Chapter 33
Emperor Xiao Yunzhou stood behind the ink bamboo screen in the main hall of Chonghua Palace.
Next to him was Old Master of the Liu Family, who had been summoned to the palace before dawn.
Behind him were Wei Zheng and Pang Rusong, the guard who had saved him previously.
These were all people he trusted.
At this moment, Xiao Yunzhou peered through a small hole in the ink screen, looking at the banquet in the main hall.
The banquet had not yet begun, and not many officials had arrived.
But the palace eunuchs and palace maids were bustling about, darting back and forth in the grand hall.
So although the Supreme Commander Zhang Chen had arrived early, he was not conspicuous.
He soon glanced around, and under the cover of the hurrying palace maids and eunuchs, he signaled to Zheng Eunuch, who was checking the preparations for the wine banquet.
Zheng Eunuch immediately picked up a cup on the table and made a pouring motion.
The two of them completed this action and quickly returned to their respective positions.
One sat down as if nothing had happened, while the other went back to the front study room.
Standing behind the screen, Xiao Yunzhou's chest heaved.
"Your Majesty, is this eunuch one of your trusted ones?"
Old Master of the Liu Family also peeked through the small hole and saw everything behind the screen.
He had already heard the standard answer from his granddaughter, so he pretended to "deduce" it.
"This Zheng Eunuch picked up the wine cup and made a subversive motion."
"Could it be that he intends for Zhang Chen to spill the wine on himself during the banquet?"
"Are they going to have a secret discussion under the guise of changing clothes?"
"Otherwise, why would they be making eyes at each other!"
Emperor Xiao Yunzhou's eyes filled with admiration.
He now really appreciated Old Master of the Liu Family.
"Correct." Xiao Yunzhou had only understood the hidden meaning after hearing the words of the Little Princess.
He didn't expect Old Master of the Liu Family to interpret it so quickly and accurately.
Yes, these two had indeed acted on the wishes of the Little Princess, plotting during the palace banquet on the Golden Celebration Festival!
"These bastards, His Majesty has used the money from the private treasury to host them, and they dare to betray us?!" The Grand Eunuch Wei Zheng was extremely angry.
"And this Zheng Heng, how dare he secretly communicate with the generals."
Xiao Yunzhou snorted coldly, "Let's wait and see! Wei Zheng, Old Master Liu, you will keep an eye on them with me."
As the moon rose above the willow branches, the banquet began.
Xiao Yunzhou picked up a wine cup and bestowed lamb hot pot upon several generals stationed on the frontier.
Supreme Commander Zhang Chen was among them.
"Your servant thanks Your Majesty! Your servant will serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty and diligence, not fearing death!"
Zhang Chen's square face, with his sharp eyebrows, had the look of a loyal subject.
At this moment, his oath of allegiance was uttered even faster than the other generals!
Xiao Yunzhou's eyebrows twitched.
He acted so convincingly...
If it weren't for the reminder from the Little Princess, he certainly wouldn't have noticed the treacherous heart of this Zhang Chen!
Xiao Yunzhou chuckled, "General, no need to be so polite, quickly sit down and enjoy the hot dishes. Try the grape wine from the Western Regions."
Zhang Chen immediately expressed his gratitude, picked up the wine bottle, and drank three large cups!
Soon, he was swaying and slurring his speech, his eyes hazy as if he were already drunk.
Xiao Yunzhou narrowed his eyes, watching as Zhang Chen grabbed the wine bottle, drunkenly singing and wavering outside the grand hall.
The other officials were toasting and chatting animatedly, with many getting up to offer toasts to the Emperor and high-ranking officials. Occasionally, someone would drink too much and go out for a break.
In the midst of this, Zhang Chen's departure did not stand out.
Xiao Yunzhou sat at his seat, also chatting with the recently appointed cabinet ministers.
But his attention never left a few particular people.
Sure enough, not long after, in addition to Zhang Chen, the Shu Region and Xuantong prefectural administration commissioners, several other high-ranking officials mentioned by the Little Princess also followed them out of the hall.
Xiao Yunzhou took a deep breath.
He slowly gestured to Wei Zheng, "I need to change clothes, come and support me."
Old Master Liu also understood the signal, and quietly exited the main hall through the back door.
The three of them stealthily made their way to the Qianqing Palace.
Sure enough, they soon heard a sound.
"Ouch." It was the startled cry of the eunuch Zheng.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I spilled it all over you—"
"Not at all, it was this servant's clumsiness that has also wet the general. I'll call someone to help the general change clothes..."
"Eh."
"Huh? Eunuch Zheng, General Zhang, we few feel a bit nauseous and are afraid of causing a disturbance in the Chonghua Palace. Eunuch Zheng, can you please take us to a more secluded place, so as not to disturb the Emperor and noble personages?"
The group had bumped into each other.
Xiao Yunzhou stood behind the artificial mountain, amused by what he heard!
They were using him as an excuse to find a place to plot their rebellion!
Soon, the conspirators in front of the artificial mountain began to discuss in hushed tones where they could change clothes, while also delving into the core of their plot.
"The Emperor has not held military exercises for the past three years, and General Zhang Chen is the most suitable commander in the capital. When the Prince rebels, I will open the city gates in Shu Region to receive him, and then head to Xuantong."
"General Zhang can come to Xuantong under the pretext of suppressing the rebels, and unite with our five thousand elite troops and the Prince's forces."
"Mm, the Xuantong garrison commander was previously under the Prince's command, he's one of us!"
