Ying was patient.

Based on past experience, the emperor was likely to visit her late at night.

Sure enough, as night approached, she sprinkled fragrant dew over herself and waited for an hour.

Then, she heard faint footsteps at the palace entrance.

Tian Ying quickly rose and, with a trembling voice, called out, “Long live the emperor.”

When the man pulled her into his embrace, the familiar warmth and scent reassured her.

Eagerly, she reached for his robes, desperate to relieve the longing that had tormented her for over a month.

Just as their bodies entwined and the passion deepened, Tian Ying, eyes closed and softly moaning, suddenly heard the doors burst open.

Dozens of palace lanterns were carried in, illuminating the bedchamber as bright as day.

Tian Ying was basking in pleasure when the sudden intrusion startled her.

She opened her eyes in anger, ready to scold the intruders—until she caught a clear glimpse of the man above her.

This man… This man wasn’t the emperor!

In that instant, Tian Ying’s face paled, and she let out a terrified scream!

Before she could push him away, a group of burly palace matrons stormed in.

They dragged both her and the man off the bed and forced them onto the floor.

Never in her life had Tian Ying suffered such humiliation.

With her face pressed harshly to the ground, she found herself staring directly at the man who had impersonated the emperor.

Moments earlier, panic had blinded her to his identity.

But now she saw clearly—it was someone she knew! Wasn’t this Gongsun Wuyan, the former aide of the Crown Prince’s residence?

How had he infiltrated the palace to violate her?

At once, she shouted, “This man is an assassin! He intended to harm me! Why haven’t you released me yet?”

As the room erupted with noise and chaos, footsteps echoed from the doorway.

Tian Ying assumed the emperor had arrived and struggled to rise, eager to defend herself.

But to her shock, the one who entered was a tall, elegant beauty with her hair coiled high in a luxurious style—none other than Jiang Xiurun, whom Feng Wu was supposed to have captured!

Behind her trailed Empress Dowager Wei, Consort Cao, and several officials from the Ministry of Rites.

Tian Ying’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Her mind spun—was Jiang Xiurun rescued by the emperor? Or had Gongsun Wuyan been part of her scheme all along?

But it was too late to think further.

All she could do now was cry out in desperation, “Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, I have been falsely accused! This vile man broke into my chambers, but he was caught before he could defile me! Please, Your Majesty, uphold justice and clear my name!”

Jiang Xiurun observed Tian Ying’s frantic performance with amusement.

This woman was indeed formidable—no wonder she had held her own in the Crown Prince’s residence in the previous life.

With a composed smile, Jiang Xiurun turned to the equally panicked Gongsun Wuyan and said, “If you are innocent, then how should we punish a man who dares to violate a consort of the imperial harem?”

Tian Ying loathed Gongsun Wuyan for dragging her into this disaster.

Gritting her teeth, she declared, “Naturally, he should be beaten to death with wooden rods as a warning to others!”

Gongsun Wuyan had only come to Luo’an City on business as usual.

With Feng Liwu’s silent approval, he had sought out a private meeting with his beloved.

Never had he expected that the woman who had once exchanged heartfelt letters with him in Han State would now, in order to save herself, beg for his execution.

Was this truly the gentle and affectionate Tian Ying he had known?

Jiang Xiurun was not surprised by Tian Ying’s ruthless betrayal.

With a faint smile, she said, “You claim you were not violated, yet your maid reported that you have repeatedly taken contraceptive decoctions in recent days. If you have not been engaging in illicit affairs, why would you need such medicine? Furthermore, from the Crown Prince’s residence to the palace, there is no record of you serving the emperor. If you are truly innocent, would you be willing to undergo an examination to prove your virginity?”

Tian Ying’s eyes widened in horror.

She glared at Jiang Xiurun and spat, “I respect you as the empress, but you cannot make such slanderous accusations! You lived in the Crown Prince’s residence—you should know that I was among the first to serve His Highness! And now you demand proof of my virginity? What a ridiculous joke!”

Jiang Xiurun’s smile remained unwavering.

“I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying. If you claim you have served the emperor, then let’s check the imperial records.”

At her signal, a palace attendant presented an official register.

The bamboo scrolls, aged yellow over time, bore wax seals from the respective years, making forgery impossible.

Empress Dowager Wei, witnessing such a scandalous scene, was reminded of her own humiliating past.

Though Jiang Xiurun had forced her to be present, she remained silent, distancing herself from the affair.

Consort Cao, on the other hand, found the situation amusing.

Yet, she had also heard of Tian Ying’s early service to the emperor, leaving her momentarily puzzled.

Tian Ying, hands trembling, unrolled the records.

Skimming through the entries, her breath caught—there was not a single record of her serving the emperor!

Jiang Xiurun had prepared everything in advance to completely destroy her reputation!

Furious, she shouted, “Nonsense! I have served His Majesty many times! Before you returned to Qi, I was his sole favorite! How could there be no record of it? It must be you! You, with your jealous heart, who dared to falsify the imperial records!”

At that moment, a cold voice rang out—

“Did I truly favor such a venomous woman? Why do I have no memory of it?”

It was Feng Liwu.