"Your Majesty, Meiniang appreciates your kindness. Naming a crown prince may be feasible, but let us forget about making me empress."
Had this been before, Hu Meiniang might have joyfully agreed. Over the past few months, however, Li Chen had spoken with her often in his guise as Hu Ze and had long since warned her never to join Emperor Kangping in his foolishness and needlessly set the court officials' nerves on edge.
Hu Meiniang was the Late Emperor's widow, the reigning Empress Dowager! Although the imperial family's disorder was already known throughout the court and country, something so contrary to human ethics and common decency was still best avoided.
This Meiniang was not that Meiniang, nor did she possess anything like the strength to become an empress regnant like Wu Zetian.
Unaware that Hu Ze had already counseled Hu Meiniang, Emperor Kangping was utterly moved. "Meiniang, you understand the greater good so well. I truly do not know how to repay you."
Hu Meiniang said languidly, "If Your Majesty truly means it, depose Empress Xiao. She is a daughter of the Xiao Household, a prominent family of the Sacred Capital. She will inevitably become an obstacle to Jin'er in the future. She will even resent his appointment as crown prince this time."
Emperor Kangping's expression darkened, though his anger was directed not at Hu Meiniang but at the Empress Xiao she had mentioned. "That bitch! Would she dare?"
Thanks to Hu Meiniang's masterful palace intrigue and provocations, a rift had long since formed between Emperor Kangping and Empress Xiao. The Xiao Household had also made several mistakes of varying severity, which Emperor Kangping regarded as signs that his imperial in-laws were beginning to interfere in government, leaving him intensely wary.
Now that he favored Crown Prince Jin and was