Chapter 56 Ending (Part 1) This is treason.
"What did you say?!"
Zhou Heng threw the scripture in his hand, stood up from his chair, his face full of shock.
"This evening, half an hour before the usual curfew, the three major camps suddenly sent out several teams of troops to blockade the Forbidden City, and no news could come out from inside." Mu Guang replied.
"Did you send someone to sneak in and take a look?" Zhou Heng asked.
Mu Guang shook his head, his brow furrowed. "We have sent someone, but no news has come out yet. However, I have heard that several elders in the cabinet, as well as Prince Xuan and other princes, are now also imprisoned in the palace."
"Which elders?"
"Lord Chen, Lord Wen, and Lord Li, they are on duty today."
"Chen Yi?" Zhou Heng sneered. "He's already eighty-two, so old he's almost half buried in the ground. What's his use?"
At this time, the servant outside knocked on the door: "Your Highness, Prince Consort Zhang is here to visit."
Zhou Heng frowned subtly and whispered, "It's already this late, what's he doing here?" Then he raised his voice, "Please invite the Prince Consort in."
Zhang Jin was in such a hurry that he didn't even change out of his official robes. He entered the study, bowed, and anxiously asked, "Your Highness, may I ask if Xianxian has been to the palace?"
"No, did he go out today?" Zhou Heng asked.
Zhang Jinwei said, "Today it's his turn to serve the Emperor in the palace. Normally he would be home before dark, but tonight, even after dinner was served, he's nowhere to be seen."
"So he entered the palace today?" Zhou Heng asked seriously.
Zhang Jinwei: "Yes, he went there early this morning. I thought he might stop by your place on his way back, so I came to the palace to ask about the situation."
"Sir Zhang, the princess may be trapped in the palace." Mu Guang told Zhang Jinwei everything about the blockade of the Forbidden City.
"...Chen Yi has gone crazy." Zhang Jinwei was silent for a long time after hearing this. His expression gradually became solemn, and he squeezed out these words from his lips.
Sealing the Forbidden City was no easy task. Chen Yi must have united with the Jinyiwei and some of the generals from the three camps to complete the blockade in just over an hour. As for why he did this... perhaps Chen Yi had lived too long, grown impatient, and before his death, he wanted to do something big—force the Yongchang Emperor to abdicate, support the new emperor, and pave the way for his son and his family.
"Old bastard." Zhou Heng sneered. He looked at Mu Guang, tapping the table with his fingertips. "How is the emperor today?"
Mu Guang pondered for a moment and said, "It is said that he was still energetic in the morning and drank half a bowl of ginseng soup, but no news came from the palace after that."
No more news? The emperor's health and well-being were crucial to the fate of the imperial court, yet even the Imperial Guards had lost control of such information... And Zhou Xian was still in the palace. Zhang Jinwei suddenly sensed something was wrong. He closed his eyes and asked in a deep voice, "Is Liu Renfu also on duty today?"
Mu Guang: "Yes." As soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed and he said sternly: "He and Chen Yi are in cahoots!"
Liu Renfu was the eunuch who had accompanied Emperor Yongchang since he was a child. Emperor Yongchang had been calling him "Big Companion" for decades. If there was anyone else Emperor Yongchang could trust, it would only be this fat and powerful eunuch.
If this eunuch also...
At the end of his life, Emperor Yongchang was really abandoned by his friends and relatives.
…
"Ouch! Why are you kneeling on the ground, Prime Minister? It's snowing! Hurry up and get up! I'm worried you'll freeze." Liu Renfu came forward with a fake smile. He took small steps, his fat body trembling, but his hands were ridiculously small. He leaned over and helped Chen Yi up with a smile.
The snow gradually grew heavier, piling up on his head and shoulders. Zhou Xian shook himself lightly, and the white snow fell gently. He said, "Eunuch Liu, the Prime Minister said he would come to see the emperor off. Tell me, was the emperor quite energetic just now?"
Zhou Shan hoped that Emperor Yongchang would die soon, and indeed he deserved to die. However, Chen Yi's appearance was very strange, and Zhou Shan smelled a conspiracy in him.
"Yes, he is quite energetic." Liu Renfu said with a smile.
"Sister Jiayi, are you attending to our father today?" Prince Xuan interjected with a forced smile. Ever since the military rations incident, Prince Jing had lost support at court, making it virtually impossible for him to participate in the succession struggle. This left Prince Xuan alone to stir up trouble. He wasn't particularly intelligent, but he'd managed to survive until now. He had a lucky life, to be sure.
Zhou Xian didn't want to talk to him, worried that she would be infected with his stupidity, so she just said "hmm" casually.
King Xuan's smile froze on his face.
