Chapter 103: Grievance...Wanwan
Wei Zilin walked away, his sleeves fluttering in a gust of cold wind. He had a slender figure and walked with an ostentatious pace. Every step he took was filled with the arrogance and contempt of a person who was sure of victory, as if the whole world had fallen into his palm.
Yan Jinghuan stood in the hall, looking at his back which was getting farther and farther away. He clenched his fists slowly in his sleeves, his knuckles were pale, and veins on his forehead were throbbing.
He was always calm and composed, and remained expressionless even when a knife was placed on his neck. But now, he seemed unable to bear it any longer, and his dark eyes were filled with ink.
He walked slowly to the window and opened it halfway. The cold wind blew in and ruffled his hair.
He looked up and saw a forest of black armor and swords and spears in the courtyard outside the window. The black-armored soldiers were cold and shining in the sun, and they were full of murderous aura.
Their faces were stern and their postures were straight; they were all personal soldiers dispatched by Wei Zilin himself, and they almost surrounded the entire place.
However......
He glanced at the crowd.
A leader of the black-armored army lowered his head slightly when his gaze fell on him, then silently took a few steps back and quietly entered through a side door.
The palace door opened silently, and the leader of the black-armored army walked into the palace. His expression was completely different from before. He put away the cold and vigilant look outside, and replaced it with caution and respect. He walked quickly in front of Yan Jinghuan, bowed, and whispered, "Your Majesty."
He was obviously not Wei Zilin's subordinate, but an informant who had already secretly surrendered to the Regent.
Yan Jinghuan turned around, his eyes were as cold as ice, and he asked in a cold voice: "Where is Shen Yunchao now?"
The man did not dare to neglect and immediately replied in a low voice: "General Shen set out immediately after receiving the letter and has already arrived at Jinchuan Ferry, which is a hundred miles away from Beijing. According to the walking distance, it will take another two days to reach Beijing."
"Two days?"
Yan Jinghuan clasped his slender knuckles tightly against the window frame, and his voice was as low as water drops falling in the cold night, extremely suppressed, "I can't wait that long."
The man's face changed, and he said hesitantly: "Your Highness, the palaces are not yet under our control, and the secret agents have not yet been deployed. If we act rashly... I'm afraid we will alert the enemy."
Yan Jinghuan suddenly turned around, raised his sleeves, slammed them heavily on the table, and said in a deep voice: "We can't wait any longer!"
His voice was not loud, but it was chilling and murderous in his eyes.
He paused and whispered, "Go and inform Concubine De to take action immediately at midnight tonight."
The leader looked horrified and looked up at him in amazement, but he also knew that there was no turning back after coming this far, so he bowed his head and replied, "Yes."
After he finished speaking, he quickly turned around and retreated, his figure disappearing into the shadow of the heavy palace.
Yan Jinghuan was still standing by the window, his fingertips still resting on the window pane.
He said nothing, his eyes passed over the heavy black armor and fell on the depths of the palace wall in the distance under the gloomy sky.
His Adam's apple rose and fell, his eyes were deep, and after a long while he slowly exhaled.
At this moment in Changchun Palace, the incense burners were elegant, the curtains were lightly draped, and the faint fragrance rose and floated in the air, as if even the skylight had become hazy.
Concubine De was sitting quietly on the warm couch, wearing a plain palace dress and a white magnolia in her hair, which made her look calm and solemn.
Princess Guang'an sat below her, with a cold face and plain clothes.
Between the two of them, there was a low carved table with some unfinished tea on it. It had grown a little cold, but no one was called up to replace it.
There was a little palace maid standing in the hall. She was the little palace maid who had combed Shen Xingwan's hair early in the morning. She was whispering, repeating word for word the message that Shen Xingwan asked her to bring to Princess Guang'an.
"...Her Majesty asked me to tell Princess Guang'an that if we can find a way... find a way to get some snowflake arsenic in, she will make arrangements."
