Chapter 1285 A Rebellion and A Failure!
“Master, there is news from the garden.” Xiao Xuanzi presented a secret letter.
Chu Liuchen cast a languid glance at it and said with deep eyes, “Don’t worry about them. Just watch them act.”
“Then… should I tell Princess Chen about it? I’m afraid she doesn’t know.” Xiao Xuanzi thought for a moment and asked.
“No, she rarely goes to the garden over there!” Chu Liuchen said carelessly, waving the secret letter and gently putting it on the table.
Xiao Xuanzi knew his master didn’t want Princess Chen to worry about it. So, he smiled and said, “Yes, Master. I will be careful and not let Princess Chen notice it. But she has always been smart. What if she finds it out?”
“Then, let’s talk about it later!” Chu Liuchen said, not taking it seriously.
“I understand!” Xiao Xuanzi nodded. He just mentioned it casually. The chief supervisor was in charge of various situations in the whole mansion. Those people thought that his master had no idea about any of it, but Prince Chen was clear about their words, deeds, and plans. How could he allow these people to make trouble again?
“Master, Princess Yue invited Miss Qin. Before Miss Qin went out, she told Princess Chen about it. When she was back, she met and talked with Princess Chen for a while before returning to her place!”
Xiao Xuanzi reported the matter about Qin Yiyan.
“We don’t have to worry about Qin Yiyan’s business. Leave it to Princess Chen!” Chu Liuchen said, not taking it seriously. Qin Yiyan was now at Zhuozhuo’s beck and call and wouldn’t do anything to harm Zhuozhuo.
“How should we deal with the matter of Prince Zhou’s Mansion?” Xiao Xuanzi asked the last question, which was also the main problem.
They started with the unusual situation in the garden and found out the secret through investigation. Those people’s operations were entirely covert.
“Just wait and see. Don’t let our people intervene!” Chu Liuchen remarked casually. The sunlight streaming through the windows fell on his face, but it didn’t soften his expression. His pretty face still looked as freezing as ice. Although his face was delicate, it appeared bone-chilling cold…
“Your Highness, terrible news from the Palace.” A guard rushed into Chu Liuzhou’s study, his face deathly pale.
“What’s the matter?” Chu Liuzhou pinched the space between his eyebrows unhappily. Then, he reached out and picked up the teacup beside him, intending to calm himself down with a sip of tea. He was in such a flutter tonight that he didn’t even ask Shao Yanru to accompany him.
“Secret guard… was… discovered by His Majesty!”
“What?” The teacup in Chu Liuzhou’s hand dropped heavily on the desk. The water splashed out of it and wetted the file he had carefully checked. However, he was too tensed up to notice it. Then, Chu Liuzhou jumped up from his chair.
“Master, they are the people you placed in the Palace among the Emperor’s secret guards,” the guard said in a hurry.
Chu Liuzhou understood that it was because of the token. There was something wrong with the secret guards under the command of his mother’s token. All the secret guards were supposed to work for his father. But because his mother held this token, some became his mother’s people. He had used this token and asked these people to keep an eye on the Imperial Study. If there was any sign of disturbance, they should report it to him.
Of course, if any unusual movement happened in the Palace, he had to react immediately and try to launch a coup before others to seize the throne.
He wouldn’t do that unless he were in a desperate situation. But how could anyone discover his conspiracy at this time?
Chu Liuzhou’s face darkened as he asked, “What the hell has happened?”
“I don’t know it either. I just got the news from the Palace. The Emperor has put the Empress under house arrest and caught our secret guards. They said… said that you were going to rebel!”
The guard said in a trembling voice.
Chu Liuzhou did have such an idea. If the Emperor insisted on passing the throne to Chu Liuyue, he would rise in rebellion. But since the Emperor hadn’t yet decided, he did not have to usurp the throne. He just made some secret arrangements. Was the situation in the Palace so tense now?
“Your Highness… What should we do?” The guard said in a panic.
Chu Liuzhou turned around a few times on the spot, and his face turned livid under the light. At this time, he must make a prompt decision.
A rebellion? There had been news of rebellion in the Palace, and his mother had been locked up. If he didn’t do anything, he could only allow himself to be arrested. But how could he be willing to give up? The throne was about to fall into his hands, but such an unexpected incident happened at this time.
He began wondering what went wrong. Why would people in the Palace get the news before he took action?
“Your Highness…” The guard urged again.
“Let’s go to the Palace!” Chu Liuzhou said, determinedly gritting his teeth. He had to dominate the situation before his father took further steps.
“But our people are not ready yet…”
“Forget it!” Chu Liuzhou turned around and went to the wall behind him. From there, he took off the sword hanging on it. Shao Yanru was right: his father preferred Chu Liuyue. He couldn’t wait any longer.
“Master, should we inform Princess Zhou of this…”
“No need. She’d better stay in the mansion!” Chu Liuzhou said coldly. He should avoid attracting too much attention. It would be better if Infanta Yuan’an stayed here to protect the mansion.
Prince Zhou had rebelled and been arrested. It was already in the afternoon when the news reached Shao Wanru. Chu Liuchen shared the information with her when he returned to the mansion. What he said considerably stunned Shao Wanru, who remained in shock for a long time.
It was… the same as what happened in her previous life!
