Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: Hostage

  At the door, she met Wen Qing pushing the door out, and Zhen Shi Niang deliberately slowed down her pace.

  "Cao Xiang Ye has passed away...". Wen Qing took advantage of the moment when Zhen Shi Niang was stunned and lowered her voice, "The master told me to tell the madam not to go in."

  Cao's father is indeed dead!

  Although she had already guessed, but suddenly being confirmed, Zhen Shining's heart still couldn't help but thump wildly, and the glance he threw at her when he reminded the eunuch to remind Anqing Hou flashed before her eyes again. She also remembered the tardy imperial physician, and something flashed through her mind. A strong sense of unease rose up in Zhen Shining's heart, and she didn't have time to think carefully. Her footsteps paused, and she turned around to head back.

  "Madam Shen, please..." The little eunuch guarding the door stepped forward to block her way. At the same time, the side hall door creaked open and the eyes of everyone inside fell on Zhen Shiniang.

  Slowly turning around, Zhen Shining instantly straightened her back.

  As soon as she stepped into the side hall, Zhen Shining felt a heavy and oppressive sorrow suddenly wash over her, making it seem like two different worlds compared to the bustling main hall.

  However, just a door away, one side was the silence of death, and the other was a lively banquet. This made Zhen Shiniang suddenly feel a sense of absurdity. Her eyes quickly scanned around, and she saw that Empress Cao had already fainted and was being surrounded by several palace maids on a temporary soft couch set up in the southwest corner of the side hall. The Emperor sat with a gloomy expression in the dragon chair to the north, while Xiao Yu and Zheng Ge stood beside him. Anqing Hou and two other senior officials stood at a distance from the Emperor, near the south gate of the lower hall.

  Apart from the four sword-bearing guards standing sternly behind the coffin, there were also four servants dressed as such who were busy beside Cao Xiangye's body on a temporary low bed placed on the west side of the hall with two imperial physicians. Zhen Shiniang vaguely remembered that it was these few people who had helped Cao Xiangye in, and they seemed to be his personal attendants.

  Besides, four small eunuchs were standing at the gate, and there was no one else in the side hall.

  Shen Zhong's bell is actually not there!

  Zhen Shi Niang's heart skipped a beat. She had seen him and Xiao Ye follow the crowd in with her own eyes, Xiao Ye was still here, where did he go? Moreover, Anqing Hou was a Grand Councilor, according to his status, he should be standing above Xiao Ye, why was he standing below Xiao Ye?

  This ancient hierarchy is not ordinary strict, how could Xiao Yu make such a mistake?

  Perplexity flashed by, and she saw the servant arranging the offerings and lighting the long-lasting lamp, retreating swiftly to this side. Revealing on the low couch, Cao Xiangye's straight body, without thinking too much, Zhen Shiniang's gaze fell on Cao Xiangye.

  He really died!

  Zhen Shiniang let out a soft sigh.

  In past lives, I have encountered too many cases of this kind, oxygen inhalation, intravenous drips. ECGs, the best Western medicine, the most perfect surgical instruments. In those good conditions, many people still died, let alone in ancient times?

  Before her eyes flashed the kindly smile of Cao Xiangye, Zhen Shiniang felt a strange and indescribable taste in her heart. She lifted her foot and walked towards Cao Xiangye's corpse.

  The dead is great, at least she should have given a bow to Lord Cao first.

  "Please pay your respects to Her Majesty first," said Xiao Yu.

  Zhen Shi Niang's footsteps paused, then she turned and walked towards Wan Sui, kneeling down three steps away. "...Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

  Wan Sui quietly looked at the woman kneeling at his feet, with a sorrowful expression on his face, but he was very calm and composed. The coldness in his eyes made the men present feel uneasy. He felt a surge of conflicting emotions in his heart and remained silent for a long time.

  An unusual quietness in the side hall.

  "Do you know why I summoned you?"

  Just as Zhen Shiniang could no longer bear the silence, wanting to speak again when she heard Wan Si's low voice by her ear.

  She also wants to know!

