Chapter 352: Crisis
When Chen Yanyun arrived at the palace, the grounds were still heavily guarded. Golden Crow Guard officers in Chengzi uniforms patrolled outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, while officials from the Dali Temple and the Censorate were already deep in discussion. Zhu Junan stood at the palace gate, wrapped in a thick cloak, his face pale.
Ye Xian stood beside him, posture straight and expression composed.
Upon seeing Chen Yanyun approach, the officials cupped their hands and greeted him as "Grand Secretary." Chen Yanyun nodded slightly and ascended the steps.
"...The body has already been moved to the duty room," Ye Xian said as he led Chen Yanyun through the inner chambers of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. "The note found in his collar is here." He handed over the slip of paper.
Chen Yanyun unfolded it and examined it. "The handwriting does look genuine..." he murmured before casually tucking it into his sleeve.
Ye Xian said, "Zhang Julian will be here soon. I’ll go keep an eye on the coroners in the duty room. Be careful—that old fox is about to make his move."
Chen Yanyun smiled faintly. "Just focus on your own task."
When he emerged from the palace, Zhu Junan approached him, still pale-faced. "Lord Chen, is everything... alright?"
"Your Majesty need not worry. Everything is under control."
Chen Yanyun always spoke this way—even if something were truly amiss, his tone would never betray it.
Zhu Junan lowered his voice and whispered, "I strangled him."
Earlier that night, he had complained of thirst and summoned Feng Chengshan to bring him water. Seizing the moment, he had pulled a hemp rope from his sleeve and looped it around Feng Chengshan’s neck. He hadn’t expected Feng Chengshan to be so strong—he could barely restrain him. Fearing Feng Chengshan might break free, Zhu Junan pressed his elbow against the man’s mouth and nose until, after what felt like an eternity, Feng Chengshan finally stopped moving. His own hands had gone numb from exertion, and it took him a long while before he could slip a dagger into Feng Chengshan’s grip—staging it as a failed assassination attempt.
Chen Yanyun had initially assumed the Embroidered Uniform Guard had killed Feng Chengshan. The messenger hadn’t provided clear details.
A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind, but he merely smiled and said, "You did well."
"Did I...?" Zhu Junan murmured. "But after I killed him, I regretted it. He had served me for so many years..."
Before he could finish, Zhang Julian arrived with his retinue, ascending the palace steps.
Zhu Junan whispered, "Lord Chen, is that Lord Fu behind Zhang Julian?"
Chen Yanyun narrowed his eyes.
Indeed, Fu Chi had returned. Fu Chi was a formidable military strategist, known for his uncanny ability to turn the tide of battle with unconventional tactics. A truly dangerous man.
"Your Majesty, do not engage with Lord Fu directly," Chen Yanyun advised. "Simply say you are unwell and need to rest."
Zhu Junan nodded. By then, Zhang Julian had reached them.
He immediately addressed the matter of the note: "...Your Majesty, I would never dare harbor such treasonous thoughts! This must be the work of vile conspirators framing me. I beg Your Majesty to hear my plea and not fall into their trap." His words were humble, yet Zhang Julian stood tall, his tone indifferent, not even offering a bow. "I have already sent men to inspect the duty room. While Feng Chengshan’s treachery is detestable, we must investigate thoroughly to avoid wronging loyal subjects."
Zhu Junan remained silent, following Chen Yanyun’s instructions—he did not utter a single word.Chen Yanyun smiled and said, "His Majesty hasn't recovered from this incident yet. He likely still needs rest. Lord Zhang, why don't you let His Majesty retire to the side palace first? As for Feng Chengshan's rebellion, your single testimony isn't sufficient. Let's discuss this tomorrow during morning court."
Zhang Julian lifted his head to glance at Chen Yanyun, his gaze icy cold.
Then he smiled again: "This humble official can naturally wait. Let His Majesty rest well."
Upon returning home that evening, he immediately summoned his advisors and declared: "...We can't wait any longer."
An advisor hesitated in surprise: "Lord Zhang, the timing may not be right yet..."
"What do you mean not right?" Zhang Julian's thick eyebrows furrowed as he slammed the table with a loud bang. "Don't you understand what he means? If we don't act now, by tomorrow morning court I'll be convicted of treason! I, Zhang Julian, have lived an upright life with a clear conscience. Even if I were to rebel, it's not something Chen Yanyun can falsely accuse me of!"
The room fell silent immediately, no one daring to speak further.
Yet somehow, Zhang Julian found himself thinking of Ye Xian.
It had been his idea to frame Marquis Changxing for treason back then. When plotting against Xiao You, he had calculated every step meticulously. Using one's own methods against them—Ye Xian must have played a significant role in this.
It was Fu Chi who reacted first, whispering: "Very well. Currently we can mobilize eight thousand troops from the capital guards, plus those from Juyong Pass and other locations—thirty thousand soldiers won't be a problem. If they resist stubbornly, we have even more forces stationed at various garrisons, and the Divine Machine Battalion is also ours. Storming the imperial palace would be effortless if we strike unexpectedly. Marquis Changxing's forces definitely won't have time to react. The only concern is... lacking proper justification."
Zhang Julian knew losing his temper was unwise.
He closed his eyes to calm himself before continuing: "Has Prince Rui's eldest grandson been found?"
