The one who wanted to kill Mingyue was precisely Consort Zheng. She learned that someone from her palace.
Had their hands and feet tendons severed in the Imperial Kitchen, and Fan Hua was also killed.
She was immediately furious, and with her treasured sword, she pursued them all the way to the Imperial Household Department.
During Mingyue's wedding, she had always worn a veil, so even though Consort Zheng was present, she did not recognize Mingyue.
Consort Zheng, relying on her family's influence, was someone even the Empress Dowager had to be wary of in the palace.
She had developed a haughty disposition and could be said to be unrivaled in the palace, always the one bullying others.
Today, the servants in her palace were injured or dead; this was completely slapping her in the face.
She hailed from a military family and had a fiery temper, which was why she pursued them all the way to the Imperial Household Department.
Upon seeing Mingyue, she wasted no words and immediately drew her sword to strike.
Mingyue was already worried about how to escalate the matter, and Consort Zheng conveniently appeared as timely rain.
She had initially worried that demolishing the Imperial Household Department would not be a grave enough offense.
But seeing the woman attacking her, judging by her attire, was of the Consort's rank.
She knew the person before her was the Consort Zheng mentioned by Fan Hua.
She thought, if she could conveniently kill Consort Zheng, or gravely injure her.
Then, even if Ji Shiyou did not order her execution, Marquis Huguo Zheng Siqi would not let her off.
With a firm resolve, Mingyue produced a dagger in her hand and engaged Consort Zheng in a fight.
Consort Zheng's given name was Sirou, but she was not gentle at all. From a young age, she was raised like a boy by Marquis Huguo.
Because she loved martial arts, Marquis Huguo hired countless renowned masters, and she had already cultivated sword energy.
The Wuman people valued martial arts, and Mingyue had also practiced martial arts since childhood.
Moreover, she was born with extraordinary talent and possessed immense strength from a young age.
Both sides wanted to kill the other and unleashed their ultimate moves.
They fought back and forth for over ten rounds, a draw for the time being.
This further ignited their ferocity, and their eyes held nothing else.
They began to disregard everything, only wanting to kill the other.
As a result, the Imperial Household Department suffered.
With a single punch from Mingyue, a pillar as thick as a double embrace in the great hall immediately snapped.
Consort Zheng's sword energy swept across, and half the wall collapsed.
The Imperial Household Department was located at the northernmost part of the inner palace, a five-courtyard palace with a total of forty-seven rooms.
The destructive power of the two was astonishing. Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they had destroyed more than half of the rooms.
The severely damaged ones were razed to the ground, and even the least damaged ones were in such disrepair that they were unusable.
"Rebellion, rebellion! Quickly summon the Imperial Guards, quickly!
And invite the Emperor here, let him see.
How fierce the women in his harem are."
The minister in charge of the Imperial Household Department, Prince Chun Ji Duhu, under the protection of the heads of various departments,
Hid to the side, clutching his chest, trembling all over, and instructed the guards.
He suffered from heart disease and could not tolerate fright, so he had no chance at the throne. The late emperor had treated him with great affection.
He was enfeoffed as a leisurely prince, exempt from attending court, and managed the Imperial Household Department.
He was originally listening to Hua Qiao's report when suddenly the house collapsed, and he was scared half to death.
He did not recognize Mingyue, but he recognized Consort Zheng.
Seeing the two women fighting and turning the Imperial Household Department into ruins,
Without the slightest regard for him, an elder, he was so enraged that he was about to faint.
Fortunately, Hua Qiao had a heart-preserving pill on him, which he immediately placed in his mouth, preventing him from passing away.
The Imperial Guards arrived quickly, but upon seeing the two fighting, they dared not step forward.
There were two reasons. First, judging by their skills, they felt inferior.
One unleashed sword energy, the other, a powerful gust.
Even if they went up, they would only be sending themselves to their deaths.
They could not separate the two, let alone capture them.
Secondly, one of the combatants was Consort Zheng, the overlord of the six palaces, and the other was wearing plain clothes.
One must know that this was the inner palace, and there were only two types of women.
One wearing a uniform was a palace maid or an official.
Those who could wear plain clothes were masters, women of the Emperor.
So, they had arrived, but dared not step forward, which made Prince Chun even angrier.
At this moment, a figure in imperial yellow arrived, treading on air, and in an instant, stood before the two fighting women.
At this moment, Consort Zheng was thrusting her sword towards Mingyue.
Her sword energy was spitting, and she had used her full strength.
Mingyue did not dodge or evade but lunged towards the sword tip.
With her right hand, her dagger slashed towards Consort Zheng's neck.
