Chapter 1581 - 1574: The Empress Dies in Battle

Chapter 1581 -1574: The Empress Dies in Battle

She could not be at the front line fighting alongside Qin Rulie. She had to ensure everything in the harem and all the ladies from various families were well taken care of.

Wei Mingze knelt in front of the empress, speaking indifferently: “The traitor was dressed in the rebel’s attire, yet seemed to recognize the Princess as if they knew her. The Princess’s carriage was in the middle of the convoy, but they charged straight towards her carriage.”

Logically, Li Yunshu’s carriage should have been at the head of the convoy and the most ostentatiously eye-catching. Yet the brutal traitors did not charge at Li Yunshu’s carriage; instead, they picked Rong Yun’s carriage in the middle of the procession, which was highly unusual.

“That’s odd indeed!” Qin Ge was puzzled, holding Li Yunshu’s hand with a touch of fear, “If those traitors were truly after the Princess’s life, luckily you, Yunshu, are unharmed!”

Li Yunshu quickly knelt down, saying quietly: “It’s fortunate the coachman whipped the horses to speed towards the palace upon hearing the commotion, otherwise… I’m afraid it would have been me who met with misfortune.”

Her posture was very humble, and her face filled with self-reproach for failing to protect Rong Yun, so she did not arouse any suspicion.

But the empress was wise. With a stern expression, she sat upright in the center, her gaze solemnly fixed on Li Yunshu, “Secondary Consort Li, lately, have there been any new servants in the Scarlet Flame King’s mansion? Their backgrounds, have they been investigated? Who has approached the Princess’s quarters recently? And what about the arrangements for your entry to the palace, how were they made? Tell me everything in detail, Her Majesty wants a clear understanding.”

The empress’s barrage of questions hit Li Yunshu like a ton of bricks, and she took a deep breath.

Rong Yun had already been taken by the Empress Dowager to be rested and settled. Wei Mingze came out and met Nurse Yan, who asked him, “Thank you for your efforts, palace guard. Have you related the assassination attempt to Her Majesty the empress?”

Wei Mingze nodded, “I have said all I should, but Nurse Yan, why not allow me to investigate the assassins? They have left a survivor, and under severe punishment, we would surely extract the mastermind.”

Nurse Yan sadly shook her head with a wry smile, “What’s the use in asking? We haven’t known many people in the Great Wei Dynasty previously, let alone made enemies. How did the rebel traitors single her out? It’s obvious who harbors ill intentions! But now we have no evidence, and even if we did, we cannot act upon it at this critical juncture!

Your Highness is still waging war at the frontline! The emperor himself has set out on a campaign, and now is a critical moment for the Great Wei. The Li family are all on the battlefield, any mishap that jeopardizes the Great Wei will also fail to keep the Princess safe!”

Nurse Yan had survived many years in the harem. By serving alongside Imperial Consort Yu, she had seen even more the connections between the previous dynasties and the harem. Especially now during the war, Beiling City not sending troops to assist was tantamount to Rong Yun’s maternal family not contributing to the Great Wei cause.

And that Li Yunshu… her entire maternal family is fighting for the Great Wei. Who will fight for the Great Wei if Li Yunshu is punished?

Who will support the Great Wei and the emperor?

This time, they, the Princess, could only swallow the bitter pill in silence!

Wei Mingze, hearing Nurse Yan’s analysis, also understood that it made sense, acknowledging that even if they found something now, they could not enforce severe punishment.

He told Nurse Yan, “I will hide this witness in a secluded place, and once Great Wei’s situation is stable, I will report to Your Highness. Moreover, I carry a secret edict from Your Highness; should there be a crisis, I am to mobilize Your Highness’s secret guards to conceal the Princess in a covert location amongst the common folk.”

In Wei Mingze’s hand was a black iron token carved with flames, given to him by Qin Muyan to protect Rong Yun.

Seeing this token, Nurse Yan felt greatly relieved, “Your Highness indeed worries about the Princess!”

With Wei Mingze and this token, Rong Yun’s safety in the war was assured.

But it seemed they had oversimplified the situation; in just five days, rebels had stormed into the imperial city.

The empress urgently dispatched people to arrange for the ladies of the court and those from various families to leave through covert paths, ordering Qin Ge to first escort the Empress Dowager and Rong Yun to safety.

As Rong Yun left, she glanced back at the empress, who had already removed her empress’s phoenix robe and donned a red attire with silver armor, with a sword at her waist, commanding everyone’s actions in the palace with order and precision.

Under her command, the Imperial Guards acted diligently and responsibly.

Rong Yun had already walked a distance away, but worried about the empress, she ran back to her, taking her hand, “Sister-in-law, won’t you come with us?”

The empress was busy, with a thin layer of sweat emerging on her forehead. She looked down at the little girl who was slightly shorter than herself, “Why has the Princess not left yet?”

“Sister-in-law, let me take you with me, let’s go together! Qin Muyan said, you are his best sister-in-law, a family member, and family should always be together! The imperial grandmother is also waiting for us!” Rong Yun looked at her with eyes full of sincerity.

The setting sun was as crimson as blood, the sky ablaze with red, stretching across thousands of miles.

The empress’s face was bathed in a thoroughly red glow as she gently stroked Rong Yun’s cheek, her eyes filled with tenderness, “Jingjing, your sister-in-law is the empress. I need to protect you all and also protect Great Wei’s imperial city on behalf of the emperor. I cannot leave with you.”

“But… Jingjing wants my sister-in-law to be safe.” Rong Yun seemed to sense something, tightly grasping the empress’s hand.

“Your Majesty! The rebels have breached Xihe Gate!”

The Imperial Guards shouted loudly.

The empress’s heart tightened. She instructed her people to escort Rong Yun and, before Rong Yun left, she pressed her forehead against Rong Yun’s and admonished her, “Jingjing, you must protect yourself well. Your sister-in-law will be behind you, fighting off the enemies for you! The future of Great Wei’s realm… is in your and Mu Yan’s hands now!”

“Sister-in-law…”

Rong Yun felt an inexplicable sorrow welling up inside her.

She would never forget, the time the empress sent her away, that heroic silhouette, and her solemn entrustment…

The realm of the Great Wei, handed over to her and Qin Muyan?

They escaped the imperial palace and reached the royal temple designated by the empress. It was still heavily guarded, temporarily assuring the safety of the women. The emperor and Qin Muyan were also on their way back to the capital.

It didn’t take long before Rong Yun heard some news.

The empress, defending the imperial city, died in battle.

“Ah Jiao…”

When the Empress Dowager heard the news, she felt a stifling pressure over her heart and fainting fell straight down.

“Mother!”

Qin Ge was in a frenzy as she took care of the Empress Dowager.

Rong Yun helped along with her, marking the first time in many days that Qin Ge saw Rong Yun doing something. She had always felt that Rong Yun was a pampered lady who could do nothing.

Yet, as Rong Yun cared for the Empress Dowager, she was even more adept than Qin Ge herself.

She stayed with the elderly lady, patting her back, and when nighttime came and the old lady woke up, she even served her some medicinal soup.

With Rong Yun’s company, the Empress Dowager managed to hang on.

Seeing that she was no longer needed here, Qin Ge thought to oversee other matters, to visit the various families’ ladies, but by evening, she suddenly realized, “Where did Li, the secondary consort, go?”

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