First came the news of Pan Youfang and Wu Dai's death, then the palace gates were opened at night. The Duke of Lu was dizzy at home due to these two pieces of news.
How could Pan Youfang die suddenly? !
"It is said that the deputy leader of the Lotus Sect, Zhang Xin'en, killed him. The Palace Attendant Censor Ding Jinding is also dead." The internal official said tremblingly.
"Why did Zhang Xinen kill him?"
Duke Lu walked around the room barefoot, "How can a dignified official of the imperial court be killed so easily by that traitor? No... The emperor vomited blood in Tai'an Palace, and there has been no news from the palace. In the past, if the palace gate was locked, it must not be opened unless it was urgent. Whoever opened it would die. If the palace gate was opened tonight, I'm afraid it will be bad for the emperor!"
Duke Lu's momentary relaxation was shattered by the sudden news of Pan Youfang's death. He had thought that he could use General Yujie's case to put Jiang Xianming to death, but now Jiang Xianming is still in prison, and Pan Youfang died first.
“…It’s really crazy.”
Duke Lu guessed something in his mind. His hair stood on end. He couldn't believe it. "They are going all out!"
For a person who had been dead for 16 years, and for the 30,000 Jing'an soldiers whose bodies were nowhere to be found, they were so rebellious?!
The Duke of Lu did not dare to think too deeply. The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. "If the emperor is fine, they will surely die if they do this. But if the emperor..."
Then tonight, something must have happened in the palace!
"Hurry! Put on your clothes! I want to enter the palace!" Duke Lu's scalp numbed and he shouted immediately.
The young and beautiful concubine quickly took the robes from the wooden handle and dressed the Duke. When the Duke of Lu saw that the concubine was about to go out to prepare the carriage, he suddenly grabbed her and said, "Erlang is working in the military department in front of the palace. Let him get up quickly. I have something to say to him!"
It was almost Yin time, Liang Shenfu was outside the hall, feeling the cold wind, but he was still sweating profusely, and he had to wipe it with a sweat towel from time to time. Miao Jingzhen was also very distressed, but he still comforted Liang Shenfu, "Liang Nei Shi, don't worry, we are just waiting for the two gentlemen to arrive."
Liang Shenfu just felt bitter in his mouth. Although Miao Jingzhen was the chief of the palace guards, he had to be respectful to him, the chief eunuch. Liang Shenfu even accepted his filial piety. Thinking about it now, he really regretted it. If it weren't for Han Qing, his godson, and Rong Sheng, his useless godson, he wouldn't have to get involved in these things.
But Liang Shenfu changed his mind and thought again, as long as he was with the emperor, this day would come sooner or later.
Even if he didn't want to get involved anymore, no one on either side would let go of him, the person closest to the government. He could only choose one path. If he didn't, he would die.
Liang Shenfu sighed in his heart, and suddenly he heard Miao Jingzhen say "Here they come". He was startled and looked up. Palace lanterns were lit and two old men were supporting each other and were being surrounded by a group of people and walking up the stairs.
"I don't need your help!"
Huang Zongyu's face turned pale and he waved away Meng Yunxian's hand.
"I'm more agile than you, Mr. Huang." Meng Yunxian didn't take his refusal seriously and continued to walk upstairs, supporting Huang Zongyu who was on crutches.
"Mr. Meng, Mr. Huang."
Miao Jingzhen immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"How is the official?"
Huang Zongyu was in a hurry.
"Oh, gentlemen, the emperor is still in a coma. Please follow us in quickly!" Liang Shenfu said hurriedly.
Huang Zongyu and Meng Yunxian immediately entered the Qinghe Hall. Behind a curtain, the imperial concubine was lying in the arms of a palace maid with her eyes closed. The other eunuchs and palace maids were kneeling on the ground. The swords of the guards were right in front of them. They did not dare to look up and could only sob softly.
"What's wrong with the imperial concubine?" Meng Yunxian asked.
"The queen cried for a while and then fainted."
Liang Shenfu had the curtains lifted to welcome the two gentlemen in. A strong smell of medicine hit them in the face. When the chief doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau saw the two gentlemen, they stepped aside.
