Chapter 177 Chapter 177 The Forbidden City Shocking Change (Part 2)...
The secret room in Handan Palace was cold and dark.
The air was filled with the fishy smell of damp earth and a lingering musty odor. A casual touch of the stone wall felt cold, and groping further left me with something I didn't know what it was.
There was a small hole in the wall that connected to the Handan Palace. However, it was late at night and there were no lights or candles on in the palace. It was dark inside the hole and nothing could be seen.
Nan Qiongshuang tried her best to shake off the things on her hands, half-crouched down, and reached out her hands to feel around like a blind man.
She bumped her calf against a hard edge, which was the small couch that Gu Huaijin had left for her.
She stood in a horse stance and carefully felt out the entire surface of the small couch, then slowly moved onto it.
The small bamboo couch creaked.
It was so quiet that she could hardly believe it. In the Forbidden City, everything was going to change tonight.
More than ten days ago, she also passed through this secret room to meet Gu Huaijin at Gu Mansion. While watching him finish his egg custard, she asked him what his plans were in such an unstable situation.
At that time, he had cleared the bowls, placed a chessboard on the table, opened the chess box, and while placing the pieces, he said:
"Only Chang and Li can win if they both lose. A coup is inevitable. Since that's the case, why not strike first? It's better for me to be the first to do so than be caught off guard and become the butcher."
She picked up a white piece and weighed it in her palm:
"you mean?"
He placed a black chess piece: "To provoke a fight between Chang and Li sooner rather than later."
"While both sides are still unprepared, I force one to act hastily, leaving the other in a state of panic." The piece fell with a clatter. "Two tigers fighting, both must perish. Only then can this game of chess be resolved."
"perish together".
Nan Qiong Shuang was silent and lowered her head solemnly.
"What exactly are your plans?" He made another move. "Has the order to close the net not yet been issued?"
She shook her head sadly, placed a chess piece down, and stroked it, "I wonder how long this will drag on."
"and you……"
She has been thinking about these things over and over again recently, but she can't come up with an answer, and every time she does, she gets a splitting headache.
She rubbed her brows in pain and sighed.
Finally, she said, "I don't know when the order to close the net will be issued. If it drags on, I'm afraid the situation will change first. Who knows, before I even make a move, someone will overturn the chessboard first, and I'll be thrown off the stage, becoming a sacrifice in the struggle between the two sides."
"Saving my own life is more important than my mission. Let's put Emperor Jiaqing's life aside for now."
"Well, how about this?" He took a sip of tea. "Prepare for both scenarios. On the one hand, fan the flames and provoke a fight between the two sides, while on the other hand, wait for your order to close the net. If the order comes early, you will strike and then immediately escape. If the order doesn't come, the initiative is in our hands, and at least you and I can save our lives."
"That sounds good, but how are you going to fuel this?" Nan Qiong Shuang played with the chess pieces, resting her chin on her hand and raising an eyebrow. "Chang Zhong?"
Gu Huaijin smiled without saying a word, pinched the chess piece between two fingers, and dropped it with a click.
"That Chang Zhong fellow, even though his name has the word 'loyalty' in it, he won't be loyal." Nan Qiong Shuang lowered her eyes to look at the chessboard. "He won't be loyal to the Emperor, nor will he be loyal to his father. But he's not up to the task, he's addicted to wine, women, money, and power, and he's arrogant and conceited. Even if he rebelled against Chang Da, he might not be able to defeat him."
"He's definitely no match for them," Gu Huaijin said. "His father has fought for many years and is truly capable. In his father's eyes, he's just a three-year-old boy, how could he possibly challenge his father? But if they can provoke a quarrel among the three of them, Chang Da, who is suspicious and tyrannical, will definitely clip his own wings. Then he will have no one else to use - Chang Ping is too young, has more wisdom than experience, and lacks prestige to control others."
"If I incite Chang Zhong to rebel against his father, his father, knowing my relationship with the Daming Palace, will definitely conclude that it was the Regent who ordered it. Add to that the assassination attempt in the palace... and both sides are bound to fall out."
