From cute to empress

Xiao Tao's words resonated like thunder in my ears. The Third Prince, the prisoner who had been imprisoned in the cold palace, whom we had thought was nothing to fear, had actually escaped! Countless thoughts flashed through my mind, each one piercing my heart like a needle.

"Empress, Empress..." Xiao Tao became even more panicked when she saw that my face was pale and bloodless, and kept calling me.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. It had already happened, and panicking wouldn't help. I had to figure out what was going on quickly so I could figure out what to do.

"Xiaotao, don't panic, talk slowly and tell me the whole story." I tried to speak in a calm tone and motioned for her to help me up.

As Xiao Tao helped me tidy my clothes, she told me in fragments that the Third Prince had taken a guard hostage and escaped from the cold palace during the evening shift change. The guard had discovered the situation and immediately reported it to the emperor, who was furious and ordered a city-wide manhunt.

My heart grew heavier. The Third Prince's escape was no accident. If he dared to risk everything, he must have something to rely on. And his greatest support was none other than Grand Tutor Li, once a powerful figure in the government but now a prisoner.

Thinking of this, I could no longer sit still. I immediately summoned Zhen Youcai to the palace and told him the news that the third prince had escaped from prison.

"What?!" Zhen Youcai was shocked when he heard this. "How could he escape? Could someone be secretly helping him?"

"This matter is of no small importance. I suspect Grand Tutor Li is behind this," I said in a deep voice. "Immediately strengthen the palace guards and secretly investigate the whereabouts of the Third Prince. Don't alert the enemy."

"I understand!" Zhen Youcai looked solemn and took the order and left.

I watched him leave, my heart filled with worry and uneasiness. The Third Prince's escape from prison had undoubtedly dropped a bombshell on our peaceful lives. A bigger storm might be brewing...

It was late at night, and everyone was asleep, but I couldn't sleep. I walked to the window, gazing at the pitch-black sky, my mind racing. Suddenly, I saw a faint light emanating from a side hall not far away. That side hall was where Grand Tutor Li was imprisoned!

There was light coming from Grand Tutor Li's bedroom. This was so unusual. He was a captive, not sleeping in the middle of the night. Could he be... My heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition came over me.

I immediately donned an outer robe and quietly made my way to the side hall. To avoid alerting the guards, I skirted the main path, weaving through rockery and flower beds. The night breeze rustled the leaves, adding to the tense atmosphere.

I crouched down, hiding behind a large tree, and peeked into the side hall. I saw that the lights in Grand Tutor Li's room were brightly lit, and several figures were moving around the room, seemingly talking in low voices.

I pricked up my ears, trying to hear what they were saying, but the distance was too far, and I could only vaguely hear words like "rebellion" and "military power." My heart sank to the bottom. It seemed my suspicions were correct. The Third Prince and Grand Tutor Li were indeed plotting a rebellion!

I suppressed my fear and anger and continued to observe the movements in the side hall. I saw a figure dressed in black and wearing a bamboo hat walk out of the room. The figure looked very familiar.

My heart skipped a beat. Could it be him? The figure sneaked out of the side hall. I quickly hid behind the rockery and didn't dare come out until he was far away.

I stared at the direction he left, my heart filled with confusion and unease. Who was that figure? What was he doing here with Grand Tutor Li? Was he also involved in the Third Prince's conspiracy?

I returned to my chambers, my heart restless for a long time. The Third Prince had escaped from prison, Grand Tutor Li was plotting a rebellion—all of this was like an invisible net, shrouding Zhen Youcai, me, and the entire palace in shadow.

I began to wonder if there were other traitors around. Otherwise, how did the Third Prince know the changing of the guards in the palace? And how did Grand Tutor Li contact his old subordinates outside?

On the second day, I took the excuse of appreciating the flowers to carefully observe every palace maid and eunuch who passed by me in the imperial garden, trying to find some clues from their eyes and behavior.

"Xiao Tao, do you feel that the people in the palace seem a little strange recently?" I asked casually.

Xiao Tao was helping me trim the branches while she said, "Why do you say that, Your Majesty? I don't think it's strange."

"Really?" I said calmly, my eyes flickering slightly, "Maybe I'm worrying too much."

Although I said this, the doubts in my heart did not diminish at all. Instead, I became more certain that there must be some unspeakable secret hidden in this seemingly peaceful palace...

As I got up in the morning and dressed, I saw a slightly tired face reflected in the bronze mirror. Ever since I heard the news that the Third Prince had escaped from prison, I have been unable to sleep at night, feeling as if a heavy burden weighed heavily on my heart.

