LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 365: Acting According to Plan
Chapter 365: Acting According to Plan
Jun Yunshang knew that Zhao Ban was deeply trusted by the emperor, but she hadn’t expected him to secretly command a powerful unit of the Black Feather Guards.
“Grand Eunuch Zhao, how are things now?”
Zhao Ban presented a jade slip with both hands, saying respectfully, “Your Majesty will know upon seeing it.”
The contents within the jade slip sent a chill down Jun Yunshang’s spine, extinguishing the last flicker of hope she had.
Most of the guards in the Imperial Palace and Junlin City had been replaced by Jun Aoshi’s men. Even Junlin City itself had been sealed off.
The soon-to-be Empress Junyan found herself isolated within the Imperial Palace, surrounded by Jun Aoshi’s forces. Her orders could no longer leave the palace gates.
The Southern King, seemingly allied with Jun Chengye, had in fact secretly colluded with Jun Aoshi.
His large army had been dispersed and was lying in wait outside Junlin City, ready to strike.
The King of Liaodong, leading a contingent of elite soldiers, had secretly infiltrated the city, ready to join forces with the Southern King and seize Junlin City.
The court’s civil and military officials had also frequently been in Jun Aoshi’s presence, secretly making a deal with him.
When Jun Yunshang saw the terrifying details written on the jade note, she was horrified.
Out of trust in Jun Aoshi, she had entrusted most of the affairs of state to him.
She never expected this outcome. She was indeed too young and naive.
If not for the Emperor’s contingency plans, she would have been dethroned without any explanation before even ascending the throne.
The reason why the three uncles and others hadn’t acted yet was because they hadn’t ascertained Young Master Ye’s injuries, and they hadn’t received the Seal of Heaven’s Mandate yet.
Once they got the Heaven’s Mandate Seal, they would probably use the palace’s formations to take advantage of Young Master Ye’s weakened state and assassinate him together.
Therefore, the success or failure of this coup depended on Young Master Ye.
It wasn’t just because Young Master Ye was the strongest, but also because they had to kill Ye Xuefeng to reclaim the Honored Position.
Otherwise, even if they successfully seized power, the Junyan Empire would lose its current status.
With Young Master Ye dead, the Honored Position would fall into the hands of the uncle, and Jun Yunshang, a female emperor with no foundation, would naturally not ascend the throne.
By then, the people of Junyan might not even know that a female emperor had ever existed.
As she was lost in thought, Zhao Ban reminded her, “Your Majesty, the King of Anxi has arrived.”
Then he swiftly vanished into the darkness, as if he had never been there in the first place.
At the same time, Lin Fengmian’s voice echoed in Jun Yunshang’s ear, “Give Jun Aoshi the Seal of Heaven’s Mandate.”
At that moment, someone came in from outside and announced, “Your Majesty, the King of Anxi requests an audience.”
Jun Yunshang’s eyes narrowed slightly. She had just met with Young Master Ye, and now her uncle was here so quickly.
This meant that the Black Feather Guard’s report was true; the palace was filled with Jun Aoshi’s spies.
Every move she made was being watched.
She suppressed the complex emotions in her heart and summoned Jun Aoshi inside.
Looking at Jun Aoshi who limped into the room, Jun Yunshang forced herself to appear composed and asked with a hint of suspicion, “Uncle, what brings you here?”
“Yun… Your Majesty, I heard that Young Master Ye has come out of seclusion? Is he alright?” Jun Aoshi asked with feigned concern.
“Uncle, I don’t want to talk about him right now!” Jun Yunshang replied, her tone half truthful.
“Yunshang, don’t be rash. The Junyan Empire is in turmoil right now. The Moon Shadow Dynasty of the Heavenly Fiend Hall is watching us from the outside, and the various princes are waiting for an opportunity to move,” Jun Aoshi said seriously.
“If he’s not here, the Junyan Empire will not be able to hold onto its imperial name and will surely crumble,” he continued.
