Chapter 60
After the Lantern Festival, the first day of court meeting.
There was dead silence in Chaohua Palace.
Emperor Zhaoming sat upright on the dragon throne, his face pale and his eyes sunken, revealing an unprecedented age. He looked at the officials below in complete silence, a sneer that seemed half sad and half mocking playing at the corner of his lips.
"Since there is nothing wrong, let's disperse." Emperor Zhaoming said.
But then a man stepped out from the crowd, knelt down and saluted: "I am Song Liang, the general of Xuzhou, and I have a report to make!"
"Permitted."
"I wish to marry the late Empress's niece, Li. I hope Your Majesty will grant my permission!"
His Highness was immediately in an uproar. Everyone knew that Li Pingru had been Zhao Congyun's concubine. Moreover, Empress Li had just passed away, and the whole country was in mourning. The mourning period had not yet ended. For Song Liang to openly make such a request in front of the emperor was truly disrespectful!
Emperor Zhaoming stared deeply at the figure.
Song Liang knelt upright below, and Emperor Zhaoming did not speak. The relationship between the monarch and his subject was caught in an unspeakable stalemate.
The voices of the officials gradually died down. After a long time, someone coughed lightly and slowly stepped out of the line.
Lord Fan spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, General Song has spent many years fighting for his country, delaying his marriage. I believe... although this is a period of national mourning, considering General Song's unwavering loyalty, the late Empress will understand."
"Loyal and devoted..." Emperor Zhaoming smiled with an ambiguous tone. "How many troops did General Song bring with him on this visit to the capital?"
"Your Majesty, the Iron Eagle Guards number ten thousand men."
"I didn't realize that when foreign generals came to pay homage, they needed to bring so many troops?!"
As soon as these words fell, even the breathing in the hall froze.
Every official knew that Song Liang had secretly mobilized troops under the order of Lord Fan, without the emperor's permission. Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhaoming would reveal this secret at this moment!
Everyone's heart was beating like a drum, and the knees of the timid ones were weak, fearing that the coup would break out today.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhaoming's tone suddenly changed, as if to soften his tone: "Since Lord Fan has spoken, I will approve it!"
"When I married the late Queen, I made a pair of jade bi disks emerald with mandarin ducks. I will give them to General Song as a gift."
Song Liang leaned forward and kowtowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Speaking of which... I haven't seen that child in a while." Emperor Zhaoming sighed, "When is General Song's wedding date set? Have the palace send a pot of imperial wine."
"I will be returning to my base soon, so the wedding has been hastily arranged," Song Liang paused, "and the wedding date is... three days from now."
"It's true that we're a bit rushed." Emperor Zhaoming nodded and said, "General Song has served the country well. I'll have to trouble Lord Fan to take care of his marriage."
Lord Fan smiled and said, "I will do my utmost to live up to your grace!"
The emperor and his ministers were in harmony, and the tension just now seemed like an illusion. Although the officials were confused, they hurried away when the court was dismissed.
No one wants to stay in such a palace for even a second longer.
Only Emperor Zhaoming stayed. Hidden in the depths of the palace, his gaze swept inch by inch across the throne he had reigned over for nearly twenty years, then looked out at the vast sea of fleeing ministers. A sudden sense of desolation rose in his heart, a sense of despair at the end of his rope.
Has this road to becoming a king really come to an end?
*
Song Liang had no residence in Beijing, so the wedding was decided to be held at the prince's uncle's residence.
The Iron Eagle Guards had taken over the entire mansion early on. Li Pingru and his father were trapped in the courtyard respectively. Song Liang personally selected a group of mute servants with their tongues cut off to serve them.
Li Pingru cried in her room for three days, and remained in a daze until the day of her wedding.
The mute servants helped her change into her wedding dress, put on a veil, and then left silently. Li Pingru heard the noise gradually rising outside and knew that the wedding banquet had begun.
She began to tremble uncontrollably.
Lord Fan and Song Liang had invited many court officials today; anyone who dared not come would be considered a dissenter. Her wedding could be considered the beginning of Lord Fan's path to power.
He must be so happy that all his hard work over the years has paid off...
When Li Pingru thought of Mr. Fan's hypocritical face, her heart churned and she cursed bitterly: Aunt, if you are still alive in heaven, please help your niece and severely punish the evildoers!
