The struggle between Chunyuan and Yixiu began from the day of the palace. Although Chunyuan is an older sister, her mind is far more complicated than what she seems. Chunyuan's gentleness and kindness seem to be just a perfect shell that hides her deeper schemes.
Chunyuan's words to the prince on his deathbed, "You must treat Yixiu well and don't abandon her", at first glance it seems to be just a sister's concern for her sister, but in fact, there is a deeper meaning hidden behind this sentence.
Chunyuan knew the personality of the prince, and her words were actually hinting that the prince Yixiu might be the culprit of her death.
Yi Xiu didn't know Chunyuan's words before he died. She always thinks that she has succeeded in hiding her hatred for Chunyuan and his ambition for the prince. But she didn't know that Chunyuan had already seen through her heart.
After the prince lost Chunyuan, he was in a state of grief for a long time. He did not recognize the profound meaning of Chunyuan's words, and he did not question Yi Xiu. Its ignorance paves the way for the ambition of cultivation.
After many years, by chance, the prince flipped through the old case, but found that Chunyuan's death was suspicious. He began to re-look at everything that happened back then, and gradually realized that Chunyuan's dying words may have hidden a deeper connotation.
The prince (later the emperor) finally discovered Yi Xiu's criminal deeds after in-depth investigation. He was shocked to learn that Chunyuan's death was really planned by Yi Xiu. Chunyuan's words before dying were that she left a hint for Yi Xiu.
The emperor recalled that when he was with Chunyuan, he was still the prince, and the two fell in love. Chunyuan's words have always been tender and full of wisdom, and her death was a big shock to him. And now, behind these there is a conspiracy to be cultivated.
In the emperor's mind, Yi Xiu has always been gentle and virtuous, and his every move exudes deference and caution. However, at this moment, he realized that these were just illusions carefully arranged by Yi Xiu.
The emperor decided to confront Yi Xiu face to face, and he wanted to know the truth from Yi Xiu's mouth. Once met in the palace late at night, the emperor calmly asked: "Yi Xiu, are you really involved in Chunyuan's death?"”
The expression on Yi Xiu's face changed from panic to calm, and she replied in a low voice: "Emperor, I can only do either/or. Is there anyone in this harem who doesn't fight for survival?”
The emperor's heart welled up with sorrow. He thought that Yi Xiu was different from Chunyuan, but he didn't expect her to change because of the harem battle. He was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Everything you have done has gone beyond the bottom line. For power, even at the expense of lovers. ”
A trace of complicated emotions flashed in Yi Xiu's eyes, and she lowered her head: "Emperor I." Before he finished speaking, he could no longer afford to continue.
The emperor ordered that Yi Xiu be degraded to a concubine and imprisoned in the cold palace forever. No one knows the pain in his heart, he has lost two of the women he cares about the most, one left him because of death, and the other was pushed down by his own hands because of sin.
In the years that followed, although the emperor was still in the government, he always had scars in his heart. He began to look at everyone in the harem again, and he no longer trusted others easily.
The intrigue in the harem is still continuous, and every concubine is fighting for her identity. But in the emperor's heart, the harem is no longer a wonderful place, but it is a hell where conspiracy and betrayal coexist.
During a palace banquet, the emperor looked at the concubines competing for favor, and there were bursts of ridicule in his heart. He knew that behind each of their smiles there were hidden ambitions and tricks.
The emperor's gaze slowly moved among the concubines, and his heart was unfathomable. He is no longer the young prince who is easily affected by emotions, and now, he knows every undercurrent and every corner of the harem.
At the highest moment of the banquet, a new concubine, Concubine Hui, stepped forward to dance. She danced gracefully, but failed to attract much attention from the emperor. The emperor was well aware that every performance on the stage of this harem had the potential to be a well-orchestrated show.
Concubine Hui danced and bowed her head to the emperor. The emperor bowed slightly, but did not say much. He turned his head to look to the other side, and inside was an ordinary-looking concubine, Concubine Dan. There seems to be a slight edge hidden in his eyes that is not easy to be noticed.
