Chapter 163 Major Reshuffle

**Chapter 163: The Great Reshuffle**

**Court Turmoil**

Having comforted Consort Mi and put her childhood grievances to rest, Su Jiaojiao felt a great weight lifted from her heart, leaving only the most crucial matter unsettled.

However, this matter could not be rushed. The key evidence was still being pursued, and Su Jiaojiao had full confidence in Su Chang’s abilities.

Since her promotion to Noble Consort Zhen, she had been peacefully nurturing her pregnancy within the palace, enjoying a comfortable life while occasionally hearing snippets of gossip.

It was said that after the list of promotions was announced, the Empress flew into a rage inside the palace, smashing many items and nearly miscarrying that very day.

Though Fengyi Palace publicly claimed the Empress had merely slipped and fallen, any discerning observer could guess the real reason.

Noble Consort Zhen had reclaimed the Emperor’s favor, now rivaling the pregnant Empress herself. With her own pregnancy, she had solidified her position as foremost in the Emperor’s affections.

Otherwise, why would the Emperor visit Yaoxian Palace daily but only occasionally stop by Fengyi Palace? Why would he exceptionally elevate her to Noble Consort and recently grant her authority to assist in managing the harem?

Even if the Empress had once saved the Emperor’s life and now carried the Imperial Heir, Noble Consort Zhen still held the upper hand.

The Empress remained unshaken in her position, but to have a favored consort flaunt superiority over her and keep the Emperor to herself—especially during her own vulnerable pregnancy—was unbearable for anyone.

When these rumors reached Su Jiaojiao, she merely scoffed lightly and brushed them off with a smile.

It was no surprise the Empress reacted so strongly. She had always been a master of restraint and deception, never revealing her emotions or giving anything away.

None could ever find fault in her conduct.

If she had lost control to the point of smashing things in Fengyi Palace, it could only mean she had been pushed to the brink. Someone as cautious as her would never want the Emperor to learn of her jealousy and intolerance.

Especially since she guarded this pregnancy jealously, nurturing it with utmost care. Had she been able to control herself, she would never have risked her already precarious Imperial Heir.

Yu Ying lifted the curtain and entered, bringing a cup of pear-infused spring tea. With a smile, she asked, “You seem particularly cheerful today, my lady. Has something delightful happened?”

Su Jiaojiao set down the golden scissors on the table, wiped her hands with a rose-scented handkerchief, and chuckled softly. “I heard some interesting rumors about Fengyi Palace today.”

Placing the jade cup aside, Yu Ying’s smile cooled slightly. “Now that you’re favored, overshadowing the Empress, she must be seething with resentment.”

“The Empress worked tirelessly to win the Emperor’s pity and affection, hoping to secure her position by bearing the Imperial Heir. She likely never anticipated that despite her efforts, the Emperor would still favor you so unequivocally—nor that you’d become pregnant at the same time. With you constantly outshining her, the succession remains uncertain.”

At the mention of the Empress, Yu Ying grew heated, her voice laced with resentment. “With the Emperor so devoted to you, if both of you bear sons, the succession remains uncertain.”

**Crown Prince?**

Her expression flickered briefly, but Su Jiaojiao said nothing, sipping her tea calmly before remarking, “What does it matter how much she schemes?”

“She won’t live to see that day.”

The jade cup rang softly as she set it down.

Gently caressing her belly, Su Jiaojiao’s gaze softened. “This time, I asked the Emperor to promote Consort Xiang and Beauty Ji’s ranks. The Empress must now know they aren’t loyal to her. I heard she called them to Fengyi Palace recently—did she give them any trouble?”

Yu Ying shook her head. “Ling Xiao and I personally went to inquire. Both Consort Xiang and Beauty Ji said the same: the Empress looked deathly pale that day, coughing and wheezing until she nearly lost the baby.”

“Fengyi Palace immediately summoned the imperial physician to examine and stabilize her. Afterward, the Empress rested and said nothing further.”

During the autumn hunt, the Empress had injured herself saving the Emperor. Combined with the inherent fragility of pregnancy and Wang Commoner’s successful poisoning, her health had deteriorated like a willow battered by the wind.

Though she appears merely weak, in truth, this pregnancy has drained her from within.

It is now mid-May, and the Empress has been pregnant for seven and a half months—a dangerous time. If she suffers any further distress, not only might the child be lost, but her own life may also be at risk.

The Empress is like a clay idol crossing a river—barely able to save herself, let alone mount an inquiry. It's a pity that Su Jiaojiao wasted so much effort on Consort Xiang and Beauty Ji, only for it to come to nothing in the end.

Such is fate. The Empress has truly brought this upon herself, weaving her own trap.

Perhaps it’s for the best. Though Consort Xiang and Beauty Ji may not get along, they remain loyal to Su Jiaojiao. In the future, when she governs the inner palace, she will need trusted aides to assist in managing affairs.

As for the Empress, it’s likely she won’t have the energy to deal with Su Jiaojiao before giving birth.

Su Jiaojiao smiled faintly and said, “Even if the Empress wants to scheme, she must first see if her body can endure it. A spent arrow—her rage is pointless.”

“Lately, the court has been in turmoil. A few days ago, His Majesty ordered the Palace Command to investigate the Wang family, and these past months have yielded significant results. It’s said that every violation of the law, whether major or minor, has been uncovered. The Wang family, with its hundreds of members, now stands abandoned, everyone trembling in fear, awaiting the final compilation of evidence for His Majesty’s judgment.”

Her expression was cool and detached. “The relationships among the great families are intricate yet interlocked—tug one thread, and the whole web trembles. With the Wang family’s fall, His Majesty will surely press his advantage, seizing this moment to reform the noble houses. Then, even the most esteemed families will lose their centuries-old prestige, never to pass it down through generations again.”

