The so-called missing person notice was just a smokescreen; what she really wanted to do was to search for Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan. This was a golden opportunity, and she absolutely could not let them show up alive again.
Within the capital city limits, she has ordered Su Shixu to lay a tight net, so that once Yu Nanqing's whereabouts are discovered, he can be executed without prior notification!
"Empress Dowager," Aunt Fu said, a sudden unease creeping into her voice, "This servant still feels..."
"Enough." The Empress Dowager waved her hand to interrupt, "I know what you're worried about. With the right timing, location, and popular support, I will surely win!"
"Report—" Before the words were even finished, a long, urgent report rang out from outside the palace: "Empress Dowager! Something terrible has happened!"
Perhaps the Empress Dowager was in a good mood tonight, for upon hearing this urgent report, she didn't even frown: "What's going on?"
Aunt Fu hurriedly ordered the palace servants to open the palace gates. Before long, a soldier in armor rushed into the main hall: "Empress Dowager, something terrible has happened! There are rebels in the city!"
The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened: "What did you say?"
His tone was skeptical, clearly indicating that he didn't believe the soldier's message.
Now that she holds great power, who in the court would dare to rebel against her?
In the blink of an eye, her eyes changed from disbelief to malice. No matter who it was, anyone who dared to defy her would only face death!
Seeing that the Empress Dowager remained silent, Aunt Fu angrily questioned, "Nonsense! How could there be rebels in the capital! Who is leading the army?"
"It's...it's Prince Gong!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager abruptly stood up from her seat, her face filled with shock and anger: "Impossible! How could Yu Nanqing be in the capital?"
She angrily pointed at the soldier who delivered the message: "Did you really see it clearly?"
The soldier hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true. Prince Gong led his troops straight in from the north of the city. The city's patrols were powerless to resist. I'm afraid... I'm afraid they will reach the palace gates soon!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of clashing swords and spears rang out above the palace.
The Empress Dowager was suddenly filled with fear, her face contorted with rage, and she gritted her teeth: "Yu Nanqing!"
How could he be in the capital!
She has laid a trap that can't be set up!
It's impossible that we didn't find even a trace!
"Empress Dowager!" Aunt Fu exclaimed hurriedly, "You must quickly hide in the secret passage! Your life is the most important thing!"
The Empress Dowager was furious and shoved away Aunt Fu, who came forward to help her: "I am the Empress Dowager of the Great Jin Dynasty, wielding great power in the court. Yu Nanqing dared to lead troops into the palace to seize power! Humph! I was just worried about how to deal with him!"
The Empress Dowager glared at the soldier and gritted her teeth as she ordered, "Issue my decree: immediately dispatch the Imperial Guards to resist the foreign invaders! Order General Su to return to the palace to protect me! Arrest Yu Nanqing! Order General Si to lead troops to surround the palace! Do not let a single rebel escape!"
Yu Nanqing! Since you're trying to play dirty tricks on me, then I'll catch you like a turtle in a jar!
Let's see if your Dragon Flag Army breaks the deadlock first, or if I'll take your life first!
"Yes, sir!" The soldier immediately accepted the order and hurriedly withdrew.
The Empress Dowager swallowed her anger and thought of the news she had just received. Could it be that Yu Nanqing knew about the fall of Fucheng and couldn't restrain himself from storming into the capital?
Her brows furrowed, her eyes radiating authority: "Fu Rong! Go and summon the Imperial Advisor, and tell him to come to the palace immediately!"
Xiao Chensheng was her trump card against Yu Nanqing!
Aunt Fu frowned and said, "Yes."
At this moment, in the Empress Dowager's palace.
"What did you say? Say it again?" Empress Dowager Xia Yunshang sat up from the bed, looking at the palace maid who was reporting to her in disbelief.
"Prince Gong... has led his troops into the palace."
"Heh—hahahahahaha!" Xia Yun burst out with laughter, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Great! Our chance has come!" Xia Yunshang was going crazy from being imprisoned in the palace by the Empress Dowager, and she couldn't hear any news from the outside world.
She had no idea what the Xia family was like now. Her son had brought the emperor with him, yet she was living a life worse than death here!
She really wanted to kill that old hag herself!
Su Wanyan told her to endure it, and she endured it for two years!
Now look what's happened! Yu Nanqing has stormed into the palace to take that old hag's life!
But then, upon further reflection, the laughter abruptly stopped. Something was wrong!
Yu Nanqing led his troops into the palace; he must be here to seize the throne!
If he seizes the throne, what will happen to her son?
What should she do?
She has no power now, so how can she seize power from Yu Nanqing? Could it be that... if it were someone else, she would still have to put up with it?
Xia Yunshang quickly got out of bed: "Quick! Quickly help me undress!"
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, there are Empress Dowager's people watching outside, you can't go out."
Xia Yun clenched his fists, anger rising within him: "Damn old hag!"
Suddenly, she rushed to the dressing table and shoved all the valuables into the hands of a palace maid: "Go! Find my father outside the palace and immediately make him defect to Prince Gong and help him overthrow the Empress Dowager! The palace is in chaos now, no one will notice you! Go quickly!"
Yu Nanqing's arrival was sudden; the Xia family might not be able to react in time!
We must protect the Xia family! Otherwise, we'll have no chance at all!
Upon hearing this, the palace maid frowned and dared not accept the gift Xia Yunshang offered her.
In fact, she was originally sent by the Empress Dowager to monitor Xia Yunshang. From the very beginning, the Empress Dowager had dealt with all of Xia Yunshang's confidants.
Providing Xia Yunzhang with information was only because Xia Yunshang had given her a benefit.
Two years later, the Empress Dowager no longer paid much attention to Xia Yunshang.
It's not important that she provides Xia Yunshang with some information, as long as Xia Yunshang is still in the palace and doesn't cause any major disturbances. But now, she's being asked to go outside the palace to deliver a message to the Xia family, even saying that they want to attack the Empress Dowager. What if the Empress Dowager finds out afterward...
Xia Yunshang gritted her teeth: "Prince Gong commands 300,000 Dragon Banner soldiers and has a distinguished military record from fighting in the north and south since childhood. Do you really think the Empress Dowager can deal with him? If she could, Yu Nanqing wouldn't have stormed into the palace. Do you know that the capital is about to change? You're just a palace maid. The Empress Dowager doesn't care about you at all. But if you choose the wrong side now, don't blame Prince Gong for settling scores later. By then, it will be too late to save your life!"
The palace maid was flustered by what she was told. After hesitating for a moment, she frowned and said resolutely, "I'll go."
It's just a message. As Xia Yunshang said, the palace is in chaos right now, and the Empress Dowager has probably forgotten that she even exists. No one will pay attention to her.
"Go quickly!" Xia Yunshang urged.
The palace maid took what Xia Yunshang had given her and hurriedly left.
Yu Nanqing led over a thousand elite troops into the palace and has now reached the central gate.
The Imperial Guards quickly assembled and engaged in fierce combat with the Dragon Flag Army led by Yu Nanqing.
However, under Yu Nanqing's unstoppable advance, the Imperial Guards suffered repeated defeats. Just as the Dragon Flag Army was about to break through the central gate and advance straight in, a halberd suddenly fell from the sky and struck directly at Yu Nanqing's face.
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