Liu Renfu and Chen Yi were having a pleasant conversation on the side. Several cabinet ministers behind them had heavy expressions on their faces, staring at the lights coming from the Qianqing Palace. One of them walked up and whispered a few words in Chen Yi's ear.
Chen Yi listened with a smile on his face. His eyelids drooped, and he nodded from time to time. His gaze shifted back to Zhou Xian: "This old minister wants to ask, does the princess stay in the Palace of Heavenly Purity from morning till night?"
"It is my duty as a son and a minister to serve my father when he is ill. I dare not neglect it." Zhou Xian said calmly.
Chen Yi was trembling as Liu Renfu helped him to his feet. He was already too old, nearly dying, yet he clung to his death, even attempting to send the emperor away. He lifted his eyelids, looked at the snow on Zhou Xian's shoulders with a half-smile, and said, "Your Highness is truly filial. It's just that His Majesty's health is not good, and the imperial physician says he needs to rest. Your Highness has been watching over him all day, and I'm afraid he must be tired."
He paused, his eyes sweeping over the stiff-faced Prince Xuan, and smiled at Zhou Xian, "In my opinion, the Forbidden City is under curfew, and the princess probably won't be able to return home tonight. Why don't you go to the side hall to rest first, and let Prince Xuan come down to tend to him?"
Humph, this old man's choice of the new emperor is King Xuan? His vision is quite poor... Does he want to be the regent minister who controls the court?
He is still strong despite his old age.
Zhou Xian snorted inwardly, raised his chin, and looked down at the man in front of him coldly, "That's not necessary. Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, has already said that the Emperor needs to rest. If my brother were to go, I'm afraid that the crowds would disturb his recovery."
"Haha, Princess, you're right. However, Your Highness Prince Xuan and I still have to go and see His Majesty. Please forgive me, Princess." Chen Yi smiled and stroked his white beard, then changed the subject, "Speaking of which, Princess, you've been staying in the Palace of Heavenly Purity all day. Did you hear anything? Or did you see anyone?"
Zhou Xian frowned: "No."
"Really?" Chen Yi's cloudy eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"really."
"good."
Chen Yi put away his smile. The snow reflected on his face, casting a shadow of foreboding darkness. He clapped his hands and shouted coldly, "Come, ask the princess, Lord Wen, and Lord Li to go to the side hall to rest!"
"You!" Zhou Shan's expression changed as he saw several dark figures flying out from the darkness. They were actually the Jinyiwei! These Jinyiwei were all strong and muscular, with extraordinary skills. They were about to grab Zhou Shan with a few taps of their toes.
"Master Prime Minister! Chen Yi!" Seeing this, Wen Ge Lao's expression changed drastically. He pointed at Chen Yi and roared, "This is not what you said! You, you are plotting treason!"
"Plotting treason?" Chen Yi smiled faintly. "Why do you say that, Lord Wen? I think you're freezing! Why don't you take Lord Wen to the side hall to rest?"
The Jinyiwei were merciless and clamped Wen Gelao's arms directly. Wen Gelao struggled continuously and cried out sadly: "I'm on a pirate ship. I didn't judge people well! Chen Yi, there are thousands of ministers and relatives outside the Forbidden City. You can fool the people in the palace, how can you fool the whole world!"
Chen Yi burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Lord Wen, how can you even talk about deception? Today's deed is done, and everyone in the world must admit it even if they don't want to! Besides, it was you, Lord Wen, who told this old minister that the East Factory's expert in charge of the imperial edict had taken refuge in the Palace of Heavenly Purity... Lord Wen, you're aiding and abetting the evil, why are you pretending to be innocent?"
Lord Wen's face turned pale instantly.
Will?
Zhou Xian's heart skipped a beat. It turned out that they blocked the Forbidden City and approached the Palace of Heavenly Purity because of the imperial edict.
After all, tampering with the original will was more feasible than forging it with much fanfare. The imperial seals of Daning were of various types, managed by eunuchs from the Imperial Treasures Department and the Imperial Household Department, and could only be used after undergoing numerous verifications. Forging such seals would be incredibly difficult, but if they could obtain the original will, whether or not it had written on it, it would be much easier for Chen Yi and his followers.
"Everyone, please refrain from resistance." Chen Yi let out a smug smile, casually gathering his sleeves. "Now, most of the generals from the three camps have surrendered and are waiting to support the new emperor. As long as you don't cause any trouble, you will surely be meritorious officials when the new emperor ascends the throne. That would be an unparalleled honor. Why go against me, your old minister?"
After saying this, Chen Yi looked at Zhou Shan meaningfully.
It was snowing and freezing cold, but Zhou Xian still broke out in a cold sweat.
