Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 90 Palace Banquet Invitation! Bao'er asked: Mother, are we finally going to see Father?

February 28th.

On the third sunny day after the Awakening of Insects, Qihuang Garden welcomed a special guest.

The visitor was a palace eunuch.

He was dressed as a fourth-rank eunuch, with a fair complexion and no beard, and was followed by eight imperial guards.

It wasn't a big event.

But it silenced the entire street.

"Imperial decree arrives—Lady Night Phoenix, receive the decree!"

The voice is high-pitched.

Piercing through the morning mist.

Qian Sihai's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

Mo Shisan pressed down on his shoulder and shook his head.

Dressed in plain white, Ye Huang slowly walked to the door.

"This humble woman, Ye Huang, respectfully receives the imperial decree."

No kneeling.

He simply nodded slightly.

The eunuch wasn't annoyed—before coming, Lord Xuanying had specifically instructed that this lady...didn't need to stand on ceremony.

He unfurled the bright yellow scroll.

The intonation and rhythm of the voice:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

As my birthday approaches, I have specially prepared a banquet at the Taiji Hall on the third day of the third month.

Madam Yehuang, the owner of the Jiangnan Jinxiu Workshop, is virtuous, wise, and dedicated to promoting industry and benefiting the people. She has been specially invited to a banquet.

We hope that Madam can take time out of her busy schedule to travel to Beijing and participate in this grand ceremony.

So be it.

Read it.

The eunuch closed the imperial edict and presented it with both hands.

Ye Huang accepted it.

Bright yellow silk surface.

Gilded characters.

The emperor's jade seal is stamped in the lower right corner.

"Please inform His Majesty," she said calmly, "that this humble woman... will certainly attend the banquet."

The eunuch bowed: "Madam is very understanding. His Majesty also said... if Madam brings her child along, the palace has prepared everything the infant needs."

Carrying a child.

Ye Huang's fingertips tightened slightly.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

---

After the eunuch left.

The front hall of Qihuang Garden was deathly silent.

Qian Sihai's face turned pale: "Master, this...this is a trap..."

Mo Shisan frowned: "Liu Chengzong was just impeached by Lord Shen, and His Majesty immediately issued an edict to invite the master to the capital... I'm afraid the Liu family said something."

"What was said is unimportant." Ye Huang unfolded the invitation, looking at the date on it. "What's important is that Nangong Ye... wants to see me."

She looked up.

He looked at everyone.

"The third day of the third lunar month. Five more days."

"Is the master really going?" Qian Sihai asked anxiously. "The capital is the Liu family's territory. What if..."

"There's no such thing as 'what if'," Ye Huang interrupted him. "What's meant to happen will happen."

She got up.

"Mo Shisan, go prepare the carriage. The most comfortable carriage you need, with thick, soft cushions; Bao'er can't stand the bumpy ride."

"Yes."

"Qian Sihai, you are in charge of handling the affairs of Jinxiufang. If anyone causes trouble while I'm away... you know what to do."

"Understood!"

"Eunuch Li."

In the corner, the hunched figure slightly raised its head.

"This old servant is here."

"You will accompany me to the capital." Ye Huang paused, "Bao'er... is in your care."

A sharp glint flashed in Eunuch Li's cloudy old eyes.

"This old servant guarantees with his life that young master... will be absolutely safe."

afternoon.

Ye Huang was packing her things in her room.

Bao'er came in carrying the cat.

"Mommy," the little one looked up, "are we going on a long trip?"

"Mm." Ye Huang squatted down. "Let's go to the capital."

"Is the capital...where Father is?"

Ye Huang paused.

Bao'er blinked: "Aunt Jinshu said that Father is a very, very important person in the capital."

A very, very large person.

Emperor.

Ye Huang remained silent for a moment.

"Does Bao'er want to see Daddy?"

Bao'er thought for a moment.

nod.

"think."

Why?

"Because..." Bao'er whispered, "other children all have daddies."

Ye Huang felt a pang of sadness.

She hugged her son.

"Bao'er's father... did something wrong before. A very, very wrong thing."

"Did Father apologize?"

"no."

"Why not apologize?"

"Because he doesn't know he did something wrong," Ye Huang said softly. "So this time, Mother is taking Bao'er to see him. Let him see what he did wrong."

Bao'er seemed to understand, but not quite.

But he reached out his little hand and patted his mother's back.

"Don't be sad, Mother."

"Bao'er will protect Mother."

Ye Huang's eyes welled up with tears.

"it is good."

"Bao'er will protect Mother."

into the night.

Jinshu came in carrying a long box.

"Miss, the clothes you ordered...are ready."

