DDT - Chapter 61
Chapter 61: General × Little Emperor (16)
The journey to the Imperial City took another four days. Traveling with a horse-drawn carriage was rather cumbersome.
When she arrived at the Imperial City again after several months, it had taken on a completely different appearance.
Troops were stationed outside the city, which was heavily guarded. Chi Junluo observed the situation from a mountainside before ordering her small Zhenbei Army squad to remain in the woods outside the city. She then drove the carriage with the eunuch toward the Imperial City herself.
Layer upon layer of soldiers guarded the city. Before the carriage could even approach the gate, it was stopped by soldiers wielding long spears.
"Who goes there? Dismount and exit the carriage for a routine inspection!" a soldier shouted.
This time, before Chi Junluo, who was on horseback, could react, the carriage door was flung open. The enraged eunuch held out a golden token, leaning half his body out. "You two blind fools! This is Great Chang's Zhenbei General, specially invited by His Majesty to the Imperial City for a banquet! Seeing this golden token is like seeing His Majesty himself! Why aren't you kneeling and paying your respects!"
The eunuch was incredibly arrogant and haughty. After all the frustration he had endured in the military camp and on the road, he could finally take it out on a few mere soldiers and regain some face.
The soldiers saw that it was indeed a golden token issued by the emperor. They quickly retracted their spears and knelt to perform a grand salute.
Seeing the soldiers clear a path to the Imperial City, the eunuch withdrew back into the carriage. Chi Junluo didn't dally either. With a flick of the reins, the carriage rumbled toward the main gate.
The heavy, towering city gate slowly opened a crack just wide enough for the carriage to pass through. After Chi Junluo drove inside, the massive gate slammed shut with a loud bang, sealing it tight.
Perhaps because the new emperor had just ascended the throne and the situation was still unstable, the streets of the Imperial City were filled with patrolling soldiers. Not a single civilian could be seen.
Since she was already here, Chi Junluo was determined to probe the situation. She openly drove the carriage through the major streets of the Imperial City, taking a tour.
She had been to the Imperial City many times in her memory. Each time, it had been bustling and prosperous, filled with the clamor of voices.
But now, even the most prosperous street of yesteryear was heavily guarded. No one dared to leave their homes.
After meandering around for quite some time, Chi Junluo finally drove the carriage toward the imperial palace as she remembered it.
The eunuch knew he couldn't control the wild-natured General Chi Luo, so even though he knew she was wandering aimlessly through the city, he didn't dare to object.
The imperial palace was also guarded by two squads of soldiers. Only after the eunuch presented the golden token were they permitted to pass.
However, carriages were not allowed inside the palace. So, they handed the carriage over to the soldiers to be stabled, and Chi Junluo followed the eunuch into the palace.
It was currently the hour of Wei. The sky was somewhat gloomy, with dark clouds pressing down over the Imperial City. A cold wind howled, giving the impression that a storm was brewing.
The eunuch first led Chi Junluo to a palace hall to rest, then prepared to go find the emperor. Before he left, Chi Junluo subjected him to another round of threats and inducements, and the eunuch departed with trembling legs.
The Fourth Prince had been on the throne for some time now, and he thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being above all others.
However, the Zhenbei Army remained a thorn in his side, one he wished for nothing more than to eliminate. He had waited with great anticipation, and finally, the eunuch he had dispatched returned.
The eunuch's eyes darted about suspiciously, but he answered all of the emperor's questions, including the one about a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth in the Zhenbei General's tent.
This further confirmed the Fourth Prince's suspicion that the young emperor was with the Zhenbei Army. After all, his trusted eunuch had seen it with his own eyes.
"Eunuch Li has already prepared the banquet. Before it begins, you will keep a close watch on Chi Luo for me. Do not allow him any contact with the outside world!" The Fourth Prince sneered. He wanted to see Chi Luo disgraced at the banquet, and then, justifiably, eliminate this disloyal piece of trash!
