Chapter 562 The True Colors Are Revealed (Two Updates)
"Young man, something has happened to your mother!"
Xiao Jingkong looked at Huangfu Xian with concern, "Don't be sad."
"I'm not sad," Huangfu Xian said calmly.
Little Jingkong scratched his head in confusion. How could he not be sad? If something happened to Jiaojiao, he would be so sad.
Huangfu Xian slowly withdrew his hand from the little guy's grasp: "Maybe they misheard. My mother is fine. You should go back first."
Xiao Jingkong: "Oh."
Princess Ning'an has indeed run into trouble this time. The incident occurred in the Imperial Study, and the news has alarmed the entire harem.
Empress Xiao, along with Consort Zhuang, Consort Shu, and others, went to the Imperial Study, only to find it surrounded by Imperial Guards, and no one was allowed to enter.
"Am I not allowed to enter either?" Empress Xiao asked coldly.
The commander of the Imperial Guards, surnamed Fu, clasped his hands in a salute and said, "They are currently searching for assassins inside. For the safety of the Empress and the ladies, please wait here for a moment."
"How is His Majesty's condition?" Consort Shu asked anxiously.
Commander Fu said, "His Majesty withdrew through the back gate and returned to Huaqing Palace."
Consort Zhuang rolled her eyes: "Why didn't you say so earlier!"
Did they come here to catch an assassin?
Empress Xiao and her entourage hurried to Huaqing Palace, which was surrounded by layers of imperial guards. Fortunately, no assassins entered or left, and no one stopped Empress Xiao.
When Consort Zhuang and Consort Shu saw her leave, they also rushed after her.
Empress Xiao's position was secure, her son was firmly in the position of Crown Prince, and her elder brother, Marquis Xuanping, was fighting on the southern islands.
Consort Zhuang lost favor for a period of time because of Prince Ning's affair, but she still had the Empress Dowager and the Zhuang family behind her. As long as the Empress Dowager did not punish her and the Zhuang family did not despise her, she would always have a place in the harem.
Consort Shu was the same. Her two nephews had just made great contributions on the frontier, and her status rose accordingly. Who would dare to block her way?
The fourth concubine to enter Huaqing Palace was Consort Yu, the birth mother of Prince Rui.
Princess Rui gave birth to a little princess last October, which is a great achievement for the royal family.
The other concubines were not so lucky.
All the palace servants in Huaqing Palace knelt on the ground with their heads bowed, and the entire palace was filled with a cold and solemn atmosphere.
For some reason, Empress Xiao felt a sense of foreboding. As she passed through the hanging flower gate, she suddenly stopped and looked at a young palace maid kneeling on the ground, asking, "Did Your Majesty return alone?"
The young palace maid replied nervously, "Your Majesty, I returned with Princess Ning'an."
Empress Xiao frowned.
Ever since Qin Chuyu was repeatedly bullied to tears by Huangfu Xian, Empress Xiao also lost much of her affection for Princess Ning'an.
The emperor would come to appease her from time to time, so she didn't bother Ning An anymore.
But deep down, I didn't like it.
The emperor and Princess Ning'an arrived at the palace in their imperial carriage. The palace maids and eunuchs were unaware of the emperor's condition; they only heard that Princess Ning'an was injured and covered in blood.
Empress Xiao didn't ask any more questions and quickly walked towards her bedchamber.
At the entrance to the bedchamber, palace maids and eunuchs were kneeling on the ground wiping away the mottled bloodstains, and Empress Xiao's heart tightened.
As she stepped inside, a strong stench of blood mixed with the scent of wound medicine assaulted her nostrils, making Empress Xiao's scalp tingle.
"His Majesty!"
Consort Zhuang bypassed her and ran straight towards the dragon bed!
Consort Shu and Consort Yu glanced at Empress Xiao, but ultimately held back. Even though they were worried about His Majesty's health, they didn't have the confidence of Consort Zhuang to stand in front of Empress Xiao.
Princess Ning'an sat on a chair by the bed. Her forehead was injured, her face was covered in blood, and her right arm was also injured. A royal physician was treating her injuries.
Meanwhile, the other two imperial physicians gathered in front of the dragon bed to examine the emperor's injuries, while Eunuch Wei anxiously wiped away his tears beside the dragon bed.
"Your Majesty, I've come to see you!" Consort Zhuang rushed to the bedside, only to find that the emperor's forehead was wrapped in thick gauze, his face was pale, and he seemed to have fallen into a coma.
Consort Zhuang, her face pale, asked, "What's wrong, Your Majesty!"
