AUBTN -Chapter 278 Catching the Turtle in a Jar (Part 1)

Night faded into dawn, yet the gloom above the Forbidden City had not dispersed.

At the third quarter of the mao hour (around 5–7 a.m.), the tranquility of Chaofeng Palace was shattered by heavy footsteps.

Dozens of Jinyiwei in flying-fish uniforms surrounded the entire Chaofeng Palace so tightly that not even water could seep through.

Lu Yan stood at the forefront, dressed in a dark, patterned martial outfit, radiating an intimidating authority without anger.

“Jinyiwei on official business. Unrelated personnel, step aside!”

The eunuchs and palace maids standing guard outside trembled in fear and immediately dropped to their knees, not daring to breathe loudly.

Inside the inner hall, Empress Zhou Ruoyun was awakened.

“Presumptuous!”

“Who dares to shout so loudly in Chaofeng Palace!”

Draping a wide-sleeved robe over herself, Zhou Ruoyun walked out angrily with the support of her personal maid, Xia Dong.

But the moment she saw that it was Lu Yan, a trace of apprehension still flickered uncontrollably in her eyes.

Lu Yan gave a perfunctory bow.

“This minister, Lu Yan, pays respects to the Empress.”

Zhou Ruoyun forced down the unease in her heart.

“Commander Lu, bringing so many armed guards to storm my sleeping palace—are you trying to rebel?”

Lu Yan remained calm and unyielding.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am acting under imperial orders and had no choice.”

“Last night, the Jinyiwei intercepted a group of dead soldiers outside the palace. According to investigation, their target was none other than Chaofeng Palace!”

As soon as these words fell, Zhou Ruoyun’s heart skipped a beat.

Assassins?

Could it be that the matter of her father sending the blood lotus into the palace had been exposed and mistaken for an assassination plot?

No—impossible. Her father acted with absolute precision and would never leave such a fatal trace!

Lu Yan clearly saw the rapidly changing expression on her face.

He pressed further, pouring oil on the fire.

“Although the assassins have been eliminated, it cannot be ruled out that remnants have already infiltrated the palace, waiting for an opportunity to strike.”

“For the safety of Your Majesty’s precious body, and especially for the absolute security of the imperial heir…”

Lu Yan suddenly raised his hand in a forceful gesture of invitation.

“This minister humbly requests Your Majesty to immediately relocate to the most heavily guarded place—Cining Palace—to avoid danger!”

Zhou Ruoyun’s fingers dug deeply into her palm, panic rising.

Go to Cining Palace?

The Empress Dowager had always been hostile toward her. If she went there, wouldn’t she become fish on a chopping board?

More importantly, she wasn’t actually pregnant. If she went there and the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau examined her repeatedly, what if her secret was exposed…

“I refuse!”

Zhou Ruoyun rejected sharply.

“My Chaofeng Palace is as solid as a fortress. I do not need to move!”

“Guards! Immediately leave the palace and invite the Grand Preceptor in!”

However, the moment her voice fell, the outside fell into dead silence.

All the palace servants were held at knife-point by the Jinyiwei’s embroidered sabers pressed against their backs—no one dared to move even an inch.

Lu Yan looked at her coldly.

“Your Majesty, the entire palace has already been taken over by the Jinyiwei.”

“Right now, not even a fly can escape from here—let alone someone going out to deliver a message to the Grand Preceptor.”

Zhou Ruoyun’s face turned deathly pale as she finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

“Lu Yan! How dare you detain the Empress of the court! My father will never let you get away with this!”

Lu Yan was completely unmoved. His slender fingers lightly tapped the hilt of his blade.

“Someone. Escort the Empress onto the palanquin!”

Two old palace matrons immediately stepped forward, gripping Zhou Ruoyun’s arms tightly on both sides.

“What are you doing! Let go of me! How dare you! I am carrying the imperial bloodline!”

Zhou Ruoyun struggled—but no one dared to step forward to help her.

