Chapter 882: Skilled in Manipulation

“Back when Emperor Taizong passed away, after much contention among various factions, the current emperor ascended to the throne. However, he was still young at the time, so state affairs were jointly managed by three key figures who helped him secure the throne,” Wanyan Chongjie suddenly spoke, her tone laced with sorrow as she recounted the past. “These three were my grandfather, Wanyan Zongpan; the father of Prince Hailing, Wanyan Zonggan; and Prince Zhao, Wanyan Honglie.”

‘Wanyan Honglie? In this world, he is Yang Kang’s biological father…’

Song Qingshu mused silently but did not interrupt, letting her continue.

“At first, things were peaceful. The three of them governed together, and the Jin Dynasty quickly flourished, becoming one of the most powerful nations in the world. However, all three were extraordinary men—how could they truly be content sharing power? Before long, they began scheming against each other, vying for dominance.”

“Initially, my grandfather held the upper hand. After all, he was Emperor Taizong’s eldest son and, by tradition, should have inherited the throne. However, due to pressure from various factions, he was forced to yield the throne to Emperor Taizu’s descendants. Still, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse—his influence remained the strongest among the three regents. Around that time, Prince Zhao’s heir, Wanyan Kang, was killed in the Central Plains. Distraught, Prince Zhao became vulnerable, and my grandfather seized the opportunity to strip him of his power, pushing him out of the political center. Eventually, Prince Zhao died in despair.”

Song Qingshu’s expression turned odd. From her account, her grandfather clearly hadn’t been a virtuous man—yet she spoke without any attempt to conceal his misdeeds.

Wanyan Chongjie went on, “After sidelining Prince Zhao, my grandfather dominated the court. Even the other regent, Wanyan Zonggan, treated him with deference, following his lead. Over time, my grandfather grew complacent, while Wanyan Zonggan bided his time, waiting to strike. By the time my grandfather realized the danger, it was too late. Wanyan Zonggan framed him for treason, had him executed, and my father was implicated, dying unjustly in prison…”

“My condolences,” Song Qingshu said softly, unsure how else to comfort her. To shift the topic, he asked, “But I don’t quite understand—if your grandfather had such a firm grip on power, how did Wanyan Zonggan overturn the situation so easily?”

“Have you forgotten what I said earlier about my grandfather’s status?” Wanyan Chongjie stared toward the palace, her voice dripping with hatred. “My grandfather was once the heir apparent. The emperor had long seen him as a thorn in his side. Wanyan Zonggan exploited that resentment to falsely accuse and kill him.” She referred to the Jin emperor by name, her tone devoid of respect.

Song Qingshu sighed. “Throughout history, struggles for the throne have turned even the gentlest souls ruthless.”

Wanyan Chongjie glanced at him in surprise. “It seems you’re not some blindly loyal subject either.”

Song Qingshu smiled wryly. At best, he was known as the “Golden Serpent King”—at worst, a rebel leader. Coming from a modern background, many of his inherent beliefs would be deemed treasonous by rulers of this era. “Go on. What happened next?”

“After my grandfather and father fell, my mother and I lost our protectors. My mother was renowned for her beauty, and soon, many men began coveting her. However, given her sensitive status, no one dared act recklessly—until…” Her voice turned icy. “Until one day, that b*stard Wanyan Liang, drunk, barged into our home and… and…”

Song Qingshu gently patted her head. “It’s alright. You don’t have to say it.”

Grateful, she skipped the details and continued, “At the time, his father, Wanyan Zonggan, held absolute power. Even after committing such an atrocity, no one dared punish him. My mother sought help everywhere, but no one in the capital lifted a finger. Instead, rumors spread that she was promiscuous, that she had thrown herself at men the moment her husband died…”

“In despair, she abandoned all restraint. The gentle, virtuous mother I knew vanished, replaced by a coquettish woman who flitted between men, becoming what the world saw as a shameless seductress.” Her entire body trembled as she spoke.

Song Qingshu shook his head. “Your mother had no choice. With your grandfather and father gone, and your family branded as traitors, you could have been enslaved at any moment. As a woman, her beauty was her only weapon. If she hadn’t done this, how could she have protected your household—how could she have protected you?”

“I didn’t need her protection!” Wanyan Chongjie snapped. “I’d rather she had let us die with my father than live like this! In the end, she was just afraid of death, choosing to live in disgrace!”

Seeing the girl’s agitation, Song Qingshu sighed. “The greatest courage isn’t dying nobly for a cause—it’s living humbly for one. Surviving is far harder than dying.”

Wanyan Chongjie froze. “What do you mean?”

Song Qingshu glanced at the beautiful woman sleeping on the bed and said solemnly, “Though I don’t know your mother’s exact thoughts, I can guess. You said Wanyan Zonggan and his son once controlled the court. So why is Wanyan Zonggan gone now, and why is Wanyan Liang only the fourth most powerful, beneath Chief Chancellor Wanyan Zongxian, Left Chancellor Zongmin, and Right Chancellor Zongben?”

“Wanyan Zonggan fell ill and retired, dying soon after. Other clan members seized power…” Her voice shook. “Are you saying my mother caused this? No, impossible!”

“Your mother has been skilled in manipulation, moving between powerful men all these years. Shortly after Wanyan Zonggan ‘retired due to illness,’ his faction was dismantled. Do you truly believe she played no part in that?” Though Song Qingshu didn’t know the details, his experience in political intrigue—both from modern dramas and his own rule in this world—gave him insight far beyond hers.

“I never thought there’d be someone in this world who understood me… who truly knew me…” A soft, melancholic voice suddenly cut in.

Wanyan Chongjie stiffened, turning in disbelief. Her mother, who had seemed dead drunk moments ago, was now sitting up, her eyes clear and alert.

Song Qingshu was also startled but recovered faster. Smiling, he said, “Madam, your sudden awakening certainly gave me a fright.”