The gazes of everyone present were drawn to the commotion.
From the depths of the hall, two figures slowly emerged from the mist.
The Empress Dowager was held captive, a sharp blade pressed against her neck, her body rigid and unable to move. The one holding her from behind was none other than a slender woman.
As the mist in the hall dissipated, the woman's face was finally revealed, and everyone present gasped in shock.
"She... she's the palace maid from Yuxiu Palace?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes narrowed instantly.
Lingxiang!
Before she could even speak, the Empress, who had been sitting on the ground, suddenly rose.
"So it was you manipulating everything from behind the scenes!"
She wondered why no issues had been found with Consort Yu. It turned out she was merely a pawn, thrown out to be a cover from the very beginning.
The true manipulator had been lurking silently in the shadows, yet she had never noticed!
As if realizing something, the Empress's body began to tremble violently.
"The medicine! The pill you gave Zhu'er was poisoned!"
All along, this woman had no intention of helping them ascend the throne. Instead, she planned to use her to kill the Emperor and then seize the entire imperial palace for the Moon Kingdom!
After years of scheming, she had been paving the way for someone else!
The Empress stared intently at Lingxiang, her heart filled with absolute hatred.
Lingxiang, however, paid no attention to her animosity. She moved past everyone and looked directly at Feng Yinwan.
"You are indeed quite clever, knowing how to set a trap to draw me out. But you never expected that the true saintess of the Moon Kingdom is actually someone else!"
The Emperor not being dead was indeed a slight surprise.
Song Qingan's secret deployment of troops into the city was also handled with great discretion.
But even so, she had hidden herself well. If the time had not been ripe and she had not willingly revealed herself, their capabilities would not have allowed them to guess her identity.
Feng Yinwan's gaze met Lingxiang's, and a dark, silent current surged within her eyes.
After waiting for a moment without a response, Lingxiang seemed somewhat disappointed. Her gaze shifted to the Emperor on the other side, and she spoke coldly.
"Don't bother thinking about how to eliminate me. Your people cannot do it. Immediately issue a decree to open the city gates and withdraw all the armies surrounding the capital. Otherwise, I will kill her."
Open the city gates and withdraw the armies. She intended to welcome the Moon Kingdom's forces into the capital!
As everyone held their breath in solemnity, the dagger had already drawn a bloody line on the Empress Dowager's neck.
Seeing this, the Emperor's eyes darkened. Before he could speak, Ye Tingyun, who had just been untied, stepped forward.
"Let go of Imperial Grandmother, and I will let you hold me hostage!"
"Yun'er, no!"
The Empress Dowager had barely uttered a word before she was forced into silence again. The blade was so sharp it seemed capable of severing her throat at any moment.
Ye Tingyun's face suddenly turned pale at the sight.
"Don't move anymore! I'll come over now!"
He was the Emperor's chosen successor and the only prince of the Jing Dynasty at present. His identity was naturally more valuable than the Empress Dowager's.
Lingxiang's eyes flickered subtly, and she curved her lips. "Very well, come over."
Ye Tingyun began to step forward at her words, but the Emperor's brow furrowed. He immediately stopped him with a stern shout.
"Yun'er, stop!"
Of all the people in this hall, Ye Tingyun was the most important. He could not be put in danger!
Ye Tingyun halted his steps as ordered and turned, "Imperial Father..."
As soon as he spoke, a fierce gust of wind struck from behind.
Before he could see what was happening, his arm was forcefully grabbed, and his body was yanked to the side. Consort Yu's palm strike swept past where he had just been standing.
Still reeling from the shock, Feng Yinwan released him.
Then, she turned her gaze to Lingxiang and spoke in a cold voice.
"Exchange me instead, how about that?"