Chapter 1307 - 1307 Shocking Changes in the Palace of Benevolent Peace
Chapter 1307 Shocking Changes in the Palace of Benevolent Peace
“From the previous dynasty?” Shao Wanru looked up. Though she was surprised, she didn’t show it. She had figured it out. But after confirming it, she was wide awake.
“Will the Empress Dowager be in danger? I’ll go to the Palace every day in the next few days!” Shao Wanru suggested.
“No, it’s too dangerous!” Chu Liuchen shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter. I have helpers by my side and bracelets!” Shao Wanru reached out her hand and cutely shook it. There was a pair of glossy sapphire bracelets on her wrist. At a glance, they were not ordinary.
Chu Liuchen said with his face darkening, “No!”
Such a close-fitting concealed weapon should be the last resort. As long as he thought Shao Wanru would be in such a dangerous situation, he would not be at ease. “Let Qin Yiyan accompany my Imperial Grandmother!”
“But someone should accompany and protect n.o.ble Consort Lan. If those people deal with her…” Shao Wanru reminded him softly, “It’s not appropriate for your cousin to stay with your Imperial Grandmother.”
“You don’t have to accompany her every day. It’s good that you can go there once in a while. I have made arrangements to ensure her safety!” Chu Liuchen drawled lazily, narrowing his beautiful, deep eyes. Now it was a good time. “Don’t worry. I’m here to handle everything!”
A few days later, The Empress Dowager’s order came at night. Chu Liuchen had come back late these days, so he was still in the Palace. Shao Wanru had just taken off her coat with the help of her servant girl. Hearing the Empress Dowager’s order, she hurriedly took Qiu’er and Dong’er into the Palace.
Nanny Wei was waiting happily at the gate of the Palace of Benevolent Peace. Seeing Shao Wanru coming over, she stepped forward and said with a smile, “Her Majesty has been talking about you. Your Highness, please come in with me!”
Shao Wanru nodded and followed Nanny Wei forward. After walking for a while, she asked in surprise, “Where are we going?”
“Her Majesty’s resting place. She doesn’t feel well and is still resting.” Nanny Wei smiled with a broad and amiable smile.
“Imperial Grandmother hasn’t got up yet?” Shao Wanru frowned and stopped.
“She has got up but feels weak. Since she has something to tell you, she asks you to come over!” Nanny Wei explained. What she said sounded reasonable.
There was only one unreasonable thing: Shao Wanru had never been to the Empress Dowager’s resting place. Others were not allowed to enter the resting places of those women in the Palace, not to mention the Empress Dowager’s imperial sleeping palace.
With a trace of deepness across her watery eyes, she still walked forward. Shao Wanru had always been difficult to deal with. To Nanny Wei’s surprise, she didn’t ask anything about it. Relieved, Nanny Wei quickly brought her to Empress Dowager’s resting place.
The palace’s entrance was very quiet. Only two young palace maids stood there with their heads down. When they saw Nanny Wei coming over with Shao Wanru, they hurried forward to bow.
“Greetings, Your Highness!”
“Has Her Majesty ever asked you to go in and serve her?” Nanny Wei lowered her voice and asked.
“No, Her Majesty didn’t ask us to go in.” The little palace maid said.
Nanny Wei waved her hand with a smile, and the two palace maids retreated aside.
“Come in with me, Your Highness,” Nanny Wei said with a smile. Then she looked at the two servant girls behind Shao Wanru, who lowered their heads and followed Shao Wanru closely.
Without the Empress Dowager’s permission, the two servant girls could not go in with Shao Wanru.
“Let them follow me in. I will report it to Her Majesty later.” Shao Wanru said lightly without watching the two servant girls behind her.
“But, Her Highness… It’s against the rules. If my master blames me later, I can’t bear the responsibility!” Nanny Wei said with a bitter smile, helplessly spreading out her hands.
“So, you forbid me from going in?” Shao Wanru said with a stern look. Her smiling eyes abruptly turned cold, and her cool gaze fell on Nanny Wei.
“That’s not what I meant. How dare I stop you…” Seeing that Shao Wanru was annoyed, Nanny Wei hurriedly explained with a smile. But still, she stood before Shao Wanru. It seemed she didn’t want her to leave.
Shao Wanru slightly raised her thin eyebrows. Her face was delicate, but unlike in the past, she had an air of quiet authority with her steely eyes. Nanny Wei felt uneasy and wanted to say something. But Shao Wanru turned around to leave. Seeing that, she anxiously stepped forward to stop Shao Wanru.
