Chapter 87 (None)
In the blink of an eye, no one could react in time.
The moon disappeared behind the clouds, and the palace maids and eunuchs, carrying lanterns, illuminated the stone steps beneath their feet. The weather was cold, and the stone steps gleamed with an icy light.
Xiao Yunjue tumbled down with a rumble, quickly crashing into Emperor Yuanming. The two rolled together, their screams and cries shaking the heavens.
Guards rushed forward to save the emperor. Jiang Ling stood there and watched as Yuan Changsheng lunged forward, seemingly colliding with a guard from the Imperial City Guard. Emperor Yuanming rolled to the ground, crying out in pain.
Before Jiang Ling could get a good look, Consort Zhao behind him let out a sharp cry: "A-Jue, A-Jue!"
Consort Zhao ran down the slope like a madwoman, and Jiang Ling instinctively dodged to the side.
The stone steps are wide enough for three or four people to walk side by side. There is no railing on the right and the city wall is on the left.
Jiang Ling was already cautious, so she tried to walk as close to the city wall as possible, while A'Ruo and Zishan carried lanterns to protect her right side.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Ling was unable to dodge and was slammed against the city wall by Consort Zhao. With a "thud," Jiang Ling felt his head buzzing, the world spinning, and stars flashing before his eyes.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Screams and cries rang out, and Jiang Ling could no longer tell who was shouting and who was crying.
The stone steps were slippery, and Consort Zhao, with overwhelming force, pushed past Jiang Ling and continued down. According to rank, the person walking ahead of Jiang Ling was Consort Lin.
Consort Lin remained calm and collected. She reacted swiftly, leaping down the stone steps and reaching out to pull Xiao Yunrui, who had been walking beside Xiao Yunjue.
Xiao Yunrui was forcefully pulled towards the city wall by Consort Lin. Before the two could even stand up, Consort Zhao had already rushed down.
Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Consort Lin did not hesitate and desperately protected Xiao Yunrui. She was then pulled down with Consort Zhao.
Before Xiao Yunrui could react, he watched helplessly as Consort Lin's slender figure tumbled downwards like a kite. Fortunately, there were only a dozen or so stone steps, and the area below was crowded with guards who had come to the emperor's rescue. Consort Lin and Consort Zhao were quickly stopped and helped to their feet.
"Mother!" Xiao Yunrui cried out in pain, rushing down the slope. Just then, a powerful force struck his back, and Xiao Yunrui screamed in terror, falling down like Xiao Yunjue.
Jiang Ling clung to the wall like a gecko, using the coolness of the brick wall to try to stay awake.
Chaos reigned all around, a cacophony of cries, shouts, and the crackling of firecrackers, with lanterns burning on the ground. The moon peeked through the clouds, and brilliant fireworks rose into the sky, only to vanish in an instant.
"Your Majesty." A'Ruo came over with a sob in her voice, the lamp in her hand had fallen somewhere, and the back of her hand was worn raw and bloody.
The woman in purple robes trembled violently, and the lantern in her hand swayed. After a few moments, the lantern went out with a whoosh.
The imperial guards escorted Emperor Yuanming away, while the remaining guards directed the sedan chair forward to help Consort Lin and the others into it. Jiang Ling looked around nervously, her gaze lingering briefly on Consort Liu behind her, before she decisively whispered, "Let's go, let's get off."
Purple-clad A'Ruo followed Jiang Ling down the river. Just as the Imperial City Guard general was about to give a shout, Qin Shanggong stepped forward, curtsied, and addressed her as Consort Hui. Upon hearing this, the guards quickly raised their hands in greeting and stepped aside.
The Imperial Household Department was in charge of the sedan chairs for travel. Jiang Ling felt relieved when he saw his own people and nodded slightly to Qin Shanggong, "Give A'Ruo and Zishan a sedan chair."
"Your Majesty, rest assured," Qin Shanggong hurriedly replied, summoning her trusted confidante to make the arrangements. Seeing the wound on Jiang Ling's forehead, she couldn't help but show concern, lowering her voice to say, "Your Majesty's injury needs to be treated back in the palace. It's very chaotic here; Consort Lin and the others are seriously injured."
Jiang Lingtou remained dizzy and disoriented, guessing she had suffered a concussion. She had no time to attend to Consort Lin and the others; after thanking them for their trouble, she boarded the sedan chair.
Qin Shanggong instructed the women carrying the sedan chair to be careful, watched the sedan chair leave, and then hurried off to do his work.
Along the way, the imperial guards were heavily armed, with soldiers from the Imperial City Guard carrying swords at their waists moving back and forth, and the cold air seemed to have frozen.
The sedan chair swayed and rocked, making Jiang Ling feel as if he were sitting in a small boat, moving forward on the waves. His head was throbbing and his stomach was churning with nausea.
