Chapter 138: Chapter 10: The Imperial Concubine Has a System (Part 10)

The aristocratic families of the Imperial City are almost all aware of Song Jieyu’s situation.

Therefore, the Emperor’s exclusive affection for the Empress has silenced many mouths.

They do not want to provoke the Emperor’s wrath over this matter.

The more the Imperial Concubine gains, the harsher the punishment will be when her mission fails.

This time, having failed in the plot against the Crown Prince, the Imperial Concubine has not appeared for a whole month.

However, the people sent by Li Shuning and Yun Zimo to monitor reported back that incredibly, the Imperial Concubine’s hair turned white overnight, and she seemed unable to move, lying in her bedchamber without coming out.

The next appearance of the Imperial Concubine was during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

When she emerged, her hair had been dyed black again, but her whole demeanor appeared pale, as if she had suffered a serious blow.

On the day of Mid-Autumn Festival, in the plot, it was on this day of reunion that the Crown Prince was thrown into the lotus pond and drowned.

On this day, Li Shuning was on high alert, determined not to allow any incident to befall the Crown Prince.

Fortunately, Yun Zimo had already placed hidden protectors by the Crown Prince’s side to guard him continuously.

It was uncertain whether the Imperial Concubine knew about the protection, because all day long, nothing happened to the Crown Prince.

Yet, precisely because of this, Li Shuning became more worried.

Especially during the evening banquet on Mid-Autumn Festival, as the Empress, she would have to accompany the Emperor, celebrating with the ministers.

She was somewhat concerned about the Crown Prince, and after some thought, she left Zi’er and several others behind, letting the Crown Prince stay in Fengling Palace.

However, doing so meant that Li Shuning was accompanied by only two palace maids.

As the banquet neared its end, Li Shuning, worried about the Crown Prince, said a few words to Yun Zimo and went back to Fengling Palace with the two palace maids.

Sitting on the palanquin, Li Shuning half-closed her eyes, having drunk a few cups of wine. Although the wine in this world wasn’t so strong, after a few cups, Li Shuning was feeling slightly tipsy.

While crossing a bridge, the young eunuch holding a lantern suddenly fell, and the two eunuchs carrying the palanquin seemed to slip as well. In the next moment, both eunuchs tumbled over, and the palanquin was flung out, its direction unmistakably toward the deep river below the bridge.

This river flows from outside the Imperial City, an active river running through the entire Imperial Palace, its waters crystal-clear, usually with some concubines boating on it.

However, this river was very deep, and at night, the currents would become turbulent.

At this moment, Li Shuning, along with the palanquin, fell into the river, creating a loud splash. For an ordinary person, even if they could swim, the chances of survival would be very slim.

Following Lu’er and Lan’er had no time to react and saw the Empress already submerged.

Lu’er screamed for help: “Someone, come quickly, the Empress has fallen into the water, the Empress has fallen into the water.”

Lan’er quickly ran towards the Imperial Garden; tonight’s banquet was held there.

She intended to find the Emperor.

Only the Emperor could rescue the Empress from such a swift river.

The young eunuchs were already struck dumb with fear, but in the next moment, they jumped into the river.

If anything happened to the Empress, their lives were not enough to pay for it. Though the river was turbulent, there was still hope; if they could rescue the Empress, they could redeem their failures.

Yet as soon as those young eunuchs jumped into the river, they were swiftly carried away, unable to stabilize their footing.

Lan’er rushed into the Imperial Garden and, after informing the Emperor about the Empress falling into the water, the Emperor dashed out with a face as dark as thunder.

Soon, the whole river was illuminated by torches.

Countless boats entered the river searching for the Empress.

On the bridge, Yun Zimo looked at the oil smeared on it, his eyes cold.

He did not believe Li Shuning would meet her end.

At their first meeting, that girl was still holding onto habits from the real world, enduring even under such harsh conditions. In this world, how could she possibly die?

Having gone through so many missions, she must have some life-saving methods left tucked away; she would not die.

Yun Zimo at this time was quite terrifying, his whole being radiating an unapproachable aura.

However, there are always those who fail to keep their distance.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I heard the Empress fell into the water. What happened? Is the Empress alright?”

The Imperial Concubine swept in like a whirlwind.

After the Empress left, the Imperial Concubine went to see her mother. During the banquet, some ministers’ wives entered the palace and, engaged in conversation, naturally did not realize the Emperor had also left.

She returned to the Imperial Garden only to find out her setup was successful and hurriedly came over.

Watching as the Imperial Concubine’s delicate hands were about to touch the Emperor’s, the Emperor suddenly stepped away.

The Imperial Concubine, seeing her empty hands, had her gaze dim slightly.

“Your Majesty, I think since the river’s current is so swift, the Empress might have been carried to another place. Why not let the guards help search as well, it would be faster that way.”

At this time, those searching by boat or in the river were all eunuchs.

The Imperial Concubine’s intentions were truly malicious.

Did she intend for the Empress to become another Princess Consort Shu?

Disgust flickered in Yun Zimo’s eyes.

Had Li Shuning died, the Imperial Concubine would learn the meaning of cruelty. Anyway, he did not care much about that system.

He was not the original owner, able to be casually manipulated and killed.

With Li Shuning by his side, his heart was particularly steady, allowing him the thought of slowly researching that system. Unexpectedly, such an error would occur.

Yun Zimo was pondering something when suddenly cheers were heard.

Yun Zimo was startled and saw that the Empress had been found. She was discovered clinging tightly to a patch of underwater grass beneath the bridge, tangled within it.

The bridge’s bottom was dark, and although there were torches along the riverbank, beneath the bridge remained dim.

A young eunuch poled a boat beneath the bridge, hearing a noise, and then discovered the Empress pounding on the side of the boat in the water.

The crowd hurriedly rescued the Empress.

Yun Zimo directly hugged Li Shuning, quickly sprinting towards Fengling Palace.

Watching Yun Zimo’s departing figure, the Imperial Concubine’s nails dug into her palms; how could the Empress’s life be so robust, and not perish — damn it.

Upon arriving at Fengling Palace, an Imperial Physician was called in to check, and fortunately, it was only reported to be a scare.

Because of the Empress falling into the water, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet ended inconclusively.

When Fengling Palace had only Li Shuning and Yun Zimo left, Li Shuning explained to Yun Zimo.

She had never been in danger; she had only been carried a bit too far by the water and did not want to provide any gossip fodder, knowing how fearful people’s words could be. She would leave no spaces open to criticism, hence why she had made a scene by the bridge before returning.

When Li Shuning fell into the river, she was somewhat stunned but quickly reacted, though at that moment taking out the hovercar was unfeasible.

Li Shuning could swim, but she was already carried far away by the current.

Luckily, she recalled having a Water Spirit Pearl, and upon taking out the Water Spirit Pearl, she stabilized herself, moving through the water effortlessly.

Li Shuning didn’t believe in accidents; she originally thought they would target the Crown Prince but didn’t expect the attempt on her now, the Imperial Concubine’s audacity was growing, or maybe the system within her could no longer hold back?

PS: Today’s only one Chapter, apologies friends, things have been particularly busy these days. Starting tomorrow, the pattern of updating one Chapter during the day and another at night will resume.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep