Chapter 283

Grand Finale: Six

Zhang Guifei's sudden visit did not surprise Yin Fengzhan too much. After all, because Nie Jinxuan was pregnant, Zhang Guifei often came to Yongle Palace to keep her company. And it wasn't just Zhang Guifei; even Consort Li, Princess Gong Chen Yan'er, Jin Jingwen, and Qiu Pingting often came over, so Yin Fengzhan was already accustomed to it!

Therefore, upon hearing the young eunuch's report, Yin Fengzhan nodded. A short while later, Zhang Guifei walked in.

Zhang Guifei was now the honored Dowager Consort, respected by the palace servants, and had an excellent relationship with Nie Jinxuan, her niece-in-law-to-be. Although her own son, Prince Gong Yin Fengxuan, was still unreliable, he didn't cause trouble, so Zhang Guifei's complexion was getting better and better. Her naturally kind face was now even more benevolent, full of smiles.

Seeing Zhang Guifei arrive, Yin Fengzhan stood up from his seat. But before he could bow and pay his respects, Zhang Guifei waved her hand with a smile.

"That's enough, that's enough. I just came over to take a look!"

As she spoke, Zhang Guifei glanced around, her gaze lingering slightly on Lian Feng before she spoke to Yin Fengzhan again.

"What's this? Where is Jinxuan? Why don't I see her?"

"She just left the palace."

"Left the palace?"

Clearly, Zhang Guifei was stunned for a moment that Nie Jinxuan was not there and had left the palace with her belly, but she immediately realized.

"Eh, I suppose it's that Magistrate Pei again! This is really something. In such a large Capital Prefecture, is there no one else who can perform an autopsy? He comes to the palace to find her every time. Really, what is the use of him being the Governor of the Capital? Might as well let Jinxuan do it!"

Zhang Guifei said this, but there was no sign of anger on her face. Yin Fengzhan invited her to sit down, and after they exchanged a few words, she changed the subject.

"But never mind, it's fine that the girl Jinxuan isn't here. Actually, I came today just to tell you something, Zhan'er..."

"Please speak, Aunt."

Yin Fengzhan had always been very respectful toward Zhang Guifei. Hearing this, she nodded in satisfaction, but then she didn't speak immediately. Instead, she raised her eyes and cast a subtle glance at Lian Feng, who was standing next to Yin Fengzhan.

Yin Fengzhan understood immediately. He raised his hand and waved, dismissing the palace servants and Lian Feng from the room. Once they were gone, he looked directly at Zhang Guifei.

"Aunt, please speak your mind."

Yin Fengzhan was straightforward. Hearing this, Zhang Guifei nodded at him with a smile.

"Good, then I won't beat around the bush... Zhan'er, tell me, why did Lian Feng come here just now?"

Zhang Guifei hadn't known about Yin Fengzhan's four great death soldiers before, but she was familiar with them now. Hearing this, Yin Fengzhan's brows twitched slightly, and he told the truth.

"Empress Dowager Duan has been captured."

"Oh, is that so! That's good!"

Zhang Guifei was still smiling. Seeing this, even Yin Fengzhan couldn't figure out what she was up to. Before he could ask, the smiling Zhang Guifei's expression tightened.

"Zhan'er, can you hand Empress Dowager Duan over to me to deal with?"

Zhang Guifei's voice remained calm, but for some reason, it gave Yin Fengzhan an indescribable sense of eeriness. After a moment of hesitation, he asked in return:

"Aunt, you want to deal with Empress Dowager Duan yourself?"

"Is that possible?"

Without answering his question, Zhang Guifei only cared about one thing: whether it was possible or not! Meeting her gaze, Yin Fengzhan couldn't help but purse his lips.

One had to know that Yin Fengzhan had only just received the news of her capture, and at this very juncture, Zhang Guifei had come to his door and asked for the person...

Was it a coincidence?

Yin Fengzhan didn't think so! But if it wasn't, how did Zhang Guifei know Empress Dowager Duan had been captured?! And judging by her demeanor just now, she was clearly certain that Empress Dowager Duan was already in his hands...

Thinking of this, Yin Fengzhan felt the matter was increasingly strange! He lowered his gaze, cast a quick glance at Zhang Guifei's neck, and after a moment of silence, finally nodded.

"Very well."

Yin Fengzhan agreed to her request. Hearing this, Zhang Guifei smiled immediately, chatted with him as she had before, and then rose to leave.

Yin Fengzhan watched her leave. Not until she had walked out and boarded her phoenix carriage did he withdraw his gaze. After another moment of silence, he raised his voice and summoned Lian Feng back in.

"Lian Feng, I ask you, where did you capture Empress Dowager Duan?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, after Empress Dowager Duan arrived in Eastern Ling, your subordinate had been sending people to track her. We only captured her after watching them enter Hui City."

