Chapter 79

Chapter 79

◎Combined Chapter◎

Even sitting in the carriage, Huiyin still couldn't believe it. Crown Prince Li Heng had died, and Li Cheng had already taken a shortcut to the capital, because news had come that the Emperor had passed away.

Whether according to etiquette and laws or strength, Li Cheng was the undisputed choice.

And she was soon to ascend from being a commandery princess in a fiefdom to becoming a queen.

"Mother, are we going to the capital? What’s it like there?" Zhan'ger asked confusedly.

Jing'er, feeling more knowledgeable since he had been there as a child, explained to his younger brother, "Dummy, the capital is the metropolis where the imperial city is. In the future, Father King will become Father Emperor, and Mother Princess will be Empress Mother. I won’t be your prince brother but your imperial brother."

This long explanation confused Zhan'ger even more, and Huiyin recalled the chaos when she received that letter.

In her previous life, after carefully plotting, she had risen from being a concubine to becoming Empress Dowager. Now, becoming empress seemed too easy. Those often battered by fate feel sudden happiness is too unexpected and undeserved.

Not just Huiyin, even Elder Madame Xu, who had gone on a hunger strike in the first half of the year, found it unbelievable. She said to Nanny Luo, "I see that the second girl has a broken fate line, and she has such a sharp temper. How could someone like that have such good fortune?"

Nanny Luo reminded her, "Elder Madame, although the investiture ceremony has not been prepared yet, the second Miss is about to become the empress. You must not say such things."

People always fear true high-ranking individuals. Nanny Luo, even mentioning it, couldn’t help but look around, afraid someone might overhear.

Elder Madame Xu remained as before, "I don’t need to be afraid. I am her grandmother, and the country values filial piety above all else. How could she do anything to me? And De Yin is her elder sister. No matter what, as empress, she can’t fail to save her own sister."

Nanny Luo was somewhat worried. "Elder Madame, it’s better for Madame to speak with the princess about this."

"Yes, I’ll have Madame Ji speak. If she doesn’t mention it, I will. It’s just pitiful for De Yin’s mother, left in that nunnery. They were so cold-hearted, leaving her behind."

Mentioning Xu Shi, Elder Madame Xu actually knew some things were beyond her control. Was it because Zheng Fang loved Madame Ji too much that he refused?

No, it was because Madame Ji was opposed to Xu Shi, and Madame Ji had raised a good daughter.

Her son simply sided with Madame Ji because her side had more influence, thus leaning towards the Zheng family, and that was all.

There were too many unfair things in the world. The eldest granddaughter, De Yin, was virtuous and beautiful, worthy of being a model for the six palaces, yet Huiyin took that place?

Nanny Luo couldn’t bear to see Elder Madame Xu like this and reminded her, "Elder Madame, it’s premature to talk about this. Think about it. This second son-in-law suddenly rushed to the capital for the funeral. With Wei Duo looming ahead and the Zhao brothers, Zhao Hong and Zhao Yong, behind. Moreover, as emperor, he might take many concubines. To say the least, our second girl isn’t exactly a young woman anymore, so who knows what will happen."

"Enough, enough, enough. I’m not that malicious to wish her ill," Elder Madame Xu said, but deep down, she agreed.

De Yin’s final outcome was because the Zheng family didn’t help the Crown Prince, which disappointed him, and they weren’t good to their De Yin. Huiyin, on the other hand, had good brothers, which had nothing to do with her personally.

In the end, it was all because of cunning Madame Ji.

Elder Madame Xu’s complaints didn’t leave her carriage, while the rest of the Zheng family following Huiyin were very happy, including Yin Lifang, who was traveling to the capital.

She had been ill, but now she felt much better.

"When we reach the capital, we’ll ask the emperor to grant us a fiefdom. We’ll be out of reach, and no one will be able to control us," Yin Lifang thought.

She didn’t want to stay in the capital. After relying on others for so long, she had had enough. In the capital, she wouldn’t fare well, whether in terms of status or how people treated her. She keenly sensed she wouldn’t get anything good.

But no matter what, Li Cheng had won, which was better than if Wei Duo had won.

However, compared to their complicated thoughts, Madame Ji, Cui Yuehua, and Xin Shi were overjoyed. As long as Huiyin became empress, they would all rise together.

