novelraw Chapter 421
Chapter 421
In the Imperial Study, as soon as Pei Ji's words fell, the officials standing nearby were secretly alarmed.
Could it be that the Pei family is going to produce another Empress?
Only Pei Zhuo was furious, ignoring the Emperor's presence and speaking bluntly, "Big brother, are you crazy? Have you forgotten second sister's fate?"
Pei Ji angrily said, "Nonsense! Your second sister met the wrong person, who else is to blame? Besides, how can Emperor Murong compare to the current Emperor! It is Bingqing's blessing to be able to enter the palace and serve him. Do not ruin your niece's entire life for your own selfish desires!"
This selfish desire, naturally, referred to Pei Zhuo's past feelings for Chu Ruoyan.
A dark gleam flashed in Yan Zheng's eyes, but he saw that Pei Zhuo seemed to be mad with anger, actually saying to him, "Your Majesty! Since you want to take Bingqing as a concubine, then please let Empress Chu leave the palace and allow her the freedom to marry!"
A cold and violent aura suddenly swept through his eyes. The Emperor looked up and said word by word, "What did you say?"
The temperature in the Imperial Study suddenly dropped. Alarm bells rang in Pei Ji's head, and he immediately covered Pei Zhuo's mouth, having someone drag him away.
"Your Majesty, please forgive him, my tenth brother is confused! Even if the Chu woman is a deposed empress, she was once Your Majesty's woman. Whether alive or dead, she should naturally remain in the palace. How could there be any reason for her to leave the palace!"
Yan Zheng's expression only then softened slightly, but then recalling his previous words, he narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Since Minister Pei knows that I have just deposed the Empress, why are you in such a hurry to send your daughter into the palace? What, have you set your sights on the Empress's position and can't wait?"
Pei Ji felt a chill down his spine and knelt down, saying, "I wouldn't dare! I am only worried that Your Majesty has no one to serve you..."
"I am not a breeding pig. Having just deposed the Empress, why would I need women to serve me? If you all truly wish to share my burdens, you should think carefully about how to minimize the impact of this matter! Do not forget, Xie Zhizhou and the others are still kneeling outside the hall!"
Pei Ji tremblingly replied yes, and the other officials who wanted to send people in also put away their thoughts.
At least, they couldn't send them right now.
The Cold Palace.
Covered in cobwebs and dust, and this was even after having someone set it up for a day.
After all, the original Cold Palace had been abolished when Yan Zheng first became Emperor.
He had said a sentence at the time—In this life, I will only marry the Empress, and will never depose her.
Who could have imagined that in just a few months, he would break his promise.
Yulu sighed for a good while as she wiped the table. The sound of arguing came from outside.
"Nanny, let me in, I'll go in and talk to you, okay?"
"In what in! Your Emperor master has already deposed our Lady, don't tell me this old woman still has to acknowledge you? Get out, get out!"
Nanny Zhou picked up a broom and started chasing people away. Elder Xu was hit twice on the buttocks by the broom, and seeing that she was in a fit of anger, he had no choice but to leave first.
Inside the room, Yin Shun said sadly, "My Lady, perhaps the Emperor is just angry for a moment, he will be fine after a while..."
Yin Li also said, "Godfather is right. My Lady, you must relax your mind. When the little prince is born, the Emperor might be so happy that he will take you back!"
Chu Ruoyan didn't reply, looking at the two of them with a playful expression, "Are you the only ones left who are willing to follow me from Kunning Palace?"
If she remembered correctly, Yun Zihao had planted spies in Kunning Palace.
That spy was meant to monitor her. Now that she was deposed, naturally, they wouldn't stay in Kunning Palace.
Could it be... it's one of these two?
Yin Shun sighed, "This old servant is the Regent's man, which means I am Your Ladyship's man. Wherever you are, this old servant will be there."
Yin Li said, "I follow godfather. Wherever godfather goes, I go!"
Chu Ruoyan nodded calmly. Nanny Zhou came in huffing and puffing, and said, "My Lady, rest assured, even if the sky falls, this old servant will stay by your side and won't leave for half a step!"