…
"There is only one possibility for Chen Yi to seal off the Forbidden City."
Zhang Jinwei pointed at the defense map of the capital on the table with a heavy tone.
"They already know the whereabouts of the will, and it is in the Forbidden City."
Zhou Heng sneered, "Is there really such a thing as a will? From what I know about the emperor, he would rather leave nothing behind and let everyone fight each other to the ground. Only then would he feel comfortable."
"But the current situation is probably beyond the emperor's control." Zhang Jinwei's finger hovered over Xihua Gate. "Since Chen Yi dared to do this, it means he controls at least half of the three camps. He now has troops and people. If he gets the imperial edict..."
"Your Highness, there is no need to be so pessimistic. I inspected the Jinyiwei before I came here. Most of the Jinyiwei and my colleagues knew nothing about this matter. At least we can take control of the Jinyiwei." Mu Guang said with a fist salute.
"Your Highness, I have an idea. I wonder if Your Highness dares to do it."
Zhang Jinwei turned his head, the depths of his eyes were dark, but his expression was somewhat indifferent. His posture was so calm that people could sense a certain indifference.
"Just say it." Zhou Heng had a bad feeling.
"Chen Yi is guilty of treason. He won't let the emperor survive this night. This presents both a danger and a unique opportunity for Your Highness," Zhang Jinwei said calmly. "He has the Three Great Battalions, and we have the Imperial Guard. I don't even think he can completely incite the rebellion of the Three Great Battalions and the surrounding military camps. We can still secure a considerable amount of manpower... If Your Highness dares, I will persuade Elder Mei and Minister of War Jiang to obtain the military order for Your Highness. We can mobilize the troops surrounding the capital and march directly to the Forbidden City to eliminate the emperor's entourage."
Zhou Heng narrowed his eyes.
To be honest, he had always thought that his brother-in-law was too arrogant. Although he was talented, he was probably just a bookish man who kept his word. Now he actually took the initiative to say such words.
"Prince Consort, you need to think this through." Zhou Heng sized Zhang Jinwei up with a serious expression. "Chen Yi is forcing the emperor to abdicate, and so are we. If he wins, we'll be traitors. Do you want me to take that gamble?"
Zhang Jinwei nodded: "Yes, Your Highness, do you dare to bet?"
"...Zhang Jinwei, you're so brave." Zhou Heng suddenly laughed. "Why do you think I wouldn't dare? You're right. This is a golden opportunity. The emperor will die, the will is missing, and the throne is vacant. Whether you or I are trying to take advantage of the situation or truly want to make a difference, this opportunity cannot be missed."
"Everything else is another matter." Zhang Jinwei said sincerely, "My top priority is to bring Shanshan home."
Zhou Heng was startled. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Indeed, my sister is still inside." He then opened the window, put his finger to his lips, and blew a whistle. A dark figure descended. It was his personal guard. Zhou Heng whispered a few words to the guard, then closed the window again. He returned to the table and pointed at the deployment map of the three major camps. "If Chen Yi wants to incite rebellion against the three major camps, he will definitely start with the Five Army Camp and the Three Thousand Battalion. These are elite divisions, and he will absolutely not give up. My dear husband, please try to mobilize the Divine Machine Camp. It doesn't necessarily require firing, but at least it will have a deterrent effect."
"I understand." Zhang Jinwei's finger stopped at Xihua Gate. "When everything is ready, we will meet at Xihua Gate. As for those generals who have been transferred here, Your Highness, it depends on how you lead them."
The three of them discussed the plan in detail for more than half an hour.
Mu Guang is responsible for stabilizing the Jinyiwei and leading the Jinyiwei to act according to circumstances. He also has friends with high official positions in the three major camps, and he will go to contact them to test them and try his best to persuade them.
As for Zhang Jin, the doctor of the Ministry of War could mobilize the three camps in the name of strengthening patrols. He was also a student of the Minister of Rites Mei Ziqian. At the same time, his immediate superior, the Minister of War Jiang Chong, also valued him very much. If they could convince these two important officials, they could even transfer the border troops closest to the capital.
"Your Highness, Lord Mei and Lord Jiang need your trust," Zhang Jinwei reminded.
Zhou Heng nodded. He knew that he had to get involved himself in order to break the deadlock.
At this moment, there was a noise outside the house. The three of them immediately held their breath. They only heard a few knocks on the door, and then a clear and calm voice slowly said, "Ah Heng, it's me, Fang Yuan."
——The Jade Monk.
Monk Yu changed into night clothes, his smooth, boiled egg-shaped hair was wrapped in black cloth, and with a faint smile on his face, he walked into the house and bowed to each of the three people.
