The people brought by the Empress Dowager were all palace maids, who were even more timid. When they saw that the atmosphere was not good, they immediately started to tremble.
The people the Emperor brought were all from the Western Depot; their identities were not simple, yet they seemed unmoved by the scene before them.
Halfway through the performance, the emperor picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Suddenly, a swishing sound came from behind. As the sound began, a series of soft, smacking sounds followed. Soon, all the palace maids who had come with the Empress Dowager, except for Granny Gao and Granny Yu, were killed by the people from the West Depot.
Granny Gao and Granny Yu were so frightened that they knelt on the ground.
Taihao seemed oblivious to the commotion behind him, his entire attention focused on the stage.
After watching one scene, the Empress Dowager picked up her cooled teacup, took a sip, put it down, and continued watching the play.
The emperor didn't care.
Soon, a new play began on stage.
This is an ambush from all sides.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor watched with great interest, and neither of them uttered a word.
After watching three plays in a row, the Minister of Revenue requested an audience, and the Emperor rose and went to the Imperial Study.
After the Emperor left, the Empress Dowager got up and walked out of the courtyard.
When she arrived at Jingyuan, she knew that someone was going to do something.
They tried to remind her through several scenes, but this approach was still as indecisive as it had been back then.
When she turned around and saw the way the palace maids she had brought had died, her expression froze instantly.
She was more familiar with this kind of death than anyone else.
Her once straight body began to tremble, but Gao Mama and Yu Mama supported her, preventing her from losing her composure too much.
In the end, a large group of people arrived, but when they left, only the three of them remained.
Upon arriving at the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace, and seeing the corpses scattered all over the ground just like in the Jingyuan Garden, the Empress Dowager, being old, could not bear it any longer and fainted.
Granny Gao and Granny Yu were dumbfounded.
Later, they had no choice but to step over the corpses scattered on the ground and carry the Empress Dowager into the Cining Palace.
Granny Yu was kept by her side to prevent anyone from harming the Empress Dowager.
Granny Gao hurriedly went to the Imperial Hospital, but unfortunately, all the more capable imperial physicians were busy outside, leaving only a few apprentices behind.
Granny Gao panicked immediately.
She knew someone was doing this on purpose, but she couldn't say it out loud. She could only grab an apprentice who looked more agreeable and head towards the Cining Palace.
......
The Imperial Study.
The Emperor was furious upon hearing Minister Su's report.
Minister Su also knew the matter was serious, otherwise he would not have risked his life to report it.
With the autumn imperial examinations looming, students from all over the country had arrived in the capital. Who could have imagined that the students staying at the Wenlai Inn in the capital would be suddenly murdered overnight?
It happened on the very night of the day they set off.
He reported this matter immediately.
Eunuch Huang was equally shocked.
The students who took the imperial examinations were there to select outstanding talents for the court. The sudden death of more than a hundred students could not be concealed, and it was no wonder that the emperor was furious.
On a smaller scale, it disheartened countless students who were traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations; on a larger scale, it was directed at the court and the emperor, and this happened on the very day the expedition was about to begin.
Later, General Qiao was summoned to the palace, followed by other ministers, including Grand Secretary Dali.
...
There is no peace and quiet in the palace.
Ping'an Temple is not quiet either.
The side room of Ping'an Temple.
Chen Siyuan, who had already fainted, slowly opened her eyes the moment Jiang Manyun's dagger came down.
Jiang Manyun was frightened.
When she realized what was happening and tried to escape, she found that she couldn't move her body.
Chen Siyuan slowly stood up, took out a handkerchief, and easily took the dagger from Jiang Manyun's handkerchief.
He patted Jiang Manyun on the head with his hand, "You don't even know you've been tricked."
"Chen Siyuan, do whatever you want with me, stop pretending." Seeing Chen Siyuan suddenly open her eyes, Jiang Manyun didn't know where she had given herself away, and at this moment she knew that her chances were slim.
"Did someone give you this dagger for self-defense?"
"..." Jiang Manyun remained silent, staring at Chen Siyuan.
What exactly is she trying to say?
"I guess so." Chen Siyuan smiled. Now that the prayers were over, there was nothing for her to do. If someone didn't want her to have a good time, why not play along and have some fun with them?
"I guess the dagger was in a box when it was given to you."
How did you know?
"Because this way it hasn't passed through anyone else's hands. The person who gave you this dagger is of noble status, and you wouldn't let anyone else touch your dagger. So here's the key point: there are only traces of your use on it. Even if something happens to me today, we can find out who attacked me just by looking at this dagger in your hand."
"hehe--"
"I believe that someone has already thought of a way out and will put all the blame on you. At that time, even if you have ten mouths, you won't be able to explain yourself."
"Sure enough, simple-minded people are the best scapegoats."
"Don't talk nonsense here." Jiang Manyun was a little scared by what Chen Siyuan said.
Chen Siyuan sneered, "She has the status, how could she let others know that she was plotting against you? Even if some people know something, who do you think will come forward to testify for you? Or do you think that people would rather save a small, powerless daughter of the Marquis of De'an than point the finger at Princess Honglian?"
Jiang Manyun initially thought Chen Siyuan was lying to her, but after hearing this, she seemed to believe it.
"This dagger was a gift from Princess Honglian."
"When she gave this dagger, no one probably knew, but this dagger must have a different meaning for Princess Honglian."
"It must have come from some important person or someone of high status."
"At that time, even if someone traces it back to Princess Honglian, she will say that you stole it."
"impossible."
"Hmph—" Chen Siyuan sneered, "It doesn't matter if you don't believe me, let's make a bet."
Chen Siyuan did not regard Jiang Manyun as an opponent, but only as someone else's pawn. What's the point of going to great lengths to compete with a pawn?
The key is to move the large crocodile to the back, giving her time to adjust.
If he doesn't take this opportunity to kill those who want to make a move, it's hard to believe they'll actually kill him.
It's good to be alive; there's no need to die!
Jiang Manyun hesitated.
At this moment, she also sensed something was wrong, but she wasn't entirely convinced by Chen Siyuan.
"For the sake of my mother, I originally thought I would kick you off the carriage halfway so that you would have nothing to do with what happened later. Who would have thought that you would come up here on your own, waiting to be cannon fodder."
Jiang Manyun's eyes flashed.
"Regardless of my relationship with Qiao Yuchen, or whether he cares about me or not, I am now the young mistress. If something happens to me, it will not look good on Qiao Yuchen."
"Or do you think that Qiao Yuchen should go to war now and not bother with some people? With his temper, who knows if he might sneak back, kill someone, and then run away again?"
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