Chapter 637 Assassination
Emperor Jiazheng was a thrifty person, so the celebration of his Wanshou Festival was not grand.
Even so, it was the emperor's birthday after all, so all the necessary festivities were carried out, and the various programs were extremely exciting and lively.
Xingxing looked very happy.
When the banquet was halfway through, Princess Mingyi stood up with a red face and said she wanted to perform a dance for Emperor Jiazheng.
Emperor Jiazheng agreed with a smile.
Princess Mingyi went downstairs to change her clothes. Concubine Bai, who was sitting in the chair at the head of the group, subconsciously put her hand on her abdomen, not knowing what she was thinking.
After a while, a young girl in a dancing costume with her face covered by a veil came up on the stage. After paying her respects to Emperor Jiazheng at the top, she began to dance to the music.
Princess Qing'an smiled and said, "I didn't expect Sister Mingyi to have such a graceful dance."
Xing Xing frowned slightly, and looked at her carefully for a long time before she whispered to Princess Qing'an, "Princess, something is wrong, this is not Princess Mingyi."
Princess Qing'an was taken aback: "Really?"
She couldn't help but take a closer look.
However, the stage was quite far away, and with the candlelight shining through, the dancer's face was obscured by light and shadow. She was wearing a veil, so she could only be identified through her exposed eyes.
But no matter where Princess Qing'an looked, she felt that the person on the stage was Mingyi.
Xing Xing whispered, "Princess Mingyi walked slowly before she changed her clothes. Ordinary people may not be able to see it, but we doctors can see that the center of gravity of Princess Mingyi's body fell slightly on her left foot when she walked. I think her right foot must be injured... But the dancer on the stage dances lightly and there is no sign of injury. This is the only explanation. The person on the stage is not Princess Mingyi."
Princess Qing'an was stunned and admired Xingxing's meticulous observation.
"So, Princess Mingyi found someone else to dance for her?"
Xing Xing whispered, "It's possible... After all, Princess Mingyi was deliberately hiding her injuries just now, probably because she didn't want others to know. However, it's hard to say if there will be other situations. Let's wait and see."
Princess Qing'an and Xingxing looked at each other and decided to keep the matter to themselves and wait and see what would happen.
Emperor Jiazheng was also praising Empress Nie, "Mingyi dances very well."
Queen Nie also sighed, "I don't know how long this child has been training in private. I'm afraid she has to fight for her mother's sake... Your Majesty, wait for some time before raising Lady Li's position. After all, Lady Li is raising Ming Yi. For Ming Yi's sake, you can't slap Lady Li in the face."
For example, today is the Longevity Festival, but Lady Li is not of high enough rank to attend the banquet.
Emperor Jiazheng patted Empress Nie's hand and said, "I will listen to you, Your Majesty."
As the emperor and empress were talking, the music became more passionate, and the dancers' clothes fluttered like flowers as they spun at a very fast speed.
Finally, he stopped not far from Emperor Jiazheng and bowed to him in tune with the music.
After the dance, "Princess Mingyi" on the stage still maintained a bowing posture.
Emperor Jiazheng's fatherly heart was aroused a little. He clapped his hands and praised, "Mingyi danced well."
"Princess Mingyi" stood up, as if she wanted to go forward to thank the emperor - at this moment, something unexpected happened. "Princess Mingyi" suddenly pulled out a thin and soft sword from under her dance dress at her waist, and rushed straight towards Emperor Jiazheng!
The knife flashed with a cold light, and amid the sound of music, no one could react for a moment!
Only Xing Xing's childish voice of "Your Majesty, be careful" seemed to have broken something, and everyone came back to their senses!
But it was too late. The sword had already stabbed in front of Emperor Jiazheng.
However, Empress Nie stood directly in front of Emperor Jiazheng.
Emperor Jiazheng's eyes were bloodshot!
At this moment, the sword blade was hit by something in the air, deflected an inch, and stabbed into empty air, only tearing the clothes on Empress Nie's shoulder!
The assassin wanted to raise his sword and stab again, but after this incident, the guards had already rushed over and the situation changed drastically in an instant!
The assassin was decisive, and seeing that his assassination was hopeless, he simply drew his sword and committed suicide, leaving the hall covered in blood!
The whole room was filled with horror!
Emperor Jiazheng's face was as cold as ice, but he didn't care about anything else and shouted, "Imperial Physician! Come and treat the Empress's injuries!"
Empress Nie shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, I am fine. I just tore my clothes."
However, before she could finish her words, Queen Nie's expression changed slightly and she spat out a mouthful of black blood!
The person even staggered and fell backwards!
——Although she was not stabbed, Queen Nie’s shoulder was scratched by the sword blade, and the blood that seeped out was clearly stained black!
The sword is poisoned!
Emperor Jiazheng hugged Empress Nie so tightly that his hands were shaking.
Xing Xing didn't care about etiquette and just jumped out, holding on to the long table in front of her, and ran towards Queen Nie.
The guards drew their swords subconsciously to block him, but Emperor Jiazheng angrily shouted, "Let Xingxing come over!"
Xing Xing ran to Queen Nie and took her pulse. Her face was still ugly. She quickly took out a small brocade box from the sachet on her waist.
There was only one pill in the golden box.
Xing Xing picked up the pill and was about to put it into Queen Nie's mouth.
The subordinate of Emperor Jiazheng who was hugging Empress Nie shuddered in consciousness, but he endured it and did not stop it.
The pill melted in her mouth and disappeared in Queen Nie's mouth.
The Emperor Jiazheng, the supreme ruler, was trembling at this moment: "...Xingxing, the Empress, she's going to be alright, right?"
However, Xing Xing's expression remained solemn. She shook her head and said, "The Empress has been poisoned. My pills can only protect the Empress' heart from being infected by the poison... The detoxification still needs further research."
There was also an imperial physician who came forward to check Empress Nie's pulse, with an embarrassed look on his face: "The poison that the Empress was poisoned with was extremely cruel, and we need to take a long-term approach."
Emperor Jiazheng looked extremely unhappy, his eyes fell on the assassin who had already raised his sword to commit suicide, and he was filled with murderous aura. He kicked the chief guard who was kneeling in front of him to apologize, and was furious: "You actually let the assassin in! What are you doing here?!"
The captain of the guards knew he had failed in his duty and did not dare to make any excuses. He got up from the ground and continued to kneel, his face ashen. The only prayer in his heart was that his nine clans would not be implicated.
Yu Yonghuai also stepped out of the crowd and knelt down: "In a hurry, I could only use chopsticks to deflect the assassin's sword. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Yu Yonghuai reacted immediately to Xingxing's reminder, but the assassin moved so quickly that Yu Yonghuai only had time to knock the assassin's sword away with chopsticks.
Emperor Jiazheng wanted to drag everyone to be buried with Empress Nie at this moment, but he still had some rationality and knew that Yu Yonghuai was rewarded for saving the princess, otherwise, the poisoned sword would have pierced Empress Nie's heart and lungs, and she would have died on the spot.
But now is not the time to settle the accounts.
Xing Xing also reminded quietly: "Your Majesty, first detoxify the Empress."
Emperor Jiazheng took a deep breath, personally picked up Empress Nie, and strode to the back hall.
All the courtiers and their wives knelt in the hall, not daring to say a word.
Bai Fei lowered her head, her eyes full of viciousness, almost, clearly just a little bit...
The guy named Yu has ruined things again!