Madam Zhao had been stopped from vomiting blood with silver needles, but her face was deathly pale.
“Go... go see His Majesty… I must see His Majesty…”
“I—I overheard their secret… the Zhao family… wants to kill me…”
Eunuch Feng was furious. “How dare they! Attempting murder right under the Emperor’s nose?!”
He turned to Yu Yanfeng. “Commander Yu, this matter with Madam Zhao is no small issue. The Zhao family clearly harbors disloyal intentions. She must be taken back to the palace to see His Majesty immediately. The Zhao family is still inside the palace. If they were to…”
Yu Yanfeng’s heart jolted as he recalled today’s chaos caused by the Zhao family—and the sudden death of the Fourth Prince’s consort. “But His Majesty asked to see Commander Xiao.”
Tang Ning paused. “My brother is severely injured and still unable to get up. His Majesty wants to see him?”
Eunuch Feng didn’t have time to explain to Tang Ning. He simply said to Yu Yanfeng:
“His Majesty originally summoned Commander Xiao to discuss the Fourth Prince’s consort. But now Madam Zhao says she was killed by the Zhao family.”
“If the Zhao family truly tried to silence Madam Zhao, then they must be plotting something serious. Commander Xiao is still there; he can’t escape. For now, it’s best to take Madam Zhao to His Majesty first. Otherwise, if anything happens…”
Seeing Yu Yanfeng hesitate, Eunuch Feng proposed, “How about this—I'll go to Commander Xiao with the imperial doctor to check on his injuries. You escort Madam Zhao back to the palace.”
Yu Yanfeng frowned slightly but saw Madam Zhao, weak and barely clinging to life, insisting on seeing His Majesty.
He nodded grimly. “Alright, I’ll escort Madam Zhao to the palace.”
But he remained cautious. “Princess Xiangning, since you were the one who found Madam Zhao, I must trouble you to come with me. It’s best for His Majesty to hear your account directly.”
Tang Ning didn’t hesitate. “Very well.”
Yu Yanfeng was slightly reassured by her calm response.
If Xiao Yan were truly guilty, would this Song Tang Ning dare follow him into the palace so readily?
And besides, the Zhao family’s actions and the death of the Fourth Prince’s consort are indeed suspicious…
“Eunuch Feng, please handle matters with Commander Xiao.”
“I understand,” Eunuch Feng replied.
Yu Yanfeng wasted no time. He ordered that Madam Zhao be placed on a carriage, leaving Imperial Physician Yuan behind to suppress the poison, while Imperial Physician Jiang accompanied Eunuch Feng with over twenty imperial guards to Jiyun Alley.
Tang Ning pulled down the carriage curtain and said, “Eunuch Feng, please let my brother know that I’ve gone to the palace to see His Majesty and may be back late, so he won’t worry.”
Eunuch Feng nodded. “Of course.”
With that, the group split up—Yu Yanfeng and his escort racing toward the palace with Madam Zhao.
As the carriage moved, Physician Yuan carefully used needles to suppress the toxins in Madam Zhao’s body. She, still pale and trembling, tightly gripped Tang Ning’s hand.
Her lips were stained with blood, and her knuckles had gone white from the pressure of her grip.
Tang Ning knew she was scared. She gently squeezed back, giving reassurance.
“Don’t be afraid, Madam Zhao. Once we’re in the palace and you’ve seen His Majesty, no one will dare harm you again.”
Seeing the young lady beside her so composed, Madam Zhao gradually began to calm down.
Meanwhile, as Eunuch Feng turned to mount his carriage, Yuejian, her arm bloodied, reached out to steady him.
“Be careful, Eunuch Feng.”
He discreetly took something from her hand, his face calm.
“Your injury looks serious,” he said. “Physician Jiang, please take a look. We must ensure it didn’t damage the tendons.”
Physician Jiang paused before boarding and instead began examining Yuejian. Eunuch Feng, under the cover of the distraction, lowered the carriage curtain and quickly unfolded the item he’d received.
One glance and his face changed dramatically. He nearly cursed out loud.
Xiao Yan… the nerve of him! He’s gone mad!
Physician Jiang soon said, “It’s nothing serious. No bones were hurt. Apply some medicine and it’ll heal well.”
“Thank you, Physician Jiang.”
As the voices sounded from outside, Eunuch Feng hastily crumpled the note and swallowed it. Just as he did, the curtain lifted and Physician Jiang stepped in.
“Eunuch Feng, shall we head to Jiyun Alley?”
Feng’s face was dark. “Yes. Let’s go.”
After the groups had dispersed, the area previously sealed off by the imperial guards gradually cleared.
Onlookers who had been nearby had caught fragments of the earlier commotion. The deployment of imperial guards had already caused a stir—and now, word of someone attempting murder in broad daylight under the Emperor’s watch had spread.
“Who would dare do such a thing?! Trying to kill someone in public?”
“I heard something about Rongsheng Academy… and someone called her Princess Xiangning.”
“Which Zhao family is this? Such audacity…”
The crowd began to buzz, and the phrase “The Zhao family tried to kill me!” became the focal point of whispered discussions.
In the palace, the Zhao family was already waiting in the Imperial Study. Zhao Yuanlang and the Old Madam Zhao had red eyes, and court officials like Cui Lin, Feng Qiuli, Cao Dejiang, and senior members of the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple stood silently nearby. The Emperor sat above them all, his expression unreadable.
The room was deathly quiet, with only the occasional soft sobbing from Madam Zhao behind her veil.
When someone reported that Yu Yanfeng had returned, the Emperor was surprised it was so soon.
“Let him in,” he said.
Yu Yanfeng entered quickly but Xiao Yan was nowhere to be seen.
The Emperor asked, “Where is Xiao Yan?”
Yu Yanfeng replied, “Your Majesty, I haven’t yet reached Jiyun Alley. I ran into something on the way and returned first. Eunuch Feng has gone on ahead with the physician to see Commander Xiao.”
The Emperor’s face darkened. Yu Yanfeng quickly added
“Your Majesty, while en route with Eunuch Feng and the imperial doctor, we encountered Madam Zhao. She pleaded desperately for an audience with Your Majesty, so I returned with her immediately.”
The Zhao family’s expressions changed at once.
Cui Lin and the others also looked confused and turned to the Zhao family.
Zhao Yuanlang stepped forward. “Commander Yu, what nonsense are you saying? My wife caught a cold last night and has been resting in our manor all day…”
Yu Yanfeng glanced at them but ignored him. He bowed to the Emperor and reported:
“Madam Zhao was poisoned and attacked in the city. She was rescued by Princess Xiangning, who happened to be passing by from Rongsheng Academy and recognized her. Madam Zhao claims the Zhao family tried to kill her because she uncovered a secret. Princess Xiangning believed the matter grave and brought her to the palace, where we crossed paths.”
“You’re spouting lies! Why would the Zhao family try to kill our own daughter-in-law?!” the Old Madam Zhao snapped, her face livid but if one looked closely, panic could be seen in her eyes.
How could her daughter-in-law have been poisoned? Or chased in the streets?!
She had only ordered her to be drugged into sleep and locked in the manor to avoid trouble. How could she have ended up outside… and with that Princess Xiangning of all people?
Cui Lin was stunned too. He had only learned by accident that Xiao Yan might be faking his injuries and had orchestrated the Lingyun Temple incident. He had intended to strike while the Zhao family exposed him. But now… the situation had completely flipped.
He turned a suspicious gaze toward the Zhao family, who were clearly in disarray.
What exactly are they doing?
============
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
Comments
Post a Comment