Chapter 220 Turmoil
The eighth day of April is the annual Buddha Bathing Festival.
In previous years, the Empress Dowager enjoyed worshipping Buddha and would personally leave the palace every year to attend a vegetarian feast and Zen lectures at Guangji Temple. However, since the Empress Dowager had left Beijing earlier this year, the Buddha Bathing Festival was no less lively and even more intense than in previous years.
At the hour of You, Zhuang Wan came out of the shop after checking the accounts and was shocked to see monks all over the street.
"What's going on this year? Why are there so many monks?"
Qiu Tan, who had gone out with her, explained, "I heard that a great monk came to Guangji Temple this year to give a lecture, so monks from all over the country are flocking here. The temples and inns in the capital are all full, and many are even staying in temporary tents provided by the government."
"A great monk preaching? When did that happen?"
"I just heard about it yesterday. It happened recently. The monk went to the capital a few days ago."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Wan felt strange. How come the great monk who had come a few days ago became known to the whole world in just a few days?
However, she didn't have time to explore this matter at the moment. She turned to look at Qiu Tan and said, "Don't keep coming to me. You are no longer my maid. You will be Madam Lu in a few days. Don't call yourself a slave anymore."
Qiu Tan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she pursed her lips in displeasure: "This servant has served the young lady since she was young, and she never wants to be separated from her for the rest of her life."
"I didn't say I was breaking up with you." Zhuang Wan laughed. "I just wanted to make sure you know you have your own life in the future. You'll have your own family after you marry Guard Lu. Don't put me first. Qiu Tan is her own person. She's Zhuang Wan's friend and good partner."
"No, no, no, how can a servant be friends with the young lady?" Qiu Tan waved her hands quickly.
"Oh, I said that wrong. We're not friends, we're sisters." Zhuang Wan corrected herself and said seriously, "You said it yourself, you've been by my side since we were little. You're my family, so I'll be your sister from now on."
"I dare not do that either." Qiu Tan said in a low voice.
Oh! Take your time!
Zhuang Wan stopped dwelling on this question and asked her, "How are your wedding preparations going?"
At the beginning of the year, Guard Lü formally proposed marriage to Qiu Tan. The two were in love and in their prime, so Zhuang Wan arranged an engagement ceremony for them, with the wedding date set for June. It was now April, so there were only two months left. Fortunately, Guard Lü had saved a considerable amount of money over the years, and when he handed it all over to Qiu Tan, it amounted to several hundred taels.
Needless to say, with this savings, they could buy a small house in the capital. Zhuang Wan had also visited the house. It was a small courtyard with two entrances. Although the area was not large, it had front and back yards, a main hall, and side rooms, which was enough for the two of them to live in.
Normally, Guard Lu was busy, so Qiu Tan was in charge of everything. In the past, Qiu Tan wouldn't have done this. But this past year's training had made her grow considerably. She was decisive and efficient, and had the aura of a leader.
Hearing Zhuang Wan's question, Qiu Tan said seriously, "The preparations are almost done. Slave... I came to visit the young lady, and I have to go to Furong Cloth Shop to get her clothes tailored."
"That's great. If you're too busy, tell me and I'll send two people over to help you."
"No need, it won't be too grand. Lu Huai and I don't have many relatives, so we can just set up a few tables and have a lively feast."
Zhuang Wan nodded, watched her get on the carriage and leave, then planned to return to Pei Mansion.
There were still many monks on the street, and the carriage had difficulty moving. After stopping and starting for a long time, we finally arrived at the mansion before dark.
However, the mansion seemed different today than usual. As soon as she entered, Zhuang Wan felt the tense atmosphere.
The reason was simple: there were suddenly many more guards in the mansion, all of them with long swords on their waists and looked alert.
Zhuang Wan quietly asked Lixia, "What happened today? Why are there so many guards?"
Lixia closed her lips tightly and shook her head like a rattle, saying "I don't know".