  Zhen Shining muttered to herself, but her face didn't dare show any sluggishness. She kowtowed and said, "Your servant girl doesn't know."

  "It was Cao Ai Qing who guaranteed your safety in front of me before she ascended to the immortal realm..." The Emperor's voice trailed off, somewhat hesitant.

  This woman, with a stunning appearance and an extraordinary calmness, if she were as loyal as Shen Zhongge, it would be fine. But if she is determined to take revenge... With this imperial edict, the Great Zhou Kingdom will be overturned by her!

  Cao Xiang Ye actually vouched for her in front of Wan Sui?

  Why?

  What's the connection between Cao Xiangye and the Zhen family?

  Recalling the excited look on Cao Xiang's face when they first met, Zhen Shi Niang was even more certain that she must have a connection with Cao Xiang. She was thinking about how to investigate further when Wan Sui suddenly raised his voice, "Zhen Ai Qing, listen to the imperial edict!"

  Zhen Shiniang suddenly felt a jolt and hastily knelt upright.

  "I confer upon you the title of fifth-rank official, and grant you a golden plaque that pardons one death sentence. If in the future you commit a crime punishable by death, presenting this plaque will spare your life!" The Emperor's voice was loud and clear.

  After all, future events have not occurred, and at present he is invincible, with a single word being as good as an imperial edict. Especially, one cannot betray the promise made to the dead!

  Knowing she won't live long and yet giving this away, this old man really knows how to waste human relationships!

  Zhen Shining held the crimson gold token that Fu Gonggong handed over, and she couldn't help but laugh in her heart. She was a weak woman with no ability to bind chickens, nor did she commit murder, arson, or any other crimes. What use was this thing?

  It's better to give her several bags of gold.

  The gold medal in his hand weighed about two or three taels, which could be exchanged for several taels of silver. "I wonder how many taels of silver an ancient tael of gold can be exchanged for?"

  Just then, there was a commotion outside the side hall.

  A small eunuch knocked on the door and came in, bowing his head to report, "The Empress Dowager has verified that it was indeed Liu Gonggong who mistakenly poured wine from Cao Xiangye's wine jug. The high-ranking officials outside have already dispersed from the banquet and are all speaking out for Cao Xiangye, clamoring to enter the side hall to visit him."

  There was an imperial edict that at banquets, Cao Xiangye's wine jug was specially used and only filled with plain water.

  No wonder Lord Cao, who knew he had heart disease, still drank wine. It turned out to be a mistake. Zhen Shining suddenly realized, but she furrowed her brow again, "......This is a royal banquet, and Lord Cao is also a high-ranking official in the court. How could such a mistake happen?"

  "Nonsense!" Just as he was puzzled, he heard the Minister of Justice, Qu Rong, who was standing beside Anqing Hou, shouting loudly, "When the lord respectfully offered wine, this official was right next to him and saw it clearly. Cao's wine was personally poured by Madame Cao, how could it be that Liu Gonggong spilled it?"

  "It was the female official Xiu Zhu beside the empress who brought Liu Gonggong to the front of the hall and personally acknowledged it in front of all the officials." The little eunuch knelt down with a thud, "Madam Cao's wine pot was empty, and coincidentally, Anqing Houye came to toast, Madam Cao called out to someone, and Liu Gonggong, who was in charge of Cao Xiangye's wine, happened to hand over a pot..." The little eunuch finished speaking in one breath, "Liu Gonggong said that there were many people at the time, and he was also busy and dizzy. That pot of wine was originally prepared for someone else, and he was passing by Cao Xiangye's wine table when he saw Madam Cao stretching out her hand to ask for it, so he hastily handed it over."

  Suddenly changing wine, Mrs. Cao personally poured the cup, and there was also Anqing Hou holding a cup to urge him tightly. Under the gaze of everyone, in order to preserve Mrs. Cao's reputation, even if Mr. Cao had drunk out that the cup was strong liquor at the time, he couldn't speak out and expose it.

