She glanced at Li Yao casually.
Suddenly, she felt her eyelids grow heavy and she felt very sleepy.
A moment later, Li Yao coughed lightly, and Bai San Niang woke up, asking blankly, "I was just asleep?"
Just then, Lu Yichuan rushed over and bowed, reporting, "Reporting to the Commander, the Emperor has summoned us urgently."
"The emperor is looking for me?"
Li Yao was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Do you know why the emperor summoned me?"
Lu Yichuan shook his head and said, "This subordinate does not know either."
Li Yao thought for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on his lips.
He had basically guessed what had happened.
He stood up and said, "I'm going to the palace."
It was already night.
However, the palace was brightly lit and much more heavily guarded than usual, with many imperial guards patrolling back and forth, creating a very tense atmosphere.
Clearly, something big must have happened in the palace tonight.
Knowing the plot well, Li Yao became even more certain of his previous guesses.
Led by a eunuch, Li Yao arrived at the Imperial Study.
In the imperial study, besides Emperor Zhengde and Cao Zhengchun, there was also a middle-aged man with a deep expression.
Li Yao guessed that this person should be Zhu Wushi, the Iron-Blooded Marquis.
Upon seeing Li Yao arrive, Cao Zhengchun said sarcastically, "Commander Li, you have quite the airs. The Emperor summoned you urgently, yet you only just arrived now."
Zhengde was worried that Li Yao and Cao Zhengchun would start fighting on the spot and it would be difficult to end the situation, so he quickly said, "Eunuch Cao, important matters are important, there is no need to worry about these trivial details."
Cao Zhengchun gave Li Yao a cold snort before falling silent.
Zhengde gave a brief introduction:
"Minister Li, this is my imperial uncle, the Iron-Blooded Marquis."
"Imperial Uncle, this is Li Yao, the newly appointed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Li Yao cupped his hands towards Zhu Wushi and said, "I have long heard of the Iron-Blooded Marquis, who is loyal, righteous and awe-inspiring. Seeing him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."
Zhu Wushi looked Li Yao up and down, but couldn't see through Li Yao's martial arts skills, and was secretly puzzled.
However, he remained calm on the surface and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "I have learned that a decisive and efficient commander has arrived at the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In just a few days, he has transformed the Embroidered Uniform Guard and even found out that Minister Yang was framed by the eunuch Cao and exonerated Minister Yang."
At this point, Zhu Wushi quickly explained to Cao Zhengchun, "By the way, Eunuch Cao, the eunuch Cao I was referring to was your adopted son Cao Shaoqin, not you. Please don't misunderstand."
Cao Zhengchun was so angry that his face turned ashen. He snorted coldly, wishing he could slap Zhu Wushi to death.
At the same time, he secretly harbored hatred for Li Yao.
He had already learned that his adopted son, Cao Shaoqin, was killed by Li Yao.
Although Yang Yuxuan's case did not implicate him.
However, this greatly weakened his power.
What's most despicable is that Li Yao even stole the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
This debt cannot be left unresolved.
Zhengde was extremely anxious at this moment, and had no mind to watch Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun fight each other.
He quickly said, "Imperial Uncle, Minister Li, the reason I urgently summoned you to the palace tonight is because thieves have kidnapped the Empress Dowager."
"The Empress Dowager has been kidnapped by thieves?"
Zhu Wushi's eyes widened, and he immediately exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly asking, "What exactly happened?"
Li Yao sneered inwardly.
This Zhu Wushi is truly a master actor. The Empress Dowager was clearly kidnapped by your men, yet you pretended to know nothing about it.
The Oscars owe you a golden statuette!
Zhengde, his face contorted with rage, shouted at Cao Zhengchun, "Eunuch Cao, you speak."
Cao Zhengchun quickly recounted the events of the Empress Dowager's abduction.
"Who on earth has the audacity to kidnap the Empress Dowager?"
Emperor Zhengde was both anxious and furious. He shouted, "Immediately summon troops and search the entire city, house to house. We must rescue the Empress Dowager!"
Cao Zhengchun quickly advised, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger and listen to what this servant has to say..."
Zhengde glanced at Cao Zhengchun and said in a deep voice, "You have always been in charge of guarding the palace. Now that the Empress Dowager has been kidnapped, what do you have to say?"
Cao Zhengchun said, "The other party kidnapped the Empress Dowager, not to assassinate her. They must have other plans. If we seal off the city and search it, we will force the Empress Dowager to take drastic measures. I am afraid that her precious health will be harmed. If word gets out, people will say that Your Majesty has violated filial piety."
Zhengde was no ordinary man, and naturally understood that Cao Zhengchun's words made some sense.
He pondered for a moment, then asked Li Yao and Zhu Wushi, "Imperial Uncle, Minister Li, do you have any good ideas?"
