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Chapter 43: Creating a Ruckus in the Palace
Chapter 43: Creating a Ruckus in the Palace
Outside the palace, a patrolling squad of guards passed by, their leader bellowing, "Who goes there?"
Tan Er straightened up, wiping the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, and panted, "Is... is this the palace?"
The leader of the guards sized Tan Er up and down, seeing that she was just a young girl. He frowned and said, "This is a restricted area. No loitering is allowed!"
Tan Er, upon hearing that she was in the right place, heaved a sigh of relief. "I'm not loitering... I'm looking for someone... I'll leave once I find her..."
Just as the leader was about to shoo her away, another guard approached and amicably asked Tan Er, "Who are you looking for, young miss?"
"I'm looking for my sister. She entered the palace," Tan Er replied.
The guard inquired, "Is she a palace maid or...?"
Tan Er spoke sternly, "My sister is neither a palace maid nor an empress!"
The guard smiled, "Then do you know anyone else in the palace?"
Tan Er thought hard, "I know my sister's father-in-law, but I don't know his name..."
Just then, the guards suddenly turned and bowed, "Commander!"
Tan Er looked up, "You're the sword-wielding guy!"
The leader of the guards said in a cold tone, "Do not be disrespectful to the Commander!"
The Commander of the Imperial Guards, clad in his distinctive fish-scale armor, swept his cold gaze over them. The leader's face turned grim, and he stepped aside respectfully.
Tan Er ran up to him, her eyes looking up at the man sitting atop the horse. "You changed your clothes! So handsome—"
The Commander of the Imperial Guards raised an eyebrow, looking dashing.
"Your horse!" Tan Er finished her sentence and hugged the horse's head.
Commander of the Imperial Guards: "..."
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Tan Er stroked the horse's mane and replied, "Looking for my sister! Some noble concubine summoned her to the palace!"
The Commander of the Imperial Guards stroked his chin thoughtfully, musing, "Li, the Noble Concubine? I wonder why she summoned Lady Lu."
Tan Er looked up at him, "You sword-wielding guy, take me in there!"
Commander of the Imperial Guards: "I can't do that."
The palace was a restricted area, and one couldn't simply bring people in.
Moreover, Lady Lu had gone to the harem, a place even more off-limits to outsiders like him.
Seeing how familiar this girl was with the Commander of the Imperial Guards, calling him "sword-wielding guy" without repercussions, the leader of the guards couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
Thank goodness I didn't lay a hand on this girl earlier...
Tan Er suddenly jumped up and hung herself on the Commander's saddle, kicking her legs as she started her tantrum, "Take me in there, take me in there, take me in there..."
The guards could only look on in embarrassment.
The Commander's lips twitched, "Get down from there!"
Tan Er huffed, "I won't!"
The wounds on his face haven't healed yet. Does he think I don't hold a grudge?
If it weren't for Lady Lu, I would have killed you already!
"What's going on here?"
A dignified female voice, carrying an air of authority, interrupted them.
The Commander of the Imperial Guards and Tan Er turned their heads simultaneously towards the approaching carriage.
A stern-looking lady alighted from the carriage.
The Commander of the Imperial Guards dismounted and greeted her with a bow, "Mrs. Wang."
Tan Er, still hanging from the saddle, turned her head to look at the new arrival.
Mrs. Wang glanced at her and then inquired of the Commander, "Who is this young lady?"
The Commander quickly explained Tan Er's identity and purpose, not wanting to be accused by Prosecutor Wang of abducting a commoner's daughter or something similar in the court.
Upon learning that she was Meng Qianqian's personal maid, Mrs. Wang's gaze softened as she said, "I'll take you into the palace."
The leader of the guards objected, "Mrs. Wang, this is against the rules."
Mrs. Wang asserted, "If anything happens, I will take full responsibility!"
The leader of the guards turned to the Commander of the Imperial Guards, who wore an expression that clearly said, "It's not up to me." With no other choice, he stepped aside and let them pass.