On the dragon couch, Emperor Zhengyuan closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling slowly, and there seemed to be a dull sound in his chest with each breath. Huang Zongyu saw Liang Shenfu using a handkerchief to wipe the saliva from the corners of Emperor Zhengyuan's lips, he was startled and immediately turned around to look at the doctors of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
"The official has undoubtedly suffered a stroke."
The other doctors didn't even dare to breathe, so the old doctor Qin could only step forward tremblingly and speak.
"This is the bowl of medicine."
Liang Shenfu ordered the young eunuch to present a jade bowl to Meng Yunxian and Huang Zongyu. "The doctors have also checked it. There are indeed some golden elixir particles that were not ground cleanly."
"Has the official drunk it?"
Huang Zongyu's heart was pounding.
Liang Shenfu shook his head, "We found it in time and stopped it."
The emperor had not yet come to his senses, so Huang Zongyu and Meng Yunxian could not stay in the palace any longer. They walked out, feeling the cold wind outside the palace. Huang Zongyu frowned, "The emperor is in this state, I'm afraid..."
Meng Yunxian looked down the long steps and said, "It's the hour of Yin."
It is Yin hour, and all officials are about to enter the palace.
"Why is Ding Jin in Pan Youfang's house?" Huang Zongyu felt his temples swollen and painful from the wind.
"How should I know?"
"Then where did the copy of Ding Jin's crime book in your hand come from?"
"He wrote it himself and someone gave it to me. I don't know who gave it to me. Maybe he gave it to me himself." Meng Yunxian said.
"…Then how do you want me to explain Ding Jin's death to the officials? Rely on Zhang Xinen's words? How about more specific details? Why did Ding Jin threaten Pan Youfang?"
"That depends on you, Mr. Huang. You are the kindest person. As long as the gift is good, you are sometimes willing to help those court officials settle their disputes. Even if Ding Jin has never asked you for help, who knows, he may be a relative of yours who happened to ask you for help but failed."
"……you!"
Huang Zongyu gritted his teeth.
He often walked by the river and his shoes had never been wet before, but now, his whole body was immersed in the mud.
It was still dark in the sky at the time of Yin, and snow was falling. One after another, court officials braved the wind and snow to rush to the Qinghe Hall. Everyone was shocked to learn that Pan Sansi and Censor Ding had been killed overnight.
"Is Zhang Xin'en really so cruel? How could he kill Pan Sansi and Lord Ding?" Hanlin Attendant Scholar Zheng Jian was full of disbelief, "Mr. Huang, is there another hidden story?"
Why did Zhang Xinen from the Lotus Sect kill Pan Sansi?
"You all should know that the Lotus Sect has committed many evil deeds in the south, gathering believers and claiming to seek the protection of gods and Buddhas, but in fact they are plotting rebellion! They have a large number of believers and deep roots. Our court has been besieging and suppressing them several times, but has not been able to eliminate their roots."
Huang Zongyu sighed as he spoke, "Pan Sansi took great pains to lure the vice leader of the Lotus Sect, Zhang Xinen, to Yunjing. We originally wanted to use him to uproot the Lotus Sect, but he was too cunning and saw through our plan in advance. He knew he couldn't escape, so he simply killed Pan Sansi."
"His followers who fled in all directions even killed the imperial concubine's father, Wu Dai, to vent their anger."
“Who can prove it?”
Zheng Jian could not accept Huang Zongyu's words.
Huang Zongyu stared at him and said coldly, "Zhang Xinen is still alive. This is his confession."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple!"
The voice was full of energy, and all the civil and military officials looked down the stairs, only to see Duke Lu holding up his coat and stepping up step by step. "The Imperial Guards and Cavalry Division searched for Zhang Xinen . Why did Lord Ge go there in person?"
"My Lord, it was me who asked Ge Rang to go."
Huang Zongyu said.
"You asked him to go?" Duke Lu came up and dropped his coat. "Everyone knows that right now, Xu Hexue's old case is making a lot of noise. Lord Ge had an argument with someone over Xu Hexue in Tai'an Palace yesterday. At night, he personally led the guards of the Horse Army Division to search for Zhang Xinen. It just so happened that at this time, Pan Sansi, Lord Ding, and the queen's father Wu Dai all died."
