Chapter 683
When the betrayal, subjugation, and broken borders were demonstrated in the Overwatch Council, Jingdou was enveloped in a strange and oppressive atmosphere . Naturally, the small court conference would not be held . Although each ministry and yamen carried on as usual, the shocking information that came out of the Royal Palace had long made the officials of the Qing Kingdom tremble . No one had any thoughts to spare for state affairs, and no one dared to whisper secretly in the yamen . Occasionally, there would be officials who got along well in private that would meet in an isolated location and mutually exchange the news they possessed .
The Emperor was almost assassinated! The evil and unforgivable treasonous renegade was Director Chen! Everyone found this information to be shocking and unbelievable . However, the reality was in front of their eyes . Other than feeling unsettled and shocked, the civil officials turned their gazes toward the Overwatch Council . They worried faintly whether the court would be able to control that Council under these circumstances .
Fortunately, steady information flowed in without end . For now, it seemed these officials did not need to worry too much . In the morning, after the incident exploded, various ministers and dukes, as well as a few elders of the Hall of Governmental Affairs, all rushed to the Royal Palace . After a few hours, they left the Palace and began to deal with state affairs anew, leaving behind only Hu the Scholar to wait in the Royal Palace .
The foremost matter in the Qing court was to investigate Chen Pingping's case of treason . All the yamen were mobilized . This was the first time the civil officials system independently investigated such an important case away from the gaze of the Overwatch Council . No one knew how the various yamens felt, whether, among the sorrow and shock, they also felt much more relaxed . However, the Emperor's edict was clearly urgent, and cold . The so-called investigation was nothing more than a show .
In less than four hours, the various yamens of the Qing court, with the Supreme Court as the leader, drafted up a number of major crimes relating to Chen Pingping and sent it to the Royal Palace . However, it was immediately sent back . It was clear that the angry and heavily injured Emperor was not satisfied with the crimes these civil officials had drafted .
The Emperor would not allow Chen Pingping to die easily . Since Chen Pingping thought that he stood in a glorious and righteous platform from which he questioned and sought revenge, the Emperor would make sure Chen Pingping suffered a complete defeat and fall from grace and would die with endless humiliation and criminal offenses .
It was a difficult matter to fabricate crimes . Tying them to Chen Pingping made these court officials sink into a panicked state . However, the Emperor' strict orders remained . No one dared to offer any objection . They could only pile, with trembling bodies, the crimes of evil officials who had appeared throughout the annals of history onto Chen Pingping .
Once the 13 great crimes were finally laid out, Chen Pingping had finally become the greatest evil in history . After becoming the evilest and most unforgivable official, the Palace finally sent a word of approval . It was clear that Chen Pingping would not escape the punishment of death by a thousand cuts .
Everything happened quickly . Other than shock, all of the court officials could not help but feel slightly suspicious . If there really was a case of treason, once it was investigated, it would probably take a number of years . If Director Chen was the main culprit, he would not be killed so easily . Furthermore, the number of officials who would be implicated in this matter of treason would probably be in the thousands .
However, the injured Emperor seemed to have focused his anger solely on Chen Pingping's person and did not seem to want this matter to implicate widely .
Finally, there were officials who guessed the Emperor's intentions . They could not help but feel an immediate chill . The Emperor hated Chen Pingping to the extreme, so he had to punish him according to the law and kill him in front of the eyes of tens of millions of common people . The reason the Emperor forced the entire Qing court to speed up the process of this affair was because Chen Pingping was no longer just Chen Pingping . He represented the Overwatch Council . The new Director of the Overwatch Council, the powerful Sir Fan junior, was, at this moment, rushing back to Jingdou from Dongyi .
If it were an ordinary official, presumably the Emperor would not care at all . In fact, he might coldly and cruelly wait for him to return and then have Chen Pingping die in front of him, once again touching on his bleeding heart . However, Chen Pingping was not an ordinary official . The power he held in his hands was too great . It was to the point that the Qing Kingdom had to consider its future . Most importantly, he was the Emperor's illegitimate son .
Without openly killing Chen Pingping, it was impossible to release the hatred in the Emperor's heart . However, the Emperor had to finish all of this before Fan Xian returned to Jingdou and turn this matter into a reality with no chance of things being turned around .
…
…
The entire court kept busy because of the shocking assassination case in the early hours of the morning in the royal study . In the south of the city, the Fan manor with stone lions outside that watched the world with cold and disdainful eyes was sunk in a strange silence .
