Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 134 Du Niang Enters the Palace to Present Treasures and Save Lin Chong

Gao Can stood anxiously in the corner of the hall, watching as Ning Weizhi was about to force Zhang Liang to reveal the identity of Consort Xian. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Then, Zhang Liang secretly cast a pleading glance at him. He steeled his resolve and decided to kill him to silence him.

Taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused on Zhang Liang, Gao Can turned and walked towards the imperial guards stationed at the entrance of the main hall. These were his men planted within the palace. Gao Can secretly gave one of the guards instructions in a low voice before hurriedly returning to the main hall.

Just as Zhang Liang was about to utter the name of the Virtuous Consort, the Imperial Guards arranged by the High Advisor rushed forward, intending to slit Zhang Liang's throat with their swords. Zhang Liang turned pale with fright and tried to get up to dodge. At that moment, a crisp "clang" rang out, and a dart struck the guard's sword, changing the blade's direction.

Although Zhang Liang managed to move his body backward, he was still stabbed in the chest, and blood gushed out like a fountain. He lay on the ground, groaning in pain.

Emperor Huizong, Ning Weizhi, and others were greatly surprised. Shen Daoyuan rushed forward and exchanged a few blows with the imperial guard, then pinned the guard to the ground and loudly demanded, "Who sent you to kill someone and silence them? Were you from the inner palace?"

The imperial guard stared at Shen Daoyuan, curled his lip, and then bit his tongue without hesitation, committing suicide. Gao Jian, seeing the guard dead and Zhang Liang severely injured, finally felt a sense of relief. He secretly chuckled, thinking that Ning Weizhi could no longer investigate further, and that both the Consort Xian and he had escaped a calamity today.

Ning Weizhi was skilled in medicine and didn't want anyone to know, but today, an important witness was in danger, and he had no choice but to step in to help. So, Ning Weizhi took out silver needles from his pocket and used them to stop Zhang Liang's bleeding. After explaining the situation to Emperor Huizong, he helped Zhang Liang back down.

Seeing this, Emperor Huizong said to Chen Jinhuan with regret, "Goddess, judging from today's situation, someone in the harem has been jealous of you and trying to harm you since the beginning. I will definitely find a way to protect you. You must believe me! In a few days, I will definitely be able to find the Star Chart and have Minister Mo change your fate so that you will be the most favored concubine in the harem."

"Your Majesty, I am unworthy of such praise. Just now I saw a dart deflect the assassin's sword. I wonder who secretly intervened to save Zhang Liang, this important witness. Your Majesty should reward this person handsomely," Chen Jinhuan said sweetly to Emperor Huizong.

At this moment, a man in silver armor emerged from behind a thick nine-dragon pillar at the foot of the palace steps. Chen Jinhuan's eyes flashed with joy upon seeing him. The man approached Emperor Huizong and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, in a moment of panic, I used a dart to deflect an assassin's sword, disturbing Your Majesty's presence. Please forgive my disrespect!"

When Emperor Huizong saw that the visitor was Chen Ge, the commander of the Imperial Guards, he immediately waved his hand and said to him, "Minister Chen, you are indeed worthy of being the commander of the Imperial Guards. You just saved the witness Zhang Liang in time, which is a meritorious act. How could I blame you? Come, greet Consort Luo. She just petitioned for your merit."

Chen Ge hurriedly greeted Chen Jinhuan and thanked Emperor Huizong for the reward of five thousand taels of silver. Gao Can knew that Chen Ge was Ning Zhanyan, so he took the opportunity to ask Emperor Huizong for permission to make Chen Ge exclusively responsible for the safety of Consort Luo, allowing him to openly enter and leave her palace in order to protect her.

Chen Jinhuan and Chen Ge both cast grateful glances at Gao Can. Gao Can had made it possible for them to meet privately, fulfilling his promise to have Ning Zhanyan accompany Chen Jinhuan to the palace. Although Gao Can was furious that Ning Zhanyan had secretly saved Zhang Liang, he dared not expose his identity on the spot. After all, Ning Zhanyan now held the important position of Commander of the Imperial Guards, a crucial role that would be a significant asset to him and his son in the future.

