Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard

Han Mingze and the Empress Dowager walked and talked together. If one hadn’t been able to hear their conversation, they might have found the scene to resemble the happy, harmonious family portrait of their past.

Noticing the Empress Dowager's surprise, Han Mingze smiled and said, “That information was important, but how do you know that this Emperor didn't intentionally let her know those things; intentionally let her tell you those things?”

Intentionally let them know?

Han Mingze's words made the Empress Dowager's heart skip a beat, and she stared at him for a long time without speaking.

Han Mingze said no more, and the group continued on in silence toward the Cold Palace.

The Cold Palace was located in the southwest corner of the imperial palace. It was usually cold and quiet, with hardly anyone ever coming here. Since the Empress had moved in and a large number of guards had been stationed here, there had been some activity.

In the past, there had been no lights here after dark, but tonight the path leading there was brightly lit.

The people in the Cold Palace knew something was happening tonight and couldn't sleep. When they saw a group of soldiers carrying torches approaching, illuminating the outside of the Cold Palace as brightly as if it were day, fear welled up in their hearts.

Could it be that the emperor had been killed, and they were coming here to deal with them now?!

The Empress was in her room when she heard the sounds coming from outside. She staggered several steps back, sitting down on the bed.

Whether they were coming to deal with them or for the jade seal, tonight’s events were not what she wanted to see.

A group of people came from outside to the Cold Palace. Seeing the quiet courtyard, Han Minghong turned to Han Mingze and asked, “Where is the jade seal?”

The concubines all rose. Hearing their words, they looked at their own rooms in confusion. How could the jade seal be in the Cold Palace?

The Empress Dowager let go of the eunuch's arm supporting her and said, " Go fetch the Empress."

“Understood.”

The eunuch was about to go when the Empress opened her door, slowly walked out of her room, and approached the Empress Dowager and the others to pay her respects, saying, “This humble Concubine pays her respects to the Emperor, to the Empress Dowager, and to Prince Ren.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at her and said, “Empress, where is the jade seal?”

“The jade seal is not in this Concubine’s possession,” the Empress replied.

“You still dare to lie!” Han Minghong stepped forward, kicked the Empress, and knocked her to the ground. “The Emperor has already said that the jade seal is with you, yet you dare to hide it. Someone come, go in and search!”

The guards entered the room upon hearing Han Minghong's orders. They searched every corner, examining every table and chair, and even pulling the bedsheets off the bed and spreading them on the floor. However, they found no trace of the jade seal.

The Empress rose from the ground. Clutching her shoulder where Han Minghong had kicked her, she glared fiercely at him and said, “You know he is the Emperor, yet you dare to act so treasonously, plotting to usurp the throne. Don't you fear karma?"

“Usurp the throne? This empire has always been mine. He merely occupied my position on the dragon throne for a few years!”

“Your Highness, the jade seal was not found.” The room was sparsely furnished, and the guards quickly emerged.

“I told you, the jade seal is not here,” the Empress said with a cold laugh.

“Who would have expected that after spending some time in the Cold Palace, your courage has grown so much,” the Empress Dowager said to the Empress. “It doesn't matter if you don't hand it over. Your Majesty, what do you think? Should the Empress hand over the jade seal? Since it’s already known to be in the Cold Palace, the Cold Palace can always be torn down if need be. The jade seal will be found eventually. However, the people this Empress Dowager left in the imperial study will grow impatient waiting for orders and may start eliminating one person every so often as punishment for your lack of cooperation.”

Han Mingze remained silent for a moment before saying, “Bring it out.”

“Your Majesty?!” Hearing Han Mingze's words, the Empress looked at him in disbelief.

“All the princes and princesses are in the imperial study,” Han Mingze said. “Heng'er is there too.”

“Is Heng'er okay?” the empress asked with tears in her eyes.

“He’s fine. Go get the imperial seal.” Han Mingze said.

The Empress took a deep breath and said, “Even if Heng’er and the others are in the hands of the rebels, the jade seal can’t be handed over to them. What if…”

“It’s fine, just go get it.” Han Mingze said, gazing at the Empress.

“Yes.” The Empress asked a guard for a knife, went to the bed, and retrieved the jade seal buried beneath it. Since the bed was warm, the imperial seal was still slightly warm.

The Empress came out, approached Han Mingze, handed the jade seal to him, and hesitantly said, “Your Majesty, please reconsider carefully.”

Han Mingze took the jade seal and said, “I have already retrieved the jade seal. Shouldn't you release this Emperor’s children now?”

“When did we ever say that they would be released if you handed over the jade seal?” The Empress Dowager said, “This Empress Dowager only said that if you didn’t hand it over, we would kill them. This Empress Dowager never said that they wouldn’t be killed if you handed it over. Hahahaha!”

“The imperial jade seal, the imperial jade seal!” Han Minghong stared feverishly at the jade seal in Han Mingze’s hand. “As long as this abdication edict is stamped with it, the throne will be this Prince’s! Hahahaha, the throne will be this Prince’s! Han Mingze, hand over the jade seal!”

“Want it? Come and take it!” Han Mingze said.

Han Minghong ordered a guard to go and take it, but Han Mingze grabbed the blade from the Empress's hand and stabbed the guard to death.

Although his inner strength was sealed, his techniques remained. Killing the guard, who was caught unaware, was still quite easy.

“You still dare to resist!” Han Minghong saw Han Mingze's actions and sneered. To him, these actions were nothing but a joke. “Everyone here is on our side. Do you think your resistance is meaningful? Do you think you can survive and leave this Cold Palace?”

MoonWhisperer, skyrise's Thoughts

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