nycdaug Chapter 152 Assassination
Chapter 152 Assassination
If the Empress had seen the Emperor in person, she wouldn't be so shocked and surprised!
Since the emperor took that elixir, he has not summoned his concubines. During court sessions, officials keep a distance from the emperor, and most are elderly. It's perfectly normal that their eyesight is failing and they cannot clearly see the emperor's changes.
All they knew was that the emperor's voice was now very loud.
The emperor also required ministers who served him or who had recently met him to keep quiet.
Su Yinyin bowed respectfully, and the Empress looked her up and down. "I heard that you are highly regarded by the Emperor and are also the favorite of the Regent. Princess, you are indeed a beautiful woman."
Su Yinyin sensed the ill intent in the Empress's words, but she remained calm and composed, saying, "Your Majesty flatters me. This princess is indeed beautiful."
But there's nothing we can do; our looks are a gift from our parents. Some people wish they had them but never had them!
They dare to stab her in the back? Su Yinyin isn't stupid!
The Empress smiled slightly, but her eyes revealed a chill. "Is that so? I see your methods are quite extraordinary."
All the concubines' attention was focused on the Empress's words: "The Regent's favorite person is Su Yinyin."
They had actually heard rumors that the Regent had proposed marriage to the Su family. Their family had sent people to investigate the Su family's background, but they found nothing.
Immediately afterwards, Su Yinyin was bestowed the title of Princess. They knew that Su Yinyin was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi's family.
But they didn't realize that the two were the same person. Now, all they could think about was getting the news home as soon as possible.
Just as Su Yinyin was about to reply, the Empress Dowager spoke up: "Empress, the princess has a sincere heart, please don't make things difficult for her."
The Empress quickly composed herself, "Your Majesty, I dare not say that. I was merely concerned about the Princess."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am doing well! I have money and freedom. I am very satisfied with my current life! As for those despicable methods, I would never stoop to them," Su Yinyin said with neither humility nor arrogance.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, clearly satisfied with her attitude.
"Yinyin, you must be tired today. I will have someone escort you back to your residence. This is my token. If you miss me or need my support, please come to me. I will definitely help you."
The Empress Dowager's words made all the concubines present jealous of Su Yinyin. Su Yinyin was truly lucky.
No wonder she herself said she disdained using underhanded methods. Indeed, with the support of a renowned physician, even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor held her in high regard. Not to mention those wealthy and powerful people who were too busy currying favor with her.
Su Yinyin accepted the token, feigning gratitude, "Your Majesty's kindness will be forever remembered." With that, she followed the Empress Dowager's trusted maid out of the palace.
As soon as she stepped out of the palace gate, Su Yinyin felt a sinister gaze on her back.
She didn't need to turn around to know that the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort were watching her in secret.
A barely perceptible smile curved Su Yinyin's lips as she thought to herself, "This harem is indeed rife with scheming. Which of these two is the mastermind behind it all?"
On the way back to the manor, the carriage suddenly jolted. Su Yinyin lifted the curtain to look and saw a group of men in black blocking the way.
The leader said coldly, "Princess, our master invites you."
Su Yinyin glanced at them and said, "Who is your master? Aren't you afraid of offending the Empress Dowager and the Divine Physician by blocking my path like this?"
The man snorted coldly, "Princess, stop talking nonsense and just come with us."
"Oh, what if I don't go?" Su Yinyin sneered at this bunch of idiots who dared to block the road and snatch people in broad daylight!
Upon hearing Su Yinyin's words, the leader of the men in black drew his sword and pointed it at her, saying, "Then don't blame us for being impolite."
Su Yinyin was not afraid at all. Just as the man in black was about to make a move, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.
It turned out that the Regent had arrived with a troop of men. "I'll see who dares to touch the one I cherish most!"
The Regent looked stern. He had long anticipated that someone would harm Su Yinyin and had secretly sent people to follow and protect her.
Seeing that things were not going well, the man in black tried to escape, but was quickly surrounded and captured by the Regent's men.
The Regent jumped off the carriage and went to check on Su Yinyin to see if she was injured. "Yinyin, are you alright?"
Su Yinyin shook her head, "Thanks to the prince for arriving in time."
The Regent stepped forward tenderly to embrace her. Seeing this, Su Yinyin shifted back. Zhou Yuan's hand missed, but he didn't mind, looking at Su Yinyin with deep affection: "From now on, I will never let you face danger alone again."
Su Yinyin bowed slightly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but Yinyin does not wish to rely too much on others."
Regent Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly, "Yinyin is always so stubborn."
He then turned to look at the group of men in black, his eyes turning icy. "Speak, who ordered you?"
The men in black kept their lips tightly pressed together, remaining silent. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, about to use torture to extract a confession, when one of the men in black suddenly bit off his tongue and committed suicide. Seeing this, the other men in black followed suit.
Su Yinyin made up her mind. It seemed that the person behind her was quite powerful, acting so decisively.
It's easy to guess. The same few people have always wanted him dead. Perhaps it was some hidden force behind it all. And whenever someone does something, they leave a trace.
Zhou Yuan patted Su Yinyin's shoulder reassuringly, "Don't be afraid, I will definitely find out the truth."
Su Yinyin glanced at the black eyes on the ground and said, "No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself." After saying that, she instructed the fifth prince to set off.
Zhou Yuan watched Su Yinyin's departing figure without any anger. On the contrary, he was in a good mood. Just being able to chat with her for a few minutes was enough to make him content!
Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Zhou Yuan immediately arranged for people to investigate the matter.
When Su Yinyin returned to the villa, she saw her maternal grandmother, Su Yue, Su Nian'an, Li Lan, and Lin Jie all in the living room, as if they were waiting for her to come home.
Su Yinyin walked into the living room, and everyone gathered around her. Her grandmother took her hand worriedly and asked, "Yinyin, did anything happen today?"
Su Yinyin smiled and shook her head, briefly recounting how she was attacked on the road but was saved by the Regent.
Everyone was startled. Su Yue frowned and said, "Sister, the person behind this will definitely not let this go. We must make plans as soon as possible."
Su Yinyin nodded. "I know what I'm doing. The more eager they are, the more likely they are to slip up."
Just then, the steward came in to announce that a guest had arrived. The visitor turned out to be Xiao Shunzi, a eunuch from the palace, who brought some precious medicinal herbs bestowed by the Empress Dowager.
Xiao Shunzi smiled broadly: "Princess, the Empress Dowager said that you should take good care of your health. After you leave the palace, things will not be peaceful in the inner palace, so you must be careful."
Su Yinyin thanked the Empress Dowager for the gift, and after Xiao Shunzi left, she looked at the medicinal herbs thoughtfully.
She knew that the Empress Dowager's actions were partly a gesture of goodwill, and partly a reminder that the assassination attempt that day might have been carried out by someone in the inner palace.