Chapter 92: Five days until the coronation ceremony…

Chapter 92: Five days until the coronation...

Prince Duan and the Duke of Liu poisoned the late emperor—that’s the truth.

This is the version the world will hear.

Studying Huo Ling’s expression, Ding Jinghuan grew bolder: “Will Your Majesty send troops right away to seize Prince Duan’s residence and the Duke of Liu’s estate?”

Huo Ling pondered for a moment before replying, “Not yet.”

Ding Jinghuan said, “I’ve heard that both Prince Duan and the Duke of Liu have claimed illness and refused to come to the palace to mourn. Their treason is plain to see.”

Ding Jinghuan had good sources. He’d also caught wind of what happened at the mourning hall.

But he didn’t know the full picture.

With such solid proof, they could indeed move against Prince Duan and the Duke of Liu immediately.

This was Huo Ling’s first instinct.

She’d rushed to summon Ding Jinghuan to the palace and sent word to Yanxi to mobilize troops because she suspected the Duke of Liu had planned Emperor Jingyuan’s death.

If they’d planned this all along, she and An Er would be in grave danger.

That’s why she needed to strike fast.

But after talking to Prince Duan and observing Liu Qiao and the Duke of Liu’s reactions—

Emperor Jingyuan’s death had caught everyone off guard.

No one expected him to collapse at this moment.

She wasn’t prepared—but neither were they.

Now, with the moral high ground and Prince Duan already under control, the Duke of Liu alone no longer seemed threatening to her.

The ones who should be worried weren’t her anymore.

Huo Ling looked at Ding Jinghuan and said, “I’ll wait two more days.”

Though puzzled, Ding Jinghuan didn’t ask further. He could see the Empress Dowager was steps ahead—she must have other plans beyond what he knew.

Huo Ling didn’t hide it from him: “Before I summoned you to the palace that day, I sent a letter to Yanxi.”

Ding Jinghuan paused. Remembering Huo Ling’s mention of waiting two more days, he began to understand. “Is the Swallow Feather Army arriving?”

“That’s right,” Huo Ling replied. “If all goes well, the Swallow Feather Army should reach the outskirts of the capital by tomorrow night at the latest.”

“If all goes well?” Ding Jinghuan frowned slightly. “Could something go wrong in Yanxi?”

“Zhou Jiamu is Prince Duan’s man.”

Ding Jinghuan’s face darkened. “Your Majesty is gambling too much.”

“What if I told you I have Prince Duan?”

Ding Jinghuan was stunned again. Putting it all together quickly in his mind, he stared in disbelief: “So the Princess Consort’s claims that Prince Duan was too ill to enter the palace… were just to cover up his disappearance?”

Huo Ling didn’t mention she’d already killed Prince Duan, just said, “Exactly.”

Ding Jinghuan pondered for a moment and asked, "If, when My Lady sent the letter to mobilize the *Swallow Feather Army*, Prince Duan also sent one to summon Zhou Jiamu, what then? Has My Lady considered that the troops coming might not be on our side?"

"Indeed, that is a possibility," Huo Ling said, picking up her teacup and taking a sip. "The *Swallow Feather Army* is cavalry; they can move much faster than other forces. That’s why I said they would arrive outside the capital by the evening of the day after tomorrow at the latest."

"Zhou Jiamu’s forces, on the other hand, would take an extra day or two on the road."

"If by the morning of the third day, I still haven’t received any news from the *Swallow Feather Army*, it would mean Yanxi has slipped from my control, and Zhou Jiamu has come out on top in his standoff with my father, the Duke."

---

The delicate fragrance of tea filled the hall. Steam rose from the cup, obscuring Huo Ling’s face.

Her voice was not cold, but carried an unnervingly calm tone.

"At that point, before Zhou Jiamu’s forces reach the capital, I will send men to surround Prince Duan’s residence and the Liu Duke’s mansion and have everyone killed right then."

