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Chapter 557: Removing the Parasite from the Liang Emperor
Chapter 557: Removing the Parasite from the Liang Emperor
Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian split up to thoroughly search Kunning Palace.
To prevent them from planting false evidence, the Empress sent clever eunuchs and maids to follow them.
Neither of them had anything to hide, so they didn’t mind the Empress’s surveillance.
However, Kunning Palace was vast. After searching for over an hour, they had covered most of the palace but still found nothing.
The Empress and Chenfei sat in the courtyard, awaiting the results.
Yao Nüguan returned to her room to tend to her injured cheek, while Tong Nüguan attended to the Empress.
The Empress glanced at Chenfei’s teacup and said to Tong Nüguan, “Chenfei’s tea has gone cold. Why haven’t you refilled it?”
Though she said it was to refill the tea, everyone could tell she was trying to get rid of someone.
“Chenfei, please enjoy your tea.”
Tong Nüguan served the tea with neither deference nor arrogance.
Chenfei pretended not to catch the Empress’s hidden meaning and took a small sip.
The Empress spoke in a gentle tone, “Chenfei, you keep saying an assassin broke into Kunning Palace. If we don’t catch them, I will have to charge Huang Changsun with a grave disrespect.”
Chenfei replied, “No matter whose son ascends the throne, you, as the Empress, will become the Empress Dowager. I don’t understand why you chose Prince Jin. Your support for the Crown Prince’s Mansion is like giving coal in a snowstorm, while your aid to Prince Jin is merely adding flowers to brocade.”
The Empress laughed in surprise, “Chenfei, your naivety must be feigned.”
Chenfei lifted her teacup and said, “If you’re willing, we can put the past behind us. You can still be a good mother to the Crown Prince. You’ve seen his capabilities. He didn’t strive before because he didn’t want to, not because he lacked the ability. Now, with the Guardian Qilin and the Phoenix Daughter, public sentiment and the Mandate of Heaven are on his side. What do you think, Empress?”
The Empress lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea.
Tong Nüguan subtly observed her mistress.
She could tell that Chenfei’s words had struck a chord with the Empress.
The Empress chose Prince Jin because his chances of winning were too high. Even if it was just adding flowers to brocade, it was better than a futile effort.
But now, the Crown Prince’s chances were growing bit by bit.
Would her mistress waver?
A young maid reported from the pavilion, “Empress, Hu Guifei has arrived.”
The Empress nodded.
The young maid escorted Hu Guifei to the pavilion.
Hu Guifei sat down beside the Empress with a smile, “Oh, what a joyous day today, that even Chenfei is here? If I recall correctly, the one who just married a new wife is my own Qing'er, isn’t it?”
Prince Jin’s Mansion had formed an alliance with the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion. Behind Prince Jin were the Hu family, the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, the imperial clan, and many staunch supporters of the eldest son.
The Crown Prince’s Mansion’s chances were still too small.
The Empress put down her teacup, “After searching for so long, it should clear my name, right?”
“Search?”
Hu Guifei was extremely surprised.
Chenfei sighed, “Empress, that’s not the right way to think. It’s not that we don’t trust you, but an assassin did break into Kunning Palace. Yuan and Yan Girl were just trying to ensure your safety.”
Hu Guifei coldly said, “What audacity! Catching an assassin in the Empress’s palace? In broad daylight, where would an assassin be? I think you have ulterior motives and are trying to frame the Empress—”
Before she could finish, a eunuch quickly rushed into the pavilion.
Qing'er immediately pulled Chenfei to her feet and shielded her.
The others were taken aback, but none reacted as quickly as Qing'er.
The eunuch glanced around and then placed a knife at Hu Guifei’s throat.
“Mistress!”
Her personal eunuch cried out in alarm.
Tong Nüguan hurriedly helped the Empress to the side, “Guards—protect the Empress—”
Lu Yuan arrived at the pavilion.
Seeing that Chenfei was unharmed, he relaxed.
He barked, “How dare you! Release Guifei immediately!”
This was the assassin that Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian had come to apprehend.
As expected, he had disguised himself again. After entering Kunning Palace, the two of them carefully checked each eunuch.
When they reached the dressing room, the assassin could no longer hide.
The assassin threatened, "Let me out of the palace, or I'll kill her!"
Empress Hu screamed at Lu Yuan, "Let him out of the palace! Let him out of the palace!"
The Empress furrowed her brow and asked suspiciously, "Are you in league with him? With so many people around, why did he specifically target the Consort?"
Lu Yuan said with a laugh, "That's right. The Empress was the closest, and the Consort was sitting in the middle. He had to go around to get to her. Why would he choose the longer route?"
The assassin had indeed circled around the Empress.
At that moment, Chenfei had already been pulled away by Qing'er, leaving only two principal ladies. Why did the assassin take the longer route?
Empress Hu suddenly looked at the Empress.
The Empress clenched her hand and said, "How would I know?"
The assassin pressed the knife to Empress Hu's throat, "I'll give you one last chance. Let me out of the palace!"
Lu Yuan said sternly, "I can't do that."
The assassin was taken aback, "What did you say?"
Empress Hu snapped, "Lu Lin Yuan, are you mad? Do you want to kill me?"
The assassin's face twisted, "I, I... I really will kill her!"
Lu Yuan stood firm, "You dared to assassinate a consort of the court. I guarantee your entire clan will be exterminated!"
Empress Hu was furious, "Lu Lin Yuan! What do you value my life for?"
The assassin's hand began to tremble, "I'll count to three. If you don't agree, I'll die with her!"
Empress Hu burst into tears, "Quick, call His Majesty!"
The assassin, "One."
Empress Hu's personal eunuch scrambled away.
The assassin, "Two!"
Whoosh!
An arrow shot out like lightning, piercing his temple, and a mixture of brain matter and blood splattered over Empress Hu's face.
Empress Hu screamed and fainted on the spot.
The Empress turned her head.
In the blazing sun, on the roof, Meng Qianqian stood calmly, putting away her bow.
The Empress gripped Tong Nüguan's wrist tightly.
Lu Yuan carried the assassin's body away.
Meng Qianqian leaped down from the roof and presented the bow to the Empress, "I borrowed a bow from the Empress's armory."
The Empress looked at her with a complex and unsettled expression.
In a daze, she felt her decision might have been wrong.
Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian immediately headed to the Imperial Study.
Chenfei also left.
As soon as they left, the eunuch who had gone to investigate returned to Kunning Palace and reported to the Empress.
"Empress, Chenfei didn't go to the Imperial Study. His Majesty didn't summon Huang Changsun. He has been in the study with Duke Jiang all along."
The Empress, thinking of Empress Hu's misunderstanding, her face darkened, "So... Lu Lin Yuan was indeed lying about the imperial order?"
The Empress immediately went to the Imperial Study.
"Move aside! I need to see His Majesty!"
Xiaodezi said awkwardly, "Empress, His Majesty has ordered that no one is to disturb him..."
The Empress looked at the bloodstains on the ground, "No one? Not even Huang Changsun?"
Xiaodezi looked troubled, "Well..."
The Empress said coldly, "Tell your father to come out and see me!"
Xiaodezi lowered his head, "Father is serving His Majesty in the Imperial Study..."
The Empress gave Xiaodezi a deep look and stared at the closed door, "His Majesty! Your subject requests an audience!"
The Miao King tightly covered the Liang Emperor's mouth, preventing him from making a sound.
Meng Qianqian took out a silver needle and nodded at Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan dripped Meng Qianqian's blood onto the Liang Emperor's wrist.
This was to draw out the Heart-devouring Parasite.
The Miao King's eyes said, "Granddaughter, you only have one chance. You must not miss."
(End of Chapter)
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