Although he was only a vanguard commander, he still had a portion of the troops in the capital camp under his command, and Liu Kang wanted him to go to the border city to stabilize the situation there.
Of course, Zuo Chongxiang alone was not enough. Liu Kang also wanted to bring the Crown Prince's tutor along, since among the court officials, the only people he could trust besides his in-laws were his teachers.
Liu Kang had a good plan, but before he could offer his opinion, Liu Yan had already contacted the powerful families and his father-in-law and started taking action in secret.
Liu Yan embellished and spread rumors about all the mistakes Liu Kang had made over the years, including the misdeeds of the Crown Prince's subordinates and the eunuchs who had died in the Crown Prince's palace. Prince Pei Xian was the most flamboyant of the princes, openly stating in court that the Crown Prince was of poor character and unfit to continue as regent.
Although few people in the court dared to openly support Liu Kang, and Li Cifu and others actively defended Liu Kang, those from aristocratic families silently demonstrated through their actions that they did not support Liu Kang continuing to oversee the country. At the same time, rumors about the Crown Prince's misdeeds were raised every day.
Liu Kang's engagement to the Crown Prince's concubine at this time was used as a pretext for gossip. The reason was readily available: His Majesty was seriously injured, yet the Crown Prince showed no filial piety or concern for the Emperor, instead indulging in pleasure. Liu Kang was now further branded as a womanizer.
When Liu Kang initially tried to win over Zuo Chongxiang, he was already prepared for the possibility of being attacked and annihilated. However, he didn't immediately accept Zuo Chongxiang as his ally, but merely made an appointment. Otherwise, how could Zuo Chongxiang willingly serve him?
The powerful families have united and decided to support Liu Yan. Liu Heng's restrictions and reductions on these families have greatly diminished their power, and Liu Kang doesn't particularly need their support. By supporting Liu Yan, they can maximize their benefits.
They were counting on Liu Yan's ascension to the throne so they could also rise in status. Moreover, Liu Yan had promised that if they supported him, he would restore the aristocratic families to the glory of the Jianwu Emperor's era.
Consort Ning originally intended for Liu Yan to wait, but Liu Yan couldn't wait any longer. Liu Heng's injuries had been confirmed to be very serious, and he might not make it soon. In any case, he had already offended Liu Kang to the point of no return. If he didn't act quickly to remove Liu Kang from the position of Crown Prince, he would have no way out.
"The Crown Prince is the eldest son of the legitimate wife, and his position is truly secure. These methods alone are not enough."
Looking at the recent results, Liu Yan's advisors realized that overthrowing Liu Kang would not be easy, and their time was running out.
What suggestions do you have?
Because this was his own decision, and he did not follow Consort Ning's orders to continue to endure, Liu Yan dared not see Consort Ning again. With no one to give him advice, he relied more on his retainers and advisors.
"I have a plan. Unless the Crown Prince is not present, the chances of the Duke of Donghai's plan succeeding are slim."
The strategist's "absence" carried a profound meaning, and Liu Yan frowned upon understanding it. Assassinating the Crown Prince was no small matter. If his father's injuries weren't as severe as rumored, he wouldn't be able to handle the situation.
Liu Yan hesitated for a moment, but to his surprise, the Prince of Pei shared the same idea and took the initiative to visit him.
After some initial pleasantries, Prince Pei Xian dropped a bombshell.
“Nephew, do you want to be the emperor? I’ve accumulated some experience over the years and have something to share with you. Once you’ve made up your mind, act quickly. Don’t hesitate and miss opportunities. I hesitated for years, not daring to make a move or step forward easily, wanting to preserve my strength and wait for an opportunity. But opportunities don’t wait for you. In the end, your father stood out from among us brothers.”
"If you don't seize this opportunity to act quickly, in the future, whether it's the crown prince or your third brother who succeeds to the throne, it will never fall to you."
The Prince of Pei spoke too directly, causing Liu Yan's expression to change several times as he listened. He was unsure whether to speak frankly and avoid the topic, or to continue listening. The Prince of Pei's deliberate remarks must have a purpose.
"At this point, you don't need to play dumb with me. We both know perfectly well what's going on. Your father's life hangs by a thread, and as his younger brother, I'm worried about him, so I've already sent people over to take care of him. This is all I can do for you as your uncle. The rest is up to you. If you don't get rid of the Crown Prince, he'll get rid of you once he ascends the throne. Nephew, think it over carefully."