"Once all are dead, I’ll dispatch someone carrying Prince Duan’s personal seal to intercept Zhou Jiamu outside the city. Zhou Jiamu is a clever man. However loyal he may be to Prince Duan, once he learns of Prince Duan and Ji Yuanwan’s deaths, he would never dare oppose me again."

Ding Jinghuan felt a chill at the ruthless decisiveness in her words.

Many had thought that after Emperor Jingyuan’s passing, this young Dowager and the boy emperor would be left in a precarious and helpless position. Yet, the Dowager had employed such brutal measures to firmly stabilize the court.

Such tactics… such ruthlessness…

A strange expression flashed across Ding Jinghuan’s face. He lowered his head and said sincerely, "My Lady’s foresight is impeccable. Your servant is deeply impressed."

Huo Ling smiled faintly.

In her view, waiting two more days did carry some risks. But those risks were worth taking.

Prince Duan’s faction was led by him and the Duke of Liu, but beneath them were many officials.

If Prince Duan and the Duke of Liu dared to plot rebellion, some of their subordinates must also be restless.

With the evidence Ding Jinghuan had uncovered, she could only eliminate Prince Duan’s residence and the Liu Duke’s mansion. Those who aided their rebellion might still hide in the shadows, slipping through the net.

If these people weren’t purged all at once, they would become a future problem.

With her position strengthening, she could use this opportunity to see just how deep the corruption ran.

Of course, if Liu Qiao and the Duke of Liu acted within these two days, it would make things easier for her.

Before Ding Jinghuan withdrew, Huo Ling gave him a penetrating gaze and issued another order: "You’ve been diligent these past days. Return and rest for a day, then continue the investigation."

Ding Jinghuan bowed respectfully in acknowledgment.

He knew that this time, what the Dowager wanted was the truth.

The whole truth.

After Ding Jinghuan left, Huo Ling summoned a eunuch and instructed him to bring Lu Hang.

Lu Hang was currently in charge of preparing the items for the enthronement ceremony.

These were all of imperial grade—rarely used under normal circumstances. Some could be repurposed from Emperor Jingyuan’s belongings, while others had to be newly made. With Huo Ling pressing urgently, Lu Hang was overwhelmed, wishing for an extra pair of hands.

Still, no matter how busy he was, he dared not delay in responding to the Dowager’s summons.

"Minister Lu, how are the preparations for the enthronement ceremony coming along?" Lu Hang offered a wan smile, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve as he replied, "Have no concern, Your Majesty. The ceremony will go off without a hitch in five days."

After receiving assurance from Lu Hang, Huo Ling did not detain him any longer.

She glanced at the sky outside and rose to visit Ji Xianshan.

Ji Xianshan was napping on the couch, with Wu Mo keeping watch over him.

Seeing Huo Ling arrive, Wu Mo shifted slightly to make room for her.

Huo Ling gently touched Ji Xianshan's little face. Her movements were light, but he still sleepily opened his eyes.

"Mother," Ji Xianshan rubbed his eyes, "are you finished working?"

As he moved, his blanket slipped down.

Huo Ling pulled it back up for him and said softly, "Yes, all done."

Ji Xianshan's eyes brightened, and he held tightly to Huo Ling's hand. "Really?"

Taking the chance, Wu Mo suggested, "Since Your Majesty is free, why not stay and accompany the young emperor for a while?"

Huo Ling looked at Ji Xianshan's hopeful little face, took off her shoes, and lay down beside him.

Instantly awake, Ji Xianshan rolled over and nestled against Huo Ling's shoulder, his soft voice murmuring in her ear, "Mother, you've been so busy lately—is someone bullying you?"

"Hmm?" Huo Ling was surprised. "Why do you say that?"

Ji Xianshan chewed on his finger. "They say that after Father Emperor passed away, Uncle Thirteen stopped listening to you."

