Chapter 692: The Deposed Princess Strikes Back at the Female General 139
The journey was smooth and the emperor trusted Teng Shichang even more.
The two deputy commanders of the Imperial Guards were both very traditional military generals, with upright personalities and poor tongue, and they were gradually pushed to the back.
Teng Shichang walked beside the dragon sedan chair and said things that the emperor wanted to hear. The emperor was in a good mood and didn't realize that the Imperial Guards were getting farther and farther away from him, and that he was surrounded by people from the Patrol Camp.
Teng Shichang smiled and said, "I see that the brothers of the Imperial Guard seem to be a little tired. They don't have the spirit of our patrol camp. Your Majesty's safety is more important than anything else. The brothers of the Imperial Guard alone are definitely not enough. I am willing to lead the troops to guard Qingchuan Garden and ensure that Your Majesty is safe and worry-free."
The emperor agreed immediately, saying that having an extra layer of protection would be the best.
At noon, the emperor's procession arrived at Qingchuan Garden.
Teng Shichang was a little cunning and asked the Imperial Guards to guard the outside, while the people from the patrol camp were to guard the emperor personally.
The two deputy commanders had never seen such a situation. It was always the Imperial Guards who protected the emperor, and the patrol battalion mostly cooperated to clear the way and stop the people on the roadside.
They wanted to see the emperor, but the eunuch who delivered the order said with contempt, "This is the order of His Majesty. His Majesty ordered the patrol battalion to enter Qingchuan Garden for protection. Do you want to disobey the order?"
"With Commander Luo away, the Imperial Guards have become even more unruly. Do you want to question His Majesty or Lord Teng? Lord Teng is of a higher rank than you and is more respected by His Majesty than you."
The two deputy commanders did not dare to raise any objections and could only obey the orders.
The emperor met the empress dowager in Qingchuan Pavilion.
The Queen Mother had no expression on her face, neither happy nor angry, she just said calmly: "My son is here, no need to be polite, please sit down."
The emperor sat down, and Teng Shichang guarded him with a sword in his hand.
"I have come to take my mother back to the palace. It is inconvenient for her to live outside. I cannot always be by your side to show my filial piety, and I feel uneasy."
The Queen Mother sighed and said, "I met the late Emperor in Qingchuan Garden. When the late Emperor was alive, I could often go out of the palace for fun. Now that the late Emperor is gone, I have no time to rest. I have been so busy all my life, but what is left in the end?"
"If you are truly filial, you should let me rest and recuperate. I am very happy that you have come to see me. Please have dinner and then go back."
Lunch was served, and the empress dowager drank a bowl of medicine. She had no appetite to begin with, and the emperor kept nagging her to return to the palace. The empress dowager lost interest in eating even more and just felt annoyed!
Teng Shichang kept looking around with a shifty look in his eyes, and he didn't look like a good person.
The Queen Mother interrupted the Emperor and asked, "Where is Commander Luo? Isn't he on duty today? Why can't I see the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards?"
Teng Shichang smiled flatteringly and said, "Commander Luo is ill. I have been ordered to lead the patrol battalion to protect your majesty's safety."
The Queen Mother had a bad premonition, and she noticed that the people guarding outside were not the Imperial Guards, but people from the Patrol Battalion!
A fine layer of sweat formed on the empress dowager's back. The keen intuition she had developed over the years made her aware of the danger, but the foolish emperor was still completely unaware.
The queen mother's face remained calm, still chatting and laughing, "You are loyal, the emperor trusts you, and I will reward you."
"Hongying, go and ask the two deputy commanders to come over. They have worked hard to protect the emperor. I want to reward them together."
Teng Shichang's face changed. He had managed to send the Imperial Guards away with great difficulty, and he would not let them ruin today's event.
Suddenly, flames shot up into the sky in the distance; the palace where the Queen Mother lived was on fire.
This was a signal. Teng Shichang knew that today's task was almost done. He showed an anxious look and shouted, "Quick, quick, quick! Put out the fire! Your Majesty, don't worry. This place is close to the water source. The fire can't burn here. I'm afraid that scoundrels will take the opportunity to cause chaos. The patrol camp has been carefully guarded. With me here to protect Your Majesty, you will be safe."
The emperor wanted to leave, but then he thought that Qingchuan Pavilion was built on the water and was the safest place at this time.
The emperor thought of the Imperial Guards the first time he encountered the fire, and immediately ordered: "Hurry up and let the Imperial Guards put out the fire. Qingchuan Garden is the Queen Mother's favorite place, it must not be damaged. If they can't put out the fire, I will take their heads!"
"The fire is urgent. If Mother wants to reward them, she should wait until the fire is out."
Two deputy commanders were sent out to put out the fire. Some of the Royal Guards were busy putting out the fire, while the other part were scattered everywhere, each with their own tasks.
Commander Luo was not there, and neither were the two deputy commanders. No one from the Imperial Guards could see the emperor, so they could only obey some inexplicable arrangements. The ones who conveyed the emperor's orders were the eunuchs around the emperor, and they did not dare to question them.
In the end, even the shift changes became a mess. There were vacancies in many places. A large number of people went to lunch at the same time, and everything was in a mess.
The emperor was completely unaware and was still waiting for the fire to be put out.
The Queen Mother had already stood up and held Hongying's hand, "I'm still worried. I'll go to the palace to see where the Imperial Guards are. Ask them to escort me there."
The sound of fighting was heard outside Qingchuan Pavilion. The empress dowager was also protected by a group of imperial guards who never left. At this time, this group of imperial guards started fighting with a group of men in black.
Teng Shichang shouted, "Her Majesty, be careful! You should stay here. It would be more dangerous if you walk around now."
The men in black quickly attacked. They were all well-trained and even equipped with a number of bows and crossbows.
Prince Rui walked up surrounded by the crowd, and he was actually wearing a dragon robe!
The emperor was furious. "Rebellious son! Are you crazy? How dare you rebel? Do you think you can seize the throne with just these few people? How absurd!"
"Royal Guards, protect the emperor! Execute this traitor on the spot!"
Prince Rui had a mad look on his face, his eye sockets were sunken, his beard was untidy, and he exuded a bad smell. His dragon robe did not fit him well and hung loosely on his body, with the yellow hem being stepped on and was dirty.
But he was very excited because this was the closest he had ever been to the throne and he would soon be the emperor.
Prince Rui laughed loudly, "The Imperial Guards are busy putting out the fire, they can't possibly know the situation here. I put drugs in the food, and a lot of it should have fallen by now, hahahaha... Father, the Imperial Guards are too late to save you!"
"Today is the day when this king ascends the throne!"
The emperor was so angry that his eyes turned black. "You...you are dreaming! The patrol camp is here, Minister Teng, capture these traitors for me! I will reward you handsomely!"
Teng Shichang did not move.
Prince Rui smiled more and more complacently, "It seems that Father has not yet understood the current situation. The Imperial Guards are no longer powerful, and the Imperial Guards are far outside the capital and cannot catch up at all. The Patrol Battalion has long been under my control."
"My father is old and has neglected state affairs. He is incompetent and has no moral principles. The court is ruled by corrupt officials and the people are living in misery. The crown prince is cruel and inhumane and is unfit to be the heir to the throne. I ask my father to issue an order to depose the crown prince and abdicate to me immediately!"
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