Chapter Fourteen:Protecting Lin Yue
978 Words
That evening, Zhao Ming visited Lichambers. She was seated by the window, her hand resting on her growing belly. Her face was calm, but the tension in her posture betrayed her unease.
“You’ve heard,” Zhao Ming said, his tone softer than usual.
Lin Yue turned to him, her eyes steady. “That your are leaving for war?”
He nodded, stepping closer. “General Xu Han will remain to ensure your safety. No harm will come to you or the child.”
Lin Yue hesitated before speaking. “And what about you? What if something happens?”
Zhao Ming’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “Do you doubt me?”
She shook her head. “I don’t doubt your strength, but I’ve learned that enemies don’t always fight fair.”
The emperor’s expression hardened. “Then you should know I’ve planned for every possibility. The palace will think I am still here, overseeing matters. Only a select few will know the truth.”
Lin Yue’s eyes widened slightly. “A decoy?”
Zhao Ming nodded. “It will buy us time and confuse our enemies. Focus on your health and the child. I’ll take care of the rest.”
While the emperor prepared to leave, the palace became a hive of activity. Courtiers and servants rushed to execute his plans, but not everyone was loyal.
Concubine Yao and Lady Su Wen, sensing an opportunity, began plotting with a small faction of discontented ministers.
“If the emperor is truly leaving for war,” Su Wen said in a hushed voice, “then the capital is vulnerable. If we act quickly, we can secure the throne for ourselves.”
Concubine Yao’s eyes gleamed with malice. “And if the emperor falls in battle, there will be no heir to inherit the throne.”
Their plan was twofold: spread rumors to sow doubt among the court and manipulate the decoy in the palace to lure the emperor into a trap.
Zhao Ming rode at the head of his army, his black armor gleaming in the sunlight. His presence inspired awe and confidence among his soldiers, many of whom had fought under his command in previous campaigns.
The Xilong forces were formidable, their numbers vast, but Zhao Ming’s strategies were precise and ruthless. He used the terrain to his advantage, launching ambushes and cutting off supply lines.
But even as he fought on the battlefield, his mind remained tethered to the palace. He had entrusted Lin Yue and the unborn heir to General Xu Han, but he knew the dangers that lurked within the walls of his own home.
Back in the palace, the decoy emperor—a trusted body double trained to mimic Zhao Ming’s mannerisms—sat in the throne room, receiving reports from ministers.
Lady Su Wen and Concubine Yao acted quickly, using their influence to spread false information about the emperor’s movements.
One evening, they cornered the decoy in a private chamber, their expressions carefully masked with feigned concern.
“Your Majesty,” Su Wen said sweetly, “there are rumors that Xilong’s forces have breached the borders. Shouldn’t we recall the army to protect the capital?”
The decoy, following his instructions, gave a noncommittal hum.
“But what if the emperor is ambushed?” Yao Liqing added, her voice dripping with mock worry. “Surely we should ensure the safety of Hanzhou’s most precious ruler.”
The decoy’s stoic demeanor didn’t falter, but their persistence was noted by General Xu Han, who stood nearby.
After the meeting, the general summoned his most trusted officers. “Keep an eye on Lady Su Wen and Concubine Yao,” he ordered. “Their words carry more venom than concern.”
Meanwhile, Lin Yue had been confined to her chambers for her safety, but the isolation only made her more alert to the palace’s undercurrents. She overheard whispers from servants about strange meetings and suspicious movements among the concubines.
One evening, as she walked in the garden for fresh air, a shadowy figure approached her. It was Xiu’er, her loyal maid.
“Mistress,” Xiu’er whispered, her voice trembling. “They’re planning something. I overheard Lady Su Wen talking about… about the child.”
Lin Yue heart raced. “What did she say?”
“She said…” Xiu’er hesitated, tears in her eyes. “She said the child must not live to see the throne.”
Lin Yue clenched her fists, her mind racing. They’re targeting the heir. They’ll stop at nothing.
Weeks later, the emperor returned victorious from the battlefield, his presence in the palace a sharp contrast to the chaos his enemies had tried to sow.
Zhao Ming wasted no time dealing with the conspirators. Lady Su Wen and Concubine Yao were summoned to the throne room, their smug expressions quickly replaced with fear as the emperor’s cold gaze bore into them.
“You thought I wouldn’t learn of your treachery,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You underestimated me.”
Both women fell to their knees, begging for mercy, but Zhao Ming’s verdict was swift.
“Take them away,” he ordered, his tone final.
That evening, Zhao Ming visited Lin Yue chambers. She was seated on the bed, her hands protectively resting on her belly.
“The danger has passed,” he said simply, his gaze softening as it lingered on her.
Lin Yue looked up at him, her expression unreadable. “For now.”
Zhao Ming stepped closer, placing a hand on hers. “For as long as I live, no harm will come to you or the child.”
Though his words were few, they carried a weight that reassured her. For the first time, Lin Yue allowed herself to feel hope—for her child and for the man who had vowed to protect them.
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