After examining the emperor's right arm, Imperial Physician Liang began to examine his left arm. Upon hearing this, he bowed to Consort Zhuang and said, "Your Majesty has suffered a head injury. We are carefully examining whether there are any other injuries."
Empress Xiao stopped in the center of the bedchamber and said with an air of authority, "Noble Consort, come here. Do not disturb the imperial physicians as they treat His Majesty's injuries."
"I don't want to! I want to protect His Majesty!"
"Someone come here!"
At Empress Xiao's command, Eunuch Su, accompanied by two strong eunuchs, stepped forward and dragged the shouting Consort Zhuang away.
Empress Xiao's gaze swept over Consort Zhuang, Consort Shu, and Consort Yu: "You all wait outside."
Eunuch Su approached the three ladies and said, "Ladies, please."
Consort Zhuang did not want to go out, but she knew that the situation was beyond her control. After the incident with Prince Ning, her mother no longer indulged her, and she no longer had the power to challenge Empress Xiao.
Consort Zhuang stormed out of the palace!
Since she had already left, Consort Shu and Consort Yu could not remain standing there, so they had no choice but to leave as well.
Princess Ning'an came over to pay her respects to Empress Xiao.
Empress Xiao examined her injuries and asked, "What did the imperial physician say?"
Princess Ning'an looked haggard: "It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious."
Empress Xiao asked, "What exactly happened in the Imperial Study? I heard that an assassin came."
Princess Ning'an lowered her head and choked out, "Yes, the assassin...attacked my brother. I couldn't stop him, and he was still injured."
Empress Xiao said solemnly, "You should go back to Bixia Palace and recover from your injuries. I will handle the assassin's matter."
Princess Ning'an turned back for a reluctant look at the unconscious emperor.
He also glanced at Eunuch Wei.
Eunuch Wei quickly lowered his eyes.
Princess Ning'an turned her face to Empress Xiao, bowed, and said, "Yes."
After she left, Empress Xiao summoned Eunuch Wei and asked with a stern expression, "What's the story with the assassin? How could an assassin infiltrate the Imperial Study? Doesn't His Majesty have skilled imperial guards around him?"
Eunuch Wei looked troubled: "Yes, there is, but..."
Empress Xiao frowned and asked, "But what?"
Eunuch Wei said with a heavy heart, "It just happened too fast. No one expected this to happen. If Princess Ning'an hadn't stepped forward and taken a knife for His Majesty, I'm afraid His Majesty would be in grave danger. Seeing that his first attack had failed, the assassin grabbed the inkstone on the table and smashed it on His Majesty's head..."
Empress Xiao's eyes were icy cold: "Who is the assassin?"
Eunuch Wei lowered his eyes and said, "A yamen runner from the Ministry of Justice."
After interrogating Eunuch Wei, Empress Xiao finally understood the ins and outs of the emperor's assassination attempt. It turned out that His Majesty had recently been investigating a case related to the royal family, and today the prisoners in the Ministry of Justice's jail had confessed.
The yamen runner named Sun Ping was there to deliver the prisoner's confession to His Majesty.
Minister Xing was the emperor's confidant, so the emperor naturally wouldn't suspect the people he sent. However, while His Majesty was reviewing the confession, Sun Ping suddenly pulled out a soft knife hidden in his belt and stabbed at His Majesty.
Eunuch Wei was at the door, too far away to see what Sun Ping was doing at all.
Princess Ning'an was the first to react, rushing forward to block the knife, suffering a serious injury to her right arm, and accidentally hitting her forehead on a stool when she fell.
By the time Eunuch Wei realized something was wrong and called for protection, it was too late. Sun Ping was too close to His Majesty, and His Majesty was hit by the inkstone that Sun Ping had picked up.
He was about to strike a second time when Princess Ning'an rushed over, pulled out the knife that was still stuck in her right arm, and stabbed it into Sun Ping's heart.
At that time, there were only three people in the Imperial Study: the Emperor, Princess Ning'an, and Eunuch Wei. There was no fourth eyewitness.
Empress Xiao then questioned the guards at the city gate and confirmed that Sun Ping had indeed entered the palace under the pretext of delivering a confession.
Of course, Empress Xiao also sent Eunuch Su to the Ministry of Justice, and the information he received was consistent with what Eunuch Wei had said—Sun Ping had come to deliver a confession.
However, the Ministry of Justice did not expect that Sun Ping would attempt to assassinate His Majesty.
Sun Ping and Sun Jian were cousins, one just over twenty and the other twenty-three. They both worked under Minister Xing, holding low-ranking positions, yet they were always by Minister Xing's side and were highly regarded by him.
