As Empress Sun, carrying poisonous powder, prepared to kill Emperor Xuande, many eunuchs, attendants, and a few Eastern Depot guards under her command stormed into Changan Palace.
They had even approached the inner chambers.
And appeared before Ding Yun.
“By Empress’s imperial decree, the deposed Empress Hu, ungrateful for His Majesty’s immense favor, has used witchcraft in Changan Palace to curse His Majesty’s imperial body. Her crimes are heinous and she must confess and accept execution. Should she refuse, her entire clan shall be exterminated for her ten unforgivable sins!”
“Deposed Empress Hu, why do you not confess and submit!”
After the leading personal female official of Empress Sun finished speaking, the guards by her side drew their Xiu Chun sabers.
The implication was clear: they intended to force Ding Yun to confess.
Threatening Ding Yun’s entire clan.
Of course, whether Ding Yun confessed or not, they had no intention of letting her live. Confessing meant immediate execution, refusing meant resisting and being killed on the spot.
“Heh, her guts are quite bold.
Even more so than I imagined. Not only did she spy on the Emperor’s movements, but she also eavesdropped on our conversation. It’s a pity she chose the wrong opponent. How can mere mortals contend with me?”
Although Ding Yun wasn’t privy to every detail of Empress Sun’s scheme, she understood it for the most part. She didn’t stop it because she wanted to see how far her daring would go. This way, it would not only reveal Empress Sun’s audacity to Emperor Xuande and Empress Dowager Zhang but also allow her to showcase her current abilities in a natural and logical manner.
Therefore, after chuckling, she waved her hand and activated the vine seeds she had planted nearby. Instantly, countless vines sprouted and grew rapidly, like green serpents, binding everyone who had entered the inner chamber, especially those holding swords.
“What is this?”
“Sorcery, sorcery, this is sorcery!”
“Help, there’s a monster, a monster!”
…
Perhaps it was the preconception of witchcraft, or perhaps it was because they were on opposing sides. The first reaction of those bound by the vines was not to encounter an immortal, but a monster.
Conversely, the palace maids and eunuchs in Changan Palace.
All prostrated themselves before the immortal master, praying for peace.
“Heaven has compassion for all life. Considering you are not the masterminds, I shall spare your lives for now. Please, stay here for the time being.
If there are any who continue to resist fiercely, do not blame me if these vines take root within you and drain your marrow.
Do not say I did not warn you!”
“Also, Furong and Cuiping, you two get up and guard this place for now. If any new dangers approach, you can tell the vines directly. They will help you. Don’t worry about any danger.”
“Shunde and Yongqing, you two come with me!”
Ding Yun first warned those guards who were still struggling, then instructed her personal female officials and the like. Finally, she took her two daughters, not entirely at ease, and pulled them towards Qianqing Palace. It wasn't that she wanted to show off; it was primarily because she was worried she wouldn't have enough time to save them if she walked.
She currently had no means to resurrect the dead.
Therefore, to save Emperor Xuande, the prerequisite was that he must still be alive. If he were dead, even with her cultivation, she couldn't help him for now.
By the time Ding Yun flew to Qianqing Palace, she could already see the chaos. The few guards brought by the Empress Dowager had long been completely suppressed by the Empress’s forces. Inside, Empress Sun had also succeeded. Although Emperor Xuande was weak, he couldn’t stop coughing up blood. Another moment of coughing and he would likely die.
As for Empress Dowager Zhang, she was still unaware of the full extent of the situation, loudly berating the imperial physicians as useless and urging the person sent to fetch Immortal Master Jingci, Ding Yun, to hurry back.
Only Empress Sun, who believed victory was assured, stood by the side with an obscure and uncertain expression. She had just remembered that she had been placed under a silence curse. If she killed the deposed Empress Hu, she wondered if the curse would be lifted. If not, wouldn't she be mute for life?
Thinking this, her previously extremely joyful mood.
Became somewhat gloomy.
Seeing this, Ding Yun immediately pulled her two daughters and, disregarding the screams and prostrations of those below, flew into the inner chamber. She landed beside Empress Dowager Zhang and, with another flick of her hand, sent out a wave of green life energy to remove the poison from Emperor Xuande’s body. Simultaneously, she turned and said:
“Sun clan, you must be very surprised, right?
Did you think you could destroy me by sending some people and guards to attack my Changan Palace and accuse me of witchcraft? You underestimate me too much!”
“By the way, you just poisoned His Majesty.
So you still intend to assassinate the Emperor and become Empress Dowager?”
When Ding Yun appeared, Empress Sun was already terrified. Even more so when she uttered these words. Empress Dowager Zhang and Emperor Xuande were not foolish. They quickly reacted and understood that what Ding Yun said was likely true.
They immediately glared at Empress Sun with burning eyes.
Empress Dowager Zhang even couldn't help but curse loudly.
She unleashed every foul word she knew.
Since the matter had been exposed, Ding Yun did not continue to kick someone when they were down or exaggerate.
Instead, she directly looked at Emperor Xuande and asked:
“How is it? Have you considered it?”
“I agree!
However, deposing the Crown Prince will likely be met with resistance from the officials. It cannot be done in a short period, so I need time!”
Emperor Xuande immediately agreed but specifically pointed out that deposing the Crown Prince would take time. The implication was that he hoped Ding Yun would heal him first, and then he would depose the Crown Prince. Otherwise, he feared he wouldn't live long enough to do so.
“Deposing the Crown Prince earlier would have been difficult. Now, with Empress Sun, a mother who attempted to assassinate the Emperor, as a witness, deposing the Crown Prince should not be as difficult.”
“However, I can also heal you first.”
“Whether you keep your promise depends on you.”
Ding Yun stated her attitude pointedly, then, in two steps, walked up to Emperor Xuande and placed her palm on his chest. Instantly, countless green life energy surged into his body.
Helping him expel the illness and prolong his life.
However, Ding Yun did not extend his lifespan by much, only adding twenty years before releasing her hand:
“I have extended your life by another twenty years. As for more, Heaven’s will does not permit it, and there may be divine retribution.
Therefore, this is all I can do.”
This was, of course, a lie, but now she held the upper hand, so the words were hers to say.
Whatever she said was true.
While Emperor Xuande felt his body recover and felt comfortable, he continuously pondered Ding Yun’s words. The more he thought, the more he felt that Empress Sun’s actions were all within Ding Yun’s predictions, perhaps even intentionally guided by her to reduce the difficulty of deposing the Crown Prince.
And it would kill two birds with one stone.
Incidentally, it would force him to depose Empress Sun, as she harbored intentions of regicide. Even if he didn’t want to depose her.
His mother would not agree.
Thinking this, he not only found Empress Sun to be a stranger but also found his deposed Empress Hu to be equally strange. It seemed both of them were far more cunning than he had imagined, and neither was to be trifled with.
His emperorship was almost played with in their hands.
He still needed to rely on the deposed Empress Hu for now.
He wasn't even sure if he could deal with her.
Therefore, he could only vent the repressed anger of this period entirely onto Empress Sun, who had tried to kill him.
So, in the next second, he immediately got out of bed.
He sent for the Grand Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, and the Chief of the Eastern Depot, ordering them to control the Empress, take over the entire palace, and conduct a thorough purge.