Chapter 203 The One Who Can Keep a Secret
Emperor Yongde rushed out of the bedroom with a sword in hand, shouting, "Where is she? Where is she?"
Frightened, his drunkenness had mostly subsided, and he stumbled all the way downstairs.
Downstairs, the maid Qiao'er was asleep on the table. Originally, as long as Concubine Xian had agreed to look after Emperor Yongde, they wouldn't have to worry about anything. She stopped staying up late and went to bed when she was ready. But she had to be prepared in case His Majesty wanted to do something late at night.
When she heard Emperor Yongde's roar, she was startled and jumped up and rushed out of the room.
Emperor Yongde rushed to her with disheveled hair, stretched out his hand to grab her shoulders, and shouted repeatedly: "Where is the virtuous concubine? Where is the virtuous concubine?"
"Ah...Empress Xianfei...Empress Xianfei." Qiao'er didn't know how to answer for a moment and was speechless.
Your Majesty is so anxious, it is obvious that the virtuous concubine is not in the room.
This doesn't make sense. Given the prudent nature of Concubine Xian, if she had to leave for something, she would definitely inform the palace maids. How could she leave without a word?
"Your Majesty may be..."
Before she could finish her words, Emperor Yongde pushed her away and rushed towards the door.
Just as he rushed to the door, Emperor Yongde seemed to have thought of something. He turned around suddenly and returned to Qiao'er, saying, "You know... did she tell you?"
Qiao'er didn't understand what was going on and shook her head, "Your Majesty, I don't know anything..."
Before she could finish her words, Emperor Yongde swung his sword and hit her neck.
Qiao'er fell to the ground, struggling in a pool of blood. Emperor Yongde stabbed her in the heart again.
At this time, two more palace maids heard Emperor Yongde's cry and rushed over. They were just about to rush in. Seeing Qiao'er's miserable condition, they screamed in shock.
Emperor Yongde didn't hesitate, and he stepped forward and killed them all with a single blow. As he killed them, he said, "You know it too... You must know it too."
Stepping on a pool of blood, Emperor Yongde staggered towards the door.
Hearing the emperor's cries, everyone had already rushed over. The imperial guards were especially nervous, believing an assassin was out to kill the emperor. A large number of imperial guards, led by Wu Mingzi, arrived in a flash. Torches lit the area, making it as bright as day.
Seeing Emperor Yongde in dishevel, holding a blood-stained sword, everyone looked as if he were terrified. No one was around, so they knelt and paid their respects.
Wu Mingzi stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, why are you so alarmed?"
His Majesty was so angry. And when they looked through the wide-open door and saw the palace maids lying in a pool of blood, everyone was shocked.
An old eunuch said, "Your Majesty must have had a nightmare."
Emperor Yongde raised his hand and pointed at everyone, saying, "What are you still doing standing here? Go find Consort Xian, quickly!"
Wu Mingzi initially thought it was an assassin, but now, seeing Emperor Yongde's rage over Concubine Xian, he didn't take it seriously. Concubine Xian was just a woman, and she'd only been away for a while. Was killing so many people over Concubine Xian worth it? He treated human life like dirt.
But I can only say this in my heart, I can't reveal a single word to others.
He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I will go and look for it myself."
The virtuous concubine was not around, and His Majesty had made such a big deal out of such a small matter. Although the virtuous concubine would inevitably be reprimanded by His Majesty after her return, it was probably just a reprimand, not a punishment.
He first ordered the imperial guards to search the entire Changchun Palace, but found that Concubine Xian was not there.
It was then that Wu Mingzi realized something was amiss. Concubine Xian wasn't even in Changchun Palace in the dead of night. Was she trying to escape back to Xiliang?
If this happens, the situation will be serious.
He quickly mobilized the imperial guards and expanded the search area to the entire imperial city. At the same time, he ordered that no one be allowed to enter or leave the four gates of the capital.