Supporting his large belly, the seemingly honest and kind-looking Prince Pei smiled sincerely, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He patted Liu Yan on the shoulder, then took his leave without staying any longer.
He remained calm and composed, coming and going in a hurry, seemingly unaware of the turmoil his words would cause in Liu Yan's heart.
Liu Yan sat blankly in the chair, constantly replaying Pei Xianwang's words in his mind. Was that what he meant?
Is it really believable that the Prince of Pei would so casually reveal that he sent troops to assassinate Liu Heng?
After much deliberation, Liu Yan quickly ordered someone to investigate Prince Pei Xian, while he hurriedly went to the palace to see Consort Ning. Given the current situation, he needed to hear his mother's opinion.
Consort Ning finally saw Liu Yan arrive. This son of hers had grown up and become arrogant, daring to disobey her orders and act on his own. She had been holding back her anger for a long time, and now that she saw Liu Yan, she didn't give him a pleasant look.
Liu Yan didn't bother to apologize and directly told Pei Xianwang what he was thinking.
"Mother, can we trust what Prince Pei Xian said? Why would he be so kind as to help me?"
Hearing Liu Yan's words, Consort Ning forgot her anger and, after thinking for a while, she carefully spoke.
"Now that your father has been attacked, such a huge mess, they can't possibly ignore it. The three princes who rushed back to the capital from their fiefdoms are all up to no good. Whether you or the crown prince succeed to the throne, they will gain a lot of benefits, so naturally they will try every means to prevent your father from returning."
Consort Ning could foresee that, no matter what, Prince Pei and his group would make things worse for Liu Heng, and even the Crown Prince was very likely to take action.
For Liu Kang in particular, this is the best opportunity. If he doesn't seize this chance to ascend the throne, he will have to wait for more than ten years for Liu Heng to return. By then, the third prince will be grown up, and the throne may no longer be his.
If she were the crown prince, she would definitely seize this opportunity.
However, the Prince of Pei and his associates are certainly not trustworthy. The Prince of Pei is likely ambitious and wants to seize the throne himself; his actions in preventing Liu Heng from returning to the capital are not to help Liu Yan. And once Liu Yan eliminates Liu Kang, the Prince of Pei will probably be the first to target him.
However, since Prince Pei is a prince, it is not as legitimate for Liu Yan to inherit the throne. If Liu Kang is eliminated, Liu Yan will have a good chance of winning.
After careful consideration, Consort Ning decided to use the methods she was most familiar with: to kill someone with a borrowed knife.
"Yan'er, go and contact Prince Pei Xian again, and persuade him to help you get rid of Liu Kang. At that time, deliberately leave some loopholes so that Liu Kang can escape. Prince Pei Xian will never expect that you will miss this opportunity. Then, reveal the evidence of Prince Pei Xian's actions to the Crown Prince, and let the Crown Prince deal with Prince Pei Xian. No matter who wins, you will have a chance to compete."
Consort Ning was meticulous and always planned carefully, trying to escape her responsibility as much as possible.
Liu Yan accepted her plan and did as she suggested.
The Empress also heard about Liu Yan's recent antics in trying to trip up Liu Kang, and she became extremely disgusted with Consort Ning. Using the excuse of failing to properly educate her son, she imprisoned Consort Ning.
Lin Yuqiao was not spared either. After hearing that Liu Heng was indeed seriously injured, the Empress felt a little relieved. Not content with having the entire harem under her control, she devised ways to punish Lin Yuqiao.
Since Lin Yuqiao had no direct evidence or loopholes, the Empress could only find another reason, saying that she "bewitched the emperor and monopolized the harem." She ordered the nanny to read the Women's Classics to Lin Yuqiao three times a day as a form of admonition, and Lin Yuqiao had to kneel to listen.
Now that the Crown Prince is overseeing the country, the Empress is the most powerful person in the harem. Regardless of whether it makes sense or is in accordance with the rules, Lin Yuqiao cannot disobey her orders.
Lin Yuqiao was worried about Liu Heng, but she also had to take care of her two sons. She dared not confront the Empress directly and could only kneel facing south in Yanqing Palace to listen to her reprimand.
