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Chapter 2562 Chaos Across the Land

The night in Lin'an Town is as black as if ink had been splashed on it.

Governor Zheng Wenchang of Jizhou personally led two hundred elite soldiers to Lin'an Town, and then quietly sneaked into the backyard of Yixianglou.

They didn't go through the front door, nor did they alert anyone; instead, they climbed over the wall to keep it secret.

The staff of Yixianglou had long been dealt with by the elite soldiers, and the backyard was empty except for the room where Yu Qianqian lived, which still had its lights on.

Yu Qianqian was showing Yu Bao'er the new clothes she had just bought, and this was her happiest moment.

Bao'er is ten years old now. She's growing up so fast; her clothes from last year are already much too short this year.

Yu Qianqian gestured to the clothes while talking to Bao'er, who was lying on the table writing, each stroke very carefully.

"Mom, what's the pronunciation of this character?" Bao'er asked, pointing to a character in the book.

Yu Qianqian leaned over for a look, then smiled and said, "It's pronounced 'an,' the 'an' in 'peaceful.'"

Bao'er nodded, circled the character, and continued writing.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Yu Qianqian looked up and saw Zheng Wenchang standing at the door, followed by a group of soldiers in black.

Her face turned pale instantly, realizing that disaster was about to befall her and her son.

"Who...who are you people!" Yu Qianqian stood up and instinctively shielded Bao'er behind her.

Zheng Wenchang didn't say anything, but waved his hand, and two soldiers rushed forward, shoved Yu Qianqian aside, and pulled Bao'er up from the chair.

Bao'er was terrified and burst into tears, struggling to call out "Mother".

"What are you doing! Let him go!" Yu Qianqian lunged forward, but was stopped by another soldier and pushed to the ground.

Zheng Wenchang walked up to her, looking down at her. "Manager Yu, I'm sorry. Lord He wants to see you and your son. Please come with me."

"Lord He? Which Lord He?" Yu Qianqian's voice trembled.

"Grand Secretary He Jingyuan," Zheng Wenchang said, then turned and left.

Two soldiers carried Bao'er and followed. Bao'er cried and called for her mother, her voice carrying far in the night.

Yu Qianqian got up from the ground and stumbled after him, not even bothering to pick up her lost shoe.

A carriage was parked at the back door of Yixianglou. Bao'er was shoved inside, and Yu Qianqian was also pushed up.

Yu Qianqian held Bao'er in her arms, the two of them huddled in the dark carriage. Bao'er cried so hard he could barely breathe, and Yu Qianqian hugged him, her own tears flowing uncontrollably.

"Mother, where are we going?" Bao'er asked, sobbing.

Yu Qianqian didn't know.

All that is known is that the secret that the mother and daughter had kept hidden for more than ten years could no longer be kept.

I've been afraid of this day for over ten years.

But that day still came.

The carriage sped through the night, leaving Lin'an Town and onto the official road, heading north.

Yu Qianqian lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and saw a dark, open field outside. She couldn't see the road or the direction.

They didn't know where Zheng Wenchang was taking them, or why He Jingyuan wanted to see them.

All she knew was that from this day forward, she and Bao'er could never go back.

……

Meanwhile, in the palace, Qi Shu was also waiting for someone.

As night deepened, Qi Shu dismissed all the palace maids and sat alone in her bedchamber, without lighting any lamps, waiting in the darkness.

The door opened, and a figure slipped in.

Gongsun Jin, dressed in eunuch's clothes, walked quickly to Qi Shu with his head down and knelt down.

Having worked in the Directorate of Ceremonial for so many years, he had risen from a newcomer to a chief eunuch, building his own network and informants within the palace. Although coming to Qi Shu's palace late at night was risky, it wasn't impossible.

"Princess." Gongsun Jin's voice was very soft, so soft that only the two of them could hear it.

"Get up." Qi Shu also restrained her excitement.

Gongsun Jin stood up and stood in front of Qi Shu, his head lowered, not daring to look at her.

Over the years, every time I saw Qi Shu, she would keep her head down and not dare to look me in the eye.

It's not fear, it's not that I'm afraid, it's that I dare not.

I'm really afraid that if I watch it, I won't be able to control myself.

Qi Shu looked at Gongsun Jin, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

This man castrated himself for her sake, and became a eunuch in this palace for her sake.

