Chapter 26: A Pack of Vicious Predators

Chapter 26: A Pack of Wolves and Leopards

Ye Wanwan returned to the palace after having been away for two days. Paying respects to her late mother and offering incense at the temple were perfectly appropriate actions. However, it was only after her return that Ye Shaoyang discovered she had ever left, and that discovery marked the beginning of his nightmare.

In the Guanju Palace, Ye Wanwan was reviewing the roster of candidates for the imperial selection. Once news of Leng Yunqing’s pregnancy broke, Empress Dowager Ye had reclaimed authority over the inner palace. Her stated reason—that Leng Yunqing was carrying the imperial heir and should not be burdened with the taxing duties of the selection process—was both legitimate and unassailable; even Zhao Yi could not dispute it.

The Empress Dowager had the roster of candidates copied and sent to Ye Wanwan immediately. She recognized few of the names, but Jiang Feixue’s stood out prominently. Jiang Feixue was the legitimate daughter of Ye Wanwan’s paternal aunt, Ye Xinrou, who had married into the Jiang family of Langzhou. She was only a year younger than Ye Wanwan.

The Jiang family was considered an extension of the Ye clan, and as a daughter of the main branch, she should logically have been married into a family of high status and prestige to consolidate political influence. However, because Ye Wanwan had consumed a sterility-inducing decoction—and despite the Empress Dowager’s desperate attempts to restore her health, she remained unlikely to conceive—the situation now required a surrogate capable of bearing an imperial prince who carried the blood of the Ye family. Ye Wanwan’s two younger sisters were only thirteen and eleven, respectively, and were born to concubines; thus, Jiang Feixue became the perfect candidate.

Ye Wanwan’s plump, smooth fingertips traced the three characters: Jiang Feixue. Her cousin was a truly capable woman.

When she first entered the palace, she acted with an innocent charm, championing her cousin’s causes and stirring up endless trouble. The Empress Dowager saw her as kind-hearted, believing her actions were born of genuine devotion to her cousin. Other concubines saw her as simple-minded, a tool being manipulated by Ye Wanwan. Even Zhao Yi believed that Ye Wanwan was the one behind the scenes, inciting Jiang Feixue to target the other women.

Ye Wanwan bore the brunt of every accusation, yet she could not blame Jiang Feixue, who wore an expression of pure, wide-eyed innocence, claiming that even if her methods were wrong, her intentions were for Ye Wanwan’s own good.

Later, Jiang Feixue won the Emperor’s favor and gave birth to a princess the following year. Zhao Yi did not grow cold toward her; instead, her favor grew even greater. By the time Ye Wanwan was imprisoned, Jiang Feixue was pregnant again, and the imperial physicians were nearly certain it would be a boy. By then, Jiang Feixue had attained the rank of consort, and once she gave birth to a prince, the title of Noble Consort would naturally be hers. Ye Wanwan would have been expected to step aside and yield. It was likely that Jiang Feixue had harbored such ambitions all along—after all, who would be content with being a mere consort forever?

In this world, when one’s vision is clouded, one sees only beloved kin; it is as if a heavy curtain covers the eyes, making everything seem perfect and making every grievance bearable. But once that curtain is lifted, what remains of one’s family? They are nothing but a pack of wolves and leopards, cut from the same cloth as that man, Zhao Yi.

"Something is wrong! Something is terribly wrong!"

Hongshang rushed into the bedchamber, looking frantic. "Your Highness, a disaster has occurred. The Young Master has been arrested."

Before Ye Wanwan could react, Qingsha hurriedly asked, "What happened? Why would they suddenly arrest the Young Master?"

Hongshang shook her head. "How would I know? But the word has spread everywhere: they say the Young Master has committed treason and has been thrown into the Celestial Prison by the Emperor."

Ye Wanwan set down the roster, unhurried and calm. "What kind of treason could my brother possibly commit? There must be a misunderstanding. Hongshang, go to the Empress Dowager and ask her exactly what has happened."

"I will go at once, Your Highness," Hongshang replied.

As Hongshang left, Qingsha looked at Ye Wanwan. She, too, believed the Young Master was incapable of treason—he had been an idler for years and hardly seemed the type to pull off such a feat—but given that he had been imprisoned, why did the Empress show no reaction at all?

Just as she was pondering this, a loud crash echoed through the room. The Noble Consort had accidentally shattered her teacup. Qingsha breathed a sigh of relief, realizing her mistress was indeed worried after all. She rushed forward. "Careful, Your Highness. Let me clean this up."

After Qingsha cleared away the shards and left, Ye Wanwan called out, "Come in."

Yan Chen stepped into the room. "Your Highness."

Ye Wanwan retrieved a box from the drawer beside her. "Inside is a thousand taels in silver notes. Find someone with actual skill to assassinate Ye Shaoyang."

Yan Chen paused, then immediately dropped to his knees. "Your Highness, please reconsider."

Ye Wanwan sat down. "I have thought this through, and I know exactly what I am doing." Her cold, heavy gaze fell upon him. "You need only answer whether you can do it."

Yan Chen was silent for a long moment. "This servant will not fail you, Your Highness."