The Jinwu Guard was responsible for guarding the inner imperial palace, while the Five Armies Camp took charge beyond the gates. At night, the palace had a curfew, and the so-called patrol merely involved walking around Qianqing Palace once.
Song Mo unhurriedly made his way from Yuehua Gate towards Longfu Gate. As he reached Fengcai Gate, he saw Wang Ge standing under the veranda of Hongde Hall, waving at him.
After a moment’s thought, Song Mo smiled and walked over, cupping his hands in greeting to Wang Ge. Wang Ge returned the gesture with a smile and pointed to a side room next to Hongde Hall. Song Mo nodded, and the two entered the room one after the other.
Wang Ge heaved a long sigh, straightening his posture. “This late summer heat, fluctuating between hot and cold, has put the Emperor in a foul mood. We must be on our toes at all times.”
Serving the Emperor was like serving a tiger. In previous years, the Emperor would stay in the Western Garden until early August before returning to the palace. This year, however, Imperial Consort Liu, who had accompanied the Emperor to the Western Garden to escape the heat, suddenly fell ill and died in mid-July. This upset the Emperor so much that he lost interest in his summer retreat and returned to the palace in late July. As a result, all those serving him became extremely cautious, fearing they might inadvertently anger him.
The side room contained only a bed, a chair, and a table.
Song Mo sat in the room’s only armchair, smiling as he said, “The Emperor’s mood will improve by the Double Ninth Festival.”
Perhaps due to his advancing age, the Emperor, who used to treat the Double Ninth Festival as a mountain-climbing day, had spent the past two years hosting banquets for retired senior officials. The scale of these events grew grander each year.
“That just means more work for us in the Twenty-Four Bureaus,” Wang Ge said, uncharacteristically outspoken and borderline arrogant. “I’d rather the Emperor went mountain climbing. At least then we’d have the Jinwu Guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Banner Guard to share the burden. Misery loves company.”
Song Mo smiled faintly.
Wang Ge changed the subject with a grin. “I asked you here, Young Master, to show you something.” He pulled out a hairpin wrapped in a handkerchief from his sleeve.
The hairpin was no more than three inches long, made of pure gold, set with a pigeon egg-sized sapphire surrounded by rice grain-sized rubies.
It gleamed brilliantly in the dim lamplight.
Song Mo’s expression changed dramatically. He stood up abruptly, his gaze sharp as knives and arrows as he glared at Wang Ge.
Wang Ge flinched but quickly regained his composure. He smiled and said, “It seems the rumors about the deep affection between you and your wife are true, Young Master. You recognized her possession at a glance. Well then, I’ll speak plainly—Prince Liao has no ill intentions. He merely invited your wife and young Master Hui to stay at his residence for a few days. After Prince Liao has an audience with the Emperor, he’ll send them back. I hope you can accommodate this request, Young Master.”
Song Mo sneered his pale temples showing visible veins. “You’re not qualified to negotiate with me!”
Wang Ge hated being looked down upon, and a flash of resentment crossed his eyes.
Suddenly, a gentle voice with a hint of amusement rang out in the room. “Am I qualified enough?”
Song Mo’s pupils contracted, a glint of sharp light flashing through them as he turned towards the voice.
A tall figure dressed as an imperial servant emerged from behind the bed.
Prince Liao!
Song Mo’s face showed shock as he exclaimed, “Your Highness, how did you get in here?”
Prince Liao grinned, his smile unable to conceal his pride. “I am, after all, a legitimate son of the dragon lineage.”
So, he intends to seize the throne!
To commit treason!
Song Mo remained silent.
Prince Liao continued, “Yan Tang, we’ve grown up together. You know how I’ve treated you and how the Crown Prince has treated you. I understand why you rejected me before—family loyalty, you had to choose. I’m showing you your wife’s hairpin today to give you a way to explain yourself to the world. Why must you stubbornly adhere to old ways and stand in my path, turning friends into enemies? To be honest, I’m doing this out of necessity. Have you ever seen a Crown Prince ascend the throne and spare his half-brothers? Don’t accuse me of being ruthless!”
Song Mo pressed his lips together, saying nothing, but his expression was somewhat defiant.
Seeing this, Prince Liao sighed and said, “Yan Tang, I know you’ve arranged people to protect Madam Dou. If I remember correctly, their leader is called Lu Ming. I’ve heard he’s skilled, and his men are capable. So I asked Shi Chuan to deal with Lu Ming. As for your brother-in-law Chen Jia, he’s talented too. Shi Chuan has praised him to me more than once. By now, he should have been called to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s office, where Liu Yu is keeping him company over tea.
As for Madam Dou, given the separation of men and women, it wouldn’t be appropriate for others to approach. So I asked your father and brother to help, pretending to have sprained an ankle while out. No matter how much you dislike Song Han, I believe your wife, being the person she is, would at least allow Song Han to rest at the estate for a moment. As for your young uncle, the Jiang family has always been loyal and upright, so I was a bit uneasy. I’ve brought him along this time and temporarily housed him at my residence, with Geng Li watching over him…”
Everything had been meticulously planned, without a single flaw!
Song Mo stood silently, his expression somewhat cryptic.
Prince Liao didn’t rush him, standing face to face with Song Mo.
Wang Ge dared not speak.
The room fell into complete silence.
The distant fourth watch drum sounded.
Prince Liao frowned.
Was Song Mo trying to stall for time?
Just as he was about to speak, Song Mo spoke in a hoarse voice, “Let me see that hairpin.”
Prince Liao and Wang Ge’s expressions relaxed slightly, with Wang Ge eagerly presenting the hairpin.
Song Mo walked to the lamp and examined the hairpin closely.