Emperor Huizong originally wanted to dismiss Shen Daoyuan and Master Mingfang so that he could take Chen Jinhuan back to his bedchamber, but the Empress ordered a palace maid to summon him and forbade him from having sex with Chen Jinhuan, saying that her fate was still unclear and she was not suitable to serve the Emperor.

Seeing this, Chai Nianci quickly took the initiative to request Emperor Huizong of Song to send her back to the palace to chat with Chen Jinhuan, saying that she and Chen Jinhuan were like sisters when they were in Zixiang Pavilion. Emperor Huizong saw that Chen Jinhuan was very happy, so he allowed the two of them to meet privately. They chatted as they walked back to Chen Jinhuan's "Qixia Palace".

Back at Qixia Palace, Chai Nianci asked Chen Jinhuan why she had entered the palace. Chen Jinhuan, seeing that Shen Daoyuan had helped her that day, felt that Chai Nianci was a reliable person, and roughly told her about her reasons for entering the palace to seek revenge. Of course, she kept the matter of Ning Zhanyan a complete secret and dared not mention a word about it.

“Jin Huan, do you know that once you enter the palace, it’s like entering a deep sea? I’m afraid that even after you avenge this, you will be imprisoned in the deep palace for the rest of your life,” Chai Nianci said, holding Chen Jin Huan’s hand with a worried expression.

"Thank you for your concern, Sister Chai! I know my own limits. Since I have chosen to enter the palace for revenge, I am not afraid even if the road ahead is fraught with danger. Thank you for helping me in front of the Emperor today, along with your husband Shen Lang!" Chen Jinhuan said to Chai Nianci with gratitude.

“You don’t need to be so polite with me! Aren’t we all members of Lin Chong’s women’s Cuju team? I think that in the future, not only me, but also Du Shiniang, Pan Jinghe and other sisters will definitely help you openly and secretly.” Chai Nianci said sincerely, looking into Chen Jinhuan’s eyes.

A day after Chen Jinhuan and Chai Nianci met, imperial edicts offering a reward of 30,000 taels of gold were posted throughout the streets of the Great Song Dynasty for the search of the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map." The people were abuzz with discussion, and the matter became the hottest topic of conversation.

At this moment, Du Shiniang was sitting in her room in the Zixiang Pavilion, lost in thought. In the past few days, she had begged Zhou Chengquan to take her to see Emperor Huizong of Song, where she truthfully reported the capture of Yelü Wen, claiming he was the mastermind behind the assassination of the Jin envoy. Du Shiniang also pleaded with Emperor Huizong to release Lin Chong, and urged him to immediately lift the arrest warrants for Du Rushuang and Wu Song.

However, Emperor Huizong felt that even if Yelü Wen was arrested, it wouldn't prove Lin Chong's innocence; it would only prove that the Zixiang Pavilion was indeed hiding a Jin spy. Ning Weizhi and Zhou Chengquan pleaded their case to suppress the charge that Du Shiniang had been used by a Jin spy.

Ning Weizhi then said that it had been investigated and it was cleared that Wu Song was originally a bandit from Liangshan Marsh, and definitely not a guest of the Jin Kingdom. Emperor Huizong of Song did not want to anger the people of Liangshan Marsh, so he readily canceled the arrest warrants for Du Rushuang and Wu Song.

After returning to Zixiang Pavilion, Du Shiniang was filled with worry. She couldn't eat or sleep, constantly thinking about how to rescue Lin Chong from the Dali Temple prison. She knew Zhou Chengquan wouldn't help her. She considered asking Gao Can for help, but remembering how Gao Can had tried to force himself on her in the Ministry of Justice prison that day, she was furious and gritted her teeth, deciding not to ask this scoundrel for help.

Just when Du Shiniang was about to despair, fate gave her an opportunity. Chen Jinhuan entered the palace, and Emperor Huizong of Song offered a reward to the entire nation for the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map." Du Shiniang had already taken out the long-lost "Guangling San" zither piece from her treasure chest, and also the Hehuan Powder, which could cure the most potent cold poison in the world. Now, she was about to part with the "Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map," which she had finally obtained, and present it to the current emperor.