nycdaug Chapter 175 Behind the scenes
Chapter 175 Behind the scenes
The morning sun filtered through the window panes of the building, scattering dappled shadows into the study of Prince Ling's mansion, seemingly illuminating the complex machinations and undercurrents of power. Yun Mengting sat at the end of a tall desk, her fingers gently twirling a quill, her brow furrowed as she pondered the impending power struggle. At this moment, her heart was filled with both anticipation and anxiety. The challenges she faced surged like a tide, leaving her feeling a sense of suffocation.
The study door suddenly opened, and Shen Jingxuan, brow furrowed, hurried into the room, a look of urgency written all over his face. Like a gust of wind, it shattered the stillness of the room. "Mother, we must act immediately," he said gravely, his gaze piercing. "Li Deqing has begun spreading rumors in the court, attempting to undermine your authority among the ministers."
Yun Mengting raised her head and smiled faintly, her composure seeming to mask any inner turmoil. She understood that Li Deqing's tactics were sophisticated; if he dared to so brazenly plot, he must have something to rely on. "He wants to weaken my authority, clearly uneasy about my growing control."
"I can go confront him." Shen Jingxuan said bluntly, with a warm flame burning in his eyes and as firm as iron.
"No." Yun Mengting shook her head, a wary glint in her eyes. "Although Li Deqing is old, he has deep connections and strong ties within the court. A rash confrontation would only anger him and be counterproductive. We need to outsmart him, not outmaneuver him."
"Then how should we deal with it?" Shen Jingxuan frowned even more, confused.
"Unite with other ministers to boost my support," Yun Mengting explained patiently, her words filled with strategy and planning. "We urgently need to form a siege against Li Deqing in the court and undermine his influence." Her thoughts were like a chess game unfolding, each move methodically planned.
"I understand. I will start contacting other ministers." Shen Jingxuan nodded slightly and turned to leave.
"Wait." Yun Mengting stopped him. "Before we act, I need you to make sure you stay in touch with Jiang Feng. He has ample intelligence circulating in the court, and his support is absolutely crucial to us."
Shen Jingxuan was slightly stunned. In fact, he had already doubted Jiang Feng in his heart. "Mother, is he trustworthy?"
"In this power struggle, enemies are also allies. We must use all resources to achieve victory." Yun Mengting said calmly, her tone as firm as steel.
The days slipped by amidst intense preparations. As a key figure in the court, Jiang Feng was gradually drawn into the game. His ease within the court was a stark contrast to Li Deqing. But he now faced the challenge of balancing his own interests with his cooperation with Yun Mengting.
Jiang Feng sat in his study, before him a newly arrived secret letter, which mentioned that Li Deqing, in alliance with several ministers in his own camp, was secretly plotting a plan to deal with Yun Mengting. He couldn't help but smile slightly, feeling vaguely that the undercurrent of conspiracy was like a turbulent sea, and he had long been prepared for this struggle.
"Adjutant, how's the investigation going on with the princess?" Jiang Feng asked, a hint of urgency in his tone.
"The princess is doing her best to stabilize the situation in the north. If she succeeds, her prestige in the court will surely continue to rise." The adjutant replied respectfully, a slight worry showing on his face.
Jiang Feng pondered for a moment, seeming to think deeply. He knew that a successful Northern Border policy would undoubtedly strengthen Yun Mengting's leverage. He secretly decided that only by forming a closer partnership with Yun Mengting could he remain invincible in this power game.
"Inform the princess to summon important ministers in my name tomorrow to discuss a common strategy." Jiang Feng is good at weighing the situation and knows that in this power struggle, the constant shift of interests and positions is the key to victory.
Meanwhile, Yun Mengting's plan gradually unfolded. Shen Jingxuan had already begun contacting ministers from various parties, gradually building pressure on Li Deqing.
In a small, secret meeting, Shen Jingxuan and a few of his closest associates met with Yun Mengting, igniting a conflict of power within the court. "Mother, after speaking with several ministers, I understand that they are increasingly skeptical of Li Deqing, believing him to be complacent and unable to contribute to the court's affairs."
Yun Mengting nodded, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes. It seemed that these ministers were slowly awakening. "If they were willing to get closer to me, the situation in control could be reversed."
Over the next few days, the court was in turmoil. Li Deqing saw the situation was deteriorating, and the invisible pressure in his heart was as heavy as the beating of a drum. As expected, as Yun Mengting's power grew, some young officials began to be unwilling to stand by and challenge Li Deqing.
"Alas!" Li Deqing sighed heavily, his eyes flickering with worry and a hint of unease. He knew that once the balance of power was broken, it would be difficult to restore. "We can't just sit there and wait for death. We must take the initiative!"
Meanwhile, Jiang Feng secretly controls intelligence and closely tracks Li Deqing's every move. He is flexible and cunning, always ready to turn himself into a key link in the situation.
"Your Highness, Li Deqing is secretly conspiring with the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace and seems to be planning something that is not in the best interest of the Princess." The adjutant suddenly interrupted his thoughts, his tone tinged with anxiety.
Jiang Feng smiled slightly, but was secretly proud in his heart, "As expected, in this sudden situation, Li Deqing has also begun to feel anxious. He hopes to regain control of power in this struggle. I must seize this opportunity."
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Yun Mengting and Shen Jingxuan were also scrutinizing Li Deqing's true intentions. She carefully observed his every word and action; the situation seemed to be developing in an uncertain direction. The Game of Thrones was shifting and stalemated between the different factions.
At this moment, shocking news suddenly broke from the court—Li Deqing and Shen Jingxuan's frequent contact led to speculation about a shift in the situation. Jiang Feng keenly noticed this, having overheard subtle rumors at a gathering. "Have you heard? The Crown Prince seems to have Li Deqing's support."
"That's right. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is preparing to form an alliance with some ministers in order to squeeze the princess's power." The officials nearby discussed in a low voice, seeming to be filled with fear of this sudden alliance.
Hearing this, Jiang Feng felt secretly pleased. He knew that if the situation got out of control while he was secretly planning, he could take advantage of it. So, he waved his hand to call his adjutant and secretly began to deploy a new strategy, so as to inflict a fatal blow on the enemy at the critical moment.
At this moment, Yun Mengting realized the shadow between Li Deqing and Shen Jingxuan, and felt that the court was in turmoil again.
A sense of alarm gradually grew in her heart. The complexity of the power struggle was far beyond her expectations. To avoid being caught, she had to speed up her actions and not make any mistakes.
A few days later, Yun Mengting reorganized her forces in the palace and issued a public announcement, summoning ministers from all sides to discuss military strategies for the common enemy. In this official setting, she intended to demonstrate her leadership and thoughtful decision-making.
"My dear ministers, the safety of the northern border is related to the foundation of the country. In the face of the ravages of foreign enemies, we must work together to defend our homeland!" Yun Mengting's voice was like a loud horn, awakening the vigilance of the ministers present.
As the discussion grew, Yun Mengting responded calmly, frequently offering her insights, occasionally glancing at Shen Jingxuan and Jiang Feng. It was clear that she was silently evaluating and choosing allies. This was a delicate and profound game.