Chapter 89 [89] Then let’s return the property to its original owner!
【89】/First release
The golden osmanthus is fragrant and the full moon is in the sky.
The Weiyang Palace was brightly lit, with music, singing and dancing, and a grand banquet was in full swing.
Because Yun Ran was pregnant, Queen Mother Zhao took special care of her and invited her to join the banquet.
Yun Ran was flattered, and his eyes couldn't help but glance at the emperor and empress sitting on the throne.
In July, Sima Jing stayed in Jiashou Palace to talk with Queen Dowager Zhao. Yun Ran took the opportunity to go to Fengyi Palace and pay his respects to Queen Zheng.
The queen at that time was even thinner than she was in May. She had dark circles under her eyes, a cold and pale face, and looked visibly haggard.
Yun Ran knew that she became like this because of the rumors that were getting more and more intense, so he tried to comfort her in a gentle voice.
The Queen forced a smile and said "I understand", but Yun Ran couldn't be sure whether she had heard it or not.
After all, mental illness is difficult to cure, and you still have to figure it out yourself.
Unexpectedly, after more than half a month, when we met again, Queen Zheng, wearing a Qiuxiang-colored phoenix robe, looked even thinner.
If July could still be described as fragile and swaying in the wind, now it is skinny and sickly.
When Empress Zheng heard that the Queen Mother asked Yun Ran to sit at the same table, she also looked over.
His expression was calm and natural, and he didn't care.
However, Emperor Wenxuan, who was standing next to her, glanced at Yun Ran's belly with an ambiguous look.
Even though there was a cloth bag in his stomach, Yun Ran was still startled when he noticed that deep gaze.
She didn't dare look up.
Only after he sat down beside Queen Mother Zhao did he pretend to drink tea, and secretly glanced at Emperor Wenxuan through the teacup.
The last time I saw Emperor Wenxuan was during the Chinese New Year. Seeing him again after more than half a year, the emperor, dressed in a scarlet brocade robe with a dragon pattern, did not look haggard at first glance. Although his face had lost some weight, his complexion was rosy and he looked energetic.
Yun Ran was puzzled.
Should we praise Emperor Wenxuan for his good attitude, his indifference to external influences? Or is it that the imperial teacher's elixir truly has the miraculous effect of strengthening the body, replenishing qi, and prolonging life?
Just as he was about to take another closer look, Queen Mother Zhao whispered beside him, "Is Ajing alone in the mansion?"
Yun Ran was slightly startled, and when he looked sideways, he saw Queen Mother Zhao leaning slightly, covering her lips with a handkerchief, with concern in her eyes.
"yes."
Yun Ran lowered his eyes and replied, "It is not convenient for him to enter the palace, but my daughter-in-law promised him that after the banquet, she would go back to watch the moon with him."
Queen Mother Zhao looked at her thoughtfully and said, "Alright."
As she spoke, she slowly lowered the handkerchief covering her lips and said lovingly, "Today's crab meat tofu is delicious. You should try it too."
Upon hearing this, Yun Ran pretended to be happy and frightened, and replied softly, "Yes."
The taste of the imperial court cuisine is naturally not bad, and this crab meat and tofu dish is even more exquisitely presented. It has the freshness of the crab and the tenderness and sweetness of the tofu.
However, Yun Ran was worried about Sima Jing and the rebellion that was about to happen, so no matter how delicious the food was, he had no appetite.
After taking a few absent-minded bites, she put down the white jade spoon and looked at the princes and nobles feasting leisurely on both sides of the hall, and then stole a glance at Emperor Wenxuan, Duke Suguo and others.
After half of the banquet, my eyes were busy and my mind was exhausted.
No wonder Sima Jing doesn't like attending banquets. She doesn't like tiring banquets like this one either.
She likes the kind of banquet where she can just concentrate on eating without having to worry about anything.
"Mother, my daughter-in-law wants to go to the toilet."
After sitting patiently for half the time, the smell of alcohol and warm incense in the hall made people feel stuffy in their chests, and Yun Ran wanted to go out for some fresh air.
Queen Mother Zhao looked at her and said, "Go ahead."
To show her respect for her pregnant daughter-in-law, she even specifically instructed Aunt Lan Gui: "You stay with her."
Nanny Lan Gui responded and extended her arms towards Yun Ran: "Princess."
