PFC Chapter 387 Drama
Chapter 387 Drama
Chapter 387
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Su's body shook violently, and he staggered back two steps, nearly collapsing to the ground. He stood there frozen for a long moment before suddenly falling heavily to his knees with a plop, crying out with tears streaming down his face, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please hold on! Don't leave me alone!"
Upon seeing this, the eunuchs in the hall all knelt down, and regardless of whether they were shocked or frightened, they all burst into tears, and their wails instantly resounded throughout the hall.
Outside the palace gates, the eldest prince, with a cold expression, flashed his token and declared in a deep voice, "This prince has been summoned to the palace to serve my father. All of you, make way!" The commander of the Imperial Guards glanced at the token and was about to let them pass when his gaze swept across the dense swarm of guards hidden in the night behind him. His heart suddenly tightened. He was about to speak to stop them when a flash of cold light suddenly appeared! Behind the eldest prince, Generals Ning and Wang shot out like arrows from a bow, their swords piercing the air.
The commander, a skilled agile warrior, retreated half a step, but the sword still pierced his shoulder, causing him to groan in pain. The other guards turned pale, their legs trembling, and they involuntarily retreated to the sides.
The eldest prince had no intention of taking his life. Seeing the commander staggering while clutching his wound, he narrowed his eyes and said, "You're just a gatekeeper, and you dare to stop me? If you want to live, get out of here!"
The commander clutched his bleeding shoulder, seemingly in fear, but ultimately waved his hand fiercely. As the heavy palace gate slowly opened, the creaking sound was particularly piercing in the silent night. The eldest prince raised his hand to stop the second general from reaching for the hilt of his sword, saying in a deep voice, "Remain calm and don't make too much noise."
The two men stopped their movements upon hearing this, bowed and replied "yes," and followed closely behind the eldest prince. Hundreds of guards surged in from behind like a tide, their footsteps mingling with the clatter of armor as they surged towards the depths of the palace.
The guards stood trembling against the wall, not daring to raise their heads or breathe. Once the eldest prince and his entourage had left, they rushed forward and frantically supported the commander. Someone quickly pulled out the prepared golden medicine, sprinkled it on the bloody wound, and bandaged it briefly.
"Commander, are you okay?" a guard asked worriedly.
"Nothing!" The commander gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his forehead. His face was as pale as paper, but he still forced himself to maintain a resolute expression. "Everyone, guard it well. This matter is not over yet!"
Turning around, he saw several guardsmen whose legs were still trembling with fear. The commander glared at them unhappily. Although his face remained stern, his tone softened unconsciously, sounding both comforting and commanding: "What are you afraid of? As long as you do your job well, I won't execute your entire clan!"
The commander's words were ambiguous and suggestive. These guards, having served him for years and many of them with keen minds, quickly grasped the meaning. At first, one was startled, then gently tugged at the sleeve of a comrade beside him, a wink. His companions understood, and they all tugged at each other, quickly clearing the way. The atmosphere of tension and fear that had permeated the air dissipated, and they once again gathered themselves, firmly at their posts, as if the previous chaos had never happened.
.........
Inside the palace, the silence had been shattered by cries emanating from the Taiji Hall. Everyone was lost in sorrow when, suddenly, the sound of measured footsteps echoed outside the hall, mingled with bursts of shouting and yelling. The sound, coming from afar, gained a commanding presence, and the already mournful atmosphere suddenly became tense. Those within the hall glanced at each other, their eyes filled with fear.
The timid palace maids couldn't help sobbing softly, while the eunuchs huddled together, their whisks trembling slightly. Eunuch Su stared wide-eyed, listening carefully to the noises outside, a bad premonition welling up in his heart.
"Go out and see what happened!" Eunuch Su pointed casually, and a eunuch trembled violently, but he did not dare to disobey. He stood up tremblingly and walked out of the hall.
Before long, the noisy sounds grew closer, faintly interspersed with cries and sounds of fighting. Eunuch Su could no longer contain himself and hurriedly waved his hand to the guards beside him to guard the palace gate while he himself prepared to go out and investigate.
At this moment, the eunuch who had been sent out earlier came running in, tumbling and stumbling, shouting, "Eunuch Su...Eunuch Su, no...something's wrong!"
Eunuch Su's brows were twisted into knots, and he didn't bother to scold him at this moment. He asked anxiously, "What happened? Don't be impatient, tell me slowly!"
