Chapter 146 Sleepless Night
People who rarely see each other are now all gathered together.
"Sister-in-law, what's going on outside?" Sheng Wan'er asked fearfully.
"I just sent someone to investigate. It's the Third Prince who has rebelled," Ye Mingzhu replied simply, then reassured them, "Don't be afraid. With so many guards and servants in the manor, we're sure to be safe."
Princess Ronghua clearly already knew the situation, and showed no surprise upon hearing this.
She pressed her temples, her head aching, and said, "We don't need to concern ourselves with the struggle for imperial power. We just need to guard the gates and ensure the safety of the people inside. Mingzhu, you've done a great job in that regard. There's just one thing: I don't know how long the chaos outside will last, and the food supplies in the manor might not be enough."
“That’s no problem either,” Ye Mingzhu said, making an excuse. “I experienced hunger when I was a child, and I’ve always felt that ‘having food in hand means peace of mind,’ so I especially like to hoard things.”
"It's a coincidence. I just stocked up on some food and medicine a while ago, so I'm not worried about running out of food or anyone getting sick. At most, we won't have fresh vegetables and fruits to eat."
In fact, this batch of grain and medicinal herbs was stockpiled to cope with the unrest.
Not only did she hoard them, but the Ye family did too.
With the Ye family's enormous financial support, she had her brother Ye Yu acquire properties in various places when he traveled the trade routes. He not only stockpiled a large amount of grain and medicine in Yanjing City, but also in other cities.
A cunning rabbit has more than three burrows.
This is where it comes in handy now.
"That's good." Princess Ronghua's eyes lit up with joy, but then she sighed and said with a worried expression, "I just don't know where Junzhao is now, or if he is safe."
When this was mentioned, Ye Mingzhu fell silent.
Sheng Yunche is the Crown Prince's man and a military officer. When the Third Prince usurped the throne, he would definitely be at the forefront of the fight, directly facing the onslaught.
He hasn't returned home, and I can't even ask him about the situation.
Will the secret guards she sent to find him be able to do so successfully?
The struggle for the throne is so intense and dangerous that one can only imagine the danger and brutality involved. The path to imperial power is absolutely forged with blood and bones.
The Third Prince must have been prepared for this if he dared to usurp the throne.
Suppressing the rebels requires fighting hand-to-hand, and weapons are indiscriminate; who can guarantee they won't get hurt? What if they get injured?
If he gets injured, will he be able to make it back home?
As long as Sheng Yunche returns to the manor, she can use the Longevity Gu to save him, but what if he is seriously injured and cannot return?
Ye Mingzhu's mind was buzzing, and she was almost unable to think straight.
She knew she was letting her concern cloud her judgment, but she couldn't control her mind or her heart.
It was only then that she realized, without her noticing, how important Sheng Yunche had become to her.
But she knew she couldn't act rashly.
Calming herself, she smiled and said composedly, "Mother, don't worry. I've already arranged for guards to search for my husband's whereabouts. He'll come back to tell us as soon as he has any news."
"That's good." Princess Ronghua nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.
Now that things have come to this, we've done everything we can; all that's left is to wait.
And so they waited until the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).
The crescent moon was cold and clear, and the night wind at dawn carried a chill.
When the guards dressed in black appeared at the entrance of Jingchun Residence, Ye Mingzhu rushed up immediately and asked anxiously, "How is it? Have you found the person?"
"I have fulfilled my mission." The guard bowed and quickly reported, "I met with the Duke near Taiping Gate. He asked me to tell you not to worry and to wait for his return."
"How was he at the time? Was he injured?" Ye Mingzhu asked hurriedly.
Princess Ronghua also strode over: "What is he doing at Taiping Gate? Who is he with?"
The guard replied, "The Duke only suffered some minor injuries and seems to be fine. He is in charge of leading several garrisons to guard Taiping Gate, but he was preparing to go to the palace before I returned."
"The palace?" Princess Ronghua, usually so composed, showed a rare change in expression. "What is he going to the palace at this hour? Could it be the Crown Prince..."
At this point, Princess Ronghua's voice abruptly stopped, and she did not continue.
Since this concerns the palace, one must be careful with one's words and actions.
The guards, of course, dared not speak recklessly, and simply lowered their heads to await further orders.
Ye Mingzhu said to him, "Since the Duke is alright, you can stay at the manor and patrol with the guards."
"Yes," the guard replied.
Princess Ronghua said, "Go to the Ye family."
Ye Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up at her in surprise.
Princess Ronghua seemed to know what she wanted to say, patted her hand and said gently, "We have enough guards and servants here. It would be safer to send someone else to your parents' side."
“Mother…” Ye Mingzhu’s nose tingled, and she was deeply moved.
"Listen to me," Princess Ronghua said. "It's best if your parents can stay at home peacefully. If anything happens, have the guards escort them to our residence."
“…Mmm!” Ye Mingzhu took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.
After the guards left to carry out their orders, she couldn't sit still in the house. She went to the eaves and looked up at the night sky.
Since her rebirth, she has been striving to defy fate.
She knew tonight was important to her.
She clasped her hands together and prayed silently.
She cared not only about Sheng Yunche, but also about the Ye family.
I also miss Madam Qin and Qin Xuefei, I miss my new acquaintance Xiang Hongying, and I miss Huang Xiangyu next door... I hope that all people with good intentions will receive a kind response from the world.
This night was destined to be a sleepless one.
...
"Mingzhu" (明珠).
“Zhuzhu…”
The sound was so close to my ear, yet it seemed to come from afar.
Ye Mingzhu was startled awake when her earlobe was gently pinched and rubbed. She sat up abruptly from the armrest of the chair where she had been sleeping, and looked at the person in front of her with a wary and defensive expression.
But the moment she saw the person's face clearly, her almond-shaped eyes widened suddenly, and a look of surprise flashed in them!
"You're back? You're finally back!"
Standing up, Ye Mingzhu circled Sheng Yunche twice, looking him over repeatedly, asking, "What's the situation now? Are you injured? Wait, sit down right now, I'll take your pulse."
"I'm fine." Sheng Yunche raised his hand and grasped Ye Mingzhu's shoulder to stop her from moving. He couldn't help but chuckle as he said, "Alright, be a little more reserved."
Ye Mingzhu: "..."
She looked up and saw Princess Ronghua and Sheng Wan'er looking at her.
Her pretty face flushed red, and she raised her sleeve to cover her face.
Sheng Yunche grasped her hand: "Come with me, I have something to tell you."
“…Okay.” Ye Mingzhu nodded.
As they walked to the tree in the courtyard, Sheng Yunche's expression turned solemn. He cut to the chase and said in a deep voice, "Mingzhu, the Crown Prince's life is hanging by a thread. I'm afraid he won't escape this calamity."
"What?" Ye Mingzhu exclaimed in shock, quickly asking, "What about the Third Prince?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
