Chapter 116 Fight back
Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. The streets are bustling with activity and every household hangs colorful lanterns in the hope of good weather, peace and happiness.

The sky was filled with snowflakes. Lu Ji, wearing a black cloak and accompanied only by his personal guards, rode against the wind, out of the city, and stopped at a remote inn.

After seeing Lu Ji, the innkeeper looked around and then led Lu Ji to a dark room.

More than ten black-clad warriors had gathered here. When they saw Lu Ji, the leader knelt on one knee and clasped his fists: "It's just a small matter. Why bother the general to come here in person?"

Lu Ji raised his hand slightly, signaling everyone to stand up. His face was solemn, and his sharp eyes swept over everyone. He said in a sharp tone: "This is not a trivial matter, but a matter of life and death."

The leader hurriedly said, "My words were out of turn."

He then said confidently: "We have made thorough plans according to the general's instructions and will definitely fulfill our mission."

Lu Ji nodded: "You are all the best of the best, remember not to leave any traces when doing things, and leave the capital immediately after the task is completed."

Several people obeyed the order.

Lu Jiyou was worried and asked again, "There won't be any problems with the gunpowder, right?"

The assassin said, "Don't worry, General. We have practiced this hundreds of times and it is perfect."

In the imperial city.

The lights are bright tonight, especially in Concubine Duan’s Chonghua Palace, which is full of peace and joy.

After a few days of recuperation, Concubine Duan's health had improved. Prince Jin stood in front of her with a look of regret: "This is the first time that your son has been ordered to arrange a sacrifice to heaven and ancestors, but mother cannot see it with her own eyes. It is really a pity."

"My mother is happy that my son has made progress." Although she said this, she still felt a little upset: "Shu Fei was convicted, and this time, my mother should have accompanied His Majesty to offer sacrifices to the heavens. Now that I am not fully recovered, Jing Fei has taken advantage of me."

Of the four concubines of the sage, Concubine Chen had been completely overthrown, Concubine Shu was convicted, and only Concubine Duan and Concubine Jing were left.

Concubine Jing Zhou was of humble origins. She was originally the daughter of a minor official. She entered the palace at a young age and was just a female official. Because she had no family background, she was assigned to serve the Seventh Prince Zhao Che, who was the least favored at the time, and later became his concubine.

Zhou was lucky. Unexpectedly, the least favored Seventh Prince became the final winner, and her status also rose with the tide. The emperor remembered her service when he was down and out, and did not treat her unfairly. He gave her the title of concubine. Although she was ranked last among the four concubines, it was a great honor for a woman of humble origin like Zhou.

Seeing that the woman who was inferior to her in every way got this opportunity to show up, the competitive Concubine Duan was naturally unhappy.

"If it weren't for the fact that she is usually quite honest, I wouldn't let her take advantage of me."

Seeing his mother's indignation, the Prince of Jin consoled her, "Concubine Jing has no children and is old and ugly. She is not a threat to us at all. Mother, why should you worry about this?"

Hearing her son's words, Concubine Duan felt relieved. Thinking that there was no rival in the palace now, she couldn't help but smile: "Sacrificing to the heaven and ancestors is a big event. His Majesty has entrusted this matter to you. Have you planned everything well? There can't be any mistakes."

The King of Jin said, "Don't worry, mother. I know what I am doing. It's just a grand ceremony. I'm not so incompetent that I would make a mistake in such a small matter."

The next day, the snow stopped, but it was still cloudy.

As the sky brightened, the twelve gates of the imperial city opened wide and the emperor's carriage slowly came out, with a winding bright yellow carriage stretching for several miles.

The altar for offering sacrifices to heaven was erected in the south of the city. Civil and military officials lined up at the foot of the altar to wait for the emperor to come. The old eunuch carefully helped the emperor get off the imperial carriage. He was about to help Concubine Jing who was in the carriage, but the emperor reached out his hand first. Concubine Jing had always been low-key and had never attended such a grand ceremony with the emperor. If it weren't for the accidents in her uterus, it wouldn't have been her turn.

As the Saint got off the imperial carriage and faced the cheers of the ministers, Concubine Jing subconsciously hid to the side of the Saint.

The saint tried to comfort her with his eyes, and finally Concubine Jing regained her composure. She followed the emperor to the altar to the sound of drums and music.

The emperor and his concubine worshipped the Emperor of Heaven according to the procedure, and then slowly walked down the altar. At that time, fireworks burst out on the altar. This was originally a normal process to celebrate the end of the ceremony. However, when a firework was burning, it did not shoot straight into the sky, but twisted its angle and went straight to the emperor and his concubine who were standing at the front of the altar.

The saint was born into a military family. He instinctively jumped to avoid the fireworks when they exploded out of self-defense. However, poor Concubine Jing was frightened when her dress suddenly caught fire.

The accident happened in the blink of an eye. Before the guards around him could react, the emperor, who had escaped danger, ignored his own safety and, in desperation, tried to put out the fire on Concubine Jing with his bare hands.

The guards reacted and rescued Concubine Jing. Although she was not killed, she was too frightened and fainted in the saint's arms as soon as the fire on her body was extinguished.

This sacrifice ended in the midst of war.

When they returned to the imperial city, the emperor was furious. He immediately summoned the inner court chief clerk and the marble minister and ordered them to investigate the matter.

The chief clerk of the inner court was a man of Concubine Duan and Prince Jin. The sacrificial ceremony was organized by Prince Jin alone. Prince Jin cannot escape responsibility for this matter.

"Your Majesty, this or that fireworks went awry when they were made. It must be an accident."

The saint ascended the throne of the emperor by stepping on the corpses of his brothers, so he naturally did not believe that this was an accident. He raised his eyes and looked solemnly at the chief clerk of the inner court: "My dear minister, you are the second-rank chief clerk, and you can judge the case as you please?"

The man knelt down and apologized. The Junior Official of the Dali Temple stepped out and said, "If Your Majesty had not dodged in time, the emperor would have been injured. I will definitely investigate this matter to the end."

The saint looked pleased and ordered the two men to investigate the case thoroughly.

In Chonghua Palace, Concubine Duan, who learned about this, was frightened and at a loss. She immediately secretly summoned her mother Zhou to the palace to discuss countermeasures.

"How could this accident happen when the Concubine Shu hasn't been convicted yet?" Concubine Duan was so anxious that she turned around and around: "That Marble Shaoqing is a disciple of the Lu family. I'm afraid he will harm my son."

Zhou is the wife of the prime minister, and she is also old, so she is not a simple person. "The matter of Concubine Shu has not been resolved yet, and this matter is directed at Prince Jin. I always feel that there is something fishy."

When her mother reminded her, Concubine Duan immediately responded, "You mean, the Lu family is behind this."

Zhou said, "I think so."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Duan was shocked: "If this is true, then they are coming directly for my son. Isn't it much cheaper than me pulling down Concubine Shu?"

The Lu family is indeed good at this.

"What should we do?" Concubine Duan said anxiously, "Mother, please ask father to find a way to deal with it. If something happens to the prince, what hope will our Jiang family have?"

　Asking for monthly ticket
　　(End of this chapter)