All the way walking towards the inner palace, everywhere she passed was familiar, yet the scenery was different from before. Every plant along the way was freshly pruned and decorated, exquisite glass lamps hung under the eaves, and various screens adorned the doorways. It was clear how much effort Chu Yang had spent for today’s garden outing.
How much manpower and resources had been expended?
But none of this was enough to worry Shang Ruyi. At this moment, her entire being was occupied with another critical life-and-death matter, leaving no room for any distraction.
To be precise, someone is planning to make a move against them.
Last time, the warning she received from that person included a drawing of wheat, a person, and a knife. It was a ploy to make her suspect Yu Wenye, but this time the warning only showed a knife, making the message very obvious.
In Jiangdu Palace, the only ones who could act against her and Chu Yang were the Old Palace Guards and the Imperial Guard.
And the news was sent by Cheng Qiao’s men, so it couldn’t possibly be the Old Palace Guards, leaving only one answer.
Wang Shaoji is about to rebel!
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi felt a chill throughout her body. Although she knew Wang Shaoji to be treacherous and cruel, he had always been Chu Yang’s confidant, favored by the Emperor. She never imagined he would—
Today, Chu Yang arranged a garden outing in the palace, and Wang Shaoji had requested a decree two days ago to not close the gates throughout the palace. This allowed the Imperial Guard to enter and exit freely, making it incredibly easy to execute any plan!
With that in mind, she quickened her pace, walking through the familiar Treasure Bottle Gate.
As she entered, she saw Eunuch Yu.
At this moment, that pale, chubby face, usually smiling, was unusually frantic. Especially upon seeing her, his panic turned into terror. Eunuch Yu hurriedly waved his hand at her, signaling her to leave immediately, as if he wished he could push her miles away.
Eunuch Yu, being in charge of the inner palace eunuchs, considered to be someone who has faced significant events, had never looked this panic-stricken. Has something happened? ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚑𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚑𝙣𝙚𝙩
Shang Ruyi paused, her steps instinctively slowing.
And just then, a voice, crying, came from in front, speaking in panic—
"Your Majesty, this servant truly heard it!"
Shang Ruyi quickly raised her head, only to see behind the maze-like layers of transparent screens, a graceful and idle figure leaning against the massive flower tree, it was Chu Yang. He wore a snowy white long robe, dazzlingly white, making him look like a crystalline translucent spirit made of snow. At this moment, he leaned casually under the tree, with slightly drunken fox-like eyes, watching the person before him.
In front of him, a little palace maid was kneeling.
The little palace maid was still nervously saying, "Your Majesty, this servant truly isn’t lying. The Imperial Guard, they are genuinely planning a rebellion!"
Unexpectedly, before she could speak, someone had already come to report.
So—Eunuch Yu’s reaction was because of this?
Yet, even if the news of the Imperial Guard planning a rebellion had shocked him, why did he look at her with such terror and urgently wanted her to leave?
Shang Ruyi was momentarily perplexed, but this wasn’t the time to ponder much. She focused her gaze ahead, only to see Chu Yang with one hand hanging casually on his knee, head bowed, his crow-feather-like lengthy eyelashes concealing his eyes, making his expression unreadable. After a moment of breath-holding silence, she heard him chuckle lightly.
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, and the next moment, she heard him say, "Someone come."
Immediately, two guards approached, "What are Your Majesty’s orders?"
Chu Yang raised his head, lazily pointing at the little palace maid before him, "Drag this nonsensical, disruptive-to-palace-affairs person away and behead her!"
At these words, everyone was stunned, eyes wide, mouths agape, and the little palace maid was scared witless, hurriedly saying, "Your Majesty, I—I didn’t, I wasn’t speaking nonsense, everything I said is true!"
Shang Ruyi looked at Chu Yang in disbelief.
Someone had come to report the Imperial Guard’s rebellion. Even if he trusted Wang Shaoji implicitly, he should at least inquire into the matter, maybe call Wang Shaoji over to clarify. Why would he order the execution of the reporting person without any question?