“Your Highness, but my master is waiting for you!”
“I’m not feeling well and have to go back first. When Prince Chen returns, we’ll come to see Her Majesty together!” Shao Wanru calmly stopped and said blandly.
“But you’ve come here… You can’t just go back without seeing my master!” Nanny Wei said with a flattering smile.
“Yes, I should go in. But since I’m in poor health, I might have to trouble Her Majesty if I go in without my servant girls. Whenever I came, Her Majesty allowed me to bring my servant girls. Is there any difference this time?”
Shao Wanru asked.
“But it is the resting palace…” Nanny Wei looked embarra.s.sed.
“Then I won’t go in there. I’ll wait for Her Majesty in the outer hall!” With this, Shao Wanru was about to go out.
Nanny Wei reacted very quickly. Glancing at the two submissive and timid servant girls with bowed heads, she knew they didn’t stay with Princess Chen for long and were just promoted. Then, they must be useless. Without delay, she put up a smiling face and apologized, “It’s… It’s my fault. Please come in with me. My master always gives you special treatment. How could she bear to see you go around without servants?”
Seeing that she gave in, Shao Wanru looked a little better and followed Nanny Wei inside with a smug expression.
Out of the corner of her eye, Nanny Wei saw the complacent smile on Shao Wanru’s face. Silently, she raised her mouth corners with obvious sarcasm. Shao Wanru appeared to be intelligent and had indeed done many smart things. But now it seemed that she had overestimated Shao Wanru, who was actually not that clever.
Right after they entered the resting palace, two people rushed out from the corner. One on each side, they knocked out the two servant girls after Shao Wanru.
Hearing the noise behind her, Shao Wanru hastily turned around and was surprised to see two acquaintances.
“Huiqing, Huiming!” Shao Wanru seemed to have forced herself to look calm. There was a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes. She was apparently very shocked to see the two people in Empress Dowager’s resting palace. “You… What did you do to Her Majesty?”
“Her Majesty is fine, but you may not!” Huiqing said proudly. She took two steps forward and approached Shao Wanru with visible bad intentions.
“What… what do you want to do? This is the Palace. Do you… do you want to rebel?” Shao Wanru said with her face changing dramatically. She took two steps back and almost fell. “What… what did you do to Her Majesty?”
“You still care about her when in danger?” With a sneer, Huiqing stepped forward and grabbed Shao Wanru by the sleeve. As Huiqing walked in, Huiming lengthened her stride to keep up with her. Nanny Wei remained outside. Then, she turned around and walked out of the resting palace. She had to check the situation outside. People in the Palace wouldn’t be too stupid to come over, but she had to be more discreet.
The mysterious person asked her to take orders from Huiqing and Huiming, and she did so. She had no other choice because the mysterious person had evidence against her.
As Huiqing rudely pulled Shao Wanru in, she saw the Empress Dowager lying unconsious on the bed inside the door and was shocked. Shao Wanru hurriedly broke free from Huiqing’s grasp and rushed to the bed, saying, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
She cried out anxiously, seemingly in a panic. However, a trace of calmness flashed in her eyes. She didn’t expect them to take action so quickly. However, only a few people showed up, so they must have acted hastily.
“It’s no use shouting. She has been drugged and is unconscious. She is very obedient to us. Even if she is awake now, she may not listen to what you say.” Huiming came out from behind Huiqing and smiled. “You are too young to black out with the drug. Otherwise, it would be more convenient for us if you were also unconscious.”
“What… what do you want to do?” Shao Wanru asked in a trembling voice. She reached out and grabbed the Empress Dowager’s hand. Feeling the pulse on her wrist, she breathed a sigh of relief — the Empress Dowager was fine.
“What else can we do? Your Highness, please!” Huiqing pressed somewhere a few times and moved a painting away. A dark and deep hole appeared there. Huiqing pointed inside in smug satisfaction and said, “Your Highness, please help Her Majesty up. If anything happens to her later, you will have to take the blame.”
“I… I’m not leaving. Where are we going?” Shao Wanru asked with her eyes full of fear and lips trembling, “How… how do you know about Her Majesty’s secret pa.s.sage?”
“Is it strange?” Seeing Shao Wanru like this, Huiqing and Huiming became increasingly complacent. “We know all the secret pa.s.sages in the Palace. Her Majesty prepared it long ago. Go ahead if you don’t want things to get ugly!”
