Chapter 217: Last Night’s Rain and Wind — The Capital’s Unrest Again (Part 2)

Chapter 217: Last Night's Rain and Wind — The Capital's Unrest Again (Part 2)

— It has finally begun.

The surroundings were quiet, and the girls looked around, their gazes filled with fear.

Minglan quietly stared into the distance, half of her face swallowed by the dim, ambiguous twilight, while the other half was flickering in the light of the rising flames. However, she had never felt so clearly aware.

Earlier at noon, when Mama Cui had advised her to rest, she had said, "Madam, you're overthinking. Last time, during the 'Shen-Chen Rebellion,' the people who were summoned into the palace were those nobles. We're not royal family members, what use would they have for you?"

At the time, she didn't understand. Now, she understood perfectly.

Times had changed. When the Fourth Prince rebelled back then, the late emperor was still alive, and the political and military power was held by the throne. The Fourth Prince lacked the legitimate title and the recognition of the noble families, so he deceived the imperial relatives and noblewomen in the capital, bringing them into the palace as hostages, forcing ministers and scholars to write imperial edicts. But now… Sigh, the Rui Wang (King Rui), the Rui Wang!

Minglan had seen that boy, around ten years old, from afar. He was delicate, refined, and bright, with a thirst for knowledge. He was polite and well-mannered, and highly regarded in the scholarly community. Compared to the current emperor, who was stern and authoritative, the boy received even more praise from the noble families. Even the Empress Dowager and the Empress themselves were very fond of him. It seemed clear now — they were going to use this child for their own schemes!

The Rui Wang (King Rui) had been granted the imperial succession by the late emperor, following the line of the Third Prince. The Third Prince had been the late emperor's heir apparent, and his position ranked just before the current emperor in the imperial order. The emperor had only ascended the throne a few years ago, and his power was still unstable. If, by unfortunate circumstances, the emperor were to "die suddenly in the palace," and several of the princes "met with misfortune" or disappeared, it would be even better. If not, it would come down to whose strength was greater.

The situation in the capital was unclear, with most of the army engaged in the western campaigns.

Apart from Zhang and Gu, whose fates were uncertain, General Bo, severely injured and bedridden, and General Fu, who might not be able to outmaneuver the crafty old General Gan, the situation was precarious. Moreover, the Empress Dowager's family had been entrenched in the northwest for many years, deeply rooted and intricately connected, making their operations formidable. As for Shen Congxing, the one truly in control of the military forces now was Duan Chengqian and others.

If the palace coup succeeded, with the Rui Wang ascending to the throne, they could use the family members and children to hold the generals hostage. This would prevent the army from returning to the capital to protect the emperor, as the "deed" would be done, and even if they didn't recognize it, they would have no choice but to accept it.

Indeed, a well-planned scheme!

"Madam, madam!"

The usually calm Hao Zongguan hurriedly ran over, kneeling on the stone pavement with a thud. "It's all chaos outside. The Five Cities Military Command is in rebellion. Not only are they ignoring Lord Liu's orders, but they've sealed off the city gates, not allowing anyone in or out, and they've even engaged in combat with Lord Liu's imperial guards!"

He wiped his cold sweat, cautiously glancing at Minglan. "Also… it's rumored that General Zheng has defected. The servant who came to report said he saw the Imperial Guard making a move toward the palace…"

The surrounding girls gasped, some quietly sobbing.

Minglan remained calm, saying, "No wonder they dared to stir trouble; it seems they were well-prepared."

Hao Zongguan urgently said, "Madam, should we seek refuge? We can escort you out of the mansion."

Minglan gave a cold laugh. "Escape? Where would we escape to?"

She lightly brushed her hair, which had been blown by the evening breeze, and spoke calmly, "Even if we leave the mansion, the city gates are closed tight. Where else can we hide? If it's a blessing, it's a blessing; if it's a calamity, it's a calamity. The emperor is wise, and will surely quell the rebellion in one swift stroke."

The outside was in complete chaos, and leaving might not be safe. Minglan could only hope that Gu Tingye's judgment in business was better than his judgment of women. Otherwise, with the nest in turmoil, how could any eggs remain intact?

Ignoring the various expressions of those around her, Minglan continued walking back to Jia Ci Residence. Cui Mama had already prepared the meal in the side room, and the children were waiting nearby. On the small octagonal table, which was delicately lacquered with a lotus flower design, there was a steamed egg custard with minced meat and shrimp, a dish of salted osmanthus duck garnished with thin red-pink pickled radish flowers, a plate of soy-braised beef fillet, and another bowl of sautéed mushrooms with vegetable hearts.

Minglan regained her composure, picking up her chopsticks and eating while teasing her son. The little chubby boy hadn't played with his mother for a long time, and he laughed so hard that he almost tumbled under the table. The wet nurse finally managed to feed him a bowl of egg and milk porridge. Cui Mama, while serving the dishes, secretly observed Minglan, several times opening her mouth to ask something but hesitating.