Yu Ying frowned slightly. “If that’s the case, then what of Noble Consort Lan and Consort Mi…?”

Su Jiaojiao nodded, sipping her tea, her gaze hardening. “No one caught in this will escape unharmed.”

“That’s also why their names were absent from the recent promotion list.”

Yu Ying suddenly understood, her face tinged with melancholy. “So that’s how it is.”

“Once, the Four Great Families were renowned throughout the land, the most prestigious lineages. Even when Lord Su first rose to the position of Minister of one of the Six Boards, in the eyes of Chang’an’s people, he still couldn’t match the nobility of the great families. Yet in just a few years, the tree fell, and the monkeys scattered—proof that even the brightest glory can fade.”

Spring gave way to summer, and in the blink of an eye, it was midsummer.

Mid-July.

Though the summer was sweltering, with two Imperial Consorts pregnant and unfit for travel, this year’s summer retreat was canceled outright.

Over the past half-year, His Majesty had doted exclusively on Noble Consort Zhen, never summoning any other consort to his bed. He merely visited a few occasionally for brief stays, giving gifts to placate them.

The Empress, her body growing heavier, spent her days confined to Fengyi Palace, taking medicine and resting, going nowhere.

Noble Consort Zhen and Consort Shu assisted the Empress in managing the six palaces, handling matters fairly and efficiently. Even without His Majesty’s favor, the inner court stayed peaceful—far more tranquil than before.

While the inner court was calm, the imperial court was in chaos.

The evidence of the Wang family’s crimes was presented jointly by several ministers and the Palace Command, detailing 193 offenses committed by the Wang clan over the years, whether by the main lineage or collateral branches.

Among them, fourteen were punishable by exterminating nine generations.

His Majesty raged like thunder in court, ordering the execution of all adult males of the Wang family, while women and children were exiled to the southern frontier, forbidden from ever returning to Chang’an.

He declared that though the Wang family had stood tall in Chang’an for generations, they had profited off the people without serving them, enjoying imperial favor while betraying it—outwardly glorious, yet rotten to the core, a disgrace to the nation.

Moreover, he would use the Wang family as a warning to cleanse the court.

From this day forth, imperial examinations would be held every three years, open to all, regardless of background, aiming to select truly talented scholars rather than those coasting on family fame—frauds who corrupted governance.

He also abolished the hereditary system of noble titles, revoked fiefdoms, and established a series of new laws and regulations.

The outer court underwent a complete overhaul, its future uncertain.

The Yin, Zhong, and Xiao families watched helplessly as the Wang clan crumbled under the Emperor’s iron-fisted rule, each scrambling to save themselves.

Noble families had stood for generations, yet even the scholarly Zhong family harbored countless shady dealings beneath their refined exterior.

To protect his clan, the Left Minister voluntarily resigned and retired to his hometown, trading his lifetime of service in exchange for leniency toward the Yin family from the Emperor.

In order to minimize losses, he also scrutinized his own clan, submitting memorials and cooperating with the investigation launched by the Palace Command.

Out of respect for his age, service, and resolve, the Emperor ultimately showed leniency to the Yins, punishing only those directly involved, dismissing idle officials, and ordering the family to relocate from Chang’an.

The Xiao family, a proud military lineage, was the most resentful. Convinced that the Emperor had turned on them like someone kicking the ladder away after climbing it, they schemed in the shadows.

The Zhong family, whose influence at court had long been built through scholars and civil officials, had amassed countless protégés over the years.

Faced with the Emperor’s merciless crackdown, the Zhongs knew resistance was futile. Like the Yins, they voluntarily submitted to the investigation to protect their kin, though the review was still ongoing.

These were busy days for the imperial court. Shen Huai spent all his time in the Taiji Hall reviewing memorials and meeting with ministers, hardly getting a moment’s rest.

He would occasionally sneak away to see Su Jiaojiao and their unborn child, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion, but his drive never wavered.

This was something he had long planned—an overhaul of the court’s power structure that would bring only benefits. Now that he finally had the chance to restore order, he was determined to give it his all.

His only regret was leaving Jiaojiao to go through her pregnancy alone, unable to be by her side every day.

At night, in Yaoxian Palace.

Su Jiaojiao reclined against the couch, propped up by two soft pillows.

Now five and a half months pregnant, her belly had grown round and full, filling out her silk gown with a gentle curve.

Shen Huai gently pressed his ear to her abdomen, listening to the heartbeat within. Through the warmth of her skin, the child’s pulse was strong—a healthy, vigorous beat.

Feeling the faint tremors beneath his palm, his weary expression softened with wordless joy and tenderness.

“No matter how busy court affairs are,” he murmured, “seeing you and our child washes away all fatigue. In a few months, our baby will be born—have you thought of a name yet?”

He rose and took her hand, sitting beside her. In the deep candlelight, his gaze was especially tender and affectionate.

Unlike the Empress, who had suffered weakness and discomfort throughout her pregnancy, Su Jiaojiao was radiant—her complexion rosy, her figure fuller than before.

Once slender and delicate, she now carried a quiet plumpness that enhanced her beauty, adding a luminous glow to her once-cool features.

Shen Huai gazed at her intently, his fingers lightly tracing hers, as if he could never get enough of her.

She shook her head, her aloof tone laced with subtle warmth. “What’s the hurry in picking a name now? There are still months left.”

“But you—”

Before she could finish, Yu Ying softly knocked on the door and announced, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Phoenix Palace has sent word. The Empress is having painful contractions and requests your presence.”