In the Elegant Room of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
You Rong had a vague premonition that Huo Guanzhong's invitation today was not quite right. Just as he was about to ask directly, the door to the elegant room was kicked open with a bang. The dark guard leading the way, accompanied by a group of soldiers, barged in and drew their swords, pointing them directly at Huo Guanzhong.
Seeing this, You Rong's expression darkened. "How dare you! What is the meaning of this!"
The dark guard glanced at You Rong, then offered a respectful fist-and-palm salute. "Prime Minister, your subordinate is acting under orders to apprehend the traitor Huo Guanzhong. We hope Prime Minister will not obstruct us!"
You Rong had already guessed something and looked at Huo Guanzhong, asking the dark guard, "What traitor? Do you have proof?!"
The dark guard replied, "Today, His Majesty was ambushed and seriously wounded at the Lake of Matrimony. Some of the assassins were captured alive. The assassins confessed that the mastermind behind this was none other than Princess Chang'an and Huo Guanzhong. We searched the post station and discovered a large amount of evidence of rebellion. Now that we have both witnesses and evidence, your subordinate is ordered to apprehend the accomplice. Please, Prime Minister, do not interfere!"
Huo Guanzhong's face turned ashen; the outcome was clearly beyond his expectations.
You Rong's heart suddenly tightened. He stood up abruptly, "You say His Majesty was ambushed and seriously wounded? How badly is His Majesty injured? Where is His Majesty now? Is His Majesty in the palace?"
"His Majesty has been escorted back to the palace and is being treated by the imperial physicians. Your subordinate is here under orders to arrest him!" The dark guard looked at Huo Guanzhong and said sternly, "Take him down!"
Huo Guanzhong's face was pale, likely realizing his fate once his scheme was exposed. He offered no resistance. The soldiers apprehended him. Before leaving, he cast a complex glance at You Rong and gently shook his head at him.
You Rong paid no mind to the meaning of Huo Guanzhong's final glance. His mind was filled with the news of Lin Qinghe's critical injury, and clenching his fist, he quickly exited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
Outside, You Rong snatched a horse from a soldier, mounted it, and spurred it forward with a loud "Giddy up!", galloping away rapidly.
The soldier whose horse was taken looked at the dark guard in confusion. The dark guard said nothing, patted his shoulder, and gestured for them to continue escorting Huo Guanzhong to the imperial prison.
You Rong rode his horse all the way to the palace gates, dismounted, and hurried towards Changning Palace.
At the entrance to Changning Palace, a group of palace maids and eunuchs were gathered, all looking flustered. You Rong also saw imperial physicians running in and out of the hall.
You Rong's heart sank, and he quickened his pace, attempting to enter the inner hall of Changning Palace, but was stopped by Wang Jiang.
Wang Jiang, with a pale face, said, "Prime Minister You, His Majesty has ordered that no one be seen today except Grand Tutor Xu."
You Rong's expression changed slightly. He asked in a deep voice, "How is His Majesty's condition? What did the imperial physicians say?"
Wang Jiang stammered fearfully, "This... this is not yet known. His Majesty was brought back covered in blood. The imperial physicians have been coming and going, and basins of blood have been carried out one after another..."
As he spoke, an imperial physician, looking flustered, emerged carrying a basin of blood. The blood was dazzlingly red. You Rong's pupils constricted sharply. He stepped forward, grabbed the imperial physician, and asked sternly, "How is His Majesty's injury?"
The imperial physician lowered his head and stammered, "This... His Majesty's injuries are very serious. I fear, I fear... However, all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Office are doing their utmost to treat His Majesty. I believe His Majesty will surely be fine!"
You Rong's heart clenched painfully, and he didn't know where the pain originated.
You Rong pursed his thin lips and instinctively moved to go inside again. Wang Jiang quickly blocked his way. "Prime Minister You, this servant knows you are worried about His Majesty, but His Majesty has ordered that no one be seen today except Grand Tutor Xu. Grand Tutor Xu is already inside with His Majesty. You should wait patiently outside the hall. This servant believes His Majesty will surely be fine..."
