“Speak.”
Ji Yunshu looked at the memorial lying on the floor and said, “How was this memorial submitted? I hope Your Majesty… will investigate thoroughly!”
Investigate thoroughly!
Eh!
Her words carried a reminder.
Emperor Qizhen’s brow furrowed, his gaze sharpening.
Immediately after, he swept his large hand.
“Take her away!”
The guards then led Ji Yunshu away.
As for those words just spoken, they echoed in Emperor Qizhen’s mind for a long time.
He turned to look at that exquisite screen, his gaze growing deeper and deeper…
Very soon, news that Ji Yunshu had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison spread.
Zhangzhi Hall.
Jingxuan learned this news from a young maid.
She heard that the newly appointed Director Ji had been disguised as a man, was exposed by Director Xing, and then a memorial was sent before the Sacred One. The dragon’s countenance turned furious, and Director Ji was imprisoned.
Jingxuan pulled over Duan’er and questioned her thoroughly once again.
Duan’er: “The news has spread throughout the palace.”
“What about my imperial brother? Did he enter the palace?”
“Prince Rong has not entered the palace.”
“How is that possible? Master Ji has attracted mortal danger—my imperial brother cannot possibly ignore it.” Jingxuan was puzzled, worried in her heart. She glanced vigilantly toward the outside, pulled Duan’er close, and said softly, “Duan’er, you’re the only person I can trust. If I haven’t guessed wrong, within the capital very soon there will be great turmoil. I need you to help me with something.”
“Princess, please speak.”
“Right now, by whatever means necessary, you must secretly convey the news that Wei Yi is confined in the palace to my imperial brother at Prince Rong’s manor.”
Eh!
Duan’er trembled. “Princess, this is impossible. Not only can you not leave now, this slave also cannot leave, much less carry a message out of the palace.”
“Didn’t you say that many palace maids in the palace ask young eunuchs to go outside the palace to sell embroidered items? Then use that method to find a way to get the message out. Duan’er, right now you’re the only one who can help me. You must accomplish this.”
Duan’er deliberated.
Wavering back and forth.
Gritting her teeth, she nodded emphatically: “Alright, this slave knows what to do now.”
Not a moment could be delayed—she hurried off.
Jingxuan waited in the hall for a long time. By evening, Duan’er still hadn’t returned.
Her heart grew increasingly worried and anxious.
Suddenly—
Creak!
The main door opened.
The person who entered wasn’t Duan’er, but Noble Consort Xiao.
Not having been seen for two days, Noble Consort Xiao’s complexion had become increasingly pale, supported by two palace maids.
Despite the cold having entered her body, she was still dressed splendidly like gold and jade, wearing a purple-black noble consort robe embroidered with several extremely vivid peony flowers, like dripping blood stains.
Jingxuan met her mother consort’s eyes, deep and cold as ice.
Her feet retreated two steps backward.
“Stop waiting!” Noble Consort Xiao said.
“What have you done to her?”
“Just a lowly servant.”
“What exactly have you done to her?” she roared.
Noble Consort Xiao looked at the agitated Jingxuan, both disappointed and furious. She pushed away the two palace maids supporting her and walked toward her daughter, extending her ice-cold hands to cup her trembling face. Her eyes narrowed like hooks and needles as she said, “This palace truly thought you had become obedient and sensible, and my heart felt greatly comforted. But it turns out… you’ve always harbored resentment. No matter how this palace treats you, this heart of yours will forever side with others. This palace has truly raised a fine daughter!”
Through gritted teeth!
Jingxuan’s face remained defiant as she continued to ask, “What exactly have you done to Duan’er?”
“What have I done?” Noble Consort Xiao sneered coldly. “Those who oppose this palace never have good endings.”
Immediately, a young eunuch entered.
The young eunuch held a tray in his hands. The item on the tray was covered with red cloth, bulging high.
The item was placed on the table.
Jingxuan suddenly realized something. Her lips instantly turned pale, her entire body trembled, her eyes turned red, staring fixedly at the item placed on the tray.
Biting her lip.
Noble Consort Xiao cupped her face and forcefully turned it, compelling those crimson eyes to look at her. “You dare rebel against this palace, rebel against your imperial brother, even joining forces with outsiders to rebel together. If you weren’t born from this palace, dying a hundred times wouldn’t be enough for you.”
“Then kill me! Go ahead and kill me!” Jingxuan was so agitated her entire body trembled, her face flushed red, tears flowing down.
“Do you think this palace cannot bear it?”
“No, of course you can bear it. To achieve your goals, you wouldn’t hesitate even if you had to kill everyone in the world. Kill me then. As long as I’m dead, you’ll never have any more worries. Kill me! Kill me!”
“Slap!”
A palm struck down.
Jingxuan fell heavily to the ground.
“Do you truly intend to rebel?” Noble Consort Xiao shouted loudly in rebuke.
Jingxuan burst into wild laughter, laughing with extreme madness, her hands clenched into fists, her sharp, thin fingernails seemingly embedded deep into her flesh.
Blood dripped profusely!
Noble Consort Xiao was extremely hateful, but… she ultimately couldn’t bring herself to truly kill her.
“Cough, cough…”
“My lady?”
Noble Consort Xiao coughed severely, and combined with her current fury, she felt extremely unwell.
She pointed at the person on the ground and sternly ordered, “From now on, no one is permitted to let her leave. Every word and action must be reported to this palace. And whoever dares to speak even one extra word to her—Duan’er’s fate will be your fate. Cough, cough…”
She was then supported away by attendants.
The main door closed tightly and was locked.
Only one lamp remained lit in the hall!
After a long time, Jingxuan rose from the ground, moved with difficult steps to the tray, extended her trembling hand to grasp the red cloth, and slowly lifted it…
The red cloth fell to the ground, revealing that blood-soaked severed head.
“Ugh!”
She suddenly fell backward, crashing into the enormous screen behind her.
Thud!
She fell to the ground once again.
Her ten fingers inserted into her hair, gripping and pulling tightly.
“Ahh!”
She screamed loudly.
Nearly mad with hysteria.
…
Prince Rong’s Manor.
News that Ji Yunshu had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison had already arrived.
Jingrong remained very calm and hadn’t taken any rescue measures.
At this moment, he stood in the courtyard, seemingly waiting for someone.
Shortly after, Qin Shiyu arrived.
“Your Highness, what is the current situation?”
Jingrong said seriously, “This prince has already sent people to investigate. Jingyi went to see Ji Li today. Their movements are very swift—within and outside the city, they’ve already begun secretly deploying forces. The movements are just very small, difficult to detect. If this prince’s prediction is correct, in seven days, the city gates will be completely closed.”
Qin Shiyu was startled: “This means Prince Yi truly intends to lay siege to the palace!”
“That day was always going to come—it’s just happening earlier than expected. It seems this prince has indeed forced his hand.”
Finally forcing him to lay siege to the palace.
This was within the plan.
But—
Qin Shiyu: “What about Master Ji?”
At this question, Jingrong’s eyes deepened. “Before entering the palace, she had someone remind this prince three times not to attempt any rescue, presumably also worried that the court officials would turn the tables at that time, and this prince would also end up imprisoned. Fortunately, the Emperor has only confined her to the Ministry of Justice prison and hasn’t issued an execution order. We only have seven days. Within seven days, as long as the Kong family’s troops from the Northwest and Hanzhou successfully arrive, everything can be resolved.”
“And if they don’t arrive, does Your Highness have a contingency plan?”