"'Your relationship with the Daming Palace'?" Gu Huaijin suddenly raised his eyes. "This kind of thing might provoke Chang Da to retaliate wildly, so naturally I will do it."
"That Chang Zhong is a pervert. He's been coveting me for a long time." Nan Qiongshuang didn't even raise her eyes. "Let me do it. It's more convenient for me."
Gu Huaijin didn't say a word, didn't look at her, just picked up the chess pieces with his eyelashes lowered.
She belatedly sensed that he was a little angry for some unknown reason.
He didn't like her using charm as a means to get a man.
Even if she has ulterior motives.
He hoped she was after him alone.
He himself was also puzzled as to why she cared about such a thing and even wanted to be her prey. He was irritated and self-loathing and said nothing.
Nan Qiong Shuang saw through his little tricks and felt a little amused and helpless: "Forget it, let's just perform a duet in front of that pig-head."
Once a move is made, the matter is settled.
Before she returned to the palace that day, Gu Huaijin stood at the entrance of the secret passage and instructed her:
"On the day of the coup, I couldn't take care of you. You hid in the secret room behind the Handan Palace wall. Even if the world was in chaos outside, you must not come out."
"If anything happens again, hide in the Gu Mansion through the secret passage. Don't worry about me."
The time passed so quickly. In just a dozen days, what the two had planned that day suddenly came into being.
Nan Qiong Shuang lay on her back on the small bamboo couch. The secret room was so dark that she couldn't even tell what was up, down, left, or right. She pricked up her ears and listened attentively. She seemed to hear some shouting and killing outside, but she was not sure if she had heard it right.
The sound was intermittent through the thick stone wall, and she couldn't hear it clearly. She wanted to take a look through the small hole, so she turned over and got off the bed again.
After getting off the bed, she stumbled and groped her way forward like an octogenarian.
Before she could touch the stone wall with the small hole, a voice suddenly rang in her ears:
"Auntie, auntie!"
Her heart suddenly trembled.
It is a secret message.
Unfortunately, the stone wall was too thick, and even the words transmitted by this kind of sound transmission technique were not clear.
Wu Dao landed lightly and nimbly. The hall was empty. He walked around in circles, confused, looking for someone:
"Auntie, Frost! She ran away... this time...!"
The sound was a blur.
Nan Qiongshuang's heart was beating fast in the secret room. Why did the dog come at this time? There was a commotion outside. Should she go out or not?
If you hide in a secret room, you are one hundred and twenty safe.
But the Mist Blade...
What was Wu Dao doing here in the dead of night? Chang Da had already stormed into the palace. She didn't need to listen to the news from Prince Ding's mansion. She already knew about the internal conflict between the three of them, father and son.
But what on earth was he doing here? What message did he have to convey?
There must be a bloody storm outside. The dog is circling in a panic outside the wall. Something must have happened. He has the sharpest ears and must know what is going on in the palace. What is it that needs to be conveyed now?
Suddenly, an idea came into her mind, causing her whole body to go numb for a moment.
Maybe the order to close the net has come!
If the net is closed tonight, Emperor Jiaqing will be unconscious due to the infection of the meridian-transmitting Gu. Gu Huaijin must have hidden him in the secret room behind the wall of the Zichen Palace. These two secret rooms are connected!
If it was really an order to take action, she could do it tonight without anyone noticing!
Twelve years of hard work, all in one go!
She was so excited that she almost trembled all over, with bitter tears in her eyes. She ran two quick steps in the dark and threw herself against the damp stone wall.
When his hand almost touched the mechanism, he stopped.
Emperor Jiaqing died, what should Gu Huaijin do?
but--
The coup would last until dawn at most, and the outcome would be clear after dawn. One night was not enough for this madman to wake up, so he would be of no use in the coup.
