Yuan Chun Palace.
For the past few days, all the assassins sent to kill You Rong had vanished without a trace, as if sinking into the sea. Consort Xiao was so furious her face was contorted.
Consort Xiao slammed her palm on the table, suppressing the surging anger in her chest. "You Rong truly has remarkable methods! I thought he had only just regained his senses a few days ago. Now it seems he recovered long ago and has been plotting in the shadows for an unknown duration to seize your position as Crown Prince."
You Jing's expression was also grim. Originally, most of the forces in the court supported him. After You Rong regained his senses, most court officials immediately defected to You Rong. Now, everyone in court knew that he was merely the Crown Prince in name.
"Mother Consort, it seems assassinating You Rong is no easy feat. What should be our next move?"
Consort Xiao's face was grim. After a long silence, a sharp glint appeared in her eyes, and she made a resolute decision.
Consort Xiao pulled You Jing closer and whispered, "You go out of the palace to find your maternal uncle, have him contact the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards... We will launch a coup three days from now to seize the throne!"
You Jing's eyes widened in shock. "Mother Consort, this... rebellion is a grave crime! We cannot..."
"Silence!" Consort Xiao said sternly. "Since ancient times, it has been the victor who is king. If you raise an army and launch a coup and seize the throne, you will go down in history. But if you continue to hesitate, You Rong will sooner or later snatch your position as Crown Prince, and you will never be an emperor in this lifetime. Do you understand?"
You Jing was still hesitant. Consort Xiao, frustrated by his lack of progress, scolded, "Jing'er! Don't you understand yet? You Rong already knows that we were behind the last assassination. We have no retreat. It is a fight to the death with him. If you continue to hesitate, we will only meet a dead end! Now is the time to gamble... Our chances of winning are greater, do you understand!"
You Jing frowned, his expression complicated.
Without Consort Xiao needing to say anything, he understood the gravity of the situation.
You Jing gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and said, "Yes, Mother Consort, your son will follow your arrangements!" Sudan Novels.
Consort Xiao nodded with satisfaction. "That's right, Jing'er. My life's efforts are all on you. You must ascend to the throne!"
"Yes, Mother Consort, your son will not fail your expectations!" You Jing replied.
"Good, go make arrangements quickly. Things are progressing well."
"Yes, your son will take his leave."
Watching You Jing's retreating back, Consort Xiao's gaze gradually turned fierce.
To ensure her son ascended the throne, she would do anything, no matter the cost!
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The next evening, at Prince Rong's mansion.
Lin Qinghe and You Rong were about to rest when Fusheng came to report that his subordinates had important information. You Rong, unable to rest, hurried to the study.
Lin Qinghe lay alone on the bed, unable to sleep. She kept her eyes open, waiting for You Rong's return. It wasn't until midnight that the door to the room was pushed open. Hearing the movement, Lin Qinghe sat up abruptly.
"Your Highness, you're back?"
You Rong, seeing that Lin Qinghe was still awake, was taken aback. He took off his outer robe, walked over, took Lin Qinghe's hand, and kissed it. "Didn't I tell you to go to sleep first and not wait for me?"
Lin Qinghe shook her head. "It's alright, I'm not sleepy anyway..." She took a closer look at You Rong's expression. "The important news that Steward Fu mentioned earlier, does it concern Consort Xiao and the Crown Prince?"
You Rong nodded. "That's right. The spy I placed in the Eastern Palace just sent word that You Jing summoned his maternal uncle, Minister Lin, overnight, and then sent a letter to Deputy Commander Gao Yao of the Imperial Guards. They intend to... lead troops in a rebellion."
Lin Qinghe was not surprised that Consort Xiao and You Jing would rebel. She even knew this was You Rong's doing.
Lin Qinghe blinked her eyes and asked again, "Consort Xiao and the Crown Prince are leading troops in a rebellion. Then, Your Highness... what do you plan to do?"
You Rong raised his eyebrows slightly and asked in return, "How do you think this Consort would act?"
Lin Qinghe pondered for a moment and said, "Observe the situation, then trap them like a turtle in a jar, catching them red-handed. With irrefutable evidence, they will surely have no escape!"
You Rong smiled upon hearing this, playfully pinching Lin Qinghe's nose. "Consort is truly intelligent. You've seen through all my plans."
"But..." Lin Qinghe still had a question. "The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards is someone within the palace. The Emperor must be aware of any stirrings within the palace. Could it be that before Consort Xiao and the Crown Prince even launch their rebellion, the Emperor already knows?"
If so, their rebellion would likely end before it even began.
You Rong curled his lips into a half-smile. "No. I will naturally find ways to keep it from Father Emperor, so that their rebellion 'succeeds' as planned."
You Rong knew that the Emperor had been having Consort Xiao and You Jing watched these past few days, fearing they would try to harm him again. If he hadn't intentionally allowed it, the Emperor would have known about the assassinations long ago. He had to find a way to blind the Emperor's spies to lure Consort Xiao and You Jing into the trap he had meticulously laid.
Lin Qinghe was not foolish. Upon hearing You Rong's words, she immediately guessed most of it.
Alright, from the moment You Rong regained his senses, she had silently lit a candle for Consort Xiao and the Crown Prince, and it was not misplaced.
You Rong embraced Lin Qinghe and lay down, pulling the quilt to cover her. He said softly, "Alright, there's no need to worry. I have everything arranged. It's getting late, rest quickly."
Lin Qinghe had nothing else to worry about. She closed her eyes and rested.
Once You Rong dealt with Consort Xiao and You Jing, she believed he would soon ascend the throne, and the characters in this world would be completed soon.
Thinking of this, Lin Qinghe felt a strange emotion, a mixture of reluctance and something else...
Lin Qinghe did not dwell on what it was. She attributed it to the reduced difficulty of this world's mission, causing her to have a comfortable experience, and thus it was normal to feel reluctant.
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Three days later, at night, Qianqing Palace.
The palace was quiet. The palace servants were unaware that a bloody storm was about to descend upon this silent night.
The Nannong Gate was opened, and You Jing, leading fifty thousand Imperial Guards, arrived at Qianqing Palace, surrounding it tightly. He glanced at the general beside him and signaled him forward.
The general understood, bowed respectfully, and stepped forward to pound on the gate of Qianqing Palace with force.
The palace gate opened. Before the young eunuch inside could speak, the general struck him down with a single sword, blood splattering everywhere. The terrified palace servants behind screamed. Those allied with You Jing drew their swords and killed anyone they saw, pressing straight towards the Emperor's sleeping quarters.
Inside the sleeping quarters.
The Chief Eunuch scrambled in, shouting, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty... disaster, Your Majesty..."
The Emperor was startled awake. He lifted the bed curtain and saw the Chief Eunuch fall before him in a disheveled state. The Emperor frowned and sternly asked, "What happened outside? Why are you in such a panic?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, it is... it is His Highness the Crown Prince leading the Imperial Guards in rebellion! They have already broken into Qianqing Palace!"