It was just past noon . The news of the attempted assassination of the Emperor had just traveled outside of the Palace . Chen Pingping had not yet been sent to the prison of the Overwatch Council, yet an edict announcing eunuch, accompanied by palace guards and imperial soldiers, had come straight to the Fan manor's front doors .
Without any incense or ceremony, the members of the Fan manor, who were having lunch in the Flower Hall, listened to the eunuch's words . Their faces immediately turned white . As the mistress, Lin Wan'er slowly rose and said, as she stared at the eunuch, "Repeat that again?"
The eunuch knew very well that the Emperor was waiting to be treated in the palace . However, faced with Princess Chen's cold-voiced inquiry, he did not become angry . In a hurried voice, he repeated what he said .
A shocked expression flashed through Lin Wan'er's eyes . She unconsciously turned her head to glance at her sister-in-law by her side . Fan Ruoruo's face was very pale . Presumably, whoever heard this message would have the same expression, particularly the women of the Fan manor . Regardless of whether it was the Emperor or Chen Pingping, whose life and death was unknown, they were both too deeply and closely connected to the Fan manor . It was impossible to separate from .
Lin Wan'er knew what sort of affection her husband had toward Chen Pingping . But, after all, the Emperor was Fan Xian's father and her own uncle .
Fan Ruoruo put down the bowl and chopsticks in her hand and looked at her sister-in-law . Gently biting her lower lip, she did not speak . Her fingers trembled slightly .
Lin Wan'er's large eyes gradually calmed . She lowered her head slightly . "Is the Emperor in danger?"
Hearing Princess Chen's question, he could only shake his head with fear . The eunuch knew no details . He could not even enter the palace the Emperor was staying in . It was impossible for him to explain anything . His trip was only by Commander Ye's order . He had come to invite, or escort, the young lady of the Fan manor into the Palace to save the Emperor .
Lin Wan'er glanced at Fan Ruoruo, who lowered her head slightly . She did not think about anything before standing up and saying lightly, "I'll go into the Palace . "
After saying this, Fan Ruoruo left the dinner table and followed the eunuch and soldiers out of the Fan manor . Her medical chest was still in the Danbo medical shop on Dongchuan Road, so they had to detour there first .
Watching her sister-in-law's figure disappear through the gates of the manor, thick worry and unease rose in Lin Wan'er's eyes . To the wife of the Teng family standing to the side, she said, "Send a few clever servants to wait outside the palace . If there's any news, have them report back quickly . "
"Yes . " The wife of the Teng family also knew that something major had happened . She maintained a solemn expression as she replied and then prepared to leave and arrange things . She then heard the mistress speak again . "Have Teng Zijing come here . I have instructions to give him . "
The expression on Lin Wan'er's face was cautious . Other than nervousness, there was more worry than anything else . She was deep in the Fan manor and had no idea what chaos had exploded outside . She had even less idea of what exactly had happened in the Royal Palace . Why had Director Chen suddenly returned to Jingdou and was inside the royal study? What exactly had happened between the Emperor and Director Chen?
From the Jingdou rebellion three years ago, she knew that the cold-hearted Emperor would not give Director Chen any chance to live . But, she knew that if Fan Xian was in Jingdou now, he would not just watch and do nothing as this happened .
Since she knew what Fan Xian's stance would be, she knew that the Fan manor's position in this matter was dangerous . With one misstep, it would be an end without any hope of reprieve .
She glanced at Sisi next to her and quietly ordered, "When Teng Zijing arrives in a moment, I will have him make arrangements for you all to leave the capital first . Take Shuning and Liangzi and hide for a while in the country estate outside of the capital . "
Sisi was not surprised by this arrangement . After all, she was one of the four servants Fan Xian had taught personally . Although she had been by the mistress's side these years dealing with family and clan affairs, she had not lost that sensitivity . Particularly when it came to hiding outside the capital, Sisi was no stranger to that . When she had been pregnant with Fan Xian's first child, it had been during the tense moments of the Jingdou rebellion . The old master, Fan Jian, had arranged for her to hide in Chen Garden .
Chen Garden? Sisi looked at the mistress and suddenly said, "The young master owes the old Director . "
Lin Wan'er sighed and gently nodded her head . "For such a major matter, who can turn it around? Don't talk now . Go pack and leave the manor as soon as possible . "
"At this time, the city gates should already be closed," Sisi reminded her . "Jingdou is about to be tightly closed off . I'm afraid there's no getting out with Teng Zijing leading . "
During these years, Fan Xian's one wife and one concubine had sorted clan affairs, family matters, and all the details of the Jiangnan Hangzhou Conference on Fan Xian's behalf . These two women, one mistress and one deputy, worked together well . Their implicit understanding grew deeper and deeper . Lin Wan'er was the one who came up with the ideas while Sisi was the one who caught what she missed and corrected any errors .