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The eunuch performed another grand salute before hastily leaving the Fourth Prince's resting quarters, Longmian Hall.
"Heh." The Fourth Prince couldn't help but let out a cold laugh at the thought of soon being able to eliminate this damned general.
The banquet was set for the very night of General Chi Luo's arrival. After all, this banquet was prepared specifically to kill General Chi Luo, so it could begin as soon as he arrived.
Chi Junluo wandered around the hall, bored. She tried to leave the palace hall for a stroll, only to find that at some point, the main doors had been bolted from the outside.
Chi Junluo: ???
A short while later, the young eunuch returned. He unbolted the palace doors and walked in. The moment he stepped inside, a dagger was pressed against his neck.
The eunuch: ...
"Hand over the golden token," a low voice sounded by his ear.
Not only did the eunuch's legs begin to tremble, but his head also ached, and his neck, pressed against the blade, hurt.
Hadn't he already surrendered his sword before entering the palace?! How did he still have such a sharp blade?
General Chi Luo was truly a cunning brat!
To save his own life, the eunuch took out a golden token from his robes with a trembling hand and gave it to Chi Junluo.
Chi Junluo tucked the token into her robes but did not release the eunuch. Instead, she dragged him to a bed in the hall, tied his hands and feet with the bedsheets, and bound him to the bedpost.
Then she stuffed a rag in his mouth.
The eunuch: ...
General Chi Luo sat down in the hall with an air of composure. She didn't run around but quietly waited for night to fall.
At the hour of Xu, the banquet began in Xuanzheng Hall. Ministers who had received the imperial decree rushed from their homes to the palace.
Eunuch Li, under the emperor's orders, came to the palace hall where General Chi Luo was staying to invite Chi Junluo to Xuanzheng Hall.
Before leading Chi Junluo away, Eunuch Li glanced around the hall but didn't see Eunuch Wang, who had previously escorted Chi Luo into the palace. He suppressed his strange feeling and hurriedly led the Zhenbei General toward Xuanzheng Hall.
On the surface, Xuanzheng Hall was a lively and extraordinary scene. Ministers laughed heartily, exchanging toasts. The dragon throne in the center was still empty; the emperor was always the last to arrive, to appear solemn and unique.
Eunuch Li led Chi Junluo to a seat near the front, poured her wine, and then gracefully withdrew.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant has already settled General Chi Luo. Tonight, all of General Chi Luo's food and wine will be specially prepared!" Eunuch Li knelt in a side hall before the seated emperor, the Fourth Prince.
"Excellent, excellent. Increase the dosage for me. I refuse to believe I can't take him down!" The Fourth Prince, now the emperor, wore a sinister smile, but it was quickly replaced by a warm and pleasant one.
"Eunuch Li, it is time for me to make my entrance."
Eunuch Li understood and led the way.
"His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived!" Eunuch Li shouted at the top of his lungs. The ministers immediately put down their wine cups and knelt on the ground.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The Fourth Prince savored the moment as he walked into the hall. "My beloved ministers, you may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers rose.
The ministers didn't know why His Majesty had suddenly organized this banquet. But upon seeing General Chi Luo of the Zhenbei Army, who should have been at the Northwest Border, having traveled a thousand miles to attend, the more astute among them had already guessed that perhaps this banquet was related to General Chi Luo, whom His Majesty had specially summoned back.
Several ministers who were on good terms with General Chi Luo couldn't help but look worriedly at the general, who appeared calm and unconcerned.
Chi Junluo felt several gazes on her. She looked up and saw that they were from a few of the original body's friends. She nodded slightly and offered a small smile.
After the Fourth Prince's arrival, the banquet officially began.
First came a performance by the palace dancers. Their figures were graceful as they danced enchantingly, captivating the audience. Many ministers stared, their eyes wide, and some of the younger ones even swallowed unconsciously.