*
A few streets away, in front of the palace, a whirlwind suddenly arose the moment she made her vow.
The whirlwind followed a large black team and was about to rush into the palace wall, but was blocked outside by the vermilion lacquered gate that slammed shut and dissipated completely.
At the same time, all nine gates of the palace were closed, even the Water Gate, which was used to let in filthy and obscene things!
This army that suddenly appeared entered the palace with a clear goal and headed straight for Chaohua Palace, killing all the palace servants they met along the way!
In broad daylight, blood splattered on the palace walls.
The murderer knew very well that this was a road to treason where success would lead to success or failure. No one spoke, only the sound of impatient footsteps, like the death drums before the King of Hell's Palace, echoing through the palace one after another.
Finally arrived at Chaohua Palace.
Who would have thought that the once majestic palace was now deserted! No palace guards were on duty, and Emperor Zhaoming was nowhere to be seen!
The leading general's face changed slightly, and he hurried to deliver the report. A moment later, the soldiers lowered their heads and retreated, and saw a man dressed in a purple and gold dragon robe slowly walking out from the formation.
The coiled dragon woven with golden threads on his body stretched out its sharp claws in the cold wind, roaring silently, ready to burst out of his clothes at any moment and destroy the nine-story palace that did not belong to him.
It turns out that the wedding at the Prince's Mansion was just a cover. Lord Fan never intended to attend. He had more important things to do.
Today is the day he chose for himself to seize the palace, and it is also the day he ascends the throne!
Lord Fan looked at the empty palace and finally put away his smile. A fierce and ferocious look appeared in his eyes, and he squeezed out two words coldly: "Search the palace!"
Upon receiving the order, the soldiers immediately rushed into the hall and searched it inside and out, but found nothing.
Lord Fan narrowed his eyes, staring at the throne, a gloom filling his heart. His plan had unexpectedly been discovered by Emperor Zhaoming... Who had leaked the information? His greater concern was... would something go wrong with Song Liang?
"Come here," he raised his hand and called over a confidant, "Go to General Song and check the situation... No matter what the result is, report back immediately!"
"Yes!" The confidant galloped away on his horse. Lord Fan turned his head and glanced at the generals behind him one by one. His suspicion gradually faded away, and a burning light rekindled in his eyes.
Even if Emperor Zhaoming knew about this, what would happen?!
He had 20,000 elite soldiers at his disposal, while Emperor Zhaoming could only mobilize 1,000 Qilin Guards, plus the powerless palace guards, who numbered no more than 2,000. What kind of trouble could he possibly stir up in this tiny palace?
"Go find them all! Find out where the emperor is!"
Soon someone came to report that several nearby halls were also empty and the palace servants had long disappeared. Someone also discovered that several roads leading to the harem were blocked by rockery rocks, as if someone had done it deliberately.
The harem of this dynasty consists of eighteen palaces in the east and west, with Kunning Palace at the head. It seems that the whereabouts of Emperor Zhaoming is clear.
Lord Fan sneered: "Hidden among the women? Your Majesty, I am somewhat disappointed!"
However, the next moment, while chewing on the soldiers' report, he suddenly realized: It's not that simple!
There were three roads leading to the harem. One was the main road, Tianjie, where the emperor usually walked. The other two were Xuanning Road, where the palace servants often walked, and Zhilan Road in the Imperial Garden.
Xuanning Road, with its many twists and turns, is the longest and most circuitous route. Zhilan Road, with its winding path leading to a secluded place and bordering the Golden Water Lotus Pond on one side, offers unique scenery and was a favorite of the concubines.
Emperor Zhaoming was not a weak emperor raised by women in the inner palace. In his early years on the frontier, he had fought in the battlefield with real swords and guns. Even though his riding and archery skills had become unfamiliar over the years, the military tactics and the memories were engraved in his bones.
Now he has retreated to the harem with two thousand palace ladies and Qilin Guards, and he will definitely not sit and wait for death!
These three routes are full of unknown ambushes. The first difficult problem Emperor Zhaoming threw at himself is to see how he would choose.
Should we combine our forces into one group and attack by force, or should we divide our forces into three groups and defeat them one by one?
A drop of cold sweat broke out on Mr. Fan's forehead. He didn't expect that Emperor Zhaoming would take the initiative to defeat him when he was at his wit's end!
