The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1154 - 1154 562 Fully Exposed (two updates)_2

Chapter 1154: 562 Fully Exposed (two updates)_2 Chapter 1154: 562 Fully Exposed (two updates)_2 “I don’t want to leave! I want to stay by His Majesty’s side!”

“Someone come!”

At Empress Xiao’s command, Eunuch Su led two burly eunuchs forward and escorted the shouting and struggling Noble Consort Zhuang away.

Empress Xiao’s gaze swept over Noble Consort Zhuang, Consort Shu, and Consort Yu: “You all wait outside.”

Eunuch Su approached the three consorts and said, “Ladies, please.”

Noble Consort Zhuang didn’t want to leave, but she knew her situation was now weaker than others. After King Ning’s incident, her mother no longer indulged her, and she no longer had the clout to challenge Empress Xiao.

Noble Consort Zhuang stomped out of the Sleeping Palace in a huff!

With her departure, Consort Shu and Consort Yu couldn’t very well remain where they were, and so they both reluctantly withdrew as well.

Princess Ning An came over to pay her respects to Empress Xiao.

Empress Xiao looked at her injuries and asked, “What did the imperial physician say?”

Princess Ning An looked wan and replied, “It’s just a superficial wound; it’s nothing serious.”

Empress Xiao asked, “What exactly happened in the Imperial Study Room? I heard there was an assassin.”

Princess Ning An, with her head lowered, choked out, “Yes, an assassin… He made an attempt on Elder Brother’s life. I couldn’t stop him and Elder Brother got injured.”

Empress Xiao said sternly, “You should return to Bixia Hall and take care of your injuries. I will handle the matter of the assassin.”

Princess Ning An reluctantly turned back to glance at the Emperor who was still unconscious.

She also glanced at Eunuch Wei.

Eunuch Wei quickly lowered his gaze.

Turning her face back around, Princess Ning An gave Empress Xiao a curtsey and said, “Yes.”

After she left, Empress Xiao called Eunuch Wei over and asked him with a stern look, “What’s this matter with the assassin? How did one get into the Imperial Study Room, when the Emperor is supposed to be guarded by the palace’s best martial experts?”

Eunuch Wei replied, looking troubled, “There were guards, but…”

Empress Xiao frowned and said, “But what?”

Eunuch Wei replied with anguish, “But everything happened too fast. Nobody expected such a thing to happen. If it weren’t for Princess Ning An stepping forward and taking the knife for His Majesty, I fear His Majesty would have faced grave danger. After the assassin’s initial attack failed, he grabbed the inkstone from the desk and bashed it against His Majesty’s head…”

Empress Xiao’s eyes were icy cold as she demanded, “Who was the assassin?”

Eunuch Wei lowered his gaze and said, “A yamen runner from the Ministry of Justice.”

After questioning Eunuch Wei, Empress Xiao finally clarified the sequence of events leading to the Emperor’s assassination attempt. It turned out that His Majesty had recently been investigating a case related to the royal family, and just today, a prisoner in the Ministry of Justice Prison had confessed.

The yamen runner named Sun Ping was there to deliver the prisoner’s confession to His Majesty.

As Minister Xing was a confidant of the Emperor, His Majesty naturally did not suspect the person he sent. However, Sun Ping took advantage of the moment when His Majesty was reviewing the confession to suddenly draw a hidden flexible blade from his belt and thrust it at His Majesty.

Eunuch Wei was by the door, too far away to see clearly what Sun Ping was doing.

Princess Ning An was the first to react, lunging forward to block the knife, severely injuring her right arm, and accidentally knocking her forehead against a stool as she fell.

By the time Eunuch Wei realized something was wrong and called for the guards, it was already too late; Sun Ping was too close to His Majesty and struck him with the inkstone.

He attempted to strike a second time, but Princess Ning An charged at him. She pulled out the knife that was still lodged in her own arm and stabbed it into Sun Ping’s chest.

At the time, only the Emperor, Princess Ning An, and Eunuch Wei were in the Imperial Study Room, and there was no fourth witness.

Empress Xiao also questioned the city gate guard and confirmed that Sun Ping indeed entered the palace under the pretense of delivering the confession.

Of course, Empress Xiao had also sent Eunuch Su to the Ministry of Justice, and the information he obtained was consistent with Eunuch Wei’s account—Sun Ping had come to deliver the confession.

The Ministry of Justice had not anticipated that Sun Ping would attempt to assassinate His Majesty.

Sun Ping and Sun Jian were cousins, one barely in his twenties, the other twenty-three. Both worked under Minister Xing; neither held high office, but both were frequently by Minister Xing’s side and greatly valued by him.

When everyone heard that Sun Ping had committed such a heinous act of treason, their first reaction was disbelief!

If they had said it was Sun Jian, they might have given it some thought, for Sun Jian was more cunning than Sun Ping and occasionally threw his weight around, bullying others on the pretext of authority. However, Sun Ping had always been straightforward and honest in his dealings.

“Eunuch Su, where is Sun Ping now?” Minister Xing asked.

“He’s dead,” Eunuch Su responded coldly.

Minister Xing took a sharp intake of breath.

Eunuch Su asked in a mocking tone, “Who allowed Sun Ping to enter the palace?”

Xiao Hen stepped forward.

Minister Xing held him back and said to Eunuch Su, “I did!”

Eunuch Su raised his chin and scoffed, “Then please accompany me to the palace, Minister Xing! Moreover, as this concerns His Majesty, the assassination case will be handed over to the Dali Temple, with the Office of the Imperial Censor cooperating in the investigation.”

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