Upon hearing that Sun Ping had committed such a heinous act, everyone's first reaction was disbelief!
If they said it was Sun Jian who did it, they would think twice. Sun Jian was more honest than Sun Ping, and occasionally he would bully others by taking advantage of his power, while Sun Ping was always well-behaved.
"Eunuch Su, where is Sun Ping?" Minister Xing asked.
“He’s already dead,” Eunuch Su said coldly.
Minister Xing gasped.
Eunuch Su asked in a pretentious tone, "Who allowed Sun Ping to enter the palace?"
Xiao Heng took a step forward.
Minister Xing pulled him back and said to Eunuch Su, "It's me!"
Eunuch Su raised his chin and snorted coldly, "Then please have Minister Xing accompany me to the palace! In addition, since this matter concerns His Majesty, this assassination case will be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review, with the Censorate assisting in the investigation."
Minister Xing said politely, "Please wait a moment, sir, while I straighten my clothes, so as not to be disrespectful in front of the palace."
"Hmm." Eunuch Su responded indifferently, then turned and left Minister Xing's office with his palace servants.
Minister Xing lowered his voice and said to Xiao Heng, "I don't believe Sun Ping would assassinate His Majesty. Sixth Prince, find out the truth."
Xiao Heng nodded solemnly.
No sooner had Minister Xing left than Xiao Heng wrote a letter to Empress Xiao.
The letter stated that Sun Ping was sent by him, and that he also obtained the confession through interrogation. It had nothing to do with Minister Xing, and there were other hidden circumstances surrounding Sun Ping's case.
But he hesitated for a moment and ultimately did not send the letter.
Minister Xing was taken to a side hall of Huaqing Palace.
Empress Xiao sat upright in the main seat, looking at Minister Xing kneeling on the ground with a stern and cold expression, and said, "Minister Xing, now that things have come to this, do you have anything to say? Did you send Sun Ping or not?"
Minister Xing replied, “Your Majesty, Sun Ping was indeed sent by me, but I do not believe he would attempt to assassinate Your Majesty.”
Empress Xiao: "Do you not believe me, or do you want to distance yourself from this matter?"
Minister Xing: "Sun Ping was my close attendant. He died unjustly. I should do my best to investigate the truth and seek justice for him. Why would I be in a hurry to sever ties?"
Empress Xiao narrowed her eyes: "So you mean I'm framing you?"
Minister Xing replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your humble servant dares not."
Empress Xiao said calmly, "I also want to believe you, but the evidence is conclusive."
Minister Xing looked up at her and asked, "May I ask what evidence the Empress is referring to?"
Empress Xiao said solemnly, "We have both witnesses and physical evidence!"
Eunuch Su walked over carrying a tray with a brocade cloth on it. On the cloth was a blood-stained soft knife and an inkstone stained with blood.
"These are Sun Ping's murder weapons," Eunuch Su recounted the details of the emperor's assassination attempt.
Princess Ning'an and Eunuch Wei shared the same story: Princess Ning'an's biggest backer was the Emperor. The court was in an uproar over whether or not to bestow upon her the title of Grand Princess, and His Majesty's intention was to do so.
His Majesty's accident is a great loss to her.
Therefore, from this perspective, she had no motive to commit the crime.
As for Eunuch Wei, he is an old servant of His Majesty, so who would doubt his loyalty?
At this point, Minister Xing realized how weak his deductions appeared in the face of two strong witnesses.
Empress Xiao asked, "What else do you have to say?"
Minister Xing said, "I have nothing to say."
Empress Xiao said coldly, "Guards, take Minister Xing to the Dali Temple!"
Minister Xing knelt on the ground, his back ramrod straight. He slowly removed his official hat and carefully handed it to the palace servant who had come to detain him.
Empress Xiao summoned the officials from the Court of Judicial Review and took them to the crime scene to collect evidence. She also interrogated the palace servants who had been questioned earlier.
Empress Xiao was busy until late at night, and finally could not stay awake any longer. She leaned against the back of a chair in the side hall and fell asleep.
It was late at night.
The candlelight in the bedchamber flickered.
Eunuch Wei knelt on the footstool of the dragon bed, silently wiping away his tears.
A ghostly figure silently entered, her gorgeous skirt trailing gracefully across the polished floor.
As Eunuch Wei was crying, he suddenly saw a huge shadow cast on the dragon bed. He was so frightened that he shuddered and was about to turn around when a delicate hand gently pressed on his shoulder.
Eunuch Wei tensed up completely.
"Is Eunuch Wei cold?"
The person behind him asked softly and slowly.
