At this moment, Di Lingwei’s mind became unprecedentedly sharp, and she quickly considered several possibilities.
‘The person who tried to escape from the rooftop earlier might still be nearby. They might actually be watching me right now.’
Di Lingwei made a judgment in her heart.
Although she didn’t know who the other party was, being able to render everyone outside her bedchamber unconscious was already an incredibly difficult feat. It was absolutely impossible for them to have knocked out everyone in the entire Imperial Palace. In other words, if the other party tried to flee elsewhere, they would inevitably be discovered. So, there was a high probability they were still nearby.
They might even be among the collapsed people!
Were all those Imperial Guards, all those Palace Maids, truly unconscious?
Di Lingwei’s gaze first locked onto Xing Ruolan.
Her suspicion of Xing Ruolan wasn’t new. From the moment she saw Xing Ruolan’s personality description, she had been on guard against her. After all, the other party’s other side remained hidden, which had to be for a reason, for a purpose. Perhaps it was to do her harm!
If everyone around was unconscious, Xing Ruolan, as the Chief Palace Steward, could certainly have orchestrated this.
Di Lingwei couldn’t help but fix her eyes on Xing Ruolan and slowly spoke: “Do you think you can hide? Why do you believe you can conceal yourself before Zhen? Do you truly think Zhen is so easily fooled?”
She didn’t name any names. After all, Xing Ruolan was only her prime suspect; she couldn’t be one hundred percent certain.
However, after she spoke, there was no movement around her.
Had she failed to flush anyone out?
Di Lingwei took a deep breath, and her voice carried on the night wind: “Zhen has long known you had a problem. Every action you’ve taken has been observed by Zhen. The reason Zhen did not act against you sooner was to give you a chance, but it seems you have not grasped this opportunity.”
Still, there was no movement around.
Could it be that no one was truly lurking nearby?
Di Lingwei didn’t quite believe it. She remained extremely cautious, unwilling to make the slightest error.
Her gaze swept the surroundings again, focusing mainly on Xing Ruolan. Di Lingwei spoke once more: “Stop hiding. Stand up on your own. Do you think lying amongst a group of unconscious people will let you slip by? Do you truly believe Zhen can be deceived by you?”
This time, she narrowed her scope directly, asserting that the hidden person was among those lying unconscious on the ground.
And right after Di Lingwei finished speaking this time, a sound finally came—from behind her.
Di Lingwei had been staring intently at Xing Ruolan. Upon abruptly hearing a sound behind her, she quickly spun around to look and saw Wei Nian standing up, expressionless.
What the hell?
Seeing Wei Nian stand up, Di Lingwei’s eyes widened involuntarily.
What was going on?
Why was Wei Nian standing up at this moment?
Did this mean the problematic person was actually Wei Nian?
Di Lingwei was genuinely startled by this turn of events. She had specifically transferred Wei Nian to Phoenix Perch Palace out of trust—had that action been akin to inviting a wolf into her home?
Wei Nian, who had risen, took a deep breath and cupped her fists towards Di Lingwei. “As expected of Your Majesty. Truly, nothing can be hidden from you.”
Di Lingwei: “…”
At this moment, she recalled the scene of Wei Nian sparring with Wang Feifei at the training grounds. The memory of that fierce blade technique made her legs feel weak even now. After all, no one was protecting her right now; she had to face Wei Nian alone.
What should she do?
What could she do to save herself?
Di Lingwei’s mind raced. She decided to stall for time first. Given enough time, perhaps a patrolling Imperial Guard would discover the anomaly here.
Thinking this, Di Lingwei made herself appear as dignified as ever and asked, “Wei Nian, let Zhen ask you: Has Zhen not treated you well? Zhen even entrusted you with guarding Phoenix Perch Palace. Is this how you guard it? How can you face Zhen?”
She couldn’t show weakness now.
Not only could she not show weakness, but she also had to make her tone colder and her attitude tougher, displaying the demeanor befitting a Heavenly Mandate Empress. Only then could she intimidate the other party!
Hearing Di Lingwei’s words, a mix of emotions churned in Wei Nian’s heart.
Sighing, Wei Nian replied, “That Your Majesty trusts this subject so deeply, I am naturally grateful, even delighted. After all, it meant this subject could get close to Your Majesty, and thus have the opportunity… to strike against you.”
The night wind blew, whipping the stray hairs across Wei Nian’s forehead. Her eyes held a sense of resolve that disregarded life and death.
Di Lingwei’s heart skipped a beat, but she had to continue speaking in a forceful tone: “Wei Nian, the matter with Ying He… you were involved too, weren’t you?”
She suspected Wei Nian might be the mastermind behind it all.
Thinking back carefully, had Wei Nian’s accidental killing of Ying He during the day truly been an accident? Or was it silencing a witness?
She hadn’t considered this when she hadn’t suspected Wei Nian, but now, looking back, this matter was highly suspicious.
“Indeed, there was a connection. Your Majesty must have known of this subject’s involvement long ago, yes? This subject also felt Your Majesty might have seen through something, hence the urgency to strike tonight. Unexpectedly, the covert assassination failed, and the situation came to light,” Wei Nian said with a sigh.
This was also her admission: she was the one on the study roof earlier. She had attempted to assassinate Di Lingwei after she fell asleep, and upon being discovered, could only flee.
At that time, Wei Nian still harbored a sliver of hope, trying to blend into the unconscious crowd to escape notice. She never imagined this Heavenly Mandate Empress would have such sharp eyes, having seen through her long ago, leaving her no place to hide.
Of course, she had no idea that Di Lingwei hadn’t suspected her at all before this.
Di Lingwei was incredibly nervous. If she hadn’t tried to bluff and flush someone out, she might have bid farewell to this world in her sleep tonight. That would have been too unjust.
But the current situation still seemed very dire.
Maintaining her dignity, Di Lingwei asked in a deep voice, “Wei Nian, there must be quite a few others who wish to strike against Zhen, yes? And you should also know of the existence of the rest, shouldn’t you? Who are they?”
Wei Nian’s expression shifted slightly. She sighed, “As expected of Your Majesty. You know so much without even leaving your chambers. But this subject will not betray the others.”
‘Damn, there really are more?’
Di Lingwei truly felt like crying. Why were there so many people who wanted her dead?
Although Ying He had also mentioned during the day that many were eyeing her life, that had sounded more like a scare tactic. But now, coming from Wei Nian’s mouth, it felt utterly real, sending chills down one’s spine.
Crying inside, yet having to outwardly put on a noble and domineering front—it was truly exhausting.
“If you won’t speak, do you think Zhen can’t investigate and find out? Zhen advises you to explain clearly, to spare yourself physical suffering,” Di Lingwei said, as if she had Wei Nian completely under her thumb.
“This subject will not speak.” As she said this, Wei Nian placed her hand on the sword at her waist, appearing poised to strike. “Now, this subject only wishes to try and slay Your Majesty. Although I know the chance of success is pitifully small, this subject wants to try.”