As the mother of the empress, Madame Ji would undoubtedly enjoy great future glory.

On the carriage, she instructed her two daughters-in-law, "The Empress Dowager is traveling with the two young princes, which must be quite inconvenient. When we arrive at the post station, make sure to serve them well."

Xin Shi and Cui Yuehuan were happy to comply and quickly agreed.

When they finally arrived at the inn, the sisters-in-law hurried over, only to find that Huiyin's face showed no sign of joy. Instead, she asked them sharply, "Has my elder brother and second brother sent any news about the situation? Is Wei Duo still in Yangzhou? How did the Crown Prince die?"

Xin Shi shook her head and glanced at Cui Yuehuan. Neither of them knew anything about it.

In her past life, even though she had become Empress Dowager, the crisis hadn't been resolved when she was reborn. This life, she feared that Li Cheng would still not escape his fate.

"I don't need you here. You can leave now," Huiyin said.

Cui Yuehuan dared not argue and left, holding her breath. She was straightforward and, upon returning to her room, felt like expressing her frustration that the Empress seemed less courteous to her, but she held her tongue.

Nanny Rong quickly advised, "Miss, have some tea. It's the freshly sent jasmine tea."

"Yes, I just took some unnecessary anger," Cui Yuehuan said, feeling uncomfortable.

Nanny Rong immediately added, "Please don't say such things. As the saying goes, there is a distinction between sovereign and subject. Now, she is no longer just a princess. She will be the Empress in the future, and things will be different from now on."

If she couldn't handle this little frustration, how could she handle future challenges?

Cui Yuehuan expected that if Li Cheng became emperor, he would generously grant titles to the Cui family, given that they were his maternal family. She hadn't expected that Huiyin's attitude toward her would be so lukewarm. Being young, she couldn't hide her feelings and was somewhat upset.

These actions soon reached Huiyin's ears, and she sneered, "What a good uncle. Usually hiding like a coward, and now he wants to reap the benefits just as the fruits are ripe. We don't even know the situation in the capital yet, and these people are already showing their true colors. If I don't take some fierce measures, this journey won't be peaceful."

In fact, Huiyin had become quite serene over the past few years, so much so that people now thought they could test her limits.

Nanny Nan and Fugui exchanged a glance. Of course, they knew that the Princess of Huaiyin wasn't really of a gentle nature. It was just that there were no significant conflicts of interest, and she didn't like to always suppress others. But this woman had defeated all the concubines and cousins around the Prince of Huaiyin, as well as his betrothed first love. She was not someone to trifle with.

As a master, one must be able to manage the people under them. As the future Empress of the Zheng family, she must also be able to manage her natal family.

Otherwise, not everyone could withstand a sudden surge of power, and their personality might change drastically. They might cause trouble without realizing it, and who knows if they could protect themselves in the future?

Moreover, before Li Cheng ascended, not many relatives genuinely helped. After his ascension, everyone wanted a piece of the pie. Those who got less would try to take from those who got more. And who got the most? The Zheng family and herself.

This was the Qingzhou post house, just out of Xuzhou. The innkeeper had learned of Huiyin's identity and was extremely respectful, preparing a feast of beef and lamb with top-quality Jinhua wine, which was exceptionally considerate.

"Give these ten taels to the innkeeper as a tip, and select two bolts of cloth as a reward," Huiyin said, knowing that in some places, cloth was a hard currency more useful than money.

Fugui quickly followed the order and left.

Madame Ji, sitting at the table, quickly added, "Your Highness is still so honest and upright."

"Mother, until the day I am officially declared Empress, please don't call me that," she said seriously, not responding to others' flattery.

Madame Ji, seeing that only her daughter and two daughters-in-law were at the table, couldn't help but say, "We are all family. Why be so formal?"

Many people think they have self-control, but history shows that power often makes people arrogant. When it happens to them, they might become even more so. Huiyin noticed that Madame Ji, usually so composed, was now acting differently, and she disapproved.