After kneeling once, she came up with an idea and had thick, soft knee pads quickly sewn on and tied around her knees. Her palace dress was loose and flowing, so it wasn't noticeable.
This way she could suffer less, but kneeling three times a day for half an hour each time was still very painful, and within a few days, her knees were bruised.
"Mother, does it hurt?"
Mengmeng peeked out from behind the bedpost, watching Granny Jiang rub Lin Yuqiao's knees, and tears fell silently down her face.
He knew his mother had suffered greatly; when he returned home from school that evening, he saw her kneeling and listening to his reprimand. His little fists were clenched tightly; how could he protect his mother?
"It doesn't hurt, baby."
Lin Yuqiao reached out and beckoned Mengmeng over, then pulled down her trouser leg to cover her bruised knee.
Her knees looked bad, but with thick cotton knee braces, they were actually quite effective. That's exactly the Empress's sinister intention—to make her suffer, preferably by kneeling until she was injured or crippled. She couldn't let the Empress have her way.
"Why did you do this, Mother! I don't want Mother to continue to be bullied!"
Mengmeng wiped away her tears and looked up at Lin Yuqiao. She then used her little hands to massage Lin Yuqiao's knees, just like Granny Jiang had done earlier.
Touched by her son's words, Lin Yuqiao hugged him tightly.
“My dear, no one’s life is always smooth sailing. Even though I am a Noble Consort, I am still overshadowed by the Empress. Mengmeng is a prince, but he is still overshadowed by the Crown Prince. Only your father, the Emperor, can stand at the highest position and be looked up to by everyone. As for us, we must be able to bend and stretch. It’s okay to suffer some grievances for a while. Just find a way to protect yourselves. Look at me, I wear knee pads.”
Because Mengmeng was born the son of a favored concubine and was loved by his parents, Lin Yuqiao was afraid that he would become too proud, so she wanted to take this opportunity to teach him to be more flexible.
Kneeling to receive instruction was, in this era, a considerable humiliation for a concubine. However, being from modern times, she wasn't as rigid as the natives, so she obediently accepted it without a fuss. Besides, making a scene wouldn't help; she had to endure it, otherwise things would only get worse.
As for the throne, Lin Yuqiao's claim that she hadn't thought about it was a lie. After all, she was the sole favorite in the harem, and the Empress hated her to the core. Once she lost Liu Heng's protection, she, Mengmeng, and Guaiguai would be meat on the Empress's chopping block. With Empress Lü's example as a warning, she couldn't help but worry.
But when it comes to doing something, she always feels it's too early. Mengmeng has always been well-behaved and doesn't cause her any worry. He's also so diligent and self-disciplined in his studies that she's worried about him. She doesn't know what else she can do, and she doesn't want to put that pressure on him from such a young age.
Even if there is a future, it will be when Mengmeng grows up and has the right to choose what kind of life she wants, and she will fight for it herself. If both Mengmeng and Guaiguai lose, then she will go to the underworld with her son, since she will have no more worries.
Mengmeng didn't grasp Lin Yuqiao's point; she only caught the first part of his sentence. "Only by standing at the highest position, like my father, can I ensure that those I want to protect are not wronged?"
His gaze hardened. If that was the case, then he would strive to climb to the highest position. He never wanted to feel powerless like he did now again.
☆、85|4.18
The Prince of Pei took the initiative to confront Liu Yan, naturally with his own considerations. If his men in the border city succeeded, Liu Heng would be unable to return to the capital, and if Liu Yan could suppress Liu Kang, he could then reap the benefits.
His fiefdom, Pei County, was also a prosperous place. Over the years, Prince Xian of Pei had been secretly accumulating power, and his strength far surpassed that of Prince Ji Ling and Prince Fu Ling. Prince Xian of Pei was also the oldest of the princes after Liu Heng, and his special return from his fiefdom to the capital was to prepare to take charge of the overall situation.
He certainly didn't want to support Liu Yan's ascension to the throne. After all, Liu Yan was already too old to be controlled. Once Liu Yan had harmed Liu Kang, he had already arranged for people to expose Liu Yan, killing two birds with one stone and dealing with both Liu Kang and Liu Yan at the same time.