Jun Yunshang remained silent for a long time before she dejectedly admitted, “He is badly injured and will probably not recover for a while. He may even find it difficult to fight.”
A flash of light crossed Jun Aoshi’s eyes, but he quickly masked it, saying, “This is not good. You haven’t told anyone else about this, have you?”
Jun Yunshang shook her head. “Who else could I tell? Besides you, Uncle , I trust no one.”
A complex expression flickered across Jun Aoshi’s eyes as he solemnly said, “This matter must be kept secret to prevent anyone from having ulterior motives.”
“By the way, has Young Master Ye opened the jade box my elder brother left behind? Is the Heaven’s Mandate Seal inside?”
Remembering Lin Fengmian’s instructions, Jun Yunshang nodded. “Uncle, as you expected, the Seal of the Mandate of Heaven was indeed inside the jade box.”
As she spoke, she took out the jade seal, and Jun Aoshi’s eyes lit up with an unmistakable gleam of satisfaction.
“This is truly excellent. As long as we have the jade seal, we can control the palace formations, and the Imperial Palace will be impregnable.”
“As long as we can weather this storm, the Junyan Empire will be safe and secure once Young Master Ye recovers,” he said, his words filled with a sense of self-righteousness.
Looking at him, seemingly concerned for her well-being, Jun Yunshang found it hard to connect him with the image of a power-hungry usurper.
Jun Aoshi looked at the seal, his expression hesitant. He seemed to want to say something, but held himself back, reminding her of something.
The Third Uncle before her did indeed want to pull her down from the throne. She just didn’t know how he planned to deal with her.
Jun Yunshang let out a soft sigh in her heart and took the initiative to say, “Uncle, my cultivation is not high and I don’t understand these things. You should take this for now.”
Jun Aoshi feigned reluctance, “How can that be? This is the Heaven Mandate’s seal, it should naturally be held by Your Majesty.”
Jun Yunshang casually threw the seal away, “I am in no mood to deal with these things right now. Uncle, please take care of it for the time being.”
Jun Aoshi accepted the seal, sighed, and looked troubled, “Then Uncle will overstep his bounds. After this period of time, I will return it to Your Majesty.”
Jun Yunshang hummed in response, supporting her forehead with her hand, her eyes closing wearily, appearing deeply distressed.
“Uncle, I’m a little tired. Please go back first.”
Jun Aoshi nodded, gave her a deep look, and said, “Then Uncle will take his leave. Your Majesty, please rest well.”
“Uncle, take care. Eunuch Li, please see Uncle off.” Jun Yunshang instructed.
Jun Aoshi bowed and then strode out, his shadow lengthening in the sunlight.
Jun Yunshang watched him go, feeling that the figure of this childhood companion was extremely unfamiliar.
Unfamiliar to the point where she felt like she was doubting her reality, as if everything around her had been demonized.
But this was no dream. When Jun Aoshi left, the surroundings seemed to dim.
Jun Yunshang sat alone in the Imperial Study, leaning weakly against the backrest and letting out a self-deprecating smile.
“It seems that I never really understood anyone around me. In the end, can I only trust myself?”
She took a deep breath and said, “Eunuch Zhao!”
“This servant is here!”
Zhao Ban emerged from the darkness, his aura concealed by the art of concealment, even Jun Aoshi hadn’t detected him.
Jun Yunshang instructed, “Keep a close eye on the movements of the king of Anxi. As soon as they make a move, act according to the late emperor’s orders.
Zhao Ban nodded but asked, “The late Emperor’s order was to kill without mercy, does Your Majesty have any further instructions?”
Jun Yunshang understood his meaning, he was asking if she wanted to show mercy.
Remembering Lin Fengmian’s words, her hand unconsciously clenched the jade armrest and she calmly said, “No, proceed as planned.”
She didn’t believe that she could surpass her father at this point, so she wouldn’t add unnecessary complications.