Chapter 134

Although this small town had beautiful scenery and fertile land, it was not an ideal place for the alliance meeting.

When leaders of various states gathered, safety was the top priority.

If any ruler were to encounter trouble here, it could easily lead to conflicts between states.

However, due to the rich water sources in Mei city, it was often targeted by roaming bandits from the northwest.

Emperor Bo intentionally chose this location for the alliance meeting, hoping to intimidate the bandits by gathering the kings and their armies here.

With the influx of royal entourages, Mei city did indeed become more stable.

But once the rulers left, whether they might fall victim to an ambush remained uncertain.

Jiang Xiurun had been preoccupied with childbirth and recovery, leaving her little time to concern herself with state affairs.

Now that she finally had the opportunity, she realized her father was truly a master of squandering resources.

If he continued managing the country in such a reckless manner, Bo might not have much time left.

Moreover, her attendance at this alliance meeting was sudden.

At dawn, Emperor Jiang sent people to summon her, not only insisting on her presence but also bringing along her elder brother, Jiang Zhi.

At first, Jiang Xiurun refused, citing poor health.

However, Emperor Jiang was adamant, claiming her presence was crucial.

He declared that even if she had to be carried there, she would attend.

With no alternative, Jiang Xiurun hastily wrote letters to Ji Wujiang and Bai Qian before instructing her maids to pack quickly for the journey.

Emperor Jiang’s insistence puzzled many.

After making inquiries, Jiang Xiurun discovered that Empress Shen had urged Emperor Bo to bring her along.

The empress claimed that the princess had close ties with the new emperor of the Great Qi.

Although the emperor of Qi disdained attending the northwest alliance meetings, he often sent envoys as a formality.

If Jiang Xiurun truly had special favor in the Qi emperor’s eyes, her presence would help in dealing with Qi’s envoys.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiurun recalled an incident from her past life.

At this time in her previous life, her elder brother, Jiang Zhi, had not visited her for a long time.

Curious, she rode a carriage to check on him, only to find that he had been severely beaten.

His wounds were deep, and he lay bedridden, unable to rise.

Alarmed, she questioned him, but Jiang Zhi gave only vague answers, saying he had offended someone in the Rites Ministry, but it was nothing serious.

Later, when she asked Qin Zhao, who had just returned from the border, his response was dismissive.

He simply mentioned that envoys from the Rites Ministry had attended the Bo’s alliance meeting, were treated poorly, and even encountered bandits on their way back.

Although the envoys emerged unscathed, they were furious.

Upon their return, they reported the matter to Emperor Duanqing.

As a hostage prince of the Bo, Jiang Zhi was inevitably punished for his country’s slight, suffering the consequences in flesh and blood.

Of course, the true reason Emperor Duanqing let the matter rest was because the Bo paid him a hefty sum in reparations.

Thinking about it now, that incident must have originated from Mei city.

Jiang Xiurun sighed inwardly.

If the Qi envoys were displeased again this time, would Feng Liwu also beat up her half-brother, who was currently a hostage in Luo’an?

As the host state, Emperor Bo and his entourage had arrived five days early.

Emperor Jiang brought not only Empress Shen but also several favored concubines, taking the opportunity to travel and enjoy the scenery.

Recently, Empress Shen’s attitude towards Jiang Zhi and Jiang Xiurun had softened significantly, displaying the demeanor of a proper stepmother.

After arriving in Mei city, she took meticulous care of Jiang Xiurun’s needs.

Since Jiang Xiurun had just given birth, Empress Shen arranged for her to stay in a mountain-side residence rather than the three-sided waterfront pavilion, ensuring she wouldn’t be affected by dampness and cold.

Empress Shen played the role of a kind and considerate stepmother, and Jiang Xiurun reciprocated by acting as an obedient daughter, creating a harmonious façade between them.

However, upon returning to her own chambers, Empress Shen scowled and scoffed, “When I invited her before, she made all sorts of excuses. But when her father summoned her, she left immediately. That little wretch is truly defiant!”

