Chapter 108 It would be best to confine her in the Han Guang Palace...
Xiao Jue and Li Rong planned to make their move in three days. That day would be the anniversary of Jiang Chenyu's death, and Emperor Wei Yuan would definitely go to Pixiang Palace to pay his respects. The guards at Pixiang Palace were much more lenient than those at Emperor Wei Yuan's sleeping quarters. Making their move there would increase their chances of success by at least 30%.
After discussing it, the two decided to make the following arrangements:
At dawn, when the Imperial Guards changed shifts, the defenses were at their weakest. It was then that the Eastern Palace's soldiers surrounded the Pixiang Hall, subduing Emperor Wei Yuan. Before the main force of the Imperial Guards could react, Li Rong led 10,000 elite troops from outside the city into the city. At that time, the situation would be entirely under their control, and they could force Emperor Wei Yuan to abdicate and pass the throne to Xiao Jue.
——
Now, news has arrived from outside the palace that everything has been arranged.
Xiao Jue's gaze fell on a point in the void, and a smile slowly crept onto his face.
Suddenly, a spark burst from the sandalwood in the incense burner beside him. His eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if he saw wisps of smoke gradually transforming into the shape of a Kui dragon in mid-air, its claws climbing up the incense burner, conveying something to him.
He suddenly burst into laughter, feeling as if the throne was already beckoning to him.
A strange light flashed in his eyes, his chest pounded as if a warm current was slowly flowing through him, and he even felt that his long-dormant lower body was beginning to stir again after falling from his horse.
He closed his eyes tightly and let out a sigh.
The feeling of power is truly captivating.
Father, you have always looked down on me. My poor mother and I are like dung in your eyes. You only care about that wicked concubine and her son, and never give us a second glance.
But my mother and I are also your wives and children.
She loves you so much, how can you bear to treat her like this!
If my uprising succeeds in three days, will you think more highly of me?
You'll be proud of me, won't you?
He will then take back everything he lost from Xiao Che, one by one.
The first to be affected was naturally Yan Jiarou.
He said so much to her at Chang Le Gate that day, but I don't know if she listened to it or not.
According to Su Quan, she has been going to Han Guang Palace every few days for the past few days, staying for several hours at a time, and even staying out all night one day. It's easy to guess what she's doing there with Xiao Che.
She didn't listen to a word of his advice.
In the previous dynasty, men of the Lanling royal family would sleep with several women in one night. Because of their terrifying energy and strong sexual desire, it was common for them to torment women to death.
He has now come to terms with it. Before Yan Jiarou's strange illness is cured, he will let her do whatever she wants, treating Xiao Che as medicine to cure her.
After all, he is much older than Yan Jiarou, so of course he should learn to be more tolerant of her.
Anyway, she'll be his sooner or later, so he should be magnanimous. It won't be long before he wins Yan Jiarou back. Before that, it's not a bad thing to let Xiao Che teach her some human affairs skills.
—That's all I can think of!
The only worry is that if things continue like this, Yan Jiarou's body won't be able to take it.
He knew, of course, that Xiao Che should know his limits and would hold back, so as not to cause any deaths as rumored.
Even so, he was still worried.
If it were him, he would surely cherish her and not be so unrestrained!
Thinking this way, he hated him even more.
As expected of the son of the bewitching concubine, he inherited not only her appearance but also her behavior and temperament, and was most skilled at seduction and bewitching.
His usually well-behaved and reserved younger sister was so infatuated with him that she didn't listen to a word of his advice.
I'm afraid that once she sees him, she'll forget everything.
But when he told her that day that "Xiao Che used Xiao Yan to make him fall from his horse, killing two birds with one stone, and that he was not sincere towards her, but only using her," judging from her expression, she did not completely ignore what he said.
Could it be that she went back to question Xiao Che, only to be fooled by his few words again?
Ah, that's probably how it is.
But it doesn't matter. As long as the seed of doubt is planted, he will find a way to make it take root and sprout sooner or later.
As for what he will do in three days, it is nothing more than taking back what rightfully belongs to him. Jia Rou is soft-hearted, and if he just acts pitiful a little, she will understand.