Speaking of this, Huiqing took out a dagger from her chest pocket. A strand of hair fell from her temples as a ray of cold light flashed before Shao Wanru. Shao Wanru was so scared that her watery eyes widened. It could be seen that she was about to faint.
Few Misses from aristocratic families who were nursed in luxury could stay calm in the face of danger. Shao Wanru looked smart in the past only because she never confronted a real crisis.
Huiqing shook her head in disapproval. Her master had asked her to be on guard against Princess Chen. But at this time, she thought otherwise. In her eyes, Princess Chen, who nearly fainted in fear, was a coward. She had thought too highly of her.
She pointed with the dagger and ordered, “Your Highness, help Her Majesty to her feet. Let’s go.”
Huiqing walked over from the other side and helped the Empress Dowager up. Then she looked at Shao Wanru and said with a sneer, “Your Highness, please!”
Since the dagger was pressed against her back, Shao Wanru did not think too much and made a prompt decision. Before entering the Palace, she had told her two servant girls what they should do. After making an effort to compose herself, she stood up according to their order. Holding the Empress Dowager with one hand, she looked up at Huiqing and said, “I hope you will not do anything bad to Her Majesty. Otherwise, I will fight with you even at the cost of my life.”
“Then let’s wait and see!” Huiming said indifferently, regarding it as a useless struggle that Shao Wanru put up.
Huiqing gave Shao Wanru a hard push and snapped with heavy sarcasm, “What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up and go ahead. It’s hard to say whether you can survive or not. Don’t worry about that old lady! Mind your own business!”
Hearing her words, Huiming also burst out laughing.
Comment (0)
Chapter 1308 Forcing the Emperor to Abdicate, a Drastic Change
Lights of every palace in the imperial Palace went out at night. There was a great noise somewhere. When the first scream came, many people put on their clothes and lit the lights again.
These women in the Palace looked ghastly pale. They wanted to hide elsewhere but couldn’t find shelter in the darkness. They trembled and huddled together, not knowing what had happened. Anyway, it didn’t sound like a good thing. How could such a lot of awful noise appear in the Palace? The first idea that came to many people was that a rebellion was happening.
In the night, Zhaoyi Di hurriedly followed a eunuch carrying a lantern and went to a palace out of use.
Chu Liuyue was sitting in the middle of the hall.
“Greetings, Your Highness!” Zhaoyi Di said.
“How is it going?” Chu Liuyue asked.
“Commandery Prince Cheng has taken some people to the Emperor’s resting place!” Zhaoyi Di reported.
“Good, well done. After my success, I’ll help you leave the Palace. You can change your name and leave the Palace!” Chu Liuyue felt quite pleased and promised with a trace of smile.
Zhaoyi Di had always kept a low profile. Who would have known that she was the daughter of Commandery Prince Cheng’s aunt?
Commandery Prince Cheng’s mother was very inconspicuous in the Palace. She married into the imperial Palace, while her younger sister became a concubine in Duke Yong’s Mansion. The two sisters were separated in troubled times. Later, Zhaoyi Di entered the Palace and accidentally dropped a sachet embroidered with peony, which her deceased mother left behind. They would not have recognized each other if it hadn’t been for it.
After Commandery Prince Cheng’s mother was separated from her family in times of disorder, she had been a famous prost.i.tute in a brothel. Her name as a prost.i.tute was Peony. For one thing, she was as beautiful as flowers. For another, she wanted to find her family. Commandery Prince Cheng particularly hated the degrading past of her mother and everything with peony patterns.
However, the sachet embroidered with peonies that Zhaoyi Di lost happened to appear before him. Besides, he also had a s sachet. Even if he loathed it, he could tell at a glance that this sachet was similar to his mother’s.
After recognizing her ident.i.ty, Commandery Prince Cheng treated this cousin well and asked people to support her in the Palace. Otherwise, she would not have become the Emperor’s favored woman for a period. His purpose was to let her keep an eye on the Emperor.
Commandery Prince Cheng regarded Zhaoyi Di as one of his people, but he never thought she was also related to Duke Yong’s Mansion, which had something to do with Chu Liuyue. As such, Chu Liuyue discovered the relations.h.i.+p between Zhaoyi Di and Commandery Prince Cheng with little effort. Compared with Commandery Prince Cheng, he could make arrangements in the Palace more easily. After all, everyone thought he or Chu Liuzhou would get the throne then.