Hui City was less than a hundred miles from the capital. Clearly, Empress Dowager Duan wanted to take the opportunity to probe the movements in the capital and find Nie Wenhao.

"Was anyone following them on the way?"

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

In the past, Yin Fengzhan would naturally have believed Lian Feng's words, but at this moment, he couldn't help but ask again. Lian Feng was startled, and his expression turned stern.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, when listening to the subordinates' reports, I indeed did not hear of anyone following. However, if Your Majesty is not certain, I can ask again in detail!"

As he spoke, Lian Feng turned to go and question them, but was stopped by Yin Fengzhan.

"Forget it, no need to ask further!"

"Yes!"

Lian Feng didn't understand why, but he bowed respectfully. At this moment, Yin Fengzhan narrowed his eyes and ordered in a low voice:

"I have just promised the Dowager Consort to hand Empress Dowager Duan over to her to deal with. You go down and handle it in a while."

"Yes!"

"Hmm, go on!"

"Yes!"

Responding respectfully again, Lian Feng walked out. Just as he reached the door, Yin Fengzhan called him back.

"By the way, Lian Feng, remember to keep this quiet!"

Yin Fengzhan's voice was calm and waveless. Upon hearing this, Lian Feng was startled. But seeing Yin Fengzhan's expression, although he had many questions in his heart, he immediately lowered his head.

"Yes, this subordinate understands!"

Night, quiet as water.

Darkness shrouded the entire capital, and the world was a chaotic void.

At this moment, in a certain dark and gloomy chamber, a dim, yellowish light flickered. The burning torches danced, occasionally emitting faint crackling sounds.

The chamber was large and appeared somewhat empty. A stifling, moldy odor permeated the gloom, inevitably giving rise to an indescribable sense of eeriness and terror from within one's heart!

Just then, a low, rumbling sound echoed. The stone door of the chamber suddenly opened from the outside, and then, hearing footsteps, several guards walked in.

Those guards were clearly no longer young. Their mediocre faces revealed a cold, condensed viciousness, and their expressionless countenances were frightening. After the guards walked in, a woman dressed in magnificent attire followed.

The woman moved with elegance, exuding an air of grace. After she entered, several palace maids immediately brought in a chair, neatly placed a cushion on it, brought a table, wiped it clean, and set out clear tea... Once everything was prepared, the woman sat down.

At this moment, the dim firelight in the chamber shone on her face, and it was shockingly discovered that the woman was none other than Zhang Guifei!

Zhang Guifei's expression remained easygoing. After she sat down, the small palace maids retreated respectfully, and Yuzhu, who was behind her, narrowed her eyes.

"Drag the person in."

With that one sentence, two guards dragged a person in, lifted the person's arms, and hung them in the center of the chamber with iron chains!

The person's head was covered with a cloth bag, but judging by the figure, it should be a woman. She struggled incessantly, like a fish that had just been hauled out of the water!

But no matter how the person thrashed, the surrounding guards remained unmoved. After she was tied up, Yuzhu glanced at Zhang Guifei.

For a time, the chamber fell quiet again, and only the muffled sounds from the person hanging in the cloth bag could be heard.

Zhang Guifei continued to drink the tea in her hand. After an unknown amount of time—long enough for the person to have given up struggling—Zhang Guifei paused slightly. Yuzhu immediately gave a look to the guard beside her, and the guard stepped forward and ripped the cloth bag off the person's head.

Suddenly, beneath the bag, the person's hair was disheveled and messy. Her face was covered in stains, her cheekbones protruded due to emaciation, and her eye sockets were sunken, revealing a pair of eyes that shone with an indescribable terror through the messy hair...

Looking closer, that person was none other than the Empress Dowager who had once held absolute power in Eastern Ling, Duan Yueshan!

At this moment, after the bag was removed, Duan Yueshan first looked around in a panic. But upon seeing Zhang Guifei sitting before her, she couldn't help but widen her eyes, while incessantly making muffled sounds.

Unfortunately, at this moment, no one paid her any mind. Zhang Guifei sat elegantly in her seat, remaining indifferent no matter how Duan Yueshan struggled or made muffled cries!

Finally, until Duan Yueshan had cried enough, Zhang Guifei set aside the now-lukewarm tea and looked up at her.

"Empress Dowager Duan, it has been many days. Are you well?"

Zhang Guifei's voice remained gentle, and her face wore the same smile as always; she looked as if she were chatting with an old friend in the afternoon. But upon hearing this, Duan Yueshan struggled violently and made muffled sounds.

Duan Yueshan's cries were somewhat strange. Zhang Guifei raised her eyebrows slightly. Yuzhu stepped forward, called a guard to pry open Duan Yueshan's mouth to take a look, and then returned to Zhang Guifei's side.

"Reporting to the Consort, her tongue has been cut out."