Jintang had detested Eunuch Ma for a long time, and now that she finally had the chance to deal with him, she was thrilled.
Before long, screams echoed from the courtyard.
Gu Zhaoyan picked up the imperial decree, glanced at it briefly, and tossed it into the brazier.
"Moyu."
She summoned another trusted aide. "Go and withdraw the funds from all of my businesses, then empty out the assets. Also, clear out all the cash from the Princess Mansion accounts, tally up everything in my name that can be converted into liquid assets, and transfer it all to..."
Gu Zhaoyan paused. Leaving the Capital too far behind would put her at a disadvantage, so she decided, "Phoenix Villa in Linyuan City."
Linyuan City was located southwest of the Capital, right next to the Beijing-Linyuan Grand Canal. It was a bustling, prosperous place where goods from all over the country converged, and the current governor of Linyuan Prefecture happened to be someone she had personally promoted.
Fortunately, in her past life, her bad premonition had led her to disband Phoenix Villa in advance, sparing her loyal subordinates who had followed her for years from an unmerited disaster.
"Eldest Princess, are you planning to leave the Capital?" Moyu was reserved and observant, instantly guessing her master's intention.
"It is not yet time for me to leave. Go ahead and do this boldly. Do it well, and I will reward you."
Both Jintang and Moyu were orphans she had rescued back then. Remembering her past life after her death, Moyu and Jintang had run around seeking help from all sides, simply wanting to clear her name.
In the end, they were framed and died pierced by a hail of arrows; their corpses were stripped bare, thrown into a mass grave, and devoured by wild dogs.
Gu Zhaoyan wished she could chop those old codgers into pieces right now and feed them to the dogs.
"The Emperor has stripped you of your office and revoked your tax-exempt households and fiefs. Is this... slaughtering the donkey the moment it leaves the mill?!"
"Instead of solving the problem, they deal with the person who raises the problem. That is the usual trick of those old codgers." Gu Zhaoyan sneered. "Have the betrothal documents for the Imperial Sons-in-law been prepared?"
"They were delivered to your study three days ago," Moyu replied. "Shall subordinates bring them to you now?"
"No need."
Her biggest regret in her past life was recruiting those three Imperial Sons-in-law. She had never felt any affection for them; she had merely utilized the power of their respective families.
On the surface, they acted as though they couldn't stand the sight of each other, but in private, they had colluded to fabricate various pieces of evidence against her, solely to drive her to her death.
So in this lifetime, she would let them tear at each other like dogs, leaving them unable to live and unable to die.
"Once they become Imperial Sons-in-law, they can no longer enter official service. They will resent me enough as it is, so how could they willingly help me just because they became Imperial Sons-in-law?" Gu Zhaoyan stretched lazily. "Have the Ministry of Personnel select suitable positions for the three of them as soon as possible, so they can go shine brightly in the imperial court."
"The three of them are evenly matched in talent. If they meet in the court, neither will ever submit to the other. By then..." A gleam of schadenfreude flashed in Moyu's eyes, "the one with the headache will be the Emperor."
"Gu Zhaoheng has had a leisurely time for long enough; it's about time he was made to bustle about. Oh, and go notify the Imperial Household Department as well. Ever since the Emperor ascended the throne, he and the Empress have yet to produce any offspring. Tell them to select thirty beauties within three days to replenish the inner palace. Make sure they are delicate, soft, and bonelessly tender."
The current Empress was chosen by Gu Zhaoyan from among the many powerful and influential families in the Capital. She was bold, decisive, vibrant, and magnificent. The Empress was also very dutiful, clear with rewards and punishments, and managed the inner palace in perfect order.
Yet Gu Zhaoheng refused to consummate their marriage, feeling that the Empress was crude and uncouth, unworthy of gracing high society.
"Have the Emperor consummate his marriage with those thirty beauties as soon as possible, so he can spread branches and leaves for Dayan early on."
Moyu's eyes widened. "Thirty of them? Even doing a full round would take a month."
"As the ruler of a nation, aside from state affairs, heirs are of paramount importance. Just tell the Imperial Household Department my exact words; they will know what to do."
"Understood, this subordinate will go handle the task you assigned right now." Taking her orders, Moyu turned and left.
With the tedious matters off her hands, Gu Zhaoyan returned to her study, took out some paper, and prepared to respond to those who had framed her in her past life.
She meticulously recorded their names and family backgrounds one by one.
Then, following the list, she exacted her revenge on them, one by one.
Mingjing Room.
Seeing Eunuch Ma being carried back with his buttocks beaten to a bloody pulp, Gu Zhaoheng was incandescent with rage: "Imperial Eldest Princess, this is simply lawless!"
"Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess dared to beat a servant. Who knows, one day she might even dare to have people drag Your Majesty down and beat you!" Eunuch Ma was not only skilled at flattery, but also quite adept at fanning the flames. "I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for this servant."
"Eunuch Ma, rest assured, I will definitely get justice back for you." Gu Zhaoheng had ascended the throne at sixteen and was now nineteen. Not only had he failed to learn even half of his older sister's conduct in handling affairs, but he also lacked staying power in everything he did and was constantly being used as a tool by others. "Men, prepare the carriage for the Eldest Princess..."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
Before Gu Zhaoheng could finish saying the word "Mansion," the Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel stumbled inside in a panic: "Your Majesty, it's—it's bad."
"What is it, rushing about like this?"
"Didn't the Eldest Princess say before that she wanted to take three Imperial Sons-in-law? Well, she changed her mind and said she couldn't delay the futures of the three men, so she ordered the Ministry of Personnel to pick suitable positions for all three of them. The Minister spent ages picking out three fitting posts, but when we informed the three families, none of the young masters agreed. Right now, they've come right outside the Mingjing Room, wanting to demand an explanation from Your Majesty."
"What?!"
Gu Zhaoheng leapt up. "There was such a huge uproar about taking Imperial Sons-in-law, and now that she says she isn't taking them, why is she always changing her mind on a whim?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for this servant!" Terrified of being left out, Eunuch Ma wailed aloud.
"Your Majesty, please make a decision quickly, or if we can't appease the three young masters, they're definitely going to make trouble for the Ministry of Personnel..." The Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel joined in the outcry.
When Gu Zhaoheng went to court this morning, he had been full of high spirits, feeling that his future was bright and boundless.
He never expected that after basking in glory for merely half a day, he would be knocked right back to square one.
No, to put it correctly, he had brought this entirely upon himself.
"Where is my imperial carriage? Hasn't it been prepared yet?" Gu Zhaoheng strode forward, but because he was in too much hurry, he failed to see the high threshold and tripped over it headlong. "Aiyou..."
"Your Majesty!!!"
While the Mingjing Room had descended into utter chaos, Gu Zhaoyan was already sitting in the front hall of Prince Shen's Estate, sipping tea.
"I have come uninvited, Prince Shen... you won't be angry, will you?"
Lifting her gaze, she met Qi Yelin as he entered wearing casual attire. Dark golden lotus flowers intertwined along the hem of his robe, and he wore a belt of the same shade—simple yet dignified. His cascade of dark hair fell loose down his back, secured only by a white jade hairpin at the crown. His expression was cold, his thin lips pressed tightly together, further highlighting his distant, untouchable aura.
"Is the Eldest Princess here to settle accounts?" Qi Yelin stopped in front of the table.
"Where is the tea I gave you yesterday?" Gu Zhaoyan didn't answer, asking him a question instead. "Did you taste it?"
"Threw it away."