Chapter 738 A Carefully Prepared Cage
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
Cheng Wanwan took a step forward and pulled the Empress Dowager sharply in front of her, using her back to block the knife.
However, the knife did not pierce her body, because she knew that the night would be fraught with danger before attending the palace banquet, so she was covered in stab-proof gear.
The Empress Dowager looked at Cheng Wanwan in disbelief: "Thank you, Consort Sui."
At this critical moment, the person who saved her was not Rongqing, whom she had raised since childhood, but a noblewoman she had never known well.
"Is Your Majesty alright?" Rong Qing belatedly realized what was happening and immediately took the Empress Dowager's arm. "I... I was so scared just now. I thought of the palace coup more than ten years ago, when Princess Duanmin and my parents died tragically in front of me. I was so scared, so very scared..."
"It's not your fault." The Empress Dowager patted the back of her hand. "It's too dangerous here, let's go quickly."
After He Xiao opened the secret passage, he turned back and engaged the man in black in combat.
After everyone entered the secret passage, He Xiao immediately slipped inside, pressed the button on the side of the stone wall, and the stone door slowly closed, isolating all dangers from the outside.
This is the royal family's secret chamber; only each emperor knows the entrance and exit.
But now, the emperor has brought so many people into the secret chamber.
Cheng Wanwan had to admit that this was a good emperor, who didn't hesitate to use his trump cards. However, there were also benefits to doing so. Everyone present would remember this favor and be more loyal to the emperor.
The secret chamber was very narrow. After walking for a while, it finally became spacious. After going down the steps and walking for about fifteen minutes, we saw a grand hall.
Everyone present was stunned and began to whisper among themselves.
"Surprisingly, such a large palace was built beneath the imperial palace."
"This place is similar to the Hall of Preserving Harmony; it can probably accommodate at least a thousand people."
"I wonder if there is enough water and food to sustain a thousand people for how many days?"
The emperor said calmly, "There is a granary on the left and a spring dripping from the artificial hill and pond above on the right, enough to sustain thousands of people for a month."
There were only a few hundred people in total, and upon hearing the emperor's words, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
However, if they really stayed here for a month, everyone should be worried, because it means that things have changed outside.
Everyone was quite frightened, so they found places to sit down and rest. Some people were injured, so they tore off their clothes to bandage themselves, which helped them catch their breath.
Madam Ruan said with a worried expression, "I don't know if Old Ruan can catch Xiao Jue. It's really worrying."
The emperor had made arrangements in advance for this palace coup. He Xiao was in charge of protecting the palace, while the General of the Cavalry was leading the attack outside. In addition, the Prince of Qin's Imperial Guards were lying in wait inside. With an attack from both inside and outside, they were determined to take Xiao Jue's head.
The only thing the emperor didn't understand was why Cheng Wanwan could write down the names of the traitorous ministers so accurately, so he asked her that question.
“Because I always wanted to deal with the He family.” Cheng Wanwan lowered her head and explained, “I was weak and thought of asking for outside help. So I did an in-depth analysis of the power background of the ministers in the court. I had noticed some clues before, but I didn’t dare to say it outright… It wasn’t until the He family’s affairs were exposed that I dared to explain to the Emperor. As it turns out, my speculation was not wrong.”
The Empress Dowager looked at her with much admiration: "Sui Shuren has only been in the capital for less than half a year, yet she has analyzed the court situation so thoroughly. She is indeed a wise person. It is a pity that she is a woman."
“Being a woman has its advantages, otherwise, if I were to analyze the court like this, the Emperor would surely be wary,” Cheng Wanwan said frankly. “And even though I am a woman, the Emperor has given me the title of a third-rank lady, which is my greatest honor and my source of confidence.”
The Empress Dowager grasped her hand: "If I had known earlier that Consort Sui was so clever and quick-witted, I should have summoned you sooner. But it's not too late now. You must come to the palace more often to keep me company and talk..."
Rong Qing, standing to the side, had a dark and gloomy face.
She was the Empress Dowager's favorite, but now, Lady Sui has taken her place!
She stole away Sixth Brother and even the Empress Dowager. Is this vile woman born to be her enemy?
"I think I heard a sound." Madam Ruan, who had been paying close attention to the outside, looked delighted. "It must be Old Ruan who has brought the situation in the palace under control and is here to greet the Emperor."
He Xiao's expression was grave: "The former crown prince has planted hidden sentries all over the palace. It's impossible for him to be captured so quickly. Everyone is standing behind me, so we must not let our guard down."
The court officials and noblewomen who were resting immediately stood up and hid within the safety perimeter formed by He Xiao and the Imperial Guards.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
A frantic voice suddenly came from above.
A group of people suddenly descended the steps at the entrance of the main hall. Leading them was Xiao Jue, who was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe. Behind him was He Ling, and behind them were countless men in black.
"Second brother, you didn't expect this, did you?" Xiao Jue cracked his knuckles. "I actually knew about this secret palace that belongs exclusively to the emperor. Aren't you surprised?"
A slight look of surprise appeared on the emperor's composed face, but he quickly suppressed it.
Xiao Jue was able to remain hidden for more than ten years, so he must have made ample preparations. It's not surprising that he was able to discover the entrance to the underground palace.
However, he hadn't considered this beforehand, which put him at a disadvantage.
Even if Ruan Jingwei manages to control the palace with his troops at this moment, he still cannot escape Xiao Jue's grasp.
Twenty years ago, the two were mortal enemies who were irreconcilable. Twenty years later, they faced each other again, once again in a situation where it was either one of them to die or the other to live.
"The reason I waited more than ten years to make my move was to find the entrance and exit of the underground palace." Xiao Jue sneered. "Fortunately, heaven rewards those who persevere. No, I should say that what belongs to me will always return to my hands. This underground palace was originally my territory, and after going around in circles, it has returned to my hands once again. By voluntarily entering here, you have entered the cage I have carefully prepared."
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers lightly.
"Click!"
A stone gate descended from the upper east side.
"Click!"
The stone gate on the west side also fell down.
Immediately afterwards, the door to the south was also closed.
Only the North Gate, where Xiao Jue was located, remained open.
“I’ve blocked all the passageways.” Xiao Jue laughed arrogantly. “This palace is your tomb. Enjoy it.”
He took out a tinderbox from his sleeve, blew on it, and a flame leaped up.
Cheng Wanwan's brows furrowed. The palace was made of rock on the outside and wood on the inside. If the fire spread, everyone in the palace would be doomed.
They weren't burned to death, but rather suffocated by the toxic fumes they couldn't escape before they were burned.
"If I die, your throne will forever be illegitimate." The current emperor spoke slowly and deliberately. "The jade seal in the Hall of Supreme Harmony is not the real jade seal. The real jade seal has long been hidden away by me."
He Ling immediately took out a bundle, and carefully handed a square object wrapped in yellow silk to Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue took out the jade seal, poked at the bottom, and then suddenly raised his hand and smashed the fake jade seal on the ground with a loud bang.
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