63 Change of Sky
◎Eliminate the prince's followers◎
In the small kitchen, Wei Ziyan was learning how to make golden flower cakes from Qizhu.
Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, people love buying a variety of golden flower cakes to celebrate the occasion. Those with more leisure time can also make their own at home. Filled with various fillings and then pressed into interesting shapes using molds, they are not only delicious but also a delight to prepare.
Tonight is a family moon-viewing tea party, and adding the golden flower cakes I made myself will naturally add a bit of fun.
Of course, there was another reason. Wei Ziyan wanted to use this to distract her attention so that she wouldn't have too many random thoughts in her mind.
Making golden flower cakes is not too complicated. After observing Qizhu's technique for a while, she began to practice slowly.
The filling is usually sweet, so today she had Dujuan prepare some salted and crispy pastries. Qizhu was puzzled when she saw them. Who would want to eat this kind of filling?
"Your eldest brother likes salty food."
He thought she didn't know his taste, so tonight he would see if she cared about it.
Thinking of Yan Qizheng's expression, Wei Ziyan couldn't help but curl her lips. She placed salt and crispy pastry on the dough, then folded the dough together, rolled it into a ball, and placed it in the rabbit mold. After removing it from the mold, a proper bunny golden flower cake was formed.
"Have you heard?" Speaking of her eldest brother, Yan Qizhu thought of her second brother. She lowered her voice solemnly, "My second brother is interested in Miss Wu, and Aunt Ru is planning to ask Mother to propose marriage."
"really?"
"As my aunt said to my mother herself."
No wonder, Wei Ziyan thought to herself. She had just learned that her second brother had sent some gifts to the Wu Residence a few days ago, and that the Second Miss Wu had returned the favor. Now that she thought about it, this exchange must have been a sign of mutual affection between the two.
Wu Guanshu was about to become her sister-in-law, and this good news made Wei Ziyan very happy.
"When will mother propose marriage?"
"It will be soon, it won't be delayed beyond this month." Yan Qizhu lowered her voice again and said, "Grandmother also asked mother to ask around to see if there are any relatives in the Wu family who have young men of the right age."
This is for Yuhuan.
When it came to this cousin, Wei Ziyan had nothing to say and didn't want to listen, so she turned the topic to her third sister in front of her.
"Once your second brother's marriage is settled, your mother will probably go and propose marriage for you."
"She can say what she wants. I don't care about her anyway."
Yan Qizhu looked nonchalant. Wei Ziyan was just hesitating whether to ask her if she hadn't let go of Lord Yu yet when a loud thunder suddenly sounded outside.
With a loud bang, the rabbit in her hand fell to the ground. Without bothering to pick it up, Wei Ziyan ran out of the kitchen and looked up at the gloomy sky.
Qizhu followed him out: "It looks like it's going to rain...Will we be unable to see the moon tonight?"
Thunder suddenly rolled in broad daylight. Wei Ziyan's heart began to pound and she began to panic.
"Xu Ji—Xu Ji—"
She called Xu Ji over repeatedly and hurriedly instructed him, "Go to the palace now to find the eldest son and ask him when he will be back."
"Yes, young lady."
"No, tell the eldest master that I want him back immediately!"
"...Yes, Young Madam."
Even though he was completely bewildered by the young lady's instructions, Xu Ji didn't dare delay for even a moment. He immediately rushed out the door and headed straight for the palace...
"What?"
In the East Palace, the news from Taiji Palace shocked everyone in the study.
"How is my father now?" Crown Prince Li Chengtai suddenly stood up from behind the desk, walked around a few steps, and hurriedly asked the palace servant who came to report the news.
He just said that His Majesty suddenly vomited blood in Taiji Palace.
"Seeing His Majesty vomiting blood, the Fourth Prince summoned the imperial physician, who is currently administering emergency treatment." The palace attendant knelt on the ground and reported all the information he had gathered. "I heard that His Majesty may have been poisoned."