If Gu Huaijin prevailed—and Chang and Li were both destroyed—he could then preside over the government as the Imperial Preceptor and choose a member of the imperial clan to ascend the throne. If that were the case, Emperor Jiaqing would even be best dead, as he was already deeply dissatisfied with Gu Huaijin because of the incident involving the Three Guards of Fuyu.
If either Chang or Li were victorious, whether the Jiaqing Emperor lived or died, Gu Huaijin would have to hand over power, and his life might even be in danger. Even if the Jiaqing Emperor wanted to protect him, he might not be able to do so at this point.
All in all, it makes no difference to Gu Huaijin whether that madman is alive or dead.
She resolutely pressed the mechanism on the wall and climbed out of the secret room.
Wu Dao was searching the room for her. When he turned around, he saw her crawling out of the wardrobe with disheveled hair. He was startled, his lips trembling for a long time before he came up to her.
"Auntie, there are orders!"
Nan Qiong Shuang was both surprised and delighted, almost vomiting her heart out with excitement: "Has the net been closed?!"
"Ah, no." Wu Dao scratched the back of his neck:
"I have a new errand that requires your help. It's urgent!"
Nan Qiong Shuang was stunned in place. When she spoke again, she was so angry that she almost wanted to slap him:
"Chang Da has stormed into the palace. Who would be so blind as to tease me at this time? Go and see for yourself what kind of commotion is going on outside!"
She grabbed his clothes and dragged him to the window in two or three steps, pointing her finger fiercely outside: "Look at what's going on outside! A coup! Treason! My life is in danger. My mission is not yet completed, and you want me to do something else!"
"Go back and tell the people above! You can't do this! Do you think I'm the Third Prince Li, with all my powers?"
Wu Dao tilted his head and groaned bitterly, "Oh, oh, aunt, listen to me, this time the errand is in the palace, you don't have to run outside! You..."
Suddenly, there was a deafening cry of killing outside the courtyard. The sound of horse hooves was like a death rhythm, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived in front of the Yuanyue Gate.
The firelight illuminated the darkness in front of the carved window.
Chang Da roared, "Go into Handan Palace! Kill Concubine Zhen!"
The soldiers' howls were overwhelming:
"Charge into Handan Palace! Kill Concubine Zhen!"
"Charge into Handan Palace! Kill Concubine Zhen!"
Nan Qiongshuang was more than just shocked and frightened, she was almost stunned for a moment. When she turned around again, the frivolous grin on her face had disappeared into thin air.
Leaving her alone in front of the window!
She was so angry that she wanted to kill someone. Just as she took a step to rush back to the secret room, she turned around and met Chang Da's eyes in the yard.
Chang Da led his soldiers to search the Purple Palace, turning the entire hall upside down, but he did not see any trace of Emperor Jiaqing.
In the huge emperor's bedroom, the imperial teacher, the regent and the imperial physician are not there. Only a eunuch who overestimates his own abilities is lying on the dragon bed as a scapegoat!
After wasting so much energy to break into the Purple Palace, thinking that it would be easy to take it, but in the end, nothing was gained. Chang Da was already furious, and led his soldiers to the Daming Palace with murderous intent. As luck would have it, he passed by the Handan Palace on the way.
Zhenfei was the one who caused the rift between her father and son!
Chang Da saw the words "Handan Palace" on the plaque from afar, and his eyes almost glowed green. There was no one in the Purple Palace, and the Daming Palace had Changping. It would be a waste not to kill this woman. Passing by this place was just heaven's will! So he turned his horse's head and drove straight into the Handan Palace.
Nan Qiongshuang and Chang Da looked at each other for only a moment, then turned around and was about to go back into the secret passage. He took two stiff steps, and with a burst of quick wit, he rushed to the door, unlocked it with a bang, and slammed the windows shut one by one.
Outside the carved window lattice, rebels holding torches and swords had already rushed to the center of the courtyard.
She turned and flew up, landing at the door of the wardrobe.
The light of the torches had already reached the outside of the partition door, illuminating her bedroom with a dim light. The palace maids started up and looked around, some hid and some cried, but she didn't care about them all and haphazardly pushed aside the thick clothes in the closet.