Aside from the two grown princes, the third and fourth princes are both too young; choosing either one would mean he wouldn't have to return to his fiefdom. Prince Pei Xian had already made his plans and intended to support the youngest, the fourth prince, as the heir apparent. As for the third prince, he's just a child, and I've heard his health isn't very good; it's normal for something to happen to him, isn't it?
In a few years, before the fourth prince comes of age, he will have plenty of ways to stop him from getting in his way.
Prince Pei Xian understood clearly that he was, after all, an uncle, and succeeding to the throne before his nephew would always attract criticism. A thousand years later, history would be like a knife, and rather than gain a bad reputation, he would rather manipulate the young emperor from behind the scenes, and he could still control the court.
Once the fourth prince grows up and becomes difficult to control, he'll be a puppet anyway, and he can eliminate him. At that point, Liu Heng's lineage will be severed, and it will be perfectly logical for him to choose someone from his own children or grandchildren to inherit the throne.
Therefore, no matter how Liu Yan tried to persuade him, Prince Pei refused to lend a hand, only offering a few suggestions that were sometimes true and sometimes false. He was waiting to seize Liu Yan's weakness when he made his move; someone had to be held responsible for eliminating Liu Kang, and Liu Yan was the perfect candidate.
Liu Yan didn't dare to directly deal with Liu Kang, because if he couldn't keep it a secret, he would inevitably get into trouble. He also didn't trust the cunning and treacherous Prince of Pei.
However, even without Prince Pei, Liu Yan had other options. Prince Fuling, who had been actively seeking his assistance since arriving in the capital, was also a valuable asset.
Prince Fuling was the youngest among the princes. His mother was just a palace maid who was fortunate enough to gain favor in her early years and had a son, which led to her being granted the title. After that, Emperor Jianwu forgot about her, and Prince Fuling was neglected as well, so his fiefdom was relatively remote and barren.
He didn't have the power of the Prince of Pei, nor did he dare to think about replacing him. He only wanted to get a share of the spoils and improve his own conditions. He didn't want to return to his fiefdom, nor did he want his descendants to be stuck in Fuling, surrounded by mountains and with scarce land.
Therefore, Prince Fuling took the initiative to curry favor with Liu Yan, hoping to make a political investment. He had limited influence with the Crown Prince, who, as the eldest son, might not even look favorably upon him. However, Liu Yan was only the second son and needed his support more, which would also make it easier for him to negotiate later.
When he heard that Liu Yan wanted to use his influence to find an opportunity to assassinate the Crown Prince, Prince Fuling hesitated. On the one hand, he was a prince of a vassal state, and although he brought some people with him after entering the capital, his manpower was limited, and he was too big a target, making it easy for him to be found.
On the other hand, he also had some doubts about Liu Yan's intentions. What if Liu Yan wanted him to be a scapegoat?
It must be said that Prince Fuling's concerns were quite valid, and that was indeed Liu Yan's plan.
Seeing that Prince Fuling was hesitant, Liu Yan made a series of promises. He promised that he would not forget Prince Fuling's help after he ascended the throne, and would grant him an additional eighteen counties as fiefdoms. He also promised that Prince Fuling's family would be allowed to stay in the capital year-round, and would be granted fiefdoms if they did not need them.
Prince Fuling was moved by his promise, but cautiously requested a letter from Liu Yan. He could use the letter as leverage should Liu Yan later renege on his promise.
Liu Yan was recently troubled by Prince Pei Xian and Prince Fu Ling, neither of whom would be foolish enough to take the blame for him. Furthermore, Consort Ning had been imprisoned by the Empress, making Liu Yan feel the situation was urgent.
The Empress's actions are so outrageous because she is taking advantage of the fact that the Emperor's life or death is unknown and that Liu Kang is the Crown Prince and will soon have the opportunity to ascend the throne. She must take action and get rid of Liu Kang as soon as possible. Then she will be the rightful eldest son of the Emperor, and the future glory will surely be hers.
After careful planning, Liu Yan decided to take action on Liu Kang's way to the palace. He arranged for his trusted private guards, along with the men provided by Prince Fuling, to number over a thousand, all disguised as bandits to ambush and kill Liu Kang.
However, Liu Kang had many skilled guards around him, and the city was densely built up, so the large number of guards made it difficult for him to maneuver effectively. Liu Kang only suffered minor injuries and escaped under the cover of his loyal guards. He happened to run into the city's garrison commander and his men on patrol.
