AUBTN -Chapter 381 Coaxing Into the Palace

He swept his gaze across the surroundings, his eyes as if he were looking at a group of ridiculous clowns performing tricks.

“This King originally thought the Golden Luan Hall was a sacred place to discuss state affairs and decide the fate of the nation. Yet I didn’t expect…”

A trace of contempt curled at the corner of his lips.

“Today it has instead become a theatre for you all to put on a performance. Since all of you love acting so much, then go ahead and enjoy yourselves. This King will not accompany you any longer!”

As soon as his words fell, Shen Jue suddenly flicked his wide sleeves.

He didn’t even bother to request leave—he simply turned around and strode toward the doors of the Golden Luan Hall.

Such arrogant disregard instantly turned the young emperor’s face livid with anger.

Wen Xianzhong pointed at Shen Jue’s back, his hand trembling uncontrollably. “Rebellion! You have no regard for your sovereign at all!”

Just as Shen Jue was about to step over the threshold of the hall, two rows of imperial guards outside drew their swords in unison. The cold blades crossed together, firmly blocking his path.

Shen Jue stopped.

He showed no panic at all. Instead, he slightly tilted his head, narrowed his eyes, and fixed a direct gaze on the young emperor seated upon the dragon throne.

“Your Majesty, are you trying to stop this King?”

At the same time, in the capital residence—Wutong Courtyard.

Su Hewan still had a golden hairpin pressed against her neck.

Just as Zhao Zhou was sweating profusely and about to forcibly snatch the hairpin away, a sharp announcement suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

A round-faced young eunuch, holding a whisk and followed by several imperial guards, hurried into Wutong Courtyard.

Seeing Su Hewan in such a desperate stance, the eunuch clearly froze for a moment, then immediately put on a respectful, flattering smile.

“Oh my, Princess Consort, what are you doing? Please put it down quickly. This servant has been ordered by the Prince Consort to invite the Princess Consort into the palace!”

“Shen Jue’s order?” Su Hewan’s movements paused slightly, her eyes narrowing instantly.

Seeing this, Yu Qing stepped forward and blocked the little eunuch, like a hen protecting her chick.

“What nonsense are you talking about? At a time like this, the Prince is trapped in the Golden Luan Hall—how could he possibly send you to deliver a message? And even if he did, what would he be summoning her for?”

The eunuch’s eyes flickered slightly. He avoided Yu Qing’s sharp gaze and lowered his head.

“Replying to the Princess Consort, on the court, Grand Secretary Yan and Prime Minister Wen are pressing hard step by step. The Prince said only the Princess Consort can personally testify in the hall to silence the gossip of the world.”

Bullshit!

Both Su Hewan and Yu Qing cursed inwardly at the same time.

Who was Shen Jue?

That man who valued dignity more than his own life, who protected Su Hewan like she was his very eyes!

Even if he were to massacre the court and turn the Golden Luan Hall into a river of blood, he would absolutely never drag Su Hewan into such muddy waters at a time like this just to answer those humiliating questions!

This was clearly a trap!

Yu Qing saw through it immediately. She rolled her eyes and raised her voice.

“Oh, I see! Alright then, if that’s the Prince’s order, then Wanwan must go! However, I’m going with her too! If you don’t let me go, none of us are leaving today!”

The eunuch looked troubled. “This… palace rules are strict. Bringing another person might…”

“Rules my ass!” Yu Qing planted her hands on her hips, her domineering attitude fully on display.

“The Princess Consort is emotionally unstable right now. If she faints in the hall, can you take responsibility? One sentence—are you letting me go or not?”

Seeing this, and afraid of delaying the schedule, the eunuch’s expression turned ruthless. He gritted his teeth.

“Fine! Then the Princess Consort may go as well. Hurry and get into the carriage—don’t keep the Prince waiting!”

Su Hewan shot Yu Qing a look of approval.

She turned her head, using the motion of adjusting her collar to lower her voice to Zhao Zhou beside her.

“Go and coordinate at the Meridian Gate outside the palace!”

Zhao Zhou’s pupils trembled. He immediately understood the princess consort’s intention and clasped his fists heavily.

“This subordinate obeys!”

One incense stick of time later, inside the imperial palace.

Su Hewan and Yu Qing followed behind the round-faced young eunuch as they passed through the deep red palace walls.

The surroundings were eerily silent. Apart from their footsteps, not even a bird could be heard.

As she walked, Su Hewan quietly scanned the buildings around them.

The further she went, the slower her heartbeat became—and the colder her gaze turned.

This route was not the imperial road leading to the Hall of Supreme Harmony at all!

The direction of the blue-brick path and the height of the palace walls clearly indicated they were heading toward the remote Western Six Palaces of the harem—very possibly toward the Cold Palace!

Su Hewan’s hand hidden in her sleeve tightened sharply. She turned and exchanged an extremely dangerous glance with Yu Qing beside her.

With just that one look, Yu Qing fully understood the unspoken message in Su Hewan’s eyes: The route is wrong. Prepare to act.

The next second—

“Ahhh! My dear heavens, my ancestors!”

Yu Qing suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream and threw herself forward, collapsing directly onto the ground. She clutched her right ankle tightly, her face twisted in pain.

The young eunuch walking ahead was startled by the sudden commotion and quickly turned back, frowning.

“What… what happened to the Princess Consort?”

“I sprained it, I sprained it! My ankle is broken!” Yu Qing cried on cue, tears instantly spilling out as she clung tightly to the eunuch’s leg like an octopus that couldn’t be shaken off.

“It hurts so much! Go get an imperial physician for me! Hurry!”

“You—let go! The Empress is still waiting to see the Prince!” the young eunuch said anxiously, trying to pry her hands away.

At the moment the eunuch bent down and all his attention was drawn to Yu Qing’s exaggerated performance—

Su Hewan, who had been crouching beside her pretending to support her, suddenly turned ice-cold.

With a swift motion of her right hand, a golden hairpin was already firmly in her palm.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony had already tightened to the breaking point.

Facing Shen Jue’s arrogant questioning, the young emperor had not even had time to erupt when Wen Xianzhong let out a cold laugh.

“Your Highness the Regent is truly fearless,” Minister Wen said, stroking his beard, his eyes full of malice.

“To be so disrespectful to the emperor and above the law… this old minister has truly seen everything today.”

Shen Jue was blocked by the imperial guards, yet showed no intention of retreating.

He slightly turned his head, a mocking smile still on his lips.

“If Minister Wen’s eyesight is poor, you may go to the Imperial Medical Bureau for a prescription. I have always been this disrespectful. Is this your first day knowing me?”

“You—” Wen Xianzhong’s face darkened with rage. But then, as if remembering some trump card, he suddenly changed expression, adopting a tone of false pity.

“I understand Your Highness’s stubbornness. After all, falling from the clouds into the mud is never easy.”

He continued slowly, “However, if Your Highness insists on resisting here, you may not be aware that at this very moment, your esteemed wife… has already confessed everything.”

Wen Xianzhong raised his voice deliberately as he looked at Shen Jue’s back.

“This old minister advises Your Highness to kneel and admit guilt now, and confess your identity as a fake eunuch. Otherwise, if we continue and read out Madam’s shameful testimony in public, the scene will become very unpleasant indeed.”

These words were like a curse that struck directly at a reversed scale.