Hiding at the back of the team, Yu Qing—disguised in a small-sized Flying Fish uniform—had her eyes sparkling with excitement.

【Wow! Lord Lu is insanely cool today! A domineering commander forcibly taking away a spoiled empress—this plot is just too thrilling!】

【Hurry, hurry, send her straight to the Empress Dowager’s final boss level! I can’t wait to see the Empress Dowager tear apart that white lotus villainess—it’s going to be gorgeous!】

Hearing the carefree inner voice that sounded like it was celebrating New Year in his mind, Lu Yan’s tightly set jaw softened slightly.

He tilted his head a little, glancing sideways at the little girl who was so excited she kept clenching her fists.

In the depths of his eyes was a hint of indulgence and helplessness even he himself hadn’t noticed.

“Proceed to the Cining Palace!”

With Lu Yan’s order, the doors of Chaofeng Palace were slammed shut with a heavy bang.

At the same time—

Zhou Residence.

Zhou Wenhai sat comfortably in a purple sandalwood armchair, leisurely sipping tea.

“Master, the item was safely delivered to Chaofeng Palace last night. No problems at all.”

Housekeeper Zhou Fu stood nearby with his head lowered, reporting in a low voice.

Zhou Wenhai nodded in satisfaction.

“Good, excellent!”

“As long as the Nine-Leaf Blood Lotus is taken, Yun’er’s pregnancy signs will be fabricated perfectly. Even those useless fools in the Imperial Medical Academy won’t be able to find a single flaw even if they search to the ends of the earth!”

“Once the Zhou family’s grandson is born, whether this Great Wei Empire belongs to the Li family or the Zhou family… will be entirely up to me! Hahaha!”

His triumphant laughter had barely faded when a panicked voice came from outside.

“Master! Something terrible has happened!”

A gate servant stumbled into the study, falling to the ground in a heap. His face was as pale as paper.

“The… the Eastern Depot’s Governor Shen has arrived!”

Zhou Wenhai’s hand trembled violently.

“Shen Jue? What is that mad dog doing here early in the morning?”

He immediately restrained his expression.

“Open the door and let him in!”

Before the words even finished, Shen Jue had already strolled in with a faint, mocking smile.

“Lord Zhou, good morning.”

Shen Jue carried himself arrogantly, as if he were the true master of the residence.

Zhou Wenhai suppressed the boiling anger in his chest and forced out a fake smile as he greeted him.

“Governor Shen’s sudden visit truly makes my humble home shine.”

“I wonder what brings you here instead of handling official duties at the Eastern Depot so early in the morning?”

Shen Jue lazily sat down in a Huanghuali wood guest chair.

“Don’t be alarmed, Lord Zhou. I’ve come today to bring you some news.”

He deliberately elongated his tone, his dark eyes fixed on Zhou Wenhai.

“Last night, assassins infiltrated the palace. Their target was the Chaofeng Palace.”

“What?!”

Zhou Wenhai’s pupils contracted sharply.

His first instinct was that his plan of sending the medicine had been exposed—and was now being used as an excuse to accuse him of assassination.

Shen Jue enjoyed the subtle panic on his face and continued unhurriedly:

“However, rest assured, Lord Lu of the Imperial Guard arrived in time and safely escorted the Empress to the Cining Palace.”

“However…”

Shen Jue paused deliberately, furrowing his brows as if troubled.

“The Empress Dowager was also startled and is now in a state of great fury. She insists on a full investigation.”

“This matter is of great importance. The Empress Dowager believes that in the harem, only the Empress’s safety affects the court and cannot be neglected.”

“So she has ordered this official to personally invite the Grand State Uncle into the palace to assist in handling the situation.”

Shen Jue’s words were perfectly polished, leaving no room for objection.

But Zhou Wenhai did not believe a single word.

Assist in the palace?

The Empress Dowager was no harmless figure.

Why investigate now, at the exact moment the Blood Lotus had just been delivered?

Could she have already detected something suspicious?