Li Chenxi could feel the rising danger within the palace. As she gradually consolidated control over the military and key court positions, some of the old officials and ambitious aristocrats began to grow restless. They had quietly started scheming to remove her from her elevated position.
Although she continued to appear gentle and composed on the surface, her vigilance had already intensified. She knew that behind every smile in the palace, there could be a deadly trap.
One day, as Li Chenxi was strolling through the Imperial Garden in the rear palace, she suddenly felt a cold breeze. Her eyes instantly sharpened, and she began scanning her surroundings, her gaze sweeping over the gently swaying trees.
"Your Majesty, be careful," Du Anxiaoting's voice sounded low as she quietly emerged from behind.
Li Chenxi furrowed her brow. "What is it?"
"There's someone approaching," Du Anxiaoting's eyes darkened with concern. "An assassin."
At that moment, a shadow darted out from the trees, heading straight for Li Chenxi's back. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately turned, raising her sword to block the assassin's blade. The assassin's sword was aimed at her heart, but Li Chenxi's movements were swift and precise. With one clean strike, she severed the assassin's weapon and swiftly subdued him.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Du Anxiaoting hurried to her side, her face pale with worry.
Li Chenxi glanced at the assassin on the ground, a cold smile curling on her lips. "Just a minor character, nothing to worry about."
She gestured for Du Anxiaoting to have the assassin taken away, and slowly made her way deeper into the garden. She knew that today's assassination attempt was just the tip of the iceberg. The turbulence in the palace was already closing in.
The Web of Conspiracy
That evening, Li Chenxi summoned all her key advisors and trusted generals. Standing at the head of the long table, she calmly surveyed the faces of everyone present.
"This assassination was no accident. There is certainly a larger conspiracy behind it," Li Chenxi's voice was cold. "I can feel the dangerous currents flowing through the palace. Someone must be secretly orchestrating all of this."
Du Anxiaoting nodded in agreement. "Your Majesty is correct. This assassination is likely part of a scheme involving powerful officials. We've already learned that Grand Chancellor Wang has close ties with several other ambitious ministers. If they unite, they will certainly threaten your position."
Li Chenxi remained silent for a moment, her gaze sharp. "No matter how they scheme, we will dismantle it piece by piece. We've never lost a game like this."
She understood that the power struggles in the court were complex and ever-changing. The key to winning was not just military strategy or intelligence, but also in securing more support and alliances in the court.
"Tomorrow, I'll hold an informal banquet and invite some capable and promising ministers and generals to attend. We need to identify those we can trust," Li Chenxi spoke with quiet determination. "No one can secretly control our fate."
The Dangerous Banquet
The banquet was scheduled for the next day. Li Chenxi carefully selected several loyal and capable officials and generals and arranged for Du Anxiaoting to accompany her in receiving them. The atmosphere at the banquet was unusually lighthearted, and Li Chenxi chatted with everyone in attendance, as though all the pressure and conspiracies had been momentarily forgotten.
However, she knew that this banquet was merely a strategy to pave the way for future decisions. She used soft words and friendly conversation to probe these officials and generals, testing their loyalty and intelligence.
As the banquet neared its end, Li Chenxi suddenly brought up the recent unusual events in the palace, including the recent assassination and the turmoil within the court.
"Recently, the palace has been in upheaval. There is a lot of infighting, and everyone is focused on their own interests, ignoring the greater danger to the nation," Li Chenxi's voice was cold, like the chill of the night wind.
Her words caused a moment of silence. Many of the officials lowered their heads, unwilling to meet her gaze. Only a few maintained their composure, though a subtle tension flickered in their eyes.
"I believe that all of you are working toward the future of the Wei Dynasty, but in such a chaotic situation, we must be cautious and vigilant of everyone around us," Li Chenxi's eyes swept across the room, her tone tinged with a sense of threat. "Anyone with ulterior motives will pay the price."
After the banquet ended, Li Chenxi left the hall, already plotting her next course of action.
She knew the power struggle was far from over, and she had already prepared herself for the challenges ahead.
A Larger Conspiracy Behind It All
In the following days, Li Chenxi remained ever vigilant. Through a series of investigations, she began to uncover the truth behind the palace conspiracy. The assassination was not the work of Grand Chancellor Wang alone, but rather the coordinated efforts of multiple powerful ministers.
Li Chenxi's mind raced as she visualized a complex web of power, one that she was now walking through. She knew that if she did not act quickly, she would become nothing more than a pawn for those in power.
But Li Chenxi was not one to surrender so easily. She calmly analyzed the movements of every potential enemy, deciding to adopt even more aggressive tactics to teach the scheming officials a lesson.
"It's time to reveal the truth behind it all," Li Chenxi whispered to herself, her lips curling into a faint smile, her eyes glinting with cold resolve.
She took a deep breath and gazed out the window at the rising sun, silently swearing that this power struggle in the palace would end with her victory.