Chapter 3 Iron-Blooded Wrist In the pitch black, she vaguely heard a man…
As the night deepened, the ram's horn lanterns swayed in the night breeze, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
The man's tall figure was like a silent, majestic mountain. The night wind blew through his robes and hair, but could not shake him in the slightest.
Shedding his cold armor and removing his lion-patterned helmet, Prince Yi donned a black robe adorned with gold trim. His sword-like eyebrows, reaching his temples, exuded an imposing aura. Even just standing quietly in the high hall, he emanated an invisible sense of oppression.
The murmurs in the hall gradually subsided until it became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Pei Muwei casually turned the jade-carved thumb ring on his thumb. A gentle smile appeared on his handsome face, but his eyes were colder than the night outside the palace.
"Are you ministers questioning whether the imperial edict in Her Majesty the Empress's possession is genuine?"
The prince and his officials, both civil and military, were swept over by the man's cold gaze. Their eloquent words, which had just been spoken, seemed to get stuck in their throats, turning into a block of ice and falling into their stomachs.
Prince Duan snorted coldly upon seeing this. He broke the silence first, taking a step forward with an arrogant expression and a loud voice:
"The palace coup tonight happened so suddenly. I have some doubts. The rebels have only been in the capital for half an hour. How could Prince Yi have received the news so quickly and led the Northern Court Buddhist Army, which is thousands of miles away, to come to the rescue?"
Immediately, a courtier stood up to refute this:
“Prince Duan is mistaken. His Majesty issued an edict three months ago, ordering the Prince of Shu of Yizhou and the Prince of Yi of Beiting to lead their troops to Yinshan to jointly repel the Canglang tribe who invaded Daqi. The Futu Army under Prince Yi's command arrived at the camp outside the capital three days ago to reorganize and replenish supplies. They also reported their marching route to the Ministry of War well in advance. There is nothing wrong with the marching route!”
"Hmph, the Buddha Army didn't arrive early or late, but they just happened to arrive at the camp outside the capital on the very day the King of Shu rebelled. Isn't this all too coincidental?"
Prince Duan remained relentless, insisting that there was something fishy going on, and his confident tone caused the officials to fall into deep thought.
Pei Muwei's lips curved into a faint smile. He looked at the eloquent Prince Duan, a half-smile playing on his lips: "According to your uncle, do you think I arrived too early and saved His Majesty's only heir in time?"
"That's not what I meant..." Prince Duan's expression changed, and he hurriedly denied it, his momentum inevitably weakening.
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp: "Instead of questioning the timely arrival of the Futu Army to rescue the emperor, Prince Duan should ask how the Shu King's troops managed to breach the impregnable city gates in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
He raised his right hand, and two guards escorted a disheveled man wearing a bronze-colored large-leaf armor into the main hall.
As soon as the man was pinned to the ground, he looked up urgently and cried out to Prince Duan, "Father, Father, save me!"
The officials took a closer look and gasped in shock. The man kneeling on the ground, crying and screaming in a sorry state, was none other than the eldest son of Prince Duan, the Commander of the Palace Guards responsible for patrolling the palace!
Pei Muwei stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes, which no longer held a faint smile, exuded a sense of oppression, and his tone was cold:
"Commander Xiao neglected his duties. Tonight, he was drinking and playing dice with several deputy generals on the city wall, and inviting courtesans to have fun. He didn't even notice when the rebels sneaked into the city wall, which gave them the opportunity to attack the palace on the night of the emperor and empress's wedding."
"When Commander Xiao realized he had made a grave mistake, instead of ordering the lighting of warning smoke to request reinforcements, he fled outside the city under the cover of the Imperial Guards. There, he ran into the Buddhist cavalry patrolling outside the camp in the suburbs of the capital. Only then did I learn that the Prince of Shu had led his troops into the city, so I dispatched troops to come to my rescue."
After Pei Muwei finished explaining, before Prince Duan could reply, he said coldly, "General Kan!"
A tall man strode into the hall, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "General, your subordinate is here!"
“Since you are familiar with military regulations, you might as well explain to Prince Duan which regulations Commander Xiao has violated and how they should be dealt with.”
General Kan received the order and walked straight to Prince Duan, his voice booming: "Your Highness, your son has committed the crimes of dereliction of duty, fear of the enemy in battle, and abandoning the city to flee. He shall be executed according to the law for all these crimes!"
General Kan was tall and had a loud voice. In particular, when he roared "He shall be executed!" with his large, round eyes, Prince Duan was so shocked that he broke out in a cold sweat, his legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the bricks. He hurriedly looked up at the man standing with his hands behind his back on the golden steps.
"Prince Yi, could you please show leniency? Xiao Yan... he is, after all, your cousin..."
