青春期撞上更年期第1部

These women in the Palace looked ghastly pale. They wanted to hide elsewhere but couldn’t find shelter in the darkness. They trembled and huddled together, not knowing what had happened. Anyway, it didn’t sound like a good thing. How could such a lot of awful noise appear in the Palace? The first idea that came to many people was that a rebellion was happening.

In the night, Zhaoyi Di hurriedly followed a eunuch carrying a lantern and went to a palace out of use.

Chu Liuyue was sitting in the middle of the hall.

“Greetings, Your Highness!” Zhaoyi Di said.

“How is it going?” Chu Liuyue asked.

“Commandery Prince Cheng has taken some people to the Emperor’s resting place!” Zhaoyi Di reported.

“Good, well done. After my success, I’ll help you leave the Palace. You can change your name and leave the Palace!” Chu Liuyue felt quite pleased and promised with a trace of smile.

Zhaoyi Di had always kept a low profile. Who would have known that she was the daughter of Commandery Prince Cheng’s aunt?

Commandery Prince Cheng’s mother was very inconspicuous in the Palace. She married into the imperial Palace, while her younger sister became a concubine in Duke Yong’s Mansion. The two sisters were separated in troubled times. Later, Zhaoyi Di entered the Palace and accidentally dropped a sachet embroidered with peony, which her deceased mother left behind. They would not have recognized each other if it hadn’t been for it.

After Commandery Prince Cheng’s mother was separated from her family in times of disorder, she had been a famous prostitute in a brothel. Her name as a prostitute was Peony. For one thing, she was as beautiful as flowers. For another, she wanted to find her family. Commandery Prince Cheng particularly hated the degrading past of her mother and everything with peony patterns.

However, the sachet embroidered with peonies that Zhaoyi Di lost happened to appear before him. Besides, he also had a s sachet. Even if he loathed it, he could tell at a glance that this sachet was similar to his mother’s.

After recognizing her identity, Commandery Prince Cheng treated this cousin well and asked people to support her in the Palace. Otherwise, she would not have become the Emperor’s favored woman for a period. His purpose was to let her keep an eye on the Emperor.

Commandery Prince Cheng regarded Zhaoyi Di as one of his people, but he never thought she was also related to Duke Yong’s Mansion, which had something to do with Chu Liuyue. As such, Chu Liuyue discovered the relationship between Zhaoyi Di and Commandery Prince Cheng with little effort. Compared with Commandery Prince Cheng, he could make arrangements in the Palace more easily. After all, everyone thought he or Chu Liuzhou would get the throne then.

They would turn a blind eye to Prince Yue’s secret business.

Something went wrong with Duke Yong’s Mansion. But because of Commandery Prince Cheng and Chu Liuyue, Zhaoyi Di didn’t get into trouble. Zhaoyi Di only had one request: she would leave the Palace with a new name when the overall situation had settled down.

The Imperial Palace had never been a happy place for her.

Chu Liuyue agreed to it without hesitation.

Zhaoyi Di had carefully compared the strength of Commandery Prince Cheng and Chu Liuyue and felt Chu Liuyue was more likely to succeed. Moreover, if she did not listen to Chu Liuyue, the secrets between her and Commandery Prince Cheng would be exposed. It would be a crime of deceiving the emperor. Therefore, Zhaoyi Di had no choice but to comply. She only wanted to leave the whirlpool of the power game in the capital city.

Commandery Prince Cheng entered the Palace today because she had sent a message to him. Thus, with determination, he cut off all means of retreat to fight for his bright future.

Unfortunately, as Commandery Prince Cheng coveted gains ahead, he was unaware of the danger behind him.

Of course, Chu Liuyue was not the only one who would represent a danger to him.

When Chu Liuyue learned about the time that Commandery Prince Cheng had gone to the Emperor’s resting palace, he asked his people to take Zhaoyi Di away. He was not in the mood to settle her down at this time.

After calculating the time, he also brought his people to the Emperor’s resting palace. Since the first batch of people went there for a rebellion, the second group must be there to help the Emperor out of trouble. He would do an excellent job of saving the Emperor. But no one could predict what would happen during the process. If Chu Liuchen died in it, it was not his fault. At most, he would tear Commandery Prince Cheng into pieces!

Blood flowed like a river at the gate of the Emperor’s resting palace. The blood of the guards and Commandery Prince Cheng’s people dyed the ground red. Under the high lanterns was Commandery Prince Cheng dressed in armor. There were two rows of archers behind him. All their sharp arrows were pointing at the palace’s tightly closed gate, walls, and roofs. Meanwhile, guards of the Palace were hiding with sharp-edged swords in their hands, waiting for them to go over and attack.

The fight resulted in a stalemate, but Commandery Prince Cheng felt increasingly uneasy and looked behind him — he brought over many people. At present, some went to Empress Dowager’s Palace of Benevolent Peace and Noble Consort Lan’s place, hoping to capture the two people of great importance first. Then they could force the Emperor to submit.

Even if the Emperor refused to give in, Chu Liuchen inside had to. It was because they knew Chu Liuchen was very fond of his wife. Therefore, he also sent someone to Prince Chen’s Mansion.

But against all expectations, these people inside didn’t show a hint of fluster. How could it be?

“Your Highness, we can’t delay it for too long!” A person beside Commandery Prince Cheng reminded him.

Commandery Prince Cheng gritted his teeth. At this time, he had no way out. Initially, he did not intend to force the Emperor to abdicate. But now, if he did not do that, he might not even stay alive. Even if he survived, he would be locked up forever for what he did. He was not willing to accept such a result. For so many years, he had been waiting patiently. He certainly did not want to be imprisoned for a lifetime.