As soon as she saw her condition, Zhuang Wan knew she was lying. Lixia was a simple girl, and her worst skill was lying.
She pretended to be gloomy and said, "You lied to me again. Since you don't regard me as your own, then don't stay with me anymore."
"No, no." Lixia hurriedly explained, "It was the adults who told me not to say it."
"What's going on?"
"Actually, I don't know what exactly happened, but I think something big is going to happen tonight. The reason why the mansion has people on standby is to protect the young lady."
Zhuang Wan's heart skipped a beat: "Will I be in danger?"
"I don't know," Lixia said, "My Lord, please make sure everything is safe. Anyway, the girl should not go out after dinner."
Zhuang Wan nodded, then asked again, "Where is your master? Where is he?"
Lixia had no idea where Pei Xingju was, and no one in the mansion knew either. To be more precise, Pei Xingju had been very busy recently, and even Zhuang Wan hadn't seen him in two days.
Unable to find out what was happening at Pei Xingju, she had no choice but to stay at the mansion. After dinner, she sat inside and continued to look at the accounts, but her attention became distracted after a while. This lasted for a long time, until the end of the night before she finally fell asleep.
Unexpectedly, just as she was dozing off, she heard a noise outside and was suddenly awakened.
.
After the hour of Xu, the whole city was under curfew, and the army poured into the empty, dark streets like a torrent of stones. They were holding torches and marched like bandits, their horses' hooves thundering as they rushed towards the palace.
Hearing the commotion, the people shut their doors and extinguished their lamps. A few beggars huddled in a street corner, unable to dodge, and two were trampled to death by the horses. None of their companions dared to intervene, fearing the men would chop off their heads with their swords.
The lights in Mingyue Palace were on. Liang Yixin sat awake in the palace and could still hear the voices of the rebels outside through several palace gates.
Su'e was beside her. Compared to Liang Yixin's calmness, she was very nervous, and the handkerchief in her hand was almost soaked with sweat.
Suddenly, someone accidentally dropped something, making a sudden muffled sound, which scared her so much that her face turned pale.
Turning around, she saw a palace maid had dropped the ruler. She immediately scolded him, "You clumsy little hoof, disturbing the Empress's rest, are you trying to kill yourself?"
"Alright," Liang Yixin stopped her and said to the young palace maid, "No need to wait on me. Go out."
"Yes." The palace maid crawled out of the hall nervously.
Liang Yixin glanced at Su'e: "I'm not in a hurry, why are you in a hurry?"
"How can I be anxious?" Su'e's voice trembled. "I am afraid."
"What are you afraid of?"
"People from the Red Wind Camp are everywhere outside. They're saying...that the Duke is rebelling."
After she finished speaking, she couldn't help herself and broke down emotionally.
Rebellion is a capital crime, not only will the entire clan be executed, but even the servants in the mansion will be beheaded. Su'e had been living a life of luxury with Liang Yixin for many years. Although she was a maid, her status was no different from that of a young lady in an ordinary family. How could she have experienced such a thing?
Thinking of dying at such a young age, she was overwhelmed with grief and couldn't help crying softly.
Liang Yixin was annoyed by her crying and stood up to take a walk. At this time, the sound of fighting was heard outside.
Both the master and the servant were startled and looked outside the hall.
In just a moment, all the guards outside the hall were killed. The smell of blood drifted in with the night wind and penetrated Liang Yixin's nose, like the stinking and rotting corpses of snakes and rats by the pond.
Her stomach churned and she vomited while holding onto the table.
Su'e no longer cared about anything else and hurried forward to help him. She turned around and shouted at the people who rushed in: "Where are you guards from? You are so bold! This is the Queen's palace."
The man, clad in armor and stained with blood, stepped back and knelt respectfully. "I am Cao Zhen, the Lieutenant Colonel of the Left Battalion of the Red Wind Battalion. I have been ordered by the Duke to escort the Empress out of the palace immediately."
Liang Yixin was shocked: "Red Wind Camp? You've already broken into the palace?"