As soon as the words fell, the hall suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Princess Guang'an's expression suddenly changed, her eyes suddenly fixed: "Snowflake arsenic? What does she want that for?"
Concubine De also frowned. The teacup remained between her fingers for a long time. In the end, she failed to drink it and gently put it back on the table.
The breeze blows across the window lattice, ruffling the curtains, and disturbing people's hearts.
Princess Guang'an frowned and looked back at her mother, hesitating, "Could it be that she...she wants to..."
She didn't say the word suicide, but she couldn't help but speculate, "She is now imprisoned by Wei Zilin and is humiliated at every turn. At this time, she wants to ask for such poison... Could it be that she wants to die to prove her loyalty?"
Concubine De slowly shook her head, her face solemn, and whispered, "No."
"Although I'm not close to her, from the few times I've met her, I can tell that she's determined and very intelligent. Since she sent the message asking for poison, she must have other intentions."
"She would not commit suicide... I am more worried that she would take the risk and assassinate Wei Zilin."
Princess Guang'an stood up anxiously, "That's even more dangerous!"
"What kind of person is Wei Zilin? He is well-guarded in close quarters. Xing Wan is alone, how can he fight?"
Concubine De raised her eyes and gazed at the gloomy sky outside the window. After a long while, she said softly, "So we have to persuade her to think twice."
"Shen Xingwan has done us a favor. Now that the situation has come to this, we must not let her take risks and perish together."
After saying this, Concubine De glanced at Princess Guang'an and slowly instructed, "Put the matter of Snowflake Arsenic on hold. Try to tell her, and don't act rashly."
Princess Guang'an nodded.
Concubine De waved her hand again and sent the little palace maid who was combing her hair away, ordering her to stay with the prince and help them find out his movements.
The little palace maid nodded repeatedly, bowed and retreated.
Just at this moment, footsteps were heard outside the hall.
It was the little palace maid sent by the leader of the Black Armor Army from Yan Jinghuan to deliver the message.
She walked quickly into the hall, knelt on the ground, and whispered, "Your Highness, the Regent has sent a message that he will take action ahead of time at midnight tonight. Please prepare for it immediately."
Princess Guang'an was surprised and asked in a lost voice, "So fast?"
Concubine De frowned, put her hands in her sleeves, and said nothing.
The palace was silent for a few breaths before she slowly spoke: "Now that the Regent has made his move, the situation has already begun. Whether it is destiny or human planning... we have no way out."
She paused and turned to look at Princess Guang'an.
"The Regent King has taken action so early, Wei Zilin will never sit still and wait for death. If we don't take advantage of this opportunity to strike, I'm afraid we will never be able to turn the situation around."
Princess Guang'an bit her lip, her eyes determined: "In this case, my daughter will fight for her life with you."
Concubine De nodded slightly, called her personal eunuch to bring writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone, unfolded the scroll, sat down at the desk, and started writing.
Her handwriting was extremely steady and her strokes were sharp. Every stroke seemed to be condensed with a lot of effort, and every word sounded sonorous when it fell on the paper.
She wrote a secret letter, personally requesting her father to immediately mobilize all the troops that could be mobilized from her mother's family, and to arrive outside the palace gate before midnight tonight to lie in wait and wait for support from both inside and outside.
After writing, she sealed the letter herself and solemnly handed it to her trusted eunuch: "Make sure to deliver it to the Marquis' Mansion as quickly as possible and hand it over to my father personally. There must be no loss."
The eunuch took the order and left quickly.
The wind blew the gauze curtains in Changchun Palace, and the light flashed across the brocade, with mottled light and shadows.
Concubine De sat on the chaise longue and slowly raised her eyes to look at the gloomy sky outside the window.
She spoke in a low voice, as if mumbling to herself: "Life or death depends on tonight."
The sky was becoming increasingly gloomy, with a wisp of dark clouds lingering in the sky, grey as ink, making the palace walls seem even colder and eerier.
