Chapter 398 The Prince Rebels, Fighting His Way Out of the Imperial City (Part 2)

It was late at night.

The Imperial Study in the Imperial City was still brightly lit. After instructing Luo Yucheng, the Deputy Commander of the Dragon City Inner Guard and Marquis of Wuping, to personally handle the matter of the former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an did not choose to go to either Kunning Palace or Fengyi Palace. Instead, he remained alone in the Imperial Study.

For Chen Huai'an, the former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er and the child in his womb were potential threats that had to be eliminated.

However, instead of taking more direct and brutal measures, he ordered the Dragon City Guards to take action and handle the matter quietly.

Because he knew his younger brother Chen Longxiang's temperament and fighting ability well, he knew that if he used a simple and brutal method to resolve the issue, it would definitely provoke Chen Longxiang's resistance.

Chen Longxiang's Four Symbols Force is unmatched, and he also wields a pair of Golden Hammers that he is skilled with. If he really goes berserk, there is probably no one in this vast city of Jinling who can stop him.

Therefore, Chen Huai'an resorted to this desperate measure, intending to delay Chen Longxiang at the banquet to be held in the Taihe Hall tomorrow, which would be attended by all the civil and military officials and envoys from various countries, thus creating an opportunity for Marquis Wuping, Luo Yucheng, to abduct Su Wan'er.

In the future, time and the wedding will dilute the impact that Su Wan'er had on her younger brother Chen Longxiang!

No matter what, Chen Longxiang was his younger brother from the same mother, the child he had raised by his own hands since childhood. He could never let Chen Longxiang go to the point of turning against his own brother and killing each other.

Inside the Imperial Study, Chen Huai'an entered the inner hall, where he enshrined the memorial tablet of the late Emperor Chen Polu.

Chen Huai'an skillfully took out three incense sticks, lit them in the candlelight, bowed to the late emperor's memorial tablet, and while placing the incense sticks in the tablet, murmured to himself, "Father, tonight is New Year's Eve again. Come to think of it, the last time our family had a New Year's Eve reunion was five years ago."

Time flies!

After a pause, Chen Huai'an continued, "Long Xiang has grown up now and entered his rebellious phase. He even got the former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er pregnant and brought her home."

"It is said that the eldest brother is like a father, but I have little experience in dealing with such matters. I can only use what I believe to be the right method to pull the dragon and elephant back from the wrong path."

"Father, if you were still alive, you would support my actions, wouldn't you?"

With that, Chen Huai'an smiled and said, "Father, if you don't say anything, then I'll take that you've tacitly agreed to my actions!"

*Pfft*

After speaking, Chen Huai'an couldn't help but recall that year, when he was in the study of the Prince of Jin's mansion, he asked the late Emperor Chen Polu for his opinion on his uprising to quell the rebellion.

As a result, the late Emperor Chen Polu naturally agreed!

After confiding in the late emperor, Chen Huai'an felt much more relieved of his depressed mood.

Then, he went outside and pushed open the door of the Imperial Study. Looking at the high walls and buildings of the deep palace, and watching the snowflakes, as big as goose feathers, fall softly, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Another year has passed!

The next day.

In the Prince of Jin's mansion in Jinling City, the servants and attendants got up early and were sweeping the snow inside and outside the mansion.

Last night, Nanjing experienced a heavy snowfall, blanketing the ancient capital in a thick layer of silver, making the city appear even more solemn, majestic, and breathtakingly beautiful.

Not far from the Prince's Mansion, Luo Yucheng, the Deputy Commander of the Dragon City Inner Guard and Marquis of Wuping, who had changed into civilian clothes, and several of his Dragon City Inner Guards, had no interest in appreciating the snow scene in Jinling City.

After receiving the Emperor's decree in the Imperial Study last night, he immediately mobilized the most capable soldiers of the Dragon City Guard in Jinling City to set up surveillance and control around the Prince of Jin's residence overnight, all in order to arrest the pregnant woman.