Huo Ling quickly pulled his hand away and wiped his fingers with a handkerchief. She had no idea where he had picked up this bad habit.

"And Aunt Thirteenth—the way she looked at me the other day was so scary."

"Did she frighten you?"

Ji Xianshan shook his head. "I'm not scared."

He leaned in and kissed Huo Ling's cheek, getting her cheek all wet. "Mother, don't be scared either. An Er will protect you."

Huo Ling pinched his cheek. "Oh really? How would you do that?"

Ji Xianshan thought hard with his child's mind. "Father Emperor was the Emperor, and I'm the Emperor too."

He thought and thought for a long time but couldn't quite figure it out, so he simply buried himself in Huo Ling's arms like a child seeking comfort. "Just like Father Emperor did!"

Huo Ling patted his head gently and stopped teasing him. "Alright, no more of that now. Let's sleep a little longer."

Ji Xianshan obediently lay still. After a while, he lifted his head and leaned close to Huo Ling, whose eyes were shut, whispering, "Mother, are you asleep?"

Huo Ling didn't open her eyes or respond.

Children could be restless—if she answered, he'd keep chattering away.

Ji Xianshan waited for a while before snuggling back down, murmuring, "Mother, I miss Father Emperor so much."

Huo Ling quietly opened her eyes.

The late emperor was the kindest and most forgiving person she had ever met in her life.

Were their positions reversed, she could never have measured up to his kindness.

On his deathbed, the late emperor’s greatest concern was for her and An Er.

He worried a child ruler would destabilize the kingdom, and that without his protection, she and An Er might suffer at the hands of others.

Power works in mysterious ways.

While the late emperor lived, his grip on power had been absolute. Under his rule, no matter how many schemes those beneath him plotted, they could only obey and feign loyalty.

Yet barely half a month after his passing, those same men were already making their moves.

Huo Ling lay beside Ji Xianshan for most of an hour, helping him up to wash and dress only when the child in her arms had fully awakened.

Once they were ready, she entrusted Ji Xianshan to Wu Mo. “Mind Aunt Wu Mo now, understand?”

Ji Xianshan’s lower lip trembled slightly, his face showing both sorrow and reluctance, but he still nodded obediently, sniffing as he said, “Understood.”

Wu Mo led Ji Xianshan away, and the boy kept looking back at Huo Ling as he walked.

Huo Ling sighed inwardly.

No matter how well-behaved and mature An Er seemed, he was still a child not yet three years old. After such a traumatic change, he felt uneasy and truly needed her by his side to comfort him.

But…

The wait wouldn’t be much longer.

The coronation ceremony was five days away. Within those five days, all would be settled.

***

The autumn rain over the capital had continued unabated for days.

Standing water had collected in many parts of the city, and as carriages rolled over the stone-paved streets, mud and water splashed everywhere. Fortunately, there were few pedestrians about, which saved them from the indignity of being drenched in filth.

At the Commandery Lady’s residence, Steward Liu stood in the rear courtyard, approving with a nod after inventorying the day’s supplies.

Just as he was about to have the goods carried into storage, the gatekeeper from the side entrance hurried over and whispered something in his ear.

Steward Liu’s expression shifted slightly, and he quickly followed the man to a small room beside the side gate.

Inside, a youth dressed in black with a bamboo hat slowly lifted his head at their approach.

Recognizing the face hidden beneath the brim, Steward Liu dismissed the gatekeeper, closed the door behind him, and bowed deeply.

“Lord Imperial Uncle.”

Huo Ze’s expression was taut with urgency. “Get me to the palace immediately.”

Half an hour later, Huo Ling met Huo Ze, who stood before her weary from travel and soaked through.

At the sight of him, Huo Ling knew—her scheme had borne fruit.

Huo Ze stood at the foot of the dais, his fist pressed to palm in salute. “Huo Ze of the Swallow Feather Army, speaking for its thirty thousand soldiers, pays homage to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager live ten thousand years.”