She owes this man a debt she can never repay in this lifetime.

"Gongsun, I have something to tell you," Qi Shu said.

"..." Gongsun Jin raised his head and looked at Qi Shu.

"Grand Secretary He Jingyuan has already contacted me. He wants to rebel against Suning. Moreover, he has promised to support the Crown Prince Yingyuan's ascension to the throne after the deed is done. Yingyuan is my son and also a descendant of the Qi family. If he becomes emperor, the Qi family's revenge will be avenged."

Gongsun Jin was stunned.

He never expected that Qi Shu would actually get in touch with He Jingyuan.

He Jingyuan was Suning's right-hand man, a founding father of the nation, and the chief minister of the cabinet.

Is he going to betray Suning?

Gongsun Jin's mind raced as he went through all the information in his head.

"Princess, is He Jingyuan trustworthy?" Gongsun Jin asked.

Qi Shu said, "He hates Su Ning just like me. Su Ning set a rule that the Grand Secretary can only serve for six years and cannot be reappointed. He Jingyuan's term is coming to an end, and he doesn't want to give up his power. He wants to keep controlling the court."

Gongsun Jin was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Princess, don't forget, Wei Yan was just as ambitious back then. Two emperors trusted him, entrusting him with all matters of state, big and small. And what was the result? Wei Yan controlled the government for decades, causing the deaths of countless people. What's the difference between He Jingyuan and Wei Yan? He's cooperating with you now because he needs you to do things for him. Once he gains the throne, how will he treat you? How will he treat the eldest prince? Will he willingly give the throne to your son?"

Qi Shu's face paled for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "I don't care."

Gongsun Jin panicked: "Princess!"

"I told you, I don't care!" Qi Shu's voice suddenly rose, echoing in the empty palace.

She quickly realized she had lost her composure and lowered her voice, "Gongsun, do you know how I've been these past few years?"

Qi Shu's tears fell, one drop at a time, landing on her clothes. "I lay beside him every day, letting him touch me, letting him kiss me. I felt nauseous, but I endured it. I gave birth to his son, and when I saw him holding our son and smiling, my heart was bleeding, but I had to smile too. I hate him, I wish I could drink his blood and eat his flesh. But there's nothing I can do, I can only wait, wait for an opportunity."

"..."

Qi Shu wiped away her tears and looked at Gongsun Jin. "Now the opportunity has come. He Jingyuan wants to rebel against him and kill him. No matter if He Jingyuan is the second Wei Yan, no matter if he will target me and Ying Yuan in the future, none of that matters. What matters is that Su Ning will die. As long as he dies, I'm willing to do anything."

Gongsun Jin looked at Qi Shu, feeling as if his heart was being cut by a knife.

He knew he couldn't persuade Qi Shu.

Qi Shu was consumed by hatred and disregarded everything else.

Gongsun Jin took a deep breath and asked, "Princess, what do you want me to do?"

Qi Shu said, "You work in the Directorate of Ceremonial, where you have access to the palace guards' movements and the emperor's daily records of food and lodging. I need this information. I want to poison him, and then He Jingyuan will raise an army outside the palace."

Gongsun Jin remained silent for a long time.

He knew that once he took this step, there would be no turning back.

Thinking about Qi Shu's suffering over the years, and about his own forbearance over the years, he finally nodded, "Okay, I'll help you."

Qi Shu looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes again. "Gongsun, thank you."

Gongsun Jin shook his head and gave a wry smile. "Princess, you don't need to thank me. I did these things not to express my gratitude."

Qi Shu knew what Gongsun Jin's purpose was.

But she couldn't give Gongsun Jin what he wanted.

I couldn't give it before, and I can't give it now.

Qi Shu could only look at Gongsun Jin and say, "Gongsun, I owe you in this life, I'll repay you in the next."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Jin almost burst into tears.

Many years ago, Qi Shu said the same thing when she left.

Qi Shu still says the same thing today.

Gongsun Jin didn't know if he would have a next life, or if he would meet Qi Shu again in his next life.

All Gongsun Jin knew was that he had accepted his fate in this life.

After Gongsun Jin left, Qi Shu sat alone in the darkness, looking at the moonlight outside the window.