"Mother, those who prepare will succeed, and those who do not will fail. I benefit the most from this situation. Why am I not showing it outwardly? It's not because I'm pretending, but because I understand too well that once we succeed, it's easy to become arrogant. As the saying goes, arrogant soldiers are bound to lose. This is not the road to success; it's just another beginning. One wrong move, and the whole game is lost. I don't care how you behaved before. If I do become Empress, you must remain humble and not become arrogant. Otherwise, if I hear about anyone causing trouble, the person who makes me unhappy will face serious consequences."

Which was more tempting, being the Princess of Huaiyin or the Empress?

The answer was obvious.

The Zheng family, who had been extremely happy, even ecstatic, were suddenly deflated by Huiyin's words.

Cui Yuehuan was almost in tears, suddenly feeling fearful, and Xin Shi didn't dare to say anything more.

The next day, Huiyin was all smiles as if nothing had changed, and they even began to wonder if Huiyin's outburst that day had been an illusion. But they didn't dare to get as close to her as before. Nanny Nan couldn't help but mention the change in Huiyin's demeanor.

"Why do we need friends? The higher you rise, the lonelier it becomes. It’s not just me; even the emperor must feel this loneliness."

……

Li Cheng rode through the night at top speed and had already arrived in the imperial city. The gatekeepers, upon seeing Shi Chong, hurriedly opened the gates. Shi Chong, originally a trusted confidant of the Crown Prince, had planned to take advantage of the situation and seize control. Unexpectedly, Li Cheng did not target Wei Duo but instead had the Crown Prince assassinated.

Li Cheng had Shi Chong captured alive and informed him that the Crown Prince was dead and the emperor had also passed away. Now, the first in line to the throne was Li Cheng himself.

At this point, Shi Chong could see that although Li Cheng's intelligence might not surpass Wei Duo's, he was a legitimate royal descendant of the Da Ye dynasty, making him far more rightful than Wei Duo.

Meanwhile, in the capital, Empress He had initially decided to keep the emperor's death a secret, intending to wait for the Crown Prince to return and ascend the throne. However, upon hearing of the Crown Prince's death, she planned to install Yunzhi's son as the new Crown Prince.

In this chaotic situation, no one paid attention to De Yin, who could only watch as everyone said that Yunzhi, a mere servant, would soon become Empress Dowager. De Yin was filled with jealousy and resentment.

"I wish I had never lived through this before," she thought.

As if her thoughts had been heard, the palace was suddenly stormed, and they were all taken control of. Yunzhi, who had been promoted to Liangdi after giving birth to a prince, looked well-fed and informed but appeared uneasy.

De Yin asked, puzzled, "What's going on?"

Yunzhi, with a complex look, said to De Yin, "I heard that the Prince of Huaiyin has ascended the throne under the emperor's edict."

"It's the Prince of Huaiyin," De Yin thought, feeling a surge of joy, but then a sense of injustice. "Why was my husband, who was also the Prince of Huaiyin, killed in my previous life, leaving me a widow?"

Yunzhi also thought De Yin had some luck. Despite the Zheng family siding with the enemy and De Yin being beaten, the Crown Prince went on a campaign before anything else could happen. Now that the Crown Prince was dead, her greatest support had arrived.

However, their days would not be as easy.

Yunzhi looked at De Yin and said, "Liangdi, I beg you, for the sake of the help I've given you before, to please speak a few good words for me in front of the Prince and Princess of Huaiyin. My life is worthless, but I beg you to take care of my son's life."

With that, she knelt down.

De Yin, unaware of the situation outside, simply nodded.

It was also said that Li Cheng had cleared the inner court, made the Ministry of Rites officials acknowledge his status, and calmed the influential families in the capital. All the imperial concubines were placed under guard for the time being, to be punished later when Huiyin arrived. After all, as the empress, Huiyin should handle the matters of the inner court.

The women of the inner court were inevitably anxious. Some feared being forcibly taken by soldiers in the future and secretly sought death. Others were restless, like Wei Liangdi, who was Wei Duo's daughter. With Wei Duo's enemy now on the throne, what kind of fate could she expect? Like Yunzhi, she also tried to appeal to De Yin.

De Yin's feelings were complicated. This felt all too familiar, like a replay of her past life. Back then, she lived in a fiefdom, receiving a small allowance and living a life where she wouldn't starve alongside other women. Suddenly, her sister became the empress and wanted to bring her to the palace. At that time, people like Xun Rou also begged her.