Shen Hua, who had come to pay respects, chuckled and said, “No matter how arrogant she is, she’s still under your control, Your Majesty! By this time tomorrow, that little wretch will be taken away by King Rong and thoroughly ravaged. A ruined woman—Emperor Jiang won’t have any choice but to acknowledge Rong as in-laws!”

Hearing this, Empress Shen smirked in satisfaction.

The mountain-side residence had a secret passage, which she had disclosed to the lecherous King Rong well in advance.

The Rong, a barbarian state of the Xirong people, had never before participated in the northwest alliance meetings and had long resented being excluded.

King Rong had arrived with troops, and if he could force Jiang Xiurun into marriage, Emperor Jiang would have to recognize the Rong’s status and allow them to participate in the meeting.

If Emperor Jiang refused, then King Rong would have every reason to resort to violence, causing chaos in Mei city and utterly disgracing Emperor Jiang.

As night fell, the air grew heavy with tension.

Sinister figures lurked in the shadows, waiting for their moment to strike.

Empress Shen was so preoccupied with anticipation that she skipped dinner, ordering her servants to keep watch over Jiang Xiurun’s residence while she awaited the news.

She paced by the window, her slightly sagging cheeks twitching in excitement.

But time passed with no word.

Frustrated, she finally lay down to rest.

Just before dawn, she heard a commotion erupting from Jiang Xiurun’s courtyard.

Thrilled, she bolted upright and called for her attendants, eager for confirmation.

Yet, before her maid could arrive, a group of unfamiliar soldiers stormed in, dragging her off her bed and pinning her to the ground.

Empress Shen roared in anger.

She looked up and saw that these soldiers were not from the palace guard.

Their uniforms were completely foreign.

She screamed, her voice shrill with panic, “Guards! There are intruders! Assassins!”

However, no matter how much she screamed, no one came to her rescue.

Instead, the soldiers acted as if they hadn’t heard her at all.

They swiftly bound her with rough ropes and stuffed a bedsheet into her mouth to silence her.

By the time she was dragged all the way to the courtyard where Jiang Xiurun was staying, she was completely stunned by the sight before her.

She saw Shen Wa’er, the niece of Emperor Jiang, who had come along with him, lying disheveled, sobbing and calling out to the emperor. Meanwhile, Emperor Jiang lay collapsed on the bed, blood seeping from his chest.

Two burly, disheveled men with full beards, clearly of barbarian origin, were being held down on the ground.

It turned out that Jiang Xiurun had been well aware that people’s nature was hard to change.

The fact that Empress Shen had arranged for Emperor Bo to summon her here and then suddenly started acting affectionate and caring was nothing short of suspicious.

When Ji Wujiang and Bai Qian arrived, Jiang Xiurun had Bai Qian secretly investigate the surroundings of the villa for any potential dangers.

Sure enough, after a careful search, the soldiers discovered trampled grass on the mountain, as if someone had recently passed through.

Tracing the trail, they uncovered a hidden underground passage.

Upon hearing Bai Qian’s report, Jiang Xiurun immediately understood that Empress Shen was up to no good.

The exact plan, however, remained uncertain—whether it was to abduct her through the tunnel, assassinate her outright, or something else entirely.

But with Bai Qian and her elite soldiers by her side, there was no reason to fear.

Jiang Xiurun was determined to see exactly who Empress Shen had sent and ensure they met a disastrous end.

Ji Wujiang, after some thought, remarked, “Empress Shen is treacherous, and she relies on the Shen family. Even though their influence has waned, she remains the greatest obstacle to your reforms in Bo. If this scheme fails, she will undoubtedly find other ways to harm you. The best solution is to eliminate her once and for all.”

Jiang Xiurun pondered his words carefully before responding, “She is, after all, my father’s legitimate wife. If I act unjustly, not only will the court be unconvinced, but my brother will also struggle to accept it. It’s better to let her reap what she has sown and leave it to fate.”