Zhu Wushi pretended to ponder for a moment, then said:
"Your Majesty, this city must be sealed off."
"However, you are only allowed to enter, not leave."
"The other side only kidnapped the Empress Dowager; they must have some ulterior motive."
"The Empress Dowager should be safe until the other side achieves its goal."
"Now, let's block the news first, and then I'll arrange for the people from the Dragon Guard Manor to secretly investigate throughout the city. We're sure to find something."
Cao Zhengchun hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager was kidnapped in the Imperial Palace. Finding her is the responsibility of this servant and the Eastern Depot. In my opinion, there is no need to trouble Lord Shenhou with this matter."
Zhu Wushi scoffed, "The Empress Dowager was kidnapped right under the noses of Eunuch Cao and the Eastern Depot. Eunuch Cao is truly a talent!"
Cao Zhengchun retorted sarcastically, "The Marquis Shen, who controls the Dragon Guard Manor, has always boasted of his extensive information network. Yet he failed to learn beforehand that someone wanted to kidnap the Empress Dowager. I think the Marquis Shen is the real talent."
Chapter 149 My hands are itching to fight today, let's spar a couple of times.
Despite his deep cunning, Zhu Wushi engaged in a public spat with Cao Zhengchun right in front of Zhengde.
Actually, he did it on purpose, to show Zhengde and make Zhengde lower his guard.
Seeing Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun locked in a fierce battle, Zhengde was very pleased.
However, on the surface, he wore an angry expression, slammed his hand on the desk, and shouted sternly:
"Stop arguing! The Empress Dowager hasn't been found yet, and you're already fighting amongst yourselves."
"I know you have always been at odds, but this time I hope you will cooperate sincerely and work together to bring the Empress Dowager back safely."
“If the Empress Dowager suffers any harm, you will all bring your heads to me.”
At this point, Zhengde looked at Li Yao and said, "Minister Li, this situation is urgent. I hope that your Embroidered Uniform Guard will also get involved and find the Empress Dowager as soon as possible."
Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi were both surprised.
They never expected that the emperor would value Li Yao, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, so highly.
In fact, Zhengde had two considerations in getting Li Yao involved in this matter.
Firstly, he had already discovered that Li Yao was extremely capable and had a high level of execution. With one more person, there would be more strength, and they could find the Empress Dowager as soon as possible.
Secondly, he wanted to use Li Yao to counterbalance Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi.
Previously, he had been threatened by Li Yao with Gu poison and was forced to let Li Yao serve as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Afterwards, he had several imperial physicians take his pulse, and they all said that his body was not seriously injured.
Therefore, he guessed that Li Yao might be trying to scare him.
Later, after calming down and thinking it over, he realized that appointing Li Yao as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard might not be a bad thing.
When he first ascended the throne, he was worried that Zhu Wushi and the Dragon Guard Manor had too much power and would threaten his throne.
Therefore, he vigorously cultivated the power of Cao Zhengchun and the Eastern Depot in order to counterbalance Zhu Wushi.
However, he gradually discovered that Cao Zhengchun, relying on his favor, was becoming increasingly unruly and difficult to control.
Now, Li Yao has suddenly appeared. He is neither one of Zhu Wushi's men nor does he get along well with Cao Zhengchun.
Therefore, he thought of having Li Yao to check and balance Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi.
This created a system of checks and balances among the three forces of Li Yao, Cao Zhengchun, and Zhu Wushi.
This would better prevent one power from becoming too dominant and better ensure that his throne would not be threatened.
Having thought of all this, Zhengde felt he was very clever.
Little did he know that Li Yao had already seen through his little schemes.
Just then, a commotion arose outside the Imperial Study:
"Make way and let this princess in."
“Princess, the Emperor has decreed that no one is allowed to enter without prior notice. Please, Princess, do not make things difficult for this servant.”
"You damned eunuch, how dare you obstruct this princess..."
Immediately afterwards, with a loud bang, the door to the Imperial Study was kicked open, and a eunuch stumbled into the room.
The next moment, a young woman dressed in white, pure and lovely, full of youthful vigor, rushed in aggressively.
Without a doubt, this woman must be the willful and capricious Princess Yunluo, Zhengde's younger sister.
Only Princess Yunluo would dare to be so presumptuous in the palace.
As Yunluo passed by the eunuch lying on the ground, she kicked him and yelled, "You damned eunuch!"
Zhengde, Zhu Wushi, and Cao Zhengchun all shook their heads helplessly.
Cao Zhengchun, in particular, looked extremely displeased when Princess Yunluo uttered the words "dead eunuch."
Zhengde, his face grim, shouted sternly, "Yunluo, do not be presumptuous!"