Noble First Daughter-in-law

Chapter 1286 The Last Palace Gate

The sun withdrew its last ray of light, and almost in an instant, the entire city of Chang'an was shrouded in a dark web.

The Imperial Horse Road, covered by the shadows cast by the high walls on both sides, darkened faster than other places and was darker. Even though there was still a little light from the ceiling, it was almost pitch dark here. Only countless figures were swaying in front of the eyes in the darkness.

Finally, someone lit a torch.

Then, one after another, the flames flickered, illuminating the long corridor and casting ghostly figures one after another on the high walls. The strong smell of blood in the air made it seem even more eerie and terrifying.

At Yuwen Cheng's command, his soldiers immediately came over and dragged away the bodies of Xiao Yuansui, Zhao Tiesheng and others.

Shang Ruyi did not stop it.

But he ordered coldly: "Leave Xiao Yuansui's body here for now, and wait for me - once we're done with this, I will cut his body into pieces and leave it exposed in the wilderness!"

"...!"

Shang Ruyi frowned and glanced at him.

As if he sensed her gaze, Yuwen Cheng immediately turned around to look at her. Under the flickering firelight, his sneer seemed a little ferocious: "Why, sister-in-law, are you feeling distressed?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi remained silent and slowly lowered his eyelids.

But Yuwen Cheng seemed unwilling to let her go. He walked slowly in front of her, stared into her eyes and said, "Second sister-in-law, don't you feel sorry for me anymore?"

"..."

"You know, just now, he risked his life to save you."

"help me?"

Hearing these two words, Shang Ruyi immediately raised his eyes and looked at him. His clear eyes, illuminated by the firelight, actually revealed a scorching warmth: "Why did he save me? Could it be that someone wanted to kill me?"

"...!"

Yu Wencheng's face froze, he slowly stood up without answering.

Shang Ruyi asked: "Who here wants to kill me?"

"..."

"Is it you? Or—"

As he spoke, Shang Ruyi slowly turned his head and looked to the other side. That was where the Crown Prince and his men suddenly appeared from the north of the palace, including the Crown Princess Yu Mingyue, Yu Dingxing and the Guards led by him. Shi Yuxin had reported before that although the Crown Prince brought his men into the palace, they walked very slowly, obviously stalling for time. After all, Xiao Yuansui had evidence that they wanted to murder Yuwen Ye. Only after they got rid of him would they dare to go to the palace to see the emperor and put all the blame on Xiao Yuansui.

So, they must have been hovering around here the whole time, which is why we ran into them.

And now, Xiao Yuansui is dead...

Under the firelight, Yuwen Qian's face looked a little paler than usual, almost like his translucent pupils, and the whole person looked almost void - but Shang Ruyi knew that was just an illusion.

So, she deliberately said, "Your Highness, is there anyone here who wants to kill me?"

Yuwen Qian half-closed his eyelids and said nothing. However, Yu Mingyue, who had been following him, suddenly stood up and walked over, staring at Shang Ruyi intently: "Stop showing off here!"

Shang Ruyi smiled faintly: "Crown Princess, you are joking. I am alone and even my sword for self-defense has been taken away by you. How can I have the qualifications to show off in front of you?"

"..."

"After all, it wasn't me who rebelled."

"...!"

Yu Mingyue's face darkened.

She was very annoyed now. The original plan was disrupted by Xiao Yuansui. Although he was dead, Xiao Yuansui and the rebellious Right Thousand Bull Guards were still under the jurisdiction of the Crown Prince's Mansion. They had to think of an excuse to explain to Yuwen Yuan. If they could explain it clearly, it would be fine. If they couldn't explain it clearly, the emperor would be suspicious of them...

Thinking of this, she became furious and raised her hand towards Shang Ruyi: "You——"

Shang Ruyi subconsciously clenched his fists.

But she could do nothing at this time. Just now, after the Crown Prince and the King of Qi led their troops to surround her, they asked two guards to take her aside. "Take" was a polite way of saying it. In fact, they took her aside. Now her hands were handcuffed behind her back and she could not move.

Seeing Yu Mingyue's hand raised high and about to swing down towards her, a deep voice rang out: "Alright!"

The big white hand stopped above Shang Ruyi's head.

Yu Mingyue gritted her teeth and turned her head, only to see Yu Dingxing slowly walking out of the team. His only remaining eye was particularly bright in the firelight, but also looked particularly fierce. He only glanced at Shang Ruyi and said, "Crown Princess, there is no need to waste your breath on her."