Finally arriving at Fanying Pavilion, the sedan chair stopped. Jiang Ling was in extreme discomfort. As soon as the curtain was lifted, he leaned out and vomited violently.
"Your Highness!" A'Ruo, dressed in purple, who was getting off the sedan chair behind, was so frightened that her face turned pale. She quickly ran forward and called to the gatekeeper, "Go and call Qing Tan and the others out!"
Jiang Ling vomited for a while, and his stomach felt a little better, but his head was still dizzy. Wen Juan was watching over Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang. Qing Tan and Dan Gui followed the gatekeeper out and, together with A Ruo Zishan, helped Jiang Ling back to the house.
Qingtan and Dangui helped Jiang Ling take off her hood. She lay down on the couch and said, "Have Wenjuan move Azan and Alang to sleep over here with me."
Dan Gui hurried off, and Zi Shan A Ruo brought hot water into the room. Jiang Ling wiped her hands and face, Wen Juan held Xiao Yun Lang in her arms, while Xiao Yun Zan, still sleepy-eyed, was led over by Dan Gui.
Looking at them, Jiang Ling felt a wave of fear wash over her, and her nose stung with tears.
If they were there, the consequences would be unimaginable. Jiang Ling felt breathless just thinking about it and said, "Wenjuan, carry Alang to the bedroom to sleep."
Afraid of waking Xiao Yunlang, Wenjuan nodded gently and carried him to the inner bedroom.
"Mother," Xiao Yunzan called out indistinctly. He yawned and saw Jiang Ling's swollen and bruised forehead. His dark eyes widened instantly.
Breaking free from Dan Gui's grasp, Xiao Yunzan rushed to Jiang Ling's side, crying out, "Mother, what happened to your forehead? Who hit you?"
"Who dares to hit me? I'm fine, I just bumped into something by accident." Jiang Ling forced a smile, gently stroking his little face and soothingly saying, "You and A Lang go to the bedroom to sleep, I'll be fine after resting for a while."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Xiao Yunzan said sensibly, "Mother, please rest well. I'm going to sleep now and won't disturb you."
Dan Gui led Xiao Yunzan into the bedroom and helped him take off his clothes and get into bed to rest. Xiao Yunlang was fast asleep, so Wen Juan laid him down on the bed and soon went to the next room.
Jiang Ling remained uneasy and instructed, "Wenjuan, go out and give instructions that no one in Fanying Pavilion is allowed to go out and inquire or move around. Keep the gate closed. Unless Huang Liang and Zhang Shan, who are close to the Emperor, come in person, no one else is allowed to enter unless they have the Emperor's decree in hand."
Wen Juan was unaware of the situation. Jiang Ling and Zi Shan had all returned injured, and had even brought Xiao Yunzan and Xiao Yunlang with them. Something terrible must have happened. Suppressing her anxiety, she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will go right away."
Jiang Ling then said to Qing Tan and A Ruo, "You should take turns resting, and be vigilant at night."
After Dan Gui coaxed Xiao Yunzan to sleep, she came out. She and Qing Tan were on duty, so she told A Ruo Zishan to go and rest, saying, "You two go quickly, we'll stay and watch over the Empress."
Purple-robed Aruo was quite frightened. When she returned to Fanying Pavilion, her whole body ached terribly. The two, still shaken, went back to the side room to rest, leaving Dan Gui and Qing Tan to keep watch.
After a while, Wenjuan returned to the side room. "Your Majesty, I have given all the instructions and personally watched over the lock of the main gate."
Jiang Ling hummed in agreement. Wen Juan, using the dim light of the palace lanterns, carefully examined the wound on Jiang Ling's forehead and said with concern, "Your Highness's injury is quite serious. This servant should go and fetch the imperial physician to examine Your Highness."
"The imperial physicians are unavailable," Jiang Ling replied weakly. After a pause, he added, "The imperial physicians are all busy tonight."
Wen Juan was greatly alarmed. Seeing that Jiang Ling was weak and powerless, she prepared to ask A Ruo Zishan, saying, "Your Majesty, please rest well."
Jiang Ling closed her eyes, quietly reflecting on the events of the night.
She was looking down at the stone steps and didn't see how Xiao Yunjue tumbled down them. The guards and imperial guards went to rescue the emperor, but Yuan Changsheng, who was beside Emperor Yuanming, collided with one of the imperial guards, causing Emperor Yuanming to fall directly to the ground.
Consort Zhao, anxious to protect her son, rushed toward Xiao Yunjue, and her actions appeared perfectly normal.
Consort Lin was also fiercely protective of her son; she shielded Xiao Yunrui while Consort Zhao dragged her down the stone steps.
