"Dowager Concubine..." Surprise flashed across Madam Jiang's eyes, and she couldn't help but let out a soft cry. It was obvious that she understood Dowager Concubine Yuande's intention.
But the prince had issued an order early in the morning that no one in Prince Chen's mansion was allowed to leave the mansion. This...
"Dowager Concubine, you're still injured. It's best not to move around, lest the wound open. The Prince would be distressed. Furthermore, although the capital is under the Emperor's control, many of the aristocratic families are undoubtedly dissatisfied. If they try to take advantage of the chaos to harm the Dowager Concubine, wouldn't your trip give them an opportunity?" Thinking of the dozen or so sword-wielding guards standing at the Dowager Concubine's courtyard and the solemn columns of city defense troops inside and outside Prince Chen's mansion, Nanny Jiang felt a headache. She spoke in a way that didn't let Dowager Concubine Yuande notice anything unusual about the Chen Palace, so she could only patiently persuade her.
Prince Chen already knew that Concubine Yuande disliked Princess Chu, so he was on guard against the Concubine Yuande doing anything bad to Princess Chu.
But for Concubine Yuande, a mere woman was incomparable to her son's kingdom. Furthermore, Concubine Yuande had long ago been dissatisfied with Emperor Dexi's indecisiveness in dealing with the Princess of Chu, and naturally could not tolerate the Princess's beauty bringing disaster to the country. It was feared that over the Princess of Chu, this troubled mother and son would once again clash.
"I have countless guards around me, why should I be afraid of those servants?" A cold light shot towards Nanny Jiang. Concubine Yuande picked out a royal court dress and ordered Nanny Jiang to help her dress it neatly. She also painted her slightly pale lips with bright red lipstick, which embellished her complexion and solemn aura. Finally, she picked out a golden hairpin with a phoenix pointing upwards and pinned it in her hair. Then she slowly stood up.
Nanny Jiang was struck by the sharp gaze in the bronze mirror of Concubine Yuande, and her heart felt a little uneasy. She could only lower her eyes and speak in a low voice, "Concubine, as the saying goes, it's hard to guard against a hidden arrow. If these noble families join forces, wouldn't it be difficult for the emperor to leave the palace rashly? Now that the Sea King is seizing the city outside the city, and the King of Chu is defending the capital, the emperor will have a hard time fighting two alone. We..."
Concubine Yuande glanced at Nanny Jiang with cold eyes. As shrewd as Concubine Yuande was, she not only understood Prince Chen but also Nanny Jiang. Seeing Nanny Jiang hesitating and trying to stop her from leaving the Concubine's Courtyard, Concubine Yuande had guessed the order from her son from her words.
With a sneer on her face, Concubine Yuande sarcastically said, "Even if Chen'er ascends the throne, I will still be his mother and your master. Don't get it mixed up!"
Hearing this, Nanny Jiang's heart trembled. She knelt down in front of Concubine Yuande with a plop. She lowered her head, not daring to face Concubine Yuande's cold face. She could only kowtow repeatedly to express her loyalty, "This servant has absolutely no second thoughts about Concubine Yuande! Please understand!"
A barely audible sigh echoed from Nanny Jiang's head, followed by a less stern voice. "I know what you're worried about, and I know what Chen'er fears. But how can I let a woman ruin Chen'er's great cause? Furthermore, she's no ordinary woman; she's the Crown Princess of Chu, enthroned in the palace, and her name has been proclaimed to the world. Even if Chen'er uses force to force those aristocratic families to submit, she can't kill them. Otherwise, if Chen'er inherits the throne and has no one at court, won't the people criticize the new emperor as cruel and immoral? And if those aristocratic families remain, how many of them haven't met the Princess of Chu? If Chen'er becomes entangled with her, won't we become a laughingstock? If I take someone else's wife, the people will think the emperor is incompetent and lustful. How can they support Chen'er? Tell me, what's right and wrong? What's more important? What should I do?"
After listening to Concubine Yuande's explanation, Nanny Jiang understood in her heart that if she wanted to have the best of both worlds, she could only start with Princess Chu and make her move before the Emperor protected her by his side, otherwise it would be too late.
Concubine Yuande looked down at Nanny Jiang at her feet. Seeing that her thoughts had changed, she whispered an order, "Let my people clear out all the obstacles outside the courtyard."
