Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

After a moment's thought, Consort Jiang recalled: "Madam Jiang asked which palace the concubine belonged to, how long she had been in the palace, and which flower in the garden was blooming best... that was roughly it."

"Seeing that she looked depressed and spoke in a way that was... somewhat unusual, I dared not say more and simply responded with a few words."

"After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Madam Jiang seemed to have lost interest and dismissed her concubines."

That's exactly what the guards reported.

Nangong Xuanyu pressed further, "What was her expression like at the time? Did she mention anything special?"

Consort Jiang shook her head, looking bewildered. "Jiang's expression was sometimes dazed, sometimes anxious. I couldn't quite understand it; I only felt that she seemed to have a lot to say, but didn't know where to begin..."

“Your Majesty, but… but was there anything wrong with Lady Jiang’s words and actions that day? I thought it was just a chance encounter and didn’t think much of it…”

Nangong Xuanyu did not answer Jiang Changzai's question, but simply looked at her quietly.

Zhan Weiran also stood aside, observing Jiang Changzai's subtle reactions.

Sensing the silence in the hall, Consort Jiang felt uneasy, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and she dared not speak.

After a while, Nangong Xuanyu asked again, "When you were talking with Jiang, were there any guards or palace servants by your side?"

"some."

Jiang Changzai immediately nodded: "Several guards are with Madam Jiang, and my personal maid, Banana, is also serving her."

"If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may summon them for questioning."

Zhan Weiran had already verified these details, and they matched the guard's report.

Nangong Xuanyu's deep eyes narrowed slightly.

Jiang Changzai's answer seemed to have no problem.

Next, the emperor asked a few more questions about the details.

Jiang Changzai answered all the questions fluently.

After a long silence, Nangong Xuanyu waved his hand: "...I understand."

"I summoned you here today for a routine inquiry; you may now return."

Jiang Changzai breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and quickly bowed, saying, "This concubine understands."

"Concubine, please retire."

She slowly took a few steps back before turning around and following the young eunuch who was leading the way, she walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"His Majesty."

Zhan Weiran stepped forward and said, "What Consort Jiang said is basically consistent with what I asked the guards before."

"The situation that day did indeed appear to be just a normal, chance encounter."

Jiang Wange entered the palace many years ago, while Consort Jiang only entered the palace last year through the imperial concubine selection. The two had no prior interaction.

However, emperors are often suspicious, and the fire at Yawen Garden was particularly suspicious. Nangong Xuanyu would not let any clue slip by: "Li Changde."

Li Changde bowed and replied, "This servant is here."

Nangong Xuanyu instructed, "Go and investigate the ancestral home of Jiang Changzai's mother, the official positions of her father and brothers, and their past experiences."

"We must investigate in particular whether the Jiang family has ever had any dealings with the former Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

"Handle this matter discreetly, without disturbing the Jiang family or Jiang Changzai."

Li Changde felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that His Majesty had become suspicious of the Jiang family and was going to investigate thoroughly.

Having served the emperor for many years, he knew that such investigations often foreshadowed impending trouble.

Li Changde dared not delay in the slightest and immediately accepted the order: "This servant will arrange capable people to carefully verify the matter!"

……

Beijing.

Inside a secret underground room.

A woman sits on a simple wooden chair.

She wore an indigo-blue coarse cloth dress, and her hair was hastily tied up with a wooden hairpin. But her eyes shone astonishingly bright in the dim candlelight.

It was Jiang Wange.

Sitting opposite her was a tall, robust man dressed in the attire of a merchant from the Great Zhou Dynasty, yet whose fierce aura was undeniable.

The Left Wise King of the Xiongnu, Luan Di Yi Tu.

Jiang Wange knew that this man was one of the key figures who colluded with the palace forces to help her escape unscathed.

After the initial conversations and probing, Jiang Wange figured out quite a few things.

She had always been very curious about who Xi'er was, how she had an affair with a monk, and how she had given Nangong Xuanyu such a huge cuckold's horns.

Jiang Wange had also inquired with the guards, but to no avail.

I never expected that after searching for a needle in a haystack, I would find it without any effort.

Xi'er is Jiang Changzai, whose given name is Jiang Xining.

That woman, whose family background wasn't top-tier or particularly distinguished, and who wasn't outstanding among the newly arrived concubines, was none other than the woman in the book who had an affair with a high-ranking monk from Fatu Temple, became pregnant, and caused the emperor to lose face.

Although Jiang Wange didn't know why Xi'er hadn't gotten pregnant in this life and given birth to an illegitimate child, Xingchen was executed by Nangong Xuanyu.

But this is not important.

After all, many plot developments have changed since she transmigrated into the book.

For Jiang Changzai, the death of her beloved under torture made her hate Nangong Xuanyu to the bone!

Although Xingchen is dead, the influence he had cultivated and built up in the capital over the years has not completely vanished.

His most loyal subordinates suppressed their hatred and resentment and quietly went into hiding.

Luan Di Yi Tu also had secret agents in the capital.

These two forces, through some intricate and secretive channels, have somehow become connected.

One group wanted to spy on the secrets of the Great Zhou Dynasty, while the other group wanted to take revenge on Nangong Xuanyu.

Although their goals were not entirely the same, they had a basis for cooperation.

What's even more ingenious is that the power left behind by Xingchen has connected with Consort Jiang, who seems insignificant in the palace but harbors a deep-seated hatred for Nangong Xuanyu.

Consort Jiang didn't know what the Xiongnu wanted from Jiang Wange. But she did know that the Xiongnu were interested in this deposed concubine.

This is enough.

Jiang Changzai was happy to see anything that could cause trouble for Nangong Xuanyu or shake his power, and was willing to give it a push.

Of course, one Jiang Changzai couldn't accomplish this task.

So, the three parties joined forces.

Taking advantage of the "chance encounter" in the Imperial Garden, Jiang Changzai passed on the time, place, and method of rendezvous of the escape plan to Jiang Wange via a note.

Xingchen's former subordinates, along with the Xiongnu's spies, secretly laid out plans and provided support.

When the fire broke out in Yawen Garden, the Imperial Guards were busy putting out the fire, and the palace was in utter chaos. They secretly switched the beams and pillars.

Each step is meticulously planned and executed with great boldness.

Jiang Wange couldn't help but laugh and said, "...What a forbearing and humiliating Jiang Changzai!"

"Nangong Xuanyu probably never dreamed that there was a venomous snake in his harem that was always trying to kill him."

"Tsk tsk tsk... How interesting! Interesting!"

Luan Di Yi Tu scrutinized her: "The women of your Great Zhou are indeed interesting."

The emperor's concubines actually cooperated with people from an enemy country for the sake of a monk.

How can it not be interesting?

Jiang Wange raised her eyes and looked at Luan Di Yi Tu: "So, what is your purpose?"

"As a Xiongnu, it probably won't be easy for you to plant a spy in the capital of the Great Zhou, will it?"

"You risked exposing your long-standing spies and bringing me, a deposed concubine, out from under Nangong Xuanyu's nose. Surely you didn't do this just to fulfill Consort Jiang's revenge or out of some good deed?"

Luan Di Yi Tu's eyes were extremely intimidating: "You're a smart man."