Chapter 25

When Li Dean and Ying Rong returned to the palace, the entire court had already learned about the Grand Princess mobilizing troops to rebel. For a moment, the atmosphere was tense, and everyone was in a state of panic. Ministers from various departments left their offices one after another and headed to Qin Zheng Hall.

The number of guards outside the Qin Zheng Hall had noticeably increased, and the security was stricter than usual. Seeing such a scene, the officials became even more uneasy. It seemed that the Emperor also realized the seriousness of the situation, which was why the defense had been strengthened here.

After receiving the report, Prime Minister Pei, the head of all officials, was the first to enter the hall and respectfully asked for the Emperor’s well-being: “Your Majesty, I heard that the Grand Princess suddenly mobilized troops into the city. What is going on?”

The six ministers, vice ministers, grand tutors, and censors followed behind him. After the grand kneeling ceremony, they all looked up at the Emperor.

Emperor Zhaoming sat alone behind the imperial desk, unable to read a single word of the memorial in his hand for a long time. Seeing the entire court coming to inquire, he could only suppress his anxious emotions: “The Grand Princess indeed mobilized troops into the city without authorization. I just received the news.”

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

The Minister of Rites was puzzled: “Why would the Grand Princess mobilize troops for no reason?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Mobilizing troops without an imperial edict is tantamount to rebellion. The Grand Princess is rebelling!”

“But the Grand Princess just got married yesterday. There should be no reason for this. Could it be because of the Sheng family?”

“No matter the reason, mobilizing troops without authorization is a serious crime,” the Minister of War said urgently. “Everyone, don’t forget, the Grand Princess has 200,000 troops stationed in the capital’s suburbs! Mobilizing 10,000 troops into the city is just the first step. Who knows what the Grand Princess will do next?”

The Vice Minister of War nodded: “Lord Chu is right. The urgent task is to quickly issue an edict for the Jingji Army, ordering them to enter the palace to protect the Emperor. Your Majesty, please make a decision soon.”

“Lord Chu and Vice Minister Hong, please calm down,” Prime Minister Pei turned his head and looked at them unhurriedly. “There must be a reason why the Emperor has not issued an edict. Urging him will only make it difficult for the Emperor.”

“But—”

Prime Minister Pei pondered: “The Emperor and the Grand Princess are siblings. The Grand Princess is highly skilled in martial arts and tactics and has made countless military achievements over the years. All of you have seen this. The Grand Princess has never been arrogant about her achievements in the past, and she would not easily commit treason today. Therefore, it is important to find out the reason.”

Lord Chu retorted: “Prime Minister, you believe in the Grand Princess’s loyalty and are certain she would not commit treason, but the fact is that the Qingluan Army is indeed stationed outside the Donghua Gate, ready to attack at any moment.”

“How could a mere few thousand troops possibly attack the palace?” Prime Minister Pei obviously did not believe it. He turned to Emperor Zhaoming and respectfully said, “Before coming to the Qin Zheng, I sent someone to inquire. The Qingluan Army is still stationed outside the second palace gate, far from the range of the arrow towers, which proves that the Grand Princess has no intention of forcing her way into the palace.”

The other ministers, hearing this, felt it made sense and nodded involuntarily.

One must pass through the arrow towers to enter Qianqing Gate from Donghua Gate. Even if a few thousand troops were formidable, they could not withstand the power of a thousand arrows fired simultaneously. If they dared go further, the arrows from the city towers would turn them into porcupines.

If the Grand Princess truly intended to rebel, she would not mobilize so few troops. She would directly bring in 200,000 troops like a tidal wave, which would be faster and more powerful.

“The key issue now is not whether the Qingluan Army will force their way into the palace, but why the Grand Princess suddenly rebelled,” Lord Chu said anxiously, bringing the topic back and showing his loyalty to the Emperor. “Although the Grand Princess is the Emperor’s sister and has always been loyal, she has troops at her disposal. If she truly harbors disloyalty, Your Majesty, the consequences would be unimaginable.”

Prime Minister Pei’s reasoning was sound, and Lord Chu’s concerns were not unfounded.

Everyone fell silent for a moment and looked at the Emperor.

“I was also shocked to hear this news,” Emperor Zhaoming sat behind the imperial desk, his face stern and angry. “I sent someone to inquire and found out that on the wedding night, the newly appointed Duke Sheng Jing’an poisoned Donghuang’s wine. His goal was to force Donghuang to accept his concubine and even falsely claim that it was my edict, trying to sow discord between me and Donghuang… This is utter nonsense, treasonous, and deserves death!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the Qin Zheng Hall dropped sharply.

The ministers’ faces changed dramatically.

“The Duke poisoned the Grand Princess’s wine?” Prime Minister Pei was shocked. “How dare he… How dare he do that? Was Sheng Jing’an possessed by a demon? Why would he do such a thing?”

The Minister of Rites frowned: “Sheng Jing’an was able to inherit the Duke’s title smoothly thanks to the Grand Princess’s military achievements and the Emperor’s grace. The Emperor marrying the Grand Princess to him was out of respect for the late Duke. Sheng Jing’an’s rebellion and disregard for imperial authority are truly outrageous. Does he think the Duke’s mansion is all-powerful?”

Seeing the change in the situation, Lord Chu quickly knelt and requested: “Your Majesty, if the poisoning is true, then Sheng Jing’an is guilty of treason and deserves death! I boldly request Your Majesty to immediately issue an edict to arrest the entire Duke’s household and give the Grand Princess an explanation!”

The Minister of Rites knelt: “Your Majesty, I second the motion!”

The Minister of Personnel and the vice ministers knelt together: “Your Majesty, we second the motion!”

The elderly Grand Tutor, who had remained silent, finally spoke slowly: “Your Majesty, should we arrange for two skilled imperial physicians to leave the palace and detoxify the Grand Princess? Once the poison is removed, the Grand Princess will surely continue to trust Your Majesty’s deep sibling affection. Punishing the Sheng family would also be the best explanation to the Grand Princess.”

The ministers were enlightened and nodded: “The Grand Tutor is thoughtful. Detoxifying the Grand Princess is the top priority so she can see the Emperor’s grace and trust.”

“All of you are right,” Emperor Zhaoming nodded. “Someone—”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Li Dean hurried in and knelt on the ground with a thud, “Your servant deserves to die, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Zhaoming’s heart sank, and a sense of foreboding came over him. He tightened his grip on the memorial: “Didn’t I send you to issue an edict?”

Ying Rong stepped into the hall and knelt silently: “I am incompetent.”

Emperor Zhaoming’s face turned pale.

Li Dean held up a brocade box with both hands: “The Grand Princess ordered her men to surround the Chu family. The Qingluan Army, like locusts, searched the Chu family inside and out—”

“Eunuch Li, what are you saying?” Lord Chu’s face turned ashen, looking at him in disbelief. “The Grand Princess raided the Chu family? Which Chu family?”

“Your residence, Lord Chu,” Li Dean lowered his eyes. “The Grand Princess accused you of corruption and embezzlement of military funds, raided the Minister’s residence, and… cut off the eldest son’s hand…”

Lord Chu’s vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.

“Lord Chu! Lord Chu!”
“Lord Chu, wake up!”

Qin Zheng Hall was in chaos. The usually imposing ministers were now pale and terrified.

The Grand Princess was truly ruthless, cutting off the hand of the Chu family’s eldest son. Why did she do this?

Emperor Zhaoming’s legs went weak, and he could barely stand. A chill ran from his feet up his spine.

Yan Donghuang had gone mad. She was truly mad.