Yun Ran had mixed feelings about Nanny Lan Gui. She had once quite liked this cold-outwardly, yet warm-hearted old woman, but then she drugged her and Sima Jing... Even though she had been following the Queen Mother's orders and had no choice, it still left her feeling deeply disappointed...
After calming herself down a bit, she placed her hand on the nanny's arm and let her help her leave the hall.
The night of Mid-Autumn Festival is cool, and the evening breeze blows through the corridor. The cool autumn breeze carrying the faint fragrance of osmanthus also blows away some of the boredom.
After Yun Ran came out of the bathroom, he did not rush back to the palace, but took a slow walk along the corridor.
The sky is pitch black, and the bright moon hangs high in the sky, as white as a jade plate.
Unconsciously, Yun Ran arrived at the pavilion on the rockery where he had been last year. The two osmanthus trees were still there, but the person in the pavilion was no longer there, and the faint sound of the Qiang flute was no longer heard.
Yun Ran couldn't help laughing when she thought that the marriage between her and Sima Jing was granted because of her meddling that day.
Aunt Lan Gui looked at her and asked, "What are you laughing at, Princess?"
Yun Ran didn't turn around, but just looked up at the bright moon in the pavilion: "Nothing, I just suddenly thought of His Highness."
Even Nanny Lan Gui didn't know that Sima Jing had returned to the capital.
When the princess mentioned this, he thought she was just being sentimental, so he couldn't help but comfort her gently, "Princess, don't be sad. You are pregnant now, so you should take care of your health first."
"I'm not sad."
Yun Ran smiled lightly: "I just revisited the old place and thought about this day last year. I can't help but feel that fate is really wonderful."
"If I hadn't followed the sound of the Qiang flute that day, I wouldn't have met him, let alone spoken to him. The Queen Mother wouldn't have noticed me and granted us a marriage."
"If I hadn't married him, I'd probably still be unmarried, following my fourth brother around every day, enjoying myself, drinking, and traveling around Chang'an... In a few years, my parents will find me a suitable son-in-law..."
"Princess, don't think about these things."
Nanny Lan Gui thought she regretted it. After all, if the Queen Mother had not arranged the marriage, she would not have become a "half-widow" at such a young age. Who wouldn't feel resentful?
But Yun Ran said, "I know, I was just saying it casually. And although that kind of life is not bad, but... if I have a choice, I still prefer the way I am now."
Aunt Lan Gui was shocked: "Princess?"
Yun Ran looked at the moon, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly: "I am so happy to meet His Highness and marry him."
There was silence behind him, but Yun Ran didn't care. He stood there looking at the moon for a while before turning around.
Seeing Nanny Lan Gui's worried look, Yun Ran was stunned for a moment. When she realized what was happening, she burst out laughing: "Don't worry, Nanny, I'm not crazy, and I'm not talking nonsense because I'm too sad."
Aunt Lan Gui: "Then you..."
Yun Ran said, "I like His Highness. If I like him, I won't regret meeting him."
At that moment, a cool breeze happened to blow by, and in an instant, her chest seemed to be cleansed by the moonlight and the breeze. Her feelings for Sima Jing became clearer and clearer: "I finally understand what it feels like to like someone."
She suddenly realized and stroked her chest with emotion: "Your Highness is right. There is indeed a big difference between liking and being liked."
Aunt Lan Gui: “…”
She felt that the princess must have been overly worried and saddened by the scene, and she seemed to be living in her own world just now, dazed and talking to herself.
"Princess, it's a cold night. Let's go back to the palace."
"But I still want to look at the moon for a while longer. The palace is too stuffy..."
Just as he finished speaking, a noisy and unclear screaming and crying suddenly came from not far away.
Yun Ran and Nanny Lan Gui were both startled, and their first reaction was that it was the sound of the wind.
But after listening carefully for a moment, their expressions changed.
Yun Ran frowned: "Mammy, did you hear that? Is someone crying?"
Nanny Lan Gui also frowned: "This is a forbidden area in the palace, who dares to cry loudly..."
After a pause, she told the palace maid holding a lantern beside her, "Go to the front and see what's going on."
The maid agreed and quickly left with the lantern.
In just a moment, the palace maid was run over and brought back with her two guards with swords.
Nanny Lan Gui's face turned pale with anger. Without hesitation, she stretched out her arms like a hen protecting her chicks, and stood in front of Yun Ran, glaring solemnly at the newcomers. "How dare you walk around the inner palace with swords!"
The two guards exchanged a glance and said, "Princess Jing, please follow us back to the palace."
