Chapter 115: Destined Sleeplessness

Wang Fu. The Prime Minister Gao had been pacing back and forth in his study for an hour, fine beads of sweat seeping on his forehead. Outside the window, it was pitch black, yet the candlelight in the study seemed particularly glaring.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the desk, the unease in his heart growing ever stronger. The Third Imperial Prince and Noble Consort Gao's plan should have been flawless, yet now it seemed riddled with flaws everywhere.

"My lord!" A faint sound of footsteps came from outside the door; a shadow guard pushed the door open, entered, and knelt before Prime Minister Gao.

"What is it that makes you so frantic?" Prime Minister Gao's brows knitted tightly, a vague ominous premonition stirring in his heart.

"My lord!" The shadow guard's voice trembled slightly. "The grain supplies we intercepted... are all stones! They are not military grain at all! We have fallen into a trap!"

"What?" Prime Minister Gao suddenly stood up, the teacup in his hand "crashed" onto the floor, splashing tea everywhere. His face instantly turned iron-green, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes:

"What did you say? The grain supplies are stones?"

The shadow guard panted heavily, speaking somewhat urgently:

"Our people only discovered it while moving them; the grain bags were filled with straw and stones, with absolutely no grain inside! This is clearly a trap set by someone!"

Prime Minister Gao's face instantly darkened; his fingers gripped the corner of the desk tightly, his knuckles turning white. He slowly sat down, letting out a cold sneer, a hint of ruthlessness revealing in his eyes:

"Good Crown Prince, good little wench, daring to scheme against me! It seems they were prepared long ago, deliberately luring us into the trap!"

Suddenly, Prime Minister Gao's eye twitched; he abruptly stood up, his voice urgent:

"Not good! Order Gao Yuan to immediately lead men to reinforce the cave. If anyone breaks in, leave no survivors; the Empress need not be kept alive either."

Prime Minister Gao's voice was cold as ice. "Remember, you must cut the roots and remove the weeds!"

He had originally kept the Empress alive to leave himself a way out, never expecting it might become his own death warrant. She absolutely must not be allowed to return to Jingcheng alive!

The shadow guard received the order and departed, leaving Prime Minister Gao alone in the study. He slowly walked to the window. The night was like ink; a few crows' cries came from the distance, sounding particularly desolate and particularly grating in this silent snowy night.

"Empress, oh Empress," Prime Minister Gao murmured to himself, "if you had obediently stayed in the cave, perhaps you could have lived a few more days. Pity..."

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

The candlelight in Prime Minister Gao's study burned all night, reflecting his fluctuating expression.

Inside the Imperial Palace in Jingcheng, the lights in the Imperial Study were bright.

Emperor Quan Quan Wuji sat before the Gao Yuan, holding a secret letter in his hand:

"The Crown Prince and Lady Lady Qingping set a trap with fake grain supplies; Prime Minister Gao fell into it. Chenwangdian and the Lady have gone to investigate."

A look of realization flashed across Quan Quan Wuji's face. Old thief Gao, bold enough indeed; staying at home yet still not resting, daring to intercept military grain right under the Emperor's nose.

The Emperor tapped his fingers on the Gao Yuan, making a "tut-tut" sound. After a long while, the corners of his mouth curved up. "Wench, well done."

Just then, the Commander of the Dragon and Tiger Guard appeared, presenting a secret letter: "Your Majesty, news from Prime Minister Gao's residence."

The Emperor took the secret letter; suddenly, he abruptly stood up. His fingers trembled slightly; in his eyes were both shock and wild joy. He verified the content of the secret letter once more:

"Chenwangdian and Lady Lady Qingping chased to Skeleton Mountain? A cave, discovering the Empress imprisoned inside the cave; there is a weapons workshop within the cave."

The secret letter in Quan Quan Wuji's hand fell to the ground.

"The Empress... is still alive..." He murmured to himself, his voice carrying a hint of choking.