He touched the bottle of poison under his pillow again; it was still there.

We still have to wait, wait for news from He Jingyuan, wait for a suitable opportunity.

Qi Shu had waited ten years for this opportunity.

I don't mind waiting a few more days or months.

Qi Shu was willing to do anything to kill Su Ning.

……

When Gongsun Jin returned to the Directorate of Ceremonial, it was almost dawn.

Lying on the upper bunk with his eyes open, listening to the snoring of the eunuchs around him, his mind was filled with Qi Shu's words.

He Jingyuan is about to rebel.

He Jingyuan intends to exploit Qi Shu, the eldest prince, and the bloodline of the former royal family.

After things are done, how will He Jingyuan treat Qi Shu? How will He Jingyuan treat the First Prince?

Gongsun Jin dared not even think about it.

All I know is that He Jingyuan is the kind of person who changes his mind faster than turning the pages of a book.

Today they'll call you brother, tomorrow they'll sell you out.

But Gongsun Jin had no choice.

There was no way to persuade Qi Shu.

They could only follow Qi Shu, taking things one step at a time, and seeing where things led them.

Even if there's a cliff in front of them, Gongsun Jin would jump down with Qi Shu.

This isn't because he's stupid; it's because Gongsun Jin loves Qi Shu, has loved her his whole life, and can't change his feelings.

……

That evening, Qi Shu carried a bowl of ginseng soup into Su Ning's study.

She was wearing a light pink dress, her hair was tied in a simple bun, and she had a gentle smile on her face, looking no different from usual.

The palace maids and eunuchs all bowed to Qi Shu when they saw her.

"Your Majesty, I have personally prepared a bowl of ginseng soup for you. Please drink it while it's hot," Qi Shu said softly, placing the bowl on the table. Su Ning, who was reviewing memorials, glanced up at her, then at the bowl of ginseng soup.

The soup is clear and bright, with a few red dates and goji berries floating on top, making it look very appetizing.

Su Ning smiled, picked up the glass, and took a sip.

"Hmm, it tastes good." After saying that, Su Ning finished the bowl of soup in a few gulps, even chewing and swallowing the red dates.

Qi Shu stood to the side, watching Su Ning finish the soup. Her smile remained unchanged, but she was in great pain inside.

Having spent so many years with this man, how could she not have feelings for him? Unfortunately, the hatred caused by the destruction of her family forced Qi Shu to suppress these feelings.

Qi Shu watched as Su Ning put down the empty bowl and then picked up her pen again to continue reviewing memorials. Her heart pounded, as if someone was drumming in her chest.

"Consort Su, is there anything else?" Su Ning asked, seeing that she was still standing.

Qi Shu shook her head and curtsied, "Your Majesty, I will not disturb you any longer. Your Majesty should rest early."

After saying that, Qi Shu took the empty bowl and left.

As soon as Qi Shu left the palace, her legs began to feel weak.

She immediately lost her balance and leaned against the wall. A palace maid beside her quickly supported her, asking, "Consort Su? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" Qi Shu gasped for breath.

Qi Shu's hands were trembling, and her whole body was shaking.

Because she put a drug in the soup, a rare poison from the Western Regions. It wouldn't be fatal immediately, but it would cause the person to fall into a coma and slowly fail, and even a god couldn't save them.

I don't know if this medicine will be discovered, I don't know if the imperial physician can cure it, and I don't know if Su Ning will die.

All I know is that she finally took this step.

From now on, there's no going back.

……

That night, Suning did what he always did, just like any other day.

After reviewing the memorials, he went directly to Qi Shu's courtyard and stayed with her in her bedchamber for most of the night, not resting until midnight.

Qi Shu lay beside Su Ning, listening to Su Ning's even breathing, her eyes open as she looked at the canopy above her head, having not slept all night.

I don't know what I'm thinking.

Looking at Su Ning's face, it appeared very calm in the moonlight, like an ordinary man, not like a ruthless emperor.

Qi Shu slowly reached under the pillow, where a pair of scissors were hidden.

I held the scissor handle for a long time, but finally let go.

I can't kill Su Ning directly.

We can't kill them now, at least not now.

He Jingyuan said that Su Ning should be kept alive and in a coma so that the court would be in chaos and they would have a chance to raise an army.