After fighting for so long, Mingyue suddenly had an epiphany and understood.
She had gone to such lengths, courting death everywhere, wasn't it precisely because she wanted to die?
Then why not let Consort Zheng kill her? Dying at Consort Zheng's hand would not be considered suicide.
It would not implicate the citizens of the Wuman Kingdom, but she also wouldn't let the person who killed her off easily.
Therefore, she intended to perish together with Consort Zheng. Who knew that Ji Shiyou would appear at this moment?
With a palm strike, he sent Consort Zheng, along with her sword, flying.
"Seize her!"
The Emperor commanded, and the Imperial Guards dared not disobey, quickly tying up Consort Zheng, who had been knocked unconscious by the palm strike.
Ji Shiyou's face turned ashen, and killing intent radiated from him.
He had seen Mingyue lunge towards the sword in Consort Zheng's hand, and his heart lurched.
He was filled with lingering fear; if he had been a moment later, he would have seen Mingyue's corpse.
He turned to embrace Mingyue, but as soon as he turned, he felt a gust of wind.
He saw Mingyue's dagger thrusting towards his face.
Ji Shiyou had his back to Mingyue and was momentarily distracted.
Such a perfect opportunity for an assassination, Mingyue naturally would not miss it.
Since the main quest could not be completed, she would try a side quest, perhaps someone would die.
In any case, whether she died or Ji Shiyou died, it would be considered a success of her plan.
Ji Shiyou's originally ashen face turned to one of helplessness.
He sidestepped, disarmed the dagger, and pulled Mingyue into his embrace.
However, Mingyue struggled to push him away, like a small beast with its fur bristling.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is mighty!"
Seeing Ji Shiyou appear and resolve the crisis in a few moves, everyone prostrated themselves in greeting.
Prince Chun was puzzled. Why did the Emperor arrive so quickly?
One must know that the Emperor was not like the Imperial Guards, always on standby.
To see the Emperor required a series of notifications.
When did his people become so efficient?
The Emperor and the Imperial Guards arrived almost at the same time.
He did not know that the reason Ji Shiyou rushed over so quickly was not because he received his report.
But because Xing Sheng, the hidden guard arranged beside Mingyue, saw that Mingyue and Consort Zheng were fighting and demolishing the Imperial Household Department.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, he directly notified the Southeast, which was why Ji Shiyou arrived so quickly.
"Everyone rise. This is a serious matter.
The palace rules cannot tolerate such behavior. Send them to the Department of Judicial Punishment.
Summon Marquis Huguo to the palace!"
Ji Shiyou waved his hand, telling everyone to rise, then ordered the Imperial Guards.
"Your command shall be obeyed!"
Prince Chun arranged for someone to notify Marquis Huguo to enter the palace, and the Imperial Guards carried the unconscious Consort Zheng towards the Department of Judicial Punishment.
Mingyue followed them willingly, her steps light and her heart joyful.
Did you hear that? Ji Shiyou just said it was a serious matter and the palace rules could not tolerate it.
It seemed her plan was very successful, and she would soon die!
Once she died, she could return to her homeland and reunite with her family.
Seeing Mingyue excitedly following the Imperial Guards to the Department of Judicial Punishment, Ji Shiyou wore a wry smile.
He had ordered the Imperial Guards to take Consort Zheng away, not Mingyue.
Who knew that Mingyue would eagerly follow along? Ji Shiyou summoned Dong Nan.
And instructed him to follow to the Department of Judicial Punishment and look after her secretly.
"The rumors are false! They say entering the Department of Judicial Punishment is like entering the gates of hell.
This is not the gates of hell; it's more like entering a teahouse."
Mingyue entered the Department of Judicial Punishment and was assigned a private room.
Looking at the tea and pastries on the table, and a novel for entertainment placed beside them,
Mingyue looked around and muttered to herself.
Half an hour later, a嬷嬷 from the Department of Judicial Punishment came in and led her to the main hall.
The unconscious Consort Zheng had also woken up and entered the hall with Mingyue.
"Your subject greets His Majesty! Greetings, Prince Chun, greetings, Father!"
Seeing the Emperor seated in the main seat, Prince Chun and Marquis Huguo seated on either side, Consort Zheng bowed gracefully.
No matter how bad her temper, she dared not be presumptuous before the Emperor, acting like a demure lady.
In contrast, Mingyue, who entered at the same time.
Looked around and paid no attention to the three seated figures.
"Come and sit!"
Ji Shiyou beckoned, pointing to the seat beside him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Consort Zheng thanked him and gracefully walked towards Ji Shiyou.