Chapter 185: Palace Coup

Chapter 185: Palace Coup

On May 18th of the 24th year of Emperor Yuanhua's reign, it was once again the Longevity Festival, the birthday of the most powerful figure in the Yu Dynasty.

As the competition among the princes intensified, the atmosphere in the capital this year was unprecedentedly eerie. Even the Longevity Festival, a celebration that should have been filled with joy, was tinged with gloom.

As a precaution, Qiu Huanian had already taken leave due to illness, citing poor health, and stayed at home to take care of the children. However, Du Yunse had to attend the palace banquet, as it would be too conspicuous if both of them were absent.

The clock in the main hall had not yet struck five in the morning, and the outside was completely dark. Du Yunse was already up.

Qiu Huanian usually found it difficult to rise at this hour, but today he was also awake, sitting on the bed with his knees hugged, watching Du Yunse wash and efficiently prepare himself, tidying his ironed court robe in the dim lamplight.

The air was silent, with only the occasional sound of water and the rustle of fabric indicating that someone in the room was awake.

After efficiently preparing himself, Du Yunse turned to the bedside, gave Qiu Huanian half a cup of warm water to drink, and draped a thin quilt over him.

"Brother Hua, get some more sleep. Before I leave, I'll have everyone in the house come to the inner courtyard. Summon the guards to surround the inner courtyard, and do not open the door unless I personally return."

Du Yunse was dressed in a crimson official robe, wearing a black gauze hat with long feathers. The tail of the feather brushed against Qiu Huanian's cheek as he leaned over, causing a tickle.

Qiu Huanian, now wide awake, held Du Yunse's hand and asked, "Is it today?"

Du Yunse nodded solemnly, "It is highly probable."

The Longevity Festival was the second-largest holiday in the Yu Dynasty after the Spring Festival, a day celebrated nationwide for the emperor's birthday. Countless gifts from all over the country would enter the imperial city on this day, making it an excellent opportunity for those with sinister intentions.

Whether it was Prince Jin, Prince Shen, the Crown Prince, or Emperor Yuanhua.

But before the outcome was clear, it was still unknown who would be the true victor in the end.

Having come this far, further words were meaningless. Qiu Huanian held Du Yunse's hand tightly and kissed him on the corner of his lips.

"The children and I will wait for your return. Our family will stand together, living and dying as one."

Du Yunse's large hand gripped the back of Qiu Huanian's neck, intensifying the kiss. The two exchanged breaths in the silent darkness, both panting when they finally parted.

Du Yunse walked to the door, glanced back at Qiu Huanian's thin, blurred figure in the candlelight, and strode across the courtyard to give instructions to Quan Yu, who had approached.

...

In the Dashiyong District, the Azure Phoenix Lord's residence, a vast mansion that occupied half of a long alley, rested quietly in the darkness. Pairs of palace attendants, carrying palace lanterns, moved through the flower-bricked paths and courtyards.

The Azure Phoenix Lord stood at the threshold of the chess courtyard, leaning against the cold doorframe, his gaze fixed on a spot in the darkness.

He had not yet changed into his formal court attire, wearing only a long, light green robe, his jet-black hair half draped over his shoulders. His strikingly exotic features were still captivating even in the dim light.

Jie Tanguang came out from the main room of the chess courtyard, paused briefly upon seeing the figure at the door, and walked over gently.

"Does Your Highness plan to tie me up?"

The Azure Phoenix Lord glanced at him sideways and let out a mocking snort from his throat, "Can the consort not help but show off his cleverness for even a moment?"

Jie Tanguang's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "Your Highness is on the verge of victory. How dare I claim to be clever in your presence?"

Suddenly, the Azure Phoenix Lord grabbed Jie Tanguang's chin, leveraging his height advantage from standing on the threshold to look down at him.

"Jie Tanguang, be honest. Has it been repulsive for you to be beneath me and share my bed this past year?"

Jie Tanguang did not struggle, lowering his eyelashes like crow feathers and remaining silent.