“Prince Zhou… Is he okay?” Shao Wanru subconsciously pulled Chu Liuchen by the sleeve and asked.
“Nothing serious. The idiot was scared by himself. In fact, it was not a big deal.” Chu Liuchen said, not taking this matter seriously. It was really a farce.
It didn’t become a major issue at first. The Empress was set free recently and domineeringly interfered in many matters. Occasionally, she would go to see the Emperor, showing her prominent position as the Empress in the Palace. The Empress bumped into Consort of Virtue that day and pushed her onto the ground. This irritated the Emperor, who then asked some people to take the Empress away and told her to reflect on her misdeeds.
In fact, it was not a big deal. But somehow, Chu Liuzhou got the wrong news: people in the Palace accused him of staging a rebellion, and the Emperor had kept the Empress in close confinement.
“How is Prince Zhou now?” Shao Wanru asked.
“What could he do? My father has locked him up. I come back to change my clothes. Later, I must search Prince Zhou’s Mansion and confiscate his property with Chu Liuyue!” Chu Liuchen said.
A rebellion was a sensational event!
Chu Liuchen did not come back last night. He had been with the Emperor to deal with affairs since the significant change happened in the Palace.
“Have you had lunch?” Shao Wanru asked.
“I ate a little!” Chu Liuchen replied.
“Have some more. I’ve got the dishes ready!” Shao Wanru asked someone to prepare the meal while pulling him to wash up. He had been busy in the Palace since last night, and Shao Wanru had always been very concerned about Chu Liuchen’s health.
After Chu Liuchen briefly freshened him up, the dishes were already served on the table. Shao Wanru was sitting near these favorite dishes of Chu Liuchen. When Chu Liuchen saw her expecting eyes, his heart softened, and he touched her beautiful hair. Then, he sat down and ate some hastily before leaving with his subordinates.
Shao Wanru knew he was very busy, so she didn’t ask him to stay longer. After seeing him off at the courtyard gate, she watched Chu Liuchen striding away with his people. Inexplicably, she heaved a sigh as if relieved of a heavy burden.
Chu Liuzhou rebelled like in her previous life, but he did not die on the spot. There was a difference, at least! Since the results were different, she would certainly have a different ending.
Shao Wanru stood at the gate of the courtyard for a long time and didn’t feel like going back. Seeing her like this, Yujie couldn’t help suggesting. “My Lady, let’s go back. It’s windy here!”
The wind was a little strong here. Shao Wanru nodded and pulled the cloak that Chu Liuchen had put on her before they went out. Then, she turned around and went back to the yard, waiting for news outside.
Not long after she sat down, someone from the Palace came here to summon her. This time, it was Consort Lan who wanted to see her.
At first, Shao Wanru didn’t want to go. But when Consort Lan’s gentle look crossed her mind, she couldn’t help sighing and agreed to see her. She entered the Palace after Qing Mu, who had come here for her.
Unlike before, the entire Palace was on high alert. There were guards at the side door. Seeing Shao Wanru coming over, they bowed respectfully to her and stepped aside.
After that, there were guards almost every three or five steps. Many people hidden in the dark didn’t come out to check when they saw it was Shao Wanru. The way to Consort Lan’s Shuangxi Hall was heavily guarded.
They walked straight to Shuangxi Hall. Seeing Consort Lan sitting up high there, Shao Wanru stepped forward and bowed.
Consort Lan stood up and reached out to pull her up. Looking at her face, she asked softly, “Are you afraid? Don’t panic. I’m here!”
She looked mild and didn’t put on airs before Shao Wanru. Consort Lan seemed to have always been tender and amiable, except for the first time she met Shao Wanru with Qin Yiyan. Even her voice sounded gentle and kind.
When staying alone in the mansion, Shao Wanru might feel afraid and anxious, so Consort Lan asked her to come. Deeply touched, Shao Wanru said, “Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”
“Prince Chen is not in the mansion, you should be careful. Prince Zhou suddenly rebelled. Though he was misled, he did have the intention. Otherwise, he would not have suddenly rushed into the Emperor’s Imperial Study!” Consort Lan said softly.
Prince Zhou had prepared to usurp the power. In her last life, he also rebelled. Thus, Shao Wanru was not surprised now. But she didn’t know the specific situation. When she heard Consort Lan’s words, she became curious. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she asked, “Prince Zhou managed to rush into the Emperor’s Imperial Study! But where were the Emperor’s secret guards?”
There were so many guards and secret guards, but Prince Zhou successfully intruded into the Emperor’s Imperial Study. That scene should be very dangerous!
“The Empress has the token to mobilize the secret guards. At that time, it was in Prince Zhou’s hands.” Consort Lan continued, “The Emperor was boiling with rage. Prince Zhou…”
Consort Lan frowned and didn’t say anything more.
Shao Wanru stopped asking. Anyway, she could imagine what would happen to Prince Zhou. She didn’t expect the Empress to have such a token. It reminded her of the half tiger token that Consort Lan had given her. The two different things could achieve the same result, but the tiger token might involve more people!
“Let’s wait for news together!” Consort Lan said. Then, she ordered others to bring the new pastries prepared for Shao Wanru…
After such a big incident, they were not the only ones waiting for news…
The whole imperial Palace was in the shadow of an approaching storm…
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