With reinforcements, Liu Kang's guards, who had been fighting desperately, suddenly regained their spirits and resumed their fierce battle. Liu Yan's men, seeing the situation was unfavorable, dared not linger and, after losing most of their men, scattered and fled. Some who failed to escape were stabbed to death by their accomplices, who then collectively committed suicide by poison.
These were all elite guards whom Liu Yan had spent time training and had arranged to go out to ensure the smooth progress of the plan, but they were all lost in one fell swoop, which made Liu Yan feel extremely distressed.
After Liu Kang was assassinated, not only was he frightened, but the Empress was also uneasy upon hearing the news.
"This must have been done by Liu Yan; he hasn't been behaving himself lately."
After Liu Kang returned and recovered, his face was so gloomy it could drip water. Liu Yan dared to be so bold; if he dared to do this, then he didn't need to hold back anymore.
Currently, Liu Kang is struggling to find direct evidence to implicate Liu Yan. Those involved in the ambush have only left behind corpses; the others who escaped have not yet been apprehended. Unable to openly detain Liu Yan, Liu Kang wants to eliminate him cleanly and secretly.
"Liu Yan is utterly depraved; he actually dared to lay a hand on the Crown Prince."
The Empress was also furious. She hadn't expected Liu Yan to dare to so directly send someone to assassinate Liu Kang. Was he so certain that Liu Heng wouldn't return and he couldn't be punished?
"I have a plan..."
If one repays evil with kindness, then how will one repay kindness? Liu Kang's eyes were bloodshot. Thinking of all the troubles Liu Yan had caused him over the years, he didn't want to keep Liu Yan around for another second.
So he told the Empress his thoughts, wanting to find an opportunity in the palace to poison Liu Yan directly.
The Empress was stunned by Liu Kang's idea. After a long while, she shook her head and said, "This is not appropriate. How will you handle the situation when your father returns in the future? Liu Yan died under mysterious circumstances. Even if you ascend the throne in the future, the reputation of 'murdering your brother' will follow you for the rest of your life."
"Liu Yan dares to do this, isn't he afraid of Father and his reputation? Mother, if Father returns, we'll have to live in fear again. I really don't want to continue like this. Even if we get rid of Liu Yan, when Liu Yang grows up, given Father's favor towards the Consort, Liu Yang will become another Liu Yan. It's better to solve the problem once and for all. Besides, after Father returns to the palace, Mother might be imprisoned in Kunning Palace. You are the Empress Dowager, are you willing to be overshadowed by the Consort?"
The fire in Liu Kang's heart was completely ignited by Liu Yan's ambush and murder.
Over the years, he had lived a life of constant fear as the crown prince. He could sense that his father was not satisfied with him, and Liu Yan was also watching him closely from behind. He was surrounded by enemies, and there was also the intelligent and favored third prince, Liu Yang, in the palace. He was almost overwhelmed by the pressure.
This time, as regent, he could finally stand tall, no longer needing to constantly guess his father's thoughts. The feeling of wielding life and death power as a ruler was wonderful. The difference between a crown prince and the emperor was immense. At first, Liu Kang didn't dare to think about it, but later, the thought, "What if my father really doesn't come back?" became increasingly urgent.
He genuinely wanted to seize this opportunity to rightfully ascend the throne, free from the constant pressure of unforeseen events and uncertainties. Moreover, Liu Kang had a premonition that this might be his closest chance to the throne; if he lost this opportunity, he would never have another chance to rule the world.
Ultimately, Liu Kang's worries were also the Empress's worries. She didn't want to go back to the days of constantly worrying that the Consort was slandering the Emperor again and whispering in his ear, nor did she want to sleep soundly at night, worrying that Liu Yan or Liu Yang were too outstanding and would make Liu Heng change his mind and eventually depose the Crown Prince.
What do you want to do?
The Empress was persuaded by Liu Kang, but although she still felt uneasy, she still asked Liu Kang about his plan.
"Your Majesty, I intend to send Zuo Chongxiang to the border city. Your Majesty is seriously injured and we do not know the exact situation. It would be best if he never woke up. Zuo Chongxiang will take over the troops in the border city and appease the morale of the army."
Liu Kang had never dared to make such a rebellious plan before, but now that he was calm and composed, he blurted out the plan without hesitation, as if he had rehearsed it countless times in his mind.