"..."

"As for who is the rebel——"

As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at Shang Ruyi with a fierce smile: "The people under the Qin Wangfei's command went to Mingde Gate, and then the city gate was opened; Xiao Yuansui led his troops to Zhuque Gate, and the Qin Wangfei happened to be there to meet them; he wanted to enter the palace but was unable, so the Qin Wangfei led the way for him..."

"..."

"Who do you think is the rebel?"

Hearing his words, Shang Ruyi sneered: "Jun Gong, do you think the emperor is a three-year-old child?"

"How to say?"

"Everyone saw that my people prevented Xiao Yuansui's army from entering the city. Everyone also saw that my people prevented him from entering the palace through the Suzaku Gate. Everyone also heard that the Qianniu Guards of the Prince's Mansion rebelled, and the women's army of the Prince of Qin's Mansion suppressed the rebellion!"

"..."

"Do you think you can turn right into wrong with just a few words?"

"..."

This time, Yu Dingxing did not speak immediately, but looked at her quietly. However, this silence, against the backdrop of the increasingly dark sky and the swaying flames, was somewhat suffocating and weird. Shang Ruyi subconsciously held her breath, but heard her heartbeat getting heavier and heavier.

Then, she saw Yu Dingxing slowly raise his head, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"The premise of confusing right and wrong is that there are people who judge right and wrong."

"..."

"If no one judges black and white, then what is the meaning of black and white?"

"...!"

Shang Ruyi's heartbeat suddenly sank, and when she looked at the ferocious look in his eyes, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

Not only her, she even saw behind Yu Dingxing, Yuwen Qian's tall figure trembled slightly. Although it was only a very slight tremor, his figure was projected on the high wall behind him by the firelight, turning into an extremely huge black shadow, and that slight tremor seemed to be a tremor that shook the earth.

Yu Mingyue's expression suddenly changed. This place is only separated from the imperial palace by a wall.

Whatever you want to do is just one step away, and you can do it...

She suddenly realized something and then gasped, her whole body seemed to be in a trance. Shang Ruyi could see more clearly Yuwen Cheng, who was the farthest away from the group. Most of his body was hidden in the darkness, and the people around him could hardly see the expression on his face. At this moment, he showed a bit of fanaticism.

Yu Mingyue suddenly turned around and looked at Yuwen Qian: "Crown Prince——!"

Yuwen Qian looked up at him and said calmly, "It's getting late. It's been so long. If you don't come to the palace to see the emperor, I'm afraid my father will blame you. Let's go."

After saying that, he walked to the side and climbed onto the horse.

Yu Dingxing frowned, took a step forward, and held his horse's back with one hand, as if he was holding the horse for him, but also as if he was trying to stop him, and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, there are some things that must be planned early."

Yuwen Qian looked down at him and said solemnly, "Let's go into the palace first."

"Prince!"

Seeing that Yu Dingxing was about to grab his horse's head, Yuwen Qian said, "Duke, have your guards escort me all the way to the palace. The city is in chaos, and the palace is not safe either. The guards here must be replaced."

When he heard him say this, Yu Dingxing's eyes lit up again.

He immediately said, "Yes!"

After saying that, he hurriedly walked into the crowd and gave orders to the guards who were waiting on the Imperial Horse Road. These people did not dare to delay and they mounted their horses or stood up, and once again lined up in an orderly manner to guard the prince.

Yuwen Cheng came out from the darkness at this time. Yuwen Qian turned around and said, "Third brother, why don't you get on the horse?"

"it is good."

Yuwen Cheng agreed and took two steps towards his horse. Suddenly he stopped and looked back at Shang Ruyi, saying, "Royal brother, let's take my second sister-in-law with us, just in case."

Yuwen Qian glanced at Shang Ruyi and said, "Yeah."

Yuwen Cheng said: "In that case, I won't get on the horse. I will accompany my second sister-in-law on this journey."

As he spoke, he slowly walked to Shang Ruyi and said, "Second sister-in-law, please."

Shang Ruyi looked at him with a frown, but said nothing in the end. He turned around silently and followed their group forward.

In fact, she had never really walked this road. After all, not long after arriving in Chang'an, Yuwen Yuan ascended the throne and she became the Princess of Qin and lived in the palace. Although she later followed Yuwen Ye to set up a residence and moved out of the palace, she mostly walked along the palace gate avenue in front when entering the palace to meet the emperor.

