At this moment, the Eastern Palace was a scene of song and dance, peace and prosperity. Numerous ministers were busy sending gifts into the Eastern Palace, each one grander than the last!
The eunuchs and palace maids were also bustling about preparing pastries and tea, attending to everyone individually.
Fearing anything might be inadequate.
The Emperor, being bedridden with illness, was unable to come. Consort Xiao, having fainted in the great fire, had also become somewhat weak in body, so she didn’t come either.
At this time, the Crown Prince stood in red robes outside the Eastern Palace gates, watching from afar as the bright red flower sedan chair was carried over. Following the wedding attendant’s instructions, he first kicked the sedan door, then pulled open the curtain, and carefully drew the Crown Princess out using a red sash.
The scene was extremely beautiful!
Firecrackers, gongs, and drums sounded one after another, growing louder and louder.
The Crown Prince maintained his modest smile throughout, pulling his Crown Princess into the Eastern Palace.
The grand wedding followed the reception procedures, completing each step under everyone’s gaze. Finally, Kong Yu was helped into the inner chamber, where she sat on the bed, waiting for her future husband to enter and consummate their marriage.
However, outside, after the Crown Prince finished toasting a round of wine, he left—not going to the bridal chamber, but to a side hall of the Eastern Palace.
Jinghua’s personal guards, wearing armor, were waiting in the side hall, holding swords in their hands, appearing quite imposing.
Upon entering, Jinghua directly tore off the red robe from his body and threw it to the ground.
It turned out—
He wore beneath it a brown-yellow Crown Prince’s robe!
The dragon embroidered on it was actually done according to imperial specifications.
“How is everything?” Jinghua asked.
The personal guard bowed his head. “Everything has been deployed. We await only the Crown Prince’s command.”
“Depart now.”
“Yes!”
As Jinghua spoke, he took down a sword from the screen rack. But looking at this sword in his hand, his heart suddenly filled with some hesitation.
This sword was obtained by Emperor Qizhen during his campaigns in his youth, specially bestowed upon him.
He touched the mottled, orderly, uneven patterns on the sword hilt. It seemed to flow coldly along the lines of his palm, causing his heart, which had become ruthless, to gradually waver somewhat.
Until—
The personal guard beside him reminded him: “Crown Prince, this is the best opportunity. Any later will be too late.”
He suddenly snapped awake.
He gripped the sword tightly in his hand.
“Let’s go!”
With great momentum!
The front hall of the Eastern Palace was extremely lively, completely oblivious to the bloody storm about to occur!
Jingrong left the Judicial Court’s prison and, with Minister Yu’s help, successfully entered the palace. Wearing inconspicuous eunuch’s clothing to avoid attention, he quietly reached the back gate of the Eastern Palace.
Just as he watched the main gate open and the Crown Prince and several personal guards emerge from inside.
Jingrong was about to go stop them when suddenly his hand was grabbed by a force.
Looking back, he discovered it was actually Ji Yunshu!
Ji Yunshu’s hands gripped him tightly. She glanced in the Crown Prince’s direction, then turned to shake her head at him.
“You cannot go over there.”
Jingrong was momentarily stunned. “How are you here?”
“I had Brother Lang go to the Judicial Court to find you, but you weren’t there. I thought you should be here, so I had Brother Lang bring me into the palace.”
“Since you knew I would appear here, you should know what I’m going to do.”
“I know!” Ji Yunshu said with certainty. “This matter cannot be reversed. It’s the Crown Prince’s own choice.”
Hearing these words, Jingrong became angry and shook her off, finding it hard to believe.
“This is your method of saving me?”
“I…”
“Having the Crown Prince besiege the palace and bear the guilt for me—Ji Yunshu, how could you even think of such a thing!” Jingrong rebuked angrily.
It was unimaginable that Ji Yunshu would use this method to save him.
Ji Yunshu’s heart felt as if pierced by needles. She swallowed her tears and grievances into her stomach, maintaining a resolute attitude. “The Crown Prince’s rebellion is inevitable. Even if not today, it would eventually happen one day. As long as I can save you, I’ll spare no effort.”