Lin Wan'er also handed her own son to Sisi take with her . She trusted her greatly . Her brows knitted together slightly as she said, "That is why we have to hurry . "
As she said this, an Overwatch Council official wearing black official robes appeared outside the Flower Hall . Earlier, Lin Wan'er had already secretly notified the Qinian Unit member who protected her, so she was not surprised at his appearance . Approaching the railing of the Flower Hall, she looked at him and worriedly said, "You already know what happened . Immediately send someone to the outskirts of the Overwatch Council to see what is happening . Then make some arrangements for Guard Teng to take them away . "
The member of the Qinian Unit nodded heavily . As a subordinate of the Overwatch Council, his current emotions were unusually heavy and shocked . However, he knew that the young mistress' orders were unusually clear . The Overwatch Council would certainly be heavily surrounded . It would be difficult to make contact with those inside .
He made a gesture behind him . A member of the Qinian Unit went to make the necessary arrangements . Lin Wan'er looked at him and said, "Send someone to ride quickly to Yanjing . If they run into Fan Xian on the road…" Her brows furrowed .
The member of the Qinian Unit looked at her tensely, waiting for her final decision .
"Tell him what happened . " A decisiveness flashed across Lin Wan'er's face . "Just say, Director Chen… is about to die . "
The person sighed and glanced at her gratefully, He then left to prepare everything . The Fan manor burst into ordered activity . There was only Lin Wan'er left alone in the Flower Hall . She thought about what had happened today and suddenly felt a gust of cold wind from all around that made her shiver .
She had managed the affairs of the Fan family for three whole years . Additionally, she managed the Hangzhou Conference and clan affairs . At the height of her youth, Lin Wan'er already felt like the mistress of a family . As each clearly and powerful order was given out, the people of the Fan manor reacted methodically .
By the side door of the garden in the rear residence, Lin Wan'er took the eldest daughter and little son from the nanny and pressed two hard kisses to their faces before reminding Sisi of a few more things . She then let the carriage begin moving . At her side, Teng Zijing lowered his voice and said, "I'm afraid leaving the capital at this time will be somewhat conspicuous . "
Lin Wan'er glanced at him . She knew that although this guard, who was absolutely loyal to the Fan family, had been shocked by the assassination in the Royal Palace, he still thought that her reaction was too strong . She shook her head and said, "Although it is conspicuous, it is best to leave as early as possible . "
There was one thing that she did not explain to Teng Zijing . Although the Qinian Unit had already sent someone to notify Fan Xian, the road was long and the journey was far . She was afraid that by the time Fan Xian got back, Chen Pingping would have already died on the execution ground . She was well aware of the emotions hidden beneath Fan Xian's gentle exterior . Who knew what extreme reaction Fan Xian would have at that time?
Since she predicted that Fan Xian would react fiercely, her reaction now appeared tense and urgent .
"Don't mind this side, I'll personally go into the Palace in a while to have a look . " Lin Wan'er inclined her head slightly at him .
Teng Zijing sighed, bowed, and chased after the carriage that had not gone far .
Lin Wan'er returned to the manor and gathered all of the servants and guards in the Fan manor in the shortest possible time . In a cautious tone, she instructed them on the things they should be careful about, particularly strictly forbidding any discussions in private .
Although she had always been known to be simple-minded and happy, her rule of the family these years had long solidified her reputation in the manor . With the commotion in Jingdou, no one knew that the Fan manor was one of the centers of chaos . The servants all promised in unison, not daring to lie .
Lin Wan'er slowly swept her gaze across and roughly calculated the forces she could mobilize . There were not many members of the Qinian Unit left in the manor . Most were swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau . However, these people needed to ensure the safety of the Fan manor and could not be sent out . Da Bao had gone to the old Lin Manor to bury crickets . With such a major incident, someone had to be sent to quickly bring him back .
She immediately thought of another matter and gently waved her hand to summon the member of the Qinian Unit . Quietly, she said, "Also, send someone to the First Bureau . There is no need to do anything . It's just to maintain contact . "
Although no news had come back from the Overwatch Council, Lin Wan'er knew that given her Uncle Emperor's imperial wisdom, the square and sinister building would certainly be suppressed by powerful military forces . But, the First Bureau was close to the Supreme Court . There could be an opening there .
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