"Commandery Princess, where has Fourth Prince gone?" Nian Xia asked cautiously as she approached. Although they had been in the palace for more than a decade, they had never left the confines of the Empress Dowager’s Chamber except for occasional visits to the Chenhe Hall.
Consequently, Fu Dong and Nian Xia only knew they were in the palace but had no idea exactly where.
Originally, Zheng Haoyuan had been "confined" here with them, but before long, he was taken away. Although he reassured them there was nothing to worry about before leaving, so much ti had passed without his return.
While the palace had everything one might need, the Commandery Princess might not be accustod to everything here, including the bedding and utensils, which were not her usual favorites.
Zheng Nianru couldn’t rember which palace this was, but she roughly guessed it might be a courtyard for worshiping Buddha that Noble Consort Wen had built separately because of the scent of sandalwood incense.
"Sit down, we won’t be able to leave anyti soon," Zheng Nianru said as she glanced around. It was ti for Zheng Congyuan to counterattack. Considering the tiline, the forces of the Wen Family should have erged by now, with only scattered forces remaining.
Of course, the timing of this counterattack was very delicate. It needed to be just right, both to reveal all of the Wen Family’s powers for a clean sweep and to take down the Wen family before they could consolidate their strength and before everyone else made up their minds.
Zheng Nianru calculated the ti, it should almost be due.
However, Zheng Haoyuan had said he would return soon from his selection as the Child of Heavenly Selection. Was the selection happening now? And what impact would it have on the overall situation?
Zheng Nianru had no recollection of rumors about Zheng Haoyuan being the Child of Heavenly Selection or about Zheng Congyuan, so she was quite curious about the outco of this selection.
"Commandery Princess, are you hungry?" Nanny Yun approached with caution, knowing that this was a delicate mont and their situation was awkward. What worried her more was what was happening outside.
"Hungry, can you find sothing to eat?" Zheng Nianru looked at Nanny Yun.
Nanny Yun didn’t know how to respond with embarrassnt.
"Xing Yu, Xing Yu has gone out to see if she can find so food."
But Xing Yu was stopped at the gate, and before that, she had been blocked three tis on the courtyard wall, at the doghole entrance, and in the backyard.
"Our Commandery Princess is hungry. If she starves, can you bear the responsibility?" Xing Yu said indignantly, growing more anxious. The courtyard was guarded so tightly it was difficult to leave, and while these people seed polite, they were inflexible and left no room for negotiation.
The guards exchanged glances. They had been specifically instructed not to neglect their duties. It was indeed lunchti, so one of them nodded and spoke up.
"Wait, lunch will be served soon," one guard said.
Xing Yu wanted to say more, but she was sent back without an opportunity to speak further, and just at that mont, several guards rushed over hurriedly.
"Hurry, there’s a change of plan, we must act in advance," one guard clamored, but stopped speaking as soon as he saw Xing Yu. She didn’t delay and obediently pulled back, hiding herself after taking just a couple of steps, and heard the guard say.
"Take half of the n to Chenyuan Hall at once, the Wen Family Army has taken over the court," the guard ordered, and footsteps hurried away quickly.
Xing Yu crept away silently and dashed back to the hall.
"Commandery Princess, it’s bad, the Wen Family has started to mobilize their troops," Xing Yu blurted out with panic, causing Fu Dong and the others sitting down to stand up in alarm.
...
Chenyuan Hall was already in utter chaos, a complete departure from the composure it had held earlier. Wen Han led multiple assaults in an attempt to breach Chenyuan Hall, wave after wave of guards unable to take down the seemingly small hall. Guards, appearing from nowhere, fortified Chenyuan Hall, making it as unassailable as a bastion.
However, even so, the tension for everyone inside Chenyuan Hall was not relieved.
At this mont, Zheng Congyuan had called for Pri Minister Lin and others to discuss the situation. Although they wholeheartedly supported Zheng Congyuan, as civil officials, their expertise laid in verbal debates rather than actual combat, inevitably leading to heightened anxiety when it ca to sword and spear.
Because they could not believe the Wen Family would truly take action.
"Your Highness, at present, we can only send ssages to all the aristocratic gentry clans to seek support. The first and foremost task is to send soone to those Four Great Aristocratic Families," Pri Minister Lin imdiately suggested, having already thought it through that these four clans were generally upright; it was possible to negotiate interests with them.
"Your Highness, the most pressing matter is not to seek the help of the Four Great Aristocratic Families, but to send soone to clarify the rumors spread by the Wen Family and tell the people that Zheng Haoyuan is not the ’Child of Heavenly Selection’ either."
"No, the Wen Family has the Southeastern Army, the Eastern Army, and the Northern Army; we must imdiately call back the Northwest Army and the Western Army to counter them."
"But the Northwest Army is still a thousand miles away, and the Western Army won’t make it either..."
"Your Highness, I believe that the priority should be to dismantle the lesser families in cahoots with the Wen Family Army, to weaken the power of the Wen Family Army."
"And there’s Nann State; they are in dire need of an alliance right now. This is our best opportunity."
The room buzzed with discussion, all suggestions hitting the mark, but Zheng Congyuan, seated in the chief position, had yet to speak, causing so urgency among the others, "Your Highness, this is not the ti for indecision." Without action, the realm might well belong to the Wen Family.
Zheng Congyuan raised his hand, stilling the debate as a guard quickly approached him.
Pri Minister Lin imdiately recognized him; this was the trusted aide who had been constantly coming and going from Zheng Congyuan’s side the past few days. His attention sharpened towards the newcor.
"Speak—," Zheng Congyuan said, signaling that his own people need not co closer, and the guard took his position.
"Reporting to Your Highness, our forces have engaged the troops at the Southeast Border, and all the families colluding with the Wen Family have been brought under control. The sa is true for the Eastern Border. The only area left is the Northern Border, and we have yet to receive any news from Lord Ju."
At these words, the room fell silent, everyone frozen in place. The Crown Prince had already been taking action behind the scenes.
Pri Minister Lin was the first to stand up, agitated.
"Crown Prince, we still have the Northwest Army in the Northern Border, and General Ling can be relied upon. With Lord Ju’s assistance, there shouldn’t be any great issue." By baiting with himself and the other officials, the Crown Prince had successfully diverted the Wen Family’s focus, striking covertly where they least expected it—a risky military maneuver indeed.
All the officials present were suddenly overwheld with excitent.
Zheng Congyuan looked towards the people.
"Ladies and gentlen, the strategies you just suggested have all been considered by the palace, and indeed, they are very feasible. Furthermore, we can quell this rebellion without forming an alliance with Nann State," Zheng Congyuan spoke, "And now, all I need is for everyone to cooperate in one last act, to silence the endless gossip across the realm."
At that mont, everyone’s eyes were on Zheng Congyuan, and Qi Ling’s spine straightened in an instant. Wasn’t this the mont the Crown Prince had been planning for all along?
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