Eunuch Wei swallowed hard, suppressing his fear, and whispered, "Replying to Your Highness, this servant is not cold."
"Why are you shivering if you're not cold?" she asked.
Eunuch Wei forced himself to stop trembling.
"Is Your Majesty awake?" She lifted the bright yellow bed curtains, hung them up with hooks, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Eunuch Wei glanced at her uneasily and said, "Not yet."
She raised her hand and gently stroked the emperor's cheek: "Your Majesty has truly suffered."
Eunuch Wei lowered his head and remained silent.
"Eunuch Wei, who do you think harmed my elder brother like this?"
"Sun, Sun Ping."
"Sun Ping?" She was taken aback, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard she bent over backwards, the eerie laughter echoing throughout the entire bedchamber.
Wei Gonggong felt a chill run down his spine. He secretly turned his head to look at the palace servants kneeling in the bedchamber and found that without exception, they were all lying on the ground asleep.
Eunuch Wei was even more terrified.
She finished laughing and wiped away the tears that had come out of her eyes with her fingertips: "Eunuch Wei, wasn't it me? Wasn't it me who banged my head against the wall to prove my innocence, but my brother didn't believe me, so I 'accidentally' killed my brother?"
Eunuch Wei didn't know how to respond. He was afraid she would go crazy if he said the wrong thing, and he was still afraid she would go crazy if he said the right thing.
She said, "Eunuch Wei, you are truly a remarkable person. I put you to my use, and you have actually betrayed my brother. Are all of you without roots so spineless?"
As she finished speaking, she seemed to be gritting her teeth, and kicked Eunuch Wei to the ground.
Although Eunuch Wei was not as old as Eunuch Qin, he was no longer a young man either. This fall almost broke all the bones in his body.
Is this still the princess he knows? She's clearly a violent tyrant!
Anyone who's with her is incredibly unlucky!
She laughed mockingly: "Brother, open your eyes and look. These are the eunuchs you trust. Their bodies are crippled, and their hearts are crippled too. They have no loyalty whatsoever."
"Brother, I didn't originally plan to take action against you so soon, but why don't you trust me? Haven't you always trusted me the most?"
"Is it because I didn't drug you that you're not as devoted to me as you are to my mother?"
“But now I’m giving it to you,” Princess Ning’an said, taking a small porcelain bottle from her bosom.
Eunuch Wei's expression changed drastically!
He wanted to stop her, but she could even defeat the Dragon Shadow Guards. Wouldn't it be pointless for him to rush over and die?
I never realized this princess was so well hidden!
"Heh." Princess Ning'an took in Eunuch Wei's inner turmoil. She paid no heed to the suspicion and disgust of an ant; she only found it amusing. She laughed a few more times before turning to look at the emperor on the dragon bed. "Don't worry, it's not a drug to control your mind. You've taken too much of that kind of drug; if you take any more, you'll become an idiot. How could I bear to do that? I still hope that my brother can witness everything I've done so clearly."
Princess Ning'an pried open the emperor's mouth and poured the medicine into it.
Before long, the emperor's eyelids began to tremble slightly.
This is a sign of a resurgence of consciousness.
Although he regained consciousness, his body was even more unable to move.
He will know everything Ning An has done, and in a state of perfect clarity of mind, he will bear all the betrayal Ning An has brought him.
He felt as if his heart was being torn apart and his lungs were on fire, yet he was helpless and powerless to reverse the situation.
I regret it, I really, really regret it! Just as regretful as the Emperor after waking up! This chapter progressed like a rocket! A few lines of dialogue were enough to gloss over the green tea tactics; if I had expanded on it, it could easily have been 20,000 words long—veteran readers know that. I'm determined to be a conscientious author, not padding the story, not torturing readers, and not dragging out the plot. Do you know how long I regretted it after the Empress Dowager regained her memories at lightning speed? A month! A whole month! Wouldn't it have been better if I'd dragged it out to 300,000 words? Wouldn't it have been better if I'd padded it out more? I need to make money too!
I wrote in bold highlighter in my notebook: If they dare to progress this fast again, I will... I can't say that word.
But I did the same thing as Old Tang did...
Whether you admit it or not, the story is progressing so fast that I feel heartbroken every time a new chapter is released.
Even so, some people still jumped out and criticized me for being slow.
I felt a bit aggrieved and wondered if I should just drag things out and solidify my reputation for being slow? That way, I wouldn't have been scolded for nothing.
But then I thought about it again, and those are only a tiny minority, so it's not worth getting angry with them.
Okay, I'm going to sleep now.
good evening.
(End of this chapter)
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