Ambitions of the Empress Dowager

"Coldly," Shiyong replied, "Safflower."

"What's that?" Cui Yi asked, confused. Shiyong explained, "An abortifacient."

Cui Yi went berserk, grabbing her arm, "Did you drink it?"

"I had to. Safflower or arsenic, which would you choose?" Shiyong countered.

His expression was a mix of sorrow and relief, "So it's gone?"

Smiling warmly, Shiyong said, "There was nothing to begin with. How could it be gone?"

Still bewildered, Cui Yi didn't understand. Smiling, Shiyong pinched his cheek, "Hurry up, dawn is approaching." Still dazed, Cui Yi eventually snapped out of it, leading Shiyong over the wall to escape Yan Shou Palace.

In the quiet night, the palace was dark except for distant torches carried by patrolling guards. Cui Yi led Shiyong swiftly, whispering, "How did you get in with such tight security?"

"There's a drainage channel in the palace. One of the iron grates is wider and rusted. I broke a few bars and got in," Cui Yi whispered back, "We must leave before midnight, or we'll be trapped."

Curious, Shiyong wondered why midnight was significant. Upon reaching the exit, the stench hit her—the drainage outlet behind the imperial kitchen where vegetable washing water flowed. The kitchen staff arrived early to prepare breakfast, explaining why midnight was critical.

The palace's vast amounts of food waste flowed through this channel. To prevent clogging, the gaps between the grates were wider. Shiyong saw broken bars sticking out, wide enough for a person to squeeze through.

Despite the foul smell, Shiyong held her breath and crawled through. Emerging on the other side, someone helped her out, wrapped her in a fur cloak, and guided her into a carriage.

"Thank you," Shiyong wiped her face with a towel. Cui Yi joined her in the carriage, followed by Zhai Rang.

Zhai Rang avoided eye contact, speaking softly to Cui Yi, "We must hurry, Your Highness." Cui Yi nodded, "Thank you."

The carriage rumbled toward the city gate. Cui Yi rubbed Shiyong's hands to warm them, occasionally glancing at her.

Shiyong smiled, "What are you looking at? Speak up."

Cui Yi asked, "Earlier, you mentioned safflower and something about 'nothing to begin with.' What did you mean?"

Shiyong sighed, "I knew you'd ask." Taking a deep breath, she added, "Soon we'll be out. A hot bath, ginger soup, and a good night's sleep will fix everything."

"Ginger soup?" Shiyong suddenly realized, "That explains it!"

Cui Yi looked puzzled, "Explains what?"

"When I was taken to Yan Shou Palace, I was wearing only a single layer of clothing. A doctor came to check my pulse. I thought it was to prevent illness, but now I understand the Empress Dowager wanted to know if I was pregnant," Shiyong explained.

Cui Yi processed this, "She thought you were pregnant?"

Nodding, Shiyong continued, "The Empress Dowager pampered me because of this supposed pregnancy. Even when the Emperor requested to take me away, she refused and offered to adopt me."

Cui Yi grimaced, "The Rong family women are selfish and ruthless. Such sudden kindness must conceal a sinister plot."

Shiyong laughed, "You're right. The Emperor told me the same thing. My mother-in-law warned me to beware of the Empress Dowager, saying Rong women are capable of anything."

"When the Emperor mentioned red flower and arsenic, I understood the Empress Dowager's true intention," Shiyong paused dramatically, "She plans to assassinate the Emperor."

Cui Yi gasped, nearly shouting, but Shiyong covered his mouth, "Shh!"

It was disbelief that made him brush her hand away, trying his best to lower his voice. "This is impossible! The Emperor is her only son. If she kills the Emperor, how can she still hold the position of Empress Dowager? You must be mistaken."

Holding Ying slowly shook her head. "At first, I didn't think of this either, because just like you, I thought it was absolutely impossible. But Prince, do you think Rong Shi is content with being Empress Dowager?"

Cui Yi narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and remained silent for a moment before asking in astonishment, "Does she want to become an Empress herself?"

Holding Ying smiled. "That would not be the case. Let me explain. Suppose I agreed to be her adopted daughter. Her next step would be to kill both the Emperor and you. I don't know exactly how she plans to do it, but I believe with her intelligence and courage, she can definitely achieve it. Perhaps by fabricating a political coup where both sides suffer. At that time, among the seven sons of the late Emperor, from the eldest to the fourth, all capable ones will be dead. The fifth and sixth have already been exiled from the capital, and the seventh is missing. Who then has the right to inherit the throne?"

Cui Yi immediately replied, "My elder brother has a son, though born of a concubine, he is the rightful heir."

"Yes, but it's not just him. Apart from the Emperor's son, the living Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince also have the right. Not only them, even the deceased Third Prince and Fourth Prince, their sons are descendants of the royal bloodline. As long as someone is willing, they can become the emperor."

Cui Yi's mouth opened, and his expression froze, clearly understanding now. Holding Ying sighed, "So the Empress Dowager's plan is to make your son and mine the emperor. Why not the Emperor's son? The reason is simple: family ties cannot be severed. That concubine won't willingly be the Empress Dowager's pawn, but I am different. Once you die and the Changsun family falls, I will have no choice but to rely on her. Even if I try to resist, I will have no power. Maybe even before the new emperor is weaned, I will be killed. By then, she will be the highest-ranking person in the palace. Who dares say no to her?"

Cui Yi gasped, as if hearing a huge joke. "She... She would kill her own son for absolute power?"

Holding Ying lowered her eyes and said, "I think it's mostly because the Emperor was the first to be ruthless, so the Empress Dowager became unrighteous. Every bit of ruthlessness the Emperor possesses comes directly from the Empress Dowager. On the surface, they are allies, but beneath the water, they might have wanted to kill each other long ago."

Cui Yi thought about it and still felt something was off. His mind struggled for a while before stammering, "But if she wants to be Empress Dowager, wouldn't the most suitable candidate be the Queen's child? It's legitimate and carries her bloodline. Besides, the Queen is in the palace. Killing the Queen isn't easier than killing you?"

Holding Ying blinked at him. "But the Queen can't bear children anymore."

Cui Yi: "..."

Just as Holding Ying was about to continue explaining, the carriage swayed to a stop. Outside came the shouts of the city gate guards, "Who goes there! Where are you going so late at night?"

The two immediately fell silent. Zhai Rang jumped down from the front of the carriage and greeted the questioning people with a bow. "Dear soldiers, you must be tired. I'm just running errands for someone. Sir Dai's son-in-law has some urgent matters at home. He needs to rush back tonight. So here I am, troubling you gentlemen. Please let us pass. This is a small token of appreciation for your hard work guarding the night shift."

The city gate guards had already received instructions from Sir Dai, knowing his daughter and son-in-law would leave the city tonight. With the silver from Zhai Rang, they shouted to open the gate. Inside the carriage, Holding Ying slumped her shoulders, relaxed, and nodded at Cui Yi—Sir Dai was indeed reliable.

Cui Yi's lips curled up slightly, feeling somewhat proud. However, the carriage that had just moved forward was stopped again. "Wait!"

All three inside the carriage felt a jolt. They wondered who this unexpected troublemaker could be.

A man hurried down from the city wall. Zhai Rang's face turned white instantly, and his lips quivered as he struggled to speak, "G-Gentleman Guo... "

Cui Yi was confused. Who was this Guo gentleman, appearing so late at night at the city gate? Sir Dai had already given orders to let them pass. How powerful was he to dare obstruct them?

Holding Ying was equally puzzled. She went through all the surnames of Guo in her mind but found none that matched. Could he have appeared out of nowhere?