Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 670

Chapter 670: Hongmen

The Empress Dowager, sensing something was wrong, summoned the imperial physician aside for questioning.

The imperial physician, having served the Empress Dowager faithfully, was trustworthy. “Your Majesty, this humble servant… alas.”

“Just tell the truth,” the Empress Dowager said, her brow furrowed.

“His food and incense have been adulterated with incompatible ingredients for a long time. Coupled with the lack of anyone in the palace to dissuade him, he inevitably overindulges. Over time, this has damaged his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. His condition is such that he may not last much longer.”

Hearing the last sentence, the Empress Dowager’s legs gave way, and she staggered against the wall. Had a palace maid not caught her in time, she would have fallen.

The Empress Dowager trembled uncontrollably. She only had one son left, and she had painstakingly helped him ascend the throne, only to find herself in this predicament. The late Emperor had left few heirs. If the Emperor were to pass away, what would become of the Empress Dowager?

No, that was a matter for the future. She had to deal with Xu Wenyong first.

“If His Majesty rests properly, how much longer does he have?” the Empress Dowager asked, forcing herself to speak.

“One to two years,” the imperial physician replied, “but if he suffers a shock, he could die suddenly at any moment. Your Majesty, you must prepare yourself mentally.”

“I understand.” The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected Xu Wenyong to have orchestrated this for so long. Judging from the physician’s words, the Emperor’s food had been tampered with shortly after his ascension.

Xiao Zheng returned from the search, saying that all the stewards of the Imperial Kitchen had committed suicide by poison; not a single one was left alive.

A murderous glint flashed in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. She gritted her teeth and said, “Xu Wenyong, one day I will make you pay the price!”

The palace coup happened so quickly; overnight, everything changed.

The people Xu Wenyong had planted in Renzheng Hall were dragged out and beaten to death without even a reason, staining the floor tiles outside the hall with a thin layer of crimson.

Meanwhile, at the Xu family mansion, Xu Wenyong, during his meal, learned of the Empress Dowager’s arrival at the palace with her entourage. He smashed his blue-and-white porcelain wine pot in front of everyone.

The performance of “A Perfect Union” on the stage abruptly stopped. The younger members of the Xu family held their breath, none daring to utter a sound.

Many others were also startled. She followed Xu Wenyong into the study.

The steward, his forehead and temples damp with sweat, had run back. “Master,” he reported, “Xiao Zheng and Lin Fan killed the commander of the Imperial Guards we sent and displayed his head at the execution ground. It seems our people planted in the palace will also be dealt with.”

After years of painstaking planning, Xu Wenyong hadn’t expected Yun Xingbang to be so rash. He had pushed the Emperor to such a point, yet the Yun family and the Empress Dowager had managed to drag things out.

They were ruthless.

Xu Wenyong felt a surge of anger welling up inside him; unable to vent it, his face darkened terribly.

Madam of Xu said cautiously, “The Empress Dowager’s counterattack suggests there’s a spy from the Yun family among our people. Master, you must first find this spy.”

“Madam’s right. Worrying about what’s already happened is a waste of time,” Xu Wenyong said, rubbing his head, his shrewd eyes narrowing. “Yun Xingbang’s nothing special. It seems the real strategists behind this are the old master of the Yun family and the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is of high status; ordinary people can’t approach her. The old master of the Yun family has been suffering from a stroke for a long time; he must be in great pain.”

At this point, Xu Wenyong revealed a chilling smile. “Steward, quietly investigate all the servants in the house, and have the retainers find out who tipped off the Yun family. As for that old bastard Yun Shengxing, who’s about to die, I will send him on his way. We must at least get back at them.”

That night, assassins from the Xu family stealthily infiltrated the Yun family’s inner quarters but failed. Yun Xingbang, having learned to conceal his abilities, naturally increased security. Therefore, none of the assassins sent returned.

The next morning, Xu Wenyong didn’t receive news of Yun Shengxing’s death; instead, he received an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager summoning him to the palace.

The younger members of the Xu family advised Xu Wenyong to feign illness, but Xu Wenyong knew he could hide for a while but not forever. Moreover, he held the reins of power in the capital, and the Empress Dowager dared not truly harm him.

On his way to the palace, Xu Wenyong deliberately detoured past the execution grounds, seeing the dozen or so corpses hanging on wooden racks, knowing that his attempt the previous night had failed.

The carriage slowly entered the palace gates. The guards, now with new faces, thoroughly searched Xu Wenyong before letting him in.

The Empress Dowager arrived at Renzheng Hall early in the morning, with Xue Mengyao standing beside her.

However, Xue Mengyao had a deep handprint on her cheek, which even a thick layer of powder couldn’t conceal.

Xiao Dezi entered from outside, “Your Majesty, Minister Xu has entered the palace.”

The Empress Dowager gave an “Oh,” opened the teacup lid with two slender fingers, frowned, and slammed it down on the table. She glanced sideways at Xue Mengyao and said, “Is this how you manage the harem? The servants can’t even prepare tea properly?”

On days when the Empress Dowager was away from the palace, Xue Mengyao was in charge of the harem.

Originally, Xue Mengyao had become a Noble Dowager Consort because of the Empress Dowager, but when Pei Que was still in the capital, Xue Mengyao, along with Pei Que, had tricked the Empress Dowager, preventing her from returning to the palace. The Empress Dowager now resented the incident at the imperial palace and also blamed Xue Mengyao for failing to take good care of the Emperor.

Xue Mengyao knew perfectly well why the Empress Dowager was angry. She bowed respectfully and began wiping the spilled tea from the table. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I will go and replace it immediately,” she said gently, without a trace of displeasure.

The Empress Dowager glared at Xue Mengyao and gave a soft “hmm.” “Hurry up, Minister Xu will be here soon.”

By the time Xue Mengyao had brought the fresh tea, Xu Wenyong had arrived outside Renzheng Hall.

A gentle autumn breeze was blowing, not cold, quite mild. But even the most comfortable breeze would wear down after a while.

The Empress Dowager, deliberately making things difficult for Xu Wenyong, made him stand for half an hour before finally summoning him into the hall.

The two exchanged glances, each wishing the other a terrible death, yet outwardly maintaining the harmony of ruler and subject.

“I’m truly sorry to have troubled Minister Xu. I forgot the time while speaking,” the Empress Dowager apologized casually.

“It’s nothing. Your Majesty’s the master; it’s only right that this old minister waits as long as it takes.” Minister Xu lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze lingering on the white marble floor tiles of the hall. “People tend to forget things as they get older, and this old minister’s no exception.”

The Empress Dowager hated being told she was old. Knowing Xu Wenyong was deliberately trying to annoy her, her fingers clenched in her sleeves, and her gaze sharpened. “I heard that at last night’s Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet, Minister Xu was quite angry. What could have upset you so much?”

Xu Wenyong’s heart skipped a beat. The fact that the Empress Dowager didn’t even acknowledge his anger further proved that there were spies in the Xu family. But he couldn’t show it now. “It was just a few juniors in the family… I was just feeling a bit down, nothing serious.”

“I see.” The Empress Dowager sighed. “It’s good that it isn’t a big deal. His Majesty’s unwell, and I’m exhausted. Yesterday, I heard that Minister Xu was furious, and I was worried that no one would be able to handle the court affairs today. It’s quite a coincidence that after Minister Xu’s outburst last night, more than a dozen assassins broke into the Yun family. I almost fainted when I heard the news this morning.”

At this point, the Empress Dowager deliberately paused, her fox-like eyes darting over Minister Xu. “If you ask me, the country needs capable people most when His Majesty’s unable to manage affairs. Minister Xu, don’t you think so?”