With that in mind, Jiang Xiurun decided to turn the scheme against them.

She went to Emperor Bo and said, “Father, my residence is nestled between the mountains and the water, offering the best view in the entire villa. Empress Shen’s arrangement is kind, and I deeply appreciate it, but how could I let you stay elsewhere? I humbly ask that you relocate to my residence. There is a hot spring drawn from the mountains there, perfect for you and your concubines to enjoy.”

Ji Wujiang, standing beside her, subtly signaled to the concubines he had planted in the palace.

Understanding his intent, they immediately clamored excitedly about wanting to soak in the hot springs.

Emperor Jiang, pleased with Jiang Xiurun’s unexpected display of filial piety, nodded in satisfaction.

He had felt that she had become distant and less respectful after her return, but today, she was finally acting as obedient and thoughtful as before.

Jiang Xiurun further pointed out that Empress Shen had been working tirelessly to arrange the alliance meeting and must be utterly exhausted, so it would be best not to disturb her.

This aligned perfectly with Emperor Jiang’s wishes.

At the moment, he was deeply infatuated with his favored concubines and found Empress Shen’s presence irksome.

Thus, without informing her, he moved into Jiang Xiurun’s residence along with his concubines, while Jiang Xiurun herself relocated to a more secluded courtyard.

That very night, the men sent by the Rong King to abduct the princess crept silently through the underground passage, sneaking into the residence under cover of darkness.

Upon entering the main chamber, they saw the curtains draped over a low couch in the dim moonlight.

They crept closer and, believing the sleeping woman inside to be Jiang Xiurun, exchanged glances.

One of them opened a sack, while the other lunged forward to cover her mouth and bind her before stuffing her into the sack.

What they didn’t know was that the woman sleeping on the bed was actually Shen Wa’er.

She had soaked in the hot springs earlier and, after an intimate session with Emperor Jiang, had fallen into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted.

She never expected someone to suddenly burst in and attack her.

Terrified, she let out a scream.

But before she could fully cry out, a hand clamped over her mouth.

She struggled desperately, kicking and thrashing.

Frustrated by her resistance, one of the men slapped her hard several times until she no longer dared to make a sound.

Meanwhile, Emperor Jiang, lying beside her, was also roused by the commotion.

Feeling Shen Wa’er struggling so violently, he had no choice but to wake up.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw shadowy figures moving at the bedside.

Thinking that assassins had come to kill him, he was so terrified that his soul nearly left his body.

His voice cracked as he shrieked for his guards.

The intruders were caught off guard.

They hadn’t expected a man to be in the princess’s bed.

Realizing their mistake, they became furious.

Without hesitation, one of them drew a dagger and stabbed the screaming Emperor Jiang.

At that moment, the guards outside stormed in, trying to capture the intruders.

However, these men were warriors from Rong, skilled in wrestling and hand-to-hand combat.

The Bo guards struggled to subdue them.

It was only when Bai Qian’s elite soldiers charged in that the two assailants were finally captured.

When Empress Shen realized that her own plot had backfired, leaving Emperor Jiang severely injured, she was utterly petrified.

Yet, she forced herself to remain calm, preparing to feign innocence.

However, the evidence against her was overwhelming.

The servants she had ordered to monitor Jiang Xiurun’s residence had all been apprehended by Bai Qian and were now testifying against her.

Moreover, the two captured Rong warriors confessed that Shen Hua had conspired with the Rong King to send them for the abduction, leaving no room for Empress Shen to deny her involvement.

The ministers who had accompanied Emperor Jiang rushed over in disarray, their clothes untidy from being roused in the middle of the night.

One by one, they were left in shock at the chaotic scene before them.

However, it was already too late—Emperor Jiang had lost too much blood.

His breathing was ragged and unsteady.

Some of the elder ministers, upon assessing his condition, immediately realized that his survival was unlikely.

But with the alliance meeting imminent and their ruler gravely injured, the question remained—what were they to do now?