Chapter 400
Yan Zheng's expression darkened, and seeing him like this, Chu Ruoyan's heart leaped to her throat. "Did something happen to my father?!"
Yan Zhao shook his head. "No, it's your mother-in-law! It's hard to explain in a few words, hurry and come see for yourselves!"
Chu Ruoyan and Yan Zheng exchanged a glance and immediately ordered their carriage to the Duke of Chu's estate.
At the Duke of Chu's estate, in Lady Jiang the Younger's courtyard.
Doctors hurried in and out, carrying away basin after basin of bloody water, accompanied by Chu Ruolan's bitter weeping. "Mother, Mother! You must hold on, you can't leave your daughter behind!"
Just entering the courtyard, Chu Ruoyan's body trembled. Yan Zheng immediately supported her. "It's alright, Ayan, don't be afraid!"
After speaking, he called out for Chief Physician Zhang. The latter hurriedly ran inside clutching his medical box.
Inside the room, the stench of blood was pungent.
Lady Jiang the Younger lay on the bed with her eyes tightly shut, a sharp and pointed dagger lodged in her chest. Her breath was already as faint as a thread.
Chu Huaishan sat beside her, his face deathly pale, tightly holding her hand. Seeing them arrive, he made as if to stand up.
"Father-in-law, there is no need for formalities!"
Yan Zheng hastily stopped him. Then, a short, small figure rushed over and hugged him tightly. "Third Uncle, I'm sorry, it's all Wenjing's fault. Those bad people wanted to catch me! I'm the one who harmed Third Aunt's aunt!"
Yan Zheng patted his head, then looked sideways at Yan Zhao in inquiry.
Yan Zhao said bitterly, "Our journey back to the capital was originally peaceful. But who knew that when we reached Taizhou City and stayed at the official post house for the night, a large group of masked men in black suddenly rushed in to kidnap Wenjing. I protected him, fighting as we retreated. Seeing they couldn't succeed, those people shifted their target to Father-in-law! The enemy came prepared, and we were simply no match for them. Fortunately, Prefect Pei arrived in time with his men, but..."
His voice paused, a pained expression appearing on his face. Chu Huaishan heavily continued, "But seeing no hope of success, the enemy turned to ruthless murder. I was a burden and couldn't dodge in time, causing my wife to take a knife for me. Her life or death is still uncertain."
Chu Ruoyan's eyes flashed with a cold light. "Who were they? Have you found out?"
Yin Shun, having heard a few words from a young eunuch, hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, Prefect Pei sent a message saying that the prisoners locked in the jail all died suddenly overnight. Their corpses were covered in black bugs, and then they all dissolved into pools of bloody water, leaving no clues behind..."
Chu Ruoyan pressed her lips tightly together, and Yan Zheng slowly uttered a place name: "Western Frontier."
To be able to use Gu insects to silence people, only those from the Western Frontier had such abilities!
The husband and wife exchanged a glance, both seeing a single name in each other's eyes.
Yun Zihao!
He probably wanted to capture Wenjing to threaten Yan Zheng, and only shifted his target to Chu Huaishan when he couldn't succeed.
But he never expected that Lady Jiang the Younger would disregard her own life to block this knife for him...
"Done!"
Chief Physician Zhang, covered in sweat, straightened up and withdrew the last silver needle. "Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, her life is saved. However, this knife wound is too deep and she has lost too much blood. She will not wake up in the next few days."
Everyone let out a long sigh of relief. Chu Huaishan's eyes grew red. "Thank you, Chief Physician Zhang, for saving my wife's life! It doesn't matter if she doesn't wake up immediately, as long as she is alive, as long as she is alive..."
Chief Physician Zhang hurriedly said there was no need for thanks, though his heart bloomed with joy.
Finally, there was a time when he saved someone and didn't need to ask the old divine doctor to intervene!
His medical skills had indeed advanced by leaps and bounds!
After dismissing the servants, Yan Zheng cast a cold glance at Yan Zhao. "Such a major incident occurred, why didn't you send word ahead? And Seventh Master Pei dared to hide it with you!"
Yan Zhao was already afraid of him, and now that Yan Zheng had ascended the throne, his imposing aura was even stronger than before. He could only lower his head and shrink his neck.
Chu Huaishan sighed. "Your Majesty, do not blame Liulang. It was this old subject who forbade him from speaking."
Yan Zheng raised an eyebrow, only to see him glance at his own daughter. "If Yan'er learned that her aunt and I were in trouble, she would definitely be burning with anxiety. If she were to leave the capital to find us, it might instead give the enemy an opportunity to exploit."
