Chapter 211: Survival First

Besides Ye Jiao, the Emperor was also concerned about Yan Congzheng.

"Where is my Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards?" the Emperor sneered coldly.

"He should be present; otherwise, Li Chen wouldn't have succeeded so easily."

A profound disappointment settled over him. He had hoped Yan could break free from his family's shackles and maintain his integrity.

Gao Fu knew little about Yan Congzheng's situation. Ever since the Crown Prince and Li Chen successively assumed regency, the Emperor's covert informants had become unreliable. Trivial matters were reported promptly, but anything concerning court affairs was slow and error-prone. This was a common occurrence—power gradually hollowed out—a necessary passage for any ruler retreating behind the scenes.

Lowering his head, Gao Fu reported, "Deputy Commander Yan returned home yesterday and has not been heard from since. His condition is unknown."

The Emperor stared silently at the grand beam above, his gaze lingering. The palace pillars were magnificent, the walls of Nanxun Hall whitewashed, wooden frames painted vermilion, crimson pillars against plain walls, elaborately carved beams and rafters. Amid this flourishing tableau, the painted beams depicted twin dragons facing each other, undaunted by lightning and thunder, soaring through the clouds. The Emperor's eyes fixed on this image, unable to look away for a long moment.

"Wait," he sighed, "wait a little longer. The ministers are still here, and I have several sons in the capital. I cannot rely solely on Xiao Jiu and Ye Jiao. They must also make their move."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the last medicinal pellet burned out, Gao Fu remained kneeling, reluctant to rise. The Emperor had already made the most prudent arrangements, but if Li Chen proved ruthless enough, today's situation would surely spiral beyond control. A ruler must possess ample courage.

"Impudent!"

A sharp reprimand rang out from Lizheng Hall, where the Empress Dowager resided.

The Empress, surrounded by the Imperial Guards, wore a chilling expression. She steadied the hand of the lady-in-waiting Du Xiaoran, standing resolutely without uttering a word.

It was early morning, and all palace consorts were paying their respects at the Empress's quarters. Seeing this scene, many concubines shrank behind screens, trembling. A few timid ones burst into tears on the spot.

The fiery-tempered Consort Bai was the first to step forward and scold.

"Is this your playground? Where is Commander Bai?"

Commander Bai Fanxi, leader of the Imperial Guards, was Bai Zhaoyi's father. The outbreak of trouble among the guards distressed her most.

"Your Highness," the young guard leader Mu Ran replied, "Commander Bai is currently on imperial orders touring Jinzhou. Deputy Commander Yan is ill. Presently, it is Chief Administrator Lu who is issuing commands."

"Chief Administrator Lu?"

That meant the Lu family. Bai Zhaoyi turned her head, scanning the concubines for any sign of Lady Lu. Since Lady Lu's meteoric rise to the rank of Shufei, surpassing Bai, the foremost among the ninth-rank consorts, Bai Zhaoyi had long harbored resentment.

Never had she expected the Emperor to first grant Lady Lu the magnificent Shuiyun Palace, then bestow her the title of Shufei. The Shufei resided in Yunxue Pavilion—her former residence. How could a bigger house compare to rank and status? Yet after a thorough search, Bai Zhaoyi found no trace of Lady Lu.

"No need to look any further, Your Highness," Du Xiaoran bowed and said, "Shufei is unwell and requested leave early this morning."

Bai Zhaoyi frowned and turned toward the Empress, suspicion clouding her features. Ill and on leave? And yet the Imperial Guards dared to encircle Lizheng Hall?

"Your Highness, they..." Bai Zhaoyi hurried toward the Empress, her panic causing her to stumble on her robes.

"Yes," the Empress glanced outside, lips curling into a faint, cold smile, "they intend to harm the Crown Prince and usurp the throne."

Bai Zhaoyi's legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground.

The mention of usurpation sent many concubines into tears.

The Empress frowned, while Du Xiaoran gently cautioned, "Ladies, do not lose decorum amidst chaos."

Her voice was calm and soothing; the concubines wept quietly, refraining from further outbursts.

Suddenly, Bai Zhaoyi rose urgently, "I must go out! Jin'er is still at Shuiyun Palace!"

A mother's foremost worry in peril was her child. Bai Zhaoyi's son, Li Jin, the youngest prince, was still living in his mother's palace at the age of five or six due to his favored status.

The Empress was about to intervene, but Bai Zhaoyi strode out briskly.