His advantage lies in his official status. He is now the Crown Prince and the person Liu Heng appointed to oversee the country before leaving the palace. Everyone must outwardly obey his arrangements. Moreover, as the heir apparent, he has many supporters both inside and outside the court, and these people, eager for a better future and wealth, will all be at his beck and call.
"Even if the plan succeeds, and Liu Yan, the Imperial Concubine, and the Third Prince are eliminated, what are the Fourth Prince's plans?"
The Empress sighed, realizing the journey was extremely dangerous. She didn't know Zuo Chongxiang's abilities or whether he was trustworthy. After all, assassinating His Majesty while he was seriously injured was treason, and if it failed, they would all lose their lives. Moreover, the Imperial Concubine and the Third Prince were still in the palace; what should they do?
"Find an opportunity to eliminate them all, leaving only the Fourth Prince."
Because the Imperial Concubine, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince are too conspicuous, if they are all eliminated, then he will be the only prince left, which would be too eye-catching. The Fourth Prince is still young, so keeping him as a figurehead is feasible. In the future, he will just be granted a distant title of king.
"This plan is too dangerous. If one part goes wrong, we will all lose our lives."
Liu Kang, however, remained unusually calm and composed. "No, I will send someone to follow Zuo Chongxiang. Once the assassination is successful, they will send word back, and then we will eliminate the Imperial Concubine and the Third Prince. Luo Ye, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, is also on my side. With his troops, plus Zuo Chongxiang's troops, we will have enough to control the palace and the capital."
The Empress had no choice but to gamble with Liu Kang, seeing that he had made up his mind.
If they succeed, they can escape their current predicament. If they fail, it's just the way things are, only a matter of time. If they don't die now, they won't escape the same fate once Liu Yan or Liu Yang gain power.
Despite strong opposition in court, Liu Kang sent Zuo Chongxiang to the border town.
There were many voices of resistance, but Liu Kang had long been prepared. He said "I apologize" and ordered everyone in the court to be detained.
Prince Pei and the others did not expect that Liu Kang would dare to do such a thing. Fearing that they would resist, they directly summoned the guards into the court and detained the man.
He imprisoned all the ministers in an empty palace hall, and Liu Kang had now placed all his hopes on the assassins he had sent to kill Liu Heng.
He had already given instructions to Zuo Chongxiang: under the guise of bringing medicine to Liu Heng, try to infiltrate them; if they couldn't do it themselves, send someone to assassinate them.
Once they succeed, the border camp will be in chaos. At that time, Liu Heng will be the future emperor as the crown prince. Zuo Chongxiang is the man he sent, and the others should be able to obey his orders.
Liu Yan was originally imprisoned as well, but Liu Kang suddenly released him and allowed him to go to the inner palace to meet Consort Ning.
Liu Kang had no idea what he was up to. After entering Kunning Palace, he was led to an empty side hall.
Upon entering the house, Liu Yan felt uneasy seeing the empty inner room. He turned around, only to find the door locked, and several eunuchs behind him carrying a teapot and a cup.
"What are you trying to do? How dare you!"
Liu Yan's face turned deathly pale. Liu Kang's actions were too insane. Not only had he detained the ministers, but he was also planning to deal with him directly in the palace.
"Lord of the East Sea, the world has changed."
A eunuch, who resembled a steward, chuckled and ordered his men to restrain the fiercely resisting Liu Yan.
Two eunuchs secured Liu Yan to a chair, while two others pulled him and forced tea into his mouth.
A moment later, Liu Yan succumbed to the poison and died.
☆、86| 4.18
Inside Yanqing Palace, Lin Yuqiao's heart leaped into her throat when she heard Wei Jiang say that things had changed in the palace.
"You're saying the Crown Prince has detained all the ministers in the Wenhua Hall?"
Lin Yuqiao found it unbelievable. Liu Kang was courting death. Once Liu Heng returned, he would be completely crippled.
"Is the Crown Prince planning a rebellion?"
Granny Jiang realized a possibility and exclaimed in alarm. Could His Majesty really be so badly injured that he won't be able to return?
"Is the palace now under martial law?"
Lin Yuqiao's heart pounded. If Liu Kang really had that much guts, the situation for her and her two children would be extremely precarious.