Someone replied: "Found. He's being cared for now."
"Then we have our justification," Zhang Julian continued. "Summon the Imperial Astronomers. Tell them the continuous disasters these years are due to the dragon vein being disturbed and improper succession. We're rectifying this chaos to restore the true Son of Heaven to the throne—a great meritorious deed."
The advisors acknowledged and proceeded with Zhang Julian's orders.
Zhang Julian then asked Advisor Zhu: "What about Chen Yanyun's side?"
Advisor Zhu shook his head: "Chen Yanyun is well prepared. The Chen Family is impregnable."
"No need to infiltrate," Zhang Julian said instead. "I'll have the Divine Machine Battalion surround the Chen residence. Shoot anyone well-dressed on sight. Let's see if they'll panic then!"
Third Master Chen only returned home in the afternoon. But barely a quarter hour after sitting down with some tea, Ye Xian arrived with a dark expression.
"Movement at Juyong Pass," Ye Xian reported first. "The old fox can't hold back... I didn't expect him to lose composure so quickly. There's no time to summon the Iron Cavalry Battalion now."
Third Master Chen frowned upon hearing this.
Gu Jinzhao brought some pastries and paused outside the door upon overhearing these words.
Only then did she learn of Feng Chengshan's death, never expecting Zhang Julian would lose his footing so immediately! This was both good and bad—good because they could catch him unprepared, but bad because Zhang Julian himself lacked sufficient preparation time, making his arrangements inevitably flawed. Regardless, this still worked to their advantage.The guards had just let her in when Gu Jinzhao saw Third Master Chen preparing to leave.
She set down the food box and hurriedly grabbed his hand: "Third Master... this..."
Chen Yanyun first glanced at Ye Xian.
Ye Xian, oblivious, opened the food box and reached for the pea cakes to eat.
He looked up to see Gu Jinzhao and Chen Yanyun both staring at him and said, "Oh, don’t mind me. Say whatever you need to."
Gu Jinzhao sighed inwardly, but as her fingers brushed the Buddhist beads on Chen Yanyun’s left hand, her heart settled.
What was meant to come would come—there was no use fearing it.
She simply smiled and said, "Go ahead. I’ll take care of things at home."
Chen Yanyun said softly, "This was too sudden. I didn’t even have time to tell you..." He chuckled. "Never mind. There’s nothing left unsaid between us. Just wait for me to return."
Ye Xian ate two pieces of pea cake and slowly wiped his fingers. "Too sweet. Use less sugar next time."
Gu Jinzhao found this both amusing and exasperating. She watched as the two men left.
Alone, she leaned against the lattice window. The sunlight was bright, and she felt so dazed she could barely stand.
Caifu quickly supported her. "Madam!"
She waved her hand. "Just help me back to lie down for a while. I’ll be fine."
The sky was growing dark, and soon the palace gates would be locked. If Third Master Chen and the others failed to stop Zhang Ju Lian, would that mean the coup had succeeded? Gu Jinzhao forced herself not to dwell on these thoughts and took out her needlework to distract herself.
Changsuo, who had been napping, woke up crying and searching for his mother.
His cries only added to her unease. She patted his back and realized he was sweating.
Gu Jinzhao unbuttoned his little shirt and wiped him down with a warm cloth. Only then did Changsuo stop fussing, nestling against his mother as he pointed at the drawings in the red grid on the paper and asked her questions.
It was early summer, and the room felt stifling, as if rain was coming.
Gu Jinzhao carried Changsuo outside for some air.
A maid from Madam Chen’s quarters came to summon her, saying it was urgent—Chang Laofuren from Duke Zheng’s residence had come to visit and wanted Gu Jinzhao to join them, bringing Changsuo along so the old lady could see him. Gu Jinzhao changed her clothes before carrying Changsuo over.
Outside Madam Chen’s room stood the attendants Chang Laofuren had brought—guards with embroidered spring knives at their waists.
Chang Laofuren pulled her to sit and took Changsuo into her arms with a smile. "It’s been so long since I’ve seen Linge! You’ve grown so heavy—your old granny can hardly hold you anymore!" She kissed him affectionately, making him giggle from the tickling.
Seeing the guards outside and Chang Laofuren’s composed expression, Gu Jinzhao immediately understood: her visit to the Chen Family must have been arranged by Chang Hai.
Third Master Chen had prepared for this. If things went wrong, Chang Laofuren would take them away at once.
But how many could she really save? In an emergency, not everyone could be protected. Who would be left behind? Gu Jinzhao didn’t know.
She glanced at Madam Chen, who was clearly unaware of the unfolding crisis, still happily playing with her grandson in Chang Laofuren’s arms and listening to him call her "Grandmother."
Gu Jinzhao said nothing. All she could do was wait.Night had already fallen. Madam Chen kept her for dinner and had someone summon Chen Xi over as well.
Before long, Xiuqu hurriedly came looking for Gu Jinzhao, saying that Chen Yi had urgent matters to discuss with her. However, since Half-Bamboo Shore was deep within the inner courtyard, he absolutely could not come over.
Gu Jinzhao knew at once that something had happened. But at this hour, what could it possibly be?
She left the child with Madam Chen and immediately returned to Osmanthus Hall.
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