There Must Be a Way

The voice echoed in the empty hall, startling the birds perched outside the window.

After Luo Zhao finished her tirade, her chest heaved violently. It took a while for her to calm down.

No.

She hadn't lost yet.

She wasn't just relying on those people.

She was the Crown Princess, in control of the Ministry of Civil Appointments, the Imperial Household Department's female officials, and countless officers she had personally promoted.

Gu Chengyin wanted to sideline her—it wouldn't be that simple!

Luo Zhao gripped the memorial tightly, her gaze gradually turning resolute.

But when her eyes fell on the memorial again, that resolve turned into a headache.

How could she reject this memorial without arousing Gu Chengyin's suspicion?

According to protocol, this memorial first had to be reviewed by the Ministry of Civil Appointments, then sent to the Grand Secretariat for a draft opinion, and finally presented to the throne for the imperial vermilion endorsement.

As the Crown Princess, and having taken over the Ministry of Civil Appointments, she had the authority to intervene.

But if she directly rejected it, it would inevitably make Gu Chengyin suspicious.

After all, Cui Zhenji's reasons for resigning were legitimate, and his recommendation of Gu Chengyin was also legitimate.

And she was supposed to be under Gu Chengyin's hypnotic control.

So on what grounds could the Ministry of Civil Appointments reject it?

Yet she couldn't keep using the Imperial Father's name to force a rejection, could she?

If she used that tactic too often, Gu Chengyin would eventually suspect her.

But if she didn't use it, was she supposed to just sit by and watch Gu Chengyin take the position of Minister of Rites?

Luo Zhao's brows were tightly furrowed as she paced back and forth in the hall.

The candle flames flickered, casting her shadow both long and short.

She walked to the window, pushed open the lattice, and gazed at the moonlight outside.

The night wind brushed against her face, carrying a hint of chill.

Luo Zhao closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.

There had to be a way.

There had to be.

She was the Crown Princess, the future Empress Dowager.

How could she let that bastard Gu Chengyin have her completely under his thumb?

There had to be a way!

Just as Luo Zhao was racking her brains, a faint ripple suddenly emanated from the entrance of the hall.

Luo Zhao's eyes snapped open, and she turned to look.

A familiar figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

The man was dressed in eunuch's robes, his eyes especially bright.

He stood at the entrance, not stepping forward, and bowed his head as he said softly:

"Her Highness."

It was Lyu Fang.

Why was he here?

Confused, Luo Zhao kept her expression calm and asked:

"Eunuch Lu, why have you come?"

Lyu Fang smiled faintly and stepped forward slowly.

His steps were very light, as soft as if he were treading on cotton wool, making not a sound.

He took a memorial from his sleeve and respectfully presented it with both hands to Luo Zhao.

"His Majesty finds this memorial quite interesting,"

Lyu Fang's voice carried a hint of meaning:

"He has specially instructed me to deliver it for Her Highness to read."

Luo Zhao's gaze fell on the memorial Lyu Fang had produced.

She reached out and took it, opening it to read.

Her expression immediately froze.

The content of the memorial was simple—it was the Second Prince's report on the recent situation in Shanshui City.

Nothing out of the ordinary: matters of people's livelihood, taxation, the new policies, and so on.

There was nothing particularly special about it.

But Luo Zhao's eyes fixed on the name at the beginning of the memorial.

Second Prince, Luo Yanchen.

The corners of Luo Zhao's mouth curled up slightly.

She slowly closed the memorial, raised her head, and looked at Lyu Fang.

Lyu Fang was quietly watching her, his eyes, weathered by countless experiences, holding a glint that was hard to read.

The two locked eyes for a moment, neither speaking.

Then Lyu Fang bowed and, without another word, silently withdrew.

His figure merged into the night, disappearing beyond the hall's entrance, as if he had never been there.

The hall returned to silence, leaving only the flickering candlelight.

Luo Zhao held the memorial in her hand, the smile deepening at the corners of her lips.

She knew now who to send to stop Gu Chengyin's appointment.

This Second Prince, though far away in Shanshui City, had never truly withdrawn the Prince's Party from the Divine Capital.

Although Luo Zhao was the Crown Princess, as long as she hadn't yet ascended the throne,

everything was still possible. Coupled with the fact that the Great Luo Dynasty had never had a female emperor in its history,

if it weren't for Emperor Luo's iron-fisted methods suppressing the entire court into utter submission,

the Second Prince's strength would be several times greater than it was now.

But even so, the Prince's Party was still no weaker than the Crown Princess's faction.

Part of it was certainly Emperor Luo's way of tempering her.

But did Luo Yanchen willingly serve as a whetstone?

Of course not.

Though he had temporarily been sent to Shanshui City, his spies, his men, his influence—none of them had truly withdrawn from the Divine Capital.

On the surface, he appeared obedient and punctual in his reports, acting like a contented prince.

But Luo Zhao knew he had always been waiting.

Waiting for an opportunity.

Waiting for a chance to overturn the table.

And now,

that opportunity had arrived.

Gu Chengyin was about to become the Minister of Rites, to enter the Grand Secretariat, and to aim for the position of Chief Grand Secretary.

If he succeeded, the Crown Princess's position would be as solid as a mountain, and the Second Prince would never have a chance to flip the table in his lifetime.

So would the Prince's Party just stand by and do nothing?

Of course not.

The Prince's Party would spare no effort to stop Gu Chengyin from rising.

And Luo Zhao wouldn't have to do a thing.

She could just sit back and watch the tigers fight, like when she had stirred up conflict between Lin Qingyan and Gu Xiaoli.

Luo Zhao put down the memorial, walked to the window, and gazed at the solitary moon on the horizon.

The moonlight was like water, spilling across her face, revealing a deep and meaningful smile.

Gu Chengyin, oh Gu Chengyin.

You think you can take the position of Minister of Rites?

It won't be that easy.

You've forgotten there's someone who will never let you have your way.

What would the Second Prince do if he learned of your impending appointment?

Luo Zhao's lips curled.

She suddenly found herself looking forward to the spectacle that was about to unfold.

The night wind began to pick up, rattling the window lattice.

Luo Zhao stood by the window, staring at the moon, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

No matter how things turned out, she would be the winner.

If the Second Prince won, Gu Chengyin couldn't rise to power, and she could take the chance to drag him down.

If Gu Chengyin won, the Second Prince's influence would inevitably suffer, benefiting the Crown Princess's faction.

And regardless of the outcome, it was all factional strife—she could always step in at any time under the Imperial Father's authority.

Then she could conveniently reject Gu Chengyin's appointment, perfectly justified and reasonable.

The more Luo Zhao thought about it, the more pleased she became, and she couldn't help laughing out loud.

After laughing for a while, she remembered another matter.

Lyu Fang.

This high-ranking eunuch of the Imperial Household Department—his appearance tonight was no coincidence.

He was the Emperor's man, and every move he made represented the Emperor's will.

Had the Imperial Father sent Lyu Fang with Luo Yanchen's memorial to hint at something?

Was he telling her that she could use Luo Yanchen as a pawn?

Or did he think she wasn't capable of handling Gu Chengyin?

Luo Zhao frowned.

Her Imperial Father's mind was unfathomably deep.

Though she was the Crown Princess, before the Imperial Father, she was still just a pawn unable to see the full board.

But it didn't matter.

Whatever her Imperial Father meant, this memorial was a godsend.

She just needed to make the most of it.

Luo Zhao turned and walked back to her desk.

She picked up Cui Zhenji's resignation memorial, then picked up Luo Yanchen's report, and placed them side by side.

Two memorials, one left and one right, like two pieces on a chessboard.