Chapter 391:1 Don’t Have That Ambition
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
However, it was hard to say for the rest of the Jia clan…Or rather, it was more accurate to say that people would seek to settle old scores with the Jia clan later.
The Jia clan rose because of her, and in the end, it would probably fall because of her.
Panic flashed across Mrs. Shen’s face again.
Although she rarely got involved in those matters, she knew that the fate of the Empress and the Jia clan were closely related.
As for the Huangfu clan, because of the Empress, they had indeed been very badly suppressed these few years.
Once the Empress passed away, the Huangfu clan would definitely regain control as they were the Imperial family.
And the Jia clan would definitely be dealt with.
Unless…
When she recalled some of her father’s and brothers’ plans, Mrs. Shen looked at the Empress fearfully.
Unless the Empress completely seized power and seized everything that belonged to the Huangfu clan, making it impossible for the Huangfu clan to make a comeback.
The Empress noticed Mrs. Shen’s expression and the corners of her mouth curled up.
“But Elder Sister, don’t worry too much. With Prime Minister Shen around, I will definitely be able to protect Elder Sister.”
Prime Minister Shen had been managing the Imperial Court for many years and was a wily old fox.
Even if she fell from power and Minister Shen was implicated, the Shen family’s situation would be much better than the Jia family.
Furthermore, the current Minister Shen was the target of various factions wanting to win him over.
If he defected in advance, the glory of the Shen family might continue.
Therefore, she really couldn’t touch Shen Hongyu now.
In fact, she had to give him more respect.
Mrs. Shen was shocked.
Then, she looked at Empress Jia with some irritation.
“Why must Your Royal Highness act like this? If Your Royal Highness directly proclaim…” she said.
“Shut up!” However, before she could finish, she was interrupted by Empress Jia.
At this moment, Empress Jia’s eyes were icy and stern. She glared at Mrs. Shen with a strong warning look.
Mrs. Shen was so frightened that she froze on the spot and did not dare to look at Empress Jia.
After a while, Empress Jia shifted her gaze away from Mrs. Shen.
“The affairs of the court are too complicated. Elder Sister, you should just do your part well as the wife of the prime minister. As for other things, it’s better not to get involved too much,” she said.
Mrs. Shen’s heart sank.
“Yes,” she replied fearfully.
Only then did Empress Jia’s expression relax a little.
“After taking care of me for so long, Elder Sister must be tired.”
“Servants…” Empress Jia suddenly shouted to someone outside.
Soon, a palace servant came in.
Empress Jia then spoke, “Send Mrs. Shen out of the Palace.” Her expression was stern and no longer as gentle as before.
Mrs. Shen did not want to leave, but when she saw that Empress Jia’s expression clearly indicated that she would not entertain any guests anymore, she was very afraid.
“Your humble official’s wife will take her leave.” She finally stood up and bowed.
Thereafter, she left with the palace servants.
Empress Jia watched the palace servants lead her elder sister away with an ominous expression.
It was not until Mrs. Shen walked out of the main hall that she withdrew her gaze.
“Hmph!” Empress Jia gave an angry snort and then gestured for the lady-in-waiting to help her back to the bed.
The lady-in-waiting hurried forward.
She helped Empress Jia up and they walked to the bed.
“Your Royal Highness, please don’t be angry. Mrs. Shen said those words because she didn’t understand Your Royal Highness’s predicament.” The lady-in-waiting glanced at Empress Jia and tried to comfort her tentatively.
Empress Jia shot a glance at the lady-in-waiting, causing her to lower her head.
Then, she withdrew her gaze.
“Hmph! She didn’t understand my predicament?
“If she really didn’t know about my predicament, why would she say such treasonous words?
“It’s precisely because she’s my elder sister that 1 have been tolerant of her. Otherwise…” As she spoke, a chilly glint flashed across Empress Jia’s eyes.
Otherwise, if anyone else dared to say such words to her, she would have already gotten someone to take action against the speaker.
The Jia family had indeed grown bold.
Even her elder sister, who had never cared about political affairs, was now persuading her to proclaim herself as the Emperor.
One could imagine how much more concerned about this matter her father and brothers were in private.
There was really no end to these people’s greed.
The Jia family’s power had already reached this stage, yet they were still not satisfied.
That was right. She had never thought of usurping the Huangfu family’s throne.
From the beginning to the end, she was well aware of her identity. She was the daughter-in-law of the Huangfu family.
The Emperor treated her very well. If she really carried out that treacherous act, when the Emperor passed on to the netherworld, how would he face his ancestors?
Moreover, she was a woman.
If she really proclaimed herself to be the Emperor, who could she appoint to be the crown prince thereafter?
Her son?
Her son’s surname was Huangfu.
If she made her son the crown prince, her son would only go against her.
Then should she make her nephew from the Jia family the crown prince?
The throne was not passed to her son but to her nephew? What kind of logic was that?
To put it bluntly, after she had passed away, the ones who would offer incense at her grave would only be her descendants, not her nephews.
Therefore, why bother to start a dynastic change?
However, even if she didn’t think of doing such things, other people would think of such things on her behalf, and even try to compel her to do it.
All these years, she had indulged the Jia family too much.
The lady-in-waiting glanced at Empress Jia.
“Mrs. Shen has just lost her beloved daughter. It’s inevitable that she would oversimplify things.” She continued to comfort Empress Jia.
Empress Jia glanced at the lady-in-waiting and finally stopped being angry.
Instead, she said with a sigh, “This elder sister of mine is now different from back then…”
The lady-in-waiting did not say anything else.
Empress Jia returned to the bed.
She allowed the lady-in-waiting to help her lie down.
“Go. Make the arrangements. After the court session tomorrow, invite Minister Shen to see me,” she continued.
“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” the lady-in-waiting answered.
She tucked Empress Jia in before leaving.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Shen’s expression was glum as she walked out of the palace.
The Empress had already agreed to stand up for her, which was exactly what she had hoped for.
However, the Empress’s attitude was not what she hoped for.
The Empress actually had no interest in the throne and even treated Shen Hongyu as one of the Jia family’s escape routes.
If the Empress did not change her mind, then wouldn’t she and the Jia family have to rely on Shen Hongyu to survive?
How could she accept this?
In a sudden panic, Mrs. Shen gripped the embroidered handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Immediately after that, she thought of Song Rui and let go of her handkerchief.
The Empress treated Shen Hongyu as the Jia family’s escape route because he was the Prime Minister of the Great Jin State.
However, what if he was no longer the Prime Minister?
Didn’t Shen Hongyu want to groom Song Rui to be his successor?
What if this successor was not for the Shen family, but for the Jia family?
When she thought of this possibility, a smile subconsciously appeared at the corner of Mrs. Shen’s mouth.
The Empress held Song Rui in very high regard. Previously, she even wanted to entice Song Rui to be Princess Xiangyang’s Prince Consort.
Hmph! It was indeed difficult for her to snatch Song Rui away from Shen Hongyu.
However, if it was the Empress or the Jia family taking action, the situation would be different.
Upon thinking of this, Mrs. Shen quickly hatched a plan in her mind.
Meanwhile, after Song Rui got into the horse carriage outside the Shen family’s residence, he was sent to a manor in the suburbs by the coachman.
Once there, he saw Shen Lian, who had been arranged to stay in that manor by Shen Hongyu.
Shen Lian must have known about Song Rui very early on as she was very shy the moment she laid eyes on Song Rui.
She looked at Song Rui with shyness and fear in her eyes, and also a tinge of adulation.
“Father mentioned Young Master Song to me before. Young Master Song, you are even better in person than what Father described.” Shen Lian didn’t even dare to look at Song Rui when she said this.
This Young Master Song was not just good. He was like a celestial being descending to the mortal world.
There was probably no one else like him in the entire world.
That Shen Rong was really blind to abandon such a good husband and do such a foolish thing..