The emperor was moved in his heart and decided to ask Concubine Tan privately. At a night banquet, the emperor asked directly: "Concubine Dan, what is your opinion on the dispute in the harem?"”
Concubine Dan pondered for a while, and then slowly spoke: "Although the struggle between the emperor and the harem is tragic, in many cases, the struggle on the surface is just a smokescreen to cover up the real intentions. ”
The emperor's eyes flashed with appreciation. He knew very well that Concubine Tan was not a simple, intelligent, and well-informed person. He asked, "Then who do you think is the real wise man of the harem?"”
Concubine Dan smiled slightly: "Emperor, everyone in the harem has their own intelligence, but really smart people are not easy to expose." ”
The emperor was deeply affected by this and began to pay more attention to the words and deeds of the concubine. In the years that followed, Concubine Dan did show different talents and strategies from the past, and her position in the harem gradually improved.
However, just as Concubine Dan's power was gradually becoming stronger, an unexpected situation occurred. It turned out that Concubine Hui was found to be having an affair with a eunuch. As soon as the news came out, the harem was a sensation.
Concubine Hui was originally a rising star in the harem, and her fall shocked many concubines. For a while, there was a lot of discussion in the harem, and everyone speculated about the facts behind it.
When the emperor heard the news, he was disappointed and angry. He summoned Concubine Hui and asked expressionlessly, "Concubine Hui, why did you do such a thing?"Do you know how this can affect you?”
Concubine Hui knelt on the ground, her eyes teary-eyed: "The emperor asks you to see that these are traps." I have been falsely accused. There was nothing wrong with me and that eunuch. ”
The emperor's eyes revealed suspicion: "I have my own evaluation of the affairs of the harem. If you're innocent, I'll find out. ”
After the matter was completed, the emperor ordered Jinyiwei to investigate in-depth. Under strict investigation, it was discovered that these were all conspiracies secretly designed by Concubine Tan.
It turned out that Concubine Dan did not hesitate to marry Concubine Hui to stabilize her identity. She secretly ordered her subordinates to create an illusion between Concubine Hui and the eunuch, and then skillfully revealed the news to others.
When the emperor learned the truth, his heart was shocked and angry. He summoned Concubine Dan and looked angry: "Concubine Dan, you would actually do such a thing!."How insidious your heart is!”
Concubine Dan knelt on the ground with a faint smile on her face: "Emperor, the harem is like a scene, I am just protecting myself." My job is just everyone in the harem. ”
The emperor's inner disappointment was overflowing, and he found that the harem concubines were not involved in this power game. He said coldly: "From today onwards, you will belittle the people and imprison the cold palace forever." ”
After the incident, the emperor governed the harem more and more strictly. He began to restrain the behavior of his concubines, and no longer allowed all kinds of intrigues and struggles.
However, the harem intrigue did not subside. When the other concubines saw the ending of the concubine, although they were scared in their hearts, they still secretly planned, hoping to win this power game.
On a moonlit night, several concubines had a secret meeting. They whispered to each other about how to gain greater positions and rights in the harem.
A concubine whispered: "The ending of the concubine is really too scary, everyone must pay more attention." However, the emperor's thoughts were always unpredictable. We still have to be ready. ”
Another concubine continued: "I heard that the emperor has recently liked a palace maid, so you might as well start here, maybe you can use this opportunity to improve your status." ”
They are planning a new conspiracy in the secret passage, but they don't know that the emperor has sent someone to secretly monitor their every move.
In this complex and changeable harem, the emperor's thoughts become more profound. He knew that in a land of desire and power, only constant vigilance could ensure that his rule would not be threatened.
Time flies, and the emperor's mentality quietly changes.
He began to rethink his way of rule, and came to realize that it was not enough to truly control the harem by strict management and surveillance. He wants to go to the harem to find a truly faithful and wise man, and run this complicated world with him.