She has never been here once.

Although she had never been here before, she was not unfamiliar with it, because the Ziwei Palace in Luoyang was built according to the Taiji Palace in Chang'an, and the locations of the palace gates and palaces were roughly the same. So she knew very well that when she walked to the end of this imperial horse road and turned left, she would reach the north side of the imperial palace. The high palace wall extended all the way to the west, and there were three palace gates waiting for them ahead.

The night darkened a little.

Even though there were people holding torches ahead to clear the way, they did not move very fast. Yuwen Qian and the others were just riding their horses at a leisurely pace. After walking for about a meal's time, they finally saw a tall palace gate appear in front of them.

There is the Xuande Gate.

Shang Ruyi vaguely remembered that the same location was in the Ziwei Palace in Luoyang. After entering this palace gate, it was the Zuozang Palace. Going further in was the East Palace where Empress Dowager Jiang once lived.

Of course, there are differences here and Luoyang.

As soon as they saw the palace gate, their team stopped immediately. Yuwen Qian waved his hand, and someone in the team stepped forward and banged on the gate vigorously. In the darkness, the banging sound echoed in the towering palace walls, somewhat deafening. The flapping flames reflected the nervous faces, and the atmosphere became even more tense.

After an unknown amount of time, there was a burst of hurried and panicked footsteps coming from inside the door.

"Who?"

"His Royal Highness wants to enter the palace, open the door quickly."

The people inside were obviously panicked, but did not open the palace door immediately. Instead, they said cautiously: "Your Highness, you cannot go through this door."

Yu Dingxing immediately rode forward and angrily shouted, "You bastards! The prince wants to enter the palace, and you dare to stop him? You are so bold! Aren't you afraid that the prince will punish you?"

The person inside recognized his voice and hurriedly said, "Duke Wushan, I am rude. Please forgive me, Your Highness, and I also ask Your Highness to forgive me. But the emperor just issued an order today not to open the Xuande Gate. If you want to enter the palace, please go forward and enter through the palace gate in front."

Yuwen Qian frowned slightly.

He did not say a word. Since they were under the pressure of the emperor's decree, the people inside would never dare to disobey it. At this time, their only choice was to move forward and find another palace gate to enter, so he had to give the order.

At this time, Yu Mingyue suddenly asked: "How many palace gates are there ahead?"

The man immediately said, "Of course there are two more."

"What if you can't enter through those two paths?"

"I don't know this. But I am ordered to guard Xuande Gate. No one can open it without the emperor's order. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

Yuwen Qian glanced at Yu Mingyue's ugly face, said nothing, turned his horse's head and waved his hand gently: "Let's go."

Yu Mingyue wanted to say something, but when she looked up at the palace gate that was so tightly closed that not even a breeze could get in, she had to give up. However, the gloomy look on her face deepened. As she rode her horse to catch up with Yuwen Qian, she kept exerting force on the reins, and the blue veins on the back of her hands bulged.

Once they left, Shang Ruyi naturally had no choice but to continue moving forward.

Yu Wencheng actually walked with her as he said before, and suddenly said, "Second sister-in-law, you seemed very nervous just now?"

Shang Ruyi glanced at him sideways: "Me? Nervous? What am I nervous about?"

"Yes, if we can't get in through this palace gate, there are two more ahead. Besides, it was our father who allowed us to enter the palace, so he would have left one door open for us."

"..."

"Why are you nervous?"

"..."

"Not only you, it seems that even my sister-in-law is very concerned about this matter."

Because Shang Ruyi had two soldiers following closely behind her, he did not reach out to grab her. Instead, he put his hands behind his back and walked forward leisurely, saying, "If I remember correctly, the palace gate in front is the Anli Gate, which leads directly to the inner court."

"..."

"Do you think our father will let us enter through that palace gate?"

Shang Ruyi didn't say anything, but her breathing became more rapid just as Yuwen Cheng said.

Yuwen Cheng glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, then smiled and said, "If Anli Gate doesn't let us in, then we can only go forward. If we go further forward..." He stretched his neck as he spoke. In fact, he could no longer see the scene ahead at this time, but as a prince, he certainly knew where this road would lead to in the end.

"Then there is only one palace gate left."

"..."

"Xuanwumen."