Luo Yan went back and asked his people.
But the envoys said they had only been studying Fengqi Stateâs female-dominated culture and didnât kill anyone. They were here on no other mission, either.
Luo Yan was at least a prince, so the envoys wouldnât lie to him.
So they had nothing to do with that General Songâs death.
Luo Yan sent this news to Ming Shu, then left the imperial capital with the envoys.
Something big was going to happen here. He didnât make any progress, so he didnât need to stay longer.
Although Shen Yu was a little skeptical of the envoys, she had no reason to make them stay. After all, the envoys were not allowed to be killed even if two countries were at war.
Not to mention that Beiyue State came with sincere intentions this time.
Shen Yu didnât want to get herself involved in another matter when the matter in her own turf was still unsettled.
After sending away Beiyue Stateâs envoys, Shen Yu and Elder Feng shut themselves in the study and had a discussion. âElder Feng, have you found General Songâs commanderâs seal?â
Elder Feng shook her head. âYour Majesty, Iâve sent people to search the place yet found nothing.â
Shen Yu frowned. âDo you think the prime minister mansion did it or not?â
â...Itâs hard to say. Although General Song wrote down Jing Seâs name before her death, there is a certain probability that it was just framing. The prime minister mansion had been keeping their heads low lately and letting the people outside curse around.â
âPerhaps it is she who did it?â
âYour Majesty, the prime minister... I donât think she is the kind of person who will remain silent after having done something big. Most likely she didnât do it.â
With her power, even if she admitted she did it, what could they do to her?
âThen who did it? Whereâs the commanderâs seal?â
The commanderâs seal of the late General Song could mobilize three armies, including the military camp stationed outside the imperial capital... If it was held by someone who had no good intentions toward Fengqi, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Elder Feng also didnât know what the situation was.
Shen Yu was angered almost to madness.
Duanmu Shu was still kept in the prime minister mansion, she didnât know how he was doing now.
She didnât get rid of Jing Se, and now even encountered such a sudden problem.
âSend my order to the military camp. Tell them, without my permission, even if they are presented with the commanderâs seal, they are not allowed to take action. Close the city gate first, only out and no in. Also, tell the imperial guards to stay alert, put more people on the patrols and do patrols more frequently.â
Shen Yu gave her orders to Elder Feng.
âYes.â
...
Ming Shu thought the party behind this wouldnât wait long. Because the attention on her wouldnât last long.
The people surrounded the outside of the prime minister mansion and wanted to create a disturbance, but as long as Ming Shu ignored them, there wouldnât be any great chaos.
The people still needed to live their lives, so not many of them stayed out there very long.
Jing Yu had become quite cool about it, and would still report to Ming Shu. âLady, I found some people mixed in the crowd, deliberately inciting them.â
âSounds very organized and disciplined!â Ming Shu bit into the newly cooked fried fish. âThey are so powerful.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
â...â Is it the time to praise the enemy?
They were the victims!
Why did it seem as if they really had done the deed?
Ming Shu waved the fried fish in the air. âFor all their hard work, why donât you invite them in for a chat?â
Jing Yu: â...â
Jing Yu sneaked into the crowd and caught two people, then returned quietly.
Ming Shu thought Jing Yu was a greater talent than believed.
She needed to brainwash her more, then they would surely dominate together in the future!
The two who were caught acted very innocent and with a strong sense of justice. âWhat are you holding me for? Let me tell you, I wonât give in to you scum!â
âRight, do you think weâre afraid of you? You killed General Song, even if we die, we will seek justice for General Song.â
âOkay, Jing Yu, as they wish.â Ming Shu waved her hand.
This time Jing Yu was quite cooperative.
She drew out her sword and put it against one of the twoâs neck.
The personâs expression suddenly turned gloomy and she stopped yelling about justice.
How was it different from what they thought?
They were going to get killed right away?
...
The imperial capital clamored for a day, but at night it quieted down and the people fell asleep.
Tonight was especially quiet, as if even the cicadas made no sound.
The city gates were being opened now.
Through the weak light, some soldiers could be seen lying on the ground inside the gate.
They were the soldiers guarding the city.
But those who opened the gates wore the same clothes as these soldiers.
They opened the gates. Outside were soldiers in armor, and in front were generals on horseback.
The gates opened, a general on horseback waved, and the soldiers filed into every street of the imperial city.
One of the generals on horseback stopped before those who had opened the city gate and asked in a low voice, âAll done?â
âRest assured, Lady, weâve put medicine in the main water source of the imperial capital. There is no guarantee that everyone will be poisoned, but most people will. The main resistance should be the imperial guards in the palace, and the rest should not be feared.â
The general nodded. âWell done, youâll all get rewards when we return.â
Those people were overjoyed. âThank you, Lady.â
The general marched into the city with the troops behind her. The rest of the army poured into the other streets, but they went straight to the palace.
The screams of the people gradually sounded, awakening the old city from sleep.
The heavy palace gates were rudely flung open. Faced with the menacing and well-equipped cavalry, the imperial guards were steadily losing ground.
Shen Yu was awakened from a nightmare.
She woke up to hear that the imperial capital had been occupied by unknown troops, which had now entered the palace.
âWho is it? Who are they?â Shen Yu grabbed the person who reported the news to her. âWhy didnât you know they were even in the city? What were you doing?!
âIs it the prime minister? Is it Jing Se? Is it her? Answer me, are you mute!?â
âNo... Weâre not clear who it is. The imperial guards are fending against them in the front. Your Majesty, weâd better retreat first.â
The other party was approaching with a menacing manner. Even the well-trained imperial guards could just barely stop them, but now they were about to lose all ground.
Shen Yu wasnât even dressed properly when she was taken away by her people.
Shen Yu wasalmost in a trance. She snatched the throne from the late empress...
Now she was giving it to someone else she didnât even know?
No!
âAsk the army outside the city to rescue their empress, you stop them first. Iâm not leaving, do you hear me, Iâm not leaving!â
Shen Yu broke free from the people who were pulling her and strode back.
âYour Majesty...â
âYour Majesty, itâs very dangerous. Letâs retreat first.â
âYour Majesty...â
Shen Yu also knew that it was not the right time to go back, but she couldnât let herself not even know the enemyâs name.
Regardless of their insistence, Shen Yu went back and arrived at the battleground. The other party had come to Qiankun Palace.
The imperial guards were fighting against those people.
Those people were all wearing armor, but there was no special mark on the armor to identify them.
âShen Yu is over there!â
Someone shouted.
Then immediately, some of the troops which were fighting against the imperial guards rushed over to Shen Yu.
The people around Shen Yu covered for her and helped her retreat, but apparently it was too late.
Shen Yu was surrounded.