Chapter 186: Forcing the Palace

Chapter 186: Storming the Palace

Noble Consort Wen returned to her residence in the Palace of Eternal Joy, where officials from the Palace Administration Bureau and the Imperial Kitchen had already arrived to set up the banquet as per the imperial decree.

There were not many from the Bi family who were qualified to enter the palace to celebrate the Longevity Festival. Only the Grand Secretary Bi Yongshi, the Minister of Personnel, his wife, their eldest son, and daughter-in-law were present.

Noble Consort Wen had spent many years away from her family, and it was rare for her to see these former relatives even once a year. The ties of kinship had long since withered, and her family, knowing her temperament, did not attempt to get close to her.

After all, they were all of the Bi lineage. The prosperity of the Bi family was inseparable from the imperial concubine in the palace. Noble Consort Wen and Prince Shen's ambitions to rise further also relied on the Bi family's support.

Bi Yongshi, in his seventies, was a seasoned minister who had served under three emperors. His protégés and students were widespread throughout the realm. As the Grand Secretary and Minister of Personnel, he wielded immense influence in the court of the Yu Dynasty.

Bi Yongshi arrived at the Palace of Eternal Joy in a small sedan chair bestowed by the emperor. He raised the hem of his official robe to bow deeply and led his family in paying respects to Noble Consort Wen.

Noble Consort Wen lowered her gaze with a detached air, looking at his nearly white hair and beard. After a few moments of silence, she spoke softly, "Grand Secretary, please rise."

Behind him, Noble Consort Wen's mother, supported by her eldest daughter-in-law, seemed to want to say something but ultimately held back.

Noble Consort Wen exchanged no further words with them, silently maintaining the flow of the small banquet. After several rounds of wine, Bi Yongshi, overcome by the drink, was taken to the rear hall to sober up, and Noble Consort Wen followed.

In the rear hall, after dismissing the attendants, Bi Yongshi's eyes suddenly sharpened with clarity.

"Prince Pingxian has secretly arrived in the capital. The Grand Secretary should discreetly contact your disciples and old allies at the court banquet to coordinate with Prince Pingxian in taking the imperial city. Once the coup is successful, Prince Shen will swiftly march his troops into the capital."

Bi Yongshi's aged face could not conceal his joy. The plan he had been working on for most of his life was on the verge of success, making him feel almost thirty years younger.

Ambition and power were the ultimate fountain of youth.

"I will change my attire and go immediately. Before the coup is complete, I must ask Your Ladyship to help conceal my movements. This is a crime that could lead to the extermination of nine generations, and there must be not the slightest mistake."

Noble Consort Wen nodded lightly, watching him calmly with an inscrutable expression.

Before leaving the rear hall through the side door, Bi Yongshi suddenly stopped and turned to look at Noble Consort Wen.

"Your Ladyship, though you never ascended to the throne, you are poised to become the empress dowager. The promise I made when I married you to the current emperor is about to be fulfilled."

Noble Consort Wen's lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile, but she remained silent.

Bi Yongshi wanted to reminisce with his daughter a bit more, but time was of the essence. He believed that once Prince Shen was crowned, he could mend his bond with his daughter, so he hurriedly left.

...

The Yuanhua Emperor was seated in the Hall of Diligence. The radiant morning light filtered through the latticed windows, casting shadows like a cage on the polished floor and desk.

Noble Consort Kang stood silently to one side with an air of quiet elegance, one hand supporting the sleeve of her brocade robe, gracefully and unhurriedly grinding ink.

The Yuanhua Emperor was painting. A grand sheet of tribute paper, measuring three feet in width and ten feet in length, was spread across the narrow desk. He dipped a thick wolf-hair brush into the freshly ground ink and began to paint, leaving long strokes on the paper.

The brushstrokes danced across the paper with varying intensity, exuding a raw, unpolished energy. This painting could not be judged from a technical artistic perspective, but the imperial sentiment it conveyed was enough to awe any viewer.