Ye Huang opened the box.

Inside was a set of palace attire.

Bright red.

A phoenix with outstretched wings is embroidered with gold thread.

However, it is not the traditional phoenix wearing peony.

But -

A phoenix rising from the ashes.

Its feathers were stained with sparks, its eyes were sharp, and its claws trod on broken chains.

"The embroiderers worked for three days and three nights following your design," Jinshu said, her voice trembling. "This phoenix... it's so lifelike, it looks like it's about to fly out."

Ye Huang picked up her clothes.

Walk in front of the mirror.

Change clothes.

Layer by layer.

Inner garment, petticoat, outer robe.

Finally, he put on that bright red phoenix robe.

In the bronze mirror.

It reflected a stunningly beautiful face.

Her eyebrows and eyes were still those of Shen Qingci.

But her entire demeanor has changed.

Her former gentleness and docility have turned into coldness and sharpness.

The corners of her eyes are slightly upturned.

The lips are crimson red.

It looked like it was stained with blood.

"Miss..." Jinshu was stunned. "You...you're so beautiful..."

Ye Huang remained silent.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Looking at that phoenix-shaped robe.

three years ago.

She entered the palace wearing her wedding dress.

Phoenix coronet and embroidered robe.

Overjoyed.

Three years later.

She went back wearing this "revenge robe".

"Nangong Ye".

She spoke softly to the person in the mirror.

"I'm back."

It wasn't Shen Qingci who came back.

Ye Huang has returned.

It's here...

"Please go and die."

The last word was uttered.

The candlelight in the room suddenly flickered.

It looks like there's something there.

She woke up.

March 1st.

The night before departure.

The secret chamber of Qihuang Garden.

Everyone is here.

Ye Huang sat in the main seat.

"Qian Sihai".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"After I left, Jinxiufang continued to operate as usual."

Business News Monthly and Court Insider Stories will continue to be published as usual.

If anyone asks me... I'll say that my master has gone to the capital to present gifts and will be returning soon.

"Yes."

"Mo Shisan".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Take twenty Nightblades and go to the capital first. Meet them fifty miles outside the capital. Remember, act covertly."

"yes!"

"Eunuch Li."

"This old servant is here."

"Baby...please take care of me."

Eunuch Li bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, please rest assured."

At last.

Ye Huang looked at an inconspicuous middle-aged man in the corner.

That was one of the two wolves from the northern desert after they disguised themselves—now called "Nightblade Thirty-Seven".

"You will take ten men and secretly protect the convoy. If attacked... kill them without mercy."

"Yes, sir!"

Deployment complete.

Ye Huang stood up.

"Gentlemen."

She looked around at everyone.

"This journey may be peaceful, or it may... be filled with bloodshed."

"If anyone wants to quit, they can leave now. I don't blame you."

No one moved.

"Okay." Ye Huang nodded. "Then we'll..."

She paused.

Word by word:

"Go to the capital."

"Close the net."

On the same night.

Liu Chengming was also packing his things.

He set off a day earlier than Ye Huang.

Three urgent letters from my father have already arrived.

"Return immediately! Shen Anbang, in alliance with the Qingliu faction, is launching a fierce offensive. The Ministry of Justice has already dispatched personnel south, likely to investigate old cases in Jiangnan!"

The old case in Jiangnan.

Those traces he thought he had wiped away.

"Young Master," the trusted aide whispered, "the Gu Master of Xiling... the offspring Gu has already been planted. It will take effect in ten days. At that time, with the mother Gu in hand, that child..."

Liu Chengming sneered.

"Did Ye Huang think she was going to the capital for a banquet?"

"That's what she's doing..."

"Walking into a trap."

He picked up the jade box containing the mother Gu.

Carefully tuck it into your arms.

"Let's go."

"Go back to Beijing."

"Let's watch a... good show."

March 2nd.

5:00 AM (卯时).

Outside Qihuang Garden.

Three carriages waited quietly.

The first car was the most spacious, covered with a thick velvet carpet, and had brocade curtains hanging from the windows—it was Ye Huang and Bao'er's car.

The second carriage carried Jinshu and two maids, along with their clothes and valuables.

The third vehicle... seemingly carrying gifts, actually concealed a trap.

Eunuch Li sat on the shaft of the first carriage.

His back was hunched over.

Like an ordinary old servant.

"Miss, the time has come," Mo Shisan said in a low voice.

Ye Huang held the still-sleeping Bao'er and took one last look at Qihuang Garden.

This is the garden she has been running for nearly two years.

This fortress she built from ruins.

"Let's go."

She turned and got into the car.

The curtain fell.