The Xuantong and Shu Region prefectural administration commissioners discussed with Zhang Chen, their faces already glowing with triumph.
As if they had already succeeded.
"Your Majesty, have you discovered anything?" Zhang Chen said, feeling that things were going too smoothly, and couldn't help but worry.
The imperial eunuch Zheng Heng smiled slightly, "The Earth dragon turnover has left a lingering ominous portent in Your Majesty's heart. The Prince sent the auspicious Nine-Colored Peonies, and Your Majesty praised the Prince greatly."
"Your Majesty has not noticed anything unusual. He even said he would reward the Prince well during the New Year."
Hearing this, the other three became even more confident of their success.
Zhang Chen nodded, "Good, then you go back and convey the secret message to the Prince, and we will act accordingly at that time."
"Oh? How will you act?"
Zhang Chen frowned, what idiot was asking this question!
How to act, hadn't they just discussed it? Still asking how to act—
He was about to turn around and scold the eunuch Zheng Heng, but saw the latter trembling like a sieve.
The two prefectural administration commissioners behind him looked as if they had seen ghosts, their faces deathly pale.
Zhang Chen's heart sank, and he turned around, only to see the conspicuous dragon robe in the moonlight.
As if being rebuked, Zhang Chen's entire body froze!
The Emperor... ?
"Hmm?" Xiao Yunzhou stood with his hands behind his back, coldly smiling, "I asked you, why did none of you respond?"
"How will you act, hmm?"
The few of them immediately kowtowed to the ground, trembling in fear.
Guard Pang Rusong immediately led his men, two-by-two, placing swords at their necks!
"Your... Your Majesty..."
How could the Emperor be here!
How could he know about their plot!?
Impossible, impossible!
They hadn't contacted each other after arriving in the capital. This was the first time they had encountered each other in the palace and discussed their rebellion.
How could the Emperor have caught them red-handed?!
"You all have quite the audacity, plotting to overthrow Me during the Golden Celebration, in My partially renovated Qianqing Palace!"
The faces of the men turned as pale as gold, large beads of sweat dripping down.
It's all over, it's all over!
Xiao Yunzhou snorted angrily, "You must be wondering how I knew about this."
"Hehe, it's all thanks to the quick wit of Old Master Liu, who promptly discovered and warned Me."
The men were dumbfounded, all staring wide-eyed at the senior fourth-rank official, Old Master of the Liu Family.
The Supreme Commander was second-rank, and the prefectural administration commissioners were also second-rank!
They had hardly even noticed Liu Changgeng before, who was just a minor official at the Guozi Academy.
He had only been appointed as the Imperial Censor for less than a month!
How did he discover this?!
The four of them couldn't figure it out, looking at Old Master Liu as if they had seen a ghost.
Old Master Liu smiled slightly.
With his simple and unadorned appearance, he held his head high.
How did he discover it?
Of course, it was thanks to the warning from his little granddaughter!
He was delighted by this thought, but quickly schooled his expression, "Your Majesty, the Prince is rebelling, we must make early preparations to strike him down unawares!"
Xiao Yunzhou gritted his teeth and nodded firmly.
"Bring these men and imprison them in secret! Liu Changgeng, you are temporarily appointed as the Bandit-Suppression Commissioner!"
"Pang Rusong, the Supreme Commander of the Left Route, is heading to the Yan Region to summon thirty thousand soldiers..."
*
[Awoo, my wet nurse's husband Pang the Guard has indeed been highly valued by the Emperor Father!]
[After this victory, he will be transferred to Xuantong to serve as the Vice Supreme Commander!]
Xiao Chuchu was continuously live-streaming the gossip in the Empress's palace banquet.
Her inner thoughts were being directly transmitted to the closest Concubine Liu, as well as the Old Madam of the Liu Family sitting at the Ministers' Wives' table.
[Awoo, my maternal grandfather has been rewarded again! The Emperor Father asked him what he wants!]
[Grandfather said he loves his wife the most, so if the Emperor wants to grant him a reward, he would prefer to give it to my grandmother.]
The Old Madam of the Liu Family suddenly blushed.
The old man actually thought of her~
Really, why say such things in front of the Emperor!
[Awoo, the Emperor granted my grandmother ten bolts of Shu silk.]
[And also a hundred liang of gold...]
[Enfeoffed my grandmother as a Third Rank Madam!]
The Old Madam of the Liu Family could hardly close her mouth.
The other Historiographer's Wife sitting at the same table, seeing the Old Madam of the Liu Family smiling like this, couldn't help but ponder.
The Liu Family are indeed good-tempered people.
The Old Madam was smiling the entire time, the Concubine Liu Highness also had a beaming smile, and even the little Princess nestled in the Highness's arms had eyes like new moons, full of smiles.
The whole family looked harmonious and prosperous.
No wonder they've been rising rapidly, gaining the Emperor's favor.
"Old Madam of the Liu Family, I'll drink to you."
"Me too."
"Count me in as well."
The Old Madam of the Liu Family was suddenly surrounded.
The Concubine Liu was even more so, with people responding and circling around her.
Before long, an edict from the Emperor was announced in the Empress's banquet.
"The Emperor grants Concubine Liu a bowl of Jade Snail Soup!"
"The Emperor grants the Liu Madam a bowl of Swallow Nest and Beef Soup!"
"The Emperor grants the Little Princess a bowl of Corn Porridge!"
The entire Kunning Palace instantly fell silent.
The Emperor didn't grant rewards to the Empress or the Imperial Consort, but granted them to this trio of grandmother, mother, and daughter!?