At noon on the eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month, a thunderous proclamation shook the entire city of Lin'an.
The Emperor issued an edict declaring to the world that the Empress and Crown Prince had secretly fled the palace and conspired with the Northern Garrison Army to commit treason. Simultaneously, the Emperor revealed that the one who aided their escape was the current Prince Rui, Yan Chi, who had forged military orders and deceived the court—a crime of utmost severity. The Emperor issued three consecutive imperial decrees: first, deposing the Empress and Crown Prince; then stripping Yan Chi of his princely title; and finally convicting all three, along with the Northern Garrison Army, of rebellion. Once the charges were set, the Emperor appointed Duke Peng Huaichu of Wei as commander of the Northwest Frontier Army and Prince Cheng, Yan Qi, as military advisor, intending to march north to suppress the Northern Garrison Army. At the same time, the Emperor dispatched Lin Xie, deputy commander of the imperial guards, as chief commander to lead thousands of troops south in pursuit of Yan Chi, who had fled the capital.
Multiple urgent decrees were issued consecutively from the palace, stunning the entire city of Lin'an. Though the matter of the Empress and Crown Prince had become known over days of rumors, how could Prince Rui Yan Chi—who had just held his grand wedding the previous day—be convicted of rebellion the very next day?!
When the imperial guards surrounded the royal residence of Prince Rui, they discovered that aside from the servants sent by the Household Affairs Department to arrange the wedding, none of Yan Chi's close confidants remained. The vast estate, apart from its original furniture, decorations, and book collection, had been stripped of all gold, silver, valuables, secret memorials, and letters. Even more surprising, the new princess consort was also on the wanted list. As the news spread, the imperial guards arrived at the Loyal Marquis Manor.
This time, the Loyal Marquis and his two sons were all arrested and imprisoned, and the manor was besieged by imperial troops.
Pitifully, the Loyal Marquis Manor first became entangled in the treason of the Empress and Crown Prince, and now was deeply implicated with the royal residence of Prince Rui. Although the female corpse in the southern city fire had been identified as Crown Princess Qin Chaoyu, the Loyal Marquis Manor could not escape blame. In an instant, the manor fell completely from noble status into the dust.
By the time Marquis Anyang Manor received the news, it was already afternoon. The Grand Princess immediately fainted from shock. Upon groggily awakening, she rushed with Yue Ning to the palace, intending to seek an audience with the Emperor but was politely refused. Left with no choice, the Grand Princess took Yue Ning to the Longevity and Health Palace. There, they found only the Ninth Prince, Yan Sui, leaning over the Empress Dowager's bedside. The Empress Dowager lay on her sickbed, appearing on the verge of death.
The Grand Princess's eyes reddened. "Elder sister-in-law, what in heaven's name happened?! How are Yan Chi and Wan Yatou involved in this?"
The Empress Dowager, pale and breathing weakly, showed no reaction. Mammy Chen, watching with heartache, dismissed everyone—even Yue Ning and Yan Sui—before recounting the events of Yan Chi's visit to the palace the previous night. Understanding dawned on the Grand Princess, who reacted with shock and fury. "What?! His Majesty actually moved against them?! Why?! For what reason?! Yan Chi isn't even with the Northwest Frontier Army—he only holds a post in the capital! What threat could he possibly pose?!"
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, tears moistening their corners, and tremblingly grasped the Grand Princess's hand. "I have failed them... Return home, ask no questions, make no remarks... It's a pity I've fallen so ill, otherwise... I... I have failed them..."Grand Princess looked at the Empress Dowager’s state, and the anger in her heart could no longer surface. The Emperor was the Empress Dowager’s child, and though she held the title of an elder, how could she possibly influence the Emperor’s will? Moreover, the edict had already been proclaimed to the world—what could be done now?
Grand Princess’s heart raced with anxiety, and she felt as though her wind-evil ailment was about to flare up. Mammy Chen, her eyes brimming with tears, pleaded, “Grand Princess, please listen to the Empress Dowager’s advice. Today’s events have left the Empress Dowager gravely ill, yet His Majesty neither visited nor sent anyone. His Majesty… it’s as if he has become a different person. The Empress Dowager cannot help in this matter, and Prince Rui had no choice but to leave. Now that the Emperor has issued the edict, the Great Zhou… is truly on the brink of chaos! No matter whom the Empress Dowager cares for, she cannot speak another word in their defense. What matters now is your health and the Empress Dowager’s. Only by preserving your health can you hope to see the day when things ease.”
The edict had been issued, and the entire nation would brand them as traitors—how could there be any easing of the situation?
Grand Princess felt her vision darken with panic, yet she knew she was powerless. Seeing the Empress Dowager’s condition, she forced herself to gather her spirits and agreed.
Outside the inner hall, Yan Sui whispered to Yue Ning, “I saw him last night. He came to bid farewell. I don’t know anything else, but he said he was coming to take Qin Guan away…”
The snow had stopped after noon, but it was the heaviest snowfall since winter began, shrouding the entire palace in White Silk. Yue Ning felt a chill run through her heart as she gazed at the vast expanse of pure white, yet she could only speak quietly with a child like Yan Sui. “Did she say anything to you?”
Yan Sui pressed her lips together, shook her head, then added, “A few days ago, she told me to take care of myself in the palace…”
Yue Ning’s heart pounded with dread. Recalling it now, Qin Guan’s tone when she mentioned Yan Ze had also been strange, as if she had foreseen or learned something and feared she might never have another chance to speak. A cold shiver ran down Yue Ning’s spine. Not long after, she saw Grand Princess emerge from the inner hall.
Grand Princess’s eyes were red, her expression distraught. She took Yue Ning’s hand and said, “Let’s go back.”
“Grandmother, what did the Empress Dowager say?! How could Yan Chi and Qin Guan…”
Before she could finish, Grand Princess tightened her grip on Yue Ning’s hand. “Say no more. We’ll talk when we return.”
Yue Ning swallowed her words, escorted Yan Sui back into the hall, and then accompanied Grand Princess out of the palace. Once inside their carriage, Grand Princess slumped against the wall, exhausted. “Send word to your brother immediately. Tell him to leave the Western Frontier and return to the capital at once. Yan Chi and Qin Guan have incurred the Emperor’s suspicion, and there may be some earth-shattering secret hidden beneath it all. This time, the Emperor is showing no mercy. We must protect ourselves.”
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