Wu Minglu, Yu Sugong, Yan Qizheng and others present were all shocked upon hearing this! Li Chengtai was particularly horrified and was speechless for a moment. Wu Shangshu anxiously asked the palace attendant, "Where is the King of Liao?"
"The Fourth Prince is standing guard at His Majesty's bedside."
Li Chengtai's expression changed drastically again: "I'll go and take a look."
"The Taiji Palace is now sealed off by the Imperial Guards. No one is allowed to enter or leave."
The palace maid's words made everyone present tremble with fear!
The Imperial Guards were the army that protected the Imperial City, and only the Emperor could mobilize them. But at this time, Emperor Jingren was still in critical condition, and only the Prince of Liao was inside Taiji Palace. Did Emperor Jingren himself send the order to the Imperial Guards, or did the Prince of Liao use the Emperor's instructions?
Or is it the worst possibility, that the King of Liao poisoned the people and took control of the imperial guards?
Li Chengtai couldn't believe it. That was Jun's father! He was Li Youxu's biological father!
"Your Highness, don't forget how the King of Liao's mother passed away." Wu Minglu reminded.
At this moment, he belatedly realized the truth behind it, and he was shocked!
"Concubine Jin colluded with the remnants of the previous dynasty to plot evil. Now her son has made a comeback. I'm afraid the King of Liao's ambition is not to be crown prince, but to take the throne!"
This interpretation made the others gasp!
The fact that Emperor Jingren was poisoned during a private conversation with the Prince of Liao was a perfect coincidence. If what Minister Wu said was true, then the Prince of Liao had already planned all of this.
Now he was holding the Emperor hostage to command the Imperial Guards. If the Crown Prince and his personal guards stormed the Taiji Palace to rescue the Emperor, he would be charged with treason. But if the Crown Prince refused to go, the Emperor's life would be in jeopardy, and the charges of patricide and regicide would surely be pinned on the Crown Prince.
The King of Liao set up such a dangerous trap just to force the prince into a desperate situation!
There was silence in the study for a moment until a loud thunder broke through the sky.
"Boom—"
Loud thunder foreshadows the coming of heavy rain.
The sky is going to change.
"My father is in his hands. I must go..." Li Chengtai turned his gaze out the window and scanned the people in the room one by one. "It's dangerous to go there. While there's still time, everyone should leave the palace and the city as soon as possible."
"Your Highness," Wu Minglu clasped his hands together and bowed, his tone calm, "Since ancient times, struggles for imperial power have always resulted in countless sacrifices and bloodshed. I am already prepared."
Yan Qizheng held his sword in his hand and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness and I, along with the personal guards, will protect him till our death!"
Seeing this, Yu Sugong adopted the same attitude as Wu Shangshu. Li Chengtai watched, his heart filled with speechless emotion. After a moment, he decisively put aside his hesitation.
There is still a glimmer of hope. We just need to attack the Taiji Palace and rescue my father.
Then give it a try!
"Wu Qing, Yu Qing, the two of you quickly go find Lu Qiyou from the Ministry of War and ask him to send the city's defenders to support us."
Wu Minglu and Yu Sugong said in unison: "Yes."
"Yuwen."
"Here." Yan Qizheng responded.
"Follow me to Taiji Palace to rescue the emperor."
"yes!"
Inside Taiji Palace, the imperial physician detected a poison in the remaining ginseng tea. The source of the poison remained unknown, and the imperial physician could only temporarily save the emperor's life. Only by identifying the poisoner and obtaining the antidote could the emperor truly survive this critical moment.
After being induced to vomit, Emperor Jingren lay limp on the imperial couch. A dozen steps away, behind a screen, a group of palace servants knelt on the ground. One of the servants who had brought the ginseng soup into the inner hall kowtowed repeatedly, crying out for justice, his head bruised and bleeding.
