Green Mountain-Chapter 687 - 544: The Plot Revealed

Inside Kunning Palace, the Empress was still drinking alone.

She sat by the table, sipping slowly.

According to the plan, Xu Xi would return to Kunning Palace to report safely after sending Bai Li out of Xuanwu Gate. She was waiting for Xu Xi to personally tell her that Bai Li had left the palace before she could rest easy.

But before Xu Xi arrived, Wu Xiu and the Jiefan Guard came first.

The Empress turned to look at Wu Xiu rushing in, while the Jiefan Guard behind Wu Xiu did not enter Kunning Palace, instead surrounding its perimeter closely.

Wu Xiu stood alone outside the threshold of the hall, lifted the hem of his official robe, and knelt down: "Court Minister Wu Xiu pays respects to the Empress."

The Empress did not allow Wu Xiu to rise, only calmly saying, "Lord Wu has performed all the courtesies, so there must be an important matter to discuss with this palace?"

Wu Xiu knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, the Court Minister received a tip that someone intends to assist Zhu Baili in escaping the palace. Just now, I went to Jingyang Palace to check and heard that Your Majesty invited her to Kunning Palace... The Court Minister feared that villains might seize Bai Li and cause chaos in Kunning Palace, so I came immediately to check. Seeing that Your Majesty is unharmed puts my mind at ease."

The Empress smiled slightly, "And then?"

Wu Xiu said aloud, "This woman is the daughter of a criminal minister. His Majesty ordered her to practice diligently in Jingyang Palace, hoping she would accumulate merits and virtue to dissolve her burdens. According to His Majesty's decree, she should reside in Jingyang Palace for a long time, and it is inappropriate for her to linger in Kunning Palace. Please hand over this woman, and I will take her back to Jingyang Palace."

The Empress did not become angry; instead, she smiled and said, "Since it is His Majesty's decree, then take her back to Jingyang Palace. However, Lord Wu, please wait a moment. Just now, this palace inadvertently spilled wine on her, and she is currently changing clothes in the West Warm Pavilion. Once she finishes, Lord Wu may take her away, is that acceptable?"

Wu Xiu, kneeling on the ground with his head down, replied, "The Court Minister complies with the order."

As time went by slowly, the Empress, without a change in expression, drank to buy time. The longer she could delay Wu Xiu, the more chance Bai Li had to survive.

Yet Wu Xiu did not urge, appearing calm and composed as he knelt outside the vermilion threshold, not a single tremble in his back, seeming utterly confident.

This aroused suspicion in the Empress's heart. She wondered where Wu Xiu's confidence came from.

Gradually, there was disorderly footsteps outside the palace, and the Forbidden City awoke. People held lanterns, walking back and forth on the palace paths quietly. They never entered Kunning Palace, deliberately avoiding everything related to it.

The Empress couldn't help but glance outside the hall, hoping to see if Xu Xi had returned, but she saw no sign of him. Outside the hall, there was only the gray-white moonlight and the golden glazed roof tiles.

Was it because Xu Xi saw the Jiefan Guard sealing off Kunning Palace and dared not approach?

Or did something unexpected happen?

The Empress's heart slowly sank into the depths.

At this moment, the sound of the little eunuch striking the drum rang out outside the palace: "Beichen Zhengwei!"

It was midnight.

Outside Kunning Palace, there were chaotic footsteps as many people arrived.

The Empress slowly raised her wine cup to her lips, concealing her expression.

Suddenly, Wu Xiu said, "Please take care of Your Majesty's health and refrain from indulging further."

The Empress ignored him and continued to raise her cup.

But Wu Xiu's tone shifted, "The Court Minister can actually accompany Your Majesty for a while longer; however, no matter how much longer, the person you wish to send away can't be sent away, and what is meant to happen will always happen."

The Empress's hand, holding the cup, paused in mid-air, "What do you mean, Lord Wu?"

The next moment, Consort Xue appeared at the entrance of Kunning Palace with a group of female servants and eunuchs. She was dressed in a grand Nine Bird Feather Robe, wearing a Nine Bird Feather Crown, as if attending a long-awaited grand ceremony.