The festivities in the outer court and the inner palace were in full swing, but the protagonist of the Longevity Festival had yet to appear. A palpable tension had already seeped into the heart of the imperial city.

The Yuanhua Emperor used up an entire pool of fresh ink. While Noble Consort Kang continued to grind more, he paused to drink half a cup of clear tea offered by Wen Xing.

A shadow silently appeared in the outer chamber of the Hall of Diligence, kneeling to report.

"Your Majesty, Prince Pingxian has used his inside man at the East Gate of Chang'an to secretly bring in eighty imperial guards. Bi Yongshi has already coordinated with his disciples at the court banquet to cover their entry into the Hall of Heavenly Blessings, where the banquet is being held, in an attempt to seize the important court officials."

The Yuanhua Emperor remained silent. Shortly after, another shadow arrived to report.

"Your Majesty, Yu Wen has activated the hundred dead soldiers he had previously hidden within the palace under the guise of arranging the banquet. They are now heading towards the Hall of Heavenly Respect and the Hall of Personal Cultivation."

The Yuanhua Emperor lifted his wolf-hair brush and made a heavy stroke on the pristine tribute paper, "Let them gather and fight; kill all who must die."

"What about outside the city?"

"Scouts have reported that Prince Shen has personally led three thousand elite troops, moving stealthily towards the capital, now only thirty miles away."

"The military camp outside the capital has poor intelligence flow, and it seems a unit of troops is moving without orders."

The Yuanhua Emperor increased the pressure, the ink saturating to its limit, penetrating the paper.

"Command the Taiping Marquis to secure the city gates tightly, deploy the dead soldiers, forge orders in the names of Bi Yongshi and the third prince, making them believe the opposing forces are the imperial army suppressing the rebellion, provoking the two forces outside the city to destroy each other."

The shadows, one by one, took their orders and vanished. The Yuanhua Emperor looked at the hole in the paper, his expression a blend of amusement and intrigue.

"The second and third princes have truly rallied their troops for revolt. This time, we will crush their bones and clip their wings, and they will be obedient henceforth."

The vast hall remained silent, with Noble Consort Kang, still slightly bowed, continuing to grind the ink.

The Yuanhua Emperor had always appreciated her sense of timing. He did not require a flower that could comprehend his words, but a living, breathing portrait that resembled the late empress.

"Jia Heyan has spent his entire life preparing for this day. I have endured him for too long, and now the perfect moment has come. Kill him, and your revenge will be complete."

Jia Heyan was the name of Prince Pingxian. The Yuanhua Emperor spoke of this former brother who had once helped him greatly, his tone icy.

Noble Consort Kang said nothing. She and Prince Pingxian were enemies due to him killing her husband and ruining her family, just as the late empress sought vengeance for the poisoning and death of her son.

To whom was the Yuanhua Emperor referring when he spoke of vengeance? Noble Consort Kang did not need to discern.

She knew only that after today, her enemies would certainly perish.

From the Hall of Heavenly Respect ahead came chaotic sounds—screams, struggles, the clash of weapons, the shattering of vessels—unusual sounds that were starkly out of place in the Forbidden City.

The Yuanhua Emperor did not move. The schemes of Prince Jin and Prince Shen had always been under his watchful eye. He had long since arranged sufficient forces to ensure that those individuals could not make even a wave.

Seizing this opportunity, he could eradicate the forces of these two princes, removing them openly and righteously.

"The banquet attendants in the Hall of Heavenly Respect suddenly brandished their weapons, trying to intimidate the officials."

"Your Majesty, it's terrible! A band of assassins from an unknown source has burst into the Hall of Heavenly Respect!"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Prince Jin is leading those assassins and the disguised attendants in a fight!"

"Your Majesty!"

...

The Yuanhua Emperor calmly listened to the urgent reports from outside the hall, the voices growing more anxious, crying out to the heavens, filled with unease, like a captivatingly beautiful melody.

Suddenly, the Yuanhua Emperor's brow twitched. He felt as if he had overlooked something.

"Where is the Crown Prince?"