"Why hasn't the empress arrived yet?" Li Cheng, dressed in court attire, could hardly wait.

**

Though the war was still raging at the front, he wanted Huiyin and the children to arrive in a proper and dignified manner. Only then would his heart be at ease.

No one understood the depth of her concerns, but Cui Yuehua muttered softly, "It's such a great joy; why the somber mood?"

After much anticipation, passing Jizhou, Jing'er and Zhan'er were also eagerly waiting.

"Mother, when will we see Father?" Jing'er asked.

Huiyin smiled and said, "There are still twenty miles, less than an hour's journey."

Hearing it would be so soon, the children were secretly happy. Just then, a rider approached, and Huiyin suspected it was a messenger from Li Cheng. As she lifted the curtain, there stood Li Cheng, waiting beside the carriage.

"My husband."

"Huiyin, I've come to welcome my Empress."

"When I heard you were coming, I deliberately rode over. Was the journey safe?" Li Cheng asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement and a sense of reunion after so long apart.

Huiyin smiled. "It was safe, but I can't help feeling like it's too good to be true. I was so worried about you."

Li Cheng understood completely, and as they rode together in the carriage, he explained everything. "Originally, I planned to deal with Wei Duo. The Crown Prince was watching from the sidelines, hoping we would weaken each other so he could benefit. But within a month, we only fought a few minor skirmishes. Our forces were evenly matched, and neither of us dared to advance recklessly."

"The Crown Prince knew the Emperor's health was failing and feared that if Wei Duo heard of the Emperor's death, it might endanger his own life. So, he moved to support Wei Duo's grandson. I saw this as a perfect opportunity. I pretended to attack Wei Duo but actually targeted the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince was eliminated, I wouldn't need to seize the throne—power would naturally fall into my hands."

Traditionally, the throne passes from father to son, or if the emperor has no sons, to the next closest male relative. Prince Wu was the late Emperor's younger brother, making Li Cheng the closest relative by blood.

Huiyin listened, her heart pounding, and finally asked, "How did the Crown Prince die?"

"He was shot dead. By the way, in Yangzhou, I met the widow and daughter of Prince Wei, Lady Huo. They were lost among the common folk and were almost violated, but fortunately, I found them. I've already sent them to the capital, where they will reside without any fiefdoms, fully reinstating the county system, all under my control." Li Cheng said with great ambition.

"In times of war, women suffer the most. What about Wei Duo? You just came back like this—what about him?" Huiyin was most concerned about this.

Li Cheng whispered in her ear, "We were racing to the capital, both eager to arrive first, but I set up an ambush along the way."

Sometimes, war is not just about troop deployment but also about momentum—whether the tide is in your favor.

However, he added, "I should have gone earlier, but I thought it would be better to wait until you arrived before leading the troops out to fight. The rear will depend on you."

Throughout the journey, they continued to discuss their plans. After the official matters were settled, Huiyin nestled in his arms. "I'm afraid this is all just a dream, and I worry that when we reach the capital, someone will frame you, or while you're out fighting, our base will be taken."

"Everyone around me is celebrating, but only you truly understand what I'm going through," Li Cheng said, knowing her worries well.

Huiyin smiled. "Because we are one as a couple. Others have a way out; they can switch to another master if needed, but we have none. But I am proud of my husband. With you, our Da Ye dynasty will surely not fall apart."

Previously, the harem was in chaos, but now that Huiyin had arrived, Li Cheng first had the Ministry of Rites expedite the Queen's investiture ceremony and issued an imperial decree to name their son, Li Jing, as Crown Prince.

Huiyin led their two sons, step by step, following Li Cheng into the palace. This palace was both familiar and strange to her, entering for the second time after her rebirth.

The first time she had been in the palace, she was just a Princess of Huaiyin, keeping a low profile for fear of attracting attention.

Now, she was about to become the mistress of the entire palace.

She was someone who never let things wait. For instance, dealing with Empress Dowager He and the late Emperor's concubines, she decided that except for Empress He herself, any young concubines who wished to leave would be returned to their families if they had any. Those without families would be given twenty taels as travel expenses. If they were homeless, they could go and guard the imperial tombs.