When the Empress saw the people behind Consort Xue clearly, she abruptly stood up, the wine cup falling to the ground and shattering into white porcelain.

She saw, unexpectedly, behind Consort Xue, two short and stout nannies were escorting Bai Li, who should have left, and a little eunuch was holding the faint Xu Xi.

How could this be?

Bai Li should have left the palace by 9:45 PM, so how did she fall into Consort Xue's hands? Why was Consort Xue dressed in full regalia, as if well-prepared?

If Bai Li had been intercepted at Xuanwu Gate, why did Consort Xue delay until midnight to see her?

What on earth happened during this hour?

Consort Xue approached the Empress, with a peony marked in vivid red on her forehead.

She laughed and asked, "I heard that sister invited this woman to Kunning Palace. How did she get caught at Xuanwu Gate? Unexpectedly, this woman, while in seclusion at Jingyang Palace, became an Executive Officer, making it quite an effort to capture her."

The Empress took a deep breath, "Let her go."

"As you wish," Consort Xue raised her hand slightly, and the nannies released Bai Li.

The Empress waited for Bai Li to come to her side, immediately grasping Bai Li's wrist and pulling her behind to protect her.

Consort Xue smiled casually, "The Empress still protects this criminal's daughter until now. Truly, you are beautiful and kind-hearted. Of course, you are in charge of the Six Palaces, and in this harem, anyone you wish to protect is fine... However, there are other matters tonight; once they are settled, everyone can rest easy."

The Empress tightened her grip on Bai Li's wrist and calmly asked, "What matters?"

Consort Xue responded with indifference, "This woman colluded with Xu Xi, the Chief Eunuch of Shangyi Palace, impersonating Changsu Wang Wenbiao, intending to escape the palace. She and Xu Xi have been found, but Wang Wenbiao is still missing, presumably hiding within the palace. A search is necessary. We've searched elsewhere, with no results, leaving only Your Majesty's Kunning Palace."

The next moment, Wu Xiu signaled to the Jiefan Guard, who surged forward.

Aunt Yuan Jin stepped forward to block the threshold, coldly saying, "If you want to search Kunning Palace, let's see who dares. Are you all tired of living?"

"Aunt Yuan Jin, are you defying the decree?" Consort Xue leisurely retrieved a fold of ocher-colored document from her sleeve: "By His Majesty's handwritten order, search the palace, find Wang Wenbiao!"

The Empress stood stunned in place, no wonder Consort Xue waited until midnight to appear, it turns out she didn't blindly come to Kunning Palace after capturing Bai Li, but went to Renshou Palace to request the decree.

Consort Xue saw the Empress standing motionless, and took the initiative to step over the high, vermilion threshold, placing the ocher-colored Emperor Ning's handwritten order in her hands: "Your Majesty, please take a look."

The Empress released Bai Li and lowered her gaze, remaining silent for a long time. Consort Xue chose not to rush her, knowing that with the Emperor's handwritten order present, no one could defy the decree and interfere; victory was certain.

After a long time, the Empress suddenly spoke softly: "He actually permits you to search my chamber."

Consort Xue froze for a moment, as if doubting what she heard: "What did Your Majesty say?"

The Empress pulled Bai Li aside and softly said, "Search, then."

Bai Li watched as the moonlight cast a silvery glow on the outline of the Empress's face, her eyelashes gently trembling.

At this moment, the Jiefan Guard surged into Kunning Palace, Aunt Yuan Jin turned back to look at the Empress: "Your Majesty, you mustn't, go and clarify this with His Majesty."

The Empress lightly shook her head: "Let them search."

Aunt Yuan Jin hesitated for a moment, but ultimately stepped aside.

The Jiefan Guard surged into Kunning Palace, and within 15 minutes, someone cried out loudly in the West Warm Pavilion: "Found him."

The Empress turned to look but saw the Jiefan Guard escorting out a man covered in blood from the West Warm Pavilion, his brow split open as if forming a third eye, with blood streaming down from it.