A small oval mark, like a peony petal, was carved with two small seal script characters: “寿姑” (longevity lady).
Song Mo gripped the hairpin tightly, his fingertips turning white as he closed his eyes in pain.
Prince Liao and Wang Ge exchanged a glance, their hearts easing as faint smiles appeared on their lips.
Suddenly, Song Mo stepped back and shouted, “Assassin!” He kicked down the door of the side room.
A commotion erupted outside.
Lamps were being lit everywhere.
The smile froze on Wang Ge’s face.
Prince Liao’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Song Yan Tang, did you think I would take such a risk unprepared? Since you refuse to cooperate, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Before he finished speaking, the captain who had been patrolling with Song Mo drew his sword and slashed at him.
Song Mo dodged the blade and ran straight toward the Emperor’s inner chamber in Zhaoren Hall. Someone engaged in a fierce fight with the captain.
Zhaoren Hall was now brightly lit.
A small eunuch appeared at the main door of Zhaoren Hall, holding a dagger to Wang Yuan’s throat.
Song Mo’s face darkened as he shouted, “Where is the Emperor?”
Wang Yuan smiled bitterly and said, “The Emperor is in the side room, attended by Bai Xi.”
When the Emperor visited his consorts, he would stay in the side room behind Zhaoren Hall.
Bai Xi was Wang Ge’s adopted son.
In other words, the Emperor had been taken hostage by Bai Xi while spending time with a consort.
Song Mo cursed inwardly and shouted to the surrounding Jinwu Guard, “To die for the Emperor is an honorable death. Save His Majesty!”
The small eunuch’s dagger cut three fen deep into Wang Yuan’s flesh, causing him to scream in fear.
No one paid him any attention.
Everyone rushed towards Zhaoren Hall.
Wang Yuan muttered quietly, “Song Yan Tang if I die here, my ghost will never let you rest.” As he spoke, he mysteriously pulled out a black dagger from his sleeve and suddenly stabbed it into the small eunuch’s chest.
The small eunuch’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He couldn’t understand how Wang Yuan had a dagger. Those serving the Emperor were not allowed to carry any weapons!
He collapsed with a thud.
Wang Yuan scrambled to the corner, desperately pressing his sleeve against his bleeding neck as he watched Song Mo sprint through the main hall towards the side room.
Only one palace lamp was lit in the side room.
The favored consort, wrapped in a brocade quilt, cowered beside the Emperor, not daring to raise her head.
The Emperor glared furiously at Bai Xi, shouting, “You little beast, how dare you attempt assassination!”
Intimidated by the Emperor’s authority, Bai Xi’s hand holding the knife trembled uncontrollably. His voice quavered, but his expression showed determination. “This slave is only following orders. I beg for Your Majesty’s mercy!”
As he spoke, the sound of fighting came from outside.
The Emperor’s expression remained unchanged, but he felt a surge of secret joy.
Song Mo’s anxious shout came from outside, “How dare you! Which palace are you from, to commit such treachery?”
No one answered.
The sound of fighting grew more intense.
The Emperor’s expression changed slightly.
Song Mo was in charge of the Jinwu Guard and knew all the prominent eunuchs. The appearance of strangers who had infiltrated the forbidden palace without Song Mo’s knowledge could only be the work of either himself or the occupant of Kunning Palace behind them.
The Emperor’s heart ached intensely.
He clutched his chest.
The door of the side room was kicked open, and unfamiliar men dressed as eunuchs entered with murderous intent. One of them said to Bai Xi, “Hurry, escort the Emperor to Kunning Palace. That damn Song Mo is risking his life!”
Bai Xi looked at the newcomer hesitantly.
The man didn’t care about Bai Xi’s hesitation. He stepped forward and grabbed the Emperor, dragging him out.
It was the first time in his life that the Emperor had been treated this way. He trembled with anger, unable to speak. The consort, still naked, fainted from fright.
Two more men entered and supported the Emperor, quickly leaving the side room.
In the moonlight, members of the Jinwu Guard were locked in combat with a group of eunuchs. Song Mo was fighting seven opponents at once. Neither side could overcome the other, resulting in a stalemate.
The Emperor’s heart sank.
The sound of someone pounding on the hall doors rang out, accompanied by a strong, resonant voice: “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has come to your rescue. Please forgive our late arrival!”
The Emperor couldn’t help but look surprised.
After nightfall in the palace, all halls were locked. Even if there was a disturbance, no one dared to move about freely. This was especially true for the Eastern Palace, as it could easily lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. The Jinwu Guard’s patrols of the Eastern Palace were always the strictest.
The Crown Prince was known for his weakness, which somewhat displeased the Emperor. However, he hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to show such courage and decisiveness in this critical moment, boldly leading people to rescue him.
The Emperor inexplicably let out a long sigh, feeling a sense of relief and comfort.
“Release me!” he commanded. The two fake eunuchs supporting him instinctively let go.
The Emperor adjusted his robe and strode towards Kunning Palace.
The main gate of Qianqing Palace collapsed with a thunderous sound.
Members of the Jinwu Guard poured in.
The Crown Prince, looking at the scene before him, turned pale and seemed unable to believe his eyes.
“Is it Prince Liao?” he murmured. “How dare he take such a risk?”
Ji Yong, who was supporting him, barely managed to suppress an eye roll. He said gently, “Whether it’s Prince Liao or not, Your Highness should go to rescue the Emperor immediately!”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince collected himself and was about to step forward when Cui Yijun, who had been closely following them, stopped him.
“Please wait a moment, Your Highness!” His eyes flashed with suspicion as he looked at Ji Yong. “How does Master Ji have a Jinwu Guard token? And it seems to be Lord Song’s token. If I remember correctly, today isn’t Master Ji’s duty day…”