The eunuch finally caught his breath and finished his words: "A group of guards are coming from outside, rushing this way! Anyone who dares to stop them will be killed! Eunuch Su, what should we do?"
"What?!" Eunuch Su's face instantly showed horror. He quickly signaled the guards to send some of them to block the way outside the palace gate, while he himself stood guard at the door of Taiji Palace, pacing back and forth anxiously.
Soon, the clamor reached the palace gate, accompanied by the clanging of swords. But after a moment, the noise faded away. Eunuch Su could no longer contain himself and was about to leave when the palace door was violently kicked open with a clang. Leading the charge was none other than the eldest prince, clad in armor and holding a longsword, exuding a murderous aura.
Eunuch Su's expression changed, but he immediately put on a flattering smile and said anxiously, "Grand Prince, you are finally here! Rebels have entered the palace from somewhere, and I was just worried about your Majesty's safety and was extremely anxious!"
Unexpectedly, the normally honest eldest prince had a stern expression on his face. He showed no emotion at all and said coldly, "Don't be afraid. With me here, the rebels can't get close to you."
After saying this, he looked like an eagle and asked, "Where is my father? Where is he?"
Eunuch Su didn't seem to notice anything unusual and nodded hurriedly, "That's good, that's good! His Majesty is in the palace. First Prince, please go in and take a look."
The eldest prince glanced at him, said "hmm" softly, and walked past him.
Seeing this, Eunuch Su hurriedly raised his leg to try to follow.
But in the next moment, the guards behind the eldest prince suddenly dispersed quickly, and surrounded Eunuch Su and the guards like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey.
Eunuch Su froze in his tracks, subconsciously struggling with his hands, his face filled with fear and confusion. After a moment, he seemed to remember something, his eyes widened, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Prince, what do you mean by this?"
The eldest prince ignored Eunuch Su's questioning and continued walking towards the inner hall with a stern look on his face. The guards also turned a deaf ear to Eunuch Su's calls and carried him into the inner hall behind the eldest prince.
Inside the hall, the eunuchs and imperial doctors huddled together, not daring to breathe or step forward.
The eldest prince didn't even glance at this group of cowardly people. After entering the hall, he raised his hand and waved it lightly. The alert people beside him understood his meaning and immediately stepped forward and walked quickly towards the dragon bed in the inner hall.
Seeing this, Eunuch Su's pupils suddenly contracted. He struggled with all his might, cursing, "What are you doing? His Majesty is still asleep. You are all ants. How dare you approach the dragon bed?"
However, the more he struggled, the tighter the guards on both sides held him. He twisted his body repeatedly, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not break free from the guards' grip.
Seeing no hope of escape, Eunuch Su turned his gaze abruptly, his eyes nearly spitting fire as he glared at the eldest prince: "He's your father! How dare you do this? Are you attempting to regicide by doing this? Aren't you afraid of His Majesty's punishment when he wakes up?"
"Hehe." The eldest prince chuckled, his eyes filled with indifference. The corners of his lips curled up with a hint of recklessness and arrogance, completely different from his usual simple and honest demeanor. He found a seat and sat down. "Eunuch Su, you have been with our father for so long. Could it be that you are getting old and confused?"
The eldest prince said in a leisurely tone, "My father suddenly fell seriously ill. The imperial physician's treatment for several days was ineffective. I was ordered to enter the palace to attend to him. How could it be regicide?" His expression was sincere and his words were full of concern, as if every word he said was true.
After a pause, he suddenly changed the subject, a cold look flashing in his eyes, "You still can't see the situation clearly, and you are unworthy of your title as the Grand Chamberlain. If the Emperor could really wake up, would he allow the palace to be in chaos and the people to panic?"
The journey to the palace was incredibly smooth; wherever they went, the guards and palace servants proved vulnerable. He couldn't help but harbor suspicions, but his trusted advisors' analysis and speculation dispelled his concerns.
"Your Highness, you don't know,"
The confidant lowered his voice and said, "Now that His Majesty is seriously ill and about to die, the palace is leaderless. Without a backbone, everyone is naturally like a pile of loose sand. As the eldest son, you are the most legitimate and qualified to inherit the throne!"
At this moment, he sat high in the Taiji Hall, surrounded by his personal guards. His smooth journey had left him worry-free, and he had long since forgotten the previous incident. Ambition quietly grew, gradually shedding his usual guileless facade, pushing him blindly towards the pinnacle of power.