Chapter 1008: Chapter 42, Empress’s Thoughts (1st update)
Teng Fei looked at the corpses scattered on the ground, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
He could roughly guess who had sent these people.
These people were from the Moonlight Cult, and the leader should be Han Tianci, Yun Jinnian’s younger brother.
Without the Saintess, the Moonlight Cult would certainly send everyone to search.
Even if they only suspected that the person who abducted Yun Jinnian was the Crown Prince, it would be enough of a reason for them to come and assassinate.
No, it’s not assassination; it’s a demonstration, a warning.
If the Crown Prince doesn’t hand over Yun Jinnian, the consequences would be more severe than just some dead Hidden Guards.
Teng Fei did not know why he had such thoughts, absurd yet laughable.
But, he did know the importance of the Saintess to the Moonlight Cult.
Taking a deep breath, Teng Fei planned to enter the palace to seek an audience with the Empress. For just one woman, such heavy losses—was it really worth it?
Empress Mei Wanqing had a dream, in which all those who loved her no longer loved her, and those she loved had departed from her, leaving her utterly alone.
Thinking of this, Empress Wu took a deep breath and ordered her attendants to help her rise.
It was almost thirty years since she crossed into this place, transforming from a legitimate daughter to a concubine’s daughter, from a concubine’s daughter to a Concubine, and then step by step becoming the Noble Consort, before ultimately an Empress. How much trials and tribulations had she gone through, how much effort had she exerted?
Originally, she thought she could become an Empress like Wu Zetian, but after several setbacks, she understood that her highest position could only be Empress, the future Empress Dowager.
To sit in Wu Zetian’s position, her skills were not yet sufficient.
"Your Majesty, Guard Teng requests an audience!"
The Empress was slightly surprised, "Let him come in!"
Teng Fei entered the inner chamber, carrying a heavy scent of blood.
The Empress frowned, "Are you injured?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is not I who am injured, but someone attempted to assassinate His Highness. However, they only killed those around him and did not harm His Highness. I returned to deploy personnel to protect His Highness, but on the way, we encountered another assassination, leaving only me surviving out of eighty!"
"What?" The Empress exclaimed.
Someone attempted to assassinate Yunshen?
Who could be so daring?
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I suspect it might be the brother of Miss Yun. Those assassins possess exceptional martial arts, seemingly especially cultivated, and some of them do not seem young!"
The Empress contemplated.
After pondering for a moment, she asked, "Can you be certain?"
"I am merely speculating!"
Although it was just speculation, the Empress understood that Teng Fei would not say such things without being eighty percent sure.
"Then what is your purpose in coming to the palace?"
"I earnestly request Your Majesty to persuade the Crown Prince not to delay important matters because of one woman!" Teng Fei said and knelt down on one knee.
The Empress looked at Teng Fei and could not help but laugh in anger.
As far as she knew, Teng Fei had always opposed abducting Yun Jinnian.
Firstly, Yun Jinnian had saved Zhou Yunshen’s life, and Zhou Yunshen doing so was undoubtedly repaying kindness with enmity.
Talk of love—who would covet such love?
Secondly, Yun Jinnian’s identity; she was the Commandery Princess Yijia of Tianchu Country, unmatched in medical skills, having saved many people, opened several pharmacies that were accessible to the poor, tore down several big residences to plant medicinal herbs that were used to aid impoverished patients, she had an excellent reputation.
Thirdly, she was also the Saintess of the Moonlight Cult.
The Moonlight Cult lacked a Saintess for many years, and now suddenly having one, they would undoubtedly protect her like the apple of their eye.
And the traitor had already been found by the Moonlight Cult, but no one knew what confessions had been extracted.
Once the Moonlight Cult found out Zhou Yunshen had abducted Yun Jinnian, they would definitely not let it go easily, and surely send their most elite forces to infiltrate the Great Zhou Kingdom, firstly to find Yun Jinnian, and secondly, to take revenge.
The Empress, understanding this, took a deep breath before saying, "You may go back now, I will persuade Yunshen!"