Chарtеr 380: Тhе Bronze Sраrrow of Сhang'an Sings 34
Аftеr thе Lаntеrn Fеstival, Zhu Yan сould no longer contасt Shen Du. Еven whеn shе wеnt tо the Unrightеоus Аgеnts tо gathеr information, shе оnly оbtained fragmеnted detаils and cоuldn’t grаsр thе full рiсturе. Due to intеrfеrenсе frоm the Zhоu faсtiоn, Zhu Yan, the fоrmеr Hаll Leader’s Wifе, was demotеd аnd rеturned tо her original роsitiоn as а Ninth-rаnk Сlеrk. Наving antiсiрatеd this, Zhu Yan аccеptеd it саlmly, with оnlу оnе thought in her heаrt: Shen Du was in a difficult situatiоn.
In the past, thе Zhou faсtion hаd bеen dеeply wary of the Great Pavilion Commander Shen Du. Now, they had casually targeted Zhu Yan, yet for some reason, they hadn’t dealt a fatal blow to her, sparing both her and the Zhu family. This was likely because the Empress held her in high regard.
Feeling adrift like duckweed, Zhu Yan remained composed. She guarded the evidence of crimes related to the Lai faction that she had collected during her trip to Yingzhou, not revealing a single detail.
Taking advantage of her position in the Ministry of Justice to handle cases, she visited the Western Brightness Temple and Foguang Temple several times to investigate the unusual circumstances surrounding Madam Tang from years ago. She also proactively applied for an assignment to the area where Chen Huo'e had once caused chaos, gathering evidence of Chen Huo'e’s past crimes. Her goal was to prove that Madam Tang and Chen Huo'e were both the same person and yet not the same person.
At the same time, she sent a letter to the Western Regions, seeking out Pan Chi and the current Holy Maiden, Su Guang, and requesting that they come to Chang'an as soon as possible for a discussion.
It seemed as though she had done nothing, yet she had done everything.
On another moonlit night, she sat by the window, thinking that Shen Du must also be trying to find a way out of his predicament. A glimmer of hope rose in her heart.
—
Time flew by, but for Lai Luozhi and his allies, it was not good news. Their original plan had encountered unexpected changes. Three days after the court assembly, Lai Luozhi bid farewell to Chaoyang and went alone to the rear hall to seek an audience with the Empress. Before he could present his memorial, Zhang Baohuan interrupted him and began discussing other matters with the Empress. When the Empress finally remembered him, she didn’t ask about the memorial but instead inquired about Lai Luozhi’s recent progress in his cultivation.
After chatting about this and that, halfway through the conversation, the Empress instructed him to continue his cultivation and show her the results next time. Then, using fatigue as an excuse, she was escorted by Zhang Baohuan to the inner hall.
It was easy to imagine how frustrated Lai Luozhi felt, being blocked like this. The more he thought about it afterward, the more he sensed something was amiss. Secretly meeting with Yong'an to discuss the matter, they both agreed that the Empress’s intentions were unpredictable—she must have discovered something. The Empress had entered the palace at the age of fourteen and spent her entire life in struggles; she must have become wary of Lai Luozhi.
Now, the Empress appeared genuinely gravely ill, and the information gathered by Lai Luozhi’s inside sources confirmed this. Yet, even so, Lai Luozhi dared not take any chances.
After careful consideration, the two changed their plan and decided to act that very night to avoid further complications.
Lai Luozhi was an outer court official and could not enter the inner palace without an imperial decree, but Yong'an could. That night, Yong'an entered the Pepper Chamber Palace under the pretext of attending to the Empress’s illness.
Before long, it was time for the curfew. Word came from outside that Lai Luozhi had urgent matters to report. The Empress, feeling weary and unwell, instructed Zhang Baohuan to have Lai Luozhi seek out Princess Chaoyang, who was overseeing state affairs.
"Supervisor Zhang, this matter is of grave importance—it concerns treason and usurpation. I must implore Her Majesty to make a decision."
Zhang Baohuan rarely saw Lai Luozhi speak with such solemnity. He observed Lai Luozhi coldly for a long while before telling him to wait while he went inside to report.
As soon as Zhang Baohuan left, Lai Luozhi clenched his fists. Never before had he been obstructed like this when seeking an audience with the Empress. She must have grown wary—most likely to support Chaoyang’s ascension to the throne and avoid complications, which was why she refused to engage with him further.When Lai Luozhi was permitted to enter, Yong'an appeared rather pale. The Empress was holding a painting, using it to cover the papers on the imperial desk. The visible purple edges made it clear that an imperial edict was being transcribed.