In contrast, General Chi, who was usually stern and serious, showed no interest in the dancers. She remained seated ramrod straight, watching dance after dance with a solemn expression, as if she were genuinely appreciating a beautiful performance and nothing more.
The Fourth Prince saw that General Chi Luo was completely engrossed in the dancers, not touching the food or wine on the table at all.
The Fourth Prince frowned, but quickly concealed it. During the interval between two dances, he took the initiative to toast all the ministers. Chi Junluo looked at her wine cup, sensing that something must have been added to it. Mimicking scenes from TV dramas she had seen before, she slightly covered the cup with one hand and poured the wine into her sleeve.
The cold liquid slid down her arm, a very uncomfortable sensation. Fortunately, she was wearing dark-colored clothes, so the wet stain was not easily visible.
The Fourth Prince had been watching General Chi Luo's every move. Seeing him drink a cup of wine, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he looked away.
After the dancers finished, the palace's imperial musicians took the stage. A melodious zither tune filled the hall as palace maids began bringing out more dishes in waves.
Having watched many palace intrigue dramas, Chi Junluo had a strong feeling that the dishes were also drugged. After all, the emperor truly wanted her dead.
Chi Junluo still didn't pick up her chopsticks, which displeased the Fourth Prince. This Zhenbei General was truly cunning, seemingly having seen through his plot.
But who was he, the Fourth Prince? He was the Son of Heaven, the current emperor! If he wanted Chi Luo to eat, could Chi Luo possibly refuse in public?!
"Beloved Minister Chi, why are you not dining? Is the food prepared by the palace chefs not to your taste?" the Fourth Prince initiated the attack, his sharp gaze fixed on Chi Junluo.
"This humble minister wouldn't dare." Chi Junluo hadn't expected the shameless Fourth Prince to actually ask her this in public.
"You wouldn't dare to eat, or you wouldn't dare to find it distasteful?" The Fourth Prince's face showed his displeasure.
"This humble minister would naturally not dare to find it distasteful." The implication being that she didn't dare to eat.
"Beloved Minister Chi, today, whether you dare not or you find it distasteful, if you do not eat, you are slapping me in the face!" You must eat!
"Your Majesty speaks too gravely." Seeing that he wouldn't let her off, Chi Junluo had no choice but to pick up her chopsticks. All the ministers at the banquet were staring at her. The smarter ones could see that His Majesty was targeting General Chi.
The food was poisoned, but this time she couldn't pour it into her sleeve. It was too obvious; she couldn't do it even if she wanted to.
She took one bite, then another. Chi Junluo chewed slowly, her gaze fixed on the Fourth Prince's eyes, making him want to look away.
"Truly worthy of being His Majesty's imperial chefs. Excellent, delicious." The food was drugged and had a strange sour taste. She was truly speaking against her conscience.
Seeing General Chi eat the food, the Fourth Prince finally looked away. The banquet returned to its lively atmosphere.
"Heavenly Dao, Heavenly Dao!" Chi Junluo called out in her sea of consciousness. "Can you help me neutralize the poison in the food?"
The Heavenly Dao lazily sat up in her sea of consciousness and said, "The Power of the Heavenly Dao in your body can detoxify it, but it will take time."
"You mean the poison will still take effect, but it won't threaten my life, right?"
"Mm, because the Power of the Heavenly Dao can only detoxify the poison after your body has absorbed it." The Heavenly Dao felt it had already given Chi Junluo enough face by explaining so much. It simply lay back down, ignoring the chattering Chi Junluo.
It wouldn't be life-threatening, but the poison would take effect. It seemed she needed to find an excuse to leave this damned place early. The emperor's hostility was too obvious; he clearly wanted to use this opportunity to get rid of her and seize control of the Zhenbei Army.
It looked like this newly enthroned emperor was determined to completely tear off all pretenses with her this time.
Hmph, she wouldn't let him have his way!
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