Chapter 74 (2/2)

Consort Mu’s whole body was cold like ice.

‘Mother, if ninth brother sits on the throne you know he won’t spare our lives,’ Pei Zhang said. ‘It’s better if I steal the throne before the edict is announced. Otherwise if I wait to steal the throne after ninth brother is the emperor, we’ll become traitors in the eyes of citizens and they’ll rebel.’

Consort Mu thought about Pei Zhang’s logic and she fisted her hands.

‘Mother…’ Pei Zhang said.

‘Wait,’ Consort Mu said. ‘Don’t do anything reckless. Let me confirm something and we can discuss what to do afterward.’

‘Confirm what?’ Pei Zhang asked.

‘I want to see Gentleman Tao,’ Consort Mu said.

That evening Consort Mu secretly met Gentleman Tao and they spoke through a door hole.

‘I want to ask you something,’ Consort Mu said.

‘Yes,’ Tao Ping said.

‘How is the emperor?’ Consort Mu asked.

‘His majesty has two years,’ Tao Ping said.

‘Truly?’ Consort Mu asked.

‘Before the crown prince and the empress died, his majesty had four to five years,’ Tao Ping said.

‘What about the rumor the emperor only has a few days to live?’ Consort Mu asked.

Consort Mu was anxious why Gentleman Tao didn’t answer her. She looked through the hole and only saw the night’s darkness.

‘Why aren’t you saying anything?’ Consort Mu asked.

‘His majesty is manoeuvring a chess piece,’ Tao Ping said. ‘The emperor ordered if anyone exposes his plan then they’ll be killed immediately.’

‘What is the emperor’s purpose?’ Consort Mu asked.

‘His majesty wants to see who’ll support seventh prince and who’ll support ninth prince,’ Tao Ping said. ‘Whoever acts recklessly first then the emperor won’t spare them. Consort Mu, I hope you’ll patiently wait to see what happens.’

‘Alright,’ Consort Mu said. ‘Why didn’t you find me earlier to report to me about something this important?’

‘Consort Mu, you were born intelligent,’ Tao Ping praised. ‘Of course you’ll see through his majesty’s plan.’

Consort Mu farewell Gentleman Tao and left.

In the emperor’s chamber Wang Fu Mu stayed by the emperor’s bedside, he didn’t dare leave the chamber to warn Pei Jin. He hoped Pei Jin would see through the emperor’s plan.

***

End of Chapter Seventy-Fou