Who would have thought that when autumn came, the closet would be packed full.
Until she finally buried her head in the pile of clothes.
I was horrified to find that she closed the door of the secret room when she came out!
For many years, she had to test her food for poison, burn letters after reading them, and do everything flawlessly. After committing an assassination, not a single hair would be left.
Closing the door casually was her habit, she didn't even realize she had done it!
The secret button of the secret room door was buried in the thick autumn clothes. She fumbled for a long time in a state of panic, only to hear two rustling sounds from the other end.
Two large, white knives had already chopped through the partition on the door.
Wood chips flew and crackled.
She turned her head and pressed the secret button frantically. Finally, the door slowly - slowly - slid open to both sides.
The fragile partition door also opened with a sound.
With two clangs, the partition door flew out halfway at an angle.
Sawdust flew.
A black boot was pressed against the center of the wooden door.
He retracted his foot, gathered his strength, ran two steps, and kicked again!
Bang!
The entire partition door flew out.
She turned around.
The heavy stone door slid open half a person's distance.
A pair of pitch-black short boots stepped arrogantly onto the threshold of her bedroom.
Nan Qiong Shuang calmed down, closed the closet door with a creaky sound, and retreated to the corner of the bedroom.
It was too late. The stone door was too thick and heavy. Even if it was opened, there would be no time to close it. Then these people would just drag me out of the secret room!
She used telepathy to whisper, "Mist Blade!"
Because she had long anticipated that she might be retaliated by Chang Da, she contacted Yun Manyue a few days in advance and asked her to pay more attention to the developments on her side. If there were any unusual changes, she should come to support her as soon as she was free.
But no one answered.
She had worked with Wu Dao for many years and knew that he should ask for Yun Manyue's transfer at this time.
She retreated further into the corner.
Even so, I wonder if Yun Manyue is free tonight. Even if she happens to be free, she may not be able to make it. After all—
The bedroom door was full of people, wearing helmets and armor, tall and strong, and murderous. It was as crowded as a forest of evil spirits.
She was the only woman in the room.
Even though I have spider silk rings on my fingers, what else can I do?
A mantis trying to stop a chariot is like a drop in the bucket.
The room was filled with masculine energy. Nan Qiongshuang's chest rose and fell rapidly, and she forced herself to remain calm and maintain a posture.
Suddenly, the Jurchens and the Chang family army silently separated to the sides and made way.
Chang Da walked in the middle with a swagger in his riding boots.
As soon as he came out, the two axes in his hands almost dazzled her.
Those two axes are bigger than her head!
Chang Da grinned fiercely as he weighed a pair of axes. His small eyes, hidden beneath his thick eyebrows, were smug and fierce.
"I have met Empress Zhenfei. She is truly beautiful."
"May I ask what grudge the Empress has against Da that would cause discord between us father and son?"
She kept her voice steady, and could only buy time:
"What do you mean, Prince Ding?"
Chang Da sneered, took two steps, and suddenly shouted!
Two axes suddenly struck down, and the small table under the window shattered.
"You stinky boy, you stinky woman, you conspired to ruin his grandfather! How dare you put your hands in my nest!"
He pointed two axes at her:
"Chop this bitch up and eat it with green onions and dipping sauce tomorrow!"
The Chang family army immediately rushed towards her with shouts. The three guards of Fu Yu had no feelings for Chang Zhong and followed the Chang family army silently. Suddenly, a group of ferocious men rushed in front of her, all of them grinning and glaring.
When he raised his eyes, he caught a glimpse of a knife flash out of the corner of his eye.
She dodged.
Before he could turn around, another knife stabbed at his head.
She bent her knees and dodged.
Suddenly, he stretched out all ten fingers and opened a net of ice.
In front of her was a thin blade, trembling, wrapped in her silk thread.
Before she could rejoice, she suddenly felt the knife pressing down - she could no longer block it and had no choice but to dodge.
He almost bumped into the oncoming long sword.
