novelhk Chapter 1013 Yu Shu's worries, prepare in advance!
Chapter 1013 Yu Shu's worries, prepare in advance!
But the palace servants standing in the hall held their breath, not daring to even breathe loudly. They could sense that this newly crowned queen was different from the cautious and low-key Lady Lü of the past. Something called "power" was quietly gathering around her, though not ostentatiously, it already weighed a ton.
Meanwhile, in an exquisite palace garden not far from Chang Le Palace, Lü Su was wide awake. Leaning against the window, she gazed at the bamboo shadows swaying in the night breeze in the courtyard outside, her heart filled with a cold and chaotic feeling. She knew that her peaceful life and her sister Lü Zhi's smooth ascension to the throne were largely due to Lü Su's tactful advice to Gao Yao.
She understood Gao Yao and knew that deep down he recognized Lü Zhi's abilities. Even his long-delayed decision on making her empress had already leaned towards his sister; it was only due to past events involving the Lü family and his complex inner conflicts that he hadn't made a decision. Her efforts to push things along were merely in line with Gao Yao's wishes, while also securing a stable future for herself and her son Gao Ning.
Which woman in the harem wasn't shrewd and calculating? Everyone knew perfectly well that the position of Queen would likely fall into the hands of anyone but Lü Zhi. Lü Su, in particular, was self-aware. Gentle and unassuming, she disliked strife and knew she was far from the best candidate to rule the harem and become the empress.
Rather than vying for a position with little hope of success and even if obtained, it would be uncertain whether she could hold onto it. It would be better to go with the flow and use her support for Lü Zhi to gain Gao Yao's satisfaction and a solid protective shield. As long as Gao Yao was alive, and as long as their son Gao Ning was alive, Lü Su would always have a secure place in this deep palace, living a life of wealth and worry-free existence.
However, the situation has suddenly changed! Gao Yao is gone! He left no will, and his fate is unknown, with no clear date of return. This sudden power vacuum has shattered all her calculations and reliance. At this moment, in the court and within the palace, everyone nominally respects Queen Lü Zhi. The sister she once helped now holds the power of life and death over her and Ning'er's fate.
An incredibly sharp and cruel question gnawed at Lü Su's heart like a venomous snake—Will Lü Zhi discard her after she has served her purpose?
This is not unfounded worry, but rather touches upon the most crucial and unavoidable question: who will ultimately inherit the supreme throne? Gao Yao currently has three sons: his eldest son, Gao Lin, was born before Gao Yao became king. Although not born of the principal wife, he holds the title of the eldest son; his second son, Gao Zhe, is the son of Princess Yu Shu from Tu'an, and has a special status; and his third son is Gao Ning, born to Lü Su. He is just nine years old this year, intelligent and quick-witted, and was much loved by Gao Yao during his lifetime.
While Gao Yao was still alive, Lü Su never harbored any improper thoughts. She knew that Gao Yao acted with method and had made arrangements for his children. With him in charge, no matter what Lü Zhi thought, the harem was ultimately stable, and her Ning'er was safe. But now, that greatest support had collapsed. Everything had become unpredictable and fraught with danger.
Lü Su was forced to assume the worst about her sister. Faced with supreme power, kinship often proves incredibly fragile. Throughout history, how many tragedies have occurred where fathers and sons turned against each other, and brothers fought over that position? In the minds of people at that time, the closest relatives were always their spouses and their own flesh and blood.
How much genuine sisterly affection can remain when faced with the allure of immense wealth and power? Especially in a powerful family like theirs, the power struggles between the sons are almost inevitable. Even married sisters cannot help but compare their husbands' power and status, harboring hidden grudges.
Would Empress Lü seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, under the pretext of stabilizing the court, to eliminate all potential rivals who might threaten Gao Lin's position? And what about her Ning'er, a prince who was entitled to inherit the throne? Would he become a thorn in her sister's side? The more Lü Su thought about it, the more terrified she became, a chill running from her feet to the top of her head. She could no longer passively wait and rely on others as before; she had to plan a way out for herself, and even more so for her nine-year-old Ning'er, seeking a safe haven.
Like Lü Su, Yu Shu, who lived in another palace, was also gripped by immense panic, and even more anxious than Lü Su.
Yu Shu's second son, Gao Zhe, is only one year younger than her eldest son, Gao Lin! This age difference is so subtle that Gao Zhe naturally becomes Gao Lin's most direct and threatening competitor. If Gao Lin wants to smoothly succeed to the throne, Gao Zhe is undoubtedly one of the biggest obstacles.
Yu Shu knew all too well that her maternal clan's power was far inferior to the intricate network of influence the Lü sisters held in court. Tu An was a thing of the past; in the Qin palace, she relied more on Gao Yao's favor and her son's existence. Now, with Gao Yao's fate uncertain and his favor a mere illusion, she and her son were like lambs to the slaughter before the powerful Lü Zhi, utterly vulnerable and easily defeated.
She was almost certain that if Lü Zhi really wanted to remove the obstacles, she and Gao Zhe would be the first to be targeted! This realization kept Yu Shu awake at night and made her lose her appetite.
"Zhe'er, come to your mother." Yu Shu held her sleepy son Gao Zhe tightly in her arms, as if she would lose him if she let go. Gao Zhe seemed to sense his mother's unease and nestled obediently against her, not daring to say a word.
"Where's Batu? Has Batu arrived yet?" Yu Shu looked up and asked her personal maid anxiously, her voice trembling slightly.
"Reporting to Madam, we have already sent someone to invite him; the little prince should be arriving soon."
The Batu that Yu Shu mentioned was her only younger brother, the former Prince Tu'an, now a general serving under Gao Yao. Through his sister's connections and his own efforts, Batu had risen to the rank of division commander under General Cao Can. The position of division commander was considered mid-to-high-ranking in the military, wielding considerable power. Coupled with his special status—the maternal uncle of the second prince, Gao Zhe—Batu held a rather unique position in the army, effectively forming his own power base.
At this moment, in her extreme fear, Yu Shu's first thought was of her younger brother. She could no longer sit idly by and wait for her fate; she had to seek a way to protect herself. The army was always the strongest defense in chaotic times. She urgently summoned Batu to secretly discuss with him how to protect their lives in this sudden power storm, and... to secure a glimmer of hope for Gao Zhe, or rather, a guarantee of survival.
She was genuinely afraid, afraid that Lü Zhi would not hesitate to raise her blade and strike first at Gao Zhe, the greatest threat to Gao Lin. She had to act first and do something.