Pei Muwei glanced indifferently at the officials in the hall, whose expressions varied. His handsome face was devoid of any emotion as he coldly said, "General Kan, administer the punishment."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
"stop!"
Amidst Prince Duan's heart-wrenching screams, the long sword fell without hesitation, and a head with its eyes wide open rolled into a pool of blood.
The civil and military officials and imperial relatives present looked at each other, all seeing the look of horror on each other's faces. Some of the more timid people were so frightened by this turn of events that they trembled and vomited a lot of sour soup on the spot.
"You traitor Pei!!! You dared to kill my son, I...I will fight you to the death!"
Prince Duan's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He roared and drew his long sword from his guard's waist, rushing up the golden steps. But before he could get close, he was pinned down by the Buddhist soldiers who pounced on him.
Prince Duan raised his head and glared fiercely at the man high above him, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted curses:
"You traitor Pei, you wolf in sheep's clothing, you ungrateful beast! You harmed your brother, you're worse than a beast! It's a pity that the late emperor was merciful and spared your bastard child in a moment of weakness, but who would have thought that you would ultimately bring ruin to the Great Qi!"
Prince Duan raged and denounced him, but Pei Muwei remained expressionless, his indifferent gaze as if he were looking at a lowly ant, failing to arouse any interest in him.
Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the bodies of Prince Duan and his eldest son were dragged off the hall by guards. Two deep bloodstains remained on the gilded bricks, reminding everyone of what had just happened.
"Gentlemen, is there anyone else who has objections to the Emperor's will?"
The man had a smile on his thin lips, possessing an otherworldly appearance. His deep, emotionless eyes slowly swept over the officials in the palace.
Everyone shook their heads vigorously, like rattles.
Having witnessed the fate of Prince Duan and his son, among the officials present, who didn't have a good-for-nothing playboy in their family? If the cold-hearted Prince Yi caught them doing something wrong, they would be severely punished, if not killed.
Moreover, those imperial relatives in the capital, although they are usually incomparably noble and can get whatever they want, do not have any real military power. They are all just figureheads. Meanwhile, the imperial relatives and princes who actually hold military power are currently kept in their fiefdoms!
Among the imperial relatives who now possess both military power and the title of royal family, Pei Mu is the only one.
Some of the quicker-witted officials immediately lifted their robes, prostrated themselves on the ground, kowtowed, and loudly proclaimed, "Your subject pays respects to the Regent..."
In an instant, all the officials in the hall prostrated themselves on the ground, their sleeves billowing like clouds, and a series of impassioned shouts resounded throughout the hall, echoing endlessly.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects..."
From beginning to end, Chu Yueyuan hid behind the man, watching him make love.
The man's calm and composed demeanor made him seem nothing like a treacherous minister plotting to usurp the throne, but rather like an immortal standing atop a precipice, quietly appreciating the ever-changing clouds.
She couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. She had been so reckless as to cooperate with such a cunning man; it was as if a little devil had made a pact with the King of Hell.
"Your Majesty, I have something to ask you."
Amidst the uniform sounds of greeting, a deep and reserved voice rang out. Although the voice was not loud, it drew everyone's attention with its imposing presence.
Chu Yueyuan, whose name was called, was startled. She calmly stepped out from behind the Regent, nodded slightly, lowered her eyes, and said softly:
"What does Prime Minister Shen wish to ask me?"
The Emperor was obsessed with women, and the Zichen Palace was filled with singing and dancing every day. During his eleven years in power, he rarely paid attention to state affairs.
Fortunately, the late Emperor Wu was diligent and capable in governing the country, and he left behind several key ministers to manage the affairs of state. As a result, although the Great Qi Dynasty was declining in recent years, it was still able to survive under the threat of increasingly powerful neighboring states.
The Prime Minister who spoke rashly at this moment was once Emperor Wu's most trusted minister.
Prime Minister Shen is of upright character and strict with himself. Now in his seventies, he has supported three emperors to ascend the throne during his time in office. His elder brother was the Grand Tutor of the Retired Emperor, and his remains are enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The Shen family, with its descendants, consists of warriors who are unyielding and willing to die on the battlefield, and scholars who are highly talented and influential in the literary world. They are the backbone of the Great Qi, and if they are broken, the Great Qi will collapse.
The ministers who were the backbone of the Great Qi Dynasty did not hold back when they spoke. Prime Minister Shen's eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, and his tone rose slightly: "This old minister only has one question for the Empress: Did Your Majesty personally witness His Majesty issuing this edict?"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials in the hall raised their heads and stared intently at the graceful young empress on the high platform, a hint of doubt appearing in their eyes.