After a few rounds, she was completely exhausted. The men on the other side were all ferocious, perhaps once Chang Zhong's drinking buddies, and the sight of her made them gnash with hatred. She was so dizzy and dazed by the ferocity of her defenses that she couldn't even last two moments before she was exhausted and at the end of her strength.
The sweet taste of blood gradually rose in my throat, and my chest hurt from breathing so hard.
Chang Da: "This woman actually knows martial arts! She's really well hidden."
Nan Qiong Shuang didn't care about him. After a few rounds of fighting, she was already seeing black.
What kind of martial arts skills does she have? How can she compete with these stinky men! Even if Yun Manyue comes to rescue her, can she really hold on until she arrives?
How could this be possible! She took a hard look at the wardrobe.
The door to the chamber of secrets should be open now. If she could get to the wardrobe, maybe she could—
Not necessarily. You might just get dragged out by your legs as soon as your head goes in!
But if you can’t even get into the secret room, what else can you do?
The disparity between the two sides was too great. If she didn't use this secret room to escape, there was no way she would escape unscathed. She was afraid she would be reduced to a pulp!
She was breathing harder and harder, and her vision began to darken in large patches. Her eyes were so weak that she could no longer see clearly, and she had to rely on her ears to identify the direction of the swords.
Left, left, right, up, down, and then a horizontal cut——
The creaking sound of the blade rubbing against the silk thread hurt her ears.
How long will it last?
She had no time to tell if she was injured or not, and could only use secret voice transmission to urgently call out: "Mist Blade! Mist Blade!"
No one answered.
No one answered, which means he hasn't come yet.
She was exhausted, and everything was dark before her eyes. She could clearly hear a knife coming towards her, but she couldn't lift her arms anymore, so she could only kneel down to dodge.
The heartbeat and panting in my ears roared like thunder, gradually drowning out the sound of swords breaking through the wind.
She dodged completely unconsciously, not out of alertness, but mechanically, and her whole body was numb and dazed.
To be honest, it was beyond her expectation that she could hold out against these people for so long.
How long could she hold on? She was so exhausted. If she hadn't thought about being turned into a pulp if she relaxed even a little, she really couldn't move an inch.
But - in the end, there is no other way out.
At this point, is there any need to hold on?
Those who bleed on the tip of a knife are most familiar with death.
die--
Suddenly there was a loud bang.
A strong gust of wind came from somewhere and rushed into the room with a bang.
The people in front of her suddenly fell to the ground.
The arrogant and brave generals lay on the ground with their limbs spread out.
Before the darkness in front of her eyes dissipated, she heard gusts of palm wind whistling around her. The palm wind was almost majestic, the sound like thunder, and even before it hit her, it almost pushed her back.
The sound of swords and knives in my ears stopped instantly.
All that was left was the men's wailing.
She held onto the corner of the wardrobe to steady herself. The wind was so strong in the room that her hair and clothes were almost blown away. All she could hear was Chang Da's shocked roar:
"Who are you?"
Needless to say, the clouds conceal the moon.
Apart from her, who else could possess such martial arts skills as being able to defeat a hundred people alone?
The chaotic colors in front of his eyes dispersed one after another. In the sad moonlight, Chang Da's face with thick eyebrows and beard was full of shock. On the velvet carpet with the cold blue moonlight, a man stood with a bent stance and raised his palm, turning his palm into wind, without his hair being messed up at all.
——Nan Qiong Shuang never dreamed that it was this person.
Li Shenshu!
Her usual fake smile disappeared at this moment, and her eyes were full of firmness and determination. Even though there were dozens of armored soldiers in front of her, her expression was unmoved. Every move she made was more than that of a trained martial artist, she was familiar with it to perfection, and every palm strike was powerful.
She didn't answer, just pushed her hands away.
With a push of his palm, the armored soldiers were overturned, and the hall rumbled. The pillars trembled, the beams shook, and dust and wood chips fell from the ceiling.