Judging from Chen'er's reaction, he hasn't given up on Princess Chu yet. The fact that he cares so much about Yun Qianmeng means that Yun Qianmeng can no longer stay in this world.
He could endure any hardship to help his son ascend the throne, but he would never allow a woman to block his son's future.
How could a woman who had been married off by Emperor Yugan, a woman known to the world, continue to be by Prince Chen's side? Wouldn't that make everyone laugh at Prince Chen? How could he possibly hold onto the throne?
Seeing that Concubine Yuande was determined, Nanny Jiang knew that the prince had indeed gone too far in this matter, so she could only nod slightly and turn to leave the inner room.
The residence of the Prime Minister of Chu.
After the incident with King Chen of the Sea, Butler Hong personally stood guard at the door of the Prime Minister's residence every day, strictly guarding against any villains from approaching.
At that moment, hundreds of guards, swords in hand, guarded a carriage in the distance, approaching Prime Minister Chu's residence. The measured, orderly footsteps shook the bluestone pavement so hard it threatened to crack. Steward Hong, leading a dozen guards to the gatehouse, squinted at the menacing procession from afar, a faint sense of unease spreading within him. He then glanced at a servant standing by. The servant, receiving Steward Hong's glance, immediately turned and ran back inside...
After the guards stood at the gate of Prime Minister Chu's residence, Butler Hong asked in a deep voice, "Who is coming?"
After he finished speaking, Butler Hong carefully looked at the clothes of the guards in front of him. They were not the clothes of the city defense army, nor the uniforms of the imperial guards. For a moment, the knowledgeable Butler Hong felt puzzled. In addition, the carriage in the middle was also very ordinary, making it impossible to guess the identity of the people.
"The Concubine Yuande is here to visit the Princess of Chu, and you slaves are just opening the gate of the Prime Minister's residence to welcome her?" Nanny Jiang came out of the carriage and immediately shouted at Butler Hong and his men in a domineering manner.
Seeing that it was Nanny Jiang beside Concubine Yuande, Butler Hong knew that the person sitting in the carriage must be Concubine Yuande who had just been brought back to the capital by Prince Chen last night.
Instantly, Butler Hong's brows furrowed slightly before he stepped forward, clasping his fists and politely saying, "Your servant greets the Dowager Consort. On behalf of my princess, I would like to thank her for her kindness. However, my princess was frightened last night and is currently resting in the mansion. It is inconvenient for her to see the Dowager Consort. Please return."
These words made sense, but they also clearly blocked Concubine Yuande at the gate of Prime Minister Chu's residence, preventing her from entering.
Hearing this, Nanny Jiang's eyes blazed with anger, and she angrily shouted, "You cunning slave, don't you see who is coming today? The Dowager Consort is the consort of the Western Jing Emperor. How can she allow the small Prime Minister Chu's family to be so presumptuous? Don't forget that the King of Chu is now a traitor to Western Chu. The Dowager Consort is only here to visit because of her past friendship with the Princess of Chu. If you stand in the Dowager Consort's way again, you will be executed on the spot."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw that all the guards beside the carriage drew their swords. For a moment, the gate of Prime Minister Chu's mansion was shining with cold light, and the situation was extremely serious.
A hint of murderous intent also appeared in Nanny Jiang's eyes. She had a deeper understanding of the Concubine Dowager's previous concerns. The Princess of Chu was indeed resourceful. Even a steward in the Prime Minister Chu's Mansion was so difficult to deal with. If these people were not eliminated, they would definitely hinder the Emperor in the future.
"I don't understand. The Concubine Dowager came to visit my Princess, but why would her guards draw their swords at the gates of Prime Minister Chu's residence? Furthermore, our Prince was ordered by Emperor Yugan to suppress the rebels, yet how could Madam Jiang be so perverted in her words?" Steward Hong wisely kept his words to a minimum. After all, Prince Chen now controlled the capital. If they pressed Concubine Dowager Yuande and the others too hard, Prime Minister Chu's residence would likely suffer.
"You are such a bold dog slave! You even dare to block my way. Don't you want to live?" At this moment, an extremely cold voice came from the carriage, with a natural aloofness and majesty that made the atmosphere at this moment drop to the bottom in an instant.
When Butler Hong heard Concubine Yuande speak, he knew that there would be a tough battle today. Butler Hong immediately became alert, but still had a faint smile on his face. He said respectfully to the people in the carriage, "The Concubine's condition is serious. I dare not block the Princess's way. But my Princess is indeed not feeling well today. I hope the Princess will understand."
