Outside the imperial capital city of the Yu Empire, the sound of a horse’s hooves broke the silent night. From afar, a military ssenger in a black uniform was seen galloping toward the city gate, covered in dust and sweat.
"Jia! Jia!" As he urged the horse to run faster, the military ssenger’s eyes were fixed on the closed city gate.
Soon, the soldiers standing guard on top of the city wall noticed him.
Narrowing his eyes, one guard took a closer look. The mont he saw the flag tied behind the military ssenger’s back, his eyes widened in surprise.
Without wasting any ti, the soldier hastily ordered, "Quick, open the city gate! It’s a military ssenger from the border!"
Hearing this, the other soldiers rushed down from the city wall. After removing the huge wooden plank that blocked the city gate, they pushed it open.
Just as there was enough space for three people to pass, the military ssenger rode into the city without slowing down.
"Jia! Jia!" Soon, his urging voice faded into the distance, and his figure disappeared into the darkness.
Catching a glimpse of how pale the ssenger’s face was, one of the guards whispered, "Hey, did you see his face? It’s so pale. Do you think sothing bad had happened on the border?"
The other guard kept pushing the gate and replied, "Stop talking and help close the gate."
Hearing this, the gossipy guard quickly joined his comrade and closed the heavy city gate.
When they finished locking the city gate, the gossipy guard continued in a hushed voice, "The ssenger looks terrified. I wonder what happened at the border to scare him like that."
The mont the words left his mouth, the other guard hurriedly covered it and looked around nervously. Only after confirming no one else had heard the gossipy guard’s words did he sigh in relief.
Glaring at the gossipy guard, he asked, "Are you tired of living? How dare you comnt on such matters?"
Realizing his mistake, the guard imdiately covered his mouth and muttered, "I know, I know. I won’t speak about those kinds of things anymore."
Giving him another glare, the other guard walked away and returned to his post.
While the two guards were speculating about what was happening at the border, the military ssenger arrived at the imperial palace’s entrance.
Before the imperial soldiers guarding the side gate could stop him, the military ssenger raised the report and shouted, "Urgent military report from the western border! Open the gate!"
Hearing this, the imperial soldiers quickly opened the side gate and let him in.
Since it was already midnight, the military ssenger rode straight to the second imperial gate, then dismounted and ran toward the imperial study.
The mont he entered the palace grounds, his arrival was relayed to Empress Dowager Wen. By the ti the military ssenger reached the imperial study, Wen Qiaolun was already waiting inside.
Seeing him led in by a young eunuch, the chief eunuch said, "Let’s go inside. The Empress Dowager has been waiting for you."
The military ssenger nodded and followed him into the imperial study. When he saw Wen Qiaolun sitting on the dragon chair, his eyes flickered with surprise.
Lowering his head, he secretly thought, ’So the rumors were true. The Empress Dowager has seized imperial power and won’t even let the young emperor attend imperial court anymore.’
Despite his thoughts, the military ssenger knelt before Wen Qiaolun and presented the military report with both hands. "Empress Dowager Wen, this is an urgent military report from the western border. Please take a look."
At Wen Qiaolun’s signal, the chief eunuch took the report and placed it before her, then stepped aside.
Thinking about her secret dealings with the Jin Empire, Wen Qiaolun said, "You may leave now."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." The ssenger bowed and withdrew.
Once he left the imperial study, the military ssenger hurried out of the imperial palace. Now that he had confird the rumors were true, he needed to report back to that person.
Inside the imperial study, Wen Qiaolun waved her hand and ordered, "All of you, leave."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." The maidservant and the young eunuch curtsied and left the imperial study.
Left alone with the chief eunuch, Wen Qiaolun opened the military report with anticipation in her heart. However, instead of the good news she expected, the contents sent chills down her spine.
Standing beside her, the chief eunuch noticed her ashen face and asked cautiously, "Empress Dowager, is sothing wrong with the military report?"
Hearing the question, Wen Qiaolun snapped out of her daze. Turning to him, she urgently ordered, "Quick, summon my elder brother to the palace!"
The chief eunuch looked stunned and hesitated. After a brief mont of hesitation, he said, "Empress Dowager, it is already very late... It may not be appropriate to summon Pri Minister Wen at this hour. How about—"
Before he could finish his words, Wen Qiaolun grabbed the jade teacup on the table and smashed it onto the floor.
Crash!
The sound startled the chief eunuch so badly that he fell to his knees. Trembling, he pleaded, "Empress Dowager, this servant was wrong! Please forgive this servant!"
Wen Qiaolun stood up from the dragon chair, kicked him aside, and scread, "Go summon my elder brother now! Otherwise, I will chop off your head!"
Terrified by her words, the chief eunuch tremblingly responded, "Y-yes! This servant will go at once!" He scrambled out of the imperial study, forgetting to even stand before moving.
Panting heavily, Wen Qiaolun stared at the open report on the table with a mixture of fear and rage.
She clenched her fists tightly until her fingers turned white as she muttered in fear, "Impossible... He wouldn’t dare..."
As if she rembered sothing, Wen Qiaolun’s eyes lit up. "Yes, that’s right! My elder brother will have a solution. With him here, nothing will go wrong."
While Wen Qiaolun tried to reassure herself, the chief eunuch rushed out of the imperial palace.
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