"How unreasonable! I will kill you now!" Li Youxu lost his patience and stepped forward to strangle him by the neck. The other palace maids were frightened out of their wits and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I am wronged!"
"I dare not attempt to murder Your Majesty!"
The palace servant, whose face was ashen from being pinched and who was almost out of breath, spoke with difficulty: "Your servant... is only following orders... to serve the ginseng tea to... Eunuch Xu..."
Li Youxu's grim gaze then turned to the person standing in front of the couch with his head bowed.
"Eunuch Xu?"
Hearing this, Xu Shidao's knees buckled as he knelt on the ground. "This bowl of ginseng tea was indeed served to Your Majesty by this old servant... This old servant's crime is unforgivable!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the pupils of Emperor Jingren, who was dying on the bed, suddenly widened. He struggled to turn over and lie on the edge of the bed, staring at the servant kneeling in front of him.
"You...you...poisoned me?"
"I know my sins are grave, and death is not a pity."
"Xu Shidao..." Emperor Jingren couldn't believe it.
"You've been by my side for sixteen years, sixteen years! Since I ascended the throne, you've been by my side... Why, why?" Emperor Jingren demanded sharply, "How have I wronged you?"
Eunuch Xu looked as if he was in agony.
"I feel guilty and sorry for Your Majesty. I have failed the Emperor's grace. I don't want to..." He seemed to realize that he had let the cat out of the bag and stopped talking in a hurry. Emperor Jingren was furious.
"Tell me! Who ordered you to be so vicious? Tell me, and I will leave your body intact!"
Xu Shidao, however, just prostrated himself on the ground without saying a word.
"Eunuch Xu," Li Youxu pressed from the side, "Hand over the antidote and reveal the mastermind, and I will not pursue your clansmen."
The hidden meaning is that his entire clan will be killed.
Xu Shidao slowly raised his trembling body, tears streaming down his face.
"The antidote is under my pillow. Your Highness, I beg you to understand that the poisoning was done by me alone, and no one else was behind it."
"Xu Shidao!" Li Youxu shouted sharply, "How could you be so audacious as to poison my father without someone else's instigation? You deliberately poisoned me while I was having a private conversation with my father, hoping to frame me. Could it be that the Crown Prince ordered you to do this?"
"No, no, no!" Xu Shidao denied it repeatedly and anxiously, "It has nothing to do with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Humph, you're so anxious to distance yourself from the truth that you're only making things worse."
“…”
Xu Shidao was speechless. Seeing this, Emperor Jingren became even more furious and shouted with a trembling voice: "Speak——"
"This servant has received the grace of the Queen..."
Xu Shidao's kneeling body swayed, and his face showed the grief of being forced to do so.
"Ever since Your Majesty bestowed upon the Fourth Prince the title of Marquis of Guangping, Your Majesty has been concerned that the Crown Prince's position as heir is threatened. This servant has sought to relieve Your Majesty's worries, but in a moment of confusion... I regret my actions and am willing to die as an apology! Your Majesty, please do not vent your anger on Your Majesty and the Crown Prince."
At this time, Xu Shidao, an old eunuch, is still defending the prince in every sentence. How can Emperor Jingren believe that the prince is innocent?
What's more, the Crown Prince had just reported the King of Liao for treason not long ago. So it seems that he just wants to eliminate those who pose a threat to him?
He was afraid that his younger brother's achievements and abilities would surpass his own, and that his father, the emperor, would one day depose him and appoint another crown prince. So he colluded with the prince's party and simply wanted to eliminate him, his father, as well!
What a vicious son!
Dark clouds covered the sun and heavy rain poured down.
Outside the Taiji Palace, the Crown Prince's personal guards and the Imperial Guards faced off with swords drawn, their swords drawn. Rain splattered across their helmets and armor. Amidst the drizzle, the Imperial Guards commander, Shu Yi, shouted, "Are you planning a rebellion?"