  Cao Shangye had heart disease, and it just so happened that when the wine jug was empty, Anqing Hou came to offer a toast. The lady was anxious to pour the wine, and Liu Gonggong happened to be carrying a jug of real strong liquor as he passed by. Moreover, it was even more coincidental that Liu Gonggong was actually in charge of Cao Shangye's wine.

  If it weren't for this, how could Lady Cao believe him so much, pick up the jug without looking inside to see if it's water or wine and pour it for Prime Minister Cao, plotting against her own husband?

  What a coincidence!

  In an instant, Zhen Shiniang suddenly understood that even if she had rushed over recklessly at the time, she still wouldn't have been able to save Cao Xiangye.

  A cup of strong liquor under those circumstances might indeed trigger Cao's heart disease, but if it was to be triggered 100%, what was in that jug would not have been just liquor!

  Her heart racing, Zhen Shiniang's eyes secretly glanced at Wan Si.

  His face was as calm as water, and no emotions could be seen.

  Zhen Shining looked at Anqing Hou again, and Anqing Hou was bowing to plead guilty, "...it's all my fault for not investigating thoroughly, which led to Cao Xiang being framed. I beg Your Majesty to punish me for my unintentional mistake."

  This guy's tone is really big, even when asking for forgiveness from the emperor, he doesn't need to kneel.

  Zhen Shi Niang had just spoken when Wan Sui said, "The wine was personally poured by Lady Cao, how would Minister Xue know that Lord Cao's cup contained wine? This matter has nothing to do with you, Minister Xue, no need to make accusations." His voice was warm and harmonious, causing Zhen Shi Niang to be taken aback on the spot.

  Originally, Wan Sui would bully these small shrimp who had no power or influence!

  Anqing Marquis Xie thanked him and stood up straight, while Qu Rong took the opportunity to ask, "Everyone is clamoring to see Master Xiang, should I tell them the bad news about Master Cao's passing?"

  If this gets out, won't it be even more chaotic!

  The academic trends of her past life flashed before Zhen Shiniang's eyes, and she looked up at Wansui.

  "...No need!" The Emperor's voice was firm and unquestionable, looking at Fu Gonggong, "You personally go out to spread my edict, Cao Xianguo is safe and sound, needs rest, wants everyone to be calm."

  Is it just going to end like this?

  "This is clearly a conspiracy, why is Wan Sui so calm and only let the eunuch go out to spread the word? Why not order more Imperial Guards to be dispatched to the main hall to maintain order, and also summon many skilled inner court guards to protect the emperor in the side hall?"

  Mr. Fu walked out at the sound, and Zhen Shining was even more confused in her heart:

  You fool, don't you know that they've gone to great lengths to set up this scheme just to take the throne from you?

  "Cao Shangye and your mother had a deep relationship, before leaving, he couldn't forget that Shen's wife is a lonely woman in this world with no one to rely on." Just as she was perplexed, the voice of Anqing Hou sounded in Zhen Shi Niang's ear, "Shen's wife received his secret protection and got a reward, at least go pay respects to Cao Shangye."

  With a gentle and loving tone, he seemed like an elder.

  Zhen Shi Niang subconsciously nodded, she was going to kowtow to Lord Cao anyway.

  "Xiao Daren told you not to go and kowtow." Just as she was about to take a step, Qiuju quietly pulled on Zhen Shiniang's sleeve and whispered in her ear.

  Zhen Shining suddenly felt a jolt, her eyes turned towards Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yu silently shook his head.

  Look again at the calm and collected Wan Si and the four fully alert and highly tense guards standing behind him.

  In a flash of insight, Zhen Shiniang suddenly understood, and all her previous perplexities were also suddenly resolved.

  Long live is not unaware that the outside commotion will soon turn into a coup, but tonight's real dragon and tiger fighting drama is in this side hall.

  A dragon and a tiger are confronting each other.

  As long as we can settle this here, those shrimp soldiers and crab generals outside will naturally be nothing to be feared.

  And she was the one who was coerced by Shen Zhongshuo, the temporary commander of Anqing Hou's troops, to be a hostage and forced to advance with Wan Sui!