"What do you mean, Lord?"
"Everyone knows that in the Imperial Guards Cavalry Division, there are former subordinates of Lord Ge Rang and Lord Ge Dingqian's army!" Duke Lu met Huang Zongyu's gaze, "Mr. Huang, you are innocent, but don't let anyone deceive you."
Huang Zongyu's beard was blown back and forth by the wind. He moved his lips slightly but didn't say anything. Meng Yunxian stepped forward and said, "From what the Duke said, it seems that Ge Rang deliberately led his old subordinates to kill two imperial officials and the queen's father while searching for Zhang Xinen?"
Duke Lu said coldly, "Zhang Xinen is just a traitor, how can he have such ability?"
The howling sound of wind and snow drowned out the voices of many court officials. Zheng Jian and others had different expressions. At this moment, Pei Zhiyuan, the secretary of the Central Secretariat, arrived. His throat was choked by the cold wind and he could not speak. He could only cough while bowing to the Duke of Lu and the two ministers.
"Then I would like to ask the Duke,"
Meng Yunxian took two steps forward and met the gaze of Duke Lu. "If it is true as you guessed, then in your opinion, Ge Rang killed Wu Dai because he believed the words of Jiang Xianming and others and was determined to avenge Xu Hexue. But can you tell me why he killed Pan Sansi?"
Duke Lu's pupils shrank.
"In the indictment of Tan Guangwen submitted by Censor Jiang, Wu Dai was mentioned, but Pan Sansi did not seem to be mentioned. So why did Ge Rang kill Pan Sansi?"
Meng Yunxian's words were light, but he was actually pressing forward, "Or do you know why, Duke?"
"I have no idea!"
Duke Lu was almost driven into a cold sweat by Meng Yunxian's few words, and he instinctively refuted.
"If that's the case, then how can the Duke be so sure that the deaths of Pan Sansi, Lord Ding, and Wu Dai were caused by Ge Rang avenging Xu Hexue?"
Meng Yunxian glanced at the court officials in front of the Qinghe Hall. "What does Lord Ding have to do with Xu Hexue? What does Pan Sansi have to do with Xu Hexue? Why did Ge Rang dare to give up his official uniform and even his life, disregarding the law, to avenge a person who had been dead for sixteen years?"
"I, Meng Yunxian, would like to ask you, who would dare to do this to Xu Hexue?"
Is there?
The court officials looked at each other and whispered to each other.
They all had different expressions. It was a time of panic. Who would dare to respond to Meng Yunxian's words? Who wouldn't be afraid of being thrown into prison and waiting to die like Jiang Xianming and others?
Don’t you want to hold this official position anymore?
Have you lived enough?
Who dares, at this moment, to speak up for the 19-year-old traitorous general who is almost forgotten in the past 16 years?
They dare not.
Because recent events have frightened them out of their wits.
Meng Yunxian laughed and said, "Duke, who do you think dares?"
Duke Lu's scalp tingled. He knew of course the hidden meaning behind Meng Yunxian's words. He and Pan Youfang had personally created the current situation, making it so that even if the court officials had doubts in their hearts, they dared not say a word about Xu Hexue's old case.
But at this moment, the court officials' fear became a favorable evidence for Meng Yunxian to refute him.
Meng Yunxian said slowly, "My Lord, the law is above all else. How can you say that Ge Rang dares to do that?"
Huang Zongyu, who was standing beside him, relaxed his frown a little. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "What a great Meng Zhuo."
"This matter should be decided by the government!"
Zheng Jian suddenly said.
"Yes! When an important official like Pan Sansi suddenly met with misfortune, we, as his colleagues, are all deeply saddened. This matter should be handed over to the emperor for decision!"
"Please make the decision, officials!"
"Please make the decision, officials!"
All the court officials leaned over, bowed and shouted towards the gate of Qinghe Hall.
"The emperor caught a cold in Tai'an Palace and vomited blood. His condition has suddenly become serious," Huang Zongyu said with a worried look on his face. "The imperial concubine took advantage of this to harm the emperor! The emperor is still in a coma!"
