Chapter 105 The Empress's Decree
Seeing the signs of an encirclement, Granny Jing felt a pang of anxiety, but remained outwardly calm.
"What brings you here at this hour, Eunuch Qin? The young prince has just fallen asleep; please do not disturb him."
Qin Huai'an chuckled, took a few steps closer, and whispered.
"Don't worry, nanny, we won't disturb the young prince. It's Her Majesty the Empress who requests your presence; she has important matters to discuss with you."
"Your Majesty the Empress?"
Granny Jing frowned. Why was the Empress making such a grand entrance to summon her? Had something serious happened?
She dared not be negligent.
"I happen to have business to attend to at the Empress's bedchamber, so I'll trouble Steward Qin to lead the way."
Qin Huai'an was too lazy to play along with her anymore. After she had walked a few steps away from the cradle, he gave the eunuchs a meaningful look.
The eunuchs immediately surrounded her.
Seeing this, Granny Jing knew something was wrong and said sternly.
"Qin Huai'an! What do you want to do? I am here on the orders of the Empress and the Lady to take care of the young prince. Are you going to attack me?"
Qin Huai'an stopped talking and waved his hand.
The eunuchs rushed forward, trying to subdue Granny Jing.
Although Granny Jing was old, she was on guard and struggled while shouting loudly.
"Someone come here! Qin Huai'an is making..."
Her cries were interrupted, and in the struggle, a eunuch used a pre-prepared handkerchief to tightly cover her mouth and nose.
Another person quickly used a rope to tightly strangle her neck through her collar.
Granny Jing felt short of breath, and a moment later her eyes were bloodshot.
He opened his mouth as if to shout for help, but could only make a hoarse sound.
She gripped the rope around her neck tightly with both hands, but to no avail.
Soon her body gradually went limp, and she lost the strength to struggle until she became completely still.
Qin Huai'an stepped forward and checked his breathing, confirming that he was dead.
He gave the order expressionlessly.
"Proceed according to plan. Carry her to that corner over there, make it look like she was struggling and being killed. Where's the murder weapon?"
A eunuch handed over a sharp short blade, the handle of which was deliberately left unmarked.
Qin Huai'an took the knife, squatted down, and used it to create several cuts and bloodstains on Granny Jing's chest and arms, which looked like they were caused by a fight.
Then he stabbed her in the heart.
The scene was arranged to resemble an assassination attempt following a fierce resistance.
Finally, he grasped the still-warm hand of Granny Jing and tightly gripped the short blade in front of his chest.
After doing all this, Qin Huai'an stood up, coldly glanced around the scene, and casually pointed at a palace maid before speaking.
"You, first take the young prince to the Empress and look after him."
The palace maid responded and picked up the little prince from the cradle, carrying him to his bedchamber.
After she left, Qin Huai'an looked at the crowd and continued giving orders.
"You all guard the side hall well for me. Keep your eyes open. I'm going to Yikun Palace now. Remember, until I return, this place is the King of Hell's palace. Not even a fly is allowed to leave, and no news is allowed to leak out."
"Yes, sir!"
The crowd responded, their faces pale, but they dared not disobey.
Qin Huai'an straightened his robes and left the side hall, his face once again displaying a fawning yet businesslike expression.
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Qin Huai'an led two trusted eunuchs along the palace road leading to Yikun Palace.
He walked steadily, his face calm, but he was calculating every detail in his mind.
He asked the eunuch beside him in a low voice.
"Is it confirmed that Consort Niohuru is currently in the palace or not in Yongshou Palace?"
"Don't worry, Steward."
The eunuch reported in a low voice.
"This servant has found out. Since Her Majesty the Empress gave birth, this mistress of Yikun Palace has not visited Yongshou Palace to pay her respects much. She was not seen leaving the palace today either, so she must still be in the palace at this moment."
Qin Huai'an nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
"That's good. It saves a lot of trouble. As for Consort Jin... it's best not to disturb her for now. That mistress is unpredictable, and if any complications arise, it could ruin everything."
He knew Jiang Nan's prowess well and at this moment only wanted to successfully lure Niohuru into his trap.
As the group arrived at the gate of Yikun Palace, the gatekeeper was about to ask their purpose when Qin Huai'an put on airs and raised his voice.
"Qin Huai'an, the chief eunuch of Kunning Palace, is hereby granted an audience with Consort Niohuru by order of Her Majesty the Empress."
