Chapter 176 What right do you have to hold the Phoenix Token?
The commotion at the palace gate has been going on for almost a day.
Consort Wu originally intended to leave the inner city to question Ye Yunshu at the Inner Palace Supervision Department, but little did she know that not only Princess Shou Kang was unable to leave the palace, but she was also unable to leave.
"Your Highness, we have received orders from above. There is a minor matter outside today, so it would be best if the ladies of the palace did not leave the palace," the head of the female guards said respectfully.
"Even I can't get out?"
"I am here by His Majesty's order to manage the affairs of the inner palace. Am I not even allowed to leave this palace?" Consort Wu immediately became furious.
The female guard commander remained neither humble nor arrogant.
"Your Majesty, I was only acting under orders. Please forgive me."
After saying that, she waved her hand, and the female guards holding knives immediately lined up at the palace gate, blocking Consort Wu's way.
Consort Wu was stunned.
No one is allowed to leave the palace?
Is this an attempt to rebel?
"How dare you! Who gave you the audacity to stop me? Someone from above? Bring that person here. I want to see who gave her the courage to imprison a concubine."
His Majesty is still here, yet she dares to place a concubine under house arrest at this time. Is she trying to rebel?
"You... are all traitors and rebels!" Consort Wu cursed, pointing at the female imperial guard commander.
The female guard commander bowed slightly and gave a fist and palm salute.
"Your Highness, please be careful with your words. We cannot bear such a heavy burden."
Let me repeat myself: my subordinates are all acting under orders.
"If Your Majesty wishes to see anyone, please inform me, and I will go and fetch them for you. However, leaving the palace... please calm your anger, Your Majesty. Without orders from above, the palace gates will not be opened."
As she spoke, the female guard stepped forward, blocking the other female guards.
Consort Wu was humiliated in public and became furious. She immediately raised her hand to slap him.
The female guard commander, however, held her head high, staring straight ahead without any fear.
Just as Consort Wu's slap was about to land on the head of the female guard commander, Princess Shou Kang, who had come along, quickly grabbed Consort Wu's hand.
"Mother, you mustn't be rash!" Princess Shou Kang whispered.
“They’ve gone too far. With His Majesty personally leading the expedition, how could they possibly have the chance to humiliate us, the palace concubines?”
"Disrespectful to elders! I will definitely complain to His Majesty!" Consort Wu's hands were trembling.
Princess Shou Kang was somewhat helpless.
She knew that if her mother beat up the female imperial guard commander today, there would definitely be a lot of trouble later.
At first, she also disliked these female guards very much.
But after learning about the origins of the female guards, Princess Shou Kang immediately quieted down.
They were just following orders.
These people are different from the imperial guards.
"Mother, please don't say that. They were just following orders," Princess Shou Kang continued to persuade her.
"On orders? On whose orders?" Consort Wu asked angrily.
In Consort Wu's mind, it was now almost certain that these female guards were under the command of the Crown Prince's side.
I had always thought that His Majesty would not hand over both the Dragon Pendant and the Phoenix Token to the Crown Prince.
The current situation outside...
It must have been the Crown Prince's doing, but at that very moment, the female guards sealed off the inner palace, preventing anyone from leaving.
Who else could have done this if not the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace?
Thinking of this, Consort Wu became even angrier.
"Today, I absolutely must..." Consort Wu said, as she led everyone through the palace gate.
She refused to believe that these people would dare to lay a hand on her...
"Your Majesty, please forgive us!" The female guard captain uttered only these words, and then the female guards behind her drew their swords in a flash...
Upon seeing the still-gleaming silver blade, the women of the harem immediately screamed in terror.
Princess Shou Kang, who had seen a bit of the world, was also taken aback by this move.
She quickly helped Consort Wu, who was backing away.
This mother... the Emperor must have made her a Noble Consort because she's incredibly stupid!
In the imperial harem, every concubine, regardless of which palace she belonged to, was more intelligent than the mother.
Princess Shou Kang glanced again at Ruan Ronghua, who was standing at the very back...
This Lady Ruan... heh, she's a master of playing dumb to get what she wants. My mother was instigated by her to cause this commotion...
"Mother, please don't speak!" Princess Shou Kang gently pressed Consort Wu's hand.
Consort Wu was so frightened by the knife in the female guard's hand that her heart jumped into her throat.
They... they really dare to draw their swords!
After calming down Consort Wu, Princess Shou Kang turned to the commander of the female guards.
"My lord, my mother has urgent business to attend to at the Prince Zhao's residence."
"Are we not allowed to go out today?"
"Your Highness, my orders are that no one is allowed to leave the palace today."
Something's happened outside the palace!
"If any distinguished guests have important matters to inquire about, please inform us, and we will personally invite them," the female guard commander said calmly.
Princess Shou Kang nodded and then said, "Then please go and invite Minister Ye of the Surveillance Department over here!"
She arrested the steward of Prince Zhao's residence; it's not unreasonable for my mother to ask her a few questions!
The female guard commander nodded, then turned and whispered something to the person next to her.
Someone immediately went to the Inner Palace Inspection Department.
"Also, get the people in charge of you here."
I want to see if someone is taking a trivial matter for granted, or if someone is forging an imperial decree.
"If I don't see the Phoenix Decree, I can suspect you of plotting a rebellion!" Consort Wu immediately added.
The female guard commander nodded and then arranged for someone to go and fetch the person.
Anyway, my master said that if I encounter anyone being unreasonable, I should notify her.
Consort Wu was somewhat surprised that the female imperial guard commander agreed so readily.
These people used to completely ignore my request...
...
When Ye Yunshu arrived with her people, the situation at the palace gate was still tense.
The female guards remained steadfast in their duty at the palace gates.
However, the swords that had been drawn earlier have all been put back in.
Consort Wu, along with Princess Shou Kang and Ruan Ronghua, were inside the palace gate.
Perhaps because they had been waiting for a long time, the palace servants had already brought out chairs for Consort Wu and Princess Shou Kang to sit down.
When they saw Ye Yunshu approaching, Consort Wu snorted coldly but did not get up.
She was waiting for Ye Yunshu to perform the full salutation to her...
But……
As soon as Ye Yunshu arrived, the female guards who had previously drawn their swords against them suddenly turned around and knelt down on one knee in front of Ye Yunshu.
"Greetings, Your Excellency!"
These four words were like a thunderclap, startling Consort Wu and the others.
"Sir? What sir? Which sir?"
Which lord is worthy of such deep reverence from these female guards?
Isn't Ye Yunshu just a fourth-rank Inspector General?
"You...who are you?" Consort Wu stood up abruptly.
Ye Yunshu gestured for the female guards to stand up.
"Does the Imperial Concubine wish to see me? Is there something you need?"
"Since I hold the Phoenix Token, I cannot bow to Your Majesty." Ye Yunshu said, taking the Phoenix Token out of her sleeve.
When Consort Wu saw the Phoenix Token, she swayed.
"You... what right do you have to hold the Phoenix Token? What qualifications do you have to hold the Phoenix Token?" Consort Wu cried out in disbelief.
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