Nanny Lan Gui looked the two guards up and down. They looked like they were from the Imperial Guard, but she felt something was amiss. She remained calm and shouted angrily, "Which guard are you from? The princess is a noble woman. How can you order her around?"
The two guards seemed impatient with the old woman and frowned. Just as they were about to speak, a clear and calm voice rang out, "Who sent you?"
The guards paused and looked carefully, only to see an elegant and slender sandalwood figure slowly walking out from behind the old nanny's broad body.
"princess!"
Nanny Lan Gui subconsciously wanted to stop her, but Yun Ran held her hand and shook his head gently: "It's okay."
As she spoke, she looked again at the two guards who could hardly hide their amazement and said, "Speak."
The two guards finally came back to their senses and hurriedly said, "Princess, the Duke has taken control of the palace and is waiting for you to go over and restore order!"
Yun Ran's eyelids twitched and his heart skipped a beat.
It actually happened today.
In the evening, when Sima Jing inserted the peony hairpin into her hair, she had a vague premonition that something might go wrong at the palace banquet today.
After all, the emperor, empress and queen mother were all present at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, and the attendees were princes, nobles, royal relatives, and high-ranking officials above the fourth rank. It can be said that all the important figures in Chang'an City gathered together.
When it comes to catching them all in one swoop, there's no better opportunity than today.
But no matter how premonition it was, Yun Ran couldn't help but panic when it really happened.
She was about to pretend to be calm, but then she changed her mind. It had already come to this last moment, and that old fox, Duke Su, hadn't informed her in advance. It was obvious that he was still on guard against her. If she acted too calm at this time, it would arouse suspicion.
So he frowned and grumbled softly, "Why did you choose today? It's too sudden."
Guard: "Princess, please come quickly, don't make the Duke wait anxiously."
Yun Ran sighed helplessly for a moment, and finally bit his lip in compromise: "You guys lead the way."
Seeing that she was sensible, the two guards led the way.
Nanny Lan Gui was still a little confused: "Princess, what is going on?"
Yun Ran put his hand on hers and squeezed it comfortingly: "Don't be afraid, Mammy. As long as you follow the trend, everything will be fine."
Nanny Lan Gui still didn't understand what she meant, but when she felt the warmth and strength of the princess's arm, her heart inexplicably calmed down.
She stopped talking and just helped Yun Ran back to the palace.
Seeing the two guards walking in front, Yun Ran pretended to tidy up her hair, raised her hand and quickly pulled out the peony hairpin and put it into her sleeve.
Plop, plop...
The heart in the chest was beating so fast that it almost burst out.
She knew that success or failure depended on tonight.
Before officially stepping into the hall, Yun Ran closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Seeing her suddenly stop, Nanny Lan Gui called out worriedly, "Princess?"
Yun Ran still had his eyes closed, only his lips were slightly moving, and the two hands hanging in his sleeves were also changing different handprints.
She first recited a passage from "Qing Xin Jue" and then silently recited the nine-character mantra ten times.
Others didn't know what she was chanting, but they saw her making hand seals and chanting scriptures, looking at each other, but no one dared to disturb her.
After all, everyone in Chang'an City knew the origin of this princess and the strange things that happened to her.
Most people in the world believe in ghosts and gods. Even if they don’t believe in them, they still respect them.
After Yun Ran finished reciting the scriptures, his nervous mood gradually calmed down.
Nanhua Zhenren said it well, what is the joy in life, and what is the fear in death? Pity us humans, we have so many worries!
There is always a way out when you reach the mountain. Besides, at this point, there is no point in being nervous. It is better to face it calmly and let nature take its course.
"Okay, let's go."
As her thoughts became clear, a look of relief appeared between her brows.
This expression caught the attention of others, who were even more amazed. Princess Jing was truly a remarkable person. Such a small woman could face such a big event, yet she remained calm. Could it be that the mantra she had just chanted had worked? Why was she so confident just now?
No matter what others think, Yun Ran walked into the hall calmly and confidently.
The guards also promptly announced: "Princess Jing has arrived—"
In an instant, everyone in the hall looked towards the side door.
Yun Ran naturally also felt the countless gazes that were either shocked, confused, angry, or worried.
She pursed her lips and looked towards the hall calmly.
The hall was still brightly lit, as bright as day, but it was no longer the scene of toasting, singing and dancing as it was before she left.