The Azure Phoenix Lord chuckled softly, his laughter growing more unrestrained. He leaned closer to Jie Tanguang, gently blowing a breath, and spoke in a tone filled with malice.

"Stay bound and obedient. After I handle your presumptuous relatives, I’ll come back to enjoy you."

"Don’t even think about sending any messages outside, or seeking death or injury. Remember, you are mine—every single strand of your hair belongs to me."

Jie Tanguang finally looked up at the Azure Phoenix Lord, revealing a faint smile that satisfied the other. His eyes were filled with sorrow and something else the Azure Phoenix Lord couldn’t quite decipher.

"Your Highness…"

He reached up and grasped the hand that was gripping his chin, slowly pulling it away and letting go.

"As you command."

The Azure Phoenix Lord was momentarily speechless. After regaining his composure, he snorted coldly and turned back to his main courtyard.

He changed into the elaborate court robes of the Azure Phoenix Lord, but underneath, he still wore a simple inner garment. No one dared to search him. With a solemn gaze, he hid a long whip laced with iron wire and a sharp dagger capable of cutting through iron deep within his clothes.

"Leave a team to guard the consort and protect him. The rest of you, proceed as planned," the Azure Phoenix Lord commanded without turning his head, addressing the guards hidden in the shadows.

After the guards acknowledged the order, the Azure Phoenix Lord strode forward toward the first light of dawn.

Just like when he, as the insignificant Azure Phoenix Lord despised by the late emperor, was first led by the Yuanhua Emperor into the public eye; or like when he supported the crown prince, who had dragged himself from his sickbed, during the funeral of the late empress.

Brothers, fathers, and sons—right and wrong had long been blurred. Today, it would all be settled.

…

After Du Yunse left, Qiu Huanian completely lost his sleepiness. The tension in his heart kept him restless.

Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng, who usually woke early, quickly arrived at the inner courtyard after receiving the message. Yuan Jia and Yuan Ruo also came.

Qiu Huanian had the wet nurses and uncles bring Gu Gu and Yang Yang to the main room. He placed the newly made mahogany rocking cradle crafted by Bing Qi and Bing Ba inside the green gauze partition, while the others sat in the outer hall.

The attendants stayed with their masters in the main room. The household servants also gathered in the inner courtyard. Qiu Huanian’s household had always been modest, with only about twenty people, making it easy to manage. Those not directly serving remained busy with their usual tasks—cooking, cleaning—and rested in the courtyard after finishing their work.

Sixteen personally selected a team of guards to watch over the inner courtyard, watchful for any sign of trouble. Lu Ao, Chun Sheng’s martial arts master and a skilled fighter, sensing the tense atmosphere, volunteered to scout near the main gate and report back if anything seemed amiss.

After arranging everything, Qiu Huanian found the Fushu Sword gifted by Sixteen and hid it close to his chest, finally feeling somewhat safer.

Qiu Huanian’s authority was sufficient. Although everyone was somewhat puzzled by his series of commands, no one questioned or objected, and they all cooperated by staying inside.

The inner courtyard had a fully equipped kitchen. Qiu Huanian had prepared ample supplies of preserved food, meat, vegetables, firewood, and charcoal, enough to last at least a month.

Old lady Jin and Yin Chuan prepared breakfast in the inner courtyard kitchen, steaming several trays of thin-skinned buns the size of lychees—filled with fresh meat and lotus root, zucchini and egg, and corn and shrimp. They also cooked a pot of white fungus and lotus seed porridge and a pot of red bean and barley porridge. The beans and rice had been soaked overnight, resulting in a soft, sticky texture when served, fully bloomed.

Qiu Huanian invited everyone to eat breakfast. The hearty and delicious meal filled their stomachs, and the golden sunlight spread across the eastern sky, leaving everyone awake and energized.

Jiu Jiu asked, "Brother Hua, are we waiting for our elder brother to return?"