Cao Zhen paused and said honestly, "No, the Red Wind Army is gathering at the Meridian Gate right now. I simply sneaked in at night."
"Come in quietly," Liang Yixin sneered. "There are imperial guards in the palace, how did you sneak in? Could it be that you have an insider?"
A trace of panic flashed across Cao Zhen's face, and he immediately lowered his head: "I don't know. I am only following the Duke's orders. Please don't embarrass me, Your Majesty."
Liang Yixin paused for a moment and stood up straight: "Where is my father?"
"My Lady?" Su'e was surprised. "Are you really going to run away with them?"
"You also said it," Liang Yixin said to her, "My father rebelled, which is a capital crime. If I don't escape, am I still waiting for the emperor to kill me?"
Cao Zhen was overjoyed when he heard this. Before coming here, Duke Xin had said that if Liang Yixin resisted, he would knock her out and take her away. But how could he dare to knock out the queen of a country? Now, hearing Liang Yixin's clear thinking, he felt that the Duke's worries were unnecessary.
"Let's go." Liang Yixin said to Cao Zhen, "Please lead the way, General Cao. Please ensure that I can reunite with my father safely."
"yes."
.
Under Cao Zhen's cover, Liang Yixin got into the carriage. Through the slightly opened curtains, she looked at the dark and messy night in the palace, her heart in turmoil.
After an unknown amount of time, the carriage stopped in front of a villa.
"Empress, we're here." Cao Zhen said.
"Su'e, help me down." Liang Yixin said.
"yes."
After getting off the carriage, Liang Yixin looked around and saw that the place was unfamiliar. He asked, "Where is this?"
"This is the place that the Duke prepared for you, don't worry, it's safe here."
Liang Yixin's face darkened: "I want to see my father, take me there quickly!"
"This..." Cao Zhen hesitated. "The Duke ordered me to protect the Queen, but he didn't say to take her to see the Duke."
Liang Yixin sneered: "I want to see my own father, and I can't see him?"
"Besides," she said sternly, "Why should I trust you when you say you'll protect me? I only trust my father in this world. Take me to see him now."
Seeing Cao Zhen still hesitated, she hurriedly said, "If General Cao can't make up his mind, you can send someone to ask the Duke. Just tell him that I'm afraid here, have a stomachache, and want to see him."
After hesitating for a moment, Cao Zhen summoned someone and ordered, "Go quickly to see the Duke and convey the Empress's message."
"Yes." The man didn't dare to delay and hurried away.
Liang Yixin's words really worked. Not long after, another group of people came, this time bringing a more spacious and comfortable carriage.
After boarding the carriage, Liang Yixin finally understood what Duke Xin was planning. His intention was to protect her, not the child she was expecting. He had sent for help the moment he heard she was suffering from abdominal pain.
Thinking of this, her heart grew colder.
Soon, Liang Yixin met Duke Xin in a lobby.
He was wearing a simple Taoist robe and sitting quietly at the top. The candlelight in the hall made his face bright and heavy.
"Father." Liang Yixin walked in.
"You want to see me?" Duke Xin said lightly, his eyes sweeping across her abdomen inconspicuously.
Liang Yixin said, "Father, I finally see you. What happened tonight? I thought you were going to abandon me."
The expression in Duke Xin's eyes changed, and he looked at his daughter with a hint of inquiry. She had always been aloof and aloof since she was a child, and not very enthusiastic about him as a father. This was the first time he felt so dependent on her.
But it's normal to think about it. Anyone would be nervous in the situation tonight.
"Are you afraid that I will abandon you?" he asked.
"Of course," Liang Yixin said with a worried look on her face. "I've been waiting in Mingyue Palace. I thought the imperial guards would take me away to the cold palace. Fortunately, General Cao came and finally brought me out."
"Father, why didn't you tell me such a big thing in advance? I was really scared," she said.
She stood in the middle of the hall, her face showing anxiety and fear.
Duke Xin looked at him for a moment and asked, "What are you afraid of?"