——
Inside the study of Hanguang Hall.
Yan Xiao handed Xiao Che an unfolded secret letter, his expression grave: "You guessed right. These past few days, Xiao Jue has been feigning madness in the Eastern Palace, drinking all day long. Everyone thinks that he injured a vital organ after falling from his horse, and with rumors spreading in the palace that the Crown Prince will be deposed sooner or later, he has become increasingly depressed due to this blow. That's why he invites people to drink and make merry all day long. In fact, it's all just a cover to deceive people."
"Those who have been frequently entering and leaving the Eastern Palace these past few days are not just drinkers and gluttons, but people who are plotting a rebellion with him."
“My men have already found out for us and sent me a secret letter. It says that Li Rong is his main accomplice. He has already deployed 10,000 troops outside the city and is just waiting to storm the capital three days from now to force the emperor to abdicate and pass the throne to Xiao Jue.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Che raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled cryptically, "Oh? He dares to rebel? My brother, who has always been timid and cowardly, has actually rebelled one day?"
"It seems that he has really been pushed to the limit this time, which is why he is taking such a risky move and disregarding everything else."
Yan Xiao: "So what do you plan to do? Report to the Emperor and have him make preparations in advance, or throw Xiao Jue into prison now to prevent future troubles?"
"What's the rush?" Xiao Che chuckled, looking down and stroking the jade thumb ring on his hand. "If we report this to Xiao Yuangan now, won't we miss the show?"
Yan Xiao frowned: "A good show?"
"Xiao Wenqi, what do you want to do?"
Xiao Che glanced at him sideways, his face hidden in the dim light, and smiled slightly: "It's simple, just turn the tables on him."
"Isn't Xiao Jue planning a rebellion? Then let him rebel."
"Because of his serious injury and subsequent deposition, he has become a target of gossip, and the powerful clans and aristocratic families are bound to have some complaints. Isn't Xiao Yuangan currently struggling to find a suitable opportunity to formally issue the decree to depose the crown prince?"
He smiled, the candlelight flickering in his eyes with a captivating shimmer: "Now that he's offering himself up, why not take it?"
“Once his charge of treason is confirmed, his position as crown prince will have to be revoked, if not deposed.”
Yan Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "I'll do whatever you say. What are your specific plans?"
"Let him rebel. If he wants to succeed in his rebellion, he will need the support of Li Rong's 10,000 troops. You will lead the Imperial Guards to intercept Li Rong's troops outside the city, while I will lead the Imperial Guards to ambush him at the Pixiang Palace. Once Xiao Jue makes a move, I will stop him. This way, we will have the pretext of rebellion, but the rebellion will not be successful. It is the most appropriate way. After the rebellion is successful, we will use fireworks as our signal."
"This time, I will make sure that Xiao Jue is convicted of treason and never returns."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a strange noise was heard outside the door.
There seems to be someone at the door.
Xiao Che and Yan Xiao exchanged a glance, frowned simultaneously, and swiftly pushed open the door to grab the person.
Before Yan Jiarou could react, her throat was already being gripped, leaving her with absolutely no room to resist.
The force was so great that she suspected she would be strangled to death right there at any moment.
Unable to utter a sound, she weakly thrashed at the hand gripping her throat. Just before she was about to faint, the suffocating force on her throat suddenly dissipated, and she fell into a familiar embrace. Xiao Che's voice rang out above her, filled with remorse, self-reproach, and deep tenderness: "Yan Yan! Yan Yan... are you alright?"
Yan Jiarou leaned weakly against his chest, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath. It took her a while to recover.
Xiao Che gently patted her chest to help her catch her breath, and frowned with concern, asking, "Are you feeling better, Yan Yan?"
The pale moonlight slanted down through the cracks in the window, flowing delicately over her.
Her face was even paler than the moonlight.
Yan Jiarou turned her face slightly away, not wanting Xiao Che to notice her unusual expression, and only gave a vague "hmm".
Xiao Che was so preoccupied that he didn't notice anything amiss.