Wen Xing hesitated, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? It was you who said a few days ago that the Crown Prince was unwell and ordered him not to attend the Longevity Festival this year, but to hold a banquet at the imperial villa to wish Your Majesty a long life from afar."

The Yuanhua Emperor's brush shook, a stroke of ink utterly marring the piece. He threw the brush aside and pressed his deeply furrowed brow.

"And Phoenix Roost? Go to the back and call Phoenix Roost over."

"Your Imperial Majesty?"

The Yuanhua Emperor's heart skipped a beat, his body realizing the situation was out of control before his mind did. Just moments ago, the noise from the Hall of Heavenly Purity had suddenly ceased, and the Forbidden City fell into an eerie silence.

With both sides fighting and the men he had arranged to control the situation, the chaos shouldn’t have ended so quickly.

"Azure Phoenix Lord—"

"Your Imperial Majesty," Wen Xing, standing nervously by the door of the outer chamber, said, "The Azure Phoenix Lord has arrived outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Hearing this, the Yuanhua Emperor felt not reassured but increasingly suspicious.

Why had the Azure Phoenix Lord come to the front court outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation without a summons? Had he come alone, or was there more to his arrival?

"Guards, seize the Azure Phoenix Lord and those with him."

"Guards!"

"Guards?!"

The Yuanhua Emperor shouted three times, but no response came. All the guards, both visible and hidden, inside and outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, seemed to have vanished like snow meeting fire.

Before the Hall of Mental Cultivation, just a few dozen meters away, stood the most majestic palace in the Forbidden City—the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

Not long ago, it had hosted a grand banquet filled with dignitaries. Now, it was a scene of utter chaos, with shattered dishes, bloodstains, and broken remnants everywhere.

Du Yunse cast his sword to the ground, wiping a drop of blood from his chin with one hand.

A few paces away stood the Crown Prince, at whose feet lay a corpse dressed in the attire of Prince Jin.

Under the gaze of countless onlookers, filled with suspicion and fear, Du Yunse lifted the hem of his robe and knelt resolutely, speaking in a clear voice.

"Prince Jin and Prince Pingxian took advantage of the Yuanhua Emperor’s birthday to secretly bring bandits into the palace, intending to assassinate key officials and stage a coup. Their deeds are atrocious and unforgivable."

"The Crown Prince, detecting something suspicious and concerned for His Majesty, disregarded his ailment and entered the palace to suppress the rebellion, killing the bandits. He exemplifies filial piety and virtue, his wisdom and righteousness manifest to all!"

As Du Yunse finished speaking, before others could react, Hanlin Academician Shi Chen pulled Wen Huiyang beside him to kneel and shouted loudly.

"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

...

As Shi Chen started, more and more people caught on. The ministers, who had just narrowly escaped death, instinctively followed the others, their scattered voices gradually uniting, echoing inside and outside the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

As the voices died down, Du Yunse spoke again.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has not appeared today and has forbidden anyone except Noble Consort Kang from entering the hall. We do not know if he is well. Given the pressing circumstances, extraordinary measures are warranted. Please proceed immediately to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to verify His Majesty’s well-being."

Some courtiers in the Hall of Heavenly Purity sensed something was amiss and wanted to speak, but they were held back by others.

"The Crown Prince is the future sovereign, recognized by heaven and earth. Who else but him has the right to check on His Majesty’s condition?"

The person who wanted to speak hesitated, but when his colleague gestured toward the ground, where the bodies of Prince Jin, Prince Pingxian, and Bi Yongshi lay, he swallowed his words.

Similar small scenes played out in the hall, but none gained any traction.

Crown Prince Jia Hongyuan appeared concerned, his brow creased with sorrow and rage after having just killed his kin. Anyone who saw him couldn’t help but praise him as a benevolent ruler.

"Yun Se, stay here and comfort the ministers."

"It would be inappropriate for me to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation alone, as it could be perceived as self-serving. I will invite my uncle, the Azure Phoenix Lord, and Noble Consort Wen to accompany me in inquiring about His Majesty’s safety."