"My queen, you haven't slept all night. You should eat something." Xiaotao brought breakfast and looked at me with a worried look on her face.

I forced a smile, "I'm fine, put your things down."

Xiaotao wanted to persuade her again, but I stopped her with a wave of my hand.

After breakfast, Zhen Youcai hurried over, his face solemn, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has requested an audience. He said he has something important to report."

The Fourth Prince has always been a quiet man, so why would he suddenly come to see me? I was puzzled, but I nodded and agreed.

The Fourth Prince hurried into the hall and bowed to Zhen Youcai and me. "Sister-in-law, Commander Zhen, I have received some news about my Third Brother. It's of great importance, so I have to report it."

He paused, lowering his voice, and said, "The spy I planted in Third Brother's residence sent back news that before Third Brother fled, he had secretly contacted a man named Wang Shangshu, and the two seemed to be plotting something."

Minister Wang? My heart moved, remembering that when we were admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden before, Minister Wang seemed to look at me with a somewhat evasive look. Could it be that he was also involved in the Third Prince's conspiracy?

"In addition, I also heard that the third prince and Grand Tutor Li have been in contact. They seem to be secretly recruiting troops and preparing..." The fourth prince stopped talking here.

"Preparing for what?" I asked.

"Prepare...to force the emperor to abdicate!" The Fourth Prince gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice.

Force the emperor to abdicate! These two words rang out like thunder in my ears. Although I had anticipated this, when it actually happened, I was still filled with shock and fear.

Zhen Youcai's face turned pale and he clenched his fists. "I will tear this traitor into pieces!"

"We must find a solution as soon as possible." I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. "Commander Zhen, mobilize your troops immediately and strengthen the palace guards. We must not allow the Third Prince any opportunity to take advantage of us."

"Yes!" Zhen Youcai took the order and left.

I turned to the Fourth Prince and said, "The information you provided is very important. Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, sister-in-law. This is what I should do." The Fourth Prince shook his head. "But, I'm worried that there are other traitors in the palace. We have to be on guard."

The Fourth Prince's words reminded me that I must find the traitor hiding in the dark as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.

That evening, I specially held a banquet in the palace to entertain all the civil and military officials. During the banquet, I deliberately revealed some false information, such as that I had found the whereabouts of the third prince and had sent troops to surround him.

My purpose is very simple, which is to lure out the snake from its hole through these false news and see who will reveal his true intentions.

Halfway through the banquet, I noticed that Eunuch Zheng looked a little flustered. He kept wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, and his eyes were a little evasive.

My heart moved. Could it be that...

Eunuch Zheng's unusual behavior naturally escaped my notice. He had served the Emperor for many years, always calm and sophisticated, and had never been as flustered as he was today. I glanced at him casually and noticed that the knuckles of his fingers gripping the wine glass were white, clearly trying hard to control his emotions.

My heart sank. Could it be that Eunuch Zheng was truly involved with the Third Prince? But why would he do this? He had served the Emperor for years, loyally and devotedly. There was no reason for him to betray him, to betray me...

I exchanged a glance with Zhen Youcai calmly, and he immediately understood and observed Eunuch Zheng's every move calmly.

"Eunuch Zheng, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?" I asked with concern, with a hint of tentativeness in my tone.

Eunuch Zheng's body trembled noticeably. He hurriedly put down his wine glass and knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, this old servant... this old servant just caught a cold, it's nothing serious."

"Oh? Really?" I looked at him with a half-smile. "In that case, then go down and rest. Someone, send Eunuch Zheng back."

Two palace maids came forward and helped Eunuch Zheng leave the banquet. After Eunuch Zheng left, I immediately winked at Zhen Youcai, indicating that he should follow.

Zhen Youcai understood what he meant and quietly left the hall.

After the banquet, I returned to my bedroom, feeling uneasy.

Eunuch Zheng's unusual behavior filled me with doubts, and I had a premonition that a bigger storm was coming...

After a while, Zhen Youcai came back with a rather ugly look on his face.

"How is it? Have you found anything?" I asked hurriedly.

Zhen Youcai lowered his voice and said, "I sent someone to follow Eunuch Zheng and found that he went to... the Imperial Garden."

"Imperial Garden?" I was shocked. "What is he doing in the Imperial Garden?"

"Besides, he also met with someone..." Zhen Youcai paused, his tone becoming more serious, "It was Minister Wang!"