The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 84

“That’s enough,” she thought. “I’ll do what I can.”

The commander of the Imperial Guards, Li Deshuang, was summoned to the palace in the middle of the night. No one knew what the emperor and her subject discussed, but the next day, Liang Chengqiu, the commander of the Imperial Bodyguards, led the Imperial Guards on a journey to Jiangnan.

At the same time, another group quietly entered the capital. With the city’s defenses gone, they entered the city as if it were an unguarded territory.

The emperor had been sitting at her desk for a long time. The root cause of the unrest in Jiangnan was the displaced, starving, and homeless people who had been forced into banditry. If the court had managed the situation properly, the casualties could have been completely avoided. Before he left, she had given Liang Chengqiu an edict.

If the bandits were willing to surrender, the court would not only not hold them accountable but would also provide them with food and financial assistance, just like other disaster victims.

After the rebellion in Jiangnan was quelled and the victims were settled, Lin Qingyue would return with a map of the Jiangnan terrain. She could then use her knowledge from modern times to redesign the waterways, fundamentally solving the problem of floods.

Following that, she would establish a girls’ school. She not only wanted the people of Boisheng to have food to eat, but she also wanted to ensure that women across the empire would no longer be mere accessories to men. Women would learn, do business, and hold government positions just like men. Anything a man could do, a woman could do, too.

From then on, everyone in Boisheng would be equal.

There was one more important thing. A smile appeared on Xiao Yu’s lips. She wanted to give her Miss a grand coronation ceremony, so that everyone in the world would know that Miss was her wife.

She would have the edict written by the best writer in Boisheng, using the most beautiful words to praise Miss.

Of course, Miss was already perfect, and those words would not be enough to capture even a fraction of her goodness.

After sitting for a while longer, she prepared to return to Funing Palace. It was almost time for dinner, and she wanted to go back and have a meal with Miss.

As she was about to leave, a palace attendant rushed in and knelt down. “Your Majesty, this is bad! The prime minister and the General of the Jinwu Guards have led a troop to the palace gates.”

“What?”

“Father-in-law and brother-in-law…”

Xiao Yu suddenly stood up, her expression a little dazed. “My father-in-law and brother-in-law are rebelling?”

She finally understood. The mastermind was her father-in-law. The Imperial Guards had just left the capital, and they were already rebelling. She lowered her eyes, a little stunned, and started walking towards Funing Palace. She wanted to ask if Miss Song knew about this.

Why would a woman like Song Luoning go to Chenjiacun alone? Was it really just to fulfill a marriage promise?

Suddenly, everything made sense.

It turned out that the person who had led her to the capital was her father-in-law all along.

Xiao Yu could not figure out why he would do this.

All she wanted to do was to confront Song Luoning and ask her why she had lied to her and how much her feelings for her were real.

Xiao Yu felt wronged.

Funing Palace was peaceful. Red lanterns hung from the high eaves, illuminating the courtyard. Xiao Yu suddenly slowed down. When she pushed the palace door open, she didn’t even have the courage to question her.

“Why are you back so late today, Your Majesty?” Song Luoning smiled at her, putting down the book in her hand.

Xiao Yu pursed her lips.

The smile on Miss’s face was not fake. She would rather believe that Miss was also kept in the dark.

Xiao Yu forced a smile. “Something happened…”

Just as she finished speaking, a series of footsteps came from outside the palace. A palace attendant rushed in. “Your Majesty, the Great Princess’s residence has also been surrounded. General Zhao, who is guarding the city, is waiting outside.”

The fact that the city’s general was here showed that the situation was already critical. Xiao Yu did not delay. “Announce him!” With that, she walked to the front hall.

“Your Majesty, has something happened?” Song Luoning asked with a frown.

Xiao Yu turned back and looked at Song Luoning, hesitating for a moment. “My father-in-law and brother-in-law have rebelled.”

