novelraw Chapter 369
Chapter 369
The Emperor's eyes blazed with fury, yet he dared not utter a word.
Because he could sense that the man before him was different from Chu Huaishan and the others; this one truly dared to take his life!
The situation reached a deadlock. Empress Pei stepped forward and said, "Changle, I know His Majesty's decision to execute the Duke of Chu was a moment of folly. I beg you, for the sake of past affections, to show mercy and spare him? I give you my word, if you release the Emperor, I will personally escort you out of the palace. I will not break my promise!"
Chu Ruoyan looked at this Empress, the model of virtue for the nation, and a touch of pity surfaced in her eyes. "Your Majesty, you devote yourself entirely to him. But did you know that after Consort Xue was demoted, the successive promotions of Consort Yan, Consort Rong, and even Consort Hui by your side were all intended to check your influence?"
Empress Pei's hand trembled. The Empress Dowager shouted, "Don't listen to her poisonous words! Save the Emperor first!"
Yet Empress Pei said bitterly, "I know." She raised her eyes to look at the Emperor. "I hail from the Pei Clan of Yuzhou. Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager feared interference from maternal relatives. I understand these concerns... But we were husband and wife since youth, bound for life. I cannot stand by and watch him come to harm!"
The Emperor was taken aback. In a daze, he recalled that time during the state banquet when Yan Zhao attempted an assassination; it seemed this woman he disliked had also shielded him then.
But it was only a fleeting moment of emotion. He said in a heavy voice, "The Empress is right. Chu Huaishan, as long as you have them release me, I will have the Empress personally escort you out of the palace. What do you say?"
Once they were out of the palace, he could just order Yue Qianzhong to ambush them. That wouldn't count as breaking his word.
As for the Empress's safety? She was just a woman. He could always make Consort Hui the Empress.
Chu Ruoyan saw through his thoughts, a faint, derisive smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Her father's voice rang out low and grave, "Your Majesty, even now, do you not understand? The Yun family has no intention of seizing the throne. Your relentless persecution only drives Yourself further onto a path of no return..."
"Insolence!"
The Emperor, furious and ashamed, was interrupted as a courier rushed in. "Your Majesty! An urgent message from eight hundred li—"
The courier froze at the sight before him. Gu Sun hurriedly asked, "What urgent news? Has Chief Minister Yan returned?"
Everyone in the hall turned to look at him. The courier hastily raised the dispatch. "No, it's... it's Yuzhou... they have rebelled..."
A thunderous uproar exploded in the court.
The Emperor was also stunned. "You said... who rebelled?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Yuzhou! Along with nearby Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and a total of twelve prefectures and counties, large and small, all have raised the banner of rebellion! They are now marching towards the capital!"
Chu Ruoyan immediately looked up at her elder brother, only to see he looked equally bewildered.
What did this mean? It wasn't his arrangement?
Could it be Yan Zheng...
Her mouth went dry, and even her palms felt vaguely feverish.
The Emperor flew into a rage, glaring fixedly at the Empress. "Pei Heng! You dare betray me?!"
Empress Pei, greatly alarmed, knelt down. "No... Your servant did not! There must be some misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding? Yuzhou is your Pei family's domain. I recall the Governor of Yuzhou is your seventh brother! And you tell me it's a misunderstanding?!" In his frenzy, he even forgot about Yun Lang. Drawing his sword, he thrust it towards Empress Pei.
Yun Lang, a smile playing on his lips, closed his fan, watching as the sword plunged towards Empress Pei's heart!
"Father! You must not!"
At the critical moment, it was the Second Prince, Murong Rui, who leaped out.
He blocked the Emperor with his ceremonial tablet!
Minister Gu Sun and others also pleaded in horror, "Your Majesty, think twice! Her Majesty the Empress represents all of Yuzhou. If the phoenix's life is extinguished, there will be no possibility of negotiation!"
But the Emperor was beyond listening. His eyes bloodshot, he pointed at her. "I will not negotiate with rebels! I will execute her first, then exterminate the Yun clan! This empire is mine! No one shall take it from me!"
He then thrust his sword forward. The Second Prince had no choice but to grab for it. In the struggle, there was a tearing sound.
He had accidentally slashed the Emperor's right shoulder!
"F-father, spare me! Father, spare me!" Murong Rui, scared out of his wits, immediately prostrated himself.
The Emperor kicked him away and laughed maniacally. "Fine, fine, fine! My ministers want to kill me, my Empress betrays me, and now even my own son dares raise a hand against me! The whole world is in rebellion, is that it? Fine!"