Yan Qizheng stood at the head of the personal guards and shouted at the top of his voice: "Your Majesty has been poisoned by the King of Liao and is being held hostage. We have come to rescue you on the orders of the Crown Prince! Commander Shu, please do not let these traitors use you to put Your Majesty in danger!"
"Bullshit!" Shu Yi immediately retorted, "We have received orders from His Majesty himself to guard the Taiji Palace. No one is allowed to trespass!"
"General Shu," Li Chengtai appeared with a palace servant holding an umbrella for him. "You don't even believe what I say?"
Shu Yi saw the Crown Prince and paused before clasping his fists and apologizing: "Please forgive me, Your Highness! Shu Yi only obeys the orders of Your Majesty."
"Foolish loyalty!" Li Chengtai pointed at him and cursed, "As the Imperial Guard, your duty is to protect the emperor, not to aid the tyrant! If you delay rescuing him, you will all be sinners of the Hu Zhou Dynasty for eternity!"
The Crown Prince's indignant words finally shook Shu Yi.
The Emperor's oral instructions today were personally given by Eunuch Xu, and he trusted Eunuch Xu. But the Crown Prince's expression didn't seem fake, and he was always filial and honest, so how could he rebel against the Emperor?
"Your Highness, please ask Rong Shuyi to confirm with His Majesty."
"you--"
"Please rest assured, Your Highness! Shu Yi is not blind and will keep an eye on the Fourth Prince's every word and action."
Heavy rain washed over the scene, and countless pairs of eyes fell on the commander of the imperial guards, watching him sheath his sword and turn to walk up the stairs in the rain. However, at this moment, a black feathered arrow flew out from nowhere, piercing through the rain and hitting Shu Yi in the left back.
"Commander Shu!"
Following the exclamation of the Imperial Guards, Shu Yi turned around and glared at the Crown Prince: "You guys——"
At that moment, another black-feathered arrow flew over and hit him right in the throat. Shu Yi's eyes bulged out, and he fell straight back.
"Commander Shu—"
"Revenge for Commander Shu!"
The imperial guards rushed into the royal guards shouting, and the sound of killing was deafening.
"It's bad, Your Majesty!" A palace servant rushed into the hall in panic. "The Crown Prince's personal guards killed Commander Shu and are trying to attack Taiji Palace!"
"He's planning a rebellion!" Li Youxi shouted, kneeling on one knee with his fists clasped together. "Father, please allow me to capture the Crown Prince!"
Emperor Jingren lay on the couch, listening to the sounds of fighting outside. He closed his eyes and let out a long breath: "Xu Shidao...what else do you have to say?"
Eunuch Xu continued to prostrate himself on the ground, bowing his head to the ground: "This servant deserves it, and I have nothing to say."
Oh, even at this time, you still want to protect the prince...
Emperor Jingren gritted his teeth and issued a cold order: "Pass on my oral order. The Crown Prince is leading troops to rebel. Order the Imperial Guards to strangle him with all their might!"
Not only the Taiji Palace, but the imperial guards soon surrounded the entire imperial city inside and out.
The palace gates were closed, and no one was allowed to enter or leave. Xu Ji, who came to look for the eldest son, was blocked by a wall of soldiers and officers, and was unable to get any information.
All officials on duty in the palace offices, as well as the empress and concubines in the harem, were also blocked in the offices and palaces by the imperial guards and were not allowed to step out of the gates.
From the sounds of fighting coming from the Taiji Palace and the current scene, anyone could tell something serious was happening in the palace! Outside the window, the sky was gloomy and the rain was pouring down. The officials and concubines were terrified and just hoped that the storm would stop soon...
The ground outside the emperor's bedroom was covered in blood and corpses were scattered everywhere.
Inside the palace, Eunuch Xu sat slumped on the ground. Not far away, a palace servant knelt on the ground, holding a tray. Li Youxi slowly approached, picked up the poisoned wine on it, and walked over to Xu Shidao.
"Eunuch Xu, let's get going."
