Chapter 899: The Young Empress (36)

Tang Guo had Consort Li confined to the Cold Palace, citing his offense against Nan Yunchuan as the reason.

No one in the harem had expected the Empress to go that far.

Not even Nan Yunchuan himself.

Because of the silk note sent earlier, Minister Li's side remained completely silent. Not a single ripple of protest emerged.

"How did this happen?"

Nan Yunchuan still felt dazed.

He had spent the better part of a day painstakingly persuading Consort Li to join their side.

Yet the very next day, the Empress had thrown him into the Cold Palace simply because he had offended Nan Yunchuan.

Su Qing frowned, equally unable to make sense of it.

Neither of them suspected that their plans had been exposed.

If the Empress had truly discovered their intentions, she would never have tolerated their continued existence.

In that case, the people sent to the Cold Palace would not have been limited to Consort Li.

The two of them would have joined him.

So their secret had not been revealed.

There was only one explanation left.

The Empress valued Nan Yunchuan so deeply that she had acted without hesitation.

Both men arrived at the same conclusion.

For Su Qing, it made the situation more troublesome.

For Nan Yunchuan, it filled his heart with complicated emotions and a faint bitterness.

Here he was, plotting against the Empress.

One day, he might even take her life.

Yet because a mere consort had offended him, she had banished that person to the Cold Palace.

Human hearts were made of flesh.

To say he felt nothing would be a lie.

In the end, he could only sigh.

Their positions were simply different.

There was no path where they could walk together.

If anyone was to blame, it was fate.

He wished to overthrow the Empress's rule.

She happened to be the Empress of this generation.

They were destined to become enemies.

"Yunchuan, stay clear-headed."

Su Qing's voice was unusually stern.

"Even if she really did send Consort Li to the Cold Palace because she cares about you, don't forget who she is."

"She's the Empress."

"Today she may favor you. Tomorrow she could just as easily throw you into the Cold Palace."

Only then did his tone soften slightly.

"The best outcome is for us to stand at the highest seat of power ourselves and control our own destinies."

"Don't be moved by a few displays of tenderness."

Nan Yunchuan nodded.

"I know."

He paused before continuing.

"I've never considered abandoning our ideals."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Didn't we lose our chance to turn back the moment we took the first step?"

Su Qing's expression eased somewhat.

"For the time being, you should stop visiting the Empress so frequently."

"Winning her trust and favor is important, but excessive attention attracts resentment."

"I understand."

Nan Yunchuan had already been considering the same thing.

Meeting the Empress every day...

Facing those focused eyes of hers...

Hearing every arrangement she made on his behalf...

He was beginning to struggle.

Su Qing studied him carefully before letting out a sigh.

"In that case, why don't you claim illness?"

"Take some time to clear your head."

"For a while, let me handle things."

"All right."

Nan Yunchuan agreed immediately.

If this continued, he wasn't sure whether the Empress's kindness would eventually distract him.

Or worse...

Make him hesitate.

Feigning illness seemed like an excellent solution.

Su Qing narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

"Actually, I have an even better plan."

"You can pretend to have a contagious illness."

"Have the physicians diagnose symptoms requiring isolation and treatment."

A calculating smile appeared on his face.

"That way you'll have a legitimate reason to leave the palace and visit Tang Nuoyue."

The moment Nan Yunchuan thought of Tang Nuoyue's infatuated expression, he felt reluctant.

Still, for the sake of their ultimate goal, he reluctantly agreed.

Meanwhile, Tang Guo listened to their plans through the system.

Her expression was unreadable.

"I find something rather strange."

"What is it, Your Majesty?" Jing Cheng asked in confusion.

Resting her chin on one hand, Tang Guo placed another chess piece on the board before speaking.

"No matter how well I treat them, they still choose to betray me."

"They know exactly what the consequences of betrayal will be, yet they insist on taking that path."

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Even after being moved, they still make the same choice."

She looked at the chessboard quietly.

"Tell me, do you think they'll regret it one day?"

Would they?

Would Nan Yunchuan and Su Qing ever regret the choice they were making so resolutely today?
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