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Chapter 197.2
At this point, no one could maintain their composure anymore. When Erbao asked again, Yaoniang didnt know how to respond.
In Jin Wang Manor, at the highest observatory tower, a three-story tower, two people were standing at this moment.
One person was dressed in black armour, with a black cloak embroidered with a red underside draped over his shoulders. With one hand behind his back, he silently gazed at the distant front line, where the battle was deadlocked. From here, it was impossible to see how many people had died or which side they belonged to. Only a dark cloud was visible, devouring everything in its path bit by bit.
Your Highness, will our reinforcements arrive in time?
Jin Wang remained silent, his gaze still fixed in the distance.
In the far distance, one could faintly see the rolling dust, and the person who asked the question followed the gaze, a glimmer of light reflecting in his eyes.
Theyre here!
Inside the Forbidden City, it was so quiet it was as if no one existed.
The palace maids and eunuchs, who were usually bustling like ants, had disappeared overnight. Occasionally, if one was seen, they hurried along as if being chased by ghosts.
Li Dequan sat quietly in the rear chamber of Qianqing Palace, his back hunched like a stone statue, able to remain motionless for a long time.
As one grows old, their limbs become less agile. Since Emperor Hongjing passed away, Li Dequan seemed to have lost his spirit, aging several decades in an instant.
Seeing him in such a pitiful state, some of the eunuchs who had served in Qianqing Palace couldnt bear to curse him in their hearts.
They were all lonely individuals. Who could curse whom? Li Dequan was afraid of death and had done some stupid things, but they didnt fare any better. Those with ambition had long left, filling the mass grave that night.
Dai Wang had revealed his true colours and no longer needed Li Dequan, so no one paid him any attention. He didnt wander around and was willing to stay wherever, and Li Dequans favourite place to stay was the rear chamber where Emperor Hongjings corpse lay.
Because Dai Wang was busy with his grand ambitions, he hadnt even bothered to prepare the funeral for his own father. Others also didnt dare to move it without permission, so the corpse remained on the dragon couch. It was hot in the seventh to eighth months of the year, and they couldnt let the body decay. Fortunately, the palace had plenty of ice, and they brought in many blocks to keep the corpse chilled.
Occasionally, someone would come to take a look. The corpse appeared lifelike, with a thin layer of frost on the exposed skin. It wouldnt rot even after some time. So Dai Wang felt at ease to pursue his grand ambitions, and never went back to the rear chamber. Apart from Li Dequan and a eunuch responsible for watching over him, hardly anyone would come here.
The hall remained quiet as if time itself had halted. Xiao Mozi glanced from a distance at Li Dequan, who seemed to be asleep while sitting there, rubbed the goosebumps on his arms, and walked away.
He was unwilling to stay here for any longer. Together, the man who had been dead for days and the old man on the verge of death gave off an eerie feeling that could be felt even before entering the room.
After a while, Li Dequan suddenly stood up from the footstool and quietly crossed over the dragon couch, reaching the thick curtain on the wall.
He lifted the curtain, revealing a treasure cabinet pressed against the wall, adorned with various ornaments. Li Dequan extended his hand and fiddled with one of the small incense burners. Suddenly, the treasure cabinet split in silence, revealing a black hole.
He bent down and walked inside, and soon the treasure cabinet returned to its original state. The heavy curtain still hung low, and the person on the dragon couch appeared lifelike.
Lying on the couch was an old man, not dead but resembling a dead person.
As soon as Li Dequan saw this person, his eyes turned red. Without daring to cry too much, he hurriedly took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom and bent down, dripping the contents into the persons mouth.
This old servant is useless and is being watched too closely. Now this old servant cant even get a drop of ginseng soup. Your Majesty, please make do with this and drink more. Only by drinking more can your dragon body be preserved
Emperor Hongjings face was sallow, full of illness. He sipped the rice soup drop by drop into his mouth. After living a lifetime, this was his most miserable period. He didnt blame anyone; he could only blame himself for being stubborn and trusting the wrong person.
How is it outside?
This old servant heard that Jin Wang has been confronting the central palaces faction with his people. This old servant doesnt know the specifics, except that Dai Wang has been getting angrier these past few days.
Having ambitious plans but being useless. He is no match for old fifth. A glimmer of light finally appeared in Emperor Hongjings hazy eyes.
Li Dequan dared not speak and kept the news he had heard today to himself. The soldiers from the Five Army Battalion have already entered the city. How could Jin Wang, with such a small number of people, be their match? But he dared not say it. He was afraid that if he said it, His Majesty would collapse. After all, His Majesty was currently already very weak.
No one expected Chang Jianan to betray Emperor Hongjing, not even Emperor Hongjing himself. During the period Emperor Hongjing had been unconscious, he woke up once in the middle, but due to his suspicious nature, he kept it hidden. He had intended to secretly recover while ordering an investigation into the truth behind the betrayal. But he suddenly discovered overnight, that there was no one he could trust.
Emperor Hongjinghad suddenly lost his sight, hearing, and mobility, and was paranoid of someone discovering that and using it against him. Helpless, a sudden plan emerged: he let his body double, who he had raised for many years, replace him, while the real Emperor Hongjing was hidden away by Li Dequan in a secret chamber.
Ironically, it was Emperor Hongjings suspicious nature that saved him, as trouble arose the following night.
For the past few days, Emperor Hongjing had been trapped in this secret chamber, being conscious only occasionally while mostly in a state of unconsciousness. It was unknown what kind of medicine he had been given, but it was highly toxic. It left him weak and powerless, often unable to control himself, causing him to fall asleep.
Dont forget about the Lingwei.
Emperor Hongjing seemed to understand Li Dequans thoughts and suddenly spoke these words.
Li Dequan asked with suspicion, Your Majesty is referring to the guards of the imperial mausoleum?
The imperial mausoleum was located not far from the capital city, in Changping.
The mausoleum housed several generations of emperors from the Dagan Dynasty. To protect the mausoleum from malicious destruction, several guard posts were established in the area, with the guards known as Lingwei. These Lingwei were not officially recorded under the Ministry of War nor included in the capital guards, but they were a hidden military force near the capital.
However, the Lingwei rarely appeared in public, so was often overlooked by many.
Emperor Hongjing responded with a Hmm and continued, Dont forget who is there. When Zhen initially ordered old seventh to guard the mausoleum, he didnt complain at all. Zhen knew he must have had a plan. He thought Zhen didnt know what he was doing behind my back, but Zhen knows everything.
Li Dequan, filled with joy and tears, said, Your Majesty, we should be relieved. Now we have a way out.
Emperor Hongjing felt a sense of chaos engulfing him once again. His consciousness began to blur, and he struggled to stay clear-minded, only to realize his efforts were futile.
His eyes gradually clouded over, and his eyelids drooped. A faint voice emerged from his throat, Li Dequan, the secret passage of the Jingren Palace
Li Dequan was startled, as if he had been immersed in ice-cold water, experiencing an unprecedented sense of coolness.
Yes, this old servant understands, he replied.