Chapter 129 Chu Huaiyu Blocks the Blade (The Scumbag Emperor's Body Gets a Critical Blow)
The joyous news of the Empress's pregnancy spread like wildfire throughout the palace and then to the imperial court.
The entire court was shaken. Now that the Empress was pregnant with the imperial heir, it concerned the continuation of the royal bloodline. The court officials were both gratified that the country would have a successor and secretly worried about the changing situation.
Those ministers who had previously remained silent due to the severe punishment of Xiao Ruoshui, Cheng Tianxiao, and others changed their expressions upon hearing the news of the Empress's pregnancy.
Those ministers who had previously criticized Lu Zhaoxue were now terrified, fearing that His Majesty would bring up the past and take his anger out on them.
Regardless of who they were, they all wrote to Chu Huaiyu to congratulate him, praising His Majesty and Empress for their harmonious relationship and the birth of an imperial heir, which was a blessing for the nation!
Chu Huaiyu was overjoyed, as he had been itching to share this momentous event with everyone.
Now that Lu Zhaoxue has given her approval, he immediately announced it to the whole world, reducing taxes and letting all people rejoice with him!
At this moment, inside Chengqian Palace.
Chu Huaiyu's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Zhaoxue, I have finally waited for this day! I want the whole world to know that I have an heir!"
"I also want everyone to know how much I value you and our child!"
Of course, the most important thing is to let Chu Siheng know!
Chu Huaiyu pondered to himself, his smugness impossible to conceal.
He also specially wrote a letter and ordered someone to personally deliver it to King Chu Siheng of the Southern Desert, making sure that Chu Siheng accepted the letter in person.
On this day, Chu Huaiyu ordered a grand celebration banquet to be held in the palace, announcing to the world that everyone was celebrating the Empress's pregnancy.
This banquet was unprecedented in its grandeur, and all those invited were people of high status.
Nobles and princes were dressed in fine robes and jade belts, imperial relatives wore pearl crowns and jade ornaments, and civil and military officials came in their official robes.
Everyone gathered together, and the hall was filled with clinking glasses and laughter.
The ministers raised their glasses one after another, offering their heartfelt congratulations to Chu Huaiyu: "Your Majesty is blessed with boundless good fortune, and the Empress is in good health. This is a great blessing for the nation!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on the birth of your imperial heir! Our dynasty will surely enjoy peace and prosperity for generations to come!"
Congratulations came in waves, one after another.
Chu Huaiyu sat upright on the dragon throne, his face full of undisguised pride and joy, his eyes and brows brimming with a relaxed smile.
He frequently raised his glass in response, but his gaze would occasionally drift to Lu Zhaoxue beside him. The imperial majesty of the past had faded from his eyes, leaving only an intense and unwavering love and tenderness.
Lu Zhaoxue was dressed in a bright yellow imperial court dress, adorned with a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes. Her face was beautiful, yet carried a hint of aloofness that was not easily detected.
Faced with the festive atmosphere and Chu Huaiyu's ardent gaze, Lu Zhaoxue nodded and smiled slightly. She knew in her heart that she still had to maintain the appearance.
The banquet was in full swing, with melodious and graceful music filling the air. Dancers, dressed in light and airy costumes, danced gracefully, and the atmosphere in the hall reached its peak.
Just then, a dark figure suddenly darted out from the line of palace servants serving wine!
The palace servant gripped a gleaming short blade tightly in his hand, his eyes filled with malice. Without warning, he charged towards Lu Zhaoxue, roaring, "Die!"
The unexpected turn of events startled everyone in the hall.
The dancers scattered in fright, and the princes and ministers also rose in panic, their faces filled with astonishment and fear. In an instant, the order in the palace was thrown into chaos.
Chu Huaiyu reacted very quickly, almost instinctively getting up and pulling Lu Zhaoxue behind him, while he himself stood in front of her.
"Pfft—"
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh rang out clearly as the short blade plunged fiercely into Chu Huaiyu's chest.
Blood instantly stained Chu Huaiyu's bright yellow dragon robe, flowing down the fabric and blooming into dazzling blood flowers.
Chu Huaiyu groaned, his face turning deathly pale. He staggered a few steps, then spat out blood, which fell onto the ground in front of him.
He turned his head with difficulty to look at Lu Zhaoxue, his eyes filled with worry, then everything went black and he fell straight backward.
"His Majesty!"
"Your Majesty..." A chorus of exclamations erupted in the hall, everyone panicked and in complete disarray.
Lu Zhaoxue looked at Chu Huaiyu's selfless act of shielding her from the knife, the blood gushing from him, and the last look he gave her before he fell.
A complex mix of emotions welled up in Lu Zhaoxue's heart.
Over the years, she has always harbored hatred towards Chu Huaiyu, hating his exploitation, his coercion, and the fact that he destroyed everything she had.
But just now, the way he stood in front of her without hesitation in that instant left Lu Zhaoxue somewhat bewildered...
But this feeling was fleeting. Lu Zhaoxue quickly composed herself and slowly stepped forward.
Chu Huaiyu is unconscious. If he loses his composure now, not only will he be in danger, but his years of patient planning will also be in vain.
Lu Zhaoxue took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the panicked crowd in the hall. Her clear, cold voice carried an undeniable authority: "All of you, calm down!"
Although her voice wasn't loud, it carried the majesty of an empress and the composure to remain calm in the face of danger, instantly quieting the chaotic scene.
Lu Zhaoxue continued in a deep voice, "His Majesty is currently seriously injured and unconscious. The most urgent task is to do everything possible to save him. Summon the imperial physician immediately!"
Eunuch Wei, who was standing beside him, immediately responded and scrambled to fetch the imperial physician.
After the palace servants carefully carried Chu Huaiyu to the inner hall, Lu Zhaoxue turned around and coldly swept her gaze over the princes and ministers in the hall.
Her tone grew increasingly grave: "A palace servant dared to attempt an assassination at a banquet! This concerns the safety of the royal family and the stability of the nation; this matter must not be tolerated! Where are the imperial guards?"
The imperial guards immediately responded and entered, kneeling in unison: "Your Majesty, we are here!"
"Immediately detain all the princes and ministers in the palace, seal the palace gates, and strictly prohibit anyone from entering or leaving. They will be investigated one by one, and you must find out who is behind this!"
Lu Zhaoxue's voice was cold and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
The princes and ministers all looked troubled; they harbored resentment, but none dared to utter a word of objection.
Firstly, this matter concerns the emperor's life, so it is reasonable for the empress to order an investigation.
Secondly, as Empress, Lu Zhaoxue is now in a coma, making her the highest authority in the palace and giving her the power to oversee the overall situation.
More importantly, it is common knowledge that Chu Huaiyu now dotes on Lu Zhaoxue. If he disobeys orders now, the emperor will surely be angry with him when he wakes up, and it may even implicate his family.
After much deliberation, the group had no choice but to remain silent and obediently stay where they were, allowing the imperial guards to keep watch over them.
In just one day, the palace servant who attempted the assassination confessed under torture.
The mastermind behind it all was Huo Chengbi, who had been banished to the cold palace.
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