Chapter 420: Return to the Palace

Chapter 420: Return to the Palace

Concubine Li pressed the jade hairpin against her neck, her heart heavy with sorrow as she watched the smug, gloating eunuch.

At this moment, it was no longer about Xin You—it was about herself.

Why?

No favor, no love, and in the end, not even dignity remained?

She was also a woman. As a maiden, she’d dreamed of a worthy match; when she became a concubine, she’d yearned for the Emperor’s affection. Later, she stopped hoping, but she was still human—someone who could bleed and weep.

If she had to face such a tyrannical and capricious Emperor and live such a humiliating life, then she’d rather die.

Concubine Li gave Princess Xuan a deep look, her lips curving into a smile tinged with regret and longing.

Princess Xuan saw her mother’s resolve to die and knew there was no time to stop her. She lowered her head and lunged at Li Wei.

Caught off guard, Li Wei flung himself back, screeching, "What are you doing?"

Princess Xuan grabbed his hair and raked her nails down his face.

An ear-splitting shriek erupted. The eunuchs who had accompanied Li Wei stared in shock at the princess, now brawling like a village woman, momentarily forgetting to intervene.

Even Concubine Li forgot her intent to end her life.

Li Wei, being much stronger, flung Princess Xuan aside, spitting through gritted teeth, "Princess Xuan is obstructing the search! Seize her at once!"

Princess Xuan fell to the ground, looking up at Concubine Li and crying, "Mother, save me! Xuan’s terrified—"

The hairpin slipped from Concubine Li’s hand as she launched herself from the bed to protect her daughter.

Several eunuchs moved to restrain Princess Xuan when a voice crackling with age and authority rang out.

"What is going on here?"

Everyone turned to see the Empress Dowager entering, supported by Consort Xian.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," the crowd knelt.

Her gaze swept past Li Wei’s scratched face before locking onto Concubine Li and her daughter. Her voice was ice: "So you still remember that I am the Empress Dowager! Li Wei, do you realize this is the inner palace?"

Li Wei hurriedly replied, "Your servant knows."

"If you know, then why have you brought so many eunuchs to turn the inner palace upside down? I thought we’d been overrun by bandits!"

Li Wei stepped forward to explain, "Empress Dowager, searching the inner palace was His Majesty’s order. Your servant dared not be negligent."

"The Emperor ordered you to cause such an uproar in the inner palace—just to find Xin You?"

"Yes."

"And once you find her?"

"Xin You disobeyed the edict and escaped. She’s only added to her crimes. Once found, she will face execution."

The Empress Dowager frowned. "Did the Emperor truly issue such an edict?"

"Your servant would never dare deceive Your Majesty."

"This isn't right—" the Empress Dowager murmured, suddenly widening her cloudy eyes to glare fixedly at Li Wei. "After His Majesty was rescued from the water, did he call for any Taoist priests or spirit mediums to exorcise evil spirits?"

Had her son been possessed? Otherwise, how could he bear to kill his own daughter with Empress Xin?

She had loathed Xin You but never wished the girl dead—after all, the girl still carried her son's blood, let alone how her son had been completely infatuated by Empress Xin.

Something was wrong. Absolutely wrong.

"Li Wei."

"This servant is here."

"Put a hold on this search of the inner palace for now. Accompany me to the Qianqing Palace to see His Majesty."

"This might not be—" Li Wei was carefully formulating a refusal when he was abruptly interrupted by someone rushing in.

The intruder was a eunuch—one of their men.

"What is it?"

"Master, a large group of guards suddenly arrived!"

"Guards? Did you ask what's happening?" Li Wei's gut told him something was wrong.

Just then, a shout came from outside: "Li Wei! You conspired with Feng Nian to act recklessly under the false pretense of His Majesty's orders. The real Emperor has now returned to the palace—give yourself up now!"

Another eunuch came rushing in: "There are—there are two Emperors outside!"

Li Wei went pale. Pointing at the eunuch, he snapped, "Tell me exactly what's happening!"

"There are two identical Emperors! One is tied up, while the other is accompanied by the Changle Marquis, Eunuch Sun, Commander Zhao, and many others. They've surrounded Fangning Palace and are demanding you come out!"

"Are you certain it's the Changle Marquis and Eunuch Sun?"

"It's definitely them. Master, what on earth is happening?"

The Empress Dowager suddenly stomped her foot. "I understand now! You fabricated a false Emperor! Li Wei, you treacherous dog—how dare you—"

Her voice broke. The Virtuous Consort and others gasped, crying out, "Empress Dowager!"

Li Wei grabbed the Empress Dowager, one arm around her throat and the other holding a silver hairpin. "Everyone, get out!"

The room went dead silent.

"Did you hear me? We're leaving now. Please, do not harm the Empress Dowager!" His hand shaking violently around the hairpin, his voice equally trembling.

He didn't know how things had come to this.

Taking the Empress Dowager hostage was something he'd never imagined in his life—yet here he was, acting before he could think.

It seemed everything had spiraled out of control the moment he agreed to Minister Sun and Feng Nian's plan.

Seeing Li Wei's distraught state, the Virtuous Consort hurriedly said, "We're leaving now. Please, do not harm the Empress Dowager."

Following her lead, the room quickly emptied, leaving only Li Wei and the Empress Dowager.

Emperor Xingyuan, seeing the Virtuous Consort emerge, looked puzzled. "Virtuous Consort, why are you at Fangning Palace?"

She immediately knelt. "Your servant invited Her Majesty here earlier. I beg your pardon!"

Emperor Xingyuan's expression changed abruptly: "The Empress Dowager is here too?"

After regaining control of the palace, he personally apprehended the impostor and rushed to Fangning Palace upon hearing that Li Wei had launched an extensive search. However, the situation had changed unexpectedly.

"Li Wei has taken the Empress Dowager hostage and demanded everyone come out."

Emperor Xingyuan strode forward, roaring in fury: "Li Wei, how dare you hold the Empress Dowager hostage? I'll have your hide!"

Hearing Emperor Xingyuan's voice, Li Wei burst into tears: "This lowly servant knows he was wrong, but I know there's no going back... What should I do? I still want to live..."

Emperor Xingyuan stepped inside and saw the Empress Dowager and Li Wei.

"Mother!"

The Empress Dowager, elderly and accustomed to a life of luxury, was completely unprepared for such a situation. Pale-faced, she couldn't utter a word.

"Li Wei, I placed great trust in you. Is this how you repay me?"

As Emperor Xingyuan took a step forward, Li Wei retreated a step.

His awe of the Emperor was carved into his bones. Initially believing the Emperor dead, he had cooperated with the conspirators for power, and fearing being silenced.

Who would have thought the Emperor was alive and had returned?

"Your servant was wrong! Spare my life, Your Majesty, and I'll release the Empress Dowager!"

Emperor Xingyuan's eyes flickered, his tone softening: "Li Wei, don't be agitated. Your request isn't beyond consideration."

Li Wei listened intently to the Emperor's words as if grasping at straws. But when a splitting pain surged through his head and darkness clouded his vision, it was too late to act against the Empress Dowager.

Xin You pulled the Empress Dowager behind her, watching as Li Wei spun halfway around unconsciously before collapsing. Rubbing her slightly aching fist, she glanced at the young man beside Emperor Xingyuan.

"Seize Li Wei!" Zhao Feifan commanded.

Without sparing Li Wei a glance, Emperor Xingyuan stepped over him and hurried to the Empress Dowager and Xin You: "Mother, Ayou, are you alright?"

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor, then her eyes rolled back as she fainted.