C156 Consort De

Early the next morning, the empress dowager ordered people to wake Shen Qingwan up. After a simple breakfast, she requested for everyone to leave. Shen Qingwan secretly observed the empress dowager's expression, making her look normal. She didn't ask anyone about the fire last night, as if she didn't know.

Shen Qingwan didn't know if she should say that the empress dowager was mature and steady, or that she didn't care about the lives of others, but no matter which one, it was not her place to care.

Until the group set off on their journey, Shen Qingwan also didn't see that respected abbot from yesterday. Everyone also acted as if they didn't notice anything and took the initiative to mention abbot.

Of course, Shen Qingwan wouldn't do such an insensible thing. She just silently followed by the empress dowager's side, trying her best to reduce the feeling of her own existence. The incense had already finished burning. When she returned, she wouldn't have to face the empress dowager at such a close distance. Just thinking about it made her heave a sigh of relief.

The empress dowager didn't like her very much. She could feel it, which was why she felt numb at the thought of the empress dowager asking her to accompany them in burning incense. Fortunately, the empress dowager didn't seem to want to make things difficult for her along the way, so she decided to take an outing.

As she was thinking, she heard the empress dowager call out to her. "Consort Xian?"

"Yes, chenqie is here." Shen Qingwan quickly replied.

"What are you thinking about? This one shouted at you many times, but you didn't respond." Her Majesty looked at her with a slight frown.

Shen Qingwan secretly complained in her heart. She really did what she was afraid of, and could only reply: "Chenqie was distracted for a moment, I hope Esteemed Empress Dowager does not blame me."

"Alright, I'm not blaming you for being so indiscriminate. You came here, you accompanied me all the way. This one has seen your carriage bumpy all the way, and there aren't any softer cushions in it. I'm afraid it's going to be tough on you. "Let's go back to the same carriage as This Dowager." He did not care about Shen Qing Wan's reaction and just let them help him into his carriage.

Shen Qingwan was helpless and couldn't refute the empress dowager. She could only follow the empress dowager into the carriage. "Thank you for your grace, empress dowager."

The empress dowager's carriage was equipped with better items than Shen Qingwan's, but it definitely didn't have the luxury of being in her own carriage.

Fortunately, the empress dowager didn't have any intention of talking to her, so she got into the carriage to rest while narrowing her eyes. Shen Qingwan let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes as well. However, she was secretly tidying up the mess that had happened recently.

On the other side, Fu Yuheng had always felt that something was amiss within the palace, as if something big was about to happen. As he thought about it, the only ones he was worried about were the Consort Xian and the empress dowager. He called the steward and asked where they were.

"Reporting to the Emperor, the Esteemed Empress Dowager and the Concubine Xian have yet to return to the palace. According to the usual practice, they should arrive at the palace at noon."

Right now, it was not far from noon, and they were probably not far from the palace either. He ordered, "Have the second squadron bring some people to meet the empress dowager and Consort Xian."

"Yes."

On the road.

"Esteemed Empress Dowager, Concubine Xian, please be careful not to kowtow in the woods where the road is not peaceful again." The driver reminded them.

The empress dowager didn't reply. She didn't even open her eyes, so Shen Qingwan could only answer and secretly pay attention to the bumpiness of the carriage.

Suddenly, the carriage driver pulled on the ropes, causing the horse to stop. The two people inside the carriage unavoidably swayed for a bit. The empress dowager unhappily opened her eyes and signaled Shen Qingwan to ask.

"What's going on outside?" Shen Qingwan asked loudly.

"Return to Concubine Xian! There are evil people blocking the way, please do not come out with Esteemed Empress Dowager, just let us handle it! " someone answered from outside.

The evil people outside seemed to have come prepared, and did not talk much with the guards. After a while, the clanging sounds of swords and sabers clanging against each other could be heard.

Shen Qingwan was anxious, she quietly pulled open the curtain on the side of the carriage, only to see a group of masked men in black fighting with the guards. Their numbers were not any less, and their martial arts were also quite strong.

Shen Qingwan thought to herself. Just as she was thinking of a way to escape, she heard a sonic boom coming from above.

"Empress, be careful!"

Shen Qingwan reacted the moment she heard the sound. She pounced on the empress dowager and dragged her to the other side of the carriage. A ray of sword light followed, slicing the carriage in half.

The two servants then arrived and began to fight with the man.

Shen Qingwan pulled the empress dowager and observed her surroundings. She slowly retreated to a safe place and the crowd gradually formed a protective circle around them.

"Esteemed Empress Dowager, I'm afraid the enemy's strength is only limited to us. Do you have any way to inform the Emperor?" Shen Qingwan asked.

The empress dowager's usually calm face was a little flustered from being assassinated. She only shook her head when she heard Shen Qingwan's words.

Just as the two of them were panicking, another group of people arrived and joined the battle.

"It's the second squadron of the imperial guards!" Shen Qingwan cried out in alarm, she had seen the commander of the second squadron before.

Seeing that the situation was gradually being controlled by the imperial guards, the empress dowager could finally heave a sigh of relief.

Not long after, the evil people were subdued and the imperial guards tied up those who weren't completely dead before bringing them back for interrogation. After a series of twists and turns, they finally returned to the imperial palace.

Fu Yuheng had naturally received the news that the two had been assassinated. After becoming furious, he had sent people to investigate the matter. A tense atmosphere enveloped the entire palace. The Emperor was enraged and everyone was in danger.

Fu Yuheng first went to the empress dowager's ancestral hall. Although the empress dowager's matter had displeased him, he was still her mother in name. Only when she saw that the empress dowager was fine did she instruct the servants to take care of her and leave.

"Does the emperor want to go to the Consort Xian to take a look?" Sun Ning asked from the side.

Fu Yuheng nodded. Naturally, he had to go.

But not now. The assassin had to be investigated thoroughly. After all, this matter was related to the Consort Xian and the empress dowager. They absolutely could not let it go so easily.

"Your majesty, after a careful search and confirmation, we discovered that the jade pendant that we found in the arms of the leader was indeed owned by the Consort De." The miscarriage of concubines was a serious crime, and they would only dare to report it after they had confirmed it.

Fu Yuhong expressionlessly took the jade pendant from his subordinate and scrutinized it carefully. He could not be wrong to see that the Consort De had worn this jade pendant before.

"Alright, I'm afraid I'll have to clean up my harem." Someone! imprison her in my palace, and without my permission, she is not allowed to take a step out of the courtyard! "

Consort De? How could it be her? Actually, Fu Yuheng also had his doubts. But now the evidence was conclusive, and his anger had made him lose his usual calm.