"What trinket?"
The Madam's words were too amusing. She covered her mouth and chuckled, "She claims to be Princess Wanrong's personal maid. Without the General's word, no one can control her! Not even you!"
Wielding a chicken feather as if it were a general's baton. She'd encountered such people in the capital back then, though she later heard that person met a rather tragic end!
She raised her hand, "Su Ya, may I borrow your dagger?"
Su Ya didn't understand what the Madam intended, but a dagger was a sharp weapon. She hesitated to hand it over, but Bai Lu snatched it and directly placed it in her hand!
The Madam, smiling, walked a few steps forward and approached the woman. She hadn't killed a person before, but she had killed chickens. It was a simple stab to the neck!
She thought, the technique for killing a chicken must be similar to killing a person!
With this thought, she thrust the dagger towards the maid's neck. The next moment, her dagger clattered to the ground, and her own neck was already in the maid's grasp!
Su Ya was shocked by the turn of events. She stepped forward, exclaiming, "Madam..."
Bai Lu directly raised her voice and shouted, "Help! Someone is assassinating the Empress Dowager. Come save the Empress!"
The incident happened in an instant. Huangfu Wanrong was stunned, staring blankly at what was unfolding.
Su Ya quickly understood Bai Lu's intention and joined in the shouting. In the quiet garden at night, such mournful cries quickly attracted the patrolling guards.
What happened in the courtyard quickly alarmed those at the banquet, especially Zong Han. Hearing that his mother-in-law was being assassinated sent a chill down his spine.
His mind went blank. He led a group of people towards the garden!
The result was seeing the palace guards with their swords pointed at Huangfu Wanrong's maid, Zi Yun. It wasn't surprising that he remembered her name, as Zi Yun was one of Wu Yi's people, highly skilled in martial arts and capricious. Her relationship with him was akin to Ah Shi's with himself!
She was a loyal subordinate who didn't put anyone else in her eyes!
When Zong Han saw her restraining Zhao Jiaqi, his chest heaved with anger. "Presumptuous! Assassinating the Empress Dowager! How many heads do you think you have to lose? Let go!"
Zi Yun's eyes were sharp. She merely glanced at Zong Han before finally focusing on Wu Yi. She said, "General, this servant did not assassinate her. It was this woman who tried to kill this servant, and only then did this servant retaliate!"
Zhao Jiaqi felt the oxygen in her chest dwindling, her face turning red. She looked towards Wu Yi as well!
Fan Zehao's expression was grim. Zi Yun was choking his wife's neck. Heaven and hell were in that one hand. He knew his martial arts skills were no match for Gao Wenbin's speed.
He couldn't worry about their arguments now. He gave a look to Gao Wenbin beside him. The latter understood. While everyone was still stunned by the incident of Zhao Jiaqi assassinating Zi Yun, Gao Wenbin's sword was swift, precise, and deadly, severing the arm that was strangling his wife!
The next second, she was safely in Fan Zehao's embrace!
Only then did Fan Zehao have the opportunity to question Zong Han, "The Empress Dowager is weak and frail. Forget martial arts, she wouldn't even step on an ant, let alone a person, especially one skilled in martial arts!"
"Emperor Zong, I must ask, what is the meaning of your people's actions?"
What was the meaning of these actions?
Zong Han quickly analyzed the situation. At present, Zi Yun did indeed have the suspicion of assassinating his mother-in-law, and his mother-in-law had not retaliated.
His mother-in-law was the apple of his father-in-law's eye. If he didn't give her justice today, not only would he, as her son-in-law, be unable to justify it, but even between great nations, he wouldn't be able to.
"Ah Shi, deal with it!"
Wu Yi's heart broke upon hearing the words "deal with it." He exclaimed, "Your Majesty, spare her life!"
Zong Han looked at Wu Yi, gritting his teeth. "Get back!"
If not for him, such a situation would never have occurred today!
Zi Yun was pierced through by Ah Shi and the crowd. Before Zi Yun could even cry out, she died. At the moment of her fall, her eyes were fixed on Wu Yi, gazing at him with deep affection!
Zhao Jiaqi found it disgusting. She slyly tugged at her husband's sleeve, "She scared me. I am not willing to die like this!"
Fan Zehao gently patted her back. Killing someone in front of his wife was a rare sight, but it didn't make her tremble with fear.
It was clear that his wife was furious, intending to make an example of Zi Yun. As for whom she was trying to warn, he understood with a slight turn of his mind!
Fan Zehao declared, "To kill the most honored woman of our Yun Kingdom with such a death is too easy. I, the Grand Emperor, will have her corpse whipped, and then displayed on the city walls for three days as a warning. If anyone dares to disrespect my woman again, their fate will not be so simple. I will retaliate with the full might of my nation!"
His words were fierce and sharp!
This overturned the rumors of Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi being benevolent rulers. The ministers of the Zong Sheng Kingdom dared not speak out.
A maid, and the powerful figure of the Yun Kingdom. The choice was obvious!
Moreover, the other party was willing to mobilize the entire nation's military and financial resources to retaliate for a mere maid. To plunge the Zong Sheng Kingdom into crisis for a servant would make them an eternal sinner!
Zong Han hesitated, finding himself in a difficult position!
One was his person, the other his mother-in-law, and the most honored woman in Yun Kingdom, and the beloved of the God of War!
Jun Jun understood his mother's nature. Since his mother had not spoken, there was likely no room for leniency!
"Guards, as my father decreed, drag her away and whip her corpse one hundred times, then hang her on the city walls for public display. No one is to beg for mercy, or they will be tried for treason!"
The gentle and virtuous Empress could also utter such harsh words, leaving even Wu Yi speechless.
Everyone fell silent, not daring to utter a sound. Zong Han gave Ah Shi a look, his intention clear.
Soon, the men below dragged Zi Yun away and began whipping her corpse in front of everyone. Their brows furrowed, but no one dared to watch.
As the crowd dispersed, Zhao Jiaqi lost interest in staying any longer.
She withdrew from Fan Zehao's embrace and said in front of the ministers, "Rong'er, I originally wanted to catch up with you and see if you were doing well, but this incident has truly upset me!"
Wanrong had grown up in the palace and was too familiar with such matters. She advised, "Empress Dowager, please do not be angry. This lowly maid has already been executed. Rong'er believes no one here will dare disrespect the Empress Dowager again!"
"Rong'er is doing well and does not need the Empress Dowager's concern. However, I greatly miss my home. I haven't returned in many years and don't know how Mother Consort is. It is a pity I cannot fulfill my filial duties to Mother Consort!"
Missing home was perfectly normal!
Even if one married far away and lived well, no matter how distant home was, a married daughter would still miss it!
She gently patted Huangfu Wanrong's hand. "You are a legitimate princess of our Yun Kingdom's royal family. Though you cannot fulfill your filial duties, you have fulfilled your loyalty. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety are difficult to achieve simultaneously. However... that was in the past. Now, if you are not living comfortably, Yun Kingdom welcomes you home. If anyone dares to harm you in the slightest, your family is the entire Yun Kingdom!"
"If the Grand Emperor cannot even protect the citizens of his own country, how can he claim to protect his home and nation!"
This was plain speaking, without any pretense. Anyone not foolish could understand it clearly!