Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Chu Xiong Awakens

No one wants to die. Yun No. 12 dangled this tempting bait, intending to see if Chu Xiong was the type who feared death.

As Chu Xiong listened, his dull eyes indeed flickered with a faint light. Who would wish for death if life was an option? He mused. In any case, he was already in this state. It was better to cling to life, however wretchedly, than to die a noble death. If it truly was his Ninth Imperial Brother, passing the throne to him wouldn’t be unacceptable.

He had always suspected Xiao Yunjing hadn’t died and had previously tried all means to investigate his whereabouts. Now, he had truly returned.

Good, at least the realm of Daqian has not fallen into the hands of others.

He nodded.

Yun No. 12 nodded to the other men. They immediately sprang into action, moving Chu Xiong to a long couch. Then, taking the Daoist priest with them, they headed into the secret passage.

「In the imperial court, half an hour later」

The three Concubines were indeed brought in by Song Zheng.

When the three of them saw Xiao Yuling, they were all utterly astonished.

Xiao Yuling said softly, “My dear younger sisters, it has been a long time. Have you been well?”

The moment the three Concubines heard her speak in that characteristic Xiao Yuling manner, scenes from the past flashed before their eyes. This had to be Xiao Yuling! She really hadn’t died! Just moments ago, when Lord Song had come to invite them, they hadn’t believed it.

A person presumed dead for over twenty years had suddenly returned, and with a son.

The three of them approached together, bowed, and said, “Greetings, Elder Sister.”

When the late Emperor was alive, they were merely Consorts of lower rank. Their promotion to the rank of Four Senior Consorts came later. However, compared to Xiao Yuling’s rank of Imperial Noble Consort, their seniority was still lesser. Naturally, upon seeing Xiao Yuling, they had to pay their respects.

Xiao Yuling raised her hand slightly. “Rise. All you need to do is confirm that I am Xiao Yuling.”

As she finished speaking, she even nudged her chin towards Qingchen.

From the moment they entered, the three Concubines had taken in the scene and naturally understood the situation: she had returned to contend for the throne.

And when they saw Xiao Yunjing standing to one side, his face so strikingly similar to the late Emperor’s, what else was there not to understand?

The winds of power in the imperial court were ever-shifting, and they, women of the harem, had always been sacrificial pawns in these struggles. From the moment they were summoned to the court, they were already embroiled in this power struggle.

They had no choice but to side with Xiao Yunjing now.

Concubine Xian nodded. “You are, of course, Imperial Noble Consort Xiao Yuling. There is no doubt about that. We simply never expected you to still be alive.”

Concubine Xian’s eagerness to declare her stance was primarily because of her daughter, Princess Rong. She was married to the heir of Marquis Anping. Marquis Anping himself was an unyielding man who had been consistently suppressed by Qingchen, and now the entire Anping household was faring poorly. Her standing up now was a clear statement: she was on Xiao Yunjing’s side.

Once she declared her position, Concubine De and Concubine Shu quickly followed suit.

With all three of them having stated their allegiance, the ministers in the court exchanged glances. The three Concubines had confirmed Xiao Yuling’s identity, leaving the ministers uncertain whether to pay respects or not. Qingchen’s supporters, naturally, stood firm and would not move. As for the other ministers, if they were to bow, wouldn’t that be a tacit betrayal of Qingchen? With matters still undecided, they were unwilling to switch allegiance prematurely.

Xiao Yuling nodded in satisfaction, looking mockingly at Qingchen. “Well? I’ve made it clear I’m Xiao Yuling. Where did this little whelp spring from, daring to question me?”

“You insolent wench!” Qingchen was furious, roaring at Xiao Yunjing.

“Insolent? Me? Ha! I can be far more than just insolent! Son, seize this shameless lout! The very sight of him is repulsive.” Xiao Yuling stood up, pointing her finger at Qingchen’s nose as she berated him. She had been playing this part with her son for so long; it should be about time for the act to end, shouldn’t it?

