Chapter 376: Chapter 226 Hidden Guard_3
In the capital, after receiving the news, Song Dekang immediately reported to the emperor.
At that time, the emperor had already received information from the Hidden Guard about the assassination at Baihe Temple. However, what he first learned was that Zhao Yao was at Baihe Temple. Fortunately, Zhao Yao was protected by the Hidden Guard and nothing happened to him. It was only later that he found out that Yingpin was attacked at Baihe Temple.
Song Dekang roughly reported the situation of the assassination attempt at Baihe Temple to the emperor. After he finished, he pleaded guilty to the emperor because a few of their young sons had taken the Tenth Prince to Baihe Temple, causing him to be involved in the assassination attempt. Fortunately, the Tenth Prince was unharmed; otherwise, they would not be able to explain themselves to the emperor.
The emperor did not blame Song Dekang’s young sons, "Alright, come with me to Baihe Temple."
"Your Majesty, we can go to Baihe Temple ourselves, you don’t need to go personally, it’s too dangerous."
"That rascal Little Ten is at Baihe Temple, I need to go see him," the emperor said, then added meaningfully, "And, my Yingpin was attacked there, how can I not go to see her?"
"Your Majesty..."
"No more nonsense, come with me."
Soon, Empress Xie and Noble Princess Consort Rong learned about Yingpin’s attack at Baihe Temple. Worried about Yingpin, upon hearing the news, the emperor hurried out of the palace to visit Yingpin at Baihe Temple.
"The emperor actually worries about her so much?!" Noble Princess Consort Rong’s face turned very unpleasant.
"My lady, Yingpin might already be dead," Jin Mei said gleefully, "Even if the emperor goes, Yingpin might already be a corpse."
Hearing this, Noble Princess Consort Rong smiled with a raised corner of her lips, "Yes, she might already be dead."
In Zhao Yang Palace, upon hearing about the attempted assassination of Yingpin at Baihe Temple, Empress Xie was not at all surprised.
Seeing Empress Xie’s calm demeanor, Jiang Chuan asked in surprise, "My lady, did you already know that Yingpin would be attacked?"
Empress Xie chuckled lightly, "Isn’t it obvious? Yingpin received the emperor’s favor and concern even before officially entering the palace. Do you think Noble Princess Consort Rong would let her enter the palace smoothly?"
"My lady, do you think the attack on Yingpin was arranged by Noble Princess Consort Rong?"
"Who else could it be?" Empress Xie sneered, "In this palace, the one who fears Yingpin’s entry the most is Noble Princess Consort Rong."
"Isn’t Noble Princess Consort Rong afraid of being suspected by the emperor?" Jiang Chuan believed Noble Princess Consort Rong wasn’t that foolish, "Once something happens to Yingpin, everyone would suspect that Noble Princess Consort Rong did it."
Empress Xie, having sparred with Noble Princess Consort Rong for many years, had some understanding of her character.
"She wants the emperor to know that she sent someone to assassinate Yingpin."
Jiang Chuan asked with a puzzled look, "Isn’t Noble Princess Consort Rong afraid that the emperor will blame her?"
"She wants to test whether the emperor would blame her because of it," Empress Xie mocked, "She wants to test if the emperor loves her or Yingpin more."
Jiang Chuan found Empress Xie’s speculation absurd. Noble Princess Consort Rong wasn’t a fool; she wouldn’t go to such lengths to test the emperor over Yingpin.
"My lady, Noble Princess Consort Rong wouldn’t do something so foolish, would she?"
"Jealousy can drive a person mad and cause them to do foolish things," Empress Xie said with a faint smile, "Yingpin is a thorn in Noble Princess Consort Rong’s heart. No, Si Youying is deeply rooted in her heart. With Si Youying dead, Noble Princess Consort Rong thought the thorn was gone, only to find a lookalike in Yingpin, waking that old thorn in her heart."
Empress Xie smiled playfully, "This thorn painfully pierced Noble Princess Consort Rong’s heart, reminding her of the emperor’s favoritism towards Si Youying, making her fearful and restless, even knowing Yingpin is merely a stand-in. So she decided to make Yingpin vanish from this world just like Si Youying did."
"Most importantly, Noble Princess Consort Rong doesn’t dare to gamble."
"What doesn’t Noble Princess Consort Rong dare to gamble on?"
"She doesn’t dare to gamble on whether after Yingpin enters the palace, she will still be as deeply favored by the emperor," Empress Xie mocked, "Noble Princess Consort Rong has been a favored consort in the harem for many years and cannot accept losing to a stand-in. She cannot accept losing favor, as she has always believed herself to be the woman the emperor loves most, which is her greatest pride. If Yingpin entering the palace diminishes this pride of hers, do you think someone as proud as her can accept it?"
"With her temperament, she cannot accept it, but isn’t Noble Princess Consort Rong afraid of the emperor’s blame?" Jiang Chuan still couldn’t fully buy into Empress Xie’s theory, "Killing Yingpin before she enters the palace is like provoking the emperor, isn’t it?"
"Next, Noble Princess Consort Rong will voluntarily confess to the emperor, revealing her reasons for ordering the assassination," Empress Xie said, letting out a derisive laugh, "I bet once the emperor hears her reasons, he will be soft-hearted and won’t punish her harshly."
"Impossible, the emperor cherishes Yingpin so much."
"Ultimately, Yingpin is merely Si Youying’s replacement; she’s not truly Si Youying. A replacement cannot compare with Noble Princess Consort Rong, who grew up with him. That’s why Noble Princess Consort Rong dares to brazenly order the murder."
"This move may seem foolish, but actually..." Empress Xie didn’t finish, her face momentarily twisted with jealousy. "Whether Yingpin is dead or not, the emperor won’t have the heart to punish Noble Princess Consort Rong."
Empress Xie suddenly sighed with a sense of desolation, "Right now, I hope the emperor truly cherishes Yingpin."
Jiang Chuan seemed to grasp something and asked in surprise, "My lady, is this why you haven’t acted against Yingpin?"
"Noble Princess Consort Rong will deal with Yingpin; why should I dirty my hands?"
"I wonder if anything has happened to Yingpin."
"Noble Princess Consort Rong will not let Yingpin live; I’m afraid it’s too late even if the emperor rushes to Baihe Temple."
"My lady, perhaps Yingpin’s good fortune will keep her alive."
"If Yingpin survives, there will be quite a show to watch," Empress Xie smiled, "I genuinely hope Yingpin is unharmed and smoothly enters the palace."
"If Yingpin survives, once she’s in the palace, she will seek revenge against Noble Princess Consort Rong. Then Yingpin and Noble Princess Consort Rong will battle fiercely. We can secretly aid Yingpin, ensuring Noble Princess Consort Rong’s downfall," Jiang Chuan said with a broad grin, "At that point, no one will rival you, my lady."