"Hmph, it's not like I haven't given birth before. You're using this as an excuse. Don't want to live anymore. Come on, break down the door of Prime Minister Chu's residence. I want to see how the wife of a guilty minister can be so arrogant!" Little did he know that Concubine Yuande did not give Butler Hong any chance to explain. After scolding everyone who was blocking the door of Prime Minister Chu's residence, she ordered the guards who came with them to break into the residence by force.
"Wait!" Unexpectedly, Butler Hong was not the one who grew up to be frightened. Seeing that Concubine Yuande was determined to force her way in, Butler Hong shouted loudly, and many guards who were originally guarding the mansion suddenly rushed out and stood behind Butler Hong.
Steward Hong took another step forward and sneered, "Grand Consort, this is the residence of the Prince of Chu, and the Princess of Chu resides within. According to Emperor Yugan's decree, the Prince of Chu is unparalleled in dignity. Even if Prince Chen is attempting to usurp the throne and frame our prince, justice is clear, and the people are discerning. Grand Consort, you barged into the home of a meritorious official in broad daylight. Aren't you afraid of public criticism? Grand Consort, you wouldn't even spare a pregnant woman. Even if you become the mother of the nation, you'll only be a laughingstock! Furthermore, Prince Chen's accession to the throne was unclear, and has long aroused suspicion among the people!"
After Butler Hong uttered these defiant words, the curtains of the carriage, which had remained motionless, were forcefully opened by Concubine Yuande inside. She stepped out of the carriage with a furious look on her face, pointed at the guards from Prime Minister Chu's residence, and shouted, "How dare you discuss state affairs in front of me? Don't forget, Emperor Yugan has long since passed away, and Prince Chen has now succeeded him as Emperor Dexi. You are so audacious that you dare to stand in my way! I will make sure you are utterly destroyed!"
"Let's see who dares to break in!" Butler Hong was ordered to protect Yun Qianmeng's safety, so naturally he could not let Concubine Yuande, who had ulterior motives, in, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Since you don't want to accept my toast, then don't blame me! Come on, charge in. Anyone who dares to block my way will be killed without mercy." Concubine Yuande laughed angrily, then spoke with gritted teeth.
The guards around Concubine Yuande raised their swords and attacked Butler Hong and others without saying a word. They were all guards trained by Concubine Yuande for many years, so their martial arts skills were beyond doubt.
Butler Hong retreated to the back, and the guards who were originally standing behind him stepped forward and fought with Concubine Yuande's men. They were all left to Yun Qianmeng by Chu Feiyang, so naturally they were all masters.
For a moment, the two sides were deadlocked, but Concubine Yuande had the advantage in numbers. The guards of Prince Chen's Mansion, who had successfully broken through the guards of the Prime Minister's Mansion, immediately opened the gate of Prime Minister Chu's Mansion and welcomed Concubine Yuande into the Chu Mansion...
"Princess, Concubine Yuande has broken in." Unable to stop Concubine Yuande from forcing her way in, Nanny Shangguan received a report from the servant and could only take a shortcut to come to Mengxin Cottage to inform Yun Qianmeng.
"Don't worry, Ma'am. We don't need to be afraid of her." Yun Qianmeng patted Ma'am Shangguan's hand lightly and cast a cold gaze at Concubine Yuande who had already walked quickly into the yard.
Just now, an urgent report was rang out in the capital, announcing that Emperor Yugan had died suddenly and abdicated to Prince Chen. Prince Chen had taken out the sealed imperial edict of Emperor Yugan in the main hall, and after having all the officials verify it on the spot, he obtained the jade seal and chose a day to ascend the throne.
The first thing King Chen did after taking the throne was to label King Chu and King Hai as traitors and mobilize the entire country to encircle and kill them.
Jiang Muchen was truly ruthless, not only spreading rumors but also forging an imperial edict. The ministers standing in the hall were all close confidants of Prince Chen, so they naturally favored him and spoke for him.
Originally, these had nothing to do with her, but Jiang Muchen labeled her husband a traitor, and Yun Qianmeng naturally couldn't swallow this.
Now that Concubine Yuande has barged into Prime Minister Chu's residence so arrogantly, she must really think of herself as the empress dowager.
