Chapter 16

The Empress Dowager naturally knew what this meant. It meant that the palace’s Donghua Gate was surrounded from afar, and officials on their way home after court would inevitably encounter the Qingluan Army, causing panic among the ministers.

Meanwhile, without any stronger military force to counter the Qingluan Army, Yan Donghuang, using the excuse of being poisoned and near death, could justifiably go mad, surrounding any official’s residence she wanted, confiscating whoever she wanted, undoubtedly causing chaos and making officials fearful of attending court.

The emperor’s decrees could be transmitted, and court officials could freely enter and exit—but only if Yan Donghuang allowed it. If this Grand Princess decided to control the palace, they would all be trapped inside, unable to attend court or even mobilize troops to protect the emperor.

The Imperial Guards were all from prominent families and had undergone rigorous selection. They possessed certain skills, but they had never been on a battlefield. They would be no match for the Qingluan Army if it came to a fight.

Moreover, the Imperial Guards numbered less than twenty thousand, while the Qingluan Army stationed outside the capital was several times larger.

The most cunning part was that Yan Donghuang only stationed the Qingluan Army on the main roads, at a safe distance, rendering the crossbows on the watchtowers useless against them.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager closed her eyes weakly: “If we mobilize the troops from the Jingji Camp, we might be able to counter the Qingluan Army, but whether the decree can be successfully transmitted from the palace is a problem.”

If Yan Donghuang ordered her people to intercept the messenger, mobilizing troops might instead provoke her to kill, with unimaginable consequences.

Emperor Zhaoming said: “Once the Jingji Camp is mobilized, the capital will be drenched in blood.”

If the Jingji Camp was not mobilized, Yan Donghuang’s rebellion would be her own fault, and private mobilization of troops was a serious crime. She would not dare to easily attack the palace without reaching that point. But if the Jingji Camp really entered the city to protect the emperor, a bloody battle would be inevitable, and how much rationality would the Qingluan Army have left once they started killing?

Emperor Zhaoming was unwilling to take this risk. He only wanted to delay, to drag out the time, letting the poison in Yan Donghuang’s body gradually take effect, destroying her martial arts and strength and then naturally winning without a fight. But before she died, he had to arrange for people to eliminate the loyal generals of the Qingluan Army to prevent future troubles.

“Don’t think too much for now. Quickly send someone out to explain the truth to Donghuang.” The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, seemingly becoming the gentle and kind woman she used to be, with a hint of pity and heartache on her face. “Being poisoned by her own husband on her wedding night, Donghuang must be in great pain. She misunderstood the emperor and me and acted impulsively. The emperor must not blame her.”

After a pause, the Empress Dowager sighed helplessly: “You are siblings, connected by blood. Besides Prince An, you are the only family left in this world. I don’t want to see you killing each other, understand?”

Emperor Zhaoming nodded slowly: “Mother, rest assured, I will persuade Donghuang, dispel her anger, and make her understand that all this is Sheng Jing’an’s conspiracy, and I knew nothing about it.”

“Yes.” The Empress Dowager nodded, then solemnly instructed, “Protect the Chu family; don’t let anything happen to them.”

Emperor Zhaoming agreed, but he was not confident.

Yan Donghuang surrounded the Chu family on charges of corruption and embezzlement of military funds. To substantiate these charges, confiscation was inevitable. If a large amount of gold and silver was found in the Chu family, even he, the emperor, could not protect them.

Emperor Zhaoming’s face was dark with worry.

Returning to the Qin Zheng Hall, he followed the Empress Dowager’s instructions, ordering the chief eunuch Li De’an to immediately go to the Sheng family to announce the charges, escorted by Ying Rong, and arrest the Sheng family. Taking this opportunity, he could also ask what happened between him and Yan Donghuang last night.

Ying Rong received the order, leading a hundred Imperial Guards to escort Li De’an to the Duke’s residence to announce the decree. The journey was smooth, with no obstruction from the Qingluan Army, who seemed not to notice them. However, upon arriving at the Duke’s residence, they found the front yard heavily surrounded by the elite troops of the Grand Princess’s residence, layer upon layer, making it impossible to see anyone from the Sheng family.

Li De’an was speechless with shock at the scene before him. Only by seeing it with his own eyes could he feel the chilling and murderous atmosphere.

The Princess was serious; this did not look like a threat.

Li De’an could only turn to Ying Rong: “Commander, this…”

Without seeing anyone, to whom should they announce the decree? How could they arrest the Sheng family?

Ying Rong’s face was cold and hard, and he turned to leave: “Go to the Chu family.”