Chapter 2281: The Plot Revealed

"Mother Empress?" Rong Mo was initially bewildered, then after a moment, she realized the person was referring to the Empress. As the Crown Princess's personal maid, she naturally knew that the Crown Princess and the Empress had never had a good relationship. It was hardly surprising; harmonious mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships were rare, and even more so when the Empress was not the Crown Prince's biological mother, yet still put on airs as an elder. Both had strong personalities, so they naturally didn't see eye to eye.

"Excellent!" Rong Mo's eyebrows danced with delight. She imagined the Crown Princess walking in on Zu An in a compromising situation, and wondered how he would manage to curry favor with her then.

Soon, Bi Linglong arrived at the Empress's palace with a group of palace maids and eunuchs. They were quickly stopped by the attendants outside. "Greetings, Crown Princess," the attendants bowed. "I heard Mother Empress has returned from the imperial villa, so as her junior, I've come to pay my respects," Bi Linglong stated, her tone neither warm nor cold.

"Yes, we'll go inform her immediately," replied the Empress's maids, exchanging bewildered glances. They knew the relationship between the Empress and the Crown Princess was only passable; the Crown Princess usually only came for perfunctory visits on a few specific dates. She had never come at any other time. Had the sun risen in the west today?

Bi Linglong frowned. "Why are you guarding outside?" The maids replied, "Her Majesty is feeling a bit weary and needs rest, so she instructed us to remain outside." Bi Linglong cast a glance into the palace. "No need to bother; I'll simply enter with you." With that, she proceeded directly inside.

The palace maids dared not stop her, so they scurried ahead to announce her arrival. As the Crown Princess, Bi Linglong maintained her dignity; she couldn't run, so she proceeded inside with small, deliberate steps.

Upon reaching the Empress's bedchamber, a faint voice emanated from within: "Ah, it's Linglong. I was just asleep. Please wait a moment."

Bi Linglong felt a pang of doubt. Why did the Empress's voice sound so seductive today? Her breathing even seemed a little shaky. However, she dismissed it, attributing it to having just woken up. "I apologize for disturbing your rest, Mother Empress," she said. At the same time, her eyes subtly scanned the room, but she saw no sign of Zu An.

At this thought, she chuckled to herself. How could the Empress possibly allow Zu An into her private chambers? Her initial irritation gradually subsided. She couldn't help but glare fiercely at Rong Mo, blaming the girl's loose tongue for almost making her misjudge someone.

Rong Mo, too, felt unfairly accused; she had indeed seen Eunuch Lu summon Zu An away just moments ago.

At that moment, the Empress emerged, fully dressed. For some reason, Bi Linglong felt that even though she wasn't as elaborately dressed as usual, she looked far more beautiful than on an ordinary day. Her entire being was radiant, particularly her skin, which was fair with a rosy blush, resembling that of a young girl. Even Bi Linglong had to concede that it was no wonder she could be the nation's mother; she was truly a beauty among beauties.

"Linglong, what brings you here today?" the Empress greeted her with a smile. Beneath her robes, her body trembled almost imperceptibly. While reliving the lingering sensations, she inwardly resented Bi Linglong's sudden appearance. Naturally, she showed no hint of this on her face.

"Hearing that Mother Empress has returned to the palace, I naturally felt compelled to visit. I recently acquired some rare herbs and thought I'd bring them for you," Bi Linglong replied, gesturing to a nearby maid to present the gift. Her words and demeanor were utterly flawless.

"Linglong, you're too kind..." The two women engaged in a subtle power play, exchanging formal pleasantries for a while. Eventually, Bi Linglong could no longer resist asking, "Oh, I don't see Master Zu here, do I?"

The Empress's heart pounded, but she betrayed no sign of alarm. "I had summoned Master Zu earlier to ask a few questions. He left a short while ago; I presume he has returned to await instructions at the Imperial Study." She did not deny his presence, as the Crown Princess's question clearly indicated she had a source of information. A flat denial would only arouse more suspicion.

"I see," Bi Linglong replied, feeling relieved. She chatted with the Empress for a few more moments before finding an excuse to take her leave. The Empress feigned a few half-hearted attempts to keep her, and then they parted ways.

Watching Bi Linglong's retreating figure, the Empress's smile faded. She hadn't expected Bi Linglong to know about Zu An's visit. It seemed she would need to be more discreet in the future; it would be quite troublesome if Zhao Hao discovered it. A thought struck her: "Wait, why is she so concerned about a mere subject's affairs? Could it be... is she planning to use this against me?"

