The Last Emperor of a Fallen Nation 05

A strange feeling crept into the hearts of the group, yet none could quite put their finger on it.

So, they thought of Xue Wanqiu. Turning around, they went to find her and poured out their recent troubles. Already in a foul mood, Xue Wanqiu immediately decided to head for the palace upon hearing this. Fang Zhiyi wasn't with her? Then she would wait for him right there in the palace! She was determined to demand how he managed affairs, allowing not only a Consort to bully her but also letting those old fogies harass her brothers!

However, for the first time, she who had always come and gone without hindrance was stopped at the palace gates. The eunuchs and palace maids she was once familiar with had all been replaced.

The looks they gave her were full of contempt.

This was utterly intolerable to the prideful Xue Wanqiu. After a few sharp words with a young maid, she could no longer restrain herself and shoved the girl. Had Wei Lin not arrived just in time, she would have been set upon and beaten by a group of palace servants that very day.

Returning to the Xue residence seething with unvented anger, she had barely settled when a eunuch from the palace arrived.

"Xue Wanqiu of the Xue family, for trespassing in the imperial palace and debased conduct! In consideration of Lord Xue's standing, you are ordered to discipline her yourselves!" The eunuch's shrill voice made a vein throb on Lord Xue's forehead. The eunuch then lowered his voice, "A young lady awaiting marriage, yet she spends her days in the company of several men, even claiming His Majesty loves her. Lord Xue, do you no longer value what rests upon your shoulders?"

Lord Xue nearly fainted from fright. He wasn't unaware of his daughter's activities; he knew of the Emperor's fondness for her. Moreover, following his daughter's lead had never steered him wrong before and had brought him considerable benefits, so he had let her be. But this sudden shift in the palace's attitude was a stark reminder of his own true station.

Thus, Xue Wanqiu suffered a second blow from her own parents.

"How did I give birth to such a troublemaker? A girl must have propriety, can't you understand?"

"Still talking about the past? That was when His Majesty favored you! Now he has Consort Yin!"

"My daughter, I beg you, just enter the palace. The Emperor likes you so much, perhaps you could even become Empress. If you become Empress, our family will soar to greatness. Then, that Consort Yin... pah!"

"What exactly do you want? You unfilial daughter!"

Xue Wanqiu felt as if her face had been ripped off and trampled upon the ground. She held her head high, "I refuse an arranged marriage! What of it if he's the Emperor?" Regarding Fang Zhiyi, she still had confidence. It was only because of that Yin Tao that she was being hindered now. She believed this was all temporary.

Unable to sway her, Lord Xue placed her under house arrest. The elder Xues intended for her to reflect deeply. This also prevented Xiao Ce from seeing her. While Xue Wanqiu's parents were opportunistic, being targeted repeatedly had begun to make them realize the problem. Perhaps their daughter's reluctance to enter the palace was because of these young men!

Yes, these fellows were handsome and capable, but under heaven, who was greater than the Emperor? Previously, they had gained many benefits and turned a blind eye to their daughter's behavior. But recently, the Emperor had stopped visiting, and that Consort Yin clearly held them in disdain. As a seasoned official, Lord Xue naturally pondered where the problem lay.

He immediately resolved to sever the ambiguous relationships between his daughter and these young men.

However, he underestimated Xue Wanqiu's determination. She still sneaked out. What she didn't expect was that Yin Tao had been monitoring her movements. No sooner had she taken Xiao Ce's hand in the peach grove than Wei Lin arrived in a hurried state. Thus, he witnessed the two holding hands. Previously, Xue Wanqiu had always concealed her interactions with one from the others, using such methods to gradually ensnare each male lead in turn. But being caught by Wei Lin today flustered her.

"Wei Lin gege..."

Wei Lin instinctively turned his face away. After a long moment, he said, "Wanqiu... Miss Xue, should I not have appeared at this time?"

Xue Wanqiu shook her head like a rattle-drum, "No, no, it's not like that! Let me explain!"

Not far away, the spectating Yin Tao was beside herself with glee. It was her first time witnessing such a live, melodramatic scene. But seeing the male lead, female lead, and second male lead actually reconcile in the end, she was stunned. "Is there no justice anymore?"

Fang Zhiyi only checked in on the female lead's movements when he had a moment. He was quite satisfied with Yin Tao's methods; at least she absorbed the vast majority of the female lead's attention, sparing him from dealing with that self-important transmigrator.

An elderly eunuch whispered, "Your Majesty, Minister Yang awaits you in the study."

Fang Zhiyi smiled, "Let's go!"

Xue Wanqiu attempted to see Fang Zhiyi again, but Yin Tao was like a ghost. Whenever Xue Wanqiu appeared within fifty paces of the palace, Yin Tao would be waiting there, ready with taunts. The maids following her would cover their mouths, mocking Xue Wanqiu, which utterly shattered her composure. She merely retorted a few times before an old matron gave her a dozen slaps across the face.

Her face swollen, Xue Wanqiu fled home. She was convinced this Consort Yin was deliberately blocking her from seeing Fang Zhiyi!

But this instilled a sense of crisis in her. If Consort Yin gained control over Fang Zhiyi first, her future plans would be in jeopardy.

So, she arranged a meeting with the three men.

"I have not provoked that Consort Yin, yet she targets me repeatedly. It's truly hateful!"

The men were somewhat at a loss for words, though seeing Xue Wanqiu's swollen face pained them. However, aside from Wei Lin, the other two had also been feeling constrained lately.

"Wanqiu, a new supervisor has arrived at the Salt and Iron Commission. It's become inconvenient for me to operate," Liu Yan complained. He could have embezzled considerable funds through his usual methods, but for some reason, his trusted aide had accidentally drowned in the moat after drinking. The new supervisor spent all day scrutinizing the account books with wide eyes, making Liu Yan's heart drum with anxiety.

"My situation is also troublesome. Those old fossils seem to have taken the wrong medicine lately, opposing me at every turn," Xiao Ce said helplessly. His painstakingly cultivated confidants had either been suddenly transferred or assigned new duties requiring collaboration. Several ministers he had previously won over had also grown distant recently, leaving him powerless in his struggles against the stubborn old guard at court.

Wei Lin remained silent. He hadn't encountered anything particularly unusual; the Imperial Guards were firmly under his control. He just looked at Xue Wanqiu's face, his hand gradually clenching into a fist.

Xue Wanqiu frowned in thought for a moment—essentially recalling the plot. "Who exactly is targeting you?"

As Liu Yan and Xiao Ce listed a series of names, Xue Wanqiu gradually understood. These people were all the antagonists from the original story! All stumbling blocks hindering her brothers' rise to power! Stubborn old fools!

Now it made sense.