"What are you afraid of? This is a serious crime punishable by confiscation of property and beheading. If father fails, then I..." Liang Yixin stroked her belly, "How can the child in her belly and I have a good ending?"
"You really think so?"
"Father, why do you ask that?" Liang Yixin was puzzled. "Am I not a member of the Liang family? At this time, my life and yours are tied together. We share the same fate."
Upon hearing this, the scrutiny in Duke Xin's eyes faded and he breathed a sigh of relief.
His voice softened. "It's not that I didn't tell you in advance, but the less you know about this, the better. You can't keep secrets, and if you knew, it might ruin our plans."
"That's right." Liang Yixin nodded and sat down beside him. "Father, what's the situation now? Are you sure?"
"Do you want your father to succeed?"
"Of course, now that things have come to this, I hope my father will succeed."
"Okay." Duke Xin said, "You are worthy of being the daughter of my Liang family. When this is done, you can inherit your aunt's position."
Liang Yixin clasped her fingers in her sleeves, trying to show her happiness, but she felt the smile on her face was stiff and difficult to unfold.
She could only pick up the teacup and sip it in a disingenuous manner. Then she asked, "How confident are you, father? I heard the Red Wind Army is concentrated at the Meridian Gate, but there are many imperial guards there. If we can't get in, won't our entire plan be in vain?"
"Don't worry, I have already arranged everything in the palace."
Liang Yixin was startled, but asked calmly, "Really? How was it arranged?"
Duke Xin looked over here.
Liang Yixin was nervous: "Father, there's no need to hide it from me. Today's events have made me so worried that my stomach aches. If I don't have absolute certainty, I won't be able to rest easy."
Hearing this, Xin Guo glanced at her abdomen again and said, "It's okay to tell you. I've already informed Yang Zhi, the deputy commander of the Left Camp of the Imperial Guards. When the time is right, we can open the city gates and let you in."
Upon hearing this, Liang Yixin breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good."
"Father," she stood up, "I'll go back and rest first. I've been so nervous today that I'm exhausted. I'm waiting for good news from you."
With Su'e's support, she bowed, turned around and slowly walked out the door.
However, as soon as he walked out the door, he stumbled and almost fell to the ground.
"You slut!" she scolded loudly, "You're not even careful when walking. Do you want to kill the baby in my belly?"
Su'e knelt down quickly and said, "Miss, this servant did not do it on purpose. I was not watching the road carefully."
"Ouch..." Liang Yixin covered her stomach: "It hurts a little."
Duke Xin came out quickly and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Father," Liang Yixin pointed at Su'e who was kneeling on the ground, "It's all this slave girl's fault. I have a stomachache. Please, father, call a doctor for me."
After she finished speaking, she turned around and ordered, "Come here, lock this slave up first and teach her a lesson later!"
.
Imperial Palace.
In the Qinzheng Hall, Li Jinyu sat on the dragon throne and played chess with his left hand and right hand.
Outside the Meridian Gate, shouts shook the heavens, and the sounds of fierce fighting almost pierced the sky, but Li Jinyu's young face showed a calm and composed expression.
With a slight lift of his finger, the white jade chess piece fell onto the chessboard, as if it was not chess pieces that were being laid out, but the situation of the country and the court.
After a moment, he picked up a chess piece and asked, "Where is the queen?"
"Your Majesty," the chief eunuch came in, "The Empress has left the palace. She should have...should have met Duke Xin by now."
Li Jinyu didn't say anything.
The steward raised his eyes and looked at his expression quietly. Seeing that his brows were furrowed, he thought he was worried about the queen.
After pondering for a moment, he whispered, "I heard from the people in Mingyue Palace that the queen drank pregnancy-preserving medicine before leaving the palace, so she should be fine."
After he finished speaking, Li Jinyu's frown slowly relaxed.
After a while, he asked again: "How is the Meridian Gate now?"
"Your Majesty, the situation at the Meridian Gate is... I dare not say anything now."
