Xiao Heng probed: “Imperial Concubine, are you the one in charge in Zhaoning Hall now?”
Imperial Concubine Yun snorted coldly and heavily.
Xiao Heng said, “Imperial Concubine, how is my nephew’s wife now? Shall I send a physician in to examine her?”
Imperial Concubine Yun said coldly, “No need. I still want her to live well.”
Seeing that Imperial Concubine Yun was unmoved by either soft or hard approaches, Xiao Heng felt quite frustrated and irritated. It had been so long without hearing Xiao Jingyue speak, which made him very worried: “Imperial Concubine, how is Yue’er now? I’d like to say a few words to him.”
Upon hearing this, Imperial Concubine Yun said leisurely, “I heard Xiao Jingyue say he had people ambush the Princess Consort’s carriage. I wonder how my daughter-in-law is now? I’d like to say a few words to her.”
Xiao Heng was speechless. He had always thought Imperial Concubine Yun didn’t involve herself in worldly affairs and was easy to talk to, but he had forgotten that after decades of fighting with the Old Princess Consort, she had always managed to get the upper hand.
“Imperial Concubine, though you and the Old Princess Consort have never gotten along, in front of so many people, disregarding her safety probably isn’t appropriate, is it?” Xiao Heng said.
Imperial Concubine Yun found this somewhat amusing and said sarcastically: “A beast who can hold his legitimate mother hostage is teaching me what’s appropriate? Xiao Heng, you think far too highly of that face of yours.”
This slap to the face left Xiao Heng speechless for a long moment.
Ren Yaoqi, who was forced to sit on the side watching the show, thought that now she finally understood where the Prince and Xiao Jinglin got their ability to infuriate people with just one sentence.
Imperial Concubine Yun changed her tone and said righteously: “Your Highness Princess, when the late Emperor’s imperial edict for your marriage said you were chaste, obedient, and wise—to live up to this word ‘chaste,’ when Yanbei Prince’s residence is being threatened like this, you should make a decision. After all, our Prince’s residence has never accepted threats from enemies.”
Everyone was stunned before remembering that the “Your Highness Princess” Imperial Concubine Yun mentioned was the Old Princess Consort.
The Old Princess Consort was both shocked and furious. Was this bitch Yun suggesting that she should commit suicide so as not to burden Yanbei Prince’s residence?
“You’re just hoping I’ll die, aren’t you? I won’t give you what you want!” the Old Princess Consort shouted angrily.
Imperial Concubine Yun chuckled lightly: “What a pity. Pass word down—when we shoot arrows later, there’s no need to refrain from acting for fear of injuring the innocent. If Your Highness, Princess, is unfortunately injured by mistake, we’ll just say she sacrificed herself so that Yanbei Prince’s residence wouldn’t be threatened by villains.” Imperial Concubine Yun didn’t know to whom she was giving this latter instruction.
The Old Princess Consort’s face turned pale, and she was so frightened she couldn’t even speak.
Xiao Heng watched from the side with unpredictable expressions. The Old Princess Consort and Imperial Concubine Yun were mortal enemies—it seemed that using the Old Princess Consort to threaten Imperial Concubine Yun wouldn’t work. If it had been the Princess Consort or Lady Ren today, they would have refrained from acting for fear of hurting the innocent. Moreover, Xiao Heng couldn’t do anything to the Old Princess Consort, since she was also inclined toward the court faction.
Xiao Heng had tried both soft and hard approaches but still couldn’t save Xiao Jingyue, while the guards holding bows and arrows stationed around Zhaoning Hall were all getting impatient and had raised their arms to point arrows in their direction. Xiao Heng was afraid of death after all, and after a moment of standoff, he finally retreated with his people.
It wasn’t that Xiao Heng hadn’t thought of dealing with Zhaoning Hall’s guards first, but no matter how many people he sent out, they couldn’t avoid their arrows before injuring these guards.
Seeing that Xiao Heng had finally left, Zhaoning Hall also became quiet.
The usually taciturn Imperial Concubine Yun’s outburst that scolded Xiao Heng into retreat left everyone somewhat unable to recover.
After Imperial Concubine Yun drank half a cup of tea to moisten her throat, she returned to her usual cold demeanor.
Ren Yaoqi was no longer intimidated by her coldness. She coughed lightly and flattered: “Grandmother is amazing.”
Imperial Concubine Yun glanced at her sideways, snorted, obviously indicating she wasn’t buying into that approach.
Ren Yaoqi smiled with pursed lips.
The captive Yelu Sage, who had been sitting silently to one side for a long time, now spoke up: “Even if you look down on Xiao Heng, this traitor, the fact is that his people have surrounded the entire Prince’s residence and may have already controlled all of Yunyang City. When he brings in large numbers of troops, even if your guards can fight a hundred enemies each, they won’t be able to resist for too long.”
No one in the room spoke.
Yelu Sage continued: “Perhaps you don’t believe he has that capability. He certainly doesn’t have that capability himself, but what if he has help from your court? Taking advantage of Miss Zhao and Young Master Yun’s wedding, the court has inserted quite a few troops. Xiao Heng has long been in collusion with your court.”
She paused, “If you fall into Xiao Heng’s hands, you definitely won’t escape death. Why not try cooperating with me? I still have some influence in Great Liao—saving your lives wouldn’t be difficult.”
Imperial Concubine Yun glanced at her: “You see us fighting internally and think you have a chance to reap the benefits? Don’t let your abacus clatter too loudly—you’ll bite your tongue.”
Yelu Sage’s expression changed, and she said with difficulty, “I’m just looking for a path that’s good for all of us.”
