The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 378 - 321, Empress’s Chess Game (Two in One)_2

Firstly, the court aimed to profit from their wealth.

Secondly, these influential families possessed the most lands, which naturally stirred people's hearts and minds.

Moreover, the Eight Princes were unwilling to see the court's new policies implemented smoothly and were bound to intervene.

Thus, it was very likely that Prince Jing had set a trap using Mr. Song as a pawn to detonate the "Taicang Silver Mine" issue, igniting a conflict between Your Majesty and the Li Party, and between the court and the southern scholarly families.

"This is a blatant scheme because even if Your Majesty becomes suspicious, it would be hard not to take action. Moreover, the implementation of the new policies was bound to clash with the interests of the scholarly families, an inevitability that could neither be avoided nor evaded.

Moreover, at that time, Your Majesty was not yet aware that Prince Jing was involved. Therefore, I was sent there primarily to investigate and to, secondly, kill a chicken to warn the monkeys, rectifying the administration; and thirdly, to make an example out of the southern scholarly families."

"After Gao Lian arrived in the Capital, indeed it triggered resistance from the Li Party... Among those who recently arrived in the Capital, Mr. Shen from the Shen family was the most pivotal."

Zhao Douan interrupted, "The Shen family? Gao Lian's father-in-law's influential family?"

He had learned about this matter when he had dispatched Gao Lian.

Mo Chou nodded and said:

"According to the Shadow Guard's secret investigation, it is highly likely that the Shen family has already aligned with Prince Jing Mansion. Although they appear to be lobbying normally upon their arrival in the Capital, in reality, they predominantly contacted officials from the Li Party.

And the sudden death of Wang Chusheng tonight doesn't seem like something Li Yanfu would do."

Zhao Douan's eyes suddenly sharpened,

"Are you suggesting that Shen Er, who silenced Wang Chusheng, aimed to further provoke a conflict between Your Majesty and Li Yanfu?"

At that moment, with several key clues becoming clear, his mind pieced together the entire chain of evidence:

To obstruct the new policies, Prince Jing attempted to inflame the conflict between the Empress and the "Li Party."

Igniting the Taicang Silver Mine was just the first step, while inciting Shen Er to commit murder was the second.

...Once the act of silencing was out, everyone would suspect Li Yanfu, and since Li Yanfu was closely bound with the Jiangnan gentry, there was no severing that tie. As a result, the furious Empress would further suppress the "Li Party"...

If Li Yanfu continued to adhere to his original strategy, contracting his power and sacrificing some members to preserve the whole Li Party, it would inevitably lead to disloyalty and desertion among his people...

And to maintain his position as the leader and to wage war against the Empress, this would again destabilize the already stabilized court situation... The implementation of the new policies would be hindered...

Meanwhile, the Shen family, under the guise of lobbying, openly contacted other officials from the Li Party. It is difficult to say they were not throwing out an "olive branch" on behalf of Prince Jing with an intention to secretly form alliances...

Zhao Douan's mind was tumultuous, and he took a deep breath.

He felt as if the fog that had been clouding his vision since heading to Taicang Prefecture suddenly lifted.

"So, even if I hadn't captured Wang Chusheng, Prince Jing Mansion might have found a way to deliver him into my hands..."

"The ambush on my return to the Capital also likely wasn't targeting Gao and Wang, but rather me... If I, the imperial envoy, were killed, pinning it on Gao Lian or Li Yanfu...could further provoke a conflict between Your Majesty and the Li Party... After all, the most likely suspects to have ambushed me, besides the Kuangfu Society, are those involved in the silver mine case from the Li Party..."

Zhao Douan whispered to himself, feeling a chilling sensation for the first time since his transmigration.

One link led to another, revealing the silver mine case was merely a trigger.

The real battlefield had always been in the Capital.

If there existed a celestial chessboard between the Capital and Prince Jing Mansion, defined by territorial boundaries.

Then Zhao Douan was the piece the Empress played, crossing the river to capture the enemy's knight.

And this poorly positioned knight had deliberately been offered by Prince Jing, a pawn with a crippled leg, represented by Wang Chusheng.

Mo Chou sighed lightly, reluctantly saying:

"So, do you now understand why Her Majesty didn't want you involved? In this level of struggle, your current position is still not enough to sit at the table."

Zhao Douan unusually refrained from retorting, instead speaking with a strange expression:

"Speaking of which, Zhenbao...Her Majesty couldn't have anticipated that Wang Chusheng would be silenced, could she?"

If Zhenbao had already foreseen the true opponent in this game by the time he reported back to the Capital, would there really be insufficient protection for Wang Chusheng?

Or was it about letting it all happen?

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After all, if Wang Chusheng hadn't died, given the current situation, Li Yanfu's utmost manipulation would merely be to prolong the case, trying to temporarily save Gao Lian, and then seek further opportunities.

And when it came down to the final gambit, it would merely result in the execution of Gao Lian, with the Empress once again striking at the Li Party.

In essence, it would just be a routine weakening of the Li Party, similar to bringing down Pei Kaizhi.

However, if Shen Er were allowed to commit murder and then actualize the killing of Gao Lian.

Firstly, the Empress would still win in this struggle, that fundamental premise wouldn't change.

The court's majesty and the purpose of intimidating local officials would still be achieved.

Secondly, although it would appear as if Prince Jing's conspiracy had succeeded, the premise for his success was based on the Empress being enraged and severely punishing Li Yanfu, and perhaps due to this act of silencing, unleashing thunderous retaliation against the entire Li Party and the southern scholarly families backing them!

In other words, Prince Jing was trying to provoke, attempting to make the Empress lose her temper.

As long as the Empress heatedly abandoned her "Benevolent Ruler" persona and began to destroy the Li Party with an iron fist.

Then Prince Jing's objective would be achieved.

But...

"What if Zhenbao doesn't fall for it?"

A sudden thought rose in Zhao Douan's mind.

"If Zhenbao doesn't fall for it, and instead of using thunderous methods on the Li Party, tries to divide and conquer? With Li Yanfu's wisdom, he must realize that he's been set up by the Shen family and Prince Jing; perhaps he is already prepared to openly confront Zhenbao..."