The couple was stunned for a moment, understanding flashing in their eyes.
Indeed, this must also be the reason why the enemy struck so ruthlessly!
If they had succeeded, Chu Ruoyan would undoubtedly leave the capital at all costs to visit her father. Then they could intercept her midway and use her to threaten Yan Zheng into abdicating!
One link following another, their scheme could only be described as utterly malicious!
Yan Zheng said solemnly, "Thanks to Father-in-law's thorough consideration, we did not fall into the enemy's trap."
Chu Huaishan waved his hand, looked at Chu Ruoyan, and hesitated to speak.
The young woman seemed to guess what he wanted to ask and said, "Father, rest assured. The late Emperor did not die by my or Yan Zheng's hands. As for Roumin, she is currently held separately in the Yikun Palace. When Aunt is better, I will send her out to reunite with you."
Chu Huaishan felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted and nodded at her.
Chu Ruolan, who had been kneeling by the bed with her eyes red from crying, suddenly looked up. "Big Sister, you must avenge my mother!"
Chu Ruoyan's eyes turned cold as she said slowly, "Don't worry, I will."
Coming out of the Duke of Chu's estate, she looked up at Yan Zheng.
The man had long shared a tacit understanding with her. He instructed calmly, "Meng Yang, make a trip to Yuzhou and bring that master from the Western Frontier into the capital. Yin Shun, summon Chief Minister Cao to the palace to see me. It is also time to clean up the rebel faction of the Prince of Jin's lineage from the Sheng Dynasty."
Beneath the calm words lay infinite murderous intent.
Yin Shun and Meng Yang felt a chill in their hearts and left to carry out their orders.
On the way back to the palace, Chu Ruoyan nestled in Yan Zheng's arms without saying a word.
Knowing she was in a bad mood, the man held her and comforted her softly, "Ayan, don't overthink it. Isn't everything alright now?"
Chu Ruoyan spoke in a muffled voice, "Father is fine, but Second Brother and Eldest Brother still have no news. Moreover, Second Brother originally went after Yun Zihao, but now that Yun Zihao has come out to stir up trouble again, there is no news of him at all. I'm afraid that..."
"He won't be," Yan Zheng interrupted her. "Although Yun Lang is impulsive, he is not stupid. He still has the Baixiao Pavilion under his command, so it won't be that easy for something to happen to him."
Chu Ruoyan felt slightly relieved, and then saw him cup her face and say seriously, "Ayan, the imperial throne and royal power are matters for us men. As a woman, you shouldn't overwork yourself. The most urgent task is to take good care of your pregnancy and wait for the Empress investiture ceremony in three days, so you can stand shoulder to shoulder with me in all your glory, alright?"
She froze for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Alright."
However, the next day in the imperial court, someone who had somehow heard about the Empress's background actually brought it up in public.
"Your Majesty! The Empress you wish to confer is not the daughter of the Duke of Chu, but a daughter of the Yun family from the Sheng Dynasty! She carries the bloodline of the previous dynasty and cannot be made Empress, Your Majesty!" an elderly imperial censor knelt down and said loudly.
An official from the Ministry of Rites also stepped forward. "Your Majesty! If what the imperial censor says is true, you indeed need to think twice! How can the mother of our nation bear the blood of the previous dynasty?"
For a time, the imperial court was filled with endless discussions.
A frosty chill covered the depths of Yan Zheng's eyes, yet his face revealed nothing. "Is that so? Do all my beloved subjects think this way? What about the Chief Minister?"
Cao Yang, having been called out, knew this was coming. He stepped forward expressionlessly, looked at the two who had spoken earlier, and said, "Have you two lords remembered incorrectly? Wasn't the previous dynasty the Murong family? Where did this Yun family come from?"
The old censor and the Ministry of Rites official choked on their words. The latter hurriedly said, "The Yun family is from the dynasty before the previous one, but they also have royal blood. What if they wish to replace us..."
"I think it is you who wishes to replace me, isn't it?"
This single cold sentence frightened the courtiers into kneeling one after another. "Your Majesty, please forgive us!"
Yan Zheng looked at these men. How could he not see right through their schemes?
Now that he had ascended the throne, the Empress remained the sole woman in his inner palace. These officials were itching to have her deposed so they could shove their own daughters into the harem to secure power and wealth... It was utterly laughable!
He was just about to speak when a familiar, icy voice suddenly rang out: "Your Majesty, please reconsider! The counsel of your ministers must be heeded; you must not swim against the tide!"