Chu Ruoyan felt a warmth in her heart. Thinking that the act had gone on long enough, she said to the dark corner, "Heiya, you know my situation now. Go notify my second brother, tell him I want to see him."
Heiya replied yes and turned to leave.
By the time the Cold Palace was tidied up, it was already night. Chu Ruoyan was exhausted from tossing and turning all day, so she lay on the couch to take a nap.
She was not a pampered person; she could sleep on the soft couch of Kunning Palace, and she could lie on the hard bed of this Cold Palace. She consciously kept herself from sleeping too deeply, and by midnight, sure enough, there were footsteps outside.
She opened her eyes and was stunned when she saw the person, "Cousin Tingfeng? Why is it you?"
"Shh!"
Chu Tingfeng made a silencing gesture to her and lowered his voice, "My Lady, no, cousin, I've come to take you away."
"Leave?"
"Yes, Eldest Uncle said long ago that if one day the Emperor treats you poorly, I should secretly send you out of the palace. Although he is the Emperor, he cannot control the Western Frontier. You can still go back there and live freely."
Chu Ruoyan's mouth twitched, and she smiled awkwardly, "Father is really far-sighted, haha... But the imperial palace is heavily guarded, how did you get in?"
Chu Tingfeng said, "It was also arranged by Eldest Uncle long ago, and Commander Xie of the Five Wardens helped out. In short, don't worry about so much, cousin, let's go now?"
Chu Ruoyan originally wanted to say no, but when she looked up, she saw a sneaky figure outside the house.
It was that spy!
She pursed her lips and said okay. Chu Tingfeng immediately gave her a set of maid's clothes to change into: "When we go out later, cousin, you don't need to say anything. I have arranged everything. In case anyone asks, just say you were harmed by the palace guards and are specifically going out to have a miscarriage. Most people probably won't ask further."
Chu Ruoyan nodded, wrapped herself in a cloak, and slowly left with him.
The sneaky figure outside the house immediately followed.
The night was dark and the wind was high. Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The Emperor, having listened to the shadow's report, remained silent for a long time, pressing his forehead, "Father-in-law really considers things... far ahead!"
To actually have that inconspicuous Chu Tingfeng come to abduct someone. Fortunately, this time it was an act. If he had really taken her away, that would have been a loss outweighing the gain!
After thinking for a moment, he said in a deep voice, "Keep following, stay far away so as not to be discovered, but remember, the Empress's safety comes first!"
The shadow replied yes. An old woman in the corner of the hall suddenly said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, the little master is fine."
Yan Zheng raised an eyebrow, and listened as she said, "The little master has the royal bloodline of the Western Frontier, the Moon God will bless her."
The "Moon God" she spoke of was just like the "Tengri" in the mouths of the Southern Barbarians, both being the faiths of the two countries.
Yan Zheng ignored her and just stared intently outside the hall.
Having acted to this point, the person should come out now, right?
Outside the palace gates.
As soon as Chu Ruoyan boarded the carriage, she saw a person sitting inside, with those familiar peach blossom eyes, "Second brother?"
But the other party had no reaction, only suddenly striking out the moment Chu Tingfeng entered the carriage.
Chu Tingfeng collapsed without making a sound. The person returned to his seat in the carriage and indifferently closed his eyes.
Only then did Chu Ruoyan see clearly that he had black hair instead of white hair. Her heart turned cold, and she slowly said, "Are you eldest brother Yun Zhao?"
But the other party had no reaction, like a controlled walking corpse.
The carriage moved slowly. Chu Ruoyan pursed her lips and sat down next to him.
Yun Zhao gave her a completely different feeling from Yun Lang. Although the latter was flamboyant, unrestrained, and extremely misanthropic, he still had a bit of human touch. But this eldest brother, other than being able to breathe, had not a single trace of human vitality, and there was an indescribable smell on him...
She clenched her fingers, wanting to test it. Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
An eerie, mocking voice rang out from outside the car: "Cousin Miaomiao, we finally meet again~"