“Go ahead!” Commandery Prince Cheng waved his hand and ordered in a resounding voice.

Hearing that, Commandery Prince Cheng’s people rushed forward. The guards of the palace moved forward. As they took action step by step, the half-closed gate of the resting palace was pushed open. Commandery Prince Cheng was overjoyed and stepped forward eagerly — victory looked certain.

“Guards, Commandery Prince Cheng has rebelled! Kill him!” Suddenly, someone shouted loudly. A group of people darted diagonally forward. Raising their swords, they waded into these guards in the Palace and helped them to kill people from the Commandery Prince Cheng’s Mansion.

Chu Liuyue appeared behind the crowd, also in a suit of armor. He pointed to Commandery Prince Cheng and thundered, “Commandery Prince Cheng rebels. Take him down.”

The noise came from somewhere. It sounded like a powerful army would rush violently in response to Chu Liuyue’s order. Commandery Prince Cheng’s face changed significantly. Chu Liuyue’s appearance was a great shock to him. What was worse, it seemed he had brought many people with him.

The two sides were well-matched at first, and Commandery Prince Cheng’s people were even a notch above these guards in the Palace. However, as Chu Liuyue’s people joined these guards, Commandery Prince Cheng had to retreat step by step. The hat on his head had fallen off, and he looked pathetically embarrassed with messy hair.

As more people rushed over, Commandery Prince Cheng’s soldiers retreated hastily. In the end, they were caught together with Commandery Prince Cheng.

“We succeeded! We seized Commandery Prince Cheng!” Someone screamed. The people brought by Commandery Prince Cheng got frustrated and didn’t dare to charge forward at the forefront. Those who could escape had fled in panic. Commandery Prince Cheng had come aggressively with malice written all over their faces, but now they had all dispersed.

Chu Liuyue straightened his clothes and strode to the resting palace. However, guards at the gate stopped him and were about to speak. At this moment, the two guards around Chu Liuyue stepped forward and stabbed them to death.

Chu Liuyue’s men had killed the guards in the Palace! Seeing this, other guards, who had been relaxed, became nervous again. Some came up to stop them, while some charged forward to intercept and kill them. But because it happened so suddenly, they failed to stop Chu Liuyue. As Chu Liuyue’s people pressed forward step by step, the guards in the Palace retreated repeatedly, and their number decreased.

When Chu Liuyue saw the Emperor lying on the bed, a complacent smile appeared on his face. Fortunately, he was fully prepared, so the victory now belonged to him.

Chu Liuyue took two steps forward, knelt before the Emperor on the bed, and reported respectfully, “Father, Commandery Prince Cheng and Chu Liuchen rebelled. I caught Commandery Prince Cheng, but Chu Liuchen escaped. Please appoint me as the crown prince and dispatch some people to capture Chu Liuchen.” Chu Liuyue took two steps forward and said respectfully, half kneeling toward the Emperor on the bed.

“You… you unfilial son!” In a towering rage, the Emperor grabbed the teacup nearby and smashed it down onto Chu Liuyue.

Chu Liuyue raised his hand and grabbed the teacup. As he raised to his feet, his face, with a respectful look, became indifferent. “What’s wrong? Do you hate to give up on Chu Liuchen? Is your son inferior to your nephew? Father, others may think Chu Liuchen is your biological son. Whatever you are thinking, please issue an imperial edict to arrest Chu Liuchen!”

“You unfilial son, I won’t write it!” The Emperor refused with anger.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t write it. Even if you die now, I needn’t take the blame. Father…” Chu Liuyue said, wearing an insolent expression. Looking at the dying and furious Emperor on the bed, he laughed and said, “Now, only I and Chu Liuxin in the royal family are fine. When Chu Liuxin dies, I will be the only heir to the throne. Even if you don’t issue an imperial edict, the throne will be mine!”

“You unfilial son! Aren’t you afraid of being too ashamed to see me in the world after death?” The Emperor pointed to him and scolded him harshly.

“So what? If you don’t want to see me, I can move you to another place in case you angrily trouble me when I also go to the world after death!” Chu Liuyue said flatly and glanced at the resting palace. “Chu Liuchen is not here? I heard he had been very considerate to you these days. Why can’t I see him now? Is he hiding somewhere?”

He was extremely proud of his success. Seeing he had taken control, he felt even better. For some reason, he eagerly gave vent to his grievance and rage with a feeling of exaltation upon fulfillment.

“You… you…” The Emperor covered his chest, too furious to say anything. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Derong, who was standing aside, screamed in shock and flew at the bed. “Your Majesty, please calm down. Don’t… don’t be angry!”

After that, he looked at Chu Liuyue and pleaded, “Show mercy, please. His Majesty is in poor health. In the past few days, he would vomit blood occasionally. If you irritate him, he is very likely to die. You don’t want the later generations to accuse you of killing your father and brothers, do you?”

“So what? The future history will be written under my surveillance. Play up to me. Otherwise, I don’t mind sending you to see my grandma early!” Chu Liuyue sneered, clapped his hands, and added, “Come on, bring me the imperial edict I’ve prepared. Please write your signature and mark it!”

Xiao Qizi came over from behind him with an imperial edict in his hand. The other parts of the edict had been finished, but there was no seal of the state and the Emperor’s signature.

“Father, please stamp on it!” Chu Liuyue said with a self-satisfied smile.

Seeing him behave in a disorderly manner without fear, the Emperor repeatedly spat out blood in anger. His eyes suddenly rolled up, and he went limp. Derong cried out in horror, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”