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The Fish and Dragon Dance Through the Night
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Empress Wen, probably even in her dreams, never imagined that in this palace revolt that has been plotted for this long, prepared for this long, paying countless price in between, she practically didn’t even enjoy a single moment of victory, yet she has already become a hostage with swollen cheeks, an aching head, and a sharp blade propped against her neck.
And for Li Consort who was merely two steps away from her, her thoughts were also somewhat similar. Just, comparing the two sides, Li Consort clearly was a bit more composed. In fact, after the empress shouted at the soldiers and guards outside to retreat, Li Consort didn’t get affected too much by the gaze of the other madams, instead even able to look towards Ming Jinrou and the others, “Crown princess, it’s better for you to be more tactful. Even if taking us hostage, you are also powerless to reverse the situation!”
At this moment, the near a hundred madams inside Yanqing Hall were also very alarmed. This palace revolt although will always inevitably occur every two to three generations, but having heard of before versus personally being in the middle of one was still very different. Who knows who will be the final winner?
From the current situation, the side that launched the revolt should be the empress and Li Consort, but can Ming Jinrou’s counter really pull against the violent tides? If the people and army that the empress and Li Consort arranged were capable, already subduing or even killing the crown prince in Shengping Hall, then even if Ming Jinrou subdue the empress and Li Consort at this time, what use is there?
When over a thousand soldiers break through Yanqing Hall’s doorway, with just five to six skillful and strong women, even if having a hostage, how far can they escape?
Moreover, Ming Jinrou didn’t bring the imperial grandson, Yuanjia, to the banquet. In other words, at this time, no one had expected that the news of the crown prince assassinating the emperor would come from Shengping Hall———–Was this news real or fake? Was it that the crown prince was unwilling to go to the northwest thus committed regicide and took control of the palace first, or was it the empress’s side that wants to first seize the crown princess and the womenfolk of the Xun family to launch an attack?
Furthermore, the voices outside seemingly were increasingly chaotic, the metallic clangs also increasingly close. Between the flickering candlelight, the shadows were disorderly. The unexpected changes during the palace banquet tonight, exactly which direction will it take?
Countless questions circled around in all the madams’ mind. Quite a few official ladies were scared to the point of going limp and loudly crying. This simply was just a nightmare, exactly what is going on!?
And Ming Jinrou, in this moment, increasingly displayed her firm and resolute temperament. After sharing a glance with Yu Lingxin, she also coldly sneered towards Li Consort, “Then, just wait and see exactly what is the will of heaven.”
Yu Lingxin also pressed down all the nervousness and panic inside, directly going to discuss a few words with Qian Wang heir’s madam, Marshal Yan’s madam, Madam Lou, and the other noble madams that she was familiar with, especially the womenfolk of military households. Everyone simply picked up a few weapon that they can protect themselves with and then sat together, mutually supporting one another.
At this very moment, how to take control of the situation was already out of the question. After all, Ming Jinrou’s side, in addition to her paternal aunt, Ming Huayue, and the other four servant girls, the ones that were truly skillful and strong really were just five to six people. Being able to catch the other side off guard and capture Empress Wen and Li Consort as hostage in one move, causing the people that the empress and Li Consort originally arranged near Yanqing Hall be unable to enter in time was already the limit. They don’t have the ability to send someone out to scout out the situation.
And the people outside actually were also waiting, waiting for the outcome of those fighting in the even outer circle who were even more important and even more crucial. The womenfolk’s side was merely just a small supplement. That’s why, under the circumstances of where both sides didn’t have many people, they unexpectedly maintained a seemingly absurd but actually delicate balance and deadlock, practically lasting for nearly two hours. The sky outside was already as dark as ink, and the shouting sounds and metal clanging sounds in the surrounding also gradually reduced. The womenfolk waiting in fear in Yanqing Hall were practically all scared, nervous, and out of their wits, their legs weak, not knowing what that so-called conclusion entails and which side the will of heaven will favor.
‘Peng!’
A loud sound followed by brightly lit lanterns and the strong scent of blood. Yanqing Hall’s doors directly got violently pushed open. The soldiers in the monotone uniform of the Capital City Guards poured in. Several dozen in front were holding long spears and behind them were the slivery glint of swords. All the soldiers had a red sash tied on their arm. The noble madams and official madams all started screaming in fear, mutually holding one another once again as they repeatedly backed away, practically pressed against the wall and pillars, futilely hiding.