Xu Shidao looked up at him with a faint smile, as if he felt relieved of a heavy burden.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
He should call him the Fourth Prince, but no one cared about his name at this moment.
Xu Shidao took the wine cup and drank the poisoned wine given by the emperor. Emperor Jingren said, "If you want to poison me, I will poison you."
A mouthful of blood gushed out of his mouth, and Xu Shidao looked at the Fourth Prince with a smile in his eyes. In the moment before he fell, he silently mouthed: "Xu Shidao has the nerve to see the Queen..."
Li Youxi was silent for a moment, then ordered the palace attendant beside him: "Drag it away and burn it."
When the news that the Crown Prince poisoned the Emperor and rebelled to force the emperor to abdicate spread among the officials, everyone was shocked and horrified!
Then, news came one after another: Eunuch Xu, who was beside the emperor, was dismissed; the emperor ordered the crown prince to be deposed and imprisoned in the cold palace; and the King of Liao issued an imperial decree.
Just as the officials were still digesting this sudden change of information, they heard that the imperial guards had begun arresting people in the palace.
Many officials, including the Minister of Justice, the Vice Minister of Justice, the Captain of the Crown Prince's Guards, and the Vice Minister of the Imperial Household, were thrown into prison. This was obviously to completely eliminate the Crown Prince's followers.
It was already dark, candles were lit everywhere in the palace, and the imperial guards walked through the rain holding torches.
The outer area of the cold palace was also surrounded by torches. In the corridor beyond, several imperial guards hurriedly approached, escorting the Liao prince. When these people broke through the door, Li Chengtai's last doubts were resolved.
The reason why he dared not bring troops into the city was that he had already figured out how to recruit the imperial guards in the city for his own use.
"I knew you were vicious, but I never thought you'd even dare to murder my father," Li Chengtai shouted at him, "You're truly insane!"
Li Youxi raised his hand and the imperial guards behind him retreated.
"My royal brother, be careful with your words. It was Eunuch Xu who murdered our father, and he has been brought to justice."
"Heh, isn't Eunuch Xu your man?"
This chess piece was buried too deep and too decisively, and it was the chess piece that caused Li Chengtai to lose the whole game today.
"I underestimated your ambition. It turns out you were already planning this day, even before Concubine Jin died... You spent ten years sleeping on straw and tasting gall, secretly crossing Chencang."
Li Youxi put his hands on his waist and raised his eyebrows with a victorious attitude.
"But don't be afraid, my royal brother. I won't kill you..." He paused, then spoke clearly, word for word, "I want you to see me ascend the throne with your own eyes."
"Do you still want to harm our father?"
"My father's mind is already ill and confused, and he is unfit to be the ruler of a country. Isn't it a filial piety to let him ascend to heaven early?"
After saying that, Li Youxu turned and walked out. He took just two steps, stopped, and turned back.
"Oh, yes! And as for my brother's loyal old subordinates, I will also give them a good end."
…
The palace gates were reopened, and the imperial guards, having received the imperial edict, filed out and headed straight for the Wu Mansion.
Some officials were allowed to leave the palace and return home, including Wei Jizhi. By this time, it was completely dark, and the rain showed no sign of abating. Outside the palace gates, a huge grid of carriages awaiting their officials was jammed. Wei Jizhi's umbrella couldn't shield him from the windswept rain, and by the time he found his carriage, he was practically soaked.
"Hurry! Go to Yan Mansion."
Without even having time to go home to change his clothes, Wei Jizhi hurriedly asked the servant to drive to the Yan family to deliver the message.
He didn't know what the prince's current situation was, how the Yan father and son would be implicated, and whether the Yan family would suffer the same fate as the Wu family.
Even at this moment, he couldn't fully believe what had happened, let alone think of a way to save the Yan family. All he could do now was to rush to the Yan family before the imperial edict arrived.
