Chapter 114 Chapter 114 The Storm is Coming (Eleven...
"Daddy, do I look good in this outfit today?"
Ji Xun, wearing a brand new gown, spun around in front of Xie Helan with her arms outstretched. She pointed with her little hand at the embroidery on the collar, "Daddy, look! There are cranes, unicorns, and so many other beautiful designs!"
Ever since Ji Lian married a foreigner, Xie Helan had hardly smiled. At this moment, he forced a smile and said, "It looks good. Don't get it dirty when we eat at the banquet later."
"Xun'er knows."
Ji Xun jumped and ran out, and when he reached the palace gate, he suddenly turned back and said, "Daddy, I'm going to Qilin Palace first!"
Several personal palace maids immediately lowered their heads and followed him.
Yuan Fuxue came out of the side hall carrying a medicine box and bowed to Xie Helan. "Your Excellency, today's pulse check has been completed. You may now attend the banquet."
Xie Helan took a few steps forward, took Yuan Fuxue's hand, and said gently, "Based on your relationship, you are also Xun'er's uncle. Why don't you come with me? We've set up a special seat for you."
"Thank you for your kindness, sir."
Ji Xun walked briskly through the vermilion corridor and ran into a palace servant holding a rosewood tray in the narrow passage.
Everyone's faces suddenly showed panic. They stepped aside to make way and whispered, "Your Highness, be careful!"
Ji Xun turned around to look at her personal palace maid, waved her hand, and laughed loudly, "You guys are running so slowly! Run faster! I won't wait for you!"
As soon as he turned around, he was greeted by a sea of crimson purple. The front of his robe was embroidered with a pair of cranes, wings spread and necks raised. Ji Xun raised his head, took a few steps back, and immediately saluted with both hands, "Greetings, Grand Minister of Agriculture Yuan."
Yuan Zhaoyun nodded with a smile: "I heard that today is your highness's birthday. Thanks to the grace of His Majesty, I have come to attend the banquet. Will your highness come with you?"
Ji Xun nodded, "Would the Grand Minister of Agriculture like to join me?"
"Thank you for not abandoning me, Your Highness."
An elder and a younger one walked side by side in the corridor, and the palace ladies all lowered their heads and followed slowly behind them.
Since Ji Xun became the governor, Xie Helan had never concealed the fact that her biological father was the late Yuan Fengjun, so she knew full well that Yuan Zhaoyun was her grandmother. However, due to her childish instinct, she subconsciously did not want to get too close to this grandmother.
Ji Xun quietly moved a few inches to the side.
"I wonder what book Your Highness has been reviewing recently?"
Ji Xun's resentment towards her grandmother intensified. Why did she always ask her about her homework when they were alone? She didn't like elders who constantly tested her on her homework!
Under pressure from her elders, and given that Yuan Zhaoyun was actually her teacher, Ji Xun had no choice but to pick out familiar content to respond to.
As she spoke, she suddenly realized that she and Yuan Zhaoyun were no longer on the corridor leading to the Qilin Palace. Looking up, she saw a bluestone path leading to the heights of the city walls. Following this path and climbing the stone steps, they would reach the highest point of the imperial city.
She looked up and saw Yuan Zhao's smiling face, and a chill suddenly ran through her heart.
Grand Minister of Agriculture, why did you take her to the top of the city?
"Grand Minister of Agriculture, are we going up?" She asked in a timid voice. She looked back, but was shocked to find that the personal palace maid who had accompanied her had disappeared without a trace.
Yuan Zhaoyun extended his hand, his tone gentle but unyielding: "Your Highness, this is the first birthday gift I have prepared for you. Standing on this high vantage point, you can have a panoramic view of the entire majestic palace. Don't you want to take a look?"
Ji Xun was hesitant to extend his hand, his small eyebrows were wrinkled into a ball, and his face was full of confusion and bewilderment.
Yuan Zhaoyun still smiled, but a cold, resolute look flashed in her eyes. She thought, if she pushed Ji Xun here, he would either die or be crippled. The Great Zhou would never allow a disabled person to be crown prince.
Thinking of this, Yuan Zhaoyun sighed softly. Yunqing, will you blame me? But this is for the eternal ambition of the Runan Yuan family. What is the fate of a mere child compared to the rise and fall of my Yuan family?
