Chapter 0114: The Prince’s Assassination Attempt

Chapter 0114: The Prince's Assassination Attempt

It was then she found out that Lady Jia had taken a sick leave, claiming to be unwell.

Oh, was it just too embarrassing to show her face?

Consort Lan and the others had already started to arrange for the imperial physician. With Lady Jia ill, how could they resist mocking her?

However, He Jin Li's award to the Zhai Xing Pavilion made everyone cease their actions.

In fact, He Jin Li's reward to Lady Jia was merely to calm the situation.

He didn't want to escalate the matter, also showing a bit of sentimental attachment.

Hearing about the reward, Yun Li just smiled and showed no reaction.

After all, we can't push someone to their death, can we?

It's best to wrap things up appropriately.

Jia Meiren, looking at the rewards, felt both heartache and grievance as tears fell.

Yet, she didn’t feel much comfort. She knew that making a fuss now would not be in her favor.

But being proud by nature, she truly fell ill after this ordeal.

She ended up taking a half-month leave.

Everyone knew she was avoiding the situation, hardly anyone believed she was genuinely sick.

Still, she saw the imperial physician and got a prescription.

Those serving her knew it was all due to stress.

The chrysanthemums in the palace were still blooming beautifully, though they were not the same ones as before.

But nobody cared, as long as there were chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden every day.

For the Double Ninth Festival, the Empress Dowager arranged a banquet in the Imperial Garden.

Originally, they were supposed to ascend the heights, going up to the royal villa on Cui Screen Mountain.

However, the Empress's health had declined, making the climb uphill difficult. Thus, the Empress Dowager decided to set it up in the Imperial Garden.

For this, the Empress was endlessly grateful to the Empress Dowager.

Even knowing that the Empress Dowager was merely putting on a show, gratitude was still boundless.

The Imperial Garden also had cornus fruit, but people here did not wear them.

Everyone indeed adorned themselves with chrysanthemums.

Yunli, following the occasion, had someone pick two not-so-large purple flowers to tuck into her hair.

Today, she styled her hair in a lily bun, originally using only a few hairpins.

These two flowers fit in just right.

Today, there were no outsiders, only the emperor's family, along with a few imperial consorts.

Not all the consorts had the privilege to be here.

Currently, the most privileged were the mothers of Prince Yu and Prince Qin.

Prince Qi's mother had passed away years earlier.

The Empress Dowager also invited the dancers from Yue Mansion, clearly aiming for a lively atmosphere.

The Empress sat next to the Empress Dowager on the right, with the left seat vacant, obviously reserved for the Emperor.

In such gatherings, precedence is given to seniority rather than the Emperor sitting in the center.

When the Emperor arrived with the Crown Prince, everyone stood up to pay their respects.

The Emperor gestured with his hand: "Today is a family banquet; formalities are unnecessary."

The guests took their seats in turn.

Soon, the meal was served, and the entertainment began.

Today's performance was lively, aimed at being visually appealing without the need for grandeur.

He Jinli respectfully toasted the Empress Dowager, who responded with a cheerful, "Good, as long as you all are happy, this family banquet is meaningful. You have your hands full with state affairs, and the Empress is now pregnant, seldom coming out. Entertainment is rare. I want you all to enjoy today."

It's not every year that such a banquet is held; this festival isn't so crucial.

"I understand the effort you've put in, Mother," He Jinli said, moved.

The Empress also hurriedly added, "Mother's consideration for her children is deeply appreciated. To Mother."

The Empress was holding a cup of pear soup.

The Empress Dowager also drank with a smile.

Midway through the banquet, the performers changed.

Wei Niang sat at the center playing the zither, backed by six dancers around the age of twenty.

Wei Niang, the best zither player from Yue Mansion, captivated everyone with her music.

The audience listened in silence.

The six dancers, well-trained, moved with grace and beauty.

Everyone was enjoying the performance, except for Concubine Zhang, who clenched her hands tightly.

She took a deep breath, thinking today was the day.

One must always strive to obtain what they desire.

She once wanted to marry that man, but he betrayed her.

Even though she still harbored feelings for him, he was dead.

Thus, she had to remind herself to live well.

She glanced at the man in the dark purple robe at the head of the room. What she wanted was to live well.

Suddenly, the situation changed.

As the music abruptly shifted, a palace maid behind the Empress Dowager lunged forward, a gleaming dagger in hand aiming straight for He Jinli's neck.

Meng Chang, with quick reflexes, pushed the attacker away and shouted, "Protect the Emperor!"

Meanwhile, four of the six dancers sprang into action, pulling daggers from their boots and charging forward.

Concubine Zhang seized this moment to rush out.

Wei Niang was the last to stand, and no one saw how she leapt to the Emperor's side in an instant.

In her hand was also a dagger.

"I want you dead!"

As a skilled martial artist, He Jinli had already knocked down one of the attacking dancers, but three remained.

The guards, stationed outside the imperial garden to avoid disturbing His Majesty, needed a moment to rush in.

Thus, as Wei Niang's dagger thrust towards He Jinli, the garden erupted in screams.

It was then that Concubine Zhang threw herself forward, shielding the Emperor: "Your Majesty, be careful!"

Eunuchs intervened, preventing Wei Niang from striking the Emperor, but another dancer's dagger plunged into Concubine Zhang's back.

Blood gushed forth immediately.

The Empress screamed, her stomach suddenly seizing in pain, leaving her immobilized.

At this moment, the guards stormed in, and the Empress Dowager cried out in fear, "Seize them, quickly!"

Yunli, on the other hand, did not scream but instead helped Consort Lin retreat.

Ye Baolin was also frightened but managed not to scream under Yunli's influence, helping her support Consort Lin.

After all, she was pregnant.

He Jinli roared in anger, "Imperial Physician!"

Concubine Zhang realized her misjudgment; the stab wound was indeed severe.

The six subdued assailants no longer had the strength to resist.

Wei Niang burst into laughter: "Hahaha, hahaha, excellent, truly excellent. Twelfth Brother, Twelfth Brother, do you see? Hahaha, these are the people you arranged."

Hearing this, Concubine Zhang tensed up, a reaction He Jinli failed to notice at the moment.

"What did she say? Twelfth Brother? You're with the Tyrant King?" the Empress Dowager exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, I am with the Tyrant King. Tyrant King, Tyrant King, how could you be so heartless? Where was his tyranny? Huh? Where? Such a gentle person he was," Wei Niang cried out.

"Conspiring to commit regicide and treason, isn't that tyrannical enough?" the Empress Dowager retorted angrily.

"Regicide and treason? If it weren't for you, the usurping stepmother, the throne would have been his. It should have been his. You stole everything from him. You are the real thieves," Wei Niang argued righteously.

"Take her away," He Jinli commanded, furious, yet the Tyrant King had been dead for over a year...

"No need," Wei Niang laughed, "To assassinate the king, we never planned to live. He Jinli, are you enjoying being the Emperor? Hahaha, you don’t know, do you?"

Wei Niang sneered malevolently, "This person you call 'Mother' every day is the murderer of your birth mother!"

"Hahaha, Twelfth Brother was right, you acknowledge a thief as your mother. For power, you endure everything. Hahaha, I just wonder if Consort He in heaven can rest in peace. Hahaha..."