"Yes, all the palace gates have been sealed off, and the guards outside the palace have surrounded the palace."
Wei Jiang had always served Liu Heng from the front lines and had his own channels of communication. Now, upon receiving the news, he rushed over to inform her that it was time to make preparations. The palace was already surrounded like an iron barrel, and the Crown Prince was in the Zhengqing Hall.
"How dare he!"
Liu Kang is about to rebel. Remembering that Liu Heng's fate is unknown, Lin Yuqiao is both shocked and furious, and also feels heartbroken for Liu Heng. He is unaware of the situation in the border town, but his son has already been preparing to take his place.
However, since Liu Kang had already taken control of the court officials, he must have made up his mind. But how could he be so sure when Liu Heng's specific situation had not been reported back to the capital?
Thinking of the worst-case scenario, Lin Yuqiao's heart turned cold, and tears involuntarily fell.
Liu Kang wouldn't be so heartless as to send someone to assassinate Liu Heng.
"Your Majesty, you and the two princes are in grave danger."
Jiang Mama thought that no matter whether His Majesty could return to the palace or not, they were already under Liu Kang's control and could not leave. Once Liu Kang figured out how to deal with them, the Empress and the two princes would be at the mercy of the Empress and the Crown Prince.
After hearing what Granny Jiang said, Lin Yuqiao wiped away her tears and suddenly stood up.
She could stand by Liu Heng through thick and thin, but not her two sons. They were still so young; they couldn't just become cannon fodder.
"We can't stay in the palace any longer. The Crown Prince is probably waiting for news. We need to get Mengmeng and Guaiguai out of here as soon as possible before he comes to his senses."
Holding Jiang Mama's hand, Lin Yuqiao's whole body trembled slightly.
The change of royal power is often accompanied by the blood and tears of the innocent. No matter what she did or didn't do, whether it's the empress or the crown prince, they will not be spared.
"Is there any secret passage in the palace that leads out?"
Lin Yuqiao looked at Wei Jiang with anticipation.
He was the person Liu Heng gave her before he left, so he must have a way, right? He should at least get Mengmeng and Guaiguai out of there.
Wei Jiang shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. He really didn't know. He had desperately clung to the Imperial Concubine, thinking that he could benefit from her influence, and even thought that being kept in Yanqing Palace by His Majesty was a good job.
Unexpectedly, an accident occurred during the Emperor's campaign, and his fate, along with that of the Imperial Concubine, was now in grave danger.
"How could this be... Then why did His Majesty send you here in the first place!"
Lin Yuqiao was practically going crazy, shaking Wei Jiang's shoulders violently. Didn't the palace have any secret passages or anything? If they couldn't get out, regardless of whether Liu Heng returned or not, they would all be at his mercy.
"His Majesty only instructed us to protect Her Highness's safety. But now the guards are all obeying the Crown Prince's orders, so we have no other choice."
Wei Jiang also looked gloomy. If the Crown Prince were to use force against them, how could they possibly defeat the guards and the imperial guards?
Sitting down and catching her breath, Lin Yuqiao thought of the other people Liu Heng might have left behind and asked with little hope, "Do you know any other people His Majesty left behind? Or is it possible to contact them?"
After thinking for a moment, Wei Jiang said with slight hesitation, "This servant knows someone. I'll contact them tonight."
Because Liu Heng did not give him any direct orders, he only told him to follow the Consort and help her if anything happened. As for what orders he had given to the others, he really didn't know.
Wei Jiang had served the Emperor for many years and knew the channels through which the palace's secret guards communicated, though he had never actually made contact. Now that things had come to this, they had to use everything they could.
"Then hurry up and get on it. Find out all the information you can in the palace, especially from the Empress, the Crown Prince, and Consort Ning. Tell me about any developments they have."
In this critical moment, Lin Yuqiao thought of her two sons and, in a moment of quick thinking, became unusually rational.
That evening, after kneeling and listening to the reprimand from the nanny, Lin Yuqiao instructed Jiang Nanny to secretly prepare some money and clothes for leaving the palace, so that they could be ready.
Wei Jiang went to see the secret guard he knew, but the eunuch also said that they didn't know what to do next.
Their instructions were to closely monitor the inner palace, especially the residences of Consort Ning and the Empress, and to keep track of their every move. Now that the Emperor is still in the border region, and has reportedly been seriously injured in another assassination attempt, they don't know how their mission will continue.