If Su Ning were to die now, and the eldest prince were still young, the empress would take control of the government and appoint the second prince, Su Ying'an, as the crown prince. Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua would then seize military power, making the situation even more difficult to manage.

Qi Shu didn't understand these power struggles and schemes, but she knew that He Jingyuan understood them better than she did.

She could only trust He Jingyuan.

……

The next morning, Su Ning did not get up.

The eunuch called out "Your Majesty" several times from outside, but no one answered.

I called out a few more times, but still no one answered.

The eunuch panicked, pushed open the door, and saw Su Ning lying on the bed, her face pale and her lips purple, and he couldn't wake her up no matter how he called her.

"Help! Help! His Majesty has fainted!" The eunuch's scream shattered the tranquility of the palace, and the entire harem was in an uproar.

The palace maids and eunuchs ran around, some looking for the imperial physician, some looking for the empress, and some so frightened that they collapsed to the ground and cried.

The imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy rushed over, taking turns to check each other's pulses. After checking one pulse, they passed it on to the next. Each of them looked grim after checking the pulse, and they looked at each other, none daring to speak first.

When Wei Changyu arrived, the imperial physicians were kneeling on the ground, their heads bowed, looking like wilted eggplants.

"What happened? What's wrong with His Majesty?" Wei Changyu's voice changed.

She rushed to the bedside and saw Su Ning's pale face; tears streamed down her face.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty... His Majesty has been poisoned. We are still investigating what kind of poison it is."

"Poisoned?" Wei Changyu turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot. "Who poisoned him? Who dares to poison the Emperor?"

No one dared to answer.

The imperial physicians knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

Wei Changyu took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.

She was the Empress, the head of the six palaces; she couldn't afford to act rashly at this time.

Wiping away her tears, she stood up, her back ramrod straight. "Issue the order: seal off the palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Anyone who dares to utter a single word about His Majesty's poisoning will have their entire family executed."

"The Imperial Medical Academy will do everything in its power to treat His Majesty. Whatever medicine is needed, get it directly from the Imperial Pharmacy. If it cannot be obtained, send people to search outside the palace. Within three days, I need to know what poison His Majesty has been afflicted with and how to cure it."

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, we will do our utmost."

Wei Changyu turned to the eunuch beside him and said, "Go and invite my father and mother to the palace immediately."

The eunuch accepted the order and ran off.

……

Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua were having breakfast at home when they received the news.

Upon hearing the eunuch's words, Wei Qilin dropped his chopsticks and turned deathly pale.

Meng Lihua stood up, knocking over the bowls and spilling soup all over the table.

The two followed the eunuch and rode into the palace.

When they arrived at Su Ning's palace, they saw Wei Changyu sitting by the bed, his eyes red and swollen from crying. Su Ning was lying on the bed, her face as white as paper, her lips purple, and her breathing weak.

Wei Qilin's face darkened, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "Who did this?"

Wei Changyu shook his head: "I don't know yet. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is investigating."

Meng Lihua walked to the bedside, looked at Su Ning's face, and felt his pulse. Her brows were furrowed tightly.

Although she didn't know anything about medicine, she had fought in wars and seen people who had been poisoned.

Suning's symptoms don't seem like those of a common poison; they seem to be something from another realm.

"Empress, you manage affairs within the palace; leave matters outside to your father and me," Meng Lihua said. "Remember, no matter what happens, you must not panic. You are the Empress; if you panic, those below will panic even more."

Wei Changyu nodded and took a deep breath.

……

Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua left the palace and immediately began making arrangements.

Wei Qilin went to the Privy Council and ordered the garrison in the capital to enter a state of combat readiness, directly controlling the nine gates of the capital.

He deployed his trusted troops to key positions in the capital and sent people to keep an eye on all places in the city where trouble might occur.

Meng Lihua went to the military camp outside the city and firmly controlled the tens of thousands of troops stationed in the suburbs of Beijing.

He ordered the entire army to be on high alert, ready to respond to any emergencies.

All the generals were summoned to the central command tent. Meng Lihua stood in front of the map, assigning tasks with a blank expression. No one dared to ask why.

On the surface, the capital city was still the same as usual. People came and went on the streets, shops were open as usual, and ordinary people went about their business as usual.

But secretly, Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua's people are everywhere.

