The princess regretted it.

Chapter 223 Adoption (3)

Grand Tutor Zhang returned to the Grand Tutor's residence with a gloomy expression. He forced himself to calm the other clan members, waved his hand, and said, "You may return first. Be careful with your words and actions these days and avoid causing trouble." Everyone heard the hidden meaning in his words, knowing that the emperor had made up his mind and had no intention of changing the imperial edict. It seemed the Zhang family was in dire straits. With solemn expressions, they all nodded in agreement and turned back to instruct their families to be more careful.

After the other clan members had left, Grand Tutor Zhang finally informed Zhang Chengde and Zhang Hengrui of the details of his visit to the palace. Zhang Chengde, perceptive and discerning, keenly grasped the deeper meaning behind the emperor's attitude. His expression darkened, and he asked worriedly, "Father, is this an attempt by the emperor to deliberately suppress our Zhang family? Could he have sensed something?"

Before Grand Tutor Zhang could reply, Zhang Hengrui spoke first. Still not fully understanding his grandfather and father's concerns, he pressed on with a puzzled expression, "Isn't it because of the dispute between my sister and Concubine Cen? Father, why do you say the Emperor did it on purpose?"

Grand Tutor Zhang glanced at him, his eyes filled with helplessness. He then sighed and said slowly, "The Emperor has only dealt with your sister and has not yet taken action against the rest of the Zhang family. I suspect that your sister may have secretly manipulated Concubine Cen, and she may have left a handle in her hands. That's why the Emperor took advantage of this dispute to adopt Ji'er to her, as a punishment for Xinrou and as a warning to our Zhang family."

Zhang Hengrui suddenly realized that the emperor's decree was more than just a harem dispute. He panicked, knowing full well that his sister had resorted to many underhanded tactics to win favor within the harem. While she believed her methods were discreet, who could guarantee they were flawless? If his sister lost power, those with ulterior motives would seize the opportunity. Even without the emperor's personal order for a thorough investigation, some might eagerly present evidence and taunt her.

He was extremely anxious and said hurriedly, "Grandfather, Father, we must find a way! In the current situation, if the wall falls, everyone will push it. If my sister really loses power, I am afraid that all the past events in the palace will be exposed one by one."

Zhang Chengde remained silent, his mind racking over a strategy. After a moment, he looked at the Grand Tutor and said resolutely, "Father, we can't just sit there and wait for death. I'll contact some people right away; it's time for them to contribute. Have them submit a petition to the Emperor tomorrow morning, pleading on my sister's behalf. Perhaps they'll change his mind."

The old Grand Tutor nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "This is the only way. We should put some pressure on the Emperor and see how he reacts. Xinrou and Ji'er's situation in the palace is related to the honor and disgrace of our Zhang family. If the Emperor really wants to harm them and their child, we cannot just sit back and surrender. We must do our utmost to protect our family's reputation and status."

Sure enough, for several days in a row, the court was plunged into chaos and dispute regarding the adoption decree.

Ministers from the Zhang family's camp, those who supported the Second Prince, filed memorials to the emperor's defense, sometimes implicitly and sometimes directly accusing him of bias. They argued that even if Zhang Concubine had made a mistake, her crime didn't warrant the Second Prince's adoption. They cited various precedents from previous dynasties, attempting to argue that the emperor should have given Zhang Concubine a chance to reform rather than issuing such a decisive decree.

Concubine Cen's faction, however, was weaker and unable to compete with the Zhang family's power, despite the Third Prince's instigation. Therefore, while they didn't openly confront the Zhang family's supporters, they were operating covertly. They constantly praising Concubine Cen's gentleness and virtue, and her adoption of the Second Prince further demonstrated her benevolence, a move that would greatly benefit the harmony and stability of the harem. At the same time, they indirectly reminded the emperor of the Zhang family's deep influence within the court. If Concubine Zhang's mistake was easily forgiven, the harem would be in turmoil and the imperial authority would be challenged.

The Emperor sat on the Dragon Throne, watching the ministers arguing over their positions below him, his face gloomy. He had never imagined that a single imperial decree could unravel such a clear division between factions and stir up such a furor in the court. His resentment towards the Zhang family grew stronger, feeling that they were being presumptuous in attempting to influence his decisions by leveraging their family's influence.

Neutral pro-imperial ministers, including Liu Taifu, the Duke of Huguo, Mu Xiang, and Lin Song, remained calm and did not participate. Since it was the emperor's decree, they adhered to absolute obedience. They believed that as the ruler of a country, the emperor's decision must have been made after careful consideration and weighing the pros and cons of all parties. Therefore, they did not object. In fact, they also knew in their hearts that the emperor wanted to take action against the Zhang family.

The Third Prince's faction and Concubine Cen's faction both wanted to bring them down, but they simply replied, "The Emperor is the Son of Heaven and will make his own decision." They stopped talking. Seeing that they couldn't bring themselves to do anything, and seeing that they wouldn't defend the Zhang family, the two factions stopped focusing on their pro-royalist faction and focused on dealing with the Zhang family.

After a few days, both sides were arguing fiercely. The Zhang family's faces became increasingly gloomy, while Concubine Cen's family seemed quite complacent because the emperor had no intention of changing his attitude.

Jin An listened to the commotion in the court from her own palace and couldn't help but sigh softly. She knew full well that the turmoil in the harem had already impacted the stability of the court. If this continued, she feared even more trouble would arise. The situation in the harem had to change; new variables had to be introduced to disrupt the existing structure in order to regain balance.

She sat at the table, her chin in her hand, staring out the window, her mind racing. Suddenly, she felt that the selection must be put on the agenda for next year. Only by admitting newcomers could the various factions in the harem be reshuffled, preventing any one faction from becoming too dominant. However, before that, there was still one person who could enter the palace first: Lin Qian, the daughter of Minister Lin.

At present, in the harem, Concubine Chun is taking care of her pregnancy and needs to rest and recuperate. She should not be involved in this chaotic struggle; Concubine Zhang was confined to her house due to her previous mistakes and her offspring was taken away, and she has already lost her power; and Concubine Cen, with the adoption of the second prince, has become more and more stable in the harem, and she is even a little too powerful. This is not a good sign.

Jin An pondered carefully. Minister Lin currently obeyed his maternal grandfather, which meant he was a pro-monarch. He also held considerable prestige within the court. If he could bring Lin Qian into the palace, he could leverage the Lin family's influence to counterbalance Concubine Cen's faction. Furthermore, if Lin Qian could establish herself within the harem, she could also provide him with additional support. After all, having an ally in the palace was always a plus.

Thinking of this, Jin An ordered Han Shuang beside him: "Go and ask Ziyun to prepare, I want to leave the palace and visit my grandparents' home." Han Shuang took the order and left.