"Noble Concubine? How could the Noble Concubine harm the Emperor?!"
These words exploded among the officials like thunder.
The Duke of Lu also opened his eyes wide.
"The medicine that the emperor used before conflicted with the golden elixir. In the past few months, the emperor has not taken the golden elixir again. Today, the imperial concubine broke into the Qinghe Palace and ordered Eunuch Liang and others to retreat behind the curtain. She put the golden elixir powder into the emperor's medicine. This is confirmed by the doctors of the Imperial Medical Bureau and Eunuch Liang."
Huang Zongyu raised his voice, "There is one more thing. I didn't tell you yesterday because I was worried that I couldn't find out clearly. But now, I have found out everything. Two months ago, the Imperial Concubine's palace secretly punished a maid. It was also since then that a doctor named Wang from the Imperial Medical Bureau frequently came in and out of the Imperial Concubine's palace, saying that he was diagnosing the Imperial Concubine's father, Wu Dai. The Imperial Concubine was worried about her father's condition, so she went to ask him questions."
"But just yesterday, the body of the missing maid was found among the flowers in the Imperial Garden. She had a younger sister who worked in the clothing bureau. She personally identified the body of the maid as her sister's. She was so grief-stricken that she took the opportunity to deliver new clothes to the Imperial Concubine to assassinate her. When she failed, she fled while shouting that her sister died because she saw the Imperial Concubine having an affair with Doctor Wang."
Zheng Jian couldn't help but say, "Mr. Huang! How can a person of royal blood, how can he..."
"Mr. Zheng, I know the seriousness of this matter better than you do. If I hadn't found any physical evidence, how could I dare to discuss this with you? The concubine's belongings were all found in the home of the chief physician surnamed Wang."
"Furthermore, if the imperial concubine had no guilt in her heart, why did she mix the golden elixir powder into the medicine when the emperor was ill and unconscious?"
Huang Zongyu put his hands on his crutches. "Fortunately, Eunuch Liang and Lord Miao Jingzhen of the Palace Guard discovered it in time and restrained the imperial concubine. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous!"
The emperor was seriously ill and had been unconscious for two days. It was only at this moment that the court officials finally realized the seriousness of the problem.
"Where is Doctor Wang?"
Zheng Jian asked, "Did Mr. Huang ask him?"
"The person is already dead. Not long ago, he took the imperial concubine's pulse and prescribed a mediocre medicine, so the emperor sentenced him to death," said Huang Zongyu.
The person is already dead, how can we investigate further?
Duke Lu's face was gloomy, "When did the two gentlemen become so united?"
Meng Yunxian asked in return, "Huang □□ and I are following the emperor's orders to promote new policies and work for the emperor. How can we not be united?"
"The emperor is seriously ill, and the imperial concubine is in trouble at this moment. Lord Meng, Lord Huang, do you two really have no selfish motives?" Duke Lu asked loudly.
"We are here to listen to the one-sided statements of the two gentlemen. How can we know whether there are any discrepancies?" Zheng Jian followed closely.
"Could it be that the two gentlemen want to take advantage of this moment to do something?!"
"How dare you slander the two gentlemen?"
"How dare you say such words? You two gentlemen are trusted by the government, how can you have any selfish motives?"
The two sides started arguing again and kept quarreling.
At this moment, a squad came forward to report, "Mr. Meng, Mr. Huang, the commander of the Palace Guard, Lord Wang Gong, has led the imperial guards here, and is now confronting the Imperial Guard Cavalry Division outside the Yongding Gate!"
Wang Gong?
Huang Zongyu's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. He asked in a low voice, "What happened?"
The man was sweating profusely. He answered in front of the two gentlemen, "There is a rumor among the imperial guards that..."
"say what?"
"It is said that His Royal Highness Prince Jia is planning a rebellion!"
Huang Zongyu almost fell, Meng Yunxian immediately supported him. Looking up, he saw the armored imperial guards divided into two groups, marching in unison with weapons towards the Qinghe Hall.