Nan Qiongshuang held on to the wardrobe and barely stood firm, then retreated to the side in fear. She saw that the man's palm technique was so fast that she could not distinguish it at all. In her eyes, the burly man seemed to be flying even though he was far away.
She dodged palm pushes, knife strikes, body spins, and flying kicks, no matter how swords and knives came at her, with ease, as if these men were intentionally cooperating with her in martial arts performance.
Nan Qiongshuang's head was buzzing as she watched.
She actually has such a master by her side?! When did this happen?! The night Gongsun Hong closed the net, this person was still peeping at her through the crack of the door. Why is he helping her tonight?!
Is he really here to help her? Or is he unaware of the situation behind her?
She didn't dare to think too much about it. She didn't dare to trust any kind-hearted man who suddenly rushed out. While Li Shenshu was struggling with the soldiers in the room, she just stared at the window.
There's no one at the window!
Chang Da never expected that Cheng Yaojin would suddenly appear and attack him with two axes in hand.
It doesn't matter who wins or loses.
Nan Qiongshuang spotted the only window that she had not yet closed and rushed out!
The window frames were shattered by the impact.
She didn't need to turn around to look, she could already hear the sound of swords stabbing behind her. She gritted her teeth and tried to kick against the window frame to avoid it.
My foot slipped and I stepped on empty air.
She was already too weak. She tried to rush out, but she was exhausted and had no strength to take a second step.
The white blade screamed and stabbed at her.
Wu Dao: "Lord Yun is here!"
The scene before her eyes suddenly changed, and she was suddenly pulled up into the sky from under the window. First she saw the tree trunk, then the treetop, and then the magnificent glazed tiles of Handan Palace. A silver crescent moon floated on the fish-scale-like tiles, and under the crescent moon stood a person, with a red tassel like fire under his long spear, and one hand around her waist.
Nan Qiongshuang was instantly level with the crescent moon.
Yun Manyue was handsome and clear-sighted, and it was difficult to tell whether he was a man or a woman. He had a white jade red headband on his forehead, his phoenix eyes half-closed, and he looked down with a sneer:
"Shuang'er, I'm late."
Nan Qiong Shuang was speechless and dumb.
"Are you okay?" She turned her head and asked worriedly.
"It's okay." She tried hard to even her breath. Everything happened so suddenly tonight. She was really confused and had no idea what was going on. She lowered her head and looked down, "But——"
Chang Da: "Don't get entangled with her! Retreat! Retreat! Go to Daming Palace!"
The armored soldiers in the Handan Palace filed out.
When they came out again, the morale of the elite soldiers who had been so arrogant had been shattered. Only one-third of them ran out nimbly, another one-third staggered out, supporting each other, and the last one-third had no way of escaping at all.
Nan Qiong Shuang's head was splitting with pain and her breathing was very slow.
They did manage to drive away the Three Guards of Fuyu and the Chang Family Army, but what was the origin of that giant Buddha statue in the temple?!
Isn't this her redeemed colleague? !
Yun Manyue was also stunned when he saw it: "Shuang'er, have your boxing skills improved a lot?"
What was she trying to do? If she was trying to do that, she would step on the window frame and her feet would slip!
She said: "No, it's in that palace..."
Yun Manyue had already felt the unusual vibrations of the palm wind in the hall, and his eyebrows furrowed.
Helping her to stand firmly on the roof of the hall, Yun Manyue said, "Rest aside. If they are enemies, they are probably formidable."
Nan Qiong Shuang couldn't help swallowing.
Even Yun Man Yue said so...
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound of fluttering clothing. A figure, hands behind his back, bent his legs, and soared straight up from the ground, gradually revealing a meticulously styled bun, a smooth, round forehead, and a cinnabar-red mole on it. The smile that concealed his subtlety faded, and as he soared upward, his eyes met hers intently, gentle and resolute.
Li Shenshu is good at martial arts, and is extremely strong and good at hiding.
Nan Qiong Shuang was so frightened that she didn't even dare to blink.
What surprised her even more was...
Yun Man Yue suddenly clasped his fists and called out respectfully:
"master."
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