Raised in the Bai household, she was no stranger to weapons and battle formations. How could a few Imperial Guards block her?

Unexpectedly, the tips of their long blades were pressed just against her neck.

"Please wait here, Your Highness. Do not leave."

One guard said firmly.

"Do you know who I am? Try and stab me, just try!" Bai Zhaoyi snapped defiantly.

The guards showed no sign of retreat, actually advancing to thrust forward.

Bai Zhaoyi's face paled, and she staggered backward, suddenly feeling a supportive hand at her waist, steadying her and pulling her away.

It was Shufei, the mother of Prince Chu, who had remained silent all this while.

"Sister, do not panic," Shufei soothed Bai Zhaoyi, "with His Majesty and the Empress here, we should wait calmly. Shuiyun Palace is far from the Eastern Palace and the former court—it should be the safest place."

Indeed, since this was a coup attempt, the Eastern Palace and former court would be the first targets. Here they were at least secure, at least until the conflict concluded.

Bai Zhaoyi finally felt some relief. She linked arms with Shufei, her heart still restless as they walked back.

"What are you worried about?" the Empress scolded, seeing her discouraged return, "I am not panicking. You all must steel yourselves. The royal ministers will defend Nanxun Hall; the Crown Prince will stabilize the court. Take care of yourselves first and don't add to the chaos!"

Though she said this, how could the Empress herself not be anxious?

"Xiaoran," she whispered to Du Xiaoran as they entered the inner chambers, "it seems Xiao Chenzi has delivered the message."

What a joke. Did the Prince of Wei think winning hearts was so easy? When he first sent gifts to Xiao Chenzi, the Empress was already aware. The Emperor's sudden illness had surely severed Li Chen's rear support, forcing him into desperate measures. This was a risk the Crown Prince had to take—before ascending, uprooting Li Chen's faction in the former court's harem, tearing out the Lu family entirely.

Du Xiaoran lowered her head.

"Your Highness's strategy rivals even the most cunning strategists. Yet, I worry..."

"You worry about Zhang'er."

The Empress nodded.

"How could I not? But rest assured, Zhang'er has trained the Zhao household guards to be invincible on Mount Li, stronger than Li Long's private troops. His own personal guards will not be inferior."

She referred to Li Ce leading the Zhao guards to rescue Liu Yan at Mount Li.

"But..." Du Xiaoran frowned deeply.

In her twenties, tall and slender, with lips sometimes tightly pressed, sometimes smiling diplomatically, she was the Empress's most trusted attendant. The Empress was more lenient with her.

"What is it? Speak boldly."

"But Li Chen has already spread rumors that the Crown Prince secretly stockpiles crossbows in Jinzhou, sowing discord. If he fabricates an edict claiming the Emperor has deposed the Crown Prince, the Eastern Palace guards will surely hesitate. When morale collapses, all becomes difficult."

The Empress's fingers clenched tightly, gripping Du Xiaoran's arm as she halted, their eyes sharing identical fear and helplessness.

Ye Jiao told herself not to panic. With Yan Congzheng present, summoning the Imperial Guards was easy. Under his intimidating presence, the gates of Daming Palace had already opened. Guards on duty knelt, confessing the palace's situation.

"The Prince of Wei forbade ministers from leaving Zichen Hall. He led troops to the Eastern Palace, proclaiming the Emperor's edict to depose the Crown Prince."

The Emperor deposing the Crown Prince? Yan Congzheng's troops exchanged stunned glances, their grips on sword hilts faltering.

"The Emperor would never depose the Crown Prince!" Ye Jiao declared loudly, "This is a forged edict—a treasonous conspiracy!"

Her certainty steadied the troops for the moment.

"To the Eastern Palace!" Yan Congzheng, his wounds roughly bandaged, though unsteady, led the charge to rescue the Crown Prince.

Ye Jiao rode beside him, holding him back.

"You must go to Zichen Hall, to Nanxun Hall," she whispered, "the most urgent matter is the Emperor! He must not be harmed!"

She harbored selfish hopes. Yan Congzheng was gravely wounded; even if he reached the Eastern Palace, he could no longer fight. She worried for the Emperor but also hoped Yan might achieve merit in saving the sovereign.

"No!" Yan

gritted his teeth, "I will fight with my life for the Crown Prince!"

"Survival first!" Ye Jiao yelled fiercely, "The Emperor's safety depends on you, not reckless death!"

The thunderous charge of the Imperial Guards shattered the palace's stillness. The battle to save the throne was about to erupt.