Influenced by Imperial Concubine Yun, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile at Yelu Sage and said: “Looking for a path that’s ‘good for all of us’ might be somewhat difficult. Given our respective positions, shouldn’t we hold the attitude of ‘rather suffer ourselves than let the other side benefit’? Otherwise, why would we have fought so many years of war?”
Yelu Sage: “…”
Imperial Concubine Yun glanced at Ren Yaoqi, thinking: Well done!
Finally, Imperial Concubine Yun summarized: “Those not of our race must have different hearts. Don’t think we’re ignorant women and children who’ll fall for your tricks!”
After an unknown length of time, the sky had completely darkened, yet no one in Zhaoning Hall could sleep. This was destined to be a difficult night to endure.
Imperial Concubine Yun advised Ren Yaoqi: “You should rest. If there’s any commotion, I’ll wake you. You sitting here like this can’t help with anything.”
Ren Yaoqi thought it over and nodded in agreement. Everyone in the room unanimously breathed a sigh of relief. Even though the situation was complex, they all hoped Ren Yaoqi and her child would be safe.
Ren Yaoqi returned to the inner chamber. Nanxing and Pingguo followed to guard her closely.
Ren Yaoqi lay on the bed but couldn’t sleep. She could only close her eyes to rest. After an unknown period, she suddenly called out: “Pingguo, come here.”
Pingguo, who had been sitting with her head down, staring at her hands in a daze, snapped back to attention and hurried to the bedside: “Miss, what is it? Do you want water?”
Ren Yaoqi opened her eyes and smiled at her, gently patting the edge of the bed. Pingguo understood and sat down.
Ren Yaoqi reached out to take Pingguo’s hand, then, under her startled gaze, guided her hand to cover her abdomen. Pingguo’s hand trembled slightly, carefully trying to lift her palm, as if worried that even that little bit of weight might press on the child in Ren Yaoqi’s belly.
Ren Yaoqi said gently, “Today, thanks to you and Nanxing.”
Pingguo was somewhat at a loss. Nanxing, who had been pretending to doze on the side, opened her eyes.
Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly: “But you did a good thing—why do you look so uneasy?”
Pingguo then lowered her head, not daring to look at Ren Yaoqi: “Miss, I don’t know what came over me then. I couldn’t control myself. Will you be afraid of me? Will you think I’m not suitable to stay by your side?”
Ren Yaoqi was stunned. She had noticed that Pingguo had been acting strange since earlier—it turned out this was what she was worried about.
Ren Yaoqi sighed: “Pingguo, you’ve been by my side for many years. In my heart, you’ve always been well-behaved and sensible. The reason you struck so harshly today was because you saw Nanxing fighting with Yelu Sage and were afraid Xiao Jingyue would come over and harm me and the child?”
Pingguo thought about it, then nodded: “Mm.” After a pause, she added, “I was also very angry.”
Ren Yaoqi smiled: “That’s right, so you weren’t wrong to strike harshly.”
Pingguo had always been an obedient maid. Hearing her master say this, she indeed felt much more relaxed. After she had finished hitting Xiao Jingyue and come to her senses, she was afraid her master would dislike her for being too fierce and not gentle enough.
Nanxing also spoke up: “You weren’t wrong. Next time you encounter such people, you should still do the same. How can maids of Yanbei Prince’s residence be timid and cowardly!”
Pingguo was thus reassured—she had always been someone with simple thoughts.
Just at this moment, Ren Yaoqi heard various sounds coming from far outside. Listening carefully, she could faintly make out shouts, the clash of weapons, and the neighing of horses.
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but sit up in bed, frowning: “What’s happening outside?”
Nanxing couldn’t leave Ren Yaoqi’s side for even half a step. Just as Pingguo was about to get up to go outside and ask, Sangshen ran in excitedly: “Miss, the guards outside say Commander Mu has brought people and is now fighting with those people outside.”
Ren Yaoqi nodded and wanted to get out of bed.
But Sangshen quickly said: “Imperial Concubine told you to keep resting and not get up. It’ll take some time for Commander Mu’s people to fight their way in.”
Ren Yaoqi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—how could she sleep now? But she didn’t go against Imperial Concubine Yun’s wishes either. She simply leaned against the headboard to rest, saying to Sangshen, “You go outside. Come tell me if there’s any news.”
Sangshen responded and went out.
However, unexpectedly, this battle didn’t last too long before ending. When Commander Mu brought people in, it wasn’t yet dawn.
It turned out that those guards who were previously thought to have been completely controlled by Xiao Jingyue hadn’t entirely lost their ability to act—they had just been pretending to be weak at first. When Commander Mu brought people to fight back, these guards coordinated from inside and outside, charging out from within the Prince’s residence, so Commander Mu’s entry went very smoothly.
“Where’s Xiao Heng?” Imperial Concubine Yun asked the blood-covered Commander Mu with a cold face.
Commander Mu hadn’t had time to change into clean clothes and had hurried to Zhaoning Hall. Seeing that Imperial Concubine Yun, the Young Madam, and his wife were all unharmed, this dark-faced man finally breathed a sigh of relief and restrained his murderous aura.
“When your subordinates entered, Xiao Heng was no longer in the residence.”
Imperial Concubine Yun snorted coldly: “He certainly ran fast!”
As soon as she finished speaking, seeing Ren Yaoqi walking out from the inner chamber, Imperial Concubine Yun looked at Commander Mu, then said to Ren Yaoqi: “What are you coming out for?”
Imperial Concubine Yun wasn’t afraid of the blood-soaked Commander Mu, but worried that the murderous aura on them might affect the child in Ren Yaoqi’s belly.