That night, the cold wind blew incessantly and the snow fell heavily, almost freezing Luo Yucheng and his soldiers to the bone. They had no mind to appreciate the beautiful scenery of Jinling City after the snow.

Whew, whimper—

In the alley, several guards from Longcheng were breathing out hot air and stamping their feet, trying their best to move around and warm themselves up.

They also kept whispering among themselves in small groups.

Someone said, "My lord, what is the background of this pregnant woman in the Prince of Jin's mansion? How could she attract the Emperor's attention? Could she be a vixen who wants to gain power through her child?"

"Shut up!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Yucheng immediately glared fiercely at his subordinate and said irritably, "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't pry into what you shouldn't know. Or I'll gouge out your eyes and cut out your tongue!"

hiss--

Luo Yucheng's words made the Dragon City Inner Guard commander gasp and shut up.

However, his words revealed the curiosity of everyone present, including Marquis Wuping, Luo Yucheng.

He was also curious about who that pregnant woman in the Prince of Jin's residence was, that the Emperor could summon him to the palace late at night and order him not to reveal his identity.

"My lord, His Highness Prince Jin has gone out!"

At this moment, the voice of another centurion of the Dragon City Guard immediately drew the attention of Luo Yucheng and his group.

As expected, Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin, dressed in an ivory-white gown, walked out of the palace surrounded by a group of palace servants.

Outside the Prince's Mansion, several tall horses were already waiting.

One of the yellow horses was none other than the current emperor's mount. Luo Yucheng recognized that the emperor had ridden this yellow horse all the way from Longcheng to conquer the country and eventually ascend the throne.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that the Emperor's affection for his younger brother, Prince Jin, was extraordinary!

Suddenly, a woman dressed in a red phoenix robe and a mink cloak appeared beside Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin. Her protruding belly stood out conspicuously among the crowd in front of the palace. She was Luo Yucheng's target.

The next moment, when Luo Yucheng saw the woman with the big belly clearly, and her stunningly beautiful face, he almost shuddered in fright.

He recognized her at a glance: the woman beside Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin was none other than the former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er!

Shouldn't she have stayed in Goguryeo incognito?

How could she dare to show her face openly in Jinling City?

And, her, the child in her belly, could it be, could it be His Highness Prince Jin?

boom--

In an instant, countless questions and thoughts flooded into the mind of Marquis Wuping, Luo Yucheng, causing his head to explode with a buzzing sound.

Back then, Luo Yucheng, as the deputy commander of the Longcheng Inner Guard, accompanied Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin to the Jiangyin Naval Camp.

He was aware that the emperor had spared the former empress dowager and the deposed emperor and his mother.

Now that he has discovered such a shocking secret, how could Luo Yucheng not be terrified?

Now he finally understood why the Emperor had summoned him to the capital late last night and why he had forbidden him from revealing his identity.

All of this was because the woman they were trying to capture was none other than the former Empress Dowager, who, according to historical records and in the hearts of the people, had long since drowned in the Jiangyin naval camp, and was pregnant with the child of the current Tang Dynasty's first prince.

Before he even started, Luo Yucheng's scalp was already tingling!

Immediately, Luo Yucheng turned his head, his face serious, and lowered his voice to warn his men: "All of you, listen carefully, no one is allowed to divulge a single word of what happened today. Keep it all to yourselves."

"Otherwise, not only will your lives be in danger, but the lives of your entire clan will also be in danger."

"Did you all understand?"

"Yes, my lord!"

Soon after bidding farewell to Su Wan'er, Chen Longxiang mounted his yellow horse and headed straight for the palace.

Meanwhile, Su Wan'er, the former Empress Dowager who believed that the storm had passed and that the Emperor had already granted her family's request, disregarded Chen Longxiang's instructions before his departure and went directly to the most bustling street in Jinling City with her personal maid, Liu Ye'er.

Seeing this, Marquis Luo Yucheng, who was hiding in the alley across the street, made a decisive move and waved his hand: "Make your move!"