Just as Wei Jiang was at his wit's end replying to Lin Yuqiao, Chen Sheng, the steward of the Imperial Household Department, was also making preparations in full swing.
Unlike other secret guards in the palace, Chen Sheng's Imperial Household Department was able to frequently interact with the outside world. When the news of the emperor's assassination attempt first arrived, he received a message and arrangements from the Grand Secretary. He was also the only person in the palace who knew that the emperor was currently safe and sound.
The matter was of great importance. Why was there news of an attack on the Emperor when he was clearly safe and sound? This was not something he could concern himself with or inquire about. Chen Sheng only remembered his mission.
Since Liu Heng spread the news of his assassination attempt on a whim, without any prior preparation or arrangements in the palace, and was worried about the safety of Lin Yuqiao and his two young sons in the palace, he secretly sent someone to the capital at full speed to deliver a message to his trusted Grand Secretary Yan Huaiqing. He not only made arrangements in the capital but also instructed Chen Sheng to protect the Consort and the two princes if necessary.
Because Yan Huaiqing had been monitoring Liu Yan and Liu Kang's movements, he was able to arrange for the city's garrison commander to patrol just in time for Liu Kang's attack. As for those men sent by Liu Yan who escaped, Liu Kang didn't catch them because Yan Huaiqing had already captured them first and they were now locked up in prison, awaiting Liu Heng's return to decide their fate.
As early as when the crown prince was assassinated, Chen Sheng sensed that something was wrong and made preparations.
Now that martial law is in effect inside the palace and the palace is surrounded by guards outside, especially after learning of Liu Yan's death, Chen Sheng felt that the palace was no longer safe, but had become the most dangerous place. Thinking of Liu Heng's arrangements, he felt it was time to take the Consort and the two princes out.
Now, only the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department and the Miscellaneous Affairs Department can still leave the palace.
The palace had a large population, and daily necessities such as vegetables and meat needed to be transported from outside the palace to ensure its supply. Even items like night soil needed to be transported out of the palace. At this critical juncture, only Chen Sheng had the ability to arrange for people to be sent out.
Previously, Chen Sheng dared not reveal the news of His Majesty's well-being to anyone, but now he could only inform the Consort so that she could follow his arrangements.
He understood that he needed to act quickly, otherwise the Empress would discover that the Consort and the princes were missing, and they wouldn't even be able to leave the palace.
So, just as dawn broke, Granny Fang came into the room and woke her up, saying she had something urgent to report. Then, she brought in a eunuch, who was quite surprised when Lin Yuqiao heard him introduce himself as Chen Sheng, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department.
The eunuch in front of him, who looked so ordinary that he had no distinguishing features, was actually Chen Sheng in disguise. He dared not entrust the task of delivering the message to anyone else, so he made some arrangements. He disguised himself as a eunuch who came to deliver vegetables in the early morning and entered Yanqing Palace. He first went to the kitchen to deliver the items and then contacted Fang Mama, the confidante of the Imperial Concubine.
Lin Yuqiao knew Chen Sheng was Liu Heng's man, and his arrival at this time must mean something important, so she didn't hesitate and listened to him. After Chen Sheng explained, she learned that Liu Heng hadn't actually been attacked; when the news reached Kyoto, he had already secretly led his men on their way back.
After the initial joy subsided, Lin Yuqiao, without pondering Liu Heng's intentions, immediately listened to Chen Sheng's account of the current situation; his information was faster and more comprehensive than Wei Jiang's. Upon hearing that Liu Yan had been poisoned by Liu Kang and placed in an empty hall, her mouth remained agape.
Even Liu Heng probably never imagined that Liu Kang would go to such lengths. Lin Yuqiao could roughly guess that Liu Heng released the news of his assassination attempt to test Liu Kang, but he probably never expected Liu Kang to do something like this.
"The palace is no longer safe. Your Highness must take the two princes and leave as soon as possible."
As soon as Chen Sheng finished speaking, Lin Yuqiao looked at her excitedly. This was also what she wanted; at the very least, Mengmeng and the others should leave first.
"This servant has already made arrangements. Tomorrow evening, a carriage from the imperial estate will be delivering goods to the palace. Your Highness will be kind enough to disguise yourself as a eunuch."
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