Xu Ji waited outside the palace gates until his shift was over, finally learning that a major incident had occurred within the palace, forcing all officials to remain within. He hurried back to report the news, leaving Wei Ziyan and Madam Yan utterly anxious and restless. Upon hearing that Grand Secretary Wei had arrived, they hurriedly invited him in.
When they saw Wei Jizhi in a miserable state, the slight sense of relief in their hearts disappeared in an instant.
"Dad, is there an accident?"
"Where are the father and son?"
They both spoke in unison, their faces clearly showing anxiety and worry. Wei Jizhi felt bad and wanted to say something to comfort them, but he was afraid that time was running out, so he had to speak frankly.
"Something happened. The Emperor believed the Crown Prince was plotting a rebellion and deposed him. The Prince of Liao is now in power and is leading the Imperial Guards to exterminate the Crown Prince's close associates. Minister Yan and Qi Zheng, Minister Wu and Minister Yu have all been imprisoned..."
When Madam Yan heard this, her legs went weak and Wei Ziyan quickly helped her sit down.
"Not only that, the King of Liao also wanted to exterminate the Wu family. When I left the palace, the imperial guards had already gone to the Wu Mansion to confiscate the property, saying that they would exile the entire family..."
Wei Jizhi's words were filled with worry: "I'm afraid the next place the Liao king will send someone will be here."
Now not only Madam Yan, but Wei Ziyan could not stand either.
Although she had a premonition during the thunderstorm that the Crown Prince's prosecution of the King of Liao might fail and instead incur the Emperor's wrath, and that Yan Qizheng was implicated, he would certainly not escape unscathed, she had only suspected that he would be punished along with the Crown Prince. She had never imagined that things would escalate to this point.
Treason is a serious crime that will implicate a large number of people. The emperor will not let it go easily, not to mention the ruthless King of Liao! He has already started to attack the Wu family, and he will definitely not let the Yan family go next. My father and Yan Qi are in prison, and their lives are in danger...
Wei Ziyan felt a dull pain in her chest, and two lines of tears rolled down her cheeks involuntarily.
"Zi Yan..." Wei Jizhi was heartbroken looking at his daughter, but he had to cheer her up at this moment. "You have to hold on. There is hope until the end."
After saying this, he glanced at Madam Yan, who was crying with her hands covering her face, and said, "Right now, you should first help Madam stabilize this family, and then find a way to save people."
Wei Ziyan nodded repeatedly, wiping away her tears as she listened to her father's words. That's right, crying was useless. She had to find a way to rescue Yan Qizheng and her father as soon as possible.
"Dad, tomorrow you..."
Unexpectedly, just as she started, Xing'er rushed in in a panic, shouting, "Oh no, oh no!" "Madam, Madam, there are a lot of soldiers outside, saying they want to close the gates!"
The faces of the father and daughter in the room suddenly changed, and Mrs. Yan also looked up in shock.
"Just closing the gates?" Wei Jizhi asked anxiously.
"The doorman seemed to say so..." Xing'er stammered. She wasn't sure, but she heard the news from the doorman and immediately ran in to report it.
"I'll go and take a look."
"Don't go—" Wei Ziyan called out to her father, "Dad, please leave through the back door quickly. You can pass on the message to us from outside."
Madam Yan, having recovered from her grief, joined in urging him to leave. Wei Jizhi also knew he wouldn't be of much use here and should leave immediately. If the Yan family were to be exiled, at least he could still find a way to navigate the situation. However, he still couldn't let go of his daughter.
"Don't be afraid, Yan'er. Daddy won't abandon you."
"I know..." Wei Ziyan suppressed her sobs, "Don't worry, Dad. I can hold on."
Wei Jizhi no longer hesitated and, led by Xing'er, quickly left the house through the back door.
But he was still worried, so he went back to the east gate and gave some bribes to the guards there. After finding out that the order from above was to guard all the entrances and exits and not let anyone in or out, he felt relieved and got on his carriage to go home.
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