Ye Tingyu was so scared upon hearing this that the knife in his hand clattered to the floor. He babbled incoherently in his defense.
"Don't, Imperial Grandmother, this… this truly has nothing to do with me!"
The Empress Dowager, however, did not wish to hear another word. She pressed her temples and waved her hand dismissively.
"Take them away!"
The Imperial Guards stepped forward and, within moments, had Night Tingyu held and dragged away.
Seeing this, Feng Yinwan no longer resisted and followed along compliantly.
With them dealt with, the matter could finally be considered settled. The Empress Dowager cast her gaze over the assembled crowd and spoke in a low voice.
"This matter is of great importance. I will order an interrogation of them. That is all for today. Apart from Imperial Physician Jiang who will stay to administer treatment, everyone else may withdraw."
Thus, the farce concluded.
Ye Tingyan bowed along with everyone else, his clenched fists hidden beneath his sleeves, veins subtly bulging.
With what had transpired, the Hall of Mental Cultivation could not be occupied for the time being. The Empress Dowager ordered the Emperor to be moved back to his original sleeping quarters and then left with her retinue.
The Prime Minister and others were the first to rise, their gazes sharp and watchful as they turned towards Ye Tinglan and Ye Tingyan, unyielding.
They all knew that today's incident was merely the beginning. The struggle for the throne, once ignited, would not end easily.
The Prime Minister's faction, as staunch supporters of imperial authority, adopted a policy of turning a blind eye as long as the lines of regicide and treason were not crossed.
After they departed, the ministers on Ye Tingyan's side dared to speak.
They cautiously followed their gaze for a moment, then immediately flocked towards Ye Tingyan, "Second Prince, Fourth Prince's… matters…"
Originally, today they had intended to use the Prime Minister's faction to attack Ye Tinglan. Who would have thought it would backfire, resulting in Ye Tingyu's downfall instead of Ye Tinglan's? He was the lifeblood of the Ning clan. If this news were to reach them, Ning Fengzhi would certainly not stand idly by, and they would be in a difficult position.
How could Ye Tingyan not know? He frowned irritably and was about to speak when Ye Tinglan had already approached.
On the hall, their private soldiers were still surrounded by the Imperial Guards. Ye Tinglan raised his hand, and the guards immediately withdrew.
"I was not aware these were Second Brother's men earlier. It was I who was presumptuous. It was all for the safety of Father Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Second Brother, please do not take it to heart."
As he spoke, everyone could clearly see the tragic scene of corpses strewn everywhere outside through the wide-open doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Of the thousand private soldiers, all had been killed except for those remaining in the hall.
Such a "presumption," how could one not take it to heart!
The crowd couldn't help but curse inwardly, but suppressed by the imposing presence of the Imperial Guards, they dared not utter a sound. Ye Tingyan's lungs felt ready to burst, yet he could only grit his teeth and nod.
"Naturally."
After speaking, he shoved Ye Tinglan aside with his shoulder and strode directly outwards.
The ministers paused momentarily upon seeing this and were about to follow when a cold blade suddenly appeared before them, startling them back.
Ye Tinglan looked up, his chilling gaze sweeping over them with a hint of settling scores.
Ye Tingyan had left, and the private soldiers had also gone. Only Ye Tinglan's people remained in the hall, along with these civil officials who were powerless.
Without their usual backing, the crowd lost all the assertiveness they had displayed earlier in the hall when criticizing Ye Tinglan. They stood stiffly, trembling like sieves, their lips barely able to form words.
"Lord Mo… Lord Mo, do you have any further instructions?"
Ye Tinglan remained silent, holding his long sword for a few moments before speaking indifferently.
"It's nothing. I merely wished to admire my sword. You may proceed, there's no need to mind me."
The crowd: "..."
It wasn't that they didn't want to.
It was just that the gaps around them were all blocked by the Imperial Guards. To leave, they would have to pass directly in front of Ye Tinglan, and with the sharp blade held horizontally, its cold glint suggesting it could cleave through metal, who would dare step forward?
Did they not want their heads anymore?
Ye Tinglan, however, felt nothing amiss. He lightly tapped the tip of the sword with his fair jade-like fingers and turned back to urge them on.
"What is it? Let's go."
Were these words any different from saying, "What are you afraid of? Die!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd shrank back even further.
They retreated several steps before saying, "N-no, we are not in a hurry to leave the palace. The sword is sharp and could easily cause injury. Lord Mo, please take your time and enjoy admiring it..."
Although surrounded by Imperial Guards and feeling terrified being trapped here, compared to their lives, what was a little terror?
They could endure the minor humiliation.
Ye Tinglan truly did not stand on ceremony. He weighed the sword in his hand and examined it back and forth for quite some time before retracting it.
As if he had just remembered they were still there, he slightly raised his eyebrows and asked solicitously.
"Dear sirs, have you been waiting long?"
The crowd: "No, no, no, we are not impatient at all."
Being targeted by Ye Tinglan was purely an ordeal, a lesson they had learned thoroughly today!
It was not until an hour later that the Imperial Guards had completely cleared the traces in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Ye Tinglan left half his men to guard the palace, while the rest were dispatched back to the city defense camp.
When he arrived at the Emperor's sleeping quarters, Jiang Rumao had just emerged. The two met head-on, and both stopped.
Jiang Rumao was still carrying his medicine chest. He bowed, lowering his head.
"Lord Mo."
Ye Tinglan gave a faint "Mm," his gaze falling on him before quickly shifting away.
Inside, the Emperor's poison had been neutralized. Ye Tingyun was attending to the Empress Dowager by his side. Seeing him enter, he immediately rose.
"Third Brother."
Ye Tinglan nodded, his gaze meeting the Empress Dowager's, and he subtly curved his lips.
"Someone from Chunhe Palace inquired about the situation just now. Tingyun, Noble Consort Li's health is not suited for excessive worry. Since Father Emperor is now out of danger, you should go back and check on her."
With such a major upheaval in the palace, everyone in the harem was naturally concerned.
Ye Tingyun slapped his head, "Ah, if Third Brother hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten. Mother Consort is naturally sensitive and will surely worry upon hearing this news. Then, Imperial Grandmother, I will take my leave."
As he spoke, he was already heading towards the exit. The Empress Dowager merely cautioned him to go slowly and said no more.
The curtain fell, and tranquility instantly returned to the hall.
The Empress Dowager looked over, her brow furrowed. "Lan'er, what exactly happened today?"
She had not received any prior warning of this disturbance.
If Ye Tingyun had not encountered the Imperial Guards on their way to report the news en route, and subsequently informed the Shou Kang Palace, she might not have known so quickly.
Ye Tinglan nodded, his expression growing solemn.
"Imperial Grandmother, the Prefect of Yuzhou reported that a month ago, the troops of Yuzhou were secretly mobilized and left their encampments under the cover of darkness."
The movement of troops from an entire prefecture was a matter of grave concern.
The Empress Dowager was astonished. "Is there such a thing?"
Ye Tinglan's eyes darkened as he uttered words that shocked her even further.
"According to my deduction, they have very likely already entered the capital and are lurking near the city, ready to launch a surprise attack at any moment."