Yunqing is the name of Yuan Zhaoyun's deceased eldest son.
Just as Ji Xun was hesitantly placing his hand into Yuan Zhaoyun's palm, he suddenly heard a loud cry: "Your Highness!"
She glanced sideways and saw Xie Qingyan striding towards her with a stern expression, followed closely by several officials in crimson robes.
She suddenly withdrew her hand, and the fear lingering in her heart disappeared at this moment.
Ji Xun quickly pulled his hand back, the fear in his heart instantly dissipated. He called out "Grandmaster" and ran to Xie Qingyan's side, tightly grasping his hand and saying anxiously, "You're finally here!"
She pinched Xie Qingyan's fingers and whispered, "Just now, the Grand Minister of Agriculture said he would take me to the top of the high wall to see the imperial city, but I don't want to go. Grand Tutor, please take me to the Qilin Palace."
The officials in scarlet robes came forward and saluted. Xie Qingyan looked at Yuan Zhaoyun coldly and said, "Grand Minister of Agriculture, it's late. There's still time for more." Then he leaned over to Ji Xun and said, "Your Highness, please accompany me to the banquet."
Yuan Zhaoyun calmly withdrew his hand and went to Qilin Hall with them.
When he reached the palace gate, Ji Xun saw the negligent palace servants and angrily scolded them, "Why didn't you follow me just now? If anything happens to me, can you bear the consequences?"
The palace maids all knelt on the ground, kowtowed tremblingly, and said, "Your Highness, please spare us! We were clearly following you, but for some reason, a group of people suddenly appeared and blocked our way. By the time we struggled to break free and catch up, your Highness was gone."
Ji Xun snorted and waved his hand, "Today is my birthday, so I won't punish you for now. When we return to Penglai Palace, I want you all to ride on my horses."
"yes."
The palace maids lowered their heads and followed Ji Xun into the hall.
Yuan Zhaoyun was about to take a step when a force suddenly grabbed her wrist, the force as heavy as iron, almost digging into her joints. She turned her head and met Xie Qingyan's cold eyes.
"Thank you, Master Situ, what do you mean?"
"What do you mean?" Xie Qingyan pressed his knuckles harder, "Don't you know better than I do?"
Yuan Zhaoyun whispered, "I'm afraid Grand Tutor Xie has misunderstood. I simply wish to show Your Highness the majestic grandeur of the Great Zhou Imperial City. Your Majesty has only one daughter, and she will inherit the throne in the future. Why wouldn't it be inappropriate for her to familiarize herself with the palace in advance?"
"It's just a child, why is the Minister of Agriculture so upset?"
Xie Qingyan angrily shook his wrist and said, "I want to ask the Minister of Agriculture, what exactly is your intention in placing the Qingluan Army within the Imperial Guards and transferring your trusted aides to the Jinwu Guards?"
Yuan Zhaoyun rubbed his wrist, half-smiling, "Although I am the Minister of Agriculture and not in charge of the security of the imperial city, I am concerned about the safety of the royal family. These deployments are all to strengthen the defense. Why should the Minister of Education be alarmed?"
With a flick of his sleeve, Yuan Zhaoyun entered the hall. Following the palace attendant's instructions, he was ushered into a seat. Xie Qingyan also sat down. "You know exactly what you are going to do. I just want to tell you that there is no paper that can cover up fire in this world. What you are thinking is also known to others."
"Oh?" Yuan Zhaoyun raised his sleeve and slowly poured a cup of tea, a smile on his lips. "Could it be that the Grand Tutor has already prepared a countermeasure? I remember that the Northern Army under your Xie family's command obeys Xie Tingyu, not you."
Xie Qingyan held her breath, her eyes fixed, and slowly surveyed her surroundings. The Imperial Guards stood in rows, their uniforms solemn, each holding a halberd. However, her heart sank. How many of them were loyal to the imperial family, and how many had already secretly defected to the Yuan clan?
A loud voice sang outside the palace, "Your Majesty has arrived—Your Majesty has arrived—"
Everyone stood up and bowed to welcome Ji Zhao and Xie Helan into the hall together.
Seeing the two of them sitting down, Ji Zhao said with a smile: "Today is my son Xun'er's birthday banquet. Please don't be so reserved and take a seat quickly."