There was nothing to hide now. The news would soon spread throughout the palace. For another reason, she also wanted to see Miss’s reaction.

“My father and brother are rebelling?”

Song Luoning’s feet stumbled. Xiao Yu quickly supported her. The color on Miss’s face instantly drained away. She had known that her father had this intention. At that time, out of consideration for their family relationship, she had only given a subtle warning. She did not expect that he would actually…

If she had told this person the truth back then, would she have been able to stop this disaster?

Why did her father have to rebel?

Song Luoning looked dejected and said after a long time, “Does Your Majesty have a plan?”

The only people available were the guards in the palace. Xiao Yu closed her eyes. “Not yet. I’m going out to take a look now. Don’t worry.” With that, she left.

“Wait.” Song Luoning chased after her. “I’ll go with you.”

Xiao Yu paused and nodded. “Let’s go.”

She was not at ease leaving her here alone. If it came to it, she would find a way to protect her, or maybe Song Yunzhou would take their father-daughter relationship into consideration and not do anything to her.

They entered the front hall together. The city general was already waiting.

“What’s the situation?” Xiao Yu asked.

The city general cupped his hands. “Prime Minister Song… Song Yunzhou asked me to pass a message. As long as the city gates are opened, he will not kill…”

He did not continue, but Xiao Yu understood. She did not want to die like this, but she also could not bring herself to surrender.

“Is there any news about the Imperial Guards?” Xiao Yu asked.

The city general was silent.

Xiao Yu frowned. Logically, the Imperial Guards had just left, and they should be able to catch up on horseback. Why?

After a moment of silence, she said, “Let’s go to the city gate and take a look.” Suddenly, she paused. “Are there any secret escape routes in the palace?”

The city general thought the emperor wanted to escape and immediately showed contempt, but he still shook his head truthfully.

Xiao Yu did not dwell on it. If there was a secret passage, how would a general guarding the city know about it? Only the old people in the palace or the empress dowager would know.

“Yes, the empress dowager. She must know. I’ll go find her!”

Before she could leave, there was a commotion outside the hall.

“Who is it?” Xiao Yu asked.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s Madam Xiao,” a palace attendant replied.

“Oh, them, too,” Xiao Yu sighed. “How can I protect them?”

“Let them in,” Xiao Yu said.

Jiang Wanrou and Chen Yu walked in anxiously and asked, “What’s going on? How did I hear that our in-laws have rebelled? How could this happen?”

How could she explain?

Xiao Yu looked at Song Luoning, biting her lip. “How could Song Yunzhou spare her, and not her?”

They should not be implicated.

Chen Yu pulled on Jiang Wanrou’s sleeve. “Aunt, don’t worry. Let’s hear what my cousin has to say first.”

“You’re right. We can’t panic now.” Jiang Wanrou took a few deep breaths. “What’s going on?”

What else could be going on?

Xiao Yu sighed and ordered the palace attendant beside her, “Go and invite the empress dowager.”

“Yes.”

“Wait, tell all the women in the imperial harem to gather here.”

The palace attendant took the order and left in a hurry.

Xiao Yu then said a few more words to the city general. The city general sighed heavily and left the front hall quickly.

Xiao Yu thought for a moment and instructed, “If you get a chance, you should leave first.”

“…” Jiang Wanrou slapped Xiao Yu on the head. What did this wretched child think she was? Could she abandon her child and run for her life alone? What kind of mother could do such a thing?

“Mother, why did you hit me?” Xiao Yu rubbed the spot that was hit.

Jiang Wanrou put her hands on her hips. “Why do you think I hit you?” This wretched child.

Xiao Yu sighed heavily and explained the pros and cons of the situation to her cheap mother again.

“You want me to leave my own child and run for my life alone?” Jiang Wanrou’s eyes reddened. If there was a way, couldn’t they all go together? When did this wretched child become so stubborn?

There were few women in the palace. Besides them, there was only one empress dowager and two concubines. They soon gathered in the front hall of Funing Palace.