The guards changed into civilian clothes and mingled in the crowd, keeping an eye on every suspicious person.

There were many more soldiers checking people at the city gate, and everyone entering and leaving had to be thoroughly inspected.

The teahouses and restaurants were noticeably quieter, as many unfamiliar faces sat in the corners, not saying a word, just sitting, drinking tea, and listening to others talk.

"Relax on the outside, but tight on the inside"—these four words, spoken by Wei Changyu, were executed flawlessly by Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua.

……

When the news reached He Jingyuan's ears, he was having tea in the Cabinet Office.

A trusted eunuch rushed in, leaned close to his ear, and whispered a few words.

He Jingyuan paused for a moment in his teacup, then slowly put it down, his face expressionless. "Are you sure?"

The eunuch nodded: "Confirmed. News from the palace says His Majesty is unconscious, and the Imperial Hospital is helpless. The Empress has tried to suppress the news, but our people still managed to send a message."

He Jingyuan leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a long while.

Then he opened his eyes and smiled, "Okay, okay, okay."

He Jingyuan said "good" three times in a row, stood up, and paced back and forth in the study. "Qi Shu really did not disappoint me. This woman is more useful than I thought."

That evening, He Jingyuan secretly summoned Li Huai'an and several trusted generals to a meeting at his residence.

The doors and windows were tightly shut, and the area outside was filled with guards, forbidding anyone from approaching.

Standing before the map, He Jingyuan pointed in the direction of Lin'an Town and said, "Zheng Wenchang has already brought Yu Bao'er to Jizhou. Yu Bao'er is the last bloodline of the Qi family of the previous dynasty. That's a big enough claim. We'll raise an army in the name of 'restoring the previous dynasty' and raise the banner of 'avenging the Qi family of the previous dynasty.' Those in the capital who are dissatisfied with Su Ning, those who have been suppressed by the Wei family, and those remnants of the previous dynasty will all follow us."

Li Huai'an asked, "Master, when will we make our move?"

He Jingyuan said, "Tomorrow, issue the order for Zheng Wenchang to raise an army in Jizhou, under the banner of Qi Bao'er, the last descendant of the Great Yin Dynasty, and march all the way to the capital. I have already sent people to contact the various prefectures and counties along the way. Those who are willing to surrender will be reinstated; those who are unwilling to surrender will be taken down. We will also make preparations in the capital. When Zheng Wenchang's army arrives at the city, we will coordinate an attack from within and without to take the capital in one fell swoop."

A general asked, "Your Excellency, what about Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua? They have troops under their command, what if..."

He Jingyuan waved his hand, interrupting him: "I have my own way of dealing with Wei Qilin and Meng Lihua. They are busy rescuing Su Ning right now and can't worry about anything else. By the time they realize what's happening, Zheng Wenchang's army will already be at the city gates."

……

The next day, Jizhou.

Zheng Wenchang stood on the drill ground, with a ten-year-old boy standing next to him, who was Yu Bao'er.

Yu Bao'er was wearing a specially made small dragon robe and a crown on her head, looking like a toy emperor.

His face was pale, his eyes were blank, and he didn't know what he was doing or why he was dressed like that.

Zheng Wenchang addressed his soldiers loudly: "The Qi clan of the former Great Yin Dynasty was slaughtered by the traitor Su Ning. Fortunately, Heaven spared the bloodline of Qi Bao'er. Qi Bao'er is the eldest grandson of the Crown Prince Chengde of the Great Yin Dynasty and the son of Qi Yu. Today, I, Zheng Wenchang, am acting on the orders of Prince Qi Bao'er to raise an army in rebellion, purge the court of corrupt officials, punish the treacherous ministers, and restore the Great Yin Dynasty!"

The soldiers standing below shouted in unison: "Restore the Great Yin Dynasty! Restore the Great Yin Dynasty!"

Yu Bao'er was so frightened by the deafening shout that she almost burst into tears.

The eunuch beside him quickly helped Yu Bao'er up and whispered, "Young master, don't be afraid. You are the emperor of Dayin, and they are all your subjects."

Yu Bao'er didn't know what an emperor or a subject was.

All he knew was that he wanted to go home, to Lin'an Town, to Yixianglou, and to be back by his mother's side.

...(End of this chapter)