Chapter 287 Pampered Darling (Second Update)

Why did the Empress Dowager leave the palace at this hour?

Tang Yueshan had excellent hearing, but he still doubted that he had misheard. He glanced in the direction of the palace gate and indeed saw the Empress Dowager's golden phoenix carriage shining brightly in the dark night.

"Stop!" he shouted.

The archer quickly put his bow away.

Tang Yueshan wasn't afraid that Gu Jiao would run away at this moment, because if she dared to run away, it would be an offense against the imperial carriage, and he would have a legitimate reason to shoot her into a hedgehog!

Tang Yueshan lifted his robe and knelt down in the direction of the imperial carriage.

As soon as he knelt down, the guards and archers around him also knelt down.

Gu Jiao came to Gu Chengfeng's side, knelt down on one knee, looked at Gu Chengfeng who was lying on the ground, pinched his wrist, and placed three fingers on his pulse.

Gu Chengfeng was in pain all over his body, but it wouldn't be to say that he had suffered serious internal injuries. The "hitting a cow from across the mountain" technique has certain limitations and its power is not very strong.

Gu Chengfeng was a little stunned by the beating and couldn't move for a moment.

Eight strong and powerful eunuchs, each a master of the imperial palace, carried the large phoenix palanquin made of golden nanmu wood without losing their composure.

The silk gauze from the South China Sea hanging above the canopy of the phoenix carriage is worth its weight in gold, and is priceless.

Each of the four sides of the silk fabric is embroidered with a golden phoenix in a different form. When the night wind blows through the silk fabric, the golden phoenixes shimmer, as if they are about to take flight at any moment.

Tang Yueshan was a decisive and ruthless general, but at this moment he had to admit that Empress Dowager Zhuang had a powerful aura.

In this world, women already face greater difficulties than men. To accomplish the same thing, women may have to put in ten times more effort.

Tang Yueshan never underestimated this woman in the harem. She outlived the late emperor, deposed the former crown prince when she had no children, and still became the empress dowager ruling from behind the curtain even after the new emperor had come of age.

How could her skills be lacking?

The phoenix carriage stopped, closer than Tang Yueshan had imagined. Tang Yueshan was somewhat flattered and almost forgot that there were two assassins behind him.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you!" Tang Yueshan knelt and bowed. "I wonder why Your Majesty has left the palace so late?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang generally did not leave the palace, after all, the royal rules were there. Although many of the things Empress Dowager Zhuang did were against the rules, she also distinguished between what was serious and what was not. She would try to put her most rebellious acts into things she had to do, such as ruling from behind the curtain.

From behind the veil, came Empress Dowager Zhuang's long and authoritative voice: "Do I need to report to you what I do?"

Tang Yueshan was slightly taken aback.

That's incredibly inhumane.

As a favored minister of the Empress Dowager, why did the Empress Dowager seem distant and aloof when she spoke to him?

However, considering Empress Dowager Zhuang's unpredictable temperament, Tang Yueshan didn't take it too seriously.

"I have overstepped my bounds, please forgive me, Your Majesty." He bowed and waited for Empress Dowager Zhuang to tell him to rise.

To his surprise, Empress Dowager Zhuang did not call him to get up. She simply said indifferently, "You've brought so many people to make a scene at the palace gate. What? Are you planning a rebellion?"

This place is still some distance from the palace gates, and besides, he was accompanied by guards from his residence, not soldiers from the military camp, so how could there be any talk of rebellion?

Tang Yueshan reported: "Your Majesty, tonight an assassin broke into the Marshal's mansion. I came here to capture the assassin. I hope Your Majesty will understand the truth!"

Empress Dowager Zhuang coldly interrupted him: "You caught the assassin near the palace. If I hadn't come out to stop you, would you have stormed into the palace in a minute!"

So the Empress Dowager left the palace to stop him?

After the Empress Dowager promoted him to Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces, his relationship with the Emperor became increasingly tense. At this critical juncture, he could not afford to make any mistakes.

Tang Yueshan cupped his hands in apology: "Your Majesty, I have been reckless. Please forgive me!"

Empress Dowager Zhuang said earnestly, "I discovered you tonight, and I certainly believe in your loyalty. But if His Majesty finds out, it won't be something that can be resolved with just a few words. That's why I promoted you; don't cause me any more trouble."

Tang Yueshan kowtowed and bowed, saying, "Your subject knows his crime!"

Empress Dowager Zhuang then said, "Alright, since they are assassins, let's deal with them to avoid any unforeseen complications, Eunuch Qin."

Eunuch Qin stepped forward: "This old servant is here."

Empress Dowager Zhuang calmly instructed, "Go and drag those two assassins into the woods and deal with them cleanly."

"Yes!" Eunuch Qin bowed and responded, then raised the whisk in his hand and pointed to four of his accompanying guards, "You come with me."

