Chapter 353: Consort Fang Meets Her End
The great hall was surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs attending to the guests.
This grand birthday banquet had been arranged by the Empress, and these people were naturally her placements.
The signal for the assassins to strike was her drinking a toast.
A palace maid standing at the forefront suddenly drew a dagger from her sleeve and thrust it toward Li Jingshu's chest.
The Empress's eyes turned icy cold.
Her goal was to kill the Emperor so the Crown Prince could ascend the throne.
But in the process, she would conveniently eliminate that old wretch Li Jingshu.
However.
Li Jingshu had long sensed something amiss.
She let out a sharp scream, her knees giving way as she collapsed to the ground, narrowly avoiding the blade but still sustaining an injury to her arm.
The high-ranking noblewoman, now devoid of all dignity, scrambled frantically across the floor until she reached behind the Emperor: "Erlang, save me..."
The Emperor always had hidden guards protecting him. The moment the incident occurred, those guards immediately shielded the Emperor, delivering a fierce stab that struck the palace maid in the chest. She spat blood from her mouth and fell to the ground.
"Quick, protect His Majesty!"
"Shield the Emperor!"
Gao Gonggong's shrill voice rang out.
This sound made everyone present realize that someone was attempting to assassinate the Emperor!
The great hall instantly descended into chaos. Military officials gathered around the Emperor to form a protective barrier, civil officials trembled in fear, women cried out in terror, and children wailed...
Chu Yi's eyes darkened instantly.
He had considered that the Empress might target Li Jingshu, or himself, or any of the other princes, but he never imagined her goal would be his father.
Though the Emperor was lustful, he was not foolish. During his decades on the throne, while he hadn't achieved any great accomplishments, at least he hadn't brought calamity upon the people. The populace lived in peace and contentment, foreign enemies dared not invade, and no territory was lost. Throughout history, this could already be considered a good emperor.
If his father died in this assassination attempt and the Crown Prince ascended, the Great Jin would surely fall into chaos.
Chu Yi drew his long blade, decapitating a man before him, then turned to Yun Chu and said: "Chu'er, head out through the northeastern side door. Quickly find a place to hide."
Yun Chu nodded.
In such a situation, women without martial skills would be helping most by not adding to the chaos.
She looked toward the women's section. Many young ladies were crying in fear, while older matrons tried to maintain composure but didn't know where to flee...
"Everyone, stay calm! Let's quickly go over there to hide!"
Yun Chu called out loudly.
She knew the Empress had deployed many assassins, lying in ambush in a semi-circle around the hall. If they didn't escape quickly, countless unarmed women would die when the assassins swarmed in.
She led the way toward the northeastern side door.
However, a discordant voice emerged from the crowd: "That side door is too far. It's faster to escape from here."
Yun Chu glanced sideways and saw Consort Fang standing beside the Crown Princess. Because she had just become pregnant, she was supported by two matrons, appearing quite imposing.
Fang Xinyan pointed toward another side door to the north, indicating everyone should escape through there. "Exit through this door and go straight back to reach the imperial garden. Continue further and you can leave the palace, then you'll be safe."
The Crown Princess nodded in agreement: "Let's go this way."
Many people were too terrified to think clearly, instinctively agreeing with whatever the Crown Princess said.Yun Chu shook her head and spoke: "The North Gate is close to the Imperial Garden, and the garden is densely vegetated. Precisely because of this, assassins could be hiding there... Time is urgent, I won't say more. Those willing to trust me, follow me this way. Those unwilling may do as they please."
She stepped forward to support Yun Fei, then linked arms with Yin Fei.
She couldn't care for everyone else, but she had to look after her own aunt and mother-in-law.
Qinghua recalled what Yun Chu had told her yesterday and said: "Mother Consort, let me support you. We must hurry!"
Yin Fei turned pale with fright: "The Emperor—save the Emperor..."
"Mother Consort doesn't know martial arts. Going over would only cause trouble for His Majesty. With so many military officers present, His Majesty will be fine!" Qinghua helped Yin Fei away without delay.
Du Ling supported her mother-in-law: "Let's follow Chu'er too."
Her mother-in-law immediately pulled her hand back: "The Princess Consort of the Pacifying West lives outside the palace and isn't familiar with it. How can we listen to her? We should follow the Eastern Palace attendants."
With that, she followed the Crown Princess toward the North Gate.
Watching the increasingly chaotic hall, Du Ling stamped her foot in anxiety: "Mother-in-law, Chu'er wouldn't be wrong! This way, let's go this way!"
Before she could say more, Yun Chu pulled her away.
Fang Xinyan curved her lips: "If the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West wants to court death, let her. We should flee quickly."
Everyone knew Consort Fang had once lost a child because of the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West. Though the details were unclear, the two had certainly become enemies.
The Crown Princess said swiftly: "Regardless, this is no place to linger. Don't just stand there—run!"
The group of women looked at each other, ultimately choosing to trust the Crown Princess.
By this time, Yun Chu and her group had nearly disappeared from view.
The large crowd surged toward the North Gate in a hurried escape. This gate area was sparsely populated—palace maids and eunuchs had long scattered—and with the gate open, the women escaped smoothly.
"I told you this gate was safer," Fang Xinyan said with a smile. "Ladies, don't be afraid. Once we pass this path, we'll reach the Imperial Garden and soon be completely safe."
As for Yun Chu, having chosen the wrong path, she would surely die in the chaos.
But it was far too quiet here.
The Crown Princess felt a twinge of foreboding.
Just then—
Rustling sounds came from the trees, followed by dozens—perhaps hundreds—of black-clad figures emerging from nowhere.
The women had no time to scream before blades descended.
Fang Xinyan watched helplessly as the matron supporting her was beheaded, the head landing at her feet.
Terrified, she fell to the ground, her stomach tightening as she scrambled away: "Sister Crown Princess, save me! Quickly, save me..."
Chaos erupted.
"Assassins! Run!"
"Consort Fang led us the wrong way. We shouldn't have trusted her."
"Hurry, escape!"
The women fled in all directions.
The Crown Princess wanted to save Fang Xinyan, but with only four guards, sending two to Fang Xinyan would endanger herself.
After a glance at Fang Xinyan lying on the ground, she hardened her heart and turned to flee.
She felt immensely grateful the Empress had forbidden the children from attending—otherwise, they would have been in grave danger."Ah! Save me..." Fang Xinyan threw her arms around Old Lady Ji, who was Du Ling's mother-in-law, "Old Lady Ji, please help me, help me up..."
Just as Old Lady Ji was about to kick her away, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck. She reached back and touched it—her hand came away covered in blood. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.
A black-clad figure swiftly drove a blade into Old Lady Ji's abdomen.
Immediately after, the same blade swept across Fang Xinyan's throat. She didn't even have time to scream before her breath was cut short.
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