Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 430: His Majesty Has Passed Away!

The evening banquet in the palace was reserved solely for members of the Imperial Family.

Zhan Lan wore light makeup, her figure adorned in a moon-white long gown, and a golden hairpin adorning her head. Mu Yan donned a blue robe embroidered with silver clouds, his hair tied with a jade coronet as he held Zhan Lan’s hand and led her to Linde Hall.

This hall was situated close to Emperor Xuanwu’s sleeping quarters.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhan Lan and Mu Yan took their seats.

Zhan Lan raised her gaze and saw the Empress seated at the head.

Seated opposite Mu Yan and Zhan Lan was Marquis Lin Yuan, Si Yuzhang, who had also graced the occasion tonight.

Zhan Lan glanced at Si Yuzhang. His square face bore some resemblance to Emperor Xuanwu, and his eyes shone brightly with vigor.

In her past life, Si Yuzhang had lived peacefully as a marquis. While he lacked offspring and instead raised Si Jun, his life had been relatively uneventful.

Zhan Lan lowered her gaze, her thoughts churning. In her previous life, her branch of the Zhan Family had been accused of treason. Marquis Lin Yuan, who had once praised Zhan Beicang’s merits, had feared Si Jun’s suspicion and, to demonstrate his loyalty, had personally burned her mother Qin Shuang and younger brother Zhan Heng to death.

Little Black, in a frenzied rage, killed his mansion guards but was ultimately beaten to death by servants of Marquis Lin Yuan’s Mansion.

There is a head to every grievance and a master to every debt. Finally, she faced Si Yuzhang—the man who bore so many of her grudges and warranted her revenge.

Mu Yan had mentioned last night that Si Yuzhang would probably interfere, and sure enough, he had come.

Si Jun and Bai Lu sat diagonally below her, appearing cordial but secretly estranged.

Because it was a family feast, even the imprisoned Crown Prince was present. He had never appointed a Crown Prince Consort and sat alone, positioned across from Si Jun.

Further down, Prince Xian and his wife sat together. Zhan Lan observed Prince Xian’s wife’s kind features, but she still felt the young woman seemed burdened by some hidden sorrow.

Prince Qi, with his crippled leg, was also present. He sat opposite Prince Xian, maintaining a servile and excessively humble posture.

Palace maids began serving exquisite dishes and fine wines, the Empress commented, "Tonight is a family feast, a prayer for blessings upon His Majesty. Everyone, be at ease."

In Zhan Lan’s heart, she sneered. A family feast? This was a veritable banquet filled with hidden agendas—everyone had their own calculations.

But there was a commonality among them: everyone wished for Emperor Xuanwu’s downfall!

As the feast reached its midpoint, the Empress rose. "This palace feels suddenly unwell and cannot continue hosting all of you."

After speaking, she was assisted out by palace maids.

The Crown Prince stood and said, "To my two Imperial Uncles, I must go to check on Mother."

Mu Yan said nothing, while Si Yuzhang smiled slightly and replied, "Ah, the Crown Prince’s filial piety shines brightly. Do go ahead!"

Not long afterward, Si Jun departed, citing stomach pains.

Prince Xian also grew restless and announced he wished to take a stroll in the gardens.

Si Yuzhang kept toasting Mu Yan glass after glass. Watching them drink, Prince Qi stealthily followed their movements, eyeing the expressions on Zhan Lan’s face before slipping out quietly.

Meanwhile, the Empress and Crown Prince sneaked into Emperor Xuanwu’s sleeping quarters.

The Empress was desperate to confirm whether Emperor Xuanwu had officially named the Crown Prince as his successor. With Emperor Xuanwu’s mind cloaked in secrecy, no one could fully grasp his true intentions. Without seeing the Crown Prince’s name on the imperial edict, she could not feel reassured.

If confirmed, she had planned to quietly end Emperor Xuanwu’s life tonight during his sleep, paving the way for the Crown Prince’s ascension.

At the chamber’s entrance, the Empress intentionally said, "My son, your father is still ill and might be disturbed. Let Mother go in first."

"Yes, Mother," the Crown Prince replied obediently.

Inside the bedroom, the Empress encountered Eunuch Li.

"This humble servant greets Her Majesty the Empress," said Eunuch Li.

The Empress raised her hand and remarked, "Today is the Double Ninth Festival. This palace came to visit His Majesty."

"Her Majesty, please enter," Eunuch Li replied respectfully.

