vrcanaries Chapter 1748 Seducing the Shen Family's Illegitimate Son
Chapter 1748 Seducing the Shen Family's Illegitimate Son
Su Qing's eyes narrowed slightly: "Did I come to the palace to watch others rise to higher positions?"
The palace maid was taken aback. Looking at Su Qing's confident demeanor, she couldn't help but ask, "Does Your Highness mean..."
Su Qing slowly said, "His Majesty is furious because of the Jiang family's collusion with the enemy and their assistance to the Jiang family in their defection. Recently, the entire court and the capital have been conducting a thorough investigation into spies and insiders who are connected with the Xiongnu."
"The situation is very tense, and many government offices are filled with anxiety, fearing they will be implicated..."
The palace maid vaguely realized something: "Your Highness intends to..."
Su Qing looked at the palace maid with a half-smile and said, "Tell me, if, at such a critical juncture, someone discovers that the high-ranking and trusted Minister of Personnel, Lord Shen, is actually the most hidden spy of the Xiongnu infiltrating the Great Zhou court..."
The palace maid gasped, her eyes widening instantly: "Your Majesty, are you saying... that you're framing Minister Shen as... a traitor to the Xiongnu?!"
"But... how is this possible?!"
"Minister Shen is the Imperial Noble Consort's biological father, and His Majesty trusts him implicitly. What reason would he have to do this? It's hard to gain his trust..."
Su Qing sneered, "Why is it impossible?"
"If the Jiang family can collude with the enemy, and the Jiang family can defect, why can't Shen Maoxue be an inside agent? Just because his daughter is an Imperial Noble Consort?"
"Ha, the higher one's position and the closer one is to someone, the more deadly their betrayal will be, won't it?"
The palace maid nodded and said, "Your Highness is right. His Majesty dotes on the Imperial Noble Consort and elevates the Shen family so much. If Minister Shen were to collude with the enemy, His Majesty would surely be furious!"
Su Qing slowly said, "The Shen family's foundation is not deep; they rose to prominence after the Imperial Noble Consort gained favor. Shen Maoxue may seem like a respectable person, but who knows if he had any unknown secrets in his early years?"
"Does Shen Maoxue have any dealings with the Northern Border? Are there any officials he promoted whose identities are questionable?"
"Even... his daughter, Shen Zhinian, received such favor from His Majesty and was quickly promoted. Who knows if this wasn't a scheme he had planned long ago, a collaboration between father and daughter?"
"The government and the public are conducting a thorough investigation into traitors. It is the time when the atmosphere is most tense and suspicion is at its highest. As long as someone accidentally discovers some 'clues', they can faithfully hand over 'evidence'."
“And then someone in the previous dynasty, just right, fanned the flames…”
"Three men can make a tiger, and many voices can melt metal. In that case, no matter how Shen Maoxue tries to defend himself, or how much His Majesty dotes on the Imperial Concubine, once he is accused of treason, he will never be able to clear his name, even if he jumps into the Yellow River!"
"At that time, let alone ascending to the position of Empress, it is uncertain whether Shen Zhinian can even retain her position as Imperial Noble Consort."
"What right does the daughter of a traitor suspected of colluding with the enemy have to rule the world? Even if His Majesty dotes on her, can he disregard the fate of the country and the opinions of the people for her sake?"
The palace maid was terrified.
She understood what the Empress meant: this was a fatal blow, using the most serious charges to completely condemn the Shen father and daughter to an abyss of no return!
"But...Your Majesty..."
The palace maid said worriedly, "This matter is of utmost importance. Once... once it's exposed, then..."
"Of course I know this is of great importance."
Su Qing's figure said coldly, "Therefore, it must be done flawlessly!"
The palace maid naturally understood what a serious matter it was to frame the Minister of Personnel, the biological father of the Imperial Noble Consort!
The slightest mistake could lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan.
But the Empress had made up her mind, and the die was cast. What could she do but obey?
But... how easy is it to achieve a flawless result?
The palace maid said worriedly, "Your Highness, I understand what you mean."
"But... I've heard a bit about Minister Shen. Everyone says he's a capable minister promoted by His Majesty, meticulous and thorough in his work. Otherwise... otherwise he wouldn't have been able to have a daughter like the Imperial Noble Consort."
"It would be extremely difficult to find fault with Minister Shen and fabricate such a serious charge."
"Although the Shen family's foundation is not as deep as those centuries-old families, there may be loopholes to exploit. But Minister Shen is probably a tough nut to crack."
"What if... what if he finds out..."
Shen Maoxue is not a pushover.
The Imperial Noble Consort survived numerous upheavals in the harem, demonstrating her remarkable intelligence and resourcefulness.
Ordinary tricks are unlikely to work against a father and daughter like this; they might even backfire.
After hearing this, Su Qing snorted coldly, "Shen Maoxue and the Imperial Noble Consort are both clever foxes, and should not be touched easily."
"But who said... that I'm going to directly target them, father and daughter?"
The palace maid was taken aback: "Your Highness means..."
"The Shen family is not just about Shen Maoxue and the Imperial Noble Consort."
Su Qing slowly said, "I remember that Shen Maoxue's first wife died early, leaving behind only a legitimate daughter. Unfortunately, she was stupid and was beheaded long ago."
"Besides them, it seems the Shen family also has several sons born to concubines?"
"Have these illegitimate sons achieved any official rank or position? What are their character and talent like? How close are they to Shen Maoxue and the Imperial Noble Consort?"
Have you noticed these things?
The palace maid tried hard to recall and said, "I vaguely heard people mention that the Shen family does have several sons born out of wedlock. They are all studying at the academy or managing some administrative affairs. I have not heard of any outstanding talents among them, nor have they ever served in any important government offices in the capital."
"As for his character... this servant truly knows nothing about it."
Su Qing's lips curled slightly: "This is it."
"Shen Maoxue's shrewdness and competence have probably all been passed down to the Imperial Noble Consort."
"Leaving aside his legitimate daughter, most of his other sons are mediocre and insignificant."
"Shen Maoxue's decision to place them in insignificant positions may well have been driven by disappointment and alienation."
"Such people are often resentful but powerless to break free. They are most easily manipulated and most prone to resentment and making mistakes."
The palace maid understood somewhat: "Does Your Highness mean to start with those illegitimate sons of the Shen family?"
"But how could they, living in the capital, have access to anything related to the Northern Border and drag the Shen family into this mess?"
Su Qing's figure was very patient: "What does it matter if they can't come into contact with the Xiongnu? They'll always come into contact with other things."
"For example, money."
"For example... some 'businesses' with dubious origins but astonishing profits."
"For example, there are some self-proclaimed 'wealthy merchants' who come from the north and spend lavishly."
"If the illegitimate son of the Shen family has unfulfilled ambitions, is short of money, or is simply greedy and avaricious, then someone might introduce them to a 'good deal.' All they need to do is use the name of the Minister Shen's son to do some favors or pass on some insignificant information, and they can obtain a large sum of gold and silver..."
Do you think they might be tempted?
The palace maid gasped.
The Empress is setting a trap to lure the Shen family's illegitimate son into having economic ties with the north, and then misinterpret it as evidence of treason!