After watching for quite a while, not even a single straggler had managed to slip in.
The people outside seemed to have finally realized something was amiss, as there had been no sound for quite some time.
Magpie was even worried that her mistress might get bored, so she brewed a large pot of fruit tea to share with everyone: "This servant added honey, it's quite sweet!"
Yan the Imperial Physician nervously swallowed. At a time like this, how could the people in Hexi Palace not be anxious? How could they still have the mood to drink fruit tea?
Jiang Xinyue showed him through her actions that not only was she drinking fruit tea, but she also ate a few pieces of pastry to calm her nerves.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
The main gate of Hexi Palace was being pounded, making loud thumping noises. From outside came a series of cries for help: "Concubine Zhen! Concubine Zhen, please open the door! This servant is a palace maid from Noble Consort Rong's Jingren Palace. This servant came out to fetch meals for my mistress and was chased here by the rebels. Please, Concubine Zhen, save this servant's life!"
Knowing that she and Noble Consort Rong had worked together half a year ago to send the Virtuous Consort to the Western Paradise, and that their relationship was still quite amicable, deliberately creating a scene with Noble Consort Rong's palace maid knocking on the door seemed like Consort De's handiwork. She was known for deflecting blame, and if things were exposed, she could still push Noble Consort Rong out as a scapegoat.
Jiang Xinyue shook her head and ignored it.
A moment later, screams erupted outside the main gate, but they were very brief, as if the person hadn't even finished speaking before being killed.
After barely a quarter of an hour of silence, someone else came to knock on the door: "Concubine Zhen, please save us! My mistress came out for a walk after the evening meal and saw fire and fighting in the distance. Only your place hasn't been affected. Please, Concubine Zhen, have mercy and save my mistress!"
They didn't even properly introduce themselves, speaking vaguely and with extreme cunning. If Jiang Xinyue were to open the palace gates and be killed, no one would even know who was responsible.
This ploy seemed to be Consort De's work again.
Jiang Xinyue still ignored it.
But this time, the person didn't leave and continued knocking: "Concubine Zhen, this servant begs you, won't you please open the door?"
The voice was high-pitched, a strange voice Jiang Xinyue had never heard before. It was indeed Consort De's people, as meticulous as ever.
"Concubine Zhen, you're watching us die without helping! You clearly have guards protecting you inside, yet you're unwilling to let this servant and my mistress in to take refuge. Aren't you afraid we'll come back for revenge after we die? How can such a cold-hearted woman like you deserve the Emperor's exclusive favor? Open the door quickly! Open the door! Jiang Xinyue! I beg you to open the door, they're coming to kill us! Open the door! Open the door, ah ah ah ah..."
That frantic voice also came to an abrupt end.
Well, if they died, they died!
What did it have to do with her?
These people were quite amusing. After becoming ghosts, instead of seeking revenge on those who killed them, they wanted to haunt her, someone completely uninvolved.
Their minds were too foolish; it was no surprise they were killed.
She didn't believe in ghosts or fear them. Even if a ghost appeared before her, she'd make the ghost bring her foot-washing water.
Suddenly, there was no sound at all from outside the courtyard wall. It seemed the rebels knew they couldn't breach Hexi Palace and had dispersed.
"Have they left?"
Yan the Imperial Physician reached out to open the door, but Jiang Xinyue grabbed him: "The art of war teaches us to be wary of deception. I don't think they would give up so easily."
Especially not General Ye.
He had probably already received word from Consort Ye and was determined to eliminate her completely.
She had heard that recently, her convenient father had been ruthlessly rebuking those ministers who advised the Emperor to spread his favor more evenly in court.
General Ye was the primary target, the one her convenient father had criticized the most.
If his palace coup succeeded, the Jiang family would be the first to face extermination of their entire clan.
How to put it?
She hoped the Xuanwu Emperor would show some spirit!
Otherwise, she would have to consider pursuing General Ye or his sons again.
She was determined to become the favored consort!
Of course, her first choice was still the Xuanwu Emperor. After all, it would be quite tiring to walk the path of pursuing the Xuanwu Emperor all over again.
Controlling people's hearts was no simple matter. The energy and focus required was beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Even though she specialized in psychology, thoroughly analyzing a person still required a great deal of time and effort.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
This time the knocking was much softer, but the words spoken were shocking: "Concubine Zhen, the Emperor... the Emperor has been hit by an arrow and is in critical condition... The Emperor has sent this servant to summon you to attend to him."
Jiang Xinyue laughed out loud and said to the terrified Yan the Imperial Physician: "Do they think I'm stupid? Coming in waves like this, are they afraid I'll go out? Are they trying to remind me that they're deceiving me?"
Yan the Imperial Physician blinked, still not understanding: "What do you mean? Is the Emperor alright? Why would they want to deceive you, Your Highness?"
Jiang Xinyue thought: There's really nothing to say to such an honest person.
She smiled without mirth: "It's nothing. Physician Yan, please continue watching!"
In Taihe Hall—
The hall was in chaos, blood everywhere.
Ye Gaoliang, surrounded by guards, wore the dragon robe and walked with light steps, a bow and arrow in his hand.
Someone had indeed been shot by an arrow, but it wasn't the Emperor—it was Noble Consort Rong.
When that shocking arrow came flying earlier, with people all around, the Xuanwu Emperor couldn't dodge in time. Just as he thought he would be hit, Noble Consort Rong threw herself in front of him, and the arrow pierced through her shoulder blade.
However, what surprised Ye Gaoliang was that at such a late hour, Minister Pei of the Privy Council and another military minister were still in the hall.
Under normal circumstances, he would have thought this was a trap and wouldn't act rashly.
But people...
When inner desires reach their peak and that throne suddenly seems within reach, how could one still pay attention to such small details when killing the Emperor would make them the supreme ruler?
"Father!"
Crouching in the corner, dressed as a palace maid, Noble Consort Ye finally dared to show herself: "Where is that bitch Jiang Xinyue?"
Ye Gaoliang didn't care at all about that "ant" he could crush with one hand. He laughed heartily: "My child, don't worry. I've already sent guards to capture her. When she falls into your hands, you can humiliate her however you like."
Noble Consort Ye, remembering the feces incident, gritted her teeth and said: "I want to soak her in the cesspool and drown her and that bastard in her belly alive."
Dying in a cesspool would truly satisfy her desire for revenge.
For this, she had already sent people to find the largest cesspool: "Remember, collect the sewage from all the servants' quarters. I want to watch that bitch die with my own eyes."
The Xuanwu Emperor's hand tightened around Noble Consort Rong as he looked at Noble Consort Ye as if she were already dead.
By now, Noble Consort Ye felt that her father was about to ascend to the highest position, so she wasn't afraid to reveal her true nature anymore.
She sneered and glared at the Xuanwu Emperor: "What are you looking at, you stinking man? Did you really think this young lady was madly in love with you? There are plenty of good men in the world. Did you think this young lady only loved your rotten cucumber? This young lady entered the palace to steal your palace defense plans. Being your consort isn't as good as being a princess. My father's military achievements are glorious. The dragon throne you, Shen Ye, sit on was won by my Ye family."
The Ye family had indeed served as generals for generations and had established great merits for the Great Yan Dynasty.
But from this day forward, all that would be left of the Ye family would be eternal infamy.
