CHAPTER 287: CHAPTER 287: COUNTERATTACK (PART 3)

The Second Prince’s counterattack plan was meticulous, with internal support and external reinforcements, even the personnel deployment demonstrated military talent. The victory was unexpected yet reasonable.

The Second Prince captured sixty-eight people from the Third Prince’s mansion harem, including two Little Monarchs and seven or eight Commandery Princesses, the main wife and concubine. In front of the Third Prince, he beheaded them all, one by one. Despite the Third Prince’s usual flamboyancy, he couldn’t help but collapse watching so many relatives die in front of him. However, the Second Prince was unwilling to let him go, and on charges of regicide and rebellion, imprisoned him in the Imperial Clan Court, along with all the members of the Third Prince’s Faction!

The Second Lady finally fainted and couldn’t hold on. Xiqiu had her sent back to the mansion. She herself sat down with a stern and cold expression. Second Master had always been the right-hand man of the Third Prince. With the Third Prince convicted, Second Master would hardly escape. However, First Master and Tong Shen Zhi were nonpartisan, yet they were also imprisoned, which seemed to be a case of implicating all connected.

All those in the Tong Mansion who had the ability to speak out or move were imprisoned. The only backing, the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, was also offended by Lady. Even if Xiao Yanyi wanted to help, he couldn’t possibly rescue anyone at this time. All the officials in the court were in a state of panic and unrest. Those associated with the Third Prince feared implicating by the Second Prince, while those who were former members of the Second Prince’s faction, who survived the past six months of his downfall, had unclear stances. Even noble families like the Xuanning Marquis who maintained neutrality didn’t dare to act rashly.

She sighed, not knowing when this turmoil would completely settle, nor what impact the Tong Mansion would suffer in this struggle for the throne.

At this moment, Nanny Fang arrived, her eyes reddened, evidently having heard what Fugui said. She looked at Xiqiu and said, "Sixth Miss, Lady requests you and Manager Lai to come over?!" Xiqiu raised her eyebrows slightly, but this was not the time to dwell on personal grievances. Perhaps Lady had some solutions yet to be known.

She nodded and followed Nanny Fang into Lady’s bedroom. Lady still lay on the bed, the room emitting not only a thick medicinal odor but also a stench. Lady’s face remained unchanged, but her tongue seemed stiff and unable to speak. Watching Xiqiu enter, she hummed and muttered for a long time. Xiqiu couldn’t understand and looked at Nanny Fang.

Manager Lai also stood frozen, his face full of shock.

Nanny Fang spoke on Lady’s behalf: "Lady says to let Manager Lai go to the Wujin Bo Mansion and inquire with Count about the current situation of First Master and whether family members can visit." Xiqiu also considered this. She shook her head, denying Lady’s words, before Manager Lai could speak: "In front of the Emperor, Count is astute and favored. After the Second Prince’s incident, Count exerted a lot of effort within the Third Prince Mansion. Now with the Third Prince’s downfall, I’m afraid the Uncle Mansion is even worse off than our family!" She paused and added, "As for visitation, the Second Prince just imprisoned the people. It’s under the Imperial Censorate’s watch. Until he ascends the throne and stabilizes court affairs, it’s absolutely impossible to release them for visits or bail."

These were also her recent thoughts. These people were labeled as members of the Third Prince’s Faction. The Second Prince had just executed a grand turnaround; how could he release them so quickly to cause himself trouble?

Lady’s eyes widened, pointing fingers at Xiqiu in frustration. Xiqiu didn’t understand and again looked at Nanny Fang. Nanny Fang’s expression changed, and with slight embarrassment, she said, "Lady wants the Sixth Miss to try. If it doesn’t work, go to the Xuanning Marquis. If that doesn’t work, seek help from anyone possible. Even if it means losing everything, we must redeem First Master and First Old Master."