As the sound of stringed instruments rose, palace attendants filed in, holding rosewood trays, carrying delicacies with bright colors and fragrant aromas.
Seeing the table full of delicious food, Ji Xun had already forgotten the fear he had just experienced on the high wall. He quickly picked up the ivory chopsticks with his little hands, his eyes shining, and couldn't wait to dig into the food.
Ji Zhao looked at Ji Xun with a smile on his face, but when he glanced sideways, he saw that Xie Helan still hadn't touched his chopsticks. His face immediately turned serious: "Today is Xun'er's birthday, are you going to spoil the fun like this?"
Xie Helan picked up a glass of fruit wine, bowed to Ji Zhaoxu, and drank it all with his sleeves covered. "I don't mean to spoil your fun, but I had a terrible dream last night and I really don't have an appetite today."
Now it is difficult for the two to maintain their superficial relationship, and Ji Zhao has not visited Penglai Palace for many days.
At the banquet, everyone was free to leave their seats and walk around, and some even personally held birthday gifts and respectfully presented them to Ji Xun.
During the event, someone presented a Cuju ball painted with colorful lacquer and gold, while others presented a set of dazzling riding and archery uniforms.
Until a palace attendant, holding a sealed sandalwood box in both hands, slowly presented it to Ji Xun's desk and said respectfully, "This is a gift carefully selected for Your Highness by many nobles with all their heart and soul. Please open it yourself."
The next moment, a sharp child's scream suddenly rang out from the table.
Xie Helan stood up suddenly, only to see Ji Xun staggering towards him with tears in his eyes. He threw himself into his arms and hugged his waist tightly, burying his little face in his stomach, shaking all over, and sobbing uncontrollably.
He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a head rolling on the ground. The head had a hideous face, eyes wide open, and blood was stained and dried, obviously having been dead for a long time.
A scream instantly tore apart the originally lively atmosphere in the hall.
The banquet suddenly fell silent. The musicians hurriedly stopped playing their strings. The guests who were originally toasting each other all froze, their terrified eyes all falling on the bloody head.
Ji Zhao narrowed her eyes, her expression suddenly darkening. After seeing the object clearly, she suddenly flew into a rage, dropping the wine cup in her hand to the ground with a thud, splashing wine and scattering porcelain shards.
A sinister look suddenly flashed in her eyes as she glanced coldly at everyone present and shouted, "Gentlemen! What is the meaning of this? Why would you use a human head as a birthday gift for the princess?!"
Her voice was like thunder, and the hall was silent for a moment.
"You..." Ji Zhao said coldly, pausing between each word. "Are you... planning to blatantly rebel?"
As the voice fell, the swords of the Jinwu Guards behind the emperor flashed, surrounding the throne.
Some people at the banquet who were completely unaware of the situation immediately knelt down and spoke out to show their loyalty.
"Your Majesty, I don't know about this!"
"Your Majesty, the gift I present today is a jade pen, not something so shocking!"
"Your Majesty, my loyalty to the royal family is evident to all, Your Majesty!"
Xie Qingyan glanced sideways silently, and saw the man beside him straighten his sleeves and stand up. He slowly walked to the center of the banquet table and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I know the origin of this head."
Ji Zhao's eyes were like blades, and he asked in a cold voice, "Grand Minister of Agriculture, were you involved in the planning of this matter?"
Yuan Zhaoyun evaded the question, saying only, "Your Majesty, this is the head of Yu Yi, patriarch of the Yu family in Kuaiji County. Xie Tingyu, the local inspector appointed by Your Majesty, personally beheaded him and hung him outside the gate of Yu Garden for public display. Since Lord Xie left the county, someone has sent his head to Jiankang."
"Though Lord Xie acted decisively, this move has chilled the hearts of the nobles, Your Majesty!"
Ji Zhao angrily waved his sleeves, "What nonsense! You are so high up in power and yet you don't understand the big picture! I am promoting the policy of Tuduan not only to strengthen the foundation of the country, but also to benefit the people. As the Minister of Agriculture, don't you see that this policy will benefit all the people?"