The tone left no room for argument.
The gatekeeper eunuch, seeing that it was someone from the Empress's side, dared not neglect them and quickly let them pass.
Qin Huai'an walked straight into the main hall and addressed the eunuch in charge of Yikun Palace who came to greet him.
"Go quickly and inform your lady that the Empress has an urgent imperial edict."
Seeing their menacing approach, the head eunuch dared not delay and hurriedly went into the inner palace to report.
Not long after, Niohuru slowly walked out of the inner palace.
She was neatly dressed, her expression calm, and her gaze swept calmly over Qin Huai'an.
From the moment she received the summons to the moment she entered the main hall, countless thoughts had already flashed through her mind.
Is Hesheli really unable to hold back? Why is she taking action against her so quickly?
She wanted to see what tricks this restless empress, who was still in confinement after childbirth, could pull.
She walked to the head seat and sat down, ignoring Qin Huai'an's bow, and simply stared at him coldly, waiting for him to speak.
Seeing her so arrogant, Qin Huai'an felt a surge of resentment in his heart, but on the surface he became even more respectful and bowed his head.
"This servant greets Lady Niohuru."
Niohuru, too lazy to mince words, simply waved his hand.
"Speak your message, Your Majesty."
Qin Huai'an straightened up, cleared his throat, and, mimicking the tone of someone conveying an imperial message, spoke loudly.
"Her Majesty the Empress's decree: Consort Niohuru, I have recently heard that the accounts for all expenses in your Yikun Palace are in disarray and differ greatly from the figures reported by the Imperial Household Department. This is highly inappropriate. You are hereby ordered to go to Kunning Palace immediately and report this matter in detail, without any errors."
After delivering the imperial edict, Qin Huai'an switched to a tone that seemed to be persuasion but was actually applying pressure.
"Your Majesty, would you like to come with me now, or make some preparations? Her Majesty the Empress is in a bad mood and is waiting for your reply. If we are late and Her Majesty blames us, I... cannot bear the consequences."
Niohuru sneered inwardly after hearing this.
The accounts are in disarray? What a lame excuse.
Her Yikun Palace's accounts were crystal clear; this was a blatant attempt to force her to go to Kunning Palace.
What exactly does the Empress want to do to her? Imprison her? Humiliate her? Or... even more cruelly, kill her outright?
She was almost certain that Kunning Palace had already set up a trap, just waiting for her to step inside.
But she couldn't not go at this moment.
The Empress summoned the concubines for questioning in the name of the Empress, which was perfectly legitimate.
If she openly defies the imperial decree and refuses to go, she will be giving the Empress a handle to use against her, and Empress Hesheli will have even more reason to punish her.
She stood up, her expression still calm, and said to Qin Huai'an.
"Since it is Her Majesty the Empress's decree, I will naturally obey. Please lead the way, Eunuch."
Qin Huai'an was secretly delighted, but he didn't show it on his face.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Niohuru rose and turned to her personal maid, giving her instructions.
"Go and prepare all the ceremonial regalia for my imperial concubine status. Arrange the carriage at Kunning Palace according to regulations."
Her voice was clear and steady.
The palace maid immediately responded.
"Yes, sir!"
Niohuru's move was far-reaching.
They wanted to move her to Kunning Palace quietly? She was determined to make a scene and let everyone in the harem know.
The Empress summoned her.
Her entourage walked from Yikun Palace to Kunning Palace, watched by countless eyes.
If something were to happen to her in Kunning Palace, Hesheli would naturally be implicated.
This was an insurance policy she had put in for herself.
Upon hearing this, Qin Huai'an's eyelids twitched, and he cursed Niohuru for being cunning in his heart.
However, they could not stop the concubines from traveling according to the rules, so they could only bow and say.
"Your Majesty has considered everything very well. This servant will wait outside."
Soon, in front of the Yikun Palace, Consort Niohuru's ceremonial guard was ready.
She boarded the palanquin and, surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids, proceeded in a grand procession towards Kunning Palace.
Sure enough, many palace servants stopped to watch and whisper among themselves along the palace road.
Qin Huai'an followed beside the ceremonial guard, his head bowed, but a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
So what if they put on a grand procession? Once they enter the gates of Kunning Palace, they're like turtles in a jar.
Niohuru clan, your death is near.
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I'm in no mood to write at all. I long for takeoff, I crave encouragement. I'm so stressed out thinking about the plot that I'm practically bald.
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