With the last "Fine!" he fiercely stabbed towards the Second Prince's chest!
Murong Rui turned to scramble away, but someone beside him bumped into him, causing him to fall again—
Thud!!
The sound of blade piercing flesh. The sword actually passed through the Second Prince's back, running him through!
Everyone was stunned. It seemed none had expected the Emperor would truly kill his own son. The Empress Dowager Su, unable to bear the sight of blood, fainted outright!
Chu Ruoyan's gaze sharpened, fixing on the eunuch beside the Second Prince who had tripped him!
No... not Yan Zheng's person. He would not involve the innocent!
But it wasn't her brother's man either, because this was not part of their plan!
Empress Pei threw herself over, weeping and wailing heartrendingly. "Rui'er! Rui'er!"
But the Emperor had already gone mad. Raising his sword, he walked towards her...
"Your Majesty! Absolutely not!" Gu Sun could no longer hold back. He threw himself forward and clung to the Emperor's leg. "The Third Prince is sickly, the Fifth Prince is deceased. You have no other adult heirs left! I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and spare the Second Prince!"
The remaining ministers also joined in to block him. The Hall of Heavenly Favor descended into chaos. Yun Lang directly leaped to Chu Ruoyan's side. "Miaomiao, shall we go?"
Chu Ruoyan looked at her father, who was still kneeling there, staring blankly at the Emperor...
Her delicate brows furrowed, and she simply raised her hand.
Thump!
He was knocked unconscious and supported away by Yin Shun.
The palace guards originally tried to block them, but were stopped by Consort Hui. "What are you standing around for? Go summon the imperial physicians!"
The guards hesitated. Yue Qianzhong also walked over. "Did you not hear Consort Hui's order?"
Only then did they obey and leave. Yue Qianzhong looked at Chu Ruoyan. "Take the south gate. I've already diverted the personnel there."
"Thank you." She paused. "If you have any conditions, Lord Yue, you may state them plainly."
Yue Qianzhong hadn't expected her to see through his intentions so quickly. He glanced back at the Emperor and gave a bitter laugh. "The capital is about to fall into great chaos. I ask for nothing, only that one day, Madam, you might spare my elder sister and her family!"
Chu Ruoyan nodded. After exiting the Hall of Heavenly Favor, Yun Lang said lazily, "Why do him that favor? The area inside and outside the south gate has long been replaced with our own people."
Chu Ruoyan remained silent, looking back at the seething crowd. "A foolish emperor brings suffering upon his ministers. Pitiful that the Great Xia, with its abundance of talent, is ultimately going to be ruined by the Murong family..."
"Hah, they deserve it."
As they spoke, the group had already smoothly passed through the palace gates.
But beside the arranged carriage stood two familiar figures.
"Uncle? Aunt?"
Chu Ruoyan stepped forward in surprise. Cao Yang took out a stack of travel documents from his sleeve. "You'll need these to leave the city. Take them."
Chu Ruoyan was taken aback. "When did you..." She didn't finish, realizing he must have gone to handle this right after leaving the execution grounds. She changed her question. "How did you know?"
"Know what? Know you were planning to run?" Cao Yang rolled his eyes. "Those commoners on the way to the execution... they were your people, weren't they? I thought some faces looked more and more familiar. You're really experts at stirring up public sentiment!"
Chu Ruoyan gave an embarrassed smile. Chu Jing pulled him aside and said, "Alright, alright, it's come to this, what's the point of saying such things now?" She took her niece's hand and urged, "Ruoyan, you are a young woman, and pregnant besides. Yet now you must face a life of displacement. Listen to your aunt—go and find Chief Minister Yan. With the capital in chaos, the outside world surely won't be peaceful either. You must find Chief Minister Yan and stay by his side; only then can you ensure your safety!"
Once chaos descends upon the world, women like them are in the greatest danger.
Chu Ruoyan sniffled. "I understand. Thank you, Aunt, and Uncle as well. As for the palace..."
"Don't worry," Cao Yang said, putting an arm around Chu Jing's shoulders. "The Emperor has no capable men left at his side. He won't move against me. Go on ahead. I am here with your aunt; she will be safe."
Chu Ruoyan gave a firm nod. "Take care, Aunt! Take care, Uncle!"
They did not know when they might meet again after this parting, and tears welled in everyone's eyes.
It wasn't until they were outside the city that Yun Lang finally spoke. "Alright, Miaomiao, don't be sad anymore. We still have important matters to attend to."
Chu Ruoyan nodded. Then she saw Yun Lang jump down from the carriage and slowly enunciate, "You've been following for quite some time. Isn't it time to show yourself?—Cousin?"