"I allow you to say it." Li Jinyu raised his eyes.
"Yes." The chief steward kowtowed. "Commander Chen led 30,000 imperial guards to hold the position, but the Red Wind Army outnumbers them. I'm afraid...I'm afraid they won't be able to hold the position."
After saying this, a look of sadness appeared on his face.
Suddenly, there was a burst of fierce fighting and the sound of artillery fire outside. He was so frightened that his eyelids jumped, and he realized that he had lost his composure and hurried to see the emperor.
Li Jinyu closed his eyes with a calm expression. He placed his middle finger on the dragon throne and repeatedly pressed the base of his thumb, then stretched it out with force.
Not long after, someone reported from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Commander Xiao has captured a suspicious palace maid. The maid claims to be someone close to the Empress, and her name is Su'e."
Upon hearing this, Li Jinyu opened his eyes suddenly: "Bring him in."
.
At this time, in the fourth guard post east of the imperial palace, a man was wandering anxiously in the courtyard.
After a moment, he stopped and asked, "What's the situation at the Meridian Gate?"
"Sir, you just asked." said a guard.
"Bastard!" He kicked the man into the flower bed and continued to wander around in anger.
This person was none other than Yang Zhi, the deputy commander of the Left Camp of the Imperial Guards.
Listening to the sounds of fighting not far away, he became more and more anxious.
Another deputy, holding a torch, was waiting nearby. Seeing him pacing back and forth hesitantly for a long time, he stepped forward and urged him, "Commander Yang, the situation at the Meridian Gate is already weakening. Now is the time."
“Who is not successful?”
"Of course it's Commander Chen."
Commander Chen, the commander of the Right Battalion of the Imperial Guards, led 30,000 troops to block the rebels at the Meridian Gate. However, of the three gates of the imperial city, the most difficult to attack was not the first, but the second, the Taihe Gate. He knew that the remaining elite troops were lurking there.
Duke Xin had anticipated this, so he approached him. As long as he disrupted the defense from the inside and opened the city gates, the Red Wind Army would be able to enter the city unimpeded.
only.......
In this way, Yang Zhi would also become a traitor and an accomplice of the rebellion. If he succeeded, it would be good, but if he failed, the entire Yang family would be implicated by him.
Seeing that he was still hesitating, the deputy urged: "Commander Yang, why are you still hesitating? If we don't go over now, we will miss the opportunity."
"No," Yang Zhi raised his hand: "Let me think about it again... think about it again..."
"Commander Yang," the deputy said, "I'm not forcing you. My life depends on you, and your life depends on the Duke's."
He said, "You know, Duan Hongyuan has been arrested. If the case is investigated later, you and I will both be killed. But if our bet today is right, we will enjoy endless wealth and glory in the future."
"Hasn't Commander Yang always wanted to take Duan Hongyuan's position? Now is your chance. What are you hesitating about?"
"This..." Yang Zhi stopped, his eyes fixed on the direction of the Meridian Gate, his heart beating like a drum.
"You're right!" He thought quickly: "Glory, wealth, high position and generous salary depend on life and death. Success or failure depends on tonight!"
The deputy breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and was about to make a suggestion when a group of people suddenly rushed in.
Their movements were as fast as a gust of wind, and both of them felt the sharpness of the wind.
Turning around, Shuangshuang's expression changed drastically.
"Pei... Pei Xingju!"
.
In front of the Meridian Gate, flames shot up into the sky, shouts of killing echoed. From the city walls, a black cloud of arrows rained down. The Red Wind Army, fully armed, charged forward with murderous intent.
Under the protection of a group of shields and armors, a man wearing a silver crown and armor, holding a long sword, stood in the center.
It was Marquis Cheng'en.
"Sir, it's almost time, why is there no movement inside?"
The person asking the questions was the deputy commander of the Red Wind Camp. He led the vanguard to break through the palace gate, but half an hour later, the imperial guards in the Meridian Gate gradually weakened, but there was no sign of the gate being opened.