Yuan Zhaoyun lifted his robe, knelt on the ground, and said with a look of deep sorrow: "Your Majesty! Don't I know that local treasury can accumulate wealth for the country? Don't I know the suffering of the people? However, what Xie Tingyu did was not to treason the local people, but to treason the clan! He is undermining the foundation of our dynasty and destroying the pillars of your majesty's country!"
"Today, the Yu family's head can be hung on the door. Tomorrow! The Yuan family of Runan, the Wang family of Taiyuan, the Xi family of Gaoping... the entire court, the civil and military officials, the noble families of the world, whose head cannot be hung on the door?"
At this point, Yuan Zhaoyun raised his head, staring at Ji Zhao with a sharp gaze, "I implore Your Majesty to issue an imperial decree to recall Xie Tingyu, take away his military authority, and hand him over to the authorities for investigation!"
Ji Zhao flicked her sleeves, swept all the delicacies on the table to the ground, and said sternly, "Is this your intention today? Or..." She swept her eyes across the hall, pointing at the seats, "Among you, are there any who share the same thoughts as her?"
Before he had finished speaking, people began to stand up from the table, bow their heads, and kneel, echoing Yuan Zhaoyun's words. In an instant, more than half the people at the table were lying on the ground.
"Okay! Okay! Okay!"
Ji Zhao laughed three times, a hint of coldness in his laughter. "You noble families, I'm only taking away a few of your rights, yet you're so petty. What if... I refuse to allow it?"
Yuan Zhaoyun said coldly, "In this case, Your Majesty will have no choice but to retire to another palace and appoint someone else to ascend the throne."
"You actually want to force the emperor to abdicate?"
"How dare you force the emperor to abdicate?"
Ji Zhao was incredulous and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Where are the Jinwu Guards? Where are the Imperial Guards? Kill all these traitors and villains without mercy!"
The clanging of swords unsheathed was followed by the rapid, heavy thud of iron boots clashing against the ground, mingled with the clang of armor plates clashing against each other. The palace gates flew open, and a large number of soldiers poured in like a tide.
However, the situation suddenly turned around.
One group of soldiers, having just entered the hall, immediately turned their blades and pointed them at Ji Zhao, who sat on the throne, with murderous intent. Another group, with their swords drawn, pointed their spears directly at Yuan Zhaoyun and the kneeling ministers. In an instant, the flashes of swords clashed, and it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe.
The leader was wearing distinctive armor and had a sword hanging from his waist. He was the new commander of the Jinwu Guard, who was from the Yuan family of Runan!
The hall was in chaos, with screams and the sound of blades piercing flesh intertwined.
Xie Qingyan abruptly stood up. Although he had made arrangements, he hadn't anticipated the sheer number of men Yuan Zhaoyun had ambushed. He quickly ordered his personal guards to escort Xie Helan, Ji Xun, Yuan Fuxue, and their families back. The soldiers, their only target being Ji Zhao, saw his men retreating in panic and didn't bother to stop them.
However, one of the assassins, having received a secret order to spare no one, swung his sword towards Ji Xun. The Jinwu Guards quickly stepped forward to block the attack.
Although military generals such as Huan Zhanyue and Wang Lanzhi were present at the banquet today, they were currently engaged in a bloody battle in the palace and could hardly escape, so few of them could protect the young girl in time.
Ji Xun stumbled in her panicked escape. Looking back, she saw two men with their ring-handled swords raised high. She screamed. In a flash, a gleaming Great Mo sword slashed through the air, severing the two men in half. A cascade of blood splattered against the red wall, a horrifying sight.
The sound of hooves came suddenly like thunder. Ji Xun looked up and saw a black-bodied horse with snow-hoofed steed carrying a man in a veiled hat galloping towards him. Behind it was a group of soldiers, including the female general with a Mo Dao.
The man dismounted, grabbed Ji Xun and said anxiously, "They want to kill you! Come with me!"
Ji Xun clutched the hand, sobbing, and cried out, "Is that you, uncle?"
The man beneath the veil nodded slightly. It was Ji Lian. He lifted Ji Xun onto his horse and said in a deep voice, "I came here through the secret passage in the palace. We can't stay here for long. Follow me!"
——
Due to Tuduan's strategy, Xie Tingyu entered the city a few days late, but by coincidence, the day he entered the city was Ji Xun's birthday party.
