Meanwhile, Dan Rong’s sleeping quarters suddenly caught fire. The blaze was immense, quickly engulfing the entire chamber.
Watching the flames erupt from her chambers, Dan Rong, her hair singed and curled, patted her chest, feeling a lingering sense of dread.
"Sister-in-law, no, elder sister! Thank you! If not for you, it might have been this Imperial Princess trapped in the inferno now!"
Receiving a reminder from Xiao Shaozi, Qiao Ci arrived in time and rescued Dan Rong, who had nearly burned to death.
It seemed Qiao Shan had indeed incited Dan Yue to rebel.
"Go and see your Father Empress and Mother Empress."
If they were to attempt a coup, they wouldn't have prepared only this. The key point was the Empress.
Dan Rong, not understanding why, hurried to Fengyi Palace to check on her Father Empress. She found him safe and sound. Her Mother Empress was staying the night with Lord Liu, and she hesitated whether to disturb them.
Xu Qingfeng, feeling downcast because the Empress was staying with another consort, immediately straightened up upon seeing his daughter suddenly appear. "What is it that makes you so flustered?"
"Father Empress, my sleeping quarters suddenly caught fire. It doesn't seem like a natural disaster, but more like someone deliberately caused it. Fortunately, someone came and saved me. You almost wouldn't have seen me again." Dan Rong still felt a lingering fear.
She remembered Qiao Ci's words and did not reveal her rescuer.
"What?" Xu Qingfeng exclaimed, standing up. Then he said sternly, "How long ago did the fire start?"
"About half an hour ago," Dan Rong replied blankly.
"After so long, why has there been no word here? Xia Ye!" Xu Qingfeng instantly sensed something was wrong.
Xia Ye quickly went out to ask, and indeed, no one had received any news about the First Princess's quarters catching fire.
Xu Qingfeng's temples throbbed, his gaze sharp. "It seems someone deliberately blocked the news."
"Let's go. Follow Father Empress to find your Mother Empress."
Xu Qingfeng dressed and walked quickly ahead, Dan Rong hastily following.
They arrived at Jiaoshu Palace.
Knowing that the Empress, who was so affectionate with him, would also favor other men, Xu Qingfeng couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness when he saw Xia Ye, the Empress's personal maid, standing outside the sleeping quarters.
"May I trouble Grand Aunt to inform the Empress? This consort has urgent matters to report." He wasn't sure if there was any personal motive at this moment. Upon learning that Dan Rong had nearly been burned to death, he wanted to go and tell the Empress immediately, not wanting to wait a moment longer.
"Reporting to Imperial Husband, Her Majesty the Empress has already retired. You should come tomorrow," Xia Ye replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly. She showed no deference to Xu Qingfeng's status as Imperial Husband, but a fleeting hint of surprise flickered in her eyes when she saw the unharmed Dan Rong.
"When has Mother Empress ever retired so early? Moreover, I told you to report it, so go in. What are you babbling about? Do you think you are the master?" Seeing Xia Ye's attitude, Dan Rong's anger flared.
This maid, relying on her past merits of saving the sovereign, had always been arrogant. Only Lord Liu of this palace could make her slightly different, as they were cousins!
"The Empress has ordered that today she will share family joy with Lord Liu and the First Prince. No one is to disturb them." Xia Ye's expression remained unchanged, her attitude firm, refusing entry!
Xu Qingfeng, with his sharp mind, detected something unusual from her unyielding stance. He cast a subtle glance at the brightly lit Jiaoshu Palace and smiled gracefully. "Since that is the case, then tomorrow."
Saying so, he gestured to the still grumbling Dan Rong and turned to leave.
Dan Rong glared at Xia Ye, the dog servant who didn't know her place, and followed Xu Qingfeng.
The head maid watched them go far away, then instructed the nearby maids to guard the place, and unhurriedly entered the sleeping chambers.
Upon returning to Fengyi Palace, Xu Qingfeng said with a heavy expression, "Your Mother Empress might be in trouble."
"What?" Dan Rong's eyes widened.
"Your Empress has excellent hearing. Given your volume just now, she must have heard you. I told you I had urgent matters to seek her out for. Moreover, I was present. Even if she wanted to enjoy family bliss, she wouldn't completely disregard my feelings." Xu Qingfeng's gaze darkened.
He recalled that Dan Yue had also entered the palace today, and this Dan Yue had been active everywhere recently.
"Your meaning is that Mother Empress might be held hostage?" Dan Rong exclaimed in surprise. "How dare they!"
"I hope I am overthinking things. It is not advisable to alert them now. We still need to investigate the situation inside Jiaoshu Palace. This consort cannot wait until tomorrow. Have your spies investigate.
No, you go find Qiao Ci. Her martial arts are superb. If there is any dangerous situation, she can probably mitigate it in time." Xu Qingfeng's mind was in disarray. Many forces could not be moved; moving one would affect the whole. Given the unknown outcome, it was better to be cautious.
Hearing that they were to find Qiao Ci, Dan Rong immediately perked up and quickly sent someone to invite her.
Jiaoshu Palace.
Seeing that Xu Qingfeng had been sent away, Lord Liu's heart finally relaxed. Then he looked at Dan Yue and asked, "What do we do next? Father is doing something that could cost him his head, and you won't reveal a little more?"
"My wife said that the next step is her operation. Father, you can rest assured. My wife is ambitious and wise. She will surely persuade Mother Empress to abdicate peacefully."
Liu Ruyi was truly going mad. Incited by his son, he had actually committed such a treasonous act.
But the conditions Dan Yue offered were too tempting. As long as the deed was done, the Empress would be exclusively his, and he wouldn't have to share her with other men.
He loved the Empress too much, and for this, he was willing to stake the future of the entire Liu Mansion.
Looking at the Empress, whose hands and feet were bound, lying on the bed, Liu Ruyi's eyes were filled with madness.
The cloth gag was removed from her mouth. The Empress looked at the audacious individuals with immense dignity. "Are you sure you want to rebel?"
"How can this be called rebellion?"
At this moment, a female voice echoed from beneath the ground.
Then, under the Empress's obscure gaze, Qiao Shan emerged from a secret passage and walked directly before her, continuing, "It's just that Her Majesty the Empress has suddenly fallen ill and will not live long. Out of gratitude for the First Prince's diligent study, virtuous character, and his being a hundred times more stable than the First Princess, he is more suited to be the ruler of Feng Country!"
"Her Majesty the Empress, if you obediently abdicate and yield, I will give you the antidote and let you live out your days in peace. If you remain obstinate, I have plenty of means to change the face of this Dan Country!"
Qiao Shan had read so many novels. She hadn't learned much about literary expression, but she had grasped the essence of many despicable palace intrigues. She felt that dealing with a mere Empress was more than enough.
"Traitor!" The Empress showed no panic in her expression.
"Aren't you afraid? Do you know that the poison you were given is the Hundred Poisons Pill? It does not cause immediate death. This poison will corrode your internal organs. Your internal organs will slowly rot, causing more pain each day until..." Qiao Shan observed the Empress's expression with every word she spoke. This feeling of being the butcher and the knife was so exhilarating.
Qiao Ci arrived and saw Qiao Shan speaking perverted words with a look of enjoyment on her face.
Without a second word, she punched her and knocked her out. Then, with a thick rope, she bound her in a rather shameful position.