Yan Xiao, standing to the side, frowned slightly.
“Little Princess,” he called to her tentatively, “what are you doing here? Did you hear what the Third Prince and I were saying just now?”
“I…I came to see Third Brother…I’ve been here many times. Xue Zhi told me he was in the study, so I came here by myself…”
"How long have you been here? Did you hear what I said to the Third Prince?" Seeing Yan Jiarou's hesitant manner, his face gradually showed impatience. He took a step closer and said, "Speak, Princess Qinghe."
Yan Jiarou hadn't thought of an excuse yet, and when he pressed her like this, she panicked and tightly hugged Xiao Che's waist, burying her face in his chest and sobbing, "Brother..."
Xiao Che pulled her close to comfort her, while frowning as he looked at Yan Xiao: "Alright, Yan Xiao, you scared her."
"Xiao Wenqi, no matter how much you cherish her, you still have to ask her what she heard!"
"I...I didn't hear anything..." Yan Jiarou timidly raised her head from Xiao Che's embrace. The moonlight flowed between her eyebrows and eyes, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she lowered her eyelids.
Her eyes were obscured by her thick eyelashes: "I've only been here a little while. I was planning to wait until you finished your meeting before going in to find Third Brother, but... but then I suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing past the window. Actually, now that I think about it, it was probably a stray cat. I just didn't react in time and got startled, so I accidentally bumped into the door, which made the noise..."
"Is that so?" Yan Xiao glanced at her, his expression cryptic. "Little princess, is that really the case?"
“I…really…” Yan Jiarou looked up, perhaps feeling a little wronged because of Yan Xiao’s questioning. Her eyes were red, and she twisted her body in his arms and said coquettishly, “Brother…” It sounded like she was complaining, and she was just short of saying “Look at him”.
Xiao Che raised his hand and gently stroked the back of her head: "Good girl, I didn't say I didn't believe you."
He turned to Yan Xiao and said, "Alright, Yan Xiao, she's just a young girl. What does she know? She's said enough. Let's proceed according to plan. Before the palace gates are locked, you should go back."
Yan Xiao frowned, realizing he had been too suspicious. Besides, Xiao Che always acted with discretion, so he didn't say anything more. He just glanced at the two of them one last time before leaving, his gaze finally settling on Xiao Che, and instructed, "Keep a close eye on your sweetheart these next few days. It would be best to keep her confined in Han Guang Palace to avoid any unforeseen complications."
Xiao Che nodded: "I know."
After Yan Xiao left, Xiao Che pulled her into his arms, lowered his head to rest his head on her neck, and gently nuzzled her, his warm breath falling on her ear: "Baby, did you hear that? Stay in Han Guang Palace for the next few days and don't go back. Tell everyone that you caught a cold and shouldn't go out, and also refuse to see any guests, understand?"
Yan Jiarou was in a state of confusion and didn't pay attention to what he was saying. She just blurted out, "...Why are you staying in Han Guang Palace?"
Suddenly, Xiao Che let out a muffled chuckle: "What did you say, hmm?"
He gently bit her earlobe and said in a hoarse voice, "Of course... I'll fuck you hard in the Han Guang Palace."
Yan Jiarou then came to her senses, turned her head and glared at him: "Brother, you...you shouldn't always be so improper..."
Her face flushed red, as if she were very shy. She buried her face in Xiao Che's arms. When Xiao Che could no longer see her, the shyness on her face gradually faded, replaced by a very serious struggle and contradiction.
She had overheard everything at the door; Xiao Jue was already planning a rebellion. No wonder he said those things to her at Chang Le Gate that day.
Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall; he won't let himself be exploited or sit idly by and wait for his death.
So that's what it meant...
How could he be so impulsive!
Xiao Che already knew beforehand that he was plotting a rebellion. If Xiao Jue still acted according to the plan, he would be caught on the spot. At that time, with conclusive evidence, his crime of treason would be confirmed.
She had considered that if Xiao Che harbored ambitions to seize the throne, he would eventually clash with Xiao Jue.
Now that day has finally come, she doesn't know what to do.
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