The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

Chapter 354 The Storm Is Brewing

Cluck cluck.

Cluck cluck.

Cluck cluck.

It's getting daylight.

In the Du residence in the capital, Prime Minister Du listened to the words of his subordinates with a furrowed brow.

"Lord Du, the epidemic in the capital has been temporarily brought under control."

Prime Minister Du nodded. "That's good. This epidemic came rather suddenly, and the people of the capital are in a state of panic. You must do your best to protect the capital."

Although the epidemic is under control now, it is only under control.

It's been more than half a month, and we still haven't found a good way to treat the epidemic.

The entire previous dynasty was already under Prime Minister Du's control, and even the commander of the royal guards in the palace was one of his men.

Many people didn't realize that the entire capital city had been taken under Prime Minister Du's control.

In Chengqian Palace, Du Yuqing leaned against a soft couch, eating chilled grapes. "How is Shen Shuhua doing?"

Du Mama bowed and replied, "It's been half a month since anyone was sent to bring food. I'm afraid the Imperial Concubine is already at her wit's end and won't live much longer."

"Oh? Could someone have secretly smuggled something in?"

Du Mama's face twisted in a grimace. "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I've sent people to keep an eye on things. Not even a fly can be allowed in, let alone anything else."

"That's good!"

The first day of the eighth lunar month was an ordinary day.

Thanks to the hard work of Prime Minister Du and Imperial Physician Du of the Imperial Hospital, the epidemic in the capital was finally brought under control.

All those who contracted the plague were sent to a village on the outskirts of Beijing.

Many of those who contracted the epidemic were government officials.

Because they contracted the plague, their positions were temporarily filled by others.

Everyone overlooked one thing: all these court officials were responsible for guarding the capital or the palace.

Nothing happened in the entire capital city all day.

Shen Cao felt that the capital city was unusually quiet today.

Logically, the epidemic should be under control, but the streets are quieter today than when the epidemic was at its peak.

It was like the calm before the storm.

Just as evening was falling, someone knocked on the door of the Shen residence.

A stranger, a servant boy, brought a letter, saying it was for Shen Cao.

After reading the letter, Shen Cao frowned deeply.

The other party asked her to meet at a temple outside Beijing and threatened that if she did not go, they would take away the entire Shen family.

"Wait for me, I'm going to change my clothes."

After changing her clothes, Shen Cao glanced down at the gold bracelet on her wrist and then put the hairpin from under her pillow into her hair.

Seeing Shen Cao's attire, Wan Yue asked, "Sister Cao'er, are you going out?"

"Go see a friend."

"Wanyue, if I haven't returned in an hour, take everyone and hide in the secret passage."

Upon hearing this, Wanyue immediately became worried, "Sister Cao'er, what happened?"

"Do you remember what your mother said before? Today is that day."

"Sister Cao'er, I'll go with you."

Shen Cao squeezed her hand. "I learned kung fu from Brother Ji for a while. Don't worry, I can protect myself if I encounter danger."

"You must protect my family while you stay at the Shen family home, trust me."

Upon hearing these words, Wanyue cried in distress.

"Wanyue, you've grown up now. Your sister Cao'er is entrusting her family to you. You must protect their safety."

"Okay, then Sister Grass, you must come back."

"Don't worry, I will definitely come back."

……

Shen Cao looked at the person who had arrived, and she was right; it really was her.

"Princess Wanming, it really is you."

Zhao Ruhui looked behind Shen Cao and asked, "You actually came alone?"

"I am not familiar with the princess. I wonder why you summoned me here?"

Zhao Ruhui sneered, "Heh, do you really not know why I called you here?"

"Shen Cao, oh no, I should say the real Princess Wanming?"

Shen Cao looked at her, and she indeed knew her true identity.

"I just think that old hag Shen, even though I'm her granddaughter, treats you better than she treats me."

"And the Imperial Concubine, she thought she was very good at pretending."

"But the way she looks at you doesn't lie."

Why am I looking for you?

"Of course I want to kill you and then completely replace you!" She sneered as she approached Shen Cao step by step.

"Now that you know your identity is fake, aren't you afraid that the Imperial Concubine will come after you?" Shen Cao remained calm and composed, seemingly not taking Zhao Ruhui's words to heart.

"Settling accounts?"

"Hahaha, you don't know yet, do you? After you die, your mother will soon go down to join you."

"As for the Emperor?"

"After today..." Zhao Ruhui stopped speaking.

"Men, tie her up and keep a close watch on her."

Shen Cao did not resist and allowed the other party to tie her up.

Why doesn't Zhao Ruhui kill her now?

……

It gradually got dark, and soon an hour had passed.

Seeing that Shen Cao had not appeared at the main gate, Wan Yue immediately gathered the Shen family members together, briefly explained the situation to them, and then quietly led them out through the back door.

She held a stick in one hand and led the way with Lai Cai by the other.

Shen's father was responsible for covering their retreat, constantly looking back to avoid being discovered.

Wanyue led the Shen family, dodging people all the way, and finally arrived at the entrance of the secret passage.

After entering the secret passage, they headed towards the palace.

After nightfall, the palace was unusually quiet.

The guards at the palace gate began to hand over their duties.

The guards, now in good hands, had sharp eyes and kept their gaze fixed on the direction outside the palace.

In the palace, Prime Minister Du glanced at the unconscious emperor and said, "Guards, Li Defu has been serving His Majesty with exceptional diligence lately. Take him away to rest."

"Lord Du, what do you mean by this?"

Li Defu glared at Prime Minister Du and questioned him loudly.

"I only wanted to see that Eunuch Li was working hard and wanted to find someone else to serve His Majesty so that you could get some rest."

“We’re not tired or tired; serving the Emperor is our duty.”

Prime Minister Du ignored him and ordered his men to forcibly take him away.

"Lord Du, are you planning a rebellion?"

Prime Minister Du snorted coldly, "Isn't it obvious?"

After dealing with Li Defu, Prime Minister Du arranged for guards to stand watch at the gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

He then went to the inner palace.

By this time, Wanyue had arrived at the side hall. She imitated bird calls several times in the side hall, but no one came after a long time.

She then noticed that there seemed to be someone in the Moon Palace.

And there are still a lot of people.

The courtyard of Yuehua Palace was illuminated by twinkling lanterns.

Something has happened to Mother!

Wanyue turned around and glanced at the person behind her.

She resisted the urge to knock on the door.

In the main hall of Yuehua Palace, the Empress looked at Shen Shuhua, who was leaning against the bed, and sneered, "Shen Shuhua, you're really lucky to be alive. You're still alive."

Shen Shuhua looked up at the Empress and pointed at the people behind her, "Your Majesty, what do you want to do by coming to my palace in the middle of the night with so many people?"

The Empress walked slowly to Shen Shuhua, bent down and looked down at her, her eyes revealing ruthlessness, her lips curving upwards, and she spoke in a cold voice, word by word.

"I'm here to kill you!"