Xiao Yunjing nodded, quickly stepping in front of Xiao Yuling to shield her, wary of Qingchen launching an attack. He reckoned Yun No. 12 and the others should be about done.

Qingchen was seething with rage, but he could not act yet. He could see Xiao Yunjing was stalling for time, though he didn’t know what he was waiting for. No matter. He would deal with this troupe of contemptible clowns all at once later. Anyone who dared to ruin his plans would pay the price.

Before long, as expected, a eunuch’s shrill voice pierced the air from outside the grand hall, “His Majesty, the Emperor, arrives!”

“What? The Emperor is here?!”

The ministers were astounded. The Emperor had not attended court for half a year, yet he had come today. Though, given the day’s extraordinary circumstances, it would have been more surprising if he hadn’t.

Four powerfully built men in close-fitting attire carried Chu Xiong in. The ministers gasped in shock at Chu Xiong’s appearance. The usually spirited and robust Emperor was now emaciated and pale, with deeply sunken eye sockets, lying feebly on the long couch. Yet, from his features and the dragon robe he wore, the ministers could still recognize him as their reigning Emperor, Chu Xiong.

One after another, the ministers knelt. “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

Chu Xiong weakly waved his hand at them. “You may rise.”

The ministers rose, then stood silently, watching the impending events unfold. They all understood that today would bring an earth-shattering upheaval; the political landscape was about to transform.

Chu Xiong stared fixedly at Qingchen, who sat upon the emperor’s throne. His deathly pale face suddenly flushed with anger. He pointed at Qingchen and rasped with great effort, “You… you traitor! Get down from there for Zhen this instant!”

The moment Qingchen saw Chu Xiong, he was stunned. Chu Xiong was under the surveillance of his men in the Qin Tianjian; how had Xiao Yunjing’s people found him? And how had they managed to rouse him? He was certain about the efficacy of his drug; even he had no way to make Chu Xiong regain consciousness. He inwardly conceded that Xiao Yunjing indeed possessed remarkable abilities. However, their arrival was opportune. He would capture them all in one fell swoop today, saving himself future trouble. Even without the King of cursed insects, he still had other poisons at his disposal.

Qingchen calmly descended from the emperor’s throne and walked towards Chu Xiong. Yun No. 12 and Yun No. 11 immediately moved to block him, wary of Qingchen, fearing he might suddenly attack Chu Xiong, which would render all their efforts futile.

Qingchen suddenly smiled. “What are you afraid of? With so many of you here, I couldn’t possibly escape your grasp, could I?”

Xiao Yunjing, observing Qingchen’s abrupt shift in demeanor, knew he was undoubtedly plotting something and remained vigilant.

At that moment, Chu Xiong waved his hand at Yun No. 11 and Yun No. 12. “Let him approach.”

Yun No. 12 asked, “Are you certain?”

Chu Xiong replied, “Certain. What can he possibly do in the main hall? Zhen is the Emperor.”

’Still calling himself the Emperor,’ Yun No. 11 and Yun No. 12 thought, rolling their eyes. Chu Xiong was probably the most absurd emperor in history. Besides, this man was precisely after him, the Emperor.

The two looked back at Xiao Yunjing, who nodded at them. With Chu Xiong as bait, he was more than happy to oblige.

Chu Xiong’s gaze followed Yun No. 12 and Yun No. 11 towards Xiao Yunjing. The moment he saw Xiao Yunjing, he said, “That must be Xiao Yunjing, correct? My Ninth Imperial Brother?”

Xiao Yunjing cupped his hands. “Greetings, Your Majesty. This subject is Xiao Yunjing.”

Chu Xiong squinted and nodded. “Very good.” He greatly resembled the late Emperor, possessing an imposing bearing and a regal aura. Chu Xiong sighed. “Such is time, such is fate!” Even without his presence today, this Ninth Imperial Brother would have been the ultimate victor.

He uttered only these two words before turning back to Qingchen, his eyes blazing with fury. “You traitor! You rebel! Today, Zhen shall strip you of your princely title and cast you into the death prison!”

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