And in the direct center of the womenfolk was naturally Ming Jinrou and the others who were holding Empress Wen and Li Consort hostage. Everyone clearly saw the uniform of the soldiers that poured in, as well as the tall and skinny figure dressed in a dark brocade cloak escorted by the soldiers. Li Consort was the first to be elated. Her face that was already in a sorry state was full of smugness as she loudly laughed, “Hahahaha! Crown princess, this is the will of heaven! You really think Qin Wang has the fate of a ruler? So what if you all have some martial arts? You all absolutely have no way out! Quickly have me released, perhaps can still spare your life!” Immediately after, she called out again, “Yuqing, my son! Quickly come save your mother!”
At this time, the womenfolk in the hall although were greatly frightened, but because of this line, they all simultaneously gazed towards the man in the hooded cloak with his face covered among the soldiers———–Meng Yuqing? The third prince, Wei Wang?
Could it be that Wei Wang really didn’t die, and the person that died was…….
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Sister-in-law!” Even if knowing that she shouldn’t lose control at this time, Xun Ying still tremblingly called out to Yu Lingxin.
Li Consort was very close to Xun Ying, so instantly saw her expression, feeling increasingly smug, “Hahahaha, unperceptive little slut! Right! The one that died in the fire was precisely your beloved Qi Ke!”
“Pah!”
Amidst everyone’s shock, Xun Ying who was that weak and frail actually raised her hand and landed a slap on Li Consort’s face.
Her strength was too small. Although she also left a red print behind on Li Consort, but what everyone was even more shocked about was——-Right now, it was already a dead end. Whether it’s the crown princess, or the people of the Xun family, afraid all won’t have the chance to have a good end, so how can Xun Ying still slap Li Consort at this time? Is she not afraid of getting………
Xun Ying clearly didn’t care about anything else. At the same time hitting Li Consort, her tears already started streaming down. Turning her hand, she pulled out the hairpin in her hair and was just about to cleanly end herself when she suddenly heard a clear shout from the soldiers’ side, “Your Highness!”
The sounds in the chaotic Yanqing Hall suddenly just lowered a little. Li Consort and Empress Wen, for a moment, still haven’t come to realization, yet Xun Ying’s hand stopped. With a crisp ‘patah’ sound, the hairpin just landed on the ground.
Everyone’s line of sight gathered over, just seeing that tall man whose figure was completely similar to Wei Wang’s move forward a few more steps and removed his hood.
In that moment, the clamor that had already lowered once thoroughly quieted down.
Li Consort completely didn’t dare to believe her own eyes, even the empress’s hands and feet all started shaking, “You….you….you….you’re………”
On the face of that thin yet elegant young man, there was still marks of bruising that have yet to completely fade away. However, that gentle and noble air that was full of scholarly essence wasn’t damaged in the slightest. He still bowed his body, just like every time seeing the little bookworm, pressing down the excitement and emotions in his heart like that, just revealing politeness and modesty, neither startled nor scared, “Li Consort, my condolences, the third prince had already ascended to heaven in the fire that he personally lit. In the past few days, your sorrows haven’t been in vain, and inside the coffin that was grandly buried was indeed his corpse.”
And at this time, the empress finally was able to blurt out, “……Qi Ke???”
“Your Highness have good eyesight.” Xun Che’s voice also sounded from rear of the soldiers, “General Pan has already been executed. What you’re seeing now, thinking that it’s the Capital City Guards’ reinforcement, is merely the Yulin Guards in disguise.”
While saying this, he similarly entered Yanqing Hall. As he waved his hand, the soldiers successively put away the weapons, orderly standing in formation. Behind them, the eunuchs, female doctors, and such hurriedly started to follow in, beginning to have those startled madams supported up and counted one by one. This was beginning to hand over the matters and take care of the aftermath.
The moment Empress Wen saw Xun Che, that was what was called thoroughly despairing to the bones, all hope turning to dust. In fact, she was powerless to even continue listening to what the other party wanted to say. Her two eyes rolled over and she immediately just passed out.
