The figure rushed in so suddenly that it caught everyone in the hall off guard.
The dancers, who had been performing gracefully, were thrown into disarray, letting out startled cries. The figure stumbled forward, collapsing awkwardly onto the floor with a piercing scream that nearly drowned out the music, echoing through the hall.
“Murder! Your Majesty, save me!!”
The banquet music was instantly disrupted, and one of the dancers was knocked over in the chaos.
Screams rose and fell, and the once-jovial atmosphere in the hall descended into pandemonium.
“Protect His Majesty!”
Attendant Feng shouted immediately, positioning himself in front of Emperor An. Consort Yu and the others, terrified, paled and shrank back.
Xiao Yan’s brow furrowed as he stepped forward sharply, his voice cold. “What are the imperial guards stationed at the hall doing, allowing someone to charge at His Majesty?!”
Yu Yanfeng’s face changed as well. He was responsible for the imperial guards’ security at tonight’s banquet.
Recent incidents in the palace, including two fires, had already left the Emperor deeply dissatisfied with him, and Liu Tong’en’s frequent visits to the palace had made him particularly uneasy. For tonight’s security, he hadn’t dared delegate tasks, personally inspecting and arranging everything, even stationing himself in the hall to protect the Emperor.
Yet, despite such thorough preparations, something had gone wrong.
Yu Yanfeng was initially startled by the intruder, but Xiao Yan’s words sent a chill of cold sweat down his spine.
How could a disheveled woman, looking so out of place, break through layers of imperial guards outside and charge into Zichen Hall?
Where were the guards he had stationed outside?!
Yu Yanfeng instinctively suspected this was aimed at him. He strode forward, seizing the woman and pressing her neck so hard that her face flushed red, nearly choking her.
Yu Yanfeng barked, “Who has the audacity to charge at His Majesty? Your Majesty, I’ll take her away immediately…”
“Hold on!”
Cui Lin suddenly stood, leaning on the table. “Your Majesty, this lady is dressed in the robes of a titled noblewoman, likely someone invited to the banquet. She just cried out about murder and sought your protection.”
“This is the palace. If a murder has occurred, it’s no small matter and concerns Your Majesty’s safety. Shouldn’t you question her first?”
Yu Yanfeng’s face darkened. “This is a heavily guarded place with strict security. All banquet attendees should have already entered the hall. This woman didn’t show up earlier, so even if she’s a guest, she’s disregarded Your Majesty. Besides, her sudden intrusion, how do we know she’s not here to attempt an assassination?”
Cui Lin said calmly, “Deputy Commander Yu’s words are misguided. The truth can be uncovered with questions. With you and Supervisor Xiao protecting His Majesty, are you really afraid of a mere defenseless woman?”
Looking at the woman, whose face was turning blue from being choked and who seemed on the verge of fainting, Cui Lin’s eyes darkened slightly.
“His Majesty hasn’t yet given his orders, yet Deputy Commander Yu acts first. If something truly happens, can you bear the responsibility?”
Then he turned to Xiao Yan. “Supervisor Xiao, you’re always vigilant. Surely you’re not afraid of a frail, disheveled woman?”
Tang Ning’s heart skipped a beat. The unease she felt earlier about Cui Lin was suddenly confirmed. She gripped the table’s edge to steady herself, while Rong Yue, beside her, looked toward the front of the hall with worry.
Yu Yanfeng, stung by Cui Lin’s jab, felt a surge of anger and a gut instinct that this woman’s appearance was somehow connected to Cui Lin.
Xiao Yan, hearing Cui Lin’s deliberate provocation, didn’t get angry. He merely frowned for a moment before turning to Emperor An. “Your Majesty?”
Emperor An patted the loyal Attendant Feng in front of him, signaling him to step aside.
Attendant Feng hesitated but moved to the side. Emperor An then said sternly, “Yu Yanfeng, release her.”
Yu Yanfeng had no choice but to let go, glaring darkly at the woman.
The woman collapsed to the floor, clutching her throat and coughing violently. The sudden rush of air after nearly suffocating caused her face to flush red, and tears of fear and panic streamed from her eyes.
Emperor An looked down at her. “Who are you, and why did you barge into Zichen Hall?”
The woman trembled, gasping as she spoke in a shaky voice, “This… this humble woman is from the Xuan family. I entered the palace today for the banquet, but because the Empress Dowager is unwell, I first visited Shoukang Palace to see her. I stayed to talk with Her Majesty a bit longer, which delayed my arrival at Zichen Hall…”
The Xuan family?
Emperor An paused, scrutinizing the disheveled woman with tangled hair below. Only then did he realize she looked somewhat familiar.
The Empress Dowager’s maiden family was surnamed Xuan. Years ago, they had fallen out of favor with the previous emperor due to some misdeeds, and Emperor An had nearly been stripped of his title as a result, only saved by the Lu family’s mediation and his disavowal of ties with the Xuan family.
After ascending the throne, to avoid accusations of defying the previous emperor’s will, Emperor An hadn’t rehabilitated the Xuan family. Only at the Empress Dowager’s persistent pleas did he exempt them from hard labor and allow them to return to the capital to live comfortably.
Recently, to placate the ailing Empress Dowager, he had granted some favor to the Xuan family, bestowing a title on his widowed aunt, who had lost her husband and raised her children alone. This woman, whom he had met only a couple of times, was likely that aunt, who had been frequently visiting the Empress Dowager in the palace.
Realizing she wasn’t an assassin, Emperor An relaxed slightly but frowned sternly. “If you were accompanying the Empress Dowager, why come to the banquet?”
The woman’s coughing stopped abruptly, as if she couldn’t continue.
Cui Lin, caught off guard by Emperor An’s words and worried the conversation would veer off track, quickly interjected, “So it’s Lady Xuan. Since you were with the Empress Dowager, how did you end up in such a state? And what did you mean by shouting about murder?”
Lady Xuan’s body trembled, her face turning deathly pale.
Cui Lin hurriedly added, “Don’t be afraid. His Majesty is here; no one dares harm you.”
Grand Tutor Liang’s brow furrowed as he glanced at Cui Lin. Knowing Cui Lin well, he was certain this man wasn’t one to be so “enthusiastically helpful.” The sudden appearance of this suspicious Lady Xuan only deepened his unease. He glanced at Feng Qiuli.
Feng Qiuli, equally puzzled, subtly shook his head at Grand Tutor Liang, signaling he had no idea what Cui Lin was up to.
Grand Tutor Liang’s mood grew heavier, sensing something was amiss.
Yu Yanfeng said icily, “Minister Cui seems quite concerned about Lady Xuan.”
Cui Lin glanced at him. “This old minister is merely worried about His Majesty’s safety. Lady Xuan is from the Empress Dowager’s family, yet she was attacked in the palace. If someone is bold enough to do this, who’s to say they won’t threaten His Majesty? Shouldn’t Deputy Commander Yu be alleviating His Majesty’s concerns?”
“!”
Yu Yanfeng felt the Emperor’s gaze turn cold and clenched his fists.
That old fox Cui Lin, daring to undermine him before the Emperor!
Cui Lin’s target wasn’t Yu Yanfeng. After speaking, he turned back. “Your Majesty, for the sake of palace security, caution is paramount.”
Emperor An, expressionless, glanced at Yu Yanfeng before addressing Lady Xuan sternly. “Speak. What happened?”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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