The woman before him seemed somewhat unfamiliar!
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Ji Yunshu continued, “Prince Yi promised me he would do everything possible to preserve the Crown Prince’s life. He will do it. If you go stop them now, it will be useless.”
Jingrong’s heart trembled.
“So you and Jingyi truly did make a deal. Ji Yunshu, tell me—if I hadn’t noticed the abnormality, were you planning to hide this from me for a lifetime?”
Ji Yunshu had no words to respond!
In Jingrong’s view, the person who gave Jingyi the idea to have the Crown Prince besiege the palace was her, Ji Yunshu. Thus, she made Jingrong’s safe withdrawal the condition of exchange.
But how could he know that this was actually a plan Jingyi had set up long ago, and the real deal was—
She agreed to leave Jingrong and follow Prince Yi, using this to ensure Jingrong’s safety.
Seeing her silence, Jingrong pushed her away and stepped back two paces, his eyes full of disappointment.
He said, “If it’s necessary to exchange the Crown Prince’s life for mine, Ji Yunshu, I’d rather die.”
Having said this, he intended to chase after the Crown Prince.
But Ji Yunshu directly spread her arms wide, blocking his way, her eyes red.
“It’s too late. The Crown Prince’s troops have already surrounded Fuyang Hall at this moment. Jingrong, listen to me—leave the palace quickly. This matter has nothing to do with you. This is between the Crown Prince and Prince Yi. Moreover, even if the Emperor is furious about the Crown Prince forcing the palace, he won’t bear to truly kill him. He’ll only strip him of his Crown Prince position. Prince Yi will also plead for mercy. But you’re different—if there’s no evidence for the Chengqing Hall incident, you will die.”
She couldn’t help but shed tears!
And these words were not without reason!
After all, Jinghua was the Emperor’s most beloved son. No matter what, he couldn’t bear to have him killed!
Jingrong found it laughably absurd.
The disappointment in his heart also transformed into heartache.
At this moment, over a dozen eunuchs carrying lanterns were approaching from the distance. If Jingrong were discovered, the crime placed upon him would be prison escape!
Ji Yunshu said nervously, “Leave the palace quickly. Any later, once something happens at Fuyang Hall, the city gates will be sealed, and then you won’t be able to leave.”
Jingrong looked toward those dozen or so approaching eunuchs, then his gaze fell upon Ji Yunshu, and he smiled coldly.
That smile was like a strange, thorny flower in the dark night.
It pierced Ji Yunshu painfully.
“Ji Yunshu, remember this—today, this day, is not only the Crown Prince’s choice but also yours.”
Having said this, he turned and left.
As his figure slowly disappeared from Ji Yunshu’s sight…
She finally couldn’t hold back her tears.
Outside Fuyang Hall.
The Eastern Palace guards surrounded the great hall like an impenetrable wall.
Jinghua stood outside the inner chamber door, looking at the tightly closed carved door before him, yet for a long time lacked the courage to push it open.
He placed his sword at the doorway and took a bowl of medicine handed over by a personal guard. Only then did he order someone to open the door and walk in.
The inner chamber was very dark, with only two candle flames lit.
Zhang Quan was just helping Emperor Qizhen from the bed to sit down on the soft couch beside the warming stove.
Jinghua carried the medicine in his hands and walked over. Because his hands were trembling slightly invisibly, some of the medicine in the bowl also spilled out a little.
He set down the medicine and bowed with cupped hands. “Father Emperor.”
Emperor Qizhen looked at him and asked, “Today is your grand wedding. Why have you appeared here?”
“Your son knows Father Emperor is unwell, so came to visit, and specially brought a bowl of medicinal soup for Father Emperor to consume.”
Emperor Qizhen’s face, hidden in the darkness, tilted slightly as he looked at the medicine on the table. In his heart, he understood.
“How thoughtful of you,” he said.
“This is what your son should do.”
“Jinghua!”
He called his name in a weak tone.
Jinghua lowered his head and cupped his hands again. “Your son is here.”
Emperor Qizhen coughed lightly a few times and asked.
“Do you still remember what I said to you when I first appointed you Crown Prince?”