"Lady." Manager Lai glanced at Xiqiu, bowed his head, and spoke to Lady: "I think the Sixth Miss is right. We can only wait... wait until the new Emperor ascends and the situation stabilizes. We can then think of ways. At present, we cannot predict what the Second Prince will do next; everyone is in a state of self-preservation, and who would dare to risk saving others!"

Lady frowned, glaring. If her gaze could kill, Xiqiu would undoubtedly be riddled with arrows at this time!

Second Lady fell ill. Matters within the Second Household were temporarily handled by the birth mother of the Eleventh Miss. On this side, Xiqiu was busy all day, her feet never touching the ground. In the afternoon, she met with Manager Lai, who relayed the information gathered outside: "Miss, I heard from outside news that the Fourth Master of the Marquis Mansion has returned."

Xiqiu raised her eyebrows and asked, "Which Marquis Mansion?" After speaking, she paused and looked up at Manager Lai: "Are you saying that the Fourth Master of the Xuanning Marquis Mansion has returned?"

Manager Lai nodded, with an admiration for a hero in his eyes: "I heard the person in charge of leading the troops and commanding them for those three days was Fourth Master Xiao. He single-handedly broke into the Imperial Palace and captured the Third Prince alive. The Emperor is set to ascend tomorrow, and it is said that the first meritorious honor after the ascension will be given to Fourth Master Xiao."

For some reason, Xiqiu was not at all surprised. From the day the Second Prince left the city, she had vaguely felt the connection between Fourth Master Xiao and the Second Prince. Now, hearing it from Manager Lai merely confirmed her suspicions.

This time, the Xuanning Marquis Mansion truly experienced a resurgence, and even the Grand Dowager could not have imagined that the Mansion’s revival was due to Fourth Master Xiao!

The day was exceptionally calm. After the unrest in the Capital, Xiqiu’s composed and orderly demeanor in the mansion was noticed by everyone. They knew that this Sixth Miss was not simple. After the storm passed, when Xiqiu met with all the maids in the mansion for the first time, those who initially had any rebellious intentions didn’t dare show up. Xiqiu successfully arranged the work and formally took over the household affairs.

The next day, the coronation ceremony of the new Emperor, though hastily arranged, proceeded in an orderly manner. After the ascension, there was a general amnesty, and the era name was set as "Ren".

The late Emperor’s funeral ceremony began on the second day. A large proclamation was posted at the city gate, stating that all noble families with a rank of sixth or higher, within a year, should refrain from feasting, celebrating, marrying. Common folks were to suspend festivities for three months... The proclamation also announced the posthumous title planned for the late Emperor: "Divine Ancestor, Civil and Martial, Benevolent and Filial".

A new Chapter in Great Zhou was opened, but First Master and Tong Shen Zhi still had not returned.

Xiqiu sat on pins and needles every day, fearing that the new Emperor, in his initial fervor, would cut off all the Third Prince’s faction and suspected members with one stroke. If that was the case, the three men of the Tong family might never return. She had Tong Minzhi find some unofficial and official histories in Xu Tianqing’s study. From past events during Emperor Dezong’s coup, officials from Emperor Wen’s era, except for some who died loyally or those who tragically struck the palace gate, mostly remained, albeit with changed rankings in their offices.

Dezong was also highly praised and earned the people’s support. Thus, could it be inferred that the new Emperor might also consider public opinion, and after mere suppression and intimidation, release those people?

Xiqiu’s guess was only half right. A day later, First Master and Tong Shen Zhi returned, but only the two of them. Including Second Master, all members of the Third Prince’s faction remained imprisoned, enduring hardship and awaiting the new Emperor’s final judgment. Even a Ministry of Revenue official couldn’t bear the pressure, swallowed court beads in prison, and committed suicide. When his family was notified to claim the body, everyone saw that the usually plump fourth-rank official had become emaciated in mere days. His official robe was stained with blood, and his hair was covered in a thick layer of grime, a sight too tragic to endure!