The guards followed Eunuch Qin, passed by Tang Yueshan, and came to Gu Jiao and Gu Chengfeng.

Gu Chengfeng clutched his chest, which ached so badly it felt like it was about to explode, and said with difficulty, "Wait...you can't kill us...I am..."

"What is it?!" Eunuch Qin grabbed a handkerchief and used it to tightly seal Gu Chengfeng's mouth.

Gu Chengfeng was dragged into the woods not far away, and Gu Jiao was taken along with him.

The sound of swords being drawn echoed through the woods. A flash of cold light, and before the two could even scream, their throats were slit in unison, killing them instantly.

A moment later, two executioners came to report, their swords still dripping with blood, the blood steaming hot.

Although the clues have been cut off, it may not be a bad thing, as it saves them the opportunity to reveal his secret in front of the Empress Dowager.

"Is there anything else?" Empress Dowager Zhuang asked.

Tang Yueshan hurriedly said, "That's all, I'll take my leave now."

The assassin is dead; now he can safely pursue Gu Changqing's trail.

In the woods, Gu Chengfeng watched as Eunuch Qin took out two bottles and instructed two guards to collect the chicken blood.

That's right. He really thought he was going to die, but the guard swiftly swung his knife and only managed to kill two pheasants in the grass.

Eunuch Qin said, "Wild pheasant blood is very fresh; it's delicious when made into spicy blood curd."

Gu Chengfeng: "..."

Is this even the point?

I was almost scared to death when you told me this?

The Empress Dowager ordered you to kill people, but you ended up killing chickens. Is that really a good thing?

And you—

He looked at Gu Jiao.

I was terrified! Is it appropriate for you to remain so calm?

Gu Chengfeng thought this was the biggest shock of the night, but what happened next made him kneel down on the spot.

Eunuch Qin took the two of them to see Empress Dowager Zhuang.

He figured that he could no longer keep his identity as the son of a marquis, and that since Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Emperor were at odds, she would certainly not let him off easily.

Just as his thoughts were turning, he saw a small black shadow flash past his side, heading straight for Empress Dowager Zhuang's imperial carriage!

Gu Chengfeng felt a chill run down his spine!

You, you, you, you... Don't assassinate the Empress Dowager!

The assassination attempt is impossible!

You'll get poked like a hedgehog!

Gu Chengfeng was injured and unable to move easily, so he couldn't stop him. He saw a little man in black rush into Empress Dowager Zhuang's carriage.

He covered his eyes, unable to bear looking down.

However, instead of hearing the sound of a guard drawing his sword, he heard the little girl's voice calling out, "Grandma!"

The voice was clear and melodious, carrying a hint of obedience and surprise.

Gu Chengfeng suspected he was hallucinating. He mustered his courage and removed his hands from his eyes and brows, and saw the girl sitting next to the majestic Empress Dowager Zhuang, who was as dignified as an emperor, behind the gauze curtain that was being blown by the wind.

Empress Dowager Zhuang remained as sacred and unapproachable as ever, but she actually raised her hand and removed Gu Jiao's mask, holding it in her hand and muttering with particular disdain, "It's so ugly, can't she wear something nicer?"

"This looks nice," Gu Jiao said. "I like it."

"Take it and burn it." Empress Dowager Zhuang handed the peacock feather mask to Eunuch Qin.

Eunuch Qin accepted it respectfully.

It wasn't really because it was ugly, but because Tang Yueshan saw the mask and had to destroy the evidence.

Gu Jiao was reluctant to part with it.

Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't rush to reminisce with Gu Jiao, but instead glanced at the dumbfounded Gu Chengfeng: "Who is he?"

Gu Chengfeng had been to the clinic and Bishui Hutong, but unfortunately he had never met the old lady.

“Someone I know.” Gu Jiao didn’t reveal Gu Chengfeng’s identity.

Empress Dowager Zhuang gave Eunuch Qin a wink, and Eunuch Qin understood. He came up to Gu Chengfeng, smiled, and said, "Young hero, let me take you back."

Gu Chengfeng snapped out of his daze, glanced at Gu Jiao a few times, and Eunuch Qin said with a smile, "The young lady will be fine."

Gu Jiao only said that Gu Chengfeng was someone she knew. Eunuch Qin did not know the depth of their relationship, nor how much Gu Chengfeng knew about Gu Jiao, so he did not mention her surname and only addressed her as "Miss".

Gu Chengfeng's mind was in complete chaos. He was still in a state of utter confusion, wondering how his sister knew the Empress Dowager, why his sister and the Empress Dowager were so close, why his sister called the Empress Dowager "aunt," and why his sister... no, she wasn't his sister.

They didn't notice Qin Gonggong's choice of words at all.

However, he could tell that Gu Jiao would be alright. He cleared his throat and said to Eunuch Qin, "Please trouble you to take me to Qianyin Pavilion on Luoyang Street."

"Alright," Eunuch Qin replied with a smile.

(End of this chapter)