If he had enough time, he was confident that he could kill them all... But if he delayed, something might happen. The situation on Song Liang's side was unclear. Although the 10,000 elite soldiers he left outside were more than enough to deal with the 3,000 patrol troops, there were still considerable hidden dangers - if the city defense troops ignored casualties and gathered all their forces to rescue Emperor Zhaoming, the soldiers in front of the palace gate might not be able to stop them!
We must fight quickly and decisively today!
The arrow has been shot and there is no turning back. For him, no matter what happens, he will kill the gods and the Buddhas!
Thinking of this, Lord Fan immediately ordered three teams to explore the way separately and clear the rocky roadblocks, while he led the main force directly to Tianjie.
It was the first month of the lunar year, and the narrow streets, which should have been festooned with lanterns, seemed deserted and eerie due to the national mourning. The towering palace walls on either side were devoid of even a bird, and the seemingly random pile of rocks in the middle created an indescribable eeriness.
Even though he was a civil official, Lord Fan could see that this street was perfect for an ambush!
"No news yet on the other two teams?" He grew increasingly anxious. "Move this rock out from under me!"
The soldiers hurried over to start clearing the area. A general suggested, "We have ten times the number of troops. We don't need to fear an ambush. As long as we don't care about casualties, we can capture the old emperor alive in half an hour!"
Mr. Fan's eyes were uncertain: "Are you sure?"
The general patted his chest and said, "I dare to sign the military order!"
"But I heard from Song Liang that Zhao Congyun persuaded Your Majesty to hide a batch of gunpowder in the palace. If they arranged it in advance, coupled with the combat power of the Qilin Guard... are you still confident?"
The generals were horrified: "Could it be that the old emperor dared to blow up the palace... Has he disregarded the legacy left by his ancestors?"
"Our Majesty is definitely not a soft-hearted person. I believe he can do it." Lord Fan paused, then smiled slightly. "But since you reminded me, I think there's no harm in giving it a try."
The general was puzzled: "What—"
Before he could finish, Lord Fan suddenly gave the order: "Select three thousand men, divide them into three groups, and attack immediately! You will lead the last group yourself!"
The general's face turned pale instantly.
He understood that Lord Fan was going to use the lives of three thousand people to test the enemy's strength.
Three thousand people for one answer. No matter the casualties.
It was too late for the general to regret, so he could only say in a trembling voice: "Subordinate... obey the order!"
*
In Kunning Palace, Emperor Zhaoming stood in the garden, quietly admiring a newly opened wintersweet.
The young palace maid stepped forward to put on his robe, but he raised his hand to stop her: "How old are you? Are you new to the palace?"
The young palace maid hurriedly replied, "I have just turned thirteen and have been in the palace for two years. Song Duzhi is my master."
"He sent you to serve me?"
The little palace maid nodded.
"Then do you know what he is doing now?"
Unable to fathom Emperor Zhaoming's tone, the young palace maid replied truthfully, "I heard... that Master and the other eunuchs have gone to Tianjie to help."
"Since Governor Song sent you here, you must be quite clever. Let me ask you again, do you know what is about to happen in the palace?"
Upon hearing this, the little palace maid fell to her knees with a thud: "Slave...slave..."
He wanted to say he didn't know, but he was afraid of committing the crime of deceiving the emperor, so he could only lie on the ground and kowtow desperately.
Emperor Zhaoming said, "Stand up and answer... Now that you know, are you afraid?"
"Master said that as long as His Majesty is here, we don't have to be afraid!" The little palace maid answered sincerely and straightforwardly.
"Hahaha!" Emperor Zhaoming laughed. "What's your name?"
"My surname is Chang, and I never had a given name. Since I'm the fifth child in my family, my teachers all call me Xiaowu."
"Alright! I'll remember you! Since your last name is Chang, I'll give you the character 'Victory'. If I can win today, I have a son about your age, who will also be the future emperor! You will be his governor!"
The little palace maid who got the name cried with joy and thanked the emperor repeatedly. At this moment, a Qilin guard came from outside to report that Lord Fan's army had begun to clear the rocks and asked whether they could carry out the plan.
Emperor Zhaoming looked at the petals blown down by the wind and said calmly, "Then let's begin."
Scattered into mud and turned into dust.
Today is destined to be a bloody day.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