After finishing the meal and rinsing her mouth and hands, Minglan said, "Be careful in the eldest madam's courtyard. The two girls are not allowed to run around; they should stay in one place. Move Ruomei and the children to the eldest madam's courtyard as well."

Keeping them farther from her and her son might actually make them safer.

"As for Tuan Ge'er…"

Minglan whispered a few words into Cui Mama's ear, and Cui Mama immediately understood. "Don't worry, madam. I understand."

Once everything was arranged, it was already time to light the lamps. Minglan sat calmly at the desk in the main room, with the door wide open, quietly reading her book. She turned to The Peach Blossom Spring and reached the part that read, "The fragrant grass was fresh, and the fallen petals were scattered everywhere," when Liao Yong's maid hurriedly ran in from outside, her face as pale as a ghost. Without observing any formalities, she kneeled down and quickly said, "Out… outside, the officials have surrounded our Hou residence…"

Minglan slowly lowered the book. "What did the person say?"

Liao Yong's maid swallowed nervously. "She… she said the madam is defying the imperial decree, and they want to arrest the madam and charge her with a crime! Lord Tu is blocking the front, refusing to open the door."

"I suspected it would be something like this." Minglan smiled faintly. "I will go to the front."

A soft sedan chair was already prepared outside. Minglan swayed gently along with the bearers' steps. The early spring air in the capital was unexpectedly cold, almost as if it had suddenly reverted to winter. The north wind hurriedly moved through the branches, like a lurking poisonous snake, flicking its tongue in the shadows.

Minglan looked up at the sky. The night was as dark as ink, the moon dim, and the stars sparse. An endless expanse of darkness covered the horizon. All around her were servants and maids, but it was so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard. She thought, the silence, like the darkness, was terrifying.

But in my heart, it is as bright as the full moon in the sky.

It was like the beginning of life, like every bud moved by the urge to bloom. All things are empty in nature, neither born nor destroyed.

As they arrived at the front hall of the outer courtyard, the yard was packed with sturdy guards, each holding a torch, lighting up the night as if it were day. The large vermilion doors, nearly three meters high, were being slammed with a loud bang. The chaotic shouts from outside filled the air:

"Gu Shengshi, quickly surrender!"

"The Gu family traitor, open the door now!"

"We are here by order to arrest the traitor. Open the door, and you will be pardoned and rewarded with titles and promotions!"…

Tu Da stood in front, blocking the way, creating a straight path. Minglan supported by Xiao Tao and walked forward. A small observation window, no larger than the palm of a hand, was opened at the side of the door. Minglan leaned over to take a closer look. Outside, there was a large crowd gathered. The first few people wore the military attire of the army, but the dozens behind them were dressed in all sorts of clothing, their faces filled with a dangerous, fierce look, and they were shouting curses.

Minglan turned away from the door, stepped up to the higher platform of the main hall, and called out loudly, "Please, let everyone listen to my words!"

The noise inside and outside the door was deafening. Tu Long, gathering all his breath, shouted, "Everyone outside, our madam is here. Listen to her carefully!"

The roar of this trained soldier was no joke. It made Minglan's eardrums ring, and sure enough, the outside fell silent.

A loud, arrogant male voice came from outside the door: "Gu Hou's wife, listen well! Last time, you and your people refused to obey the summons to the palace, angering the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. We've come to arrest you! Surrender quickly, and we will spare your family!"

Minglan raised an elegant eyebrow and replied briskly, "Dream on! I won't go!" Her voice was sharp and clear, echoing distinctly in the night. The guards in the courtyard couldn't help but snicker quietly.

The man outside roared in fury, "You wretched woman, how dare you?!"

"Why else? Because you have the face of a rat and the eyes of a thief, clearly the kind of person who loses every bet!" Minglan intentionally lowered her voice to a mocking tone.

Laughter erupted all around, and even outside the door, there were sounds of people chuckling.

The man, now enraged, shouted again, swearing loudly. Just as the surrounding noise quieted, Minglan coldly interrupted, "Who do you think you are? I know exactly what kind of people you are! Stop pretending to be someone respectable, you rebels and traitors!"

The words "rebels and traitors" carried a heavy weight, and once again, the outside fell eerily silent.

Minglan raised her voice, coldly declaring, "Treasonous ministers and rebellious traitors must all be executed—this is a truth known by everyone. But there are always those who, blinded by their own delusions, think they've been lucky and are willing to put their necks on the chopping block, gambling with their lives! Remember the 'Shen-Chen Rebellion' from a few years ago? How many high-ranking officials and noble families aided the rebel king? Ha! And what happened? In just seven days, the Emperor quelled the rebellion. Do you even know your place? You're nowhere near as strong as the rebel king. I wonder if you can last even seven hours!"

She let out a cold laugh and shouted, "Enough nonsense! If you have the guts, come on in! Don't just stand there trying to fool people and deceive dogs. Let me give you a piece of advice, gentlemen outside—while you're still not exposed, it's better to get out of here and make a proper living. There are plenty of ways to get rich, don't get caught up in this dirty business. Rebellion isn't the same as robbing a rich family. A single head can't settle it. Think about your wives and children!"