Wang Furen personally escorted Tan'er to the entrance of the Changchun Palace and said, "This is the bedroom of Noble Consort Li. Just say that I brought you in."
Tan'er politely bowed. "Thank you, Mrs. Wang."
Mrs. Wang smiled and nodded before turning to leave.
At that moment, Lin Wan'er and Lu Luo exited the Changchun Palace.
Mrs. Wang turned back, her eyebrows furrowing. "Is that her?"
Tan'er hurried forward and looked past Lin Wan'er, asking, "Where's my sister?"
Lin Wan'er looked at Tan'er with confusion.
Lu Luo frowned and asked, "How did you get in here?"
"How did I get in? Where's my sister?" Tan'er demanded.
Lu Luo glanced at Lin Wan'er, who gave her a subtle signal.
Lu Luo sneered, "Your sister offended the Noble Consort. She's being punished inside, kneeling! She's been kneeling for two hours now, and I don't think she'll be done today!"
Tan'er clenched her fists. "Sister!"
Snowflakes fell thickly, covering the ground in a deep layer.
Noble Consort Li held a hand warmer, her legs covered with a warm blanket as she leisurely asked, "Go ask her if she knows her mistake."
"Yes," Ying Yue replied and left.
She approached the plum tree and looked at Meng Qianqian, who was almost frozen into an ice sculpture. "Lady Lu, Her Highness asks if you know your mistake."
Meng Qianqian slowly said, "This humble wife does not know where I have erred. May Her Highness enlighten me."
Ying Yue returned to Noble Consort Li and relayed Meng Qianqian's response.
Noble Consort Li's eyes turned cold, and she tightened her grip on her handkerchief. "What a stubborn bone! I refuse to believe that there is someone in this world whom I, the Noble Consort, cannot tame! Come! Lady Lu has been kneeling for so long, and she must be frozen. Bring some hot water to warm her up!"
Two sturdy maids carried two large buckets of hot water over.
This water wasn't meant for Meng Qianqian to drink but to be poured over her, alternating between hot and cold, soaking her clothes and freezing her to death.
Banxia's expression changed. "What are you doing?"
"Pour it on her," Ying Yue ordered.
The two maids lifted the buckets, about to pour them out, when a small figure darted in like lightning. With a swift kick, the maids and the buckets were sent flying.
Ying Yue's face turned cold. "Who dares to act so boldly in the Changchun Palace?"
Tan'er stood in front of Meng Qianqian, her eyes fierce. "If you touch my sister, you'll be begging for your lives!"
Ying Yue commanded, "Seize her!"
The maids and eunuchs of the Changchun Palace rushed forward.
Assuming it would be easy to capture a young girl, they never expected Tan'er to be so formidable. She punched and kicked, sending the servants of the Changchun Palace flying!
Noble Consort Li's face turned ashen with rage. "Call the Imperial Guards! An assassin has entered the Changchun Palace!"
The Imperial Guards stormed into the palace, and a sword flew towards Tan'er.
Meng Qianqian's fingers moved slightly, and a flash of silver light shot out, nailing the sword into the grass!
Tan'er leaped up, grabbing the Imperial Guard who had attacked from the roof, and threw him down into the snow!
Everyone was stunned by this turn of events.
The vice commander of the Imperial Guards frowned. "Archers!"
A row of archers filed in, drawing their bows and aiming their arrows at Tan'er.
Noble Consort Li shouted angrily, "Kill this assassin! And Meng Qianqian, she's the one behind this! Arrest her as well!"
"The Empress has arrived!" a eunuch announced from outside the hall.
Noble Consort Li's eyebrows knitted together.
The dignified and majestic Empress Xiao, clad in a bright yellow cloak, strode through the heavy snowfall with an air of authority.
Following behind her was a flustered Mrs. Wang, her face glistening with sweat.
(End of Chapter)
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