After leaving the Regent, Wei Zilin walked steadily and there was no sign of fatigue in his expression.
He did not immediately return to the bedroom where Shen Xingwan was imprisoned, but went straight into the Military Affairs Office.
The lights were on, the guards were tight, and the room was filled with a solemn atmosphere.
The Grand Council, which was originally controlled by the Prince Regent, has now been reorganized and replaced with people who are all Wei Zilin's confidants.
Soldiers in black armor stood on both sides, the armor leaves shining coldly, like sharp blades drawn from their sheaths, and the chilling murderous aura was so chilling that it was chilling to the core.
As soon as Wei Zilin entered the hall, all the ministers stood up, bowed their hands, and saluted in unison: "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Wei Zilin nodded slightly and raised his hand to indicate that there was no need to be polite.
He sat at the head of the table with his arms and legs spread out, looked around, and asked in a cold voice, "How is Shen Yunchao's whereabouts? How far has he come?"
An old official stepped out and said, "Your Highness, Shen Yunchao is returning to the capital via the Northwest Military Road. He is already a hundred miles away, but I have ordered people to set up checkpoints to intercept him."
"Please rest assured, Crown Prince. Although the army is strong, it is difficult for a single army to cross the capital. We have the Black Armored Army to suppress them in front, and we will never let them break in."
Wei Zilin raised his eyes, a sinister look flashing in his eyes: "What if I can't stop it?"
The old minister trembled slightly and said in a deep voice: "...That is my fault."
Wei Zilin sneered and stood up. He was tall and slender, wearing a bright yellow python robe. His hands were clenched under the wide sleeves, and the hem of his robe created a light breeze as he moved.
He walked down the steps slowly, approached the old minister, and looked down at him.
"Let me ask you," he said in a low and cold tone, like a needle with a blade, "If you capture Shen Yunchao, what are you going to do with him?"
The old minister was startled, then bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, please give us your instructions."
Wei Zilin's eyes flashed with coldness, and he said coldly: "Kill him on the spot."
The air in the hall suddenly stagnated, and there was deathly silence for a moment.
"If we don't make a quick decision, we'll just have to wait and see."
Wei Zilin spoke in a stern tone, then turned around and strode away, his robe fluttering, without even looking at anyone.
All the important officials looked at each other, all of them were worried, but they dared not say much. They could only bow their heads and see him off respectfully, with a hint of awe and fear of power in their eyes.
Wei Zilin came out of the Military Affairs Office, the sunlight happened to shine on his cheek. One side of his face was as handsome as a picture, but the other side was faintly bruised, which was the fist mark left by Yan Jinghuan just now.
He did not apply any medicine, leaving the wound exposed to the wind, as if he wanted people to see it on purpose.
He walked calmly, and there was even a slight smile on the corner of his lips.
He walked quickly through the corridor and went straight to the bedroom where Shen Xingwan was imprisoned.
The palace gates were tightly closed and heavily guarded.
The maids and palace servants all bowed their heads, and no one dared to raise their eyes to take another second look.
Wei Zilin didn't even look at them. He walked straight past them, raised his hand and pushed. The carved door of the hall creaked and was slowly pushed open by him.
A candle was still on behind the door, casting a soft warm yellow light on the curtains in the room, as if there was still some tenderness left in this dark world.
Shen Xingwan was sitting in front of the couch, her brows calm, her bare hands gently holding an old book. The light shone on her gauze dress, making it glow faintly.
Wei Zilin strode in and slammed the door of the bedroom shut.
He did not speak immediately, but just stood quietly at the door, looking at Shen Xingwan not far away with complicated eyes, as if he was brewing emotions.
After a long moment, he slowly walked towards her, each step was extremely steady and slow.
When he was within three feet of her, he suddenly turned his body slightly to the side and deliberately turned the bruised cheek towards her.
His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he called out softly with a look of grievance:
"...Wanwan."
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