Chapter 160: Consort Wan's death, Jiang Yuyan's plot [ten-thousand-word update, please subscribe to all chapters]
Consort Wan was dead!
Yu Huatian's expression darkened. He immediately quickened his pace and hurried back to the West Depot.
Tan Luzi was already waiting outside the West Depot with his men. Seeing Yu Huatian arrive, he hurried forward and bowed.
"Your subordinate greets you, Director!"
Yu Huatian wasted no words. "How did she die?" he asked coldly.
Tan Luzi froze, then immediately realized whom Yu Huatian meant. He hurriedly replied, "Director, I heard Her Highness hanged herself."
Hanged herself?
Yu Huatian's expression grew colder. He turned his horse around. "Come to the palace with me."
"Yes!"
Tan Luzi hurried after him toward the imperial palace.
The imperial palace.
Consort Wan's passing had cast a much graver pall over the palace, and noticeably more Imperial Guard soldiers patrolled its grounds.
White silk hung everywhere inside Cining Palace.
An imposing firwood coffin stood in the center. Several palace maids burned paper offerings before it, sobbing softly.
Beside the coffin, Zhu Youxiao, dressed in his dragon robe, leaned against it and wept bitterly.
"My beloved consort! Why were you so foolish?"
"My beloved consort! I failed you, my beloved consort..."
"Your Majesty..."
Beside him, Jiang Yuyan, dressed in sumptuous palace robes, wiped away her tears and held his arm, offering quiet consolation.
"Your Majesty, please restrain your grief. Her Highness is gone, but you must take care of your imperial health."
Zhu Youxiao ignored her and continued weeping against the coffin, his face filled with guilt and sorrow.
Tap, tap, tap...
Just then, a palace maid ran in from outside and reported softly, "Your Majesty, Yu Gonggong requests an audience."
Yu Gonggong?
Jiang Yuyan's expression changed slightly, then immediately returned to normal. Seeing that Zhu Youxiao