The main door of the hall was tightly closed, and the hall was surrounded by a group of armored soldiers holding swords. Tables, chairs and benches were tilted, and the wine and delicacies were scattered. The princes, nobles, and officials' families in bright clothes were all panicked, huddled together, crying silently, or guarding against the armored soldiers with pale faces.
In the main hall, several imperial guards stood in a row with their swords drawn, guarding the emperor, empress, Queen Mother Zhao and the eldest prince.
The two forces are in a stalemate and on the verge of a fight.
Yun Ran's appearance was like a live fish put into stagnant water.
In an instant, the situation fluctuated and people on both sides stared at her closely.
Yun Ran: “…”
This was probably the most attention she had ever received in her life.
If Sima Jing were beside her, she would definitely joke with him: "It seems that the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet and I are incompatible."
"slowly--!"
Suddenly, a cry with a crying tone instantly drew Yun Ran's attention back.
She looked up and saw that her mother and father were also being held at knifepoint by black-armored soldiers.
Although A'niang was so frightened that her face turned pale, she was still worried and wanted to go forward to protect her.
Yun Ran's heart softened, but the hand holding the golden hairpin in his sleeve clenched silently.
She gave her parents a reassuring look, then slowly walked towards the Duke of Su, who was in the center. She passed by several pools of blood, whose blood she didn't know whose. She also caught a glimpse of a broken arm, and what she thought was a palace maid sleeping against a pillar, but when she looked again, she saw that her throat had been slit and she had died silently...
Even though Sima Jing had told her that palace coups and rebellions would always result in bloodshed and sacrifice, Yun Ran still couldn't help but tremble with fear after seeing it with her own eyes.
Fear, but mostly anger.
How innocent these palace maids were, how innocent the owner of that arm was, and the trembling women in the room, and the pale-faced eldest prince hiding in Queen Zheng's arms...
A wonderful Mid-Autumn Night was ruined by wolfish ambitions.
Yun Ran suppressed his anger and walked in front of Duke Su. His soft voice trembled with fear: "Uncle, what...what's going on?"
Duke Su looked at her timid appearance and said soothingly, "Don't be afraid, Princess. You've come at the perfect time. Join me in exposing the tyrant's evil deeds and show all the royal family members, civil and military officials what kind of beastly creature sits on this throne!"
But without waiting for Yun Ran to speak, he listed all the actions of Emperor Wenxuan, such as murdering the previous emperor, usurping the throne, killing his brothers and sisters, poisoning the families of ministers, and confusing the royal bloodline with a hidden illness.
A fifty-year-old man still has plenty of energy and his voice is as loud as a bell.
The hall was silent for a moment, and only his endless chatter could be heard, in which he criticized Emperor Wenxuan harshly and said he was useless.
Finally, he pulled out a bright yellow scroll from his sleeve, the edge of which was embroidered with delicate dragon patterns.
"In this old minister's hand is the late emperor's handwritten edict!"
Duke Su held the scroll high above his head, his voice piercing the commotion in the hall: "Before his death, the late emperor had already seen clearly your Majesty's disloyalty, unrighteousness, unfilial and unfraternal nature, and specifically sent his personal eunuch to secretly deliver the imperial edict! The edict clearly states that the throne will be passed to the ninth son, Sima Jing!"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was an uproar in the hall.
Many old ministers stared at the bright yellow scroll, thinking of the late emperor's love for Prince Jing and his closeness to his cousin, the Duke of Su.
It is not impossible to convey the imperial edict secretly.
Duke Suguo naturally sensed the old ministers' hesitation and struck while the iron was hot, saying to his relatives and ministers, "The late emperor's will is here. Sima Jide is unworthy of the position. Do you still want to follow such a monarch and allow him to confuse the royal bloodline and destroy the century-old foundation of our Great Jin?"
The clan members and officials looked embarrassed. Suddenly, someone said, "Even if the will is true, King Jing's whereabouts are still unknown. We don't know whether he is dead or alive. What should we do?"
When those ministers who had wavered in their ideas heard this, they all frowned and looked embarrassed.
If King Jing were here, they might consider him a wise man who knew the current situation, but King Jing would have been eaten by the fish long ago, and the edict would naturally become a piece of waste silk.
"Although Prince Jing's whereabouts are unknown, the princess is pregnant with his posthumous child!"
Duke Su pushed Yun Ran forward with a confident look on his face, pointing at her slightly bulging belly. "The Imperial Physician Chen from the Imperial Medical Bureau is a highly skilled doctor. He said with his own mouth that the princess is pregnant with a young prince!"
