Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 115 Palace Intrigue, Skillful Maneuvering

In a secluded corner of the palace, several ministers secretly gathered.

“Xiao Ling’s power is now immense. If he is not restrained, he will surely become a major threat in the future,” a minister said grimly.

“Exactly, we must join forces to bring him down,” another minister echoed.

They began plotting a series of conspiracies to discredit Xiao Ling before the emperor and weaken his influence.

At the same time, the emperor also noticed the undercurrents within the court.

"Recently, there has been constant strife in the court. What is the reason for this?" The emperor frowned, his heart filled with doubt.

Those ministers with ulterior motives seized the opportunity to speak out, pointing the finger at Xiao Ling.

"Your Majesty, Xiao Ling's achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor's position; his intentions are difficult to fathom."

"Your Majesty, Xiao Ling is forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices in the court, attempting to seize power for himself."

Although the emperor still trusted Xiao Ling, these remarks made him wary.

Xiao Ling sensed the change in the situation, but did not back down.

"I am devoted to the country, why should I fear treacherous and wicked people?" He continued to speak frankly and offer advice in court.

However, his integrity and uprightness only drove the conspirators even more mad.

They deliberately created obstacles in important matters, causing chaos in the court, and then shifted the blame onto Xiao Ling.

"It's all because Xiao Ling insisted on his own way that this situation has arisen."

Su Jinxiu also learned of the turmoil in the court while at the Marquis's residence, and was filled with worry.

"My lord, the palace intrigues are escalating, you must be careful in dealing with them."

Xiao Ling comforted her, "Jinxiu, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

But the situation worsened, and some ministers who had originally supported Xiao Ling began to distance themselves from him under pressure.

"General Xiao, the situation is not good now, and we have no choice but to do this."

Xiao Ling found herself isolated and helpless.

Meanwhile, urgent military intelligence arrived from the border, indicating that the enemy was poised to make a move.

“Your Majesty, at this time only Xiao Ling is capable of leading the expedition to resist the enemy,” a minister suggested.

But the conspirators vehemently opposed it: "Xiao Ling is not trustworthy. If he amasses a large army and becomes too powerful, the consequences will be unimaginable."

The emperor was faced with a difficult choice...

Faced with the complex situation in the palace, Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling knew that acting rashly would only make things worse. They decided to deal with it with wisdom and strategy.

Su Jinxiu frequently visited the mansions of various powerful families, interacting and socializing with their wives. On the surface, she attended various gatherings, but in reality, she was secretly gathering intelligence and understanding the movements of all parties.

"Madam, lately, the wife of Minister Li seems to have some complaints about us," Su Jinxiu's personal maid whispered.

Su Jinxiu smiled slightly: "It's alright, let's keep her calm for now."

At a banquet, Su Jinxiu deliberately became close to Li Shangshu's wife, revealing her respect and concern for her in her words.

"Sister Li, I've heard you haven't been feeling well lately, and I'm very worried about you," Su Jinxiu said gently.

Minister Li's wife initially harbored resentment towards Su Jinxiu, but seeing her sincerity, her attitude softened considerably.

Xiao Ling, on the other hand, became even more cautious in court. He no longer made radical statements easily, but instead chose to listen to the opinions of all parties and then subtly put forward his own views.

"Regarding this border war, all of you gentlemen have your reasons. But in my opinion, perhaps we could adopt the following strategy..." Xiao Ling's words were both tactful and showcased his talent.

However, their opponents will not let them off easily.

"Xiao Ling, don't think you can get away with this." A rival minister threatened in private.

Xiao Ling remained unmoved: "I, Xiao Ling, have done nothing wrong and am not afraid of your threats."

In order to break the deadlock, Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling decided to join forces to set a trap.

They deliberately released false information to lure the conspirators into their trap.

"I've heard that Xiao Ling has been secretly plotting something lately."

"Go and find out the truth quickly."

As the conspirators acted according to their preordained plan, Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu seized the opportunity to gain leverage over them.

"Now let's see how you try to deny it." Xiao Ling presented the evidence in the court, silencing the conspirators.

Upon seeing this, the emperor's trust in Xiao Ling increased even further.

But their enemies will not give up; a new conspiracy is brewing.

"This time, we must ensure that Xiao Ling never has a chance to recover."

At the same time, the Marquis's residence also faced some internal problems.

"Madam, it seems that some of the servants in the manor have been bribed and are frequently spreading false information," the steward said worriedly.

Su Jinxiu frowned: "Investigate immediately and thoroughly, without any leniency."

Amidst these numerous crises, can Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling continue to skillfully navigate the situation and safeguard their own and their family's peace?