As for the Crown Prince's household, those with descendants would guard the imperial tombs, and those without descendants would be returned to their families. If they had no family, they were also given twenty taels as travel expenses.

Nothing from the palace, except personal belongings, was allowed to be taken out. She knew well that during such times, many would steal antiques and calligraphy from the palace to sell.

...

Huiyin had almost drafted the regulations and discussed them with Li Cheng at night, who agreed to everything. They stayed together in the Duanning Hall, which had once been the place where she poisoned Li Heng. Now, with Li Cheng there, it was warm, not cold.

"Where do you plan to settle the family of Prince Wei?" Huiyin asked.

Li Cheng smiled. "We will no longer establish fiefdoms for the princes; instead, they will reside in the capital with reduced ranks and titles. The Huaiyin Mansion that Prince Wu gave me had no horse grounds, fearing I would learn horse riding. Now, I will do the same, granting a modest estate."

"I'm afraid the Huo family might incite Lady Huo to seize the palace." Huiyin was most worried about this.

Li Cheng waved his hand. "Don't worry, it won't happen for now. The Huo family's power is in the Jiangnan region. When Wei Duo attacked Jianye, the Huo family was looted, leaving them with nothing but empty show. If they were truly powerful, how could Lady Huo and Jianjia have ended up among the common folk?"

"Still, we cannot let our guard down," Huiyin said, squeezing his hand.

Li Cheng replied, "Don’t worry, I’ll leave the defense of the capital to your elder brother."

"Why my elder brother?" Huiyin smiled.

Li Cheng spoke truthfully, "Your brother is determined; no matter what I instruct, he will do everything in his power. Besides, you are his sister. To be honest, although they have come under my banner, it is only because of you that I would ever put them in important positions. Your brother could have been granted a title legitimately, but he will receive a rank lower than your younger brother's. I have already spoken to him and told him that if he can protect you, I will grant him the same title as your brother."

In this world, family ties are always reliable, but when reinforced by mutual interests, they become even more so.

"Thank you for considering this for me, and thank you for giving my brother this opportunity. He has lived a hard life, often having to exert more effort than my younger brother to achieve his success." Huiyin shared her true feelings with him.

Li Cheng, seeing that the palace attendants had tactfully left, couldn't help but tease, "How will you thank me?"

"However you want, I'll let you have your way with me today." Huiyin lightly tapped his broad chest.

Leaving aside their intimate moments.

In the morning, Huiyin returned to Linde Hall, which was still her residence. Linde Hall was the largest palace in the Great Ming Palace, and she lived in its central hall.

Dressed in a phoenix robe adorned with pheasant patterns and wearing a headdress with twelve trees of jewelry flowers, she first issued an edict regarding the fate of the late emperor’s concubines and the former crown prince’s consorts.

Afterward, she invited De Yin over.

After all, De Yin was her elder sister, so it was only fitting to give her some gifts to take home.

As the world changes, some things remain the same, like kneeling before the same person.

Once a high-ranking palace eunuch, Qin An, was now humbly serving Huiyin. She looked at her sister, dressed in the queen's robes, appearing elegant and noble. Compared to her previous life, her complexion seemed even better now.

Clenching her teeth in frustration, she knelt on the ground.

Unlike in her past life, when Huiyin had been warm to her, this time, her sister spoke coolly, "I have already spoken to the emperor. The concubines of the late emperor who have children will go to guard the imperial tombs, and those without children will be sent back to their families."

De Yin didn’t know how to respond, while Qin An frowned. Allowing these concubines to return to their families was already an act of great kindness, especially with the provision of dowry silver.

After a while, when Qin An was about to speak, he heard De Yin say, "I thank the Empress for her gracious decree."

Huiyin waved her hand, "Leave now."

...

As De Yin left, a young palace eunuch followed behind her, carrying twelve bolts of colorful silk, a pair of white jade ruyi scepters, and a string of sandalwood beads. Huiyin had bestowed these gifts upon her, but she didn’t want to look at them, nor could she show any disagreement along the way.

Only when she got into the carriage and saw elder Madame Xu did she finally break down in tears. "Grandmother, I have done everything as you taught me, so why do I always fail while she always succeeds?"