Lord Cheng'en wasn't sure. When he arrived, Duke Xin had instructed him to rush into the palace at 2:15 PM. He said someone he had arranged would meet him there. But Duke Xin wouldn't reveal who that person was, simply telling him to lead the vanguard. Once the palace gates opened, the rest of the Red Wind Battalion would meet him.
He fought hard for half an hour, but the Meridian Gate was still unsuccessful, which made him feel uneasy.
"Who is the contact person?" asked the deputy general.
Marquis Cheng'en gradually became panicked, with big drops of sweat falling from his forehead: "You ask me, who should I ask? The Duke ordered us to attack the gate here, and he has his own decision..."
Before he could finish his words, an arrow flew through the night sky and passed by his ear. The sound of the arrow breaking through the air shook his eardrum and made him suddenly panic.
He looked up at the high city walls. The imperial guards were already showing signs of fatigue. Now was the perfect time to take action, but there was no movement.
Just as he was considering retreating, the city gate suddenly opened and someone shouted, "The city gate has been broken! Charge!"
Marquis Cheng'en was excited and said to his deputy general, "The city gate has been broken, hurry!"
They were all veterans of the battlefield and knew the importance of seizing the initiative, so they led their men in without even thinking.
However, just after the Red Wind Army entered the palace, the door behind them suddenly closed.
The deputy general was the first to notice something was amiss and tried to retreat, but it was too late. The heavy city gates slammed shut, blocking their escape route. The Red Wind Army, rushing in, was trapped in the narrow corridor, unable to maneuver.
"What's going on? What's going on?" Marquis Cheng'en was completely confused and looked around while riding on his horse.
The next moment, the high walls on both sides of the corridor were filled with imperial guards armed with bows and arrows. They were all in a state of serious alert, with no trace of their previous dejection.
Only then did Marquis Cheng'en realize that they had fallen into a trap!
"Lord Jiang! How are you?"
A sonorous voice pierced the night sky, startling Marquis Cheng'en.
He looked in the direction of the voice and saw the densely packed imperial guards retreating in waves, revealing a familiar figure.
Pei Xingju stood there, clad in silver armor. The blazing firelight behind him made his figure appear tall and awe-inspiring. Beneath his helmet lay a cold, fierce face, his long eyebrows slightly drawn back, his eyes like swords.
In a trance, Marquis Cheng'en felt that this scene was very familiar, no, this person was very familiar.
"Pei Xingju?" he asked.
Pei Xingju slowly raised his lips and said, "Could it be that Lord Jiang has been frightened to death? He can't even recognize me?"
He glanced indifferently at the Red Wind Army below him, their panicked faces reflected in the firelight.
"Red Wind Army, listen up!" He shouted in a deep voice, "The Emperor has decreed that those who lay down their weapons and surrender today will be forgiven. If you persist in your wrongdoing..."
He took the longbow from behind him and slowly pulled it open, aiming it at Marquis Cheng'en.
Marquis Cheng'en was stunned for a moment, then he heard a string sound and an arrow with a cold and sharp edge shot towards him.
He raised his sword in fear, and the arrow broke in two in mid-air. But the next moment, he felt a dull pain in his chest, and faintly heard the sound of bones breaking. The arrow's force was so great that he couldn't help but lean back.
Marquis Cheng'en struggled to hold onto the saddle, looking down at his chest in disbelief.
There, another arrow was firmly stuck.
His pupils suddenly widened: "Lianying Arrow, it's Lianying Arrow, who are you?"
He looked at Pei Xingju in shock again, his mind instantly recalling the battle on the Chang State battlefield sixteen years ago. That man, on horseback, longbow raised high, unleashed a continuous stream of shadow arrows with astonishing arm strength. One arrow followed another, each like the shadow of the other, his archery skill superb, taking the enemy's head directly.
He turned out to be Pei Zhang's son.
Unfortunately, Marquis Cheng'en couldn't say these words, and soon he fell off his horse like a kite.
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