Upon entering the city, she encountered several troops galloping towards the imperial city, including members of prominent clans like the Longxi Li family. The imperial palace was already protected by the Jinwu Guard and the Imperial Guards, so why were these foreign troops suddenly deployed?
This is clearly something very wrong.
Xie Tingyu immediately decided to enter the palace.
"I know a secret passage that's faster than these." Ji Lian said quickly, reaching out to hold her wrist tightly, his eyes clear and firm, "Let me go with you, I can help you."
"Lianlian is truly my favorite eloquent woman."
Ji Lian led the way and entered the palace through a secret passage. During the journey, they were divided into three teams, each led by Xie Tingyu, Ji Lian, and Yuan Wangshu.
Xie Tingyu's team headed straight for the city wall. She needed to occupy a high point to see the overall situation. As soon as she reached the top, she ran into an old acquaintance.
But several groups of noble tribes were seen entering the city gate in carriages drawn by four horses. The first one to step out was Ji Yin, who had left his fiefdom without permission, followed by Li Shanchang.
Ji Yin said loudly: "I want to ride a horse in this palace. From today on, this is my territory, so I can do whatever I want."
Xie Tingyu ordered, "Bring me my bow."
Yu Wen Yue handed the bow to Xie Tingyu and watched her draw the bow and arrow excitedly.
Great! I can see Wang Xuanji shooting arrows again!
There was a rustling sound in the air, and Li Shanchang's face changed drastically. He shouted in alarm: "Your Highness, be careful!"
The arrow flew past Ji Yin's ear like a meteor, causing a sharp pain and blood splattering.
Li Shanchang looked up and saw armored soldiers standing on the city walls. In the center of the tower stood a man, wearing a shield formation, with a bow and armor in hand, looking very heroic.
That person looks extremely familiar!
Li Shanchang's lips trembled, "Thank you, thank you Tingyu..."
Xie Tingyu laughed heartily and shouted condescendingly, "Master Li, how are you? But you didn't expect me to show up in the imperial city?"
Ji Yin had been away from Jiankang for a long time and had no idea who Xie Tingyu was. Ever since the night the nobles knocked on her door, saying they wanted to force the emperor to abdicate and install a new ruler, she had rushed there in a daze, not even considering that she had to find out who was on duty at the court beforehand.
So, she is really a complete idiot.
She was still sitting on the horse, turning her head to look at Li Shanchang, "Who is this person?"
Seeing that Li Shanchang had no response, Ji Yin turned to look at Xie Tingyu, "Who are you?"
"Me?" Xie Tingyu answered loudly, summoning all his heart and soul. "I am the Marquis of Wu'an, Xie Tingyu of the Xie family of Chenjun!"
All the way, Xie Tingyu pondered Ji Yin's true intentions in escorting him out of his fiefdom. Standing atop the city wall, she could take in the entire chaotic battle in front of Qilin Hall. She peered closely and saw Ji Zhao's face, blood oozing from his forehead, a distraught expression. All around him, the soldiers continued to charge at her like a tide.
Looking at the stupid and foolish royal family members below, Xie Tingyu probably guessed the intentions of this group of nobles. It turned out that today was the day they planned to force the emperor to abdicate!
Xie Tingyu raised his voice and asked calmly, "Are you the new emperor they have chosen?"
Li Shanchang's palms were sweating, and he was about to pull Ji Yin off his horse when he heard her loudly reply, "Yes. Are you also coming to the city to meet me at this time?"
Xie Tingyu raised the corners of his lips slightly when he heard this, but there was no smile in his eyes. He just said lightly: "You guessed wrong, I am here to take your life."
Before she finished speaking, she pulled a feathered arrow from her quiver and drew her bow like a full moon. The arrow whistled as it left the string, like a cold star piercing the sky, and went straight for Ji Yin's left eye.
Ji Yin was caught off guard and cried out in pain. His left eye was bleeding and he fell heavily from the horse.
Li Shanchang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his legs trembling. He heard the man on the wall say again: "Master Li, if you want to choose a new emperor, you can't choose someone so stupid!"
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The author has something to say: woc
When I first started this book, I really wanted to write 400,000 words.
I didn’t expect to write 40w
After that, it is very likely that I will write other works worth 500,000 or 600,000 yuan ([Starry Eyes][Starry Eyes][Starry Eyes][Starry Eyes]
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