Chapter 79
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
In Zhonghe Palace, the shadow of a person was reflected on the polished jade steps. Zhao Heng was listening to the wind and rain beating against the window frames, thinking that if it didn’t stop soon, the eastern part of the city would be flooded tomorrow.
The incense in the golden beast-shaped copper censer had turned to ash, and a eunuch holding an imperial plaque came in quickly and reported, “Minister Wei requests an audience with Your Majesty.”
On a rainy night like this?
“Announce him quickly!”
Wei Che hurriedly entered and paid his respects. He said anxiously, “Someone sent by Duke Dingguo sneaked into the Regent Prince’s mansion to assassinate him, but was captured by the Regent Prince himself. Now, Su Wang has mobilized his troops and is attacking Duke Dingguo’s mansion directly.”
“When did this happen?” Zhao Heng dropped the book in his hand and stood up abruptly.
“Earlier tonight. Now, I come to request Your Majesty’s decision!”
“How could Shen Yin be so foolish?!”
Zhao Heng was so angry that he called out the offender’s name and surname, “Who gave him the courage to act so recklessly?! I detained Li Yi to leave a way out for the Shen family, but he insisted on sending his head as a gift!”
The emperor was furious, but he couldn’t just let go of the situation. Wei Che was waiting for his orders.
“Go quickly to Duke Dingguo’s mansion! See if we can get the person out before Royal Uncle can. With Li Yi in my hands, the Regent will spare Duke Dingguo’s life and come to me for a trade.”
Zhao Heng issued the decree, but his anger had not subsided. He cursed again, “He’s good at causing trouble but not at resolving it!”
The emperor had done all the evil deeds, but at this critical moment, he was about to lose his most reliable support. His own plans had been completely disrupted by Shen Yin. He realized that all the efforts he had put into setting up the situation, capturing people, and suppressing the influence of the princes had been in vain. The regent prince had not even had a chance to break a sweat, and there would be nothing left to restrain him in the future.
Wei Che saw the emperor’s unpleasant expression and didn’t try to comfort him. He quickly went to rescue the person to come back to ease the emperor’s worries.
Zhao Heng watched Wei Che’s back as he left, he had little confidence that this mission would be successful. Trying to rescue someone right under Zhao Yuan’s nose was like trying to snatch food from a tiger’s mouth. Besides, they needed to use this person to trade for Li Yi.
The wind and rain battered the window frames, and thunder rolled by. It was almost three in the morning.
Liu Shunzhong personally brought a bowl of nourishing soup to the emperor, who accepted it slowly with a calm face. He looked out the window and couldn’t help but think that this night was going to be a long one.
Shen Yin understood that Zhao Yuan intended to spare his life in exchange for someone else’s. He immediately thought of Li Yi.
After the massacre, he was surrounded on all sides, but instead of feeling despair, he became clear-headed. Duke Dingguo stood in the rain, his hair sticking to his face.
Shen Yin wiped his face with the rainwater and regained his composure. He couldn’t help but think that he and the Empress Dowager had been wrong from the beginning, and the Emperor had been right.
They had thought of getting rid of Li Yi several times, but they should have caught him earlier.
Now that the princes had fallen, and the Regent had seized all the power, the only person who could check Zhao Yuan was this remnant of the former dynasty. It was a mistake that would cost them dearly.
If the Emperor lost his only leverage over the Regent, what was the point of all the efforts he and the Empress Dowager had made? If they lost this leverage now, as orphans and widows, what would they use to deal with this ambitious Regent?
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager couldn’t afford to lose this leverage!
The night sky was split by a burst of electricity, and Shen Yin’s face was pale as he suddenly yelled and drew his sword…
When Wei Che arrived in a rush, the only sounds were those of him leading his men through the water pond and the rustling of his sword at his waist. There was no other noise in front of Duke Dingguo’s mansion.
Inside the mansion gate, there were still a few Eight Treasures glass lamps in the night rain that had not yet gone out.
Wei Che waved his hand, and the guards split up and entered Duke Dingguo’s mansion through the corridors, courtyards, and east and west halls.
Along the way, there were corpses everywhere, some hanging from the eaves, some lying randomly in the rooms, some lying dead in the courtyard, and a few survivors in the corners with grim wounds, wondering if they could hold on until dawn.
The rain was so heavy that it could not wash away all the bloodstains in the mansion, creating a surreal scene in the dim light.
Wei Che passed through the second gate and saw Su Wang, who had already dismounted and was standing in the front open space.
Seeing the arrival of Wei Che and the guards, Zhou Yi waved his hand to clear a path. The soldiers stepped aside layer by layer, and Wei Che passed through the sea of people and saw the body lying there.
Duke Dingguo died holding his long sword on this rainy night.
Shen Yin was actually dead.
Wei Che walked a few steps to Su Wang’s side. He only glanced at the body and understood that Shen Yin had committed suicide.
He closed his eyes and couldn’t express the feeling in his heart.
Zhao Yuan had already turned and left, but before he left, he paused and said to Wei Che, “Although Shen Yin wanted to kill me, he was loyal and brave to the emperor. Since he has committed suicide, I have no intention of punishing his family.”
Wei Che nodded. With these words from the Regent, the officials of the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment would let the matter go.
Zhao Heng waited quietly until the second half of the night. He never expected to hear such news. He waved everyone away wearily and had Wei Che fill in all the details of the night.
Wei Che spoke until dawn, but he hesitated when he looked at the emperor, unsure of what to say.
Zhao Heng supported his heavy head and reached out his hand towards Wei Che.
Wei Che stepped forward and used the force of his palm to push against the back of the emperor’s neck. The warm touch of his fingertips covered the emperor’s shoulder and neck, relieving the fatigue. Zhao Heng closed his eyes and exhaled softly.
“Speak.”
Wei Che lowered his voice and said, “Duke Dingguo not only wanted Your Majesty to keep your means of leverage, he completely severed any connection to Li Yi’s murder. Even if the Regent investigates further, it won’t implicate the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is safe, and everything remains under Your Majesty’s control.”
Zhao Heng let out a long sigh and said, “If only I had known this day would come, why did it have to be like this in the beginning?”
The next morning, the Emperor spread the word that the Duke of Dingguo had died suddenly, and asked the Ministry of Rites to prepare a loyal and brave posthumous title.
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