Outside, there was suddenly a deep silence. After a long pause, the arrogant male voice called out again, "Don't be fooled by this woman! The侯府 is full of gold and jewels. Tonight's the night to make a fortune!"

Tulong roared in response, "Our lord has the roster, and if we fail to protect the madam, we will be severely punished! The madam promises—one hundred taels of silver for an arm, one hundred and fifty taels for a leg. If anyone loses their life, the Marquis residence will take care of their family! Brothers, let's go! If we survive this, there will be rich rewards, and we'll live the good life from now on!"

With these two roars, the battle of the night officially began.

The sixteen red lacquered doors of the main hall were wide open. Luzhi had been moved to place a tall, grand armchair in the center of the hall, where Minglan sat, observing the fierce fighting ahead, as if she were commanding from the rear.

By regulation, except for the palace, the walls and gates of the Marquis residence were only slightly less formidable than those of the royal residences. They were much taller and thicker than those of ordinary households, standing at least two to three people high, and the red lacquered door was nearly half a foot thick. Behind the door latch, it would take a heavy hammer to break it open. Despite the frantic pounding outside, the door did not budge an inch, and hacking with knives and spears was equally futile.

The bandits clearly hadn't anticipated Minglan's resilience. They had planned to intimidate a woman, thinking it would be enough, but now, without any effective tools to break down the door, they had to order their men to find sturdy trees to ram it, while others scrambled to climb over the walls and jump inside.

Unknown to the bandits, Tulong had already prepared many sharp wooden poles over two meters long. Inside the wall, two men worked together to hold the poles. As soon as they saw heads appear over the wall, they thrust the poles up sharply. There were continuous screams, followed by several loud thuds as a few bandits were impaled through their jaws or chests and fell to the ground. Some brave bandits, wielding large knives, climbed the wall, but the wooden poles had been smeared with tar, and ordinary weapons couldn't cut through them. Others, more agile, evaded the thrusts, but two archers inside the door were keeping watch, quickly shooting arrows down to strike them.

After a brief pause, the bandits outside began shooting arrows into the hall, trying to cover their comrades as they climbed. The arrows rained down, and in no time, a few of the men wielding the poles were struck. Minglan immediately ordered that the wounded be brought into the hall.

The guards turned back to see their mistress, who was heavily pregnant, sitting calmly in the rear hall, unshaken by the chaos. They all felt a renewed sense of responsibility, thinking, "If a frail woman can show such courage, what are we, as men, doing?!"

Tulong quickly swung his Ghost-head Knife, helping someone climb the wall-mounted ladder, and then, avoiding the arrows, swiftly began tossing small packages of quicklime. The quicklime spread everywhere, and outside, there was a chorus of yells and curses.

"Close your eyes! They're throwing quicklime inside!"

"How shameless! Using such a low-down trick!"…

Tulong couldn't help but mutter to himself, "If the brothers in the Jianghu (martial world) knew about this, I, Old Tulong, would never be able to show my face again… What are you staring at? You brat, keep throwing it!"

For nearly half an hour after that, the situation inside and outside gradually quieted. Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps, as if more bandits were coming. Tulong listened closely, his face changing drastically. He shouted, "Brothers, be careful! The thieves are coming again!"

Sure enough, moments later, the bandits appeared, their eyes covered with thin cloth strips, and they howled as they climbed the wall again. This time, there were more of them, and the wall was crowded with heads. There was no time to shoot arrows or use poles to push them back.

By now, the oil cauldrons that had been set up in the courtyard were emitting thick, acrid smoke. Tulong yelled for buckets of boiling oil to be passed up the ladder. With a screech, the oil was poured down, and immediately, the air was filled with the sounds of screaming and the smell of burning flesh. In the deep night, the noise and stench were particularly terrifying.

Luzhi's face turned pale, her teeth clattering uncontrollably as she stared at the pools of blood on the ground. Xiaotao was much stronger, helping to move the wounded who were moaning in pain.

It was spring, so the servants carrying the oil were dressed warmly in cotton coats and leather gloves, and they were not afraid of the hot liquid. But the bandits outside wore only thin spring clothes. Not only did those who were hit directly by the boiling oil lose half their lives, but even those who were splashed with it jumped and howled in intense pain.

The pouring of boiling oil had a far wider impact than other attacks. The bandits suffered heavy casualties, and for a while, the noise from outside died down.

Tulong wiped his sweat and rushed into the hall, cupping his fists and saying, "Madam, it should be peaceful for a while."

Minglan's fingers, gripping the armrest, turned slightly pale. "They won't give up easily."

"Don't worry, Madam," Tulong reassured. "My brothers are watching the back door, and we have enough hot oil and plenty of sharp stakes!"

Minglan nodded stiffly, reaching up to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead. Her hand moved to her belly, feeling the strong thumping. She sensed that the baby, too, was affected by the fear. A surge of tenderness filled her heart, and she gently stroked her child, holding back tears.