Upon entering the chamber, the Empress’s expression soured, and she reprimanded, "Eunuch Li, as a senior servant of the palace, how can you neglect your duties? His Majesty’s bedding is odorous, and the cloth used to cleanse the Imperial body hasn’t been refreshed...!"

She frowned, nitpicking several alleged faults in Eunuch Li’s caretaking, commanding him to rectify these immediately.

Eunuch Li, resigned, left the room, placing a young eunuch to accompany the Empress.

Once Eunuch Li was gone, the young eunuch immediately revealed his true face, looking obsequious. "Your Majesty, the item is over there!"

Having already been bribed by the Empress, he had noticed something suspicious while cleaning—yet dared not pry into the imperial edict, knowing such meddling was a crime punishable by death for one’s entire family.

The young eunuch pointed toward a painting. The Empress approached, intending to open the hidden compartment behind the artwork, but in an instant, a dark figure flipped through the window, clenching her throat ferociously.

The Empress was horrified, her gaze catching sight of the young eunuch’s already lifeless body. Her mouth was covered, her throat choked—utterly silenced, unable to call for help from the Imperial Army stationed outside.

Another figure leapt in through the window. This individual opened the hidden compartment and retrieved the imperial edict within. After inspecting it, their face changed dramatically.

Approaching Emperor Xuanwu’s bed, the emperor’s eyes—dim and unfocused—seized upon the intruder’s face.

The intruder’s visage burned with hatred.

"Father, in the end, you still didn’t trust me. Is it because of my birth?" Si Jun’s sinister and cruel gaze bore into the emperor.

Emperor Xuanwu was already paralyzed, capable only of opening his bloodshot, furious eyes.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped him as Si Jun pressed Emperor Xuanwu’s head beneath the bedding, suffocating him.

The Emperor struggled helplessly, unable to resist the choking grip of shadow and despair.

After dozens of agonizing breaths, Si Jun lifted the bedding and saw Emperor Xuanwu’s wide-eyed corpse. He shuddered violently.

With trembling hands, Si Jun placed his index finger beneath the Emperor’s nose—no breath remained. His father had been killed by his own hand.

Si Jun took the authentic imperial edict, stashing it in Jiangliu’s robes, and replaced it with the counterfeit one he had prepared.

The Empress, witnessing Si Jun’s actions, collapsed weakly with terror.

Suddenly, the Crown Prince stormed in, confronting Si Jun. "King Wei, unhand my mother!"

"Guards!" shouted the Crown Prince toward the doorway. At the same moment, the Empress bit furiously into her assailant’s hand, crying out for help, "Help!"

Jiangliu, his face hidden, drove a dagger toward the Crown Prince, but the Empress lunged forward, shielding her son.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Si Jun’s blade pierced the Crown Prince’s chest; Jiangliu fled through the window in an instant.

The chaos unfolded within seconds—on the spot, the Empress perished, and the Crown Prince, spewing blood, stared at his mother’s lifeless body in the pool of blood. "Mother... Mother!"

Si Jun silently cursed his mistake—the dagger that targeted the Crown Prince had struck slightly off-center!

Seeing the arrival of the Imperial Army, he tearfully explained, "This king was just outside the hall when I overheard the Empress and Crown Prince plotting to assassinate the Emperor..."

"Utter nonsense!" the Crown Prince roared furiously, his outrage worsening his health condition.

Eunuch Li arrived at the scene, taking in the blood-soaked chaos.

Looking behind him, Eunuch Li urgently ordered a young eunuch, "Fetch the Imperial Physician immediately!"

Commander Qian Cheng of the Imperial Army soon hurried in. He had only been away for a rare few bites of food, but now such havoc had erupted.

Shortly after, Mu Yan, Zhan Lan, and Si Yuzhang also arrived, with Prince Qi and Prince Xian following closely.

"Imperial Uncle! Imperial Aunt!" The Crown Prince, his face pale, looked toward Mu Yan and Zhan Lan. His mother was gone, leaving him utterly isolated. Though he had the backing of his maternal relatives, tonight, his survival depended solely on Mu Yan and Zhan Lan’s protection.

Si Yuzhang, being Si Jun’s adoptive father, would undoubtedly take his side. As for Prince Qi and Prince Xian—neither would mourn the Crown Prince’s demise!

"His Majesty!" Eunuch Li suddenly cried out in alarm upon discovering Emperor Xuanwu, his staring eyes betraying his unanswered fury and despair.

The crowd turned toward the source of Eunuch Li’s voice. With tears in his eyes, Eunuch Li declared solemnly, "His Majesty... has passed away!"