NFBE Chapter 485 The Empress Dowager is Killed
Chapter 485 The Empress Dowager is Killed
She suddenly opened her eyes, and before she could utter a sound, she smelled a faint scent.
Immediately afterwards, a numb sensation came from my throat, and my limbs suddenly lost their strength.
They could only watch helplessly as the figure approached.
It was blurry and indistinct, yet vaguely familiar.
The man approached step by step, his shadow looming over the bed curtains.
The Empress Dowager's pupils contracted sharply as she finally saw the face clearly.
Liu Chuan, that strategist?
I felt something was off when I saw him today.
Those eyebrows, eyes, expression, and mannerisms... reminded her of that person.
The person who should have died.
Is it possible...
Is it really him?!
The moment the thought popped into her head, she felt a terrified urge to scream.
My heart was pounding so hard, and fear surged through me like a tidal wave.
Isn't he dead?
She sent out so many people! He couldn't possibly have survived!
The assassin clearly stated that Gao Qiyuan was seriously injured and fell off a cliff!
Cheng Nianchu was stabbed more than a dozen times! She is surely going to die!
The Empress Dowager froze, cold sweat trickling down her temples, her eyes fixed on him.
Meng Ze stood in front of the bed, looking down at her, and suddenly smiled softly.
That smile was so faint, yet it was more chilling than the cold wind of the night.
He raised his hand and slowly peeled off the human skin mask from his face.
Swah——
The mask, as thin as a cicada's wing, fell into my hands.
The candlelight illuminated the face that had seen the light of day again; its features were cold and stern, its expression detached and aloof.
Gao Qiyuan!
The Empress Dowager's pupils contracted sharply, and almost instantly all color drained from them.
No, that's impossible!
He...he should have died long ago!
“Yes,” Meng Ze said in an extremely calm tone, “I also thought I was dead.”
"Unfortunately, he's tough."
Looking at her expression, Meng Ze understood everything.
It's her.
She's the one who killed Nianchu! It was her!
Meng Ze didn't say another word, and directly pulled a dagger from his sleeve.
A flash of cold light, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
The Empress Dowager's pupils contracted sharply, and her body trembled.
What is he going to do...?
Meng Ze suddenly rushed forward, grabbed her shoulder with one hand, and the dagger plunged into her abdomen with a "thud".
Blood gushed out like a spring, staining her palace dress and brocade pillow red.
Lying in a pool of blood, the Empress Dowager was barely breathing, making gurgling sounds in her throat.
Meng Ze slowly squatted down, his face covered in blood, but his eyes were frighteningly empty.
He looked down at her.
He stabbed her again.
"Pfft."
Blood gushed out again.
The moment the knife fell, a spring afternoon suddenly flashed into his mind.
That was the first time he met Nianchu.
Amidst the light rain and apricot blossoms, she stood outside the crowd, holding an oil-paper umbrella.
Her clothes fluttered lightly, and her eyes were clear, yet she lacked the haughtiness of a noblewoman from the capital. She was looking at a sugar figurine stall, her eyes gleaming.
He stood on the corridor, and with just one glance, his heart was in turmoil.
Her father disagreed, believing she could only be a concubine.
He didn't want to.
He wanted to marry Nianchu.
He married her as his only wife.
He knelt in front of the Imperial Study for seven days before his wish was fulfilled.
The third strike landed.
His wedding day was the happiest time of his life.
He married the woman he loved.
The fourth cut was made into the Empress Dowager's abdomen.
Do you know how much she cried the day she gave birth?
Meng Ze gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse, "She called my name, crying that she was in pain, but all I could do was hold her hand and watch her suffer like that..."
He closed his eyes, the knife in his hand trembling in his palm.
"She's someone who's so afraid of pain, yet your men stabbed her more than a dozen times..."
"You deserve to die."
Several more cuts...
I do not know how long it has been.
Meng Ze slowly stood up, covered in blood, looking like someone who had crawled out of hell.
Nianchu, don't be afraid.
I've already killed the person who bullied you.
-
As night deepened, the palace lanterns, like tiny beans, cast flickering shadows.
"Have you found it?" Xie Yanli asked coldly.
Zizhu bowed her head and replied, "Your Highness, we haven't found it yet. I've already had people search twice, but this is the palace, and there are many forbidden areas. We dare not trespass..."
Xie Yanli lowered his eyes and remained silent, gazing intently at the direction of the palace gate.
He thought Meng Ze had just gone out for some fresh air, but he never returned.
Where did he go?
Qin Jiuwei walked over slowly, "Haven't you found it yet?"
Xie Yanli shook his head. "Not yet. I'm going to go to the Emperor and ask him to order a search."
Qin Jiuwei was a little uneasy and was about to say something more when Xie Yanli spoke first.
"You take the child and go back first. I can handle things here. It's just looking for someone; nothing serious will happen."
Qin Jiuwei glanced back.
Xie Jue was leaning against Xie Jingchun's chest, yawning, her little head nodding, looking like she was about to fall asleep.
Her heart softened, and she finally nodded.
"Okay, then I'll take them back first."
Qin Jiuwei said gently, "You should also be careful."
Xie Yanli stood there watching until that figure disappeared into the night before turning around.
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.
The lights were still on, and Gao Xian sat on the edge of the couch, a cup of sobering tea steaming in front of him.
He was only wearing his inner garment, with his outer robe loosely draped over his shoulders. His eyes looked tired, clearly indicating that he was still under the influence of alcohol.
Yuanxi carefully attended to him, and seeing the sweat on his forehead, she couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said before that your health is not good and you should not drink alcohol. You drank quite a bit tonight. Should we summon the imperial physician to take a look?"
Gao Xian waved his hand, his expression still clear.
"It's alright, I'm just a little tired."
Yuanxi was about to offer further advice when a voice came from outside the door announcing something.
"Your Majesty, Prince Xie is requesting an audience outside the palace."
Gao Xian pondered for a moment, then ordered, "Let him in."
After bowing, Xie Yanli did not exchange pleasantries and immediately said, "Your Majesty, I have important matters to report."
"My advisor, Liu Chuan, disappeared during the banquet and has not returned. I have sent people to search the area around the palace gates, but there has been no trace of him. I am worried that something has happened to him."
Gao Xian looked at Yuan Xi and said, "Immediately summon the palace guards to block off all the palace roads along the route to the imperial banquet. Check them thoroughly and do not overlook a single corner."
Yuanxi accepted the order and left quickly.
Half an hour later, hurried footsteps could be heard outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Gao Xian raised his head, a hint of fatigue showing between his brows. "How are you?"
The head eunuch knelt down and reported, "Your Majesty, we have thoroughly searched the route from the imperial banquet to the palace gate, all the side halls and corridors, and even the secluded paths, but we have not found any trace of anyone else."
The commander of the Imperial Guards bowed and said, "I personally led a team to check. All the passages out of the palace are guarded. No one has left without permission. We have checked the entry and exit records and found nothing suspicious."
The hall was eerily quiet for a moment.
Gao Xian gently placed the teacup on the table. "Could a living person just vanish into thin air in the palace?"
Xie Yanli stood to the side, his expression darkening.
He suddenly remembered something, paused slightly, and turned to look at the eunuch, "Has anyone checked in the Empress Dowager's palace?"
The eunuch quickly kowtowed, "Your Highness, not yet."
"During the banquet just now, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager drank a few cups and left early afterward. We servants dared not disturb her. Moreover, Shou'an Palace is always guarded by special personnel, and no one has ever entered without permission."
Gao Xian guessed that Xie Yanli had thought of something, and then waved his hand, "Go and investigate."