Chapter 382 Waiting for News from Nanli
"Master, are you saying you were putting on an act in front of Zhou Rong?"
Chen Jie tacitly agreed.
Song Zhuran pouted and asked, "Did Master hit me just now because of her?"
"Not only that, you also told her about the secret chamber. Aren't you afraid she'll tell the Prince of Langya and the Princess of Langya?"
"If the Prince of Langya were to tell His Majesty that the secret chamber leading from Mingyue Palace to your consort's residence would be enough to explain everything, His Majesty wouldn't even need to interrogate you, Master, all your grand plans would be ruined."
Chen Jie sat down next to Song Zhuran. “If we let them know some things, they will become suspicious and think there must be something fishy going on.”
"Now that this secret room has been built, why not leave it here? Perhaps it can become Xiao Yu's final resting place in the future."
“Master means…” Song Zhuran looked at Chen Jie.
Chen Jie nodded.
On the other side.
After Zhou Rong came out carrying the child, she walked around Mingyue Palace, where Jiang Wan Ning and Hai Tang came to greet her.
"Mother, are you alright?"
Zhou shook her head. "I'm fine. You guessed right, Chen Jie did come out to save me."
“I know everything. Let’s go to the Empress’s palace first.” Jiang Wan Ning took the child from Zhou Shi’s arms.
She and Haitang had been hiding on the rooftop, seeing everything clearly inside, all to protect Zhou Rong.
"Ningning, what exactly do you mean by making me go on this trip? Didn't you already know that those two were the people behind it all?"
“Madam, the Princess Consort wants them to think we’ve fallen into a trap,” Haitang said. “That Chen Jie is a man of deep thoughts, and he doesn’t just pretend to be deep in front of you.”
"He was even thinking of using you to tell the princess that he and Song Zhuran had started a feud."
"This would disrupt the princess and prince's plans to deal with them, allowing them to stab them in the back."
After a moment's thought, Zhou understood. "Ningning, how did you know that there was a secret room in the Bright Moon Palace? And why were you so sure that Chen Jie would dare to come?"
"Song Zhuran must have been provoked by Chen Jie to be able to do this to you. Chen Jie knows Song Zhuran better than anyone else, and I also made sure the prince paid special attention to her today."
"Chen Jie neither went to court nor left his residence. Since he did not, it can only mean that there are other passages from the Prince Consort's residence to the palace."
"Then why don't we just tell His Majesty about the secret passage? That way we can directly convict him."
Haitang chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness, let's go and tell them now. They certainly won't have time to destroy the secret passage."
“Xiao Yu is currently focused on achieving immortality and will not kill Song Zhuran,” Jiang Wanning said. “Even if Xiao Yu wanted to kill Song Zhuran and Chen Jie.”
"Song Zhuran will imprison Xiao Yu and use the pretext of Xiao Yu's serious illness to seize control of the government."
"In this palace, the Empress is currently pregnant, and the power of the harem is already in her hands. His Majesty has no sons."
"At that time, we can only choose one of Chen Jie and the Prince to temporarily act as regent, and then Song Zhuran will convey His Majesty's will to him."
Jiang Wan Ning paused for a moment, then continued, "That way, no one will suspect anything."
"At that time, Song Zhuran will definitely forge an imperial edict, saying that His Majesty wants the prince consort to temporarily take over the government, and then gradually take away the military power in the prince's hands."
Jiang Wan Ning nodded, "That way we've fallen right into his trap."
"I still don't understand, so why don't they just imprison His Majesty now?"
“Because the chances of winning are slim, it’s too dangerous,” Jiang Wanning said. “I’ve already destroyed Chen Jie’s elite suicide squad, it’s like I’ve cut off one of his arms.”
"Now he and the prince are evenly matched in terms of the pieces they hold. Although I have a branch, it is not appropriate for Western Xia to interfere in matters of state."
"Zhizhi can only control those in Xixia who are colluding with Chen Jie so that they do not take the opportunity to harass the border."
"Given that their strengths were evenly matched, he knew very well that if he were to fight the prince to the death, it would only be a case of the snipe and the clam fighting while the fisherman benefits."
“So he’s waiting,” Jiang Wanning said, “waiting for news from Nan Li.”
"If he were to cooperate with the Southern Li Kingdom, he would naturally be superior to Prince Qi."
The three of them arrived at Changchun Palace while they were talking.
The Queen paced anxiously back and forth in the palace. When she saw the three figures, she hurriedly went to greet them.
"Ningning, Mrs. Zhou, are you alright?"
Jiang Wanning shook her head.
"I've been on tenterhooks ever since you sent me this message. If you don't come soon, I'm really going to storm the Bright Moon Palace."
"I'm sorry to have worried Your Majesty," Jiang Wanning said.
No sooner had she finished speaking than the baby in her arms began to cry loudly. Zhou quickly took the baby from her, saying, "An'an is hungry, give him to me."
The Queen looked at the chubby little boy and couldn't help but reach out to pinch his round little hand, her eyes full of affection.
"This child is so well-behaved, he hasn't cried or made a fuss at all."
Mrs. Zhou also said with a smile, "He would squeak a couple of times when he was hungry, and the rest of the time he was either sleeping or looking around with his eyes open."
Perhaps sensing that the Empress was teasing him, the child in Zhou's arms started giggling at the Empress.
The Empress felt her heart melt instantly.
"So well-behaved, but I wonder about my child..."
Jiang Wanning knew Empress Song Zhuyi's worries, "Your Majesty, rest assured, with me here, you and the child will be fine. There are many people in Changchun Palace who are quite skilled in martial arts."
“There are also the prince’s men in the Imperial Guards. Even if something happens, they will be there to support me, and I will be able to get here in time.”
The Empress finally felt relieved. "Is this matter just going to be left like this?"
Jiang Wan Ning said coldly, "Of course not."
Empress Song Zhuyi laughed and said, "This is more like your personality. I thought this was the end of it."
"Ningning, what are your plans for the future?"
Jiang Wan Ning asked, "Your Majesty, are there any concubines in the harem whom you trust or with whom you have a good relationship?"
Empress Song Zhuyi thought for a while. The entire harem was full of people who used each other, and it was not easy to find someone she could trust.
"There really is such a person."
"However, her rank is not high," Empress Song Zhuyi said. "She is the daughter of the magistrate of Tanzhou County. When His Majesty first ascended the throne, he wanted to expand the harem."
“A group of young women were selected to enter the palace. She was not originally selected, but someone saw her crying, and the news reached my ears. I then went to plead with His Majesty.”
"Now she's just a concubine. Now that Song Zhuran holds the Phoenix Seal and is equivalent to the Empress, many concubines have stopped coming to Changchun Palace, using the excuse that they don't want to disturb my rest."
"Some people claim to be sick and stay home, but they always run to the Bright Moon Palace."
"Only she has never missed paying her respects to me, regardless of wind or rain, or the season. Sometimes, if I don't want to be disturbed, she comes to Changchun Palace, pays her respects silently in the courtyard, and then leaves."
"Her palace is still some distance from my Changchun Palace."
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