Qiu Huanian nodded, his tone calm but serious. "We cannot leave the inner courtyard until Yun Se returns."

With a coup unfolding in the imperial city, the capital was bound to be in turmoil. It was likely that some would exploit the chaos.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse were crucial figures in the crown prince’s faction. Those planning to act today might have stationed people near their residence, waiting to exploit the chaos—either through coercion or elimination.

Although the crown prince’s side had also arranged for protection, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse decided to gather everyone in the household to concentrate their defenses until it was completely safe.

Chun Sheng had grown rapidly after he began martial arts training, and he was now almost as tall as his sister Jiu Jiu. Without a word, he picked up his practice spear, fitted with a sharpened tip, and silently sat down on the threshold of the main room after finishing his meal.

The siblings, Yuan Jia and Yuan Ruo, were not deeply aware of the current situation, but they trusted Qiu Huanian. Yuan Jia started a conversation with Qiu Huanian, while Yuan Ruo quietly walked over to Chun Sheng and sat down on the other side of the threshold.

The sun rose from the eastern horizon, and in an instant, everything was illuminated in brilliant light.

...

Every year during the Longevity Festival, the Yuanhua Emperor would first gather with his concubines and children after waking up to enjoy familial bliss, then go to the front court to receive the congratulations of his ministers. This year was no exception.

However, the concubines, adorned in their finest, arrived at the Qianqing Palace before dawn to await the Emperor, but they never saw the Yuanhua Emperor.

It wasn't until the sun rose into the sky that Wen Xing, the Yuanhua Emperor's chief eunuch, came to deliver the decree.

"His Majesty summons Noble Consort Kang to accompany him in the Jinshen Hall."

As for whether to stay or leave—the oral decree did not mention it.

Consort Ying was more irritable than usual today, and her dissatisfaction was directly visible on her face. She only restrained herself after her chief maid subtly pulled her.

Noble Consort Kang glanced emotionlessly at Noble Consort Wen and followed Wen Xing's guidance with elegant and steady steps.

The other lower-ranking concubines, with little influence, did not know what to do and all looked to Noble Consort Wen, who held a higher position and had a good temper, waiting for her to speak.

After being watched for a long time, Noble Consort Wen finally spoke without fault, "The imperial family and the families of the officials will soon enter the inner palace for the banquet. Let's get everything set up first, and we should also go over. We will accompany His Majesty only when summoned."

Relieved to avoid the irritable Consort Ying, the concubines finally relaxed. After a while, another oral decree came from the Jinshen Hall, this time for Noble Consort Wen.

"His Majesty says that Prince Shen has been sharing the Emperor's worries at the border and deserves special honor. Noble Consort Wen is ordered to host a small banquet in the Changle Palace to entertain Minister Bi and a group of maternal relatives."

Hosting a small banquet during the Longevity Festival was an unprecedented honor. Thinking of Prince Shen's recent enfeoffment, everyone's gaze towards Noble Consort Wen became more enthusiastic.

Noble Consort Wen remained calm and looked at Consort Ying, whose expression kept changing, "I'll leave it to you to hold the fort here, sister. I'll go back to the Changle Palace to prepare."

As she walked towards her Changle Palace, she predictably encountered Cai Lian, the chief maid of Noble Consort Kang, halfway.

Noble Consort Wen signaled her attendants to follow behind and asked Cai Lian as they walked, "How is it?"

Cai Lian lowered her voice, her eyes full of excitement, "The Prince has reached the capital. Noble Consort Kang asks you to quietly let Minister Bi out later. When they coordinate from within and without to take the imperial city, Prince Shen will immediately lead the army into the capital."

The Prince Cai Lian referred to was Prince Pingxian. She was an old servant from Prince Pingxian's residence and had entered the palace with Noble Consort Kang when Prince Pingxian presented her to the Emperor.

Noble Consort Wen gave a slight smile, "Understood."

Author's Note:

Just to clarify, the Qing Lord pair is Xie Gong and Phoenix Roost, but it's a "forced" situation~