A sneer of contempt flashed across Yun Qianmeng's clear eyes. She looked at Concubine Yuande who had walked up to her and said coldly, "Isn't the Concubine in the Imperial Mausoleum? Why is she here at Prime Minister Chu's residence? Could it be that she's taking advantage of Emperor Yugan's absence and disobeyed the order to flee the Imperial Mausoleum?"
Yun Qianmeng refused to mention Emperor Dexi, but instead spoke of Emperor Yugan, causing Concubine Yuande to surge with anger. However, remembering Yun Qianmeng's sharp tongue in the past, she temporarily suppressed her anger. Pointing at Butler Hong, who was being escorted forward by the guards, she angrily declared, "Good Prince Chu, good Princess Chu! I came to visit you out of good intentions, yet you allowed the wicked servants in your palace to harm me. And as a hereditary prince, the Prince of Chu maintains so many guards beyond his quota. This is tantamount to treason. Today, I will enforce justice for the people and execute you, these traitors."
Yun Qianmeng looked in the direction of Concubine Yuande's finger and saw two guards escorting Butler Hong, with a gleaming longsword at his neck. Yun Qianmeng's eyes darkened, and a hint of anger gradually rose in her heart, but her face was smiling like a lotus. She said lightly, "The Concubine and her guards barged into my residence, taking advantage of my husband's absence and taking advantage of me, a weak woman. Now, they are framing my residence, Prime Minister Chu. What a good scheme. Everyone in the world knows that Prince Chen took advantage of Prince Chu's absence to lock down the city and force him to abdicate, and even wrote a fake imperial edict to set an example. Yet, the Concubine pretends to be hypocritical in front of me, confusing everyone. It is truly shameful!"
"Yun Qianmeng, you are slandering me! The edict was written by Emperor Yugan himself, and his sudden death is also known to everyone. In order to avoid the emperor's investigation, you, the Prime Minister Chu, have turned right and wrong upside down. Aren't you the one who is truly shameful!" Concubine Yuande said angrily, and the look in her eyes when she looked at Yun Qianmeng was like the eyes of a poisonous snake, which made people shudder.
Yun Qianmeng, however, remained calm and composed. She placed her hands neatly on her abdomen, carefully protecting her belly, before continuing, "Is that so? Emperor Yugan died suddenly? If it was a sudden death, and the news came from the palace, it means that Emperor Yugan passed away in the palace. This concubine, please ask the Concubine Dowager, where is Emperor Yugan's body? As the saying goes, if you want to see the person alive, you want to see the body; if you want to see the body dead, you must see the body. Surely the bodies of Emperor Yugan and the concubines in the palace cannot be found! As for the imperial edict, knowing that someone familiar with Emperor Yugan's handwriting was written on his behalf is a natural outcome. Concubine Dowager, please explain the doubts I have just raised. Furthermore, the Concubine Dowager was seriously injured in the Imperial Mausoleum and was unconscious for several days. How could she barge into our Prime Minister Chu's residence so arrogantly today? This concubine must have had a hard time pretending to be in the Imperial Mausoleum these days."
Yun Qianmeng had a sarcastic smile on her face, but she asked Concubine Yuande in a calm and relaxed tone.
"You..." Yun Qianmeng interrupted her, and Concubine Yuande's face turned pale and blue with shock and anger. Only the eyes that pierced Yun Qianmeng were still filled with immense hatred. Yun Qianmeng's revelation of her actions made Concubine Yuande even more determined. If she didn't get rid of this woman, even if she became Chen'er's concubine in the future, she would probably be at odds with her. It would be better to deal with her sooner rather than later to avoid endless trouble.
Thinking of this, Concubine Yuande swung her right hand towards Yun Qianmeng's cheek without thinking...
Yun Qianmeng had already made full preparations and would not suffer this loss. Not to mention that she was pregnant now, she would not be slapped in the face for no reason even on a normal day.
Yun Qianmeng effortlessly dodged the palm strike from Concubine Yuande with a sideways movement. She stood gracefully in front of the main hall doorway, smirking at the blushing Concubine Yuande. She slowly spoke, "The Concubine is a role model for the concubines in the harem. How could she hit someone? Furthermore, my behavior hasn't violated any palace rules. How could the Concubine resort to private punishment?"