“Hmm?”

Xiao Yu frowned and asked the palace attendant beside her, “Why isn’t Consort Liu here? Was she not notified?”

The palace attendant answered truthfully, “We all notified her, but Consort Liu was not in her palace.”

“She’s gone?”

“Did she already escape?”

This was not the time to dwell on it. Xiao Yu nodded, indicating that she understood. She then explained the situation to them. She placed her hope in these old people in the palace. The emperor would always leave a way out for himself, and this secret would only be known to himself or his closest people.

She had just ascended to the throne and did not know much about the palace.

As expected, the empress dowager told them about the secret passage in the palace.

Xiao Yu immediately arranged for people to leave.

The quiet night was brightly lit in the palace. The palace attendants hurrying back and forth all looked panicked.

“What about you after we leave?”

Xiao Yu curled her lips. “Don’t worry. I’ve already sent someone to find the Imperial Guards. They’ll be back soon.”

Xiao Yu did not tell the truth. The person she had sent to find the Imperial Guards had already returned, but the Imperial Guards had not.

Others did not know, but Song Luoning did. She looked dejected and said after a long time, “I’ll stay with you.” Her tone was firm.

“What nonsense are you talking about? If we’re going to stay, we’ll all stay. We’re not leaving.” Jiang Wanrou said.

“I’m not leaving either,” Chen Yu echoed.

Xiao Yu’s eyes were a little red. The greatest luck she had since transmigrating was meeting these family members who cared about her. The original owner did not know how to cherish such a good family.

Unfortunately, she did not know if she would have the chance to spend time with them again.

Jiang Wanrou said, “Empress Dowager, Consort, you should leave first.”

The empress dowager looked at her and said in a deep voice, “How could I be a coward who fears death?”

Jiang Wanrou choked and pursed her lips. She would not leave first. If they were to leave, they should. She wanted to stay with her wretched child.

After a long time of arguing, no one was willing to leave first.

Xiao Yu could not do anything either.

“Your Majesty, this is bad, this is bad…” A palace attendant stumbled in. “Prime Minister Song and his men have broken in. They’re killing everyone they see. Your Majesty, please escape quickly.”

Xiao Yu’s heart sank. “How could they be so fast?”

“Someone opened the city gate…” The palace attendant did not continue, but Xiao Yu understood. There was a traitor in the palace who was colluding with the outside.

“Immediately summon all the guards and armored soldiers in the palace.”

As soon as the order was given, the palace door was kicked open. Then, a deep voice came. “Your Majesty, don’t bother anymore.”

Xiao Yu turned her head and saw Song Yunzhou and the three Song brothers leading their troops into the hall. Standing beside Song Yunzhou was Consort Liu, who had been missing.

At this moment, Xiao Yu also understood why Consort Liu had appeared so coincidentally when Xiao Chengze was trying to kill her, and why she had so coincidentally met Song Yanyu at the Gongchen Gate. It turned out that they had planned it all along.

Xiao Yu was puzzled. If they wanted to be the emperor, why did they have to go through so much trouble? Why did they have to put her in this position first?

She looked around. There were also ministers who had come with them. They were all from Song Yunzhou’s faction. It was obvious who they supported. Xiao Yu was not panicking, but she felt wronged that the people who had given her warmth would have to die with her this time.

She should have had them tied up and sent out of the palace just now, so that so many people would not die for nothing.

Seeing that she did not speak, Song Yunzhou waved his hand, and a line of soldiers rushed in. The soldiers slowly approached.

“Since Xiao Yu ascended the throne, she has disregarded the country’s affairs, shown no filial piety, and killed her royal relatives. She has no virtue of a saint, which has led to widespread public resentment and natural disasters…” Song Yunzhou said in a loud voice.

“Is it my fault?”

Xiao Yu sneered. How could he say that?