Yong'an's gaze briefly met Lai Luozhi's before quickly looking away. With hands clasped behind her back, she traced something in her palm. Lai Luozhi soon recognized it as the character "morning" (Chao). Could it be that the edict truly contained the decree naming Princess Chaoyang as the heir?
The Empress rested her forehead in one hand, her voice weary. "Minister Lai, what urgent matter brings you here at this late hour?"
As the Empress looked up, her outer robe slipped halfway down, only to be carefully adjusted by Zhang Baohuan. Patting his hand, she gestured toward Lai Luozhi. "Why does Minister Lai remain silent?"
Lai Luozhi snapped to attention, hurriedly raising a memorial above his head with both hands. He passed it to Zhang Baohuan to present to the Empress, proclaiming loudly:
"Your Majesty, after days of gathering evidence, I have discovered that Princess Chaoyang conspired with members of the Zhou clan in a plot to rebel. Here lies the compiled evidence. I implore Your Majesty to review it, lest you be deceived and harmed by treacherous individuals."
Zhang Baohuan unfolded the memorial before the Empress. Her eyes swept across the lines, and a shadow of gloom flickered across her well-maintained face. Before Lai Luozhi could say more, she instructed Zhang Baohuan:
"Summon Chaoyang."
Lai Luozhi's heart skipped a beat. Soon, Chaoyang entered with Zhang Baohuan. His eyes darted nervously, unable to pinpoint where his plan had gone awry.
The Empress pointed at Lai Luozhi and addressed Chaoyang. "Minister Lai accuses you of rebellion. Do you have anything to say?"
Chaoyang replied calmly, "Chaoyang harbors no such intention."
Yong'an quickly knelt to plead for Chaoyang. "Imperial Mother, my sister surely means no such thing." She then turned a piercing gaze toward Lai Luozhi, speaking kindly, "Minister Lai must have been misled by villains. He is utterly loyal to Imperial Mother and surely acts in her best interests."
This was an attempt to exonerate Lai Luozhi, who promptly responded. However, his reply was: "Princess Chaoyang, I apologize, but the evidence I painstakingly gathered is here. You cannot deny it. It would be best to confess now. Your Majesty shares blood ties with you and will surely show mercy."
Only then did Chaoyang show emotion, erupting in fury. "Lai Luozhi, how dare you falsely accuse me! Why would I need to rebel? The throne is as easy to grasp as turning my hand." Realizing her slip, she knelt. "Imperial Mother, forgive my transgression."
Before the Empress could react, Lai Luozhi knelt and shuffled to the side of the imperial desk, speaking earnestly. "Your Majesty, you must believe your humble servant. If we do not act swiftly, I fear..."
The Empress had always trusted Lai Luozhi. Seeing this, her expression softened slightly. She raised her phoenix-like eyes to scrutinize Chaoyang and Yong'an, as if verifying the truth of his words.
Yong'an's eyes flickered. Seeing Chaoyang kneeling with bowed head in silence, she suddenly stood and pointed accusingly at Chaoyang, shouting angrily:
"Chaoyang, are you guilty and afraid? Did you know Imperial Mother originally intended to pass the throne to you? Why couldn't you wait?"
Chaoyang's face shifted through a spectrum of emotions, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Unable to endure such accusations from Yong'an, she rose to retort:
"Stop spouting nonsense! You also know Imperial Mother intended to pass the throne to me. Why would I engage in such unnecessary actions? Do you have any sense? You truly resemble your brainless mother."
At this point, the superficial peace between the two shattered completely. They traded insults back and forth.
The Empress could bear it no longer. Slamming the table, she rose to her feet. "Silence, all of you!""I am not dead yet, and all of you can't wait."
She hadn't spoken more than a few words before coughing violently. Zhaoyang grew anxious and defended herself, "Mother Empress, your daughter truly has not plotted rebellion. Now that I am overseeing the state, what need is there to rebel?"
Imprisoning the crown prince and supporting Zhaoyang to oversee the state—the next step was obvious to everyone. Indeed, there was no reason to rebel.
The Empress sneered, "Is that so?" She glanced outside. "Brother, aren't you coming in?"
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