"The princess has been pregnant for six months now. In another four months, the fruit will be ripe and our Great Jin will be able to welcome a new monarch!"
After saying this, seeing that everyone was whispering but no one responded, Duke Su sneered, "Are you so stubborn that you want to abandon the orthodox royal bloodline and hand over our dynasty to that little bastard of unknown origin?"
His finger pointed precisely at the eldest prince in Queen Zheng's arms.
No matter how Duke Su scolded Emperor Wenxuan before, Yun Ran remained calm and played the role of a qualified puppet conscientiously. But now, seeing this old fox directly insulting a four-year-old child as a little bastard, her heart was burning with anger.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard Empress Zheng's furious shout from above: "Nonsense! Yu'er is the flesh and blood of me and Your Majesty, a true royal bloodline! Duke Su, you are at least an elder of the royal family, how dare you slander my son like this!"
Even though she was skinny and her voice was weak, she held the child tightly in her arms, covered the child's ears with her hands, her face flushed, her eyes wide open with anger, and stared at Duke Su.
The momentum is so fierce, just like an enraged lioness.
Not to mention Yun Ran and Duke Su, everyone else was also shocked by the Queen's angry rebuke.
I never thought that the queen, who has always been gentle and virtuous, would have such a strong and fierce side.
Duke Su quickly recovered and sneered, "You say so, right? Your Majesty suffers from a hidden illness and is unable to have children. Who knows who the eldest prince is with?"
“That’s enough!”
Emperor Wenxuan sternly spoke, his eyes fixed on Duke Suguo, his voice chilled to the bone: "How can we tolerate such traitorous talk in this palace? Sima Yi, I advise you to surrender as soon as possible. I will at least leave you with an intact body!"
"You are a tyrant who came to power illicitly. How can you call me a traitor?"
Duke Su sneered again, and glanced at the airtight black-armored soldiers and the imperial guards guarding the emperor and empress.
The number of black-armored soldiers was obviously several times that of the imperial guards. The disparity was so huge that the outcome was obvious at a glance.
"Your Majesty, as your uncle, I offer you a gentle word of advice. If you have the decency to do so, sign your abdication edict immediately. If you dare to resist, this very Weiyang Palace will be your burial place!"
After he finished speaking, he swept his gaze over the people in the hall, his eyes stern: "If anyone here, civil or military, dares to stop me, they will be guilty of the same crime as rebelling against the emperor, and will be killed without mercy!"
"Abdication edict? Ha, just because you have a fake edict, you think you can turn against Tian Gang and force me to abdicate?"
Emperor Wenxuan stared at the scroll of the will, his knuckles white from the strain. "Not to mention that I was appointed Crown Prince at the age of five. When the late emperor passed away, the Empress Dowager and I were both by his bedside. The late emperor even took my hand and personally said that he would hand over the throne to me. Even if I truly abdicated, the eldest prince would naturally ascend the throne. When would it be your turn to dictate things?"
"With only a forged will and a mere thousand soldiers, you dare to frame the emperor and attempt to seize the throne. You are truly audacious and have no regard for the law! If I don't kill you today, how can I face my ancestors?"
"It seems that Your Majesty is determined to resist to the end!"
Duke Su's face darkened, and he waved his hand and shouted, "Come here, capture this traitor!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the black-armored soldiers drew their swords and marched straight into the hall.
The imperial guards also had tense expressions and clenched their swords.
Just as a bloody battle was about to break out, a cold voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall: "Stop!"
The sound was neither loud nor low, but everyone in the hall could hear it clearly.
The commotion suddenly stopped.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall and slender figure walking out of the dark night outside the dim palace door.
As we stepped into the brightly lit area, the man's appearance became clearer.
He wore a black robe, silver armor, and a long sword at his waist.
In the warm yellow candlelight, that cold white face, with long eyebrows and thin lips, was extremely beautiful.
He raised his eyelids, and his pair of black eyes as deep as a pool slowly swept across the hall. He stayed at the sandalwood figure in the hall for two breaths before he started walking again.
"Didn't Uncle Eight say that I am the legitimate successor?"
He stepped into the hall, protecting Yun Ran behind him. He then looked at Duke Su, raised his hand, and curled his lips slightly: "Now that I am here, the late emperor's will shall be returned to its original owner."
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The author has something to say: There was a loud bang in the sky, and Jingzi made a brilliant appearance (x) [狗头]
This chapter also drops a small red envelope~
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