Xiao Yunrui was greatly frightened after being protected by Consort Lin, but ultimately fell down.
None of the maids, servants, or eunuchs around them had seen any action to protect their mistress. Jiang Ling could understand that, like A'Ruo Zishan, they hadn't reacted in time.
Consort Lin and Consort Zhao were different; they were naturally quick-witted and were also mothers. If it were Xiao Yunzan or Xiao Yunlang, Jiang Ling estimated that he would have reacted faster than A'ruo Wenjuan and the others.
However, there are many suspicious points here.
Whether Xiao Yunjue slipped and fell accidentally, or was framed, remains a mystery. He was the first to fall, triggering a series of subsequent accidents.
Xiao Yunrui's subsequent fall is quite intriguing.
After all, Xiao Yunrui had witnessed Consort Lin and Consort Zhao tumbling down the steps together. It took him quite a while before he ran down the steps. Given the precedent of many people falling down, he would at least be more careful.
The person behind Xiao Yunrui at that time was Jiang Ling, but she knew she hadn't made a move. A'ruo Zishan had been knocked down by Consort Zhao and hadn't gotten up yet.
Later, Consort Wu was sobbing, while Consort Liu, Consort Zhao, and Consort Xia were helped down the stone steps by maids and servants.
There were too many people, and everything was in chaos. Jiang Ling didn't see who took advantage of the confusion to push Xiao Yunrui.
This person must be bold and meticulous, with a reaction as quick as that of Consort Lin.
In addition, this person has a grudge against Consort Lin, or their interests are in conflict.
The desire to resent others' wealth and the envy of those who lack it is a matter of life and death, and Consort Lin, holding a high position, was hated by many. It was all about self-interest.
Those who are bold, meticulous, and quick-witted could include Consort Liu, Consort Zhao, Consort Xia, or even Consort Wu.
After all, even someone as socially awkward and slow-witted as Jiang Ling was forced to change. Once inside the harem, no one was truly innocent anymore.
Consort Zhao bumped into Jiang Ling, and Consort Lin reacted almost simultaneously, first protecting Xiao Yunrui, as if she knew that Consort Zhao was targeting Xiao Yunrui.
Furthermore, Consort Lin was walking behind Xiao Yunrui and Xiao Yunjue, so she was very likely to have witnessed Xiao Yunjue falling.
Upon thinking about this, Jiang Ling was stunned.
Consort Zhao screamed and rushed down. Consort Lin didn't have time to think and instinctively protected Xiao Yunrui.
Therefore, it is highly likely that Xiao Yunjue's fall was caused by Xiao Yunrui. Consort Lin feared that Consort Zhao would follow suit and retaliate on the spot!
Xiao Yunjue was fat and rolled down at an extremely fast speed, like a large stone crushing down, with tremendous force.
The stone steps are slippery; Emperor Yuanming will surely suffer.
Even with Emperor Yuanming's magnanimity, he could not forgive Xiao Yunjue, even if Xiao Yunjue was innocent.
Consort Zhao ran down the road recklessly; she was driven to the brink and was making a desperate gamble.
The stone steps are hard; one might fall and have their brains splattered. Whether Emperor Yuanming lives or dies, the biggest beneficiaries are Consort Lin and Xiao Yunrui.
However, Xiao Yunrui and Consort Lin also fell down, and as they fought each other, a third party reaped the benefits...
"The fisherman reaps the benefits..." Jiang Ling felt something was amiss.
Unfortunately, she was too dizzy to concentrate and couldn't figure it out no matter what she did.
Finally, Jiang Ling couldn't resist any longer and drifted off to sleep. She was a very light sleeper, and when she heard a rustling sound, she suddenly opened her eyes.
The room was dimly lit. Qingtan and Dangui were curled up behind the couch, dozing off. Wenjuan entered the room with a chill in her body and said, "Your Majesty, Huang Daban sent Qian Bao, who runs errands for the Emperor, to say that the Emperor summons Your Majesty to Qionghua Pavilion."
Jiang Ling looked bewildered for a moment, then asked in a hoarse voice, "What time is it?"
Wenjuan replied, "It was just past midnight."
Jiang Ling slowly propped himself up to sit up, feeling a wave of dizziness, and quickly tried his best to steady himself.
The third watch of the night, which is midnight, was when Emperor Yuanming summoned her to his presence.
Could it be that Emperor Yuanming is seriously injured and about to pass away?
"Your Highness, please be careful." Seeing Jiang Ling swaying, Wen Juan quickly stepped forward to support her. "Your Highness is injured and should not move around. I will go and inform Qian Bao. Your Highness should rest."
Jiang Ling couldn't rest easy. He got off the bed, slipped on his shoes, and said urgently, "Bring me my hood, I have to go!"
Emperor Yuanming cannot die, at least not now!
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