"Your Majesty, there's something fishy about this!"

"You've been searching for Consort Ying's whereabouts for so long, and have received almost no response. But this time, the villains who imprisoned Consort Ying have suddenly sent a message..."

"Your subordinate believes this is definitely a trap!"

Jiang Chen's face was gloomy, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Of course I know this, but these guys are using a conspiracy in broad daylight!"

"They're using Xu Jiaying's life as bait. Even if I know it's a trap, I have to charge in!"

Hearing this, a trace of difficulty appeared on Jing Yue's cold and beautiful face.

In her opinion, Jiang Chen's safety was paramount. A mere Xu family member was not qualified to have Jiang Chen risk his life.

Although rescuing her was necessary for the sake of the royal family's reputation, the prerequisite was to ensure Jiang Chen's safety. If Xu Jiaying was going to put Jiang Chen in danger, Jing Yue would rather let Xu Jiaying die right now!

"Jing Yue, what do you think? Could these mysterious people who imprisoned Jiaying be the accomplices of Mei Wenshi hiding behind the scenes?"

"Besides them, I really can't think of anyone else who would go to such lengths to deal with me!"

Jing Yue's pretty face showed a thoughtful expression, and she said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in your subordinate's opinion, we can't jump to conclusions yet."

"Your safety is of utmost importance, so we can't be too careful. As for Consort Ying, my suggestion is to remain calm for now."

"Since those people want to use her to restrain Your Majesty, they will definitely ensure her safety before achieving their goal. So the most important thing now is to find their whereabouts before they take action... and then..."

As she spoke, Jing Yue made a cutting motion, her eyes stern.

"Yes, you're right. I can't be impulsive right now."

Jiang Chen nodded, took a deep breath, and suppressed the anger in his heart. "We'll discuss this matter further at the Hall of Diligent Governance later. I'll deal with those negligent wastes first!"

With that, his eyes flashed with a grim light again, and he looked at the trembling spy on the ground. "You, get over here!"

"I gave you so many people and privileges, but you still couldn't find any news about the Consort. A bunch of useless trash! What use are you to me?!"

"All of you will be demoted by one rank and fined a year's salary. Those with official positions will each receive fifty strokes of the board!"

"Also, these are just temporary punishments. If anything happens to Consort Ying, all of you will be buried with her!"

Jiang Chen's handsome face seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, and there was no warmth in his eyes as he looked at the spy.

Seeing this, even Jing Yue didn't dare to persuade him further, and just signaled to the spy with her eyes to retreat quickly and not stay here to offend His Majesty.

After reprimanding his subordinates, the pent-up anger in Jiang Chen's heart lessened a lot, and his face barely returned to normal. He waved his sleeve and left, heading to a place more suitable for discussion.

Half an incense stick later, Hall of Diligent Governance.

Jiang Chen dismissed everyone else, leaving only Jing Yue, Feng Jin, and other trusted ministers by his side.

He began, "I think Xu Jiaying's matter is inseparable from those rebels."

"Thinking carefully, it was very strange that she was able to successfully escape from the palace after releasing Mei Ruoying. Someone in this palace must have been helping her, otherwise how could the daughter of a disgraced official have such great ability!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jing Yue and Feng Jin both fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Feng Jin seemed to have thought of something, and frowned, "Your Majesty, do you mean that this matter was done by Empress Dowager Lu?"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen shook his head with a cold face. "It's not her."

"Although I really want to find evidence of this woman's disloyalty and take her down, this time, it's probably not her doing."

A gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and Jiang Chen explained, "During this period, Lu Wangshu has been under my surveillance and has no opportunity to communicate with the outside world at all."

"If she was the mastermind behind Xu Jiaying's disappearance, the hidden guards lurking in Changle Palace would have reported to me, and there would have been some news, but there hasn't been any."

"So, I think that rather than Lu Wangshu, it is more likely that her accomplices imprisoned Jiaying. Instead of monitoring her, the already exposed Empress Dowager, I prefer to focus my attention on Mei Ruoying and those few princes in the capital."

Jiang Chen's reasoned analysis convinced the two of them.

Feng Jin stopped speaking, afraid of leading Jiang Chen's thoughts astray.

Jing Yue pondered for a moment, and said coldly, "Your Majesty, according to what you mean, this conspiracy was planned by the princes? But what is their purpose in doing so?"

"Although Consort Ying has a noble status, she is still just the daughter of a disgraced official. Later, she also defected from the palace and committed a serious crime. What value can such a woman have?"

Jiang Chen had completely calmed down at this time. After a little thought, he analyzed the purpose of the people behind the scenes, and sneered, "Isn't their purpose obvious? The Fengshan Sacrifice at Mount Tai!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a look of shock appeared on both of their faces.

Feng Jin frowned and murmured, "The Fengshan Sacrifice at Mount Tai? But on that day, all the aristocratic ministers and royal family members will be present!"

"There will even be many commoners coming to watch the ceremony and share the good fortune. If an accident occurs during the Fengshan Sacrifice, wouldn't Your Majesty become a laughingstock for the whole world?!"

Jing Yue also thought of this, and her already cold eyes were instantly filled with murderous intent, making people afraid to look at her!

Jiang Chen's reaction was calm. Now that he had guessed the enemy's purpose, the road ahead would be much easier.

He was silent for a moment.

Then, he frowned and said, "Jing Yue, with the support of all the troops in the capital, can you rescue Jiaying before the Fengshan Sacrifice?"

A look of embarrassment appeared on Jing Yue's pretty face, and she said with shame, "Your Majesty, Consort Ying's whereabouts are currently unknown, and your subordinate cannot guarantee it."

Although Jiang Chen had expected this, he still couldn't help but show disappointment in his eyes after hearing the negative answer.

But soon, he adjusted his expression and said solemnly, "Since it's uncertain, then forget it."

"The enemy's target is me. Before they achieve their goal, Jiaying's safety shouldn't be a problem."

"As long as I handle it properly..." A grim murderous intent flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes. "I will definitely be able to save her and make those audacious dogs pay a painful price!"

"Even if it involves the royal family, I will never be soft-hearted. I will let everyone in the world know the price of disobeying me!"

The cold and bloodthirsty words echoed in the empty hall, sending chills down people's spines.

Even someone as cold as Jing Yue and as experienced as Feng Jin couldn't help but shudder at this moment.

When the Son of Heaven is angry, millions of corpses will lie on the ground!

At this moment, they deeply felt that these words were by no means empty!

...

Under the Emperor's will, the entire court was plunged into a frenzy of activity in preparation for the upcoming Fengshan Sacrifice. Many officials were so busy that they slept directly in their offices and didn't even have time to go home.

The dark guards and imperial guards also moved under the leadership of Jing Yue, frantically searching for Xu Jiaying's whereabouts. They did have some gains, but they were not significant enough to launch a rescue.

Facing the upcoming key point of the Fengshan Sacrifice, Jiang Chen was constantly making preparations.

He knew that Xu Jiaying was the breakthrough point for the enemy to launch an attack!