Consort Xue looked at the man, resembling a bloody gourd, with disdain: "How did he end up like this? Clean his face."

The Jiefan Guard wiped off the blood from the man's face, but the Empress inadvertently exchanged a glance with Aunt Yuan Jin, realizing the man was not Wang Wenbiao, nor did he bear a resemblance to Bai Li.

But in the West Warm Pavilion, clearly only Wang Wenbiao was hidden, yet now the person had changed. Aunt Yuan Jin wanted to verify the identity, but before she reached the Jiefan Guard, Wang Wenbiao spewed a mouthful of black blood and instantly lost his breath.

Suicide?

Death Soldier?

At this moment, a Jiefan Guard looked at Wu Xiu: "My Lord, this subordinate has seen Wang Wenbiao, but this person's appearance is entirely different, he is not Wang Wenbiao."

Consort Xue feigned surprise: "Not the Chief Eunuch Wang Wenbiao of the Shangyi Palace? How come there's another man in Your Majesty's Kunning Palace?"

Aunt Yuan Jin's expression changed, not good!

Consort Xue said leisurely: "Since this person isn't Wang Wenbiao, then which palace or department does this eunuch belong to? Has anyone seen him before?"

The Jiefan Guard clasped his hands and said: "Reporting to Consort, no one has seen him before."

Consort Xue was even more astonished: "Could he be a man from outside the palace? Verify the identity."

Aunt Yuan Jin was about to stop them, but the Empress prevented her, speaking firmly: "Your Majesty, it's a trick, you can't let them simply verify the identity!"

The Empress whispered: "Too late. He's still the same as before, knowing what I care about most... let them proceed."

Aunt Yuan Jin froze in place.

...

...

Consort Xue signaled to Wu Xiu, who lightly waved his hand to the Jiefan Guard: "Take him to a secluded place to verify, don't dirty the esteemed eyes of the nobles."

The Jiefan Guard dragged the man's body to the West Warm Pavilion, stripped his pants, and then exclaimed in shock: "This... this man actually hasn't been castrated!"

Consort Xue covered her mouth, looking at the Empress in disbelief: "Sister actually hid a man in Kunning Palace!"

The Empress showed no panic or surprise, only smiled: "I've finally figured it out, no wonder it was so coincidental, finding someone who resembles Bai Li so much, no wonder Bai Li was intercepted by you at Xuanwu Gate, and no wonder Lord Wu Xiu had victory assured, it turns out from the very beginning you targeted me."

This was a trap.

The Empress had said that with the Hu Family to rely on, as long as it didn't disgrace the authority of the Heavenly Family or violate the ancestral rites, no one could do anything to her. Her adversaries knew this too, so they prepared an inescapable situation for her.

Someone discovered when the Empress sought someone resembling Bai Li among the populace, they guessed what she intended to do, and then silently set the stage, waiting for tonight to bring the plot to completion.

Every step tonight was taken by the Empress herself, Wu Xiu and others knowing where Bai Li was yet pretended not to know and went to Jingyang Palace, step by step searching all the way to Kunning Palace, making each step solidly executed. Even if someone knew this was the trap set for the Empress, there was no evidence to hold onto.

Once everything was assured, Consort Xue then went to Renshou Palace to request the Imperial Decree.

But what the Empress and Aunt Yuan Jin couldn't understand was how Wang Wenbiao, a castrated eunuch, became another uncircumcised man. Was it disguise? But what kind of disguise could fake even the physique, turning an uncircumcised man into a castrated eunuch?

The Empress turned and touched Bai Li's cheek: "I'm sorry, I implicated you this time, I couldn't send you out."

Bai Li cried, saying: "No, no."

The Empress softly asked: "When they captured you earlier, were you hurt?"

Bai Li shook his head hurriedly: "No."

The Empress nodded, then turned to Wu Xiu: "You are not qualified to deal with me yet, I want to see His Majesty."

Wu Xiu left, returned shortly, and said respectfully: "Reporting, Your Majesty, His Majesty is resting."