You Rong was consumed with anxiety. Several times he tried to enter, but Wang Jiang blocked him, begging him with tears in his eyes. He could only suppress his impatience and wait outside.
You Rong's face hardened, and a sudden thought struck him. He asked Wang Jiang, "His Majesty was ambushed at the Lake of Matrimony?! Why did His Majesty go out of the palace to that place today! Who sent her there!"
Wang Jiang's expression changed. He whispered, "This... Wasn't it Prime Minister You who invited His Majesty to the Lake of Matrimony?"
You Rong froze. "I invited His Majesty to the Lake of Matrimony?"
Wang Jiang nervously replied, "Yes, this morning, a servant from the Prime Minister's residence delivered a post, stating that Prime Minister You was inviting His Majesty to the Lake of Matrimony for an outing. Upon hearing this, His Majesty was overjoyed and specifically ordered the palace maids to prepare her attire before rushing to the meeting. She didn't even bring any Imperial Guards. Otherwise... how could His Majesty have been ambushed and so gravely injured by assassins!"
You Rong's body stiffened abruptly, and he quickly understood.
Why had his master specifically invited him to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion for a casual gathering today, and why had he seemed distracted and preoccupied during their conversation?
It was all for this!
That invitation must have been sent to Lin Qinghe by someone impersonating him, all to lure her out of the palace for assassins to ambush and assassinate her!
His master knew Lin Qinghe liked him. If he sent the invitation, Lin Qinghe would surely not be suspicious and would fall for it. She went joyfully to the meeting, only to be brought to the brink of death...
You Rong tightly pursed his thin lips, leaving only a shallow line. His handsome face was so cold it could nearly freeze.
Master and Princess Chang'an... what a brilliant scheme!
Inside the Hall of Changning Palace.
Outside, Lin Qinghe, who was believed to be gravely injured from the ambush, was sitting on a soft couch, sipping tea with a smile. She listened to Grand Tutor Xu report on the capture of Lin Zhilan and others. Meanwhile, over a dozen imperial physicians stood by, looking at each other in bewilderment as palace maids and eunuchs bustled in and out of the room.
His Majesty had ordered them to wait here and had spread the news of her being seriously injured. They didn't know why, but they dared not ask further and simply stayed put.
As expected, Lin Qinghe heard the system's prompt: "Progress increased by ten percent, total progress is forty-four percent."
Lin Qinghe raised an eyebrow, her lips curling upwards.
When she had heard You Rong arrive earlier, she had made Wang Jiang deliver that fabricated story. He should now know that Huo Guanzhong and Lin Zhilan had used him to lure her out, and that she had been ambushed and was now in critical condition.
With the progress bar already increased by over thirty percent, she didn't believe You Rong would not feel guilty and remain unfazed.
A sharp glint flashed in Lin Qinghe's eyes.
Now came the main act for her performance!
Lin Qinghe withdrew her thoughts and said to Grand Tutor Xu, "Everything is in your hands, Grand Tutor Xu. Remember to have Lin Zhilan and the others imprisoned in the imperial prison. Apart from you, no one else is to inquire about them!"
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This old minister understands." Grand Tutor Xu looked at the situation inside the hall with slight bewilderment. "Your Majesty, what is this..."
Lin Qinghe smiled at him. "Grand Tutor Xu, please do not concern yourself with these matters. I have my own plans. You may withdraw for now. I wish to see Prime Minister You."
Grand Tutor Xu likely guessed what Lin Qinghe intended to do. He looked at her with an expression of disappointment, wanting to speak but refraining. Finally, he sighed, said nothing further, and left.
Very well. If His Majesty liked You Rong, then so be it. Let her have her way. With her current schemes and stratagems, she likely wouldn't let herself suffer any losses.