Concubine Yuande had already lost face because she failed to beat Yun Qianmeng. Now, hearing Yun Qianmeng's ridicule, her eyes flashed with ferocity. Without saying a word, she waved her hand behind her, and hundreds of guards instantly rushed into Mengxin Cottage.
Seeing this situation, Qiao Ying quickly stood in front of Yun Qianmeng, with the long sword in his hand already out. He stared coldly at Concubine Yuande in front of him, wishing he could tear this person into pieces.
Yun Qianmeng's expression was as calm as an ancient well, but the cold light in her eyes revealed her deep contempt for Concubine Yuande.
Concubine Yuande was really anxious, thinking that if Prince Chen proclaimed himself emperor, the world of Western Chu would belong to her, Concubine Yuande?
Little did they know that the capital was full of dangers at that time, and people everywhere wanted to capture the women of Prince Chen's Mansion in order to buy a chance to escape.
However, Concubine Yuande was so anxious to get rid of herself that she lost her composure and actually came to the door on her own initiative.
Concubine Yuande saw that Yun Qianmeng's expression remained unchanged. Then she saw a strange smile on Yun Qianmeng's face. Her pink lips uttered two words softly, "Release the arrow."
'Whoosh whoosh whoosh...'
Suddenly, a hail of arrows rained down upon the guards in the courtyard. Before they could even scream or resist, they collapsed to the ground. The stench of blood filled the air, making one nauseous. Aside from Concubine Yuande, who remained standing safely in the courtyard, only Butler Hong, who had been taken aboard, remained unharmed by the arrows.
Seeing this, Concubine Yuande's face turned pale. She looked up and saw that Mengxin Cottage was already surrounded by guards from Prime Minister Chu's residence. Concubine Yuande finally realized her negligence and impatience and tried to flee, but a cold dagger was already at her neck.
"Since the Concubine is here, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I haven't yet found the Concubine to settle accounts with Prince Chen for framing my husband." Yun Qianmeng stood behind Concubine Yuande with a dagger in her hand. The coldness in her eyes was chilling, and the frost on her face was enough to convey the anger in her heart.
"Yun Qianmeng, if you dare to hurt me, the emperor will not forgive you." Although she was afraid in her heart, Concubine Yuande still had a cold expression on her face, and her condescending tone made people feel uncomfortable.
Yun Qianmeng leaned close to Concubine Yuande's ear and spoke softly, "Oh? Really? Prince Chen won't forgive me. That's perfect, I can finally settle accounts with Prince Chen. Concubine, don't tremble. Aren't you very strong? Do you know how innocent people feel when facing death in war? I'm afraid they're tens of thousands of times more terrified than you are right now."
"Yun Qianmeng, you are courting death. I will make the emperor exterminate all your nine clans!" Concubine Yuande screamed shrilly, but the skin on her neck touched the cold dagger, which made the usually calm Concubine Yuande lose her composure.
"Emperor? How ridiculous! Is a person who doesn't care about the life and death of others worthy of being called the emperor? Concubine Dowager, I am in a very bad mood right now. If you say anything more, I can't guarantee that this dagger will not cut your throat." Yun Qianmeng counterattacked in a cold voice.
After she finished speaking, the strength in her hands gradually increased, and the sharp dagger had cut through Concubine Yuande's delicate skin. Bright red blood flowed from her neck all the way to her clothes, staining the light golden clothes red.
"Don't be angry, girl." At this time, a familiar voice came from above.
Everyone looked up and saw Chu Nanshan leading the guards flying down from the roof.
"Grandpa." Yun Qianmeng was surprised when she saw Chu Nanshan. Didn't they say that Prince Chen had blocked all the roads? Why was Grandpa in the Prime Minister's Mansion?
"Chu Nanshan, look at your grandson..." Concubine Yuande was even more furious and was about to start scolding Yun Qianmeng.
Chu Nanshan swung his knife quickly and chopped it hard at the shoulder and neck of Concubine Yuande. Concubine Yuande's body softened instantly and fell to the ground.
"Come here, take her out of the city." Time was running out, and Chu Nanshan immediately gave orders to the guards behind him.
The guards behind him also appeared beside Concubine Yuande very quickly, carried her around the waist and carried her on their shoulders. Several figures immediately disappeared in front of everyone.
"Girl, come with grandpa and leave." Chu Nanshan looked at Yun Qianmeng carefully, and when he saw that she was unharmed, he finally put his heart at ease.
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