You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 224 Kidnapping the Empress Dowager
The masked commander-in-chief gave Liang Jiang a cold look: "Anyone who dares to kidnap the Empress Dowager is guilty of treason and will be executed without exception."

"So, whether I live or die is not important. What's important is that you must put Prince Pingxi and Princess Heya to death, is that right?"

The masked man said with great certainty, "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to ensure that the Empress Dowager is safe and sound."

"What a fine 'do your best'!" The Empress Dowager sneered. "Is this your idea, or was it ordered by the Emperor?"

The masked man hesitated for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The Emperor has ordered that no effort be spared to eliminate the traitors and ensure peace in Chang'an."

"Who is the traitor?!" the Empress Dowager roared. "What crime has the Prince of Pingxi committed?"

"Arson and kidnapping the Empress Dowager are capital offenses."

This person showed no fear of the Empress Dowager's authority and dared to defy her. Such arrogance was highly unusual.

Moreover, the other party kept changing their voice, seemingly worried that others would notice something unusual.

Could it be someone I know?

A sudden thought flashed through Gu Xizhi's mind, and she suddenly remembered someone.

He probed, "The one who should truly be condemned to death is you. You colluded with Xiliang, framed the Duke of Liang, and caused thousands of soldiers to be buried in Xiliang. The Dali Temple escaped punishment under the law, and today you falsely conveyed an imperial edict, disobeying the Empress Dowager. Tong Shouliang, do you still not confess your crimes and submit to the law?"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers were all shocked, as if a pot had been boiled over.

"General Tong? How could that be?"

"That's right, didn't General Tong already commit suicide in the imperial prison?"

"How could His Majesty possibly appoint a traitor who colludes with the enemy and betrays the country? Absolutely not!"

……

The Empress Dowager looked at the masked man in astonishment, incredulous.

Faced with Gu Xizhi's accusation, the commander-in-chief remained calm and said: "Stop spreading alarmist rumors and misleading the troops. Who I am is not important. What is important is that I have the Emperor's secret decree! I have been granted the Imperial Sword and am acting on orders."

Gu Xizhi pointed at him: "If you have the guts, then take off your mask and show yourself. How could the Emperor entrust you with such an important task as issuing orders here, given that you are a wanted criminal who has been colluding with foreign countries? You probably didn't steal this imperial edict and sword, did you?"

His words immediately aroused doubt among the soldiers.

The Empress Dowager sternly rebuked, "If you are truly Tong Shouliang, even with the imperial edict in hand, you have no right to issue orders here. Take off your mask and let me see your true face."

The commander-in-chief did not back down: "I am acting under orders, and I have the imperial sword as proof! The Prince of Pingxi is just using a feint to sow discord. Your Majesty, please do not fall for his trick."

If we let the Prince of Pingxi go today, he has many henchmen in Weixi. It would be like letting a tiger return to the mountains, and it would be difficult to bring him to justice.

Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to understand my predicament. Soldiers, listen to my command: capture the Prince of Pingxi. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy.

"Let's see who dares!" Liang Jiang tightened her grip on the dagger. "If any of you dare to make a move, I will show no mercy."

One wanted to kill, the other wanted to let go.

One held the emperor's edict and the imperial sword, while the other held the empress dowager hostage.

The Empress Dowager's life is now in Princess Heya's hands. If any soldier makes a rash move and something happens to the Empress Dowager, wouldn't that be a crime?

The guards looked at each other, dumbfounded, unsure of what to do.

The commander-in-chief sneered contemptuously: "I bet you, Liang Jiang, wouldn't dare! It's just a bluff; you would never dare to disrespect the Empress Dowager! And do you think you can escape from here by taking the Empress Dowager hostage?"

Liang Jiang shook her head: "I never intended to escape. Don't you just want me to help you find and activate the dragon vein? One life for one life, release the Prince of Pingxi, and I'll go with you."

"Liangjiang!" Gu Xizhi hurriedly spoke up to dissuade him.

Liang Jiang shook her head, her eyes unusually firm, and urged, "Don't worry about me, let's go!" The commander-in-chief stood firm, holding the Shangfang sword to block Gu Xizhi's retreat.

The Empress Dowager angrily rebuked, "Are you blind? Can't you see the knife at my neck? Anyone who dares to obstruct me will be guilty of treason!"

No one dared to step forward, and even the masked man hesitated for a moment.

Gu Xi knew that if she insisted on taking Liang Jiang away, the masked man would disregard the Empress Dowager's safety and order both of them to be shot.

Only if he could escape from this place would he have a chance to rescue the mother and daughter.

He gritted his teeth, leaped into the air, and disappeared without a trace in two bounds.

Liang Jiang then slowly put down the dagger in her hand.

The masked man, exasperated, ordered in a deep voice, "Take down Princess Heya!"

The soldiers swarmed forward and tied Liang Jiang up.

Galangal did not resist.

The Empress Dowager snorted in displeasure: "You dare to hold me hostage and force me to release Prince Pingxi and Princess Heya? You're really tired of living. Do you think that just because you're a princess, I can't do anything to you, so you're fearless?"

Liang Jiang knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I had no intention of rebelling or treason. It was just that the situation was critical and I had no other choice."

"Does helplessness justify insubordination?" The Empress Dowager coldly ordered, "Bring Princess Heya to my room. I will interrogate her personally to see what conspiracy she and Prince Pingxi are plotting."

The guards obeyed the order and stepped forward to escort Liang Jiang away.

The masked man tried to stop him: "Your Majesty, this Liang Jiang is highly skilled in martial arts and cunning. For your safety, shouldn't I be in charge of the interrogation?"

The Empress Dowager gave the commander-in-chief a cold look: "Lady Liang is in our hands now, what tricks are you afraid she'll play? I'm going to interrogate her myself! Let's go!"

Ignoring the masked man's attempts to stop her, she took Liang Jiang directly back to her room.

Lady Liang was kneeling in the courtyard when she saw the Empress Dowager. She immediately prostrated herself on the ground, fearfully begging the Empress Dowager to forgive Liang Jiang's sins.

The Empress Dowager didn't even glance at her. She stormed into the room, slumped weakly into a chair, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath.

Yu Zhu hurriedly brought the pills and hot tea for the Empress Dowager to take.

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, which finally calmed her breathing. She looked at Liang Jiang kneeling in front of her and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

Then, in a stern voice, she questioned, "You've taken me hostage and held a knife to my neck, Princess Heya. You'd better give me a reason, or I'll order your head to be chopped off right now!"

Liang Jiang raised her face and said very seriously, "This humble woman risked her life to kidnap the Empress Dowager, firstly to save Prince Pingxi from danger, and secondly for Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"Tch, for my sake? You're really shameless."

"If I may be so bold as to ask His Majesty why he summoned the Empress Dowager to Weixi in person?"

"Naturally, I should oversee the dragon veins. How could I entrust such an important matter to an outsider?"

"If that's the case, why did His Majesty send a commander to act in secret, showing no regard for the Empress Dowager's words?"

"How dare you!" the Empress Dowager roared. "Are you trying to sow discord between me and the Emperor?"

"Your Majesty, I would never dare to do that. But just now, the post station caught fire and an assassin broke in. None of the soldiers came to rescue Your Majesty. It was my mother who bravely rescued you from the house."

I held you hostage, threatening their lives to force them to release Prince Pingxi. That general dared to disregard your safety, Your Majesty, and even commit insubordination. Doesn't Your Majesty think they have been far too negligent?"

(End of this chapter)