"Empress Zhou went to the Emperor's place today. The two of them stayed alone in the palace for a long time before Empress Zhou left."
Listening to the scout's report, Xue Shen could easily guess why Empress Zhou was going to see Emperor Cheng'an at this time.
"Zhou Qing is probably about to make a move. Have our people keep a close eye on him and make sure nothing goes wrong so they don't actually kidnap him."
The scout left after receiving his orders, and Xue Shen spread out the map on the table, which turned out to be a topographical map of the imperial palace.
Empress Zhou and Zhou Qing believed that only they knew about the secret passage in the palace, but in fact, the palace had always kept a map of the secret passage.
These secret passages were left behind by the previous dynasty's royal family as refuge and escape routes in case of war.
This topographical map of the palace tunnels was only in the possession of emperors throughout history.
Emperor Taizu passed it down to his father, who then passed it down to him. Even Emperor Cheng'an was unaware that there was such a vast and complex secret passageway beneath the palace.
Empress Zhou may have discovered the secret passage beneath her palace by chance, and used it as a means of survival. Later, she even used the secret passage to openly and secretly communicate with the Zhou family.
Little did they know that Xue Shen had already obtained a map of the secret passage and was fully aware of their movements.
The Zhou family wanted to take Emperor Cheng'an out of the palace so they could use him to control the other princes, but little did they know that Xue Shen had been waiting for them to take this step so that he could use them as a tool to kill Emperor Cheng'an and plunge him into the abyss.
*
On the third day, Empress Zhou went to Emperor Cheng'an's palace again under the pretext of visiting him.
With Xue Shen's deliberate leniency, the imperial guards watching over Emperor Cheng'an did not offer much obstruction.
That night, Empress Zhou successfully entered Emperor Cheng'an's palace with the disguised medicine. Emperor Cheng'an waited anxiously for a day, and only when he saw her finally appear did his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, settle down.
"You've finally arrived."
Emperor Cheng'an took her hand earnestly, glancing warily outside: "Has the Empress aroused any suspicion?"
Empress Zhou shook her head: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I am a pregnant woman, and those imperial guards do not take me seriously at all. They have no suspicions."
Emperor Cheng'an was somewhat relieved upon hearing this, but still asked anxiously, "But the Empress came alone, how do you plan to take me away?"
The Empress smiled and glanced at him, then put the food box aside and stepped forward first: "Your Majesty, please follow me."
Emperor Cheng'an followed behind him with some doubt, still unable to understand how the Empress could lead him out of the palace alone.
But his doubts were quickly answered. Empress Zhou tapped around on the floor of his bedchamber, and soon a look of joy appeared on her face as she lifted the carpet on the floor: "This is it."
Emperor Cheng'an approached for a closer look and saw that the floor, which should have been paved with blue bricks, had vanished, leaving only a bare wooden plank.
Emperor Cheng'an opened his mouth, a look of disbelief on his face: "When did this happen... How come I had no idea?"
The thought that a tunnel had been dug into his bedroom where he slept soundly day and night sent chills down his spine.
Empress Zhou either didn't notice his emotional change, or she noticed but didn't take it seriously.
Hearing this, she smiled and said, "I discovered this tunnel by chance. After learning that Your Majesty was trapped, I asked my elder brother to gather people to dig a tunnel day and night. A tunnel was dug from my palace directly to Your Majesty's bedchamber."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and rhythmically tapped the wooden board a few times. Soon the board, which had been sealed shut, began to vibrate. In a short while, the board was removed, and two men dressed as guards emerged from the tunnel. They clasped their hands in a fist and bowed to Empress Zhou, saying, "The Lord has sent us to meet Your Majesty and the Empress. Please come with us."
Empress Zhou looked at Emperor Cheng'an and said, "Your Majesty, please go first. My elder brother is waiting for us at the exit of the tunnel."
Emperor Cheng'an's expression shifted, but in the end, with the help of two guards, he grabbed the ladder and descended into the tunnel.
After he landed, Empress Zhou followed closely behind.
Emperor Cheng'an looked up at her agile figure and a sudden doubt crossed his mind. Empress Zhou was already four or five months pregnant and her belly was quite big, so how come she didn't look clumsy at all?
But before he could figure it out, Empress Zhou interrupted his thoughts: "Your Majesty, please come with me."
She seemed very familiar with the tunnel, and led the way with a candle in hand.
Emperor Cheng'an lagged behind her by a step, his gaze fixed on her face with an unreadable expression, his unease growing stronger.
He felt that the Empress was vastly different from what he remembered, but the current situation left him with neither the energy nor the time to ponder the exact nature of this difference. His instincts, however, told him that the Empress and the Zhou family might not necessarily be a safe haven.
The Zhou family's ambitions are probably quite large as well, especially since Empress Zhou is currently pregnant with his nominal child.
Once the Zhou family has cleared their names using his name and then rallied their forces to purge the court of corrupt officials, they may no longer need this uncontrollable emperor.
After all, Empress Zhou was carrying an even more obedient child.
Emperor Cheng'an quickly considered the possible scenarios in his mind, and finally his gaze fell on Empress Zhou's protruding abdomen, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
This child must not be allowed to live.
Emperor Cheng'an's gaze swept quickly over the two guards following behind them. He gritted his teeth, knowing that now was the best time to make a move.
Once they emerge from the tunnel, Empress Zhou will likely be placed under heavy guard by Zhou Qin, making it much harder for him to do what he wants.
Emperor Cheng'an had already made up his mind. He rehearsed the plan repeatedly in his mind, and then, as he passed a corner, he suddenly stuck out his foot and tripped Empress Zhou.
Caught off guard, Empress Zhou tripped over him and fell heavily to the ground with a cry of pain.
Emperor Cheng'an quickly feigned concern and went to help her up: "Empress, are you alright?"
He stared anxiously at Empress Zhou's stomach and asked, "Does your stomach feel uncomfortable?"
Empress Zhou rubbed her sore elbow and looked up at him. She truly never expected that, even at this point, Emperor Cheng'an would still have such a decisiveness.
Empress Zhou pushed his hand away, and under Emperor Cheng'an's astonished gaze, she gracefully stood up and said with a smile, "Is this how I repay you after all the trouble I went through to send people to rescue Your Majesty?"
Emperor Cheng'an's expression changed slightly. The doubt that had flashed through his mind for a moment was finally resolved. He stared at the Empress's belly with a grim expression and said, word by word, "You are not pregnant at all! You have been lying to me all along."
Empress Zhou's smile grew increasingly mocking. She touched her protruding belly and said with a smile, "I did have a child before, but the child was unlucky and was lost at three months."
"Didn't Your Majesty dislike that bastard child as well? Why is your face even more pale than mine now that you know the child is gone?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