"You've arrived just in time," Zhou Heng said. "The Forbidden City is under siege by rebels, and Mu Guang's men have gone without returning. With your advanced martial arts skills and exceptional martial arts skills, infiltrating the Forbidden City won't be difficult. Later, you'll take the other Jinyiwei with you and try to retrieve Shanmei first."
Monk Yu was slightly surprised: "Why is the princess in the palace?" He immediately said: "I understand, but do you know the princess's specific location?"
"He's in the Qianqing Palace. Chen Yi won't let him go." Zhang Jinwei closed his eyes. "I even think... Chen Yi doesn't necessarily want to support Prince Xuan to ascend the throne."
After all, Zhou Shan was a man disguised as a woman, so he might not be unable to inherit the throne.
Zhang Jinwei let out a deep breath. His hand was covered by his sleeve, and he was still holding a piece of broken porcelain that he had forgotten to put down. His palm was covered in blood. This was because he accidentally dropped the cup when he heard that Zhou Shan did not return home. He was so anxious that he came out to look for someone with the broken porcelain piece in his hand.
It has to be faster, faster.
He wanted to take Zhou Shan home before dawn.
…
The atmosphere in the side hall was gloomy.
Lord Wen sat dejectedly in his chair, staring at the stove in a daze. The charcoal fire occasionally made a crackling sound, sparks flew everywhere, and the silence outside the hall was as dead.
Zhou Xian gathered his cloak and pressed his ear to the door, trying to discern any movement outside, but sadly, there was nothing but footsteps. His fingertips traced the cold doorframe, and he recalled Wen Ge Lao's words: "Has the East Factory expert who was responsible for the imperial edict taken refuge in the Palace of Heavenly Purity?" Chen Yi had not only instigated Liu Renfu's rebellion, but had also made Wen Ge Lao his pawn. This game was too extensive.
Moreover, he knew an old acquaintance among the masters of the Eastern Depot.
"Master Wen," Zhou Xian suddenly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, "Do you know who that expert is?"
Elder Wen suddenly looked up, a flicker of panic in his old eyes. "No, I don't know... Chen Yi only said that the man had the imperial edict hidden close to him and was a guard personally appointed by the late emperor before his death." He suddenly beat his chest and stamped his feet. "I was possessed by a demon! He said that as long as I could obtain the imperial edict and assist King Xuan in ascending the throne, I would be his loyal minister... But I didn't expect him to put the princess under house arrest, and I didn't expect him to even..."
The rest of the words were swallowed back by Lord Wen himself. Tears streamed down his face, and he didn't know whether it was regret or resentment.
Zhou Xian glanced at him briefly, and a picture of a eunuch emerged in his mind. He was short and thin, and had been with him for many years, until their falling out. He hadn't seen him in three years, and since the Sun Yi incident, he had seemed to have vanished. He had assumed he was dead. But as the Yongchang Emperor's sword, he wouldn't die so easily. Could it be...
"Where's Lord Li?" Zhou Xian changed the subject. In the chaos, Lord Li had been dragged off to a side hall by the Imperial Guards, leaving them alone in the hall.
"He's a disciple of Chen Yi." Elder Wen smiled bitterly. "If it weren't for Chen Yi's strong support, he wouldn't have been able to enter the cabinet."
"I see." Zhou Xian nodded and was about to ask again when the sound of orderly footsteps suddenly rang out from outside the hall. Two lines of Jinyiwei marched past, swords drawn. The clashing of weapons seemed to threaten someone's life, causing Wen Ge to tremble all over.
"Your Highness, the Prime Minister invites you in." A Jinyiwei pushed the door open and entered, his tone not being respectful.
Zhou Xian pulled his cloak closer, sweat forming on his fingertips in his sleeves. He glanced at Elder Wen, seeing him huddled in his chair, shivering, and knew he couldn't count on the old man.
"I understand." Zhou Shan picked up the hand warmer and followed the Jinyiwei into the main hall.
The main hall was still filled with the strong smell of medicine.
A faint cry could be heard from the dragon bed in the innermost room. Zhou Shan's heart skipped a beat and she was about to walk in quickly, but she saw Chen Yi leisurely walking out from behind the screen, looking at Zhou Shan with a bright smile.
"Who is crying?" Zhou Shan asked.
"Of course it's His Royal Highness Prince Xuan." Chen Yi smiled, his smile rather benevolent, his eyebrows twitching, but his words were less than pleasing. "Alas, Princess, you've heard it too. Prince Xuan isn't very capable of handling responsibilities, and I'm afraid he's not the right choice for a wise ruler."
Zhou Xian frowned: "What does that have to do with me?"
"This old minister thinks..." Chen Yi smiled meaningfully, "The princess can take her place."
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