She was quite aware of the dynamics of their relationship. The more she pondered, the more plausible it seemed. Perhaps Bi Linglong had caught wind of something from Zhao Hao and was attempting to find leverage against her and Zu An. This thought sent cold sweat trickling down her back. Logically, given the current situation, she shouldn't have any further dealings with Zu An. Yet, to restore her powers, his help was indispensable. It was a true predicament.

Meanwhile, Zu An returned to the vicinity of the Imperial Study, discreetly wiping cold sweat from his forehead. It had been an extreme test of his composure; he had narrowly avoided being caught by Bi Linglong. The Empress truly possessed a unique charm, but getting too close to her was exceedingly perilous.

Just then, a young eunuch emerged and, upon seeing Zu An, looked surprised. "Master Zu, what perfect timing! His Majesty wishes to see you." Zu An's expression became peculiar. He wondered if the Emperor had somehow discovered what he had just been doing with his wife. However, there was no turning back now, so he steeled himself and entered.

He secretly congratulated himself for having used his water cultivation technique on the way to subtly cleanse and evaporate any lingering scents from his body. Otherwise, if the Emperor had detected the Empress's fragrance on him, he would surely have been doomed.

Upon entering, he was taken aback to find not only Sang Hong but also several other high-ranking court officials: Meng Yi, the Grand Secretary; Bi Qi, the Left Minister of War; Liu Guang, the Empress's father; and Prince Liang, Zhao Yi. Without exception, they were all core members of the Emperor's faction.

Upon his entrance, the Emperor stated, "Take Master Sang back and ensure he gets proper rest. Additionally, I grant you permission to have twenty Imperial Guards assigned to his personal protection." "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Sang Hong bowed in gratitude, despite his injuries.

It was well known that the Imperial Guards were the palace's elite security force, primarily tasked with safeguarding the imperial palace. They were only occasionally assigned to imperial envoys. It was exceedingly rare for them to be dispatched to protect a single individual. Though twenty Imperial Guards were not a vast number, their assignment unequivocally demonstrated the Emperor's stance, ensuring that no one would dare to openly defy imperial authority and harm Sang Hong.

Zu An was also pleased for Sang Hong; his life was now secure. He knew he couldn't personally guard Sang Hong at all times, but with the Emperor's public protection, Prince Qi's faction would no longer be able to act against him.

After the two departed, the Emperor furrowed his brow and instinctively looked up. There was clearly nothing on his head, so why had Zu An repeatedly cast furtive glances towards his crown? Furthermore, Zu An's gaze seemed to hold a hint of pity, a sensation that deeply annoyed him.

Just then, Prince Liang, Zhao Yi, interrupted his thoughts: "Your Majesty, Prince Qi openly employed assassins within the Imperial City—a truly unforgivable crime! I implore Your Majesty to punish him with demotion!" Liu Yao also rose, stating, "Prince Qi harbors the ambition of a wolf; his crimes extend far beyond this. Previously, he secretly plotted rebellion in Yunzhong Commandery, and after his failure, he ambushed the imperial envoy mission to destroy evidence. Considering these and his many other misdeeds over the years, his crimes warrant execution!"

The other officials also rose, listing Prince Qi's transgressions and urging the Emperor to move against him. Their faction now held the upper hand, making it the opportune moment to strike. However, Zhao Hao offered no immediate opinion, instead looking at Bi Qi and Meng Yi. "What are your thoughts?" he asked.

Bi Qi and Meng Yi exchanged glances, and eventually, Bi Qi began, "Your humble servant believes..."

"Prince Qi is finished," Sang Hong quietly remarked to Zu An after they had walked some distance from the Imperial Study. Zu An was startled. "Is the Emperor finally going to act this time?" "Not necessarily," Sang Hong shook his head. "Although Prince Qi's power has greatly diminished recently, his foundations are extraordinary. If pushed too hard, he might resort to desperate measures. His Majesty likely won't employ overly crude methods, but Prince Qi will no longer have a place in the capital."

Unlike typical vassal princes, Prince Qi was a contender for the imperial throne. Once he departed the capital, the very heart of power, he would be completely out of the succession race, and his forces would gradually crumble.

At this very moment, in a secret chamber within Prince Qi's mansion, a similar gathering was underway, led by none other than Prince Qi himself. "Your Highness, given how things stand, why don't we make our move?" one of the attendees suggested. Half of Prince Qi's face was cloaked in shadow. He remained silent for a long moment before finally uttering, "Very well!"