They would turn a blind eye to Prince Yue’s secret business.
Something went wrong with Duke Yong’s Mansion. But because of Commandery Prince Cheng and Chu Liuyue, Zhaoyi Di didn’t get into trouble. Zhaoyi Di only had one request: she would leave the Palace with a new name when the overall situation had settled down.
The Imperial Palace had never been a happy place for her.
Chu Liuyue agreed to it without hesitation.
Zhaoyi Di had carefully compared the strength of Commandery Prince Cheng and Chu Liuyue and felt Chu Liuyue was more likely to succeed. Moreover, if she did not listen to Chu Liuyue, the secrets between her and Commandery Prince Cheng would be exposed. It would be a crime of deceiving the emperor. Therefore, Zhaoyi Di had no choice but to comply. She only wanted to leave the whirlpool of the power game in the capital city.
Commandery Prince Cheng entered the Palace today because she had sent a message to him. Thus, with determination, he cut off all means of retreat to fight for his bright future.
Unfortunately, as Commandery Prince Cheng coveted gains ahead, he was unaware of the danger behind him.
Of course, Chu Liuyue was not the only one who would represent a danger to him.
When Chu Liuyue learned about the time that Commandery Prince Cheng had gone to the Emperor’s resting palace, he asked his people to take Zhaoyi Di away. He was not in the mood to settle her down at this time.
After calculating the time, he also brought his people to the Emperor’s resting palace. Since the first batch of people went there for a rebellion, the second group must be there to help the Emperor out of trouble. He would do an excellent job of saving the Emperor. But no one could predict what would happen during the process. If Chu Liuchen died in it, it was not his fault. At most, he would tear Commandery Prince Cheng into pieces!
Blood flowed like a river at the gate of the Emperor’s resting palace. The blood of the guards and Commandery Prince Cheng’s people dyed the ground red. Under the high lanterns was Commandery Prince Cheng dressed in armor. There were two rows of archers behind him. All their sharp arrows were pointing at the palace’s tightly closed gate, walls, and roofs. Meanwhile, guards of the Palace were hiding with sharp-edged swords in their hands, waiting for them to go over and attack.
The fight resulted in a stalemate, but Commandery Prince Cheng felt increasingly uneasy and looked behind him — he brought over many people. At present, some went to Empress Dowager’s Palace of Benevolent Peace and n.o.ble Consort Lan’s place, hoping to capture the two people of great importance first. Then they could force the Emperor to submit.
Even if the Emperor refused to give in, Chu Liuchen inside had to. It was because they knew Chu Liuchen was very fond of his wife. Therefore, he also sent someone to Prince Chen’s Mansion.
But against all expectations, these people inside didn’t show a hint of fl.u.s.ter. How could it be?
“Your Highness, we can’t delay it for too long!” A person beside Commandery Prince Cheng reminded him.
Commandery Prince Cheng gritted his teeth. At this time, he had no way out. Initially, he did not intend to force the Emperor to abdicate. But now, if he did not do that, he might not even stay alive. Even if he survived, he would be locked up forever for what he did. He was not willing to accept such a result. For so many years, he had been waiting patiently. He certainly did not want to be imprisoned for a lifetime.
“Go ahead!” Commandery Prince Cheng waved his hand and ordered in a resounding voice.
Hearing that, Commandery Prince Cheng’s people rushed forward. The guards of the palace moved forward. As they took action step by step, the half-closed gate of the resting palace was pushed open. Commandery Prince Cheng was overjoyed and stepped forward eagerly — victory looked certain.
“Guards, Commandery Prince Cheng has rebelled! Kill him!” Suddenly, someone shouted loudly. A group of people darted diagonally forward. Raising their swords, they waded into these guards in the Palace and helped them to kill people from the Commandery Prince Cheng’s Mansion.
Chu Liuyue appeared behind the crowd, also in a suit of armor. He pointed to Commandery Prince Cheng and thundered, “Commandery Prince Cheng rebels. Take him down.”
The noise came from somewhere. It sounded like a powerful army would rush violently in response to Chu Liuyue’s order. Commandery Prince Cheng’s face changed significantly. Chu Liuyue’s appearance was a great shock to him. What was worse, it seemed he had brought many people with him.