Officials in charge of public security in the capital reported that the four gates of the capital were locked late at night, and only Zhang Song, a military commander from Xiliang, had left the city carrying a handwritten order from the virtuous concubine. The virtuous concubine was deeply favored by His Majesty, so they did not dare to stop him.
Wu Mingzi didn't care about the military commander Zhang Song. The important thing was to get news about the virtuous concubine.
When he found Mei Dai outside the gate of the imperial city, Mei Dai was walking back.
The night in early spring was still extremely cold, but Mei Dai was not wearing any warm clothes, and there were no palace maids or guards accompanying her. She was walking alone.
Wu Mingzi led the guards forward and said, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Consort."
When Mei Dai saw him, she just nodded slightly.
Wu Mingzi turned to the guards and said, "Quickly give Her Majesty some warm clothes and escort her back to Changchun Palace."
When Emperor Yongde was about to execute him, it was Concubine Xian who saved his life. He still felt grateful to her. Besides, it was just a small matter. The King of Xiliang died a year ago, and His Majesty forbade Concubine Xian to return to Xiliang. Perhaps Concubine Xian was just in a bad mood and went out for a walk in the middle of the night. He actually thought she was trying to escape, which was quite ridiculous.
A guard nearby offered Mei Dai some clothes, which she accepted without saying a word. Wu Mingzi didn't ask any more questions and simply sent the virtuous concubine back.
The group returned to Changchun Palace, and Wu Mingzi personally escorted Mei Dai back to Emperor Yongde.
Arriving at Changchun Palace, eunuchs were carrying the bodies of the palace maids out, two per load. Mei Dai saw Qiao'er's body, paused and stared at it for a moment, then walked on without saying a word.
Emperor Yongde was pacing anxiously in the room. Seeing Mei Dai appear at the door, he stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and dragged her inside. He said to Wu Mingzi, "Everyone should wait outside the door. No one is allowed to enter unless I call."
After closing the door, Emperor Yongde quickly walked up to Mei Dai, grabbed her shoulders with both hands and whispered:
"You know everything? Who else have you told? Tell me now, tell me now!"
Mei Dai didn't say anything, just lowered her head.
Emperor Yongde followed her gaze and saw the ink stain on her hand. He let go of Mei Dai, took two steps back, stomped his feet hard, turned around, opened the door, and shouted, "Wu Mingzi."
Wu Mingzi was waiting not far away. Upon hearing this, he came forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."
"Has anyone left the city tonight?"
Wu Mingzi didn't understand why Emperor Yongde cared about this, so he replied, "Your Majesty, only one Xiliang general named Zhang Song has left the city."
"Hurry and catch up with him and kill him. Do not examine anything he carries. Bring me his head and any letters he may have on him."
Wu Mingzi said, "As you wish."
Emperor Yongde watched Wu Mingzi leave, then turned back inside and stared blankly at Mei Dai. He muttered to himself, "No, absolutely not... I must not let anyone know."
He took the sword from the wall, grasped the hilt, and with a "clang" sound, pulled it out half a foot.
Mei Dai raised her head, and the cold light of the sword reflected on her beautiful face, which was extremely sad and beautiful.
Emperor Yongde looked at her face, his hand holding the sword trembled, he turned away from her, and slowly pushed the sword back into the scabbard.
After pausing for a moment, Emperor Yongde suddenly turned around, drew out his sword, grasped the hilt with both hands, pointed the tip of the sword at Mei Dai's chest, and pretended to stab her.
Mei Dai had been silent until she suddenly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please spare my life."
Emperor Yongde was about to strike with his sword, but when he saw her begging for mercy, he stopped the sword in mid-air, a look of pity appeared on his face, and he said sadly:
"No, only the dead can keep secrets."
He once said this to Concubine De.
Mei Dai took advantage of this opportunity, plopped down on the ground, hugged Emperor Yongde's legs, raised her head and said:
"Your Majesty, I already... already have your flesh and blood."
Emperor Yongde was struck by lightning and took several steps back, muttering to himself, "My... child?"
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