Chu Yueyuan was born beautiful. Ever since she came of age, she has always been the focus of attention of the princes and nobles in the capital whenever she attended various poetry gatherings and banquets.
However, in the past, the gazes that fell upon her were usually filled with admiration and infatuation, quite different from the suspicious looks the ministers gave her tonight.
Chu Yueyuan's heart pounded, and she felt as if she had a fishbone stuck in her throat. She subconsciously looked at Prince Yi beside her.
Just then, Prince Yi was also looking at her. The man's eyes were lowered slightly, and his dark eyes were like a deep pool, so dark that she couldn't guess what he was thinking.
Neither "yes" nor "no" could bring Emperor Shang back to life.
Chu Yueyuan responded, "Would the sharp-eyed Prime Minister really believe her?"
If the response is no, can the officials in the palace stop Prince Yi from seizing power tonight?
She seemed to be trapped in a dead end.
No matter how you answer, it will be wrong.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, a tear suddenly rolled down the corner of the young empress's eye.
Immediately afterwards, more and more tears welled up in the woman's red eyes. She blinked gently, and the tears fell like pearls from a broken string. The woman pressed her red lips tightly together, as if she was trying her best to suppress the grief in her heart.
Chu Yueyuan released her bitten lips, and broken sobs escaped from between her teeth:
"Tonight... was supposed to be my wedding night with His Majesty. Although I didn't drink the nuptial wine with His Majesty, the ceremony was complete. As the saying goes, even a day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace. Seeing His Majesty die by the sword of that traitorous minister, my heart is broken. If Prince Yi hadn't arrived in time to save His Majesty, I would have almost been killed by that beast in human form..."
At this point, she raised her hand and slowly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
A sharp-eyed minister noticed that the young empress's phoenix crown was missing, her newly combed hair was slightly disheveled, and there were bloodstains seeping from the white handkerchief wrapped around her palm. Clearly, the King of Shu was blinded by lust and attempted to commit an act against ethics on the day of the emperor and empress's wedding.
Fortunately, the Empress remained loyal and fought a desperate battle with the King of Shu, eventually waiting for Prince Yi to enter the palace to rescue her and personally kill the traitor.
A murmur of discussion arose from His Highness, with anger, sympathy, and sighs appearing on the faces of the officials.
Chu Yueyuan glanced furtively at the Crown Prince's condition, then, her eyes reddening, choked out:
"To all my beloved ministers, I must speak from the bottom of my heart. His Majesty is no longer with us, and I truly wish to depart with him. However, before his death, His Majesty repeatedly instructed me to diligently raise the Crown Prince to adulthood..."
The woman's red lips were like plum blossoms, and her words were filled with tears. Her slender shoulders rose and fell slightly with her sobs, and she looked extremely fragile, like a hibiscus flower that had been battered by the rain and was about to wither. It was heartbreaking to see her from afar.
Overwhelmed with sorrow, the young empress could no longer hold back her grief and sobbed, "Your Majesty... why do you leave me alone? It would have been better to let Yuan'er go with you..."
After saying this, the young empress seemed unable to bear the blows that followed on her wedding night. She closed her beautiful eyes and her graceful body fell backward.
Prime Minister Shen was upright and incorruptible, a rare and virtuous official among the ministers of the Great Qi. Chu Yueyuan could not bear to let such a loyal minister die under the executioner's blade.
As for the cold-hearted and aloof Yama beside her, this little devil was even more untouchable.
Caught in a dilemma, Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to resort to her old trick of pretending to be stupid in the inner quarters.
First, she shed tears, then said some things that were both true and false to confuse the public, and finally cleared herself of all responsibility. In any case, before drinking the Heqin wine, Emperor Shang did mention to her something about treating the Crown Prince well.
However, just before she fainted, Chu Yueyuan hesitated for a moment.
Before her stood a white marble staircase with eighty-one layers of cloud and dragon reliefs. If she were to roll down it, she would most likely be destined to rekindle her romance with the Emperor.
Behind her was an unpredictable man who had just watched her fall a mere moment before.
Chu Yueyuan didn't have time to weigh the pros and cons. Fortunately, she steeled her heart, closed her eyes, and fell backward.
Well, it's better to fall and make a fool of myself in front of all the officials than to lose my life.
The expected pain did not come; her waist rested steadily in the man's strong and steady arms, and a refreshing sandalwood scent enveloped her.
This man was truly contradictory; though filled with murderous intent, he used the calming sandalwood incense to perfume his clothes.
Chu Yueyuan nestled in his warm embrace, her cheek pressed against his chest by only a thin layer of clothing. She could hear his strong, steady heartbeat, and even her eyelashes trembled slightly.
In the pitch black, she vaguely heard a man chuckle.
A note from the author:
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