The two sides were well-matched at first, and Commandery Prince Cheng’s people were even a notch above these guards in the Palace. However, as Chu Liuyue’s people joined these guards, Commandery Prince Cheng had to retreat step by step. The hat on his head had fallen off, and he looked pathetically embarra.s.sed with messy hair.
As more people rushed over, Commandery Prince Cheng’s soldiers retreated hastily. In the end, they were caught together with Commandery Prince Cheng.
“We succeeded! We seized Commandery Prince Cheng!” Someone screamed. The people brought by Commandery Prince Cheng got frustrated and didn’t dare to charge forward at the forefront. Those who could escape had fled in panic. Commandery Prince Cheng had come aggressively with malice written all over their faces, but now they had all dispersed.
Chu Liuyue straightened his clothes and strode to the resting palace. However, guards at the gate stopped him and were about to speak. At this moment, the two guards around Chu Liuyue stepped forward and stabbed them to death.
Chu Liuyue’s men had killed the guards in the Palace! Seeing this, other guards, who had been relaxed, became nervous again. Some came up to stop them, while some charged forward to intercept and kill them. But because it happened so suddenly, they failed to stop Chu Liuyue. As Chu Liuyue’s people pressed forward step by step, the guards in the Palace retreated repeatedly, and their number decreased.
When Chu Liuyue saw the Emperor lying on the bed, a complacent smile appeared on his face. Fortunately, he was fully prepared, so the victory now belonged to him.
Chu Liuyue took two steps forward, knelt before the Emperor on the bed, and reported respectfully, “Father, Commandery Prince Cheng and Chu Liuchen rebelled. I caught Commandery Prince Cheng, but Chu Liuchen escaped. Please appoint me as the crown prince and dispatch some people to capture Chu Liuchen.” Chu Liuyue took two steps forward and said respectfully, half kneeling toward the Emperor on the bed.
“You… you unfilial son!” In a towering rage, the Emperor grabbed the teacup nearby and smashed it down onto Chu Liuyue.
Chu Liuyue raised his hand and grabbed the teacup. As he raised to his feet, his face, with a respectful look, became indifferent. “What’s wrong? Do you hate to give up on Chu Liuchen? Is your son inferior to your nephew? Father, others may think Chu Liuchen is your biological son. Whatever you are thinking, please issue an imperial edict to arrest Chu Liuchen!”
“You unfilial son, I won’t write it!” The Emperor refused with anger.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t write it. Even if you die now, I needn’t take the blame. Father…” Chu Liuyue said, wearing an insolent expression. Looking at the dying and furious Emperor on the bed, he laughed and said, “Now, only I and Chu Liuxin in the royal family are fine. When Chu Liuxin dies, I will be the only heir to the throne. Even if you don’t issue an imperial edict, the throne will be mine!”
“You unfilial son! Aren’t you afraid of being too ashamed to see me in the world after death?” The Emperor pointed to him and scolded him harshly.
“So what? If you don’t want to see me, I can move you to another place in case you angrily trouble me when I also go to the world after death!” Chu Liuyue said flatly and glanced at the resting palace. “Chu Liuchen is not here? I heard he had been very considerate to you these days. Why can’t I see him now? Is he hiding somewhere?”
He was extremely proud of his success. Seeing he had taken control, he felt even better. For some reason, he eagerly gave vent to his grievance and rage with a feeling of exaltation upon fulfillment.
“You… you…” The Emperor covered his chest, too furious to say anything. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Derong, who was standing aside, screamed in shock and flew at the bed. “Your Majesty, please calm down. Don’t… don’t be angry!”
After that, he looked at Chu Liuyue and pleaded, “Show mercy, please. His Majesty is in poor health. In the past few days, he would vomit blood occasionally. If you irritate him, he is very likely to die. You don’t want the later generations to accuse you of killing your father and brothers, do you?”
“So what? The future history will be written under my surveillance. Play up to me. Otherwise, I don’t mind sending you to see my grandma early!” Chu Liuyue sneered, clapped his hands, and added, “Come on, bring me the imperial edict I’ve prepared. Please write your signature and mark it!”
Xiao Qizi came over from behind him with an imperial edict in his hand. The other parts of the edict had been finished, but there was no seal of the state and the Emperor’s signature.
“Father, please stamp on it!” Chu Liuyue said with a self-satisfied smile.
Seeing him behave in a disorderly manner without fear, the Emperor repeatedly spat out blood in anger. His eyes suddenly rolled up, and he went limp. Derong cried out in horror, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”