Once the long - planned scheme was set in motion, there was no turning back.
Su Wan'er first had Concubine Hua thoroughly thrown into the dungeon and then sent people to monitor the movements of the Hua family.
Sure enough, in an attempt to save Concubine Hua, the Hua family jacked up the grain prices.
Suddenly, the common people who couldn't afford the grain complained bitterly.
Su Wan'er had messengers sent out. Several grain merchants started selling at low prices to suppress the Hua family.
People could buy grain again.
By the time the head of the Hua family realized the gravity of the situation and planned to lower the grain prices, no common people were willing to buy from the Hua family anymore.
The people of the Hua family had no choice but to use their connections to suppress the merchants.
When the government officials came to the merchants' doors, those grain merchants took out the imperial edict of the "emperor".
Those officials didn't dare to act rashly and had to leave dejectedly.
When the Hua family inquired, they all waved their hands, saying they couldn't help.
Although the Hua family had given them plenty of favors in the past, those favors were nothing compared to their official positions.
Su Wan'er's second move targeted the Hua family's silk store.
The method was quite simple. Su Wan'er suddenly announced an embroidery competition. The winner would be qualified to become a supplier to the royal family.
Several well - established families that had been unable to develop due to the suppression of the Hua family took this opportunity to rise and openly challenged the Hua family.
In the end, the Hua family couldn't even make it to the finals of the embroidery competition.
Only then did the head of the Hua family realize that the "emperor" was truly planning to deal with their family.
Finally, after a discussion among all the elders of the Hua family, they decided to abandon the plan to rescue Concubine Hua. After all, Concubine Hua was just a pawn to make the family more prosperous.
Now that the Hua family was in danger, they naturally had to give something up, such as Concubine Hua.
Amidst her busy schedule, Su Wan'er found time to visit Concubine Hua.
Looking at the haggard Concubine Hua, she didn't feel any sense of sympathy for the fallen.
If she hadn't been lucky enough to swap souls with Si Junlin, her situation might have been even worse than Concubine Hua's. Maybe she would have died by now.
"Your Majesty! Please spare this humble concubine. I was forced by my family!" Concubine Hua cried hoarsely. The increasingly poor food in recent days made her realize that her family might really abandon her.
She began to be afraid. She didn't know what had happened to her family, but she knew that if her family really abandoned her, she would have nothing.
She knelt in front of Su Wan'er. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty. As long as you forgive this concubine once, I will live peacefully in the palace and never fight for your favor again."
Su Wan'er took a deep breath. Her eyes were slightly moist. Concubine Hua's plea did soften her heart a bit, but it wasn't a reason for her to spare Concubine Hua.
What Concubine Hua had done was not something insignificant. She had tried to poison her. If she hadn't been able to swap souls, she might be lying in a cold coffin by now.
She wasn't a saint who could forgive others with a magnanimous heart after being poisoned.
So, after a moment of soft - heartedness, she hardened her heart again.
"Concubine Hua, do you know where you went wrong?" Su Wan'er asked her.
Concubine Hua had long lost her former arrogance. After being asked by Su Wan'er, she said in a voice like a bullied daughter - in - law, "Your Majesty, this concubine knows her mistake. I shouldn't have poisoned the queen."
After saying this, her voice suddenly became excited. "Your Majesty, I did this just to make you look at me more. You haven't visited my palace for so many days. I was just jealous."
Su Wan'er sighed. "That's not an excuse for you to take human lives casually."
Concubine Hua fell silent.
Su Wan'er flicked her sleeves and turned to leave. However, before leaving, she still gave an order. "From today on, no one is allowed to mistreat Concubine Hua. If anyone is found doing so, they will be punished for treason."
The jailers all replied, "Yes."
Only then did Su Wan'er turn and leave. She believed that with this order, Concubine Hua would be able to live a peaceful life before her execution.
After hearing Su Wan'er's words, Concubine Hua sat on the ground, sobbing. Finally, taking advantage of everyone's inattention, she turned around and rammed her head against the wall, dying on the spot.
As soon as Su Wan'er stepped into the imperial study, she heard the news of Concubine Hua's death.
She could only order a grand burial for Concubine Hua.
Si Junlin saw the somewhat dejected Su Wan'er. Feeling heart - ache, he walked to her side and comforted her. "Wan'er, this is not your fault. It was Concubine Hua's own choice. You don't have to blame yourself."
Su Wan'er turned to look at him. What she saw was her own face. Then she turned to look at the bronze mirror.
Looking at the "her own" face in the mirror, she complained. "You said, why do you have such a charming face? It even made those women kill themselves just to see you."
Si Junlin couldn't help but laugh and cry after hearing Su Wan'er's words. "This face of mine was given to me by my father and mother. I can't refuse it. Otherwise, you can go down and ask my father how to change my appearance."
Su Wan'er gave him a sideways glance. She had no mood to joke with him at this moment. She was immersed in the thought of Concubine Hua's death.
"Your Majesty, if you have nothing to do, you can go and rest first. I still want to think for a while." Su Wan'er's dismissal was quite obvious.
But Si Junlin didn't dare to just leave. He didn't want Su Wan'er to misunderstand. "Wan'er, this is the harem. You've experienced it before, haven't you? In the struggle for power, the winner takes all and the loser is doomed. No matter who they are, if they want to climb higher, they must be prepared to fall and be smashed to pieces."
"I..." Su Wan'er wanted to say something, but Si Junlin raised his finger and pressed it against her lips.
"This is not anyone's fault, not mine, nor yours. Since Concubine Hua chose to fight for your favor, she should have the awareness to become a sacrifice to the imperial power. She saw this face before she died. It can be considered that her wish was fulfilled." Si Junlin paused before saying the last sentence. "She, actually, has no regrets."
Su Wan'er pushed him away. "Alright, I know. You can go and rest first." Of course, she knew that this was no one's fault, neither Si Junlin's nor hers. She, Concubine Hua, and even all the concubines in the palace were all victims of power.
Once they entered this game, they all had to be prepared to be smashed to pieces.
This was power, this was the harem, this was the royal family, cruel and hideous.