PDLP Chapter 271 The Last Edict
Chapter 271 The Last Edict
"She's lying! She must have stolen the imperial seal. Don't believe her slander!"
"Steal? After the Emperor became seriously ill, you arranged the entire Taiji Palace so that not even a fly could get in.
I am imprisoned in the Yilan Palace of the Eastern Palace. I would like to ask the Imperial Concubine, how can I steal it if the Emperor does not personally hand it over to me? "
Xiao Mo's remarks once again made Concubine Liang's heart tremble.
Qi Yue looked at the jade seal in her hand and strode up to the altar: "Maybe he colluded with Eunuch Wei, who is beside my father, to steal it?"
Xiao Mo looked at him with a mocking sneer, put the jade seal back into her bag, and took out an imperial edict from her waist.
"The Emperor wrote a will before his death. Your Highness, please listen to it before expressing your opinion."
She opened the imperial edict and read out its contents in a loud voice.
The imperial edict pointed out the details of Concubine Liang's poisoning of the emperor, the reasons for deposing Prince Qi Yue, and the hope of appointing Qi Minxiu as the crown prince.
After everyone listened quietly, they all started to get agitated.
Concubine Liang wanted to push Xiao Mo off the altar with a ferocious look on her face, but fortunately Qi Minxiu reacted quickly and jumped up to stop her.
Qi Yue narrowed his eyes, glanced at the imperial edict in her hand, and chuckled softly.
"Since you were able to steal the Imperial Seal, you can certainly write a fake imperial edict yourself. The authenticity of this edict remains to be verified, Crown Princess."
He walked towards her as he spoke, and deliberately emphasized her identity at the end of his words.
Xiao Mo unconsciously tightened her grip on the will, and looked at Qi Minxiu who was protecting her with some guilt.
Unexpectedly, Qi Minxiu didn't seem angry at all. Instead, he stared at Qi Yue expressionlessly, and did not slow down the movement of protecting her with his hands.
"The ink, seals, and materials used by our father to write the imperial edicts were all specially made. It's already far-fetched to say she stole the imperial seal. Now you're denying the imperial edict in her hands. In my opinion, it's you who's trying to rebel!"
After Qi Minxiu finished speaking, he turned around and faced the people in the audience. When he was about to speak again, Concubine Liang's crazy voice came out again.
"Impossible! Xiao Mo was imprisoned in Yilan Palace every day during those days, and Taiji Palace was also heavily guarded. She couldn't see the emperor. This jade seal and will must be fake!"
When he heard again that Xiao Mo was imprisoned in the Eastern Palace, a trace of heartache gradually emerged in Qi Minxiu's resolute eyes.
He looked down at the person in his arms and gently kissed the top of her head, "I'm sorry you've suffered."
Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, then her heart felt warm, making her feel much more comfortable.
Xu Renchuan, who was standing in the audience, saw the right moment, turned around, jumped on his horse, and looked at the silent soldiers.
"Liang Guifei herself admitted to imprisoning General Xiao and the Emperor. She and the Crown Prince stayed with the Emperor every day, but the Emperor did not hand over the Imperial Seal to them.
From this, it can be seen that the emperor really had no intention of passing the throne to the prince. The will in General Xiao's hand also fully expressed the emperor's disappointment in the prince and Concubine Liang.
Brothers, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chen is the Emperor's chosen successor. We cannot go against His Majesty's will and allow the traitor to succeed. Charge!"
His passionate words aroused the fighting spirit of the soldiers, especially the Royal Guards.
Because the Imperial Guards were trained by the emperor himself to protect him and the palace.
They have different beliefs from ordinary soldiers, and with proper guidance they can be inspired to protect their master.
In addition, when Xu Renchuan was the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, he had a good relationship with the people below him.
This caused those who were originally on his side but had to be his enemy because of Qi Yue's identity to instantly ignite their ambition to support him.
The new commander of the Royal Guards panicked when he saw his men getting ready to make a move.
He sat on his warhorse, turned around to look at the people behind him, and quickly shouted at them.
"We only recognize His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as the heir to the throne. Xiao Mo stole the imperial seal and forged the imperial edict. His crimes are unforgivable...Ah!"
Before he could finish his words, a long arrow flew out from nowhere and pierced his hand which was raised in the air.
When Xiao Mo heard the sound, she looked and saw Yang Zerui standing behind the crowd and about to shoot the second arrow.
Feeling her gaze, he raised his eyebrows and looked at her, then slightly pulled the corners of his mouth, loosened his hand, and the arrow flew out again.
This time, the unsuspecting new commander of the Royal Guards was shot through the head.
In an instant, the soldiers, full of undercurrents, picked up their swords and guns and started the battle that had not yet ended.
Concubine Liang was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she retreated in panic behind the armored army to seek shelter.
Xiao Mo was pushed down from the altar by the crowd, but her eyes were always on Concubine Liang.
She stared at her coldly and silently jumped from the other side of the altar to another tall building.
After hiding under the peach tree, she slowly took out a bow and arrow and aimed at Concubine Liang's head with squinted eyes.
Just as she tightened the bowstring and was about to let go, a large knife flew out from nowhere and hit her back.
She dodged her waist and the arrow went a little off target.
Concubine Liang was shot in the left shoulder while fleeing in a panic. Before she could react, her body fell down.
Qi Yue, who was far away, saw this scene and left the enemy he was fighting with and ran towards her.
"Mother! Mother, are you okay?"
He bent down to support her, and when he looked up he saw another arrow flying towards them.
With a "clang", he chopped the long arrow in half. When he was about to stand up to meet the enemy, he saw a red figure under a peach tree in the distance.
"Amo..." he murmured, his surging thoughts interrupted by Concubine Liang's cry of pain.
"Yue'er, save mother, save mother, mother doesn't want to die." Concubine Liang pulled his sleeve and tried desperately to get up.
"Don't be afraid, mother. I'm here. Everything will be fine."
Qi Yue comforted her and wanted to help her to a safe place to rest, but she stood up and took only two steps when she was hit by an arrow in each leg.
Concubine Liang, who was used to a life of luxury, had never endured such pain.
She screamed and fell to the ground without warning. Fortunately, Qi Yue hugged her and prevented her from falling flat on her face.
Qi Yue turned around angrily, and through the gap in the chaos, he saw Xiao Mo slowly pulling the bow again.
He had already witnessed how superb Xiao Mo's archery skills were when she had just returned to the palace.
It's hard to find another woman in Nan Yao who can shoot two arrows at the same time and hit the target from such a distance.
Concubine Liang bent her body, the phoenix hairpins on her head had all fallen off, and her slender and soft hands trembled as she squeezed Qi Yue's sleeves tightly: "Yue'er..."
She frowned in pain, her face turned pale and she looked like she would die at any moment.
In the distance, Xiao Mo once again aimed at Concubine Liang's head, but she didn't shoot for a long time because the noisy people blocked her sight again and again.
"Mother, I will take you away." Qi Yue looked at her with a dark look in his eyes. When he took Concubine Liang's hand and was about to leave, an arrow suddenly flashed before his eyes.