On the evening of February 11th in the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, as Wei Shufen stood at the palace gate of the Great Peace Hall behind Chai Yingluo, waiting to be granted entry, her heart was strangely calm.
In hindsight, it was quite peculiar. At the time, she had already vaguely anticipated the storm that would erupt that night and the ensuing turmoil. This tranquility likely stemmed from deep exhaustion, numbness, and even fear within her—or as common folk would say, she was "scared stiff."
She had first learned of the imperial decree to send her as a bride to Tibet from a palace maid dispatched by Crown Princess Su Lingyu to the Purple Void Monastery, later confirmed by Chai Yingluo and others. Yet she hadn't even had time to weep or collapse over the news, frantically rushing to inform Prince Wu Li Yuangui and rescue the poor little princess who was about to be sent back into the tiger's jaws.
After days of turmoil, the little princess escaped the tiger's maw only to fall into a wolf's den, while Wei Shufen herself followed Chai Yingluo back to the Great Peace Hall to commit this act of high treason that could exterminate nine generations of their families—Wei Shufen smiled faintly to herself, feeling an inexplicable surge of pride and valor.
"High Truth Master, apologies for the wait," said the on-duty Colonel emerging from the palace gate, saluting Chai Yingluo respectfully yet unable to hide his awkward expression. "Orders from within: as thieves were recently spotted in the forbidden garden, security has been tightened everywhere, especially for those entering the Great Peace Hall to see the Supreme Emperor. All must be searched first... Our deepest apologies."
Behind him stood two sturdy serving girls in male attire, undoubtedly assigned by Consort Yin after Chai Yingluo's request for an audience. Given prior events, such precautions were expected. The normally proud and aloof Master of the Purple Void Monastery said nothing, silently extending her arms to allow the search.
Another serving girl approached Wei Shufen—only the two of them were entering the hall. Wei Shufen endured the discomfort of rough hands patting her down and opened the medicine box she carried for inspection. Chai Yingluo had the small knife at her waist confiscated, along with her Taoist horsetail whisk, both carefully taken away.
Once the search concluded, the two serving girls closely escorted the women inside, their four eyes never leaving them for a moment. As they stepped onto the covered walkway, the number of maids surveilling them increased to six, surrounding them front and back. Chai Yingluo strode forward unflinchingly, head held high as if leading her attendants on a spring outing.
Upon entering the western chamber of the Great Peace Hall, they found the outer room filled with attendants—all women, but each with fierce eyes, some even holding clubs. Behind the screen, Consort Yin sat on a small couch beside the Supreme Emperor's bed, not rising to greet them but coldly watching as Chai Yingluo bowed to her grandfather.
"The Supreme Emperor is asleep and must not be disturbed," a palace maid by the bed intoned flatly. Wei Shufen quickly scanned the four maids standing attendance—the two who had been present during their last visit were notably absent.
That time, they had drugged Consort Yin and taken the Seventeenth Princess away, while the hall maids, confused and intimidated by Chai Yingluo, failed to intervene. Upon waking, Consort Yin must have vented her fury on her servants—Wei Shufen wondered what punishments those two maids had endured...
"Understood. Yingluo would not dare disturb His Majesty. I only ask to examine his pulse," the Taoist priestess replied softly.None of the palace maids in the room dared to move, all waiting for Consort Yin's instructions. The de facto mistress of Great Peace Palace remained expressionless, her face as cold as still water.
Chai Yingluo didn't even glance at her. After standing silently for a moment, she stepped forward and reached out to lift the bed curtain herself.
"Stop!" Consort Yin finally spoke up. "What miraculous poison has the High Truth Master brought this time? Crow's poison or qianji pills? How exactly do you plan to murder the Supreme Emperor? Why not speak plainly, Lady Chai?"
The female Taoist ignored her, lifting the curtain to examine her grandfather's complexion in his unconscious state before briefly checking the elderly man's pulse. Only then did she respond:
"Consort Yin exaggerates. Regicide and treason are crimes that would bring calamity upon nine generations of kin. To slander without evidence—aren't you afraid of suffering the consequences of false accusation?"
"False accusation?" Consort Yin laughed coldly, pushing herself up from the bed. "Let's not play the fool—speak plainly. Why have you come? To confirm whether the Supreme Emperor still lives? So your Garrison Guards can storm Great Peace Palace immediately and arrest my siblings and me?"
Her implication suggested she suspected Chai Yingluo might have been sent by the Empress or Son of Heaven specifically to target her.
The female Taoist's gaze shifted calmly as she replied leisurely: "The Supreme Emperor's health is a blessing for the realm, achieved through the filial devotion and tireless care of the Son of Heaven and Empress, whose virtue has moved heaven to prolong his sacred lifespan. Others should not presume to claim credit for divine favor, nor act arrogantly under borrowed authority. Remember—calamity and fortune have no gate; men summon them themselves. The retribution for good and evil follows like shadows—"
"Enough!" Consort Yin cut off the Taoist's sermon. With a clenched smile, she walked to the palace maid by the bed and asked:
"A-Di, tell me—what did you see just now?"
The maid bowed and answered crisply: "This servant saw the High Truth Master lift the bed curtain against Consort Yin's warning, then reach out to strangle the Supreme Emperor's august neck! Her movements were so violent, it was terrifying!"
"A-Tian, what about you?" Consort Yin turned to another maid, who replied: "This servant saw the High Truth Master take a pill from her sleeve and try to slip it into the Supreme Emperor's mouth when no one was looking! Fortunately, Consort Yin noticed in time and stopped her!"
Consort Yin smiled in satisfaction, producing a paper-wrapped pill from her silk waist pouch. Holding it up, she asked: "A-Tian, was this the pill you saw?"
"Yes, exactly this one! This servant would swear to it on my life!" the maid answered without blinking.
"Then we must ask the High Truth Master—what exactly were you trying to secretly feed the Supreme Emperor?" Consort Yin held the pill up before Chai Yingluo.
The female Taoist had watched this performance with a faint, disdainful smile: "Consort Yin, do you truly think this fabricated tale would convince Their Majesties?"
"With so many witnesses, why wouldn't they believe it?" The Supreme Emperor's favorite consort twirled around, carrying the pill toward Wei Shufen. "Shall we add some material evidence to make it more convincing?"
#####Volume 3 will maintain daily updates until... the stockpile runs out XDDD. Two days to finish posting a complete chapter, then add chapter notes afterward. Thanks for your support =3=
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