The leaders were none other than the commander-in-chief of the Palace Guard, Wang Gong, as well as the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, Ge Rang, and the commander-in-chief of the Cavalry Division, Yang Rulie, who was beside him.
The two sides came up from the bottom of the long steps, still holding weapons and confronting each other.
Wang Gong bowed and clasped his fists to Meng Yunxian, Huang Zongyu, and Duke of Lu. Before he was promoted to the commander-in-chief of the Palace Guards, he was seriously injured while suppressing rebels in his local post and lost his voice. He could not utter a word. A young guard beside him called out for him: "Mr. Meng, Mr. Huang, and Duke of Lu."
"What is Lord Wang doing?"
Meng Yunxian raised his chin.
"I heard that something strange happened in the palace, so you came to protect me."
The young guard answered on behalf of Wang Gong, and then called out loudly, "Where is Lord Miao Jingzhen, the chief of the Palace Guards?"
Miao Jingzhen immediately stepped forward and bowed to Wang Gong, "Miao Jingzhen, I greet the commander-in-chief."
"Miao Jingzhen, how is the emperor?"
The young class asked directly.
"The official is still in a coma and has not yet woken up."
Miao Jingzhen answered truthfully.
"Sir Wang, the two gentlemen keep saying that the imperial concubine has a private affair with someone and is plotting to murder the emperor, but I think this matter is very strange. If the imperial concubine really did something wrong, can she clear herself of suspicion by harming the emperor now ?"
Duke Lu said, "Sir Wang, you are the commander of the Palace Guards promoted by the emperor himself. You hold the Three Yamen Imperial Guards in your hands. Even though you cannot speak, the emperor still let you sit in this position. You must not let the emperor down for such a great favor!"
Wang Gong couldn't speak, but he had acquired some skills in gestures over the years. When the young man beside him saw him, he asked, "Where is His Royal Highness Prince Jia?"
"Prince Jia was attacked on his way to pick up Miss Wu and was frightened. He went to wash up after returning to the palace and will come to see the emperor soon."
Meng Yunxian said.
Wang Gong frowned, and Ge Rang could no longer hold back and said, "Which lord wants to interrogate me? You can take off my official uniform and throw me into prison while the lord is away!"
Ge Rang said with a sneer, "Anyway, you are determined to charge me with the death penalty for treason!"
"Ge Rang! You know exactly what your intentions are!"
Duke Lu's eyes widened with anger, "The emperor is seriously ill, and you want to do things for Prince Jia?"
"My Lord, please don't speak like that! No one in my Imperial Guards Cavalry Division can bear such a serious crime!" Yang Rulie, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guards Cavalry Division, said in a deep voice.
It was a snowy and cold day as the two imperial guards faced off in front of the Qinghe Palace. The goose-feather-like snowflakes brushed against their cold armor, and the officials surrounded by them couldn't help feeling panic.
"Prince Jia is the adopted son of the emperor. Why should we seek help for him?"
Meng Yunxian pulled his lips, "Besides, the emperor is still here, Duke, then I want to ask, are you doing this to help the imperial concubine?"
"Mr. Meng, be careful with your words!"
Zheng Jian broke out in a cold sweat.
Meng Yunxian said sternly, "If it's not the Imperial Concubine, then who do you want to be for?"
At this moment, one place came to everyone's mind - Yao County.
Just thinking of this, they immediately lowered their heads and dared not say any more on the matter. Yao County... isn't that the lineage of Taizu?
Who dares?
But does anyone dare?
The Duke of Lu's face turned pale and he was speechless for a moment.
Wang Gong did not make any move, and the young guard beside him was also very quiet. However, Meng Yunxian smiled at Wang Gong at this moment, "Master Wang, come here."
Wang Gong raised his eyes and asked silently.
"Mr. Huang has something to tell you."
Meng Yunxian said in a calm voice.
"……?"
Huang Zongyu stared at him.
"Is there anything we can't listen to? Mr. Meng, Mr. Huang, what are you two going to do?" Zheng Jian and others spoke in a pressuring tone.
Wang Gong did not move.
It was not until Prince Jia showed up that the dead silence in front of the palace was broