Chapter 2
2995words
Empress Victoria's ambition was no longer satisfied with ruling from behind a curtain. She and her daughter, Princess Catherine, like two greedy spiders, crawled day and night on their web of power, eliminating all obstacles that might hinder them. Their spearhead moved past those insignificant small fry and began to openly point toward their true targets—Prince Robert and me, Princess Grace of the state. My fourth brother Prince Robert, who never sought conflict with anyone, became the biggest thorn in Victoria's eyes simply because he was the former emperor's son, and because he had briefly ascended to the throne with our mother's tacit consent. As for me, wielding significant power and possessing enormous wealth, and moreover being Empress Eleanor's most beloved daughter who inherited my mother's unsettling political legacy, I naturally became the thorn in their side, the splinter in their flesh that they were desperate to remove.
In recent days, memorials impeaching me have been flying to my brother's imperial desk like snowflakes. The accusations are diverse, ranging from "living extravagantly, exceeding propriety and protocol" to "forming factions for personal gain, interfering with court politics," and some censors even spread rumors, grasping at shadows to suggest that there are "treasonous plots" within my residence. My brother Emperor George, that weak but kind emperor, though repeatedly suppressing these memorials, reveals a hesitant and troubled expression each time he sends his eunuch to my residence with a message, like a needle piercing deep into my heart. I know he cannot protect me for long. Before the nightly pillow talk of Empress Victoria and Princess Catherine, our pitiful sibling affection is too fragile to withstand a single blow. I can feel that invisible net tightening little by little, almost suffocating me.
In the depths of this stormy night, as tensions mounted, the butler of my mansion hurriedly reported that Prince Edward was requesting an audience outside. My heart stirred - what could he want at such a late hour, during such a sensitive period? The image of that young man with the profound gaze from the banquet resurfaced in my mind. I immediately realized this was no ordinary visit.
"Let him enter through the corner gate of the back garden and bring him directly to my study. Remember, do not alert anyone," I calmly instructed, while rising to change out of my elaborate court attire into a simple, elegant casual outfit.
In the study, only a solitary lamp remained lit. I had dismissed all the handmaidens and sat alone behind the desk, quietly waiting. Before long, the sound of light footsteps arose, and Prince Edward, dressed in an inconspicuous black outfit, was silently led in by the steward, moving as quietly as a ghost. He removed the hood from his head, revealing a face with distinct features in the flickering candlelight, his gaze even sharper and more intense than that night at the banquet.
"Nephew Prince Edward, disturbing you late at night, I hope my aunt will forgive me." Without any pleasantries or small talk, he came straight to the point, his voice kept extremely low, yet every word was clear.
"Sit down." I pointed to the chair opposite me, examining him with my gaze. "You've come here in the dead of night, I presume it's not to engage in casual family conversation."
He sat down as instructed, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his gaze meeting mine without hesitation. That look contained no fear of a junior facing an elder, only a sense of equality and even a slightly oppressive focus. "Aunt, please consider this clearly. The current court situation is as precarious as eggs piled high. The Victoria clan disrupts governance, slaughters loyal officials, and aims directly at Prince Robert's residence and you. If we continue to wait passively for death, within half a month, our clan will face complete annihilation." His words were calm yet cruel, like a sharp scalpel cutting through the false veneer of peace in one stroke, revealing the bloody reality.
I silently approved - this young man was truly extraordinary. He not only saw the situation clearly but dared to face the most dangerous truth. "Continue," I said in an even tone, but deep in my heart, the flame that had been suppressed for so long began to burn again because of his words.
"The only course of action now is to make a decisive move, to launch a lightning strike, to preemptively act," Prince Edward said, leaning forward slightly and emphasizing each word, "Eliminate Victoria and their faction, uphold the state, and restore the ancestral temple. There is no other way."
"Initiate a coup?" I softly uttered these four words, each one weighing like a thousand pounds. I looked up at him, the candlelight dancing in the depths of his eyes, reflecting two clusters of deep flames, "Do you know what these four words mean? This is a high-stakes gamble that could lead to the extermination of entire families. If we fail, there will be no return from the abyss."
"Your nephew certainly understands," the corner of his mouth curved into a cold arc, "But waiting passively for death means certain doom, while making a bold move still offers a glimmer of hope. Aunt, you are the descendant of the late emperor, commanding significant military forces, with widespread support in the court and disciples and former subordinates throughout the realm. Though unworthy, I am willing to connect with loyal supporters of our dynasty to serve as our wings. As long as we, aunt and nephew, are united, with internal and external support responding to our call, we can succeed!"
His words were highly provocative and spoke directly to my heart. In these past days, haven't I also considered this path? However, it was a solitary plan, full of uncertainties. And now, Prince Edward's appearance was like lighting another lamp on my dark road. Though we each had our own intentions, in eliminating Empress Victoria, our common enemy, we were the most natural allies. The past divisions and grievances caused by family power struggles seemed so trivial in the face of our shared threat to survival.
I remained silent for a moment, my fingers unconsciously tapping on the table—a habitual gesture when I'm thinking. The study was terrifyingly quiet, with only the "crackling" sound of burning candles and our heavy breathing. I was evaluating—evaluating him, and evaluating myself. In this high-stakes gamble, what were our odds of success?
"What specific plans do you have?" Finally, I asked. This meant I had accepted his proposal.
A glimmer of delight flashed in Prince Edward's eyes, but he controlled his emotions well, maintaining that composure beyond his years. He had clearly given this deep thought already and immediately shared his well-considered plan: "The strength of Victoria lies in their partisan followers spread throughout the court and their control over some of the Palace Guards. But their weakness is equally obvious—they do not have the people's hearts. Our first step must be to further tarnish their reputation, ensuring everyone knows about their defiling of the palace and their treacherous ambitions, thereby gaining moral support for our actions."
"On this point, I have already instructed Lord Marcus to act," I said coolly. "Rumors are knives that kill without drawing blood. They are especially effective against women, particularly against someone as prideful as Empress Victoria."
Prince Edward nodded in agreement: "Aunt, you are wise. Creating public opinion is one aspect. The second, and most crucial aspect, is military power. The Imperial Guards are the most important force protecting the capital and guarding the Imperial City. As far as I know, commanders of the Imperial Guards like Commander James, Captain Alexander, and others are loyal men who appreciate the late emperor's kindness and are already dissatisfied with Victoria's outrageous behavior. Aunt, you have always been respected in the military. If you could personally contact these two men and convince them to rise up in support when the time comes, half of our great undertaking would be accomplished."
His analysis aligned perfectly with my thoughts, and was even more thorough and specific than what I had considered. I had always known there were forces loyal to our family within the Imperial Guards, but the fact that Prince Edward could directly name Commander James and Captain Alexander as key figures showed he had already done extensive homework in secret. This made me see him in a new light.
"Thirdly," he continued, lowering his voice even further, "is the timing and details of the action. We must choose a night when the palace defenses are most relaxed, and divide our forces into two groups. One group, led by my nephew with our loyal supporters, will strike directly at the North Gate, kill the guards, take control of the northern entrance to the Imperial City, and cut off communication between the palace and the outside. The other group, led by Commander James and Captain Alexander, will lead the Imperial Guards through the North Gate into the palace, swiftly take control of the Central Hall, and surround the chambers of Empress Victoria and Princess Catherine. Once we have them under control, their remaining supporters will be leaderless and pose no threat."
His plan was methodical, interlocking, and had considered almost every detail. From public opinion manipulation to military deployment, to specific action plans, everything was perfect. Looking at this eloquent young man before me, for the first time I felt a genuine sense of vigilance. His calmness, his strategy, those eyes that seemed to see through everything - they all made me feel an inexplicable pressure. He was no ordinary person. Today I brought him in as an ally to help eliminate the Victoria family, but would he one day become an even more terrifying opponent than Victoria? This thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
But right now, I had no other choice. Compared to a possible future threat, the immediate deadly blade from the Victoria's family was more pressing. I had to use his sharpness to cut through the tightening net around me.
"Good." I spat out the word heavily, which signaled the formal establishment of our agreement, "We'll do as you say. I'll take care of contacting the Imperial Guards commanders. Rallying supporters and reaching out to clan members will be your responsibility. As for Lord Marcus, I'll have him use his position in the Ministry of Personnel to place our people, while also spreading rumors at court to create confusion."
"Everything shall be as you decide, Aunt." Prince Edward stood up and bowed deeply to me again. This time, his gesture carried the solemnity of an ally.
"Remember," I looked at him and said meaningfully, "we are aunt and nephew, a family connected by blood. Only our own family members can be truly trusted." These words were both a reminder to him and to myself.
After seeing off Prince Edward, I sat alone in my study for a long time. Outside the window, the night grew increasingly deep, like thick ink that could not be dissolved. The tumultuous waves in my heart refused to calm. This meeting with Prince Edward had formally set me on a path of no return. I was no longer just a princess defending herself passively, but the mastermind of a coup. Every decision I made would determine the life and death of countless people and the future of the Great Tang empire.
The next day, I began to take action. I secretly sent my trusted confidants, under the pretext of bestowing rewards, to contact Commander James and Captain Alexander of the Imperial Guards. As Prince Edward had predicted, they had long harbored resentment toward Empress Victoria but had been waiting for someone to take the lead. My appearance gave them a figurehead to rally behind. In my secret chamber, they kowtowed and swore allegiance to me, willing to shed their last drop of blood to restore our dynasty. Seeing their excited expressions, I knew that the most crucial military power was now in my hands.
Meanwhile, I summoned Lord Marcus. This man, whose mind had been captivated by the prospects and favors I offered, had now become my most loyal and useful blade. I informed him of the secret affairs between Empress Victoria and the palace guards, and how she even shared lovers with her son-in-law, Walter, all packaged with considerable embellishment.
"I want the entire city of Chang'an, from high officials to common laborers, to know what kind of shameless harlot our current empress is. I want everyone in the realm to feel that deposing and executing her would be an act of heavenly justice." I looked at Lord Marcus, my voice icy and devoid of emotion. "This task is yours to complete. Use those scholars and writers under your patronage to compose these stories into catchy ballads, and spread them to every corner of Chang'an."
"Your subject obeys your command." Lord Marcus's eyes flickered with fanatical light. He did not doubt my words in the slightest, and even felt supremely honored to be able to share my burdens. He would never consider that behind these rumors—capable of destroying an empress's reputation—lay the true reason: an imminent bloody coup.
Everything was proceeding methodically according to plan. Like a meticulous weaver, I was threading various factions, hearts, and desires into my enormous web. Each day I processed numerous complex secret reports and issued one covert directive after another, my entire being stretched taut as a bowstring. Until that evening when my son, Oliver, came to my study.
Seeing him, my tense nerves finally relaxed slightly. Oliver is my heart's flesh, the only remaining softness in my heart amid this cold and cruel power struggle. He inherited his father's gentleness, but didn't acquire the weakness of the Xue family, and between his brows lies the vigor of my clan.
"Mother, you seem... very tired lately." He walked behind me, reached out his hands, and gently massaged my shoulders, his movements awkward yet full of filial piety.
I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of my son's hands, my heart filled with mixed emotions. During this time, I had been busy plotting and had almost neglected him. I took his hand and had him sit beside me, looking earnestly at his now grown-up face. "Oliver, are you afraid?"
He paused for a moment, seemingly not understanding why I asked this. "Afraid of what?"
"I'm afraid... of everything outside this mansion. Empress Victoria, Princess Catherine, those disasters that could befall us at any moment." I gazed into his eyes, "You've heard about those matters at court, haven't you?"
Oliver was silent for a moment, then nodded, his eyes showing a trace of worry unbefitting his age: "I have heard, Mother. Can we... can we defeat them?"
I drew him into my arms, gently stroking his hair, just like when he was little. This gesture brought a pang of sorrow to my heart. Once upon a time, I too was held in my mother's embrace like this. She used her power to hold up the sky for me. And now, it was my turn to support this potentially collapsing sky for my son.
"Oliver, listen to me." My voice was extremely solemn, each word seemed to come from the deepest part of my heart, "Everything your mother does is for you. In this world, human hearts are treacherous, and the power arena is like a jungle surrounded by tigers and wolves. If we don't become the fiercest beasts, we will only be torn to pieces by others. I don't want you to live a life of fear and being at others' mercy. I want you to live safely, wealthy, and honorably for your entire life."
I cupped his face, looking into his clear eyes, and continued: "Perhaps in the future, you will hear some negative rumors about your mother, and you will see your mother doing some... very cruel things. But you must remember, everything mother does is to protect you and pave the way for your future. This is how mother loves you."
My words shocked him and left him with a vague understanding. He looked at me, his eyes complex, but in the end, he nodded firmly.
"I understand. No matter what mother does, I will support you."
I smiled with relief, but the smile did not reach my eyes. Was I protecting him? Yes. But I also knew clearly that this was equally an extension of my own desires. I craved power, craved control over everything, just like my mother. And Chong Jian, he was the most tender and also the most unbreakable excuse for all my ambitions. With him, all my methods seemed to have sacred justification.
After I dismissed him, I looked out the window again. The night in Chang'an remained profound. But the darkness before dawn is often the deepest. A storm capable of overturning the Great Tang dynasty's fate was about to howl forth from my hands.