And Li Consort who was still getting held down similarly had her teeth clenched, her body uncontrollably shaking endlessly. All the winds and waves, ups and downs, so far in life can be considered to have thoroughly turned to dust. In her eyes, she clearly saw Xun Che come over, bowing to Ming Jinrou and talking to Yu Lingxin, also seeing Qi Ke, Xun Ying, Ming Huayue, as well as the various madams before her, but for a moment, the entire world was like as if there were no sounds. The human figures were that distinct before her eyes, yet also that blurry, seemingly that real, yet also seemingly all a dream.
She felt that she’d heard Xun Che’s words, such as the method in framing the crown prince have already been uncovered, his Majesty’s life has been preserved, the crown prince is safe, Zhao Wang has been executed, Wu Wang broke his leg, but still got caught………..and also how the important ministers were, how the imperial clansmen were, who is a traitor, who isn’t, where caught fire, where didn’t………….
She seemingly heard everything, yet seemingly didn’t hear anything. Her entire body was drifting with just one thought in mind, ‘How, how could it be like this?’
How come it was all over?
Wasn’t Yuqing still alive? His letters, his maps, his token, his arrangements, and also the empress’s conditions and cooperation, didn’t they poison the emperor, wasn’t everything all put in order?
How could it, how could it be like this?
In fact, when Li Consort once again heard that seemingly very distant cry, seeing Xun Ying directly pass out in front of Qi Ke, also seeing the people before go into a panic, it seemingly was still like separated by a layer of cloud and mist, that unreal. All the way until a sharp pain suddenly came from her arm, two tall and strong guards coming over to grab her, wanting to have her taken away, did she finally return to her senses.
And at this time, the fainted Xun Ying has already gotten hastily taken away by Ming Huayue. The great majority of the madams also got supported out. The one that was still managing the situation and cleaning up the aftermath was the crown princess, Ming Jinrou, and also that Xun Che, who no one knows where he gets this many ideas, as well as his wife, Yu Lingxin.
“Xun Che!” Li Consort suddenly loudly laughed, immediately attracting the attention of everyone present once again. Even the Yulin officer that was originally going to drag her away for questioning also, after glancing at Xun Che, temporarily stopped in his steps, not knowing what this Li Consort who looks as if already having gone made wanted to say.
“Xun Che, Councilor Xun, Wen’an Marquis heir,” Li Consort continued laughing, “you think you’ve already calculated everything, think that you’ve already throughly won? Hahahahahahahahahahahaa!”
Xun Che couldn’t help but frown, quickly sharing a glance with Yu Lingxin by his side, really having a bit of doubt. Li Consort’s temperament was much stronger than the empress’s. Even if having the pain of losing her son, even if having all hope turned to dust, it still wasn’t this way of going insane, could it be that he really overlooked something?
But, he didn’t. Xuan Emperor although got poisoned by the eunuch by his side, they still saved him in time, temporarily preserving his life. Wei Wang has already turned to dust, Wu Wang has been caught, and Zhao Wang is already dead, what other opportunity can Li Consort and Empress Wen still have to turn the tables?
He naturally has thoroughly won.
At this time, Li Consort finally obtained from the expression on Xun Che’s face the very last bit of victory and satisfaction in this life of hers. In fact, even her smile was softer, before she finally spat out word by word, “The Xun-shizi who has left no rocks uncovered, you’d investigated, changed, and even calculated everyone, so how come just overlooked the deputy general by your father’s side, Cao Liang? He’d just passed back a message to the capital yesterday. Today, in the northwest’s Tianying Mountain, your father will undoubtedly die!”
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firstly, the author has gotten significantly better at cliffhangers since this started. I forget if I mentioned it before, but I must stress this. absolutely at the pinnacle of the cliff at the end of this chapter. secondly, I have read enough cwns to know this, but it still bothers me every time – why is calling someone a slut always used so… inappropriately? what has XY done to infer immodesty? has she ever talked to QK alone? at any point? a secret rendezvous perhaps? no! always in public, following the rules for women, being modest and demure, never out of line, not even saying anything remotely scandalous at all!! so she’s a slut for squints pining? alone? in her house? like one could infer she likes QK from longing gazes across a party or something but like…what has she done specifically.. not convinced.
The translation is from 贱人, which technically translate to lowly person, I’ve seen people translate as bitch as well. Overall, it’s a term used to degrade someone, but in this context, it’s not about what XY has done. From the noble consort’s view, her son likes XY, so she must have seduced him and how dare she like another guy. Essentially, it’s shaming a woman for attracting men’s attention, even if it’s not of their own accord, which is unfortunately quite common in ancient times.