There was no time for him to think further.

"Issue My decree: The entire Dragon and Tiger Guard shall mobilize, rushing to rescue the Empress. Remember, you must ensure My Empress, My son, and My daughter-in-law return safely to Jingcheng."

"Xiao Han, you shall personally lead the team to rescue the Empress. Additionally, dispatch the Imperial Guard to rush to Skeleton Mountain and dig out the old thief's weapons workshop."

The Commander of the Dragon and Tiger Guard, Xiao Han, received the order and departed.

The Emperor sat back down on the Dragon Throne, his gaze falling upon a portrait on the table. It was a portrait of the Empress from her youth; in the painting, her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, her smile like a flower.

"Five years..." The Emperor sighed softly. "Our Yu has grown up, almost ready to marry a wife, while you... have suffered for five years... I have finally waited for you..."

He withstood the pressure in the court to re-establish an Empress, stubbornly beating two old men into silence, forcing the court officials to shut their mouths. Over these years, he had been searching for the Empress, but always found nothing. Slowly, he dared not hope anymore, that the Empress he thought of day and night was still alive in the world.

Quan Quan Wuji reached out to touch the portrait, a trace of tenderness flashing in his eyes. But quickly, this tenderness was replaced by sharpness.

"Prime Minister Gao..." The Emperor sneered coldly. "You dare imprison My Empress, truly audacious!"

Inside the study of Prince Yi Wang Fu, the lights likewise had not been extinguished; the candlelight flickered, casting the Third Imperial Prince Quan Quan Tianyi's gloomy face in shifting light and shadow. He suddenly threw the teacup in his hand onto the floor; porcelain shards scattered, and tea spread a dark stain on the carpet.

"Fools!" He cursed through gritted teeth:

"I said back then not to keep the Empress; kill her directly! Now that the person has been discovered by the Fourth, the trouble is great."

Quan Quan Tianyi paced back and forth, the soles of his boots making a grating sound as they stepped on the broken porcelain shards.

A night owl's cry came from outside the window; the Third Imperial Prince stopped in his tracks, his gaze shooting like a knife towards the window. A black shadow silently landed before the window, kneeling on one knee.

"Your Highness." The shadow guard commander, Night Owl, spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

The Third Imperial Prince quickly walked to the window, lowering his voice: "How is things over at Prime Minister Gao's side?"

"Men have been sent to watch; aside from fully attempting to ambush and kill Chenwangdian, the Empress, and Lady Lady Qingping, Prime Minister Gao has made no other moves for the time being."

Night Owl raised his head, revealing a face covered in scars. "But fresh footprints were discovered near Entrance One; judging by the marks, they do not look like our people's."

The Third Imperial Prince's pupils suddenly contracted; he turned and walked to the desk, his fingers tapping urgently on the surface. After a moment, he spoke in a deep voice:

"If Prime Minister Gao's ambush fails, he will inevitably be exposed. When necessary, push Prime Minister Gao out. Additionally, if Prime Minister Gao is exposed, immediately activate Plan Two."

Night Owl lowered his head: "Yes."

"Wait." The Third Imperial Prince suddenly called him back. "You shall handle this personally. Remember, the cave where the soldiers are raised must absolutely not be exposed. Inside there..." He paused. "... lies our final trump card."

"Yes." Night Owl's voice was hoarse and low. "Subordinate has already arranged personnel to monitor Prime Minister Gao's residence; once the situation changes, act immediately."

"Go, act according to the circumstances." The Third Imperial Prince waved his hand.

Night Owl's figure disappeared into the darkness; the Third Imperial Prince walked to the window, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the window frame.

The Fourth already knows about the weapons workshop; it seems the workshop cannot be saved. If Prime Minister Gao fails to ambush and kill the Fourth and the Empress, they will surely bite and not let go. The workshop can be discarded, but the cave raising private soldiers cannot be lost.