“Today, this old subject has finally fulfilled the late emperor’s trust and found the late emperor’s lost heir, so that our Boisheng royal family can be restored to its rightful lineage.”

Xiao Yu was stunned. “The late emperor’s son?”

Before she could react, a man in a luxurious robe walked out of the hall and stood beside Consort Liu. It was not difficult to see that the man’s eyebrows were somewhat similar to Consort Liu’s.

“Could it really be the late emperor’s son?”

A hint of hesitation flashed in Xiao Yu’s eyes. Since he was the late emperor’s son, it was only right for him to inherit the throne. Why did they have to create such a scene?

She did not believe the nonsense about just finding him. The plan was so meticulous that there must be something fishy.

“Could it be…”

A terrifying thought flashed through her mind. He must be Consort Liu’s son. Song Yunzhou was so active…

She could not help but glance at Song Luoning. This man was probably older than Miss. If Song Yunzhou really had something going on with Consort Liu, wouldn’t it have happened when Miss’s mother was still alive?

Song Luoning was also frowning, not knowing what she was thinking.

“What are you waiting for? Take them all down,” Song Yanqi shouted.

“What? Are you going to take me down as well?” At this moment, the empress dowager stepped out. The murderous aura on her was no less than Song Yunzhou’s.

They had almost forgotten that this empress dowager was from a military family. How could she not have some skills?

Looking at Song Yanqi, his aura weakened instantly. He turned to look at Song Yunzhou.

“Prime Minister Song, you led troops into the palace in the middle of the night. Are you trying to depose the emperor or rebel?” the empress dowager asked in a loud voice.

This…

The ministers who came with them all looked at Song Yunzhou. They were on Prime Minister Song’s side, but they did not want to rebel.

Song Yunzhou naturally felt their gazes. He did not even look at them and said sincerely, “This matter concerns the centuries-old foundation of Boisheng. If the empress dowager insists on blocking me, this old subject will bear the infamy for generations to come to protect the royal bloodline.”

In other words, it did not matter if she was the empress dowager. If she blocked him, he would arrest her.

Hearing this, the ministers all gasped. They knew that saying this was a capital crime.

The ministers looked at each other.

The empress dowager did not care. She smiled. “Prime Minister Song said that this child is the late emperor’s heir who was lost among the people. Do you have any evidence?”

She hit the nail on the head.

“That’s right, where’s the evidence?”

“You say he’s the late emperor’s heir just because you said so?”

The ministers were not fools. Their eyes all turned to Prime Minister Song.

Song Yunzhou gritted his teeth. “These useless bastards!” He took a deep breath and took out a jade ruyi from the man’s neck.

“Everyone, please look. This is what the late emperor gave to the little prince when Consort Liu was giving birth. Who would have thought that such a thing would happen in the end?” Song Yunzhou said sadly.

“This is indeed the late emperor’s personal item.”

“I also heard that the late emperor gave it to the little prince.”

“It seems that this child is indeed the late emperor’s heir.”

“Could it be true? Was I wrong?”

Xiao Yu could not help but look at the empress dowager, who was staring at the jade pendant in a daze.

“What’s going on?”

“Why is she in a daze at a time like this?”

“Empress Dowager,” Xiao Yu reminded her in a low voice.

The empress dowager snapped out of it and reprimanded in a stern voice, “Nonsense.”

The late emperor had clearly given the jade pendant to their daughter. Unfortunately, the child was killed by a villain shortly after birth. Why was the jade pendant in their hands? Could it be that the person who killed her child was Song Yunzhou and Consort Liu?

The empress dowager suppressed the hatred in her heart. If it was them, she would definitely seek justice for her child and make them pay for their crime with blood.

Song Yunzhou said calmly, “The ministers present can all testify that the late emperor was assassinated on his way to the temporary palace. Consort Liu gave birth to a son at that time, but unfortunately, the little prince was lost during the escape. Does the empress dowager have any more questions?”

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