Chapter 41

Emperor Zhaoming’s expression was grim, his jaw clenched, and he remained silent. At this moment, he was already overwhelmed, his throne precarious, yet his mother continued to make things difficult for him.

Emperor Zhaoming looked at the luxurious palace and thought of the ministers who had already gone home, the injured palace guard Ying Rong, and the terrified Li Dean. A sense of loneliness and desolation suddenly filled his heart.

Never before had he felt so isolated, surrounded by an endless abyss of darkness, unable to find any warmth. He had been pushed to the brink, yet his mother, instead of supporting him, irrationally opposed him.

Emperor Zhaoming felt an immense sense of disappointment and coldness.

The night was long and hard to endure, the hall as quiet as death.
The mother and son sat there, saying nothing, letting time pass by.

Until the long, drawn-out sound of the palace bell rang, Emperor Zhaoming’s eyes flashed, and he slowly turned to look at the Empress Dowager.

It was time for the morning court session. Usually, the emperor got up at this time, and the ministers arrived at Donghua Gate.

Even though it was still dark outside, the palace gates opened one after another, and the ministers had to queue outside to attend the morning court session.

However, today was an exception. He had decreed yesterday to suspend court sessions for three days, ordering the ministers to stay at home and not go out, so no officials would be attending court today, but the palace gates would still open on time…

“Your Majesty! Empress Dowager!” A deputy commander of the Imperial Guards hurried in and knelt. “I was patrolling outside the palace and just received news that the Grand Princess is going to send the Chu family, father and son, to the military camp!”

The Empress Dowager was shocked and instinctively stood up. “Why send them to the military camp?”

Perhaps because she had been sitting all night, causing poor blood circulation, the Empress Dowager felt dizzy as soon as she stood up. She quickly held onto the table beside her, waited for the dizziness to pass, and then opened her eyes to look at the person reporting.

The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards lowered his head. “The Grand Princess said… said that Minister Chu embezzled military funds and deliberately delayed the transportation of provisions, almost causing 200,000 soldiers of the Qingluan Army to starve to death on the battlefield. She wants to send the Chu family father and son to the military camp to let the Qingluan Army soldiers vent their anger.”

The Empress Dowager swayed, her face pale: “How can she be so vicious? How can she be so vicious?”

The Qingluan Army hated the Chu family to the bone. If the father and son were sent to the military camp, would they have any chance of survival?

Emperor Zhaoming felt a chill in his heart but still ordered, “Convey my decree, have Ying Rong immediately take people to stop—”

“Your Majesty,” the Empress Dowager interrupted sharply, her voice hoarse and weak but unable to hide her urgency and anger, “I must leave the palace, immediately, right now! Anyone who dares to stop me, I will have their entire family executed!”

Leaving these words, she hurried out.

Emperor Zhaoming’s face turned livid. He was about to follow her when he saw the Empress Dowager’s body sway and collapse without warning.

“Empress Dowager!”

“Empress Dowager!” The palace attendants who had been waiting outside all night rushed forward, frantically supporting the Empress Dowager.

“Quick, summon the imperial physicians! The Empress Dowager has fainted!”

Emperor Zhaoming decisively ordered, “Call all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau, quickly!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Zhaoming paced anxiously, watching as the pale and haggard Ying Rong hurried over. He ordered sternly, “Immediately select fifty elite soldiers from the Cavalry Battalion to intercept the troops escorting the Chu family father and son. Make sure to stop them before they leave the city!”

Chapter 42

This day felt exceptionally long for Yan Donghuang. After interrogating Shen Yun, she looked at the disheveled woman kneeling before her. The whip marks on her face had ruined her once beautiful appearance, and now she looked like a dying person, devoid of any vitality. Even though she was following orders, she could not escape blame.

“In light of your honesty, I will grant you a swift death,” Yan Donghuang said indifferently. “Rong Ying.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a sword flashed before her eyes.

Shen Yun didn’t have time to speak before her frail, disheveled body collapsed to the ground without warning.

As a woman, Yan Donghuang could understand Shen Yun’s helpless choices and the desperation of being used as a pawn in pursuit of a wealthy life, but she could not forgive someone who tried to kill her. Although the main culprits were the emperor and Sheng Jing’an, Shen Yun was not innocent either.

Sitting in a bath filled with flower petals, Yan Donghuang closed her eyes wearily, enjoying this moment of peace.

Feng Yaoguang, leaning against the screen outside the tent with her sword, spoke coldly, “In my opinion, such a vicious woman should have been executed by slow slicing.”

Yan Donghuang replied indifferently, “She was just a pawn.”

If it wasn’t Shen Yun, it would have been someone else.

Feng Yaoguang lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze cold as a winter pond, wishing she could execute everyone involved in the plot against Yan Donghuang by slow slicing.

“Human nature is selfish; it is natural to seek benefits and avoid harm,” Yan Donghuang said calmly. “Moreover, she just confessed everything, which is a form of atonement.”

Although Shen Yun only revealed the whole conspiracy after becoming disillusioned with Sheng Jing’an, that didn’t matter.

What mattered was the result.

“Let’s just say you are right, Your Highness,” Feng Yaoguang didn’t want to argue with her, her voice low and desolate. “Your Highness, let me switch places with Rong Ying.”

Yan Donghuang’s voice was lazy, “Switch what?”

“Switch identities and duties,” Feng Yaoguang said lightly. “He will go to the Qingluan Army as General Yaoguang, and I will be Your Highness’s personal shadow guard.”

“Why?”

“I want to stay with Your Highness during these seven days.”

The warm water enveloped her slender, toned body, and the fragrance of flower petals filled the air, making her unconsciously relax. Yan Donghuang closed her eyes drowsily, her body gradually relaxing. The man’s slightly persistent words reached her ears as if he were discussing an important life matter.

Yan Donghuang didn’t hear clearly, but her voice remained calm: “You each have your own duties and should not change for anyone.”

Feng Yaoguang frowned. “This is a special situation.”

“No matter what happens in the future, you must prioritize your own safety,” Yan Donghuang said wearily. “If you lose your life, everything else is meaningless.”

Hearing this, Feng Yaoguang’s lips tightened slightly, and his fingers gripping the sword hilt turned white, his thoughts unknown.

After a moment, he got up and walked to the corridor outside. He looked at the guards patrolling the Grand Princess’s mansion with torches, his eyes cold as ice.

“General Feng,” Mo Lin hurried over, cupping his fists in salute to Feng Yaoguang. “Is Your Highness here?”

Feng Yaoguang returned the salute calmly. “Her Highness is bathing.”

Mo Lin paused. “I just brought Minister Chu here. Does Her Highness have any other instructions?”

Feng Yaoguang frowned slightly, his tone cold and ruthless. “Didn’t we say last night? Send the Chu family father and son to the military camp and let the Qingluan Army soldiers deal with them.”

Mo Lin nodded slowly. “I will make the arrangements.”

With that, he turned and left. There were many sleepless people this night, and the two of them were no exception.