Chapter 264 Retaliation

It was already evening when the death knell tolled for the retired emperor.

Li Yuanzhao had already removed his heavy imperial robes and changed into comfortable sleeping clothes. He sat back in a chair in Xihe Palace, quietly reading a book of military strategy written by Shen Lang.

There was even a dazzling array of food on the table, but unfortunately, not a single bite was touched.

No one could tell that she was being imprisoned.

Upon hearing the bell, she paused, her hand holding the military treatise, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

He died like that?

Was he exhausted and couldn't hold on any longer? Or was he just too excited to see his own son?

I wonder if, before he died, he did as Zheng Wenkai had hoped, embrace Chen Yanqing and weep bitterly to recognize his son.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Then, she placed the military treatise face down on the table, slowly sat up straight, and felt the changes in her body.

The feeling of weakness in my body had long since faded, and the strength in my limbs was gradually returning. Even my previously heavy mind had become clear.

It seems that Liang Cheng doesn't dare to kill her directly. That thing is just a powerful numbing drug, intended to temporarily render her unable to resist.

She glanced out the doors and windows, and through the gaps in the window frames, she could see a dense array of armed Longwu soldiers, completely surrounding Xihe Palace.

Tsk! They really think highly of her.

They actually mobilized so many troops to guard a person under house arrest.

Li Yuanzhao tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

They thought that by kidnapping her and then supporting Chen Yanqing, who had regained his "prince" status, to take the throne, they could rightfully control everything.

That's far too naive.

It's just unknown who else, besides Liang Cheng and Zheng Wenkai, was behind this.

Just then, the palace door was gently pushed open, and a young palace maid dressed in a light green palace dress came in carrying a food basket, preparing to clear the food from the table.

This young palace maid was the one who helped Chen Yanqing deliver the letter.

She was originally a palace maid in Xihe Palace. Although she did not serve him closely, she was responsible for taking care of Li Yuanzhao's meals.

Zheng Wenkai sent her to "take care" of Li Yuanzhao this time, which was a special favor given to her because of her merit in delivering the letter.

But Zheng Wenkai didn't know that she was now filled with regret.

Although she didn't know what was written in that letter, seeing that His Majesty was now imprisoned and Chen Yanqing was honored as the eldest prince, she guessed that it was because of the letter she sent that all of this had happened.

But everything had already happened, and besides taking good care of His Majesty, she didn't know how else she could make amends.

Seeing the untouched food on the table, the young palace maid felt anxious and softly advised, "Your Majesty, this food was prepared by me personally and I haven't let it out of my sight. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. You haven't had a drop of water all day; your body won't be able to take it. Please at least eat a few bites."

Li Yuanzhao looked up and glanced at her, then asked, "How is it outside?"

"This servant doesn't know either," the young palace maid replied timidly. "I only heard that Prime Minister Zheng took all the ministers to the Ganlu Hall and forced the Emperor Emeritus to recognize Chen as his relative. Later... later the Emperor Emeritus passed away. Prime Minister Zheng has now drafted an edict, saying that he will make Chen the eldest prince, and he will ascend the throne in three days."

"And what about me?" Li Yuanzhao's voice remained calm, revealing no emotion.

The young palace maid lowered her head even further. "Prime Minister Zheng said, Your Majesty...you usurped the throne, your position is illegitimate, and we must depose you and demote you to a commoner..."

Li Yuanzhao scoffed, "Depose him? What does he have to do with it?"

With just a few thousand Dragon Martial Army soldiers under his command, or that group of court officials who have always been opportunistic and two-faced.

The young palace maid trembled and stammered, "This servant doesn't know. I only... I only heard that Imperial Uncle Shen has agreed to Prime Minister Zheng's request to personally persuade General Shen to surrender..."

Li Yuanzhao narrowed his eyes.

How to persuade Shen Churong to surrender?

She slowly leaned back in her chair. "Alright, I'm sleepy. You may leave."

The young palace maid looked at her calm profile, opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words back.

Although she felt guilty and wanted to do something, she was ultimately afraid when she thought of the palace servants in Ganlu Palace who died with their eyes wide open.

She was just a lowly palace maid; what could she possibly do?

In the end, she could only silently retreat and gently close the palace door behind her.

In the middle of the night, the door was gently pushed open again.

Li Yuanzhao woke up immediately.

Judging from the footsteps, it sounded like a man, and his legs seemed to have some difficulty walking, as the sound of his walking had an uncoordinated and hesitant quality.

She lay on the couch, her eyes still closed, her breathing as steady as if she were still fast asleep.

The man was clearly very familiar with the palace. In the pitch black, he didn't need to fumble around; he skillfully bypassed the tables, screens, and other furnishings and went straight to her bedside.

Although Li Yuanzhao did not open his eyes, he could clearly feel a gaze falling on him.

His gaze was so intense, it seemed to be glued to her, making her so disgusted that she wanted to kill him on the spot.

After about half a cup of tea's time, that gaze finally "had enough".

The mattress beside the tatami sank slightly as the person sat down, then reached out a hand and slowly extended it toward her cheek.

Li Yuanzhao was prepared. Just as that hand was about to touch her skin, she suddenly opened her eyes!

Before the other person could react, she had already grabbed their wrist and, using the force of her body rotation, slammed them hard onto the bed.

A muffled thud was followed by the other person's suppressed cry of pain.

A sliver of moonlight shone through the window and fell precisely on the face of the person who had just entered.

Li Yuanzhao saw clearly the hideous face with its crisscrossing scars.

Chen Yanqing!

Oh!

He just got the title of "Crown Prince" and can't wait to show off to her!

Caught off guard, Chen Yanqing was pressed down hard by her, and a burning pain shot through her already injured wrist.

It's hard to say what he was thinking when he came to see Li Yuanzhao tonight.

Was it driven by hatred?

Is it the satisfaction of successfully getting revenge?

Or perhaps some deeper, more obscure thought that even he himself couldn't discern?

He wanted to see her, yet he didn't want to see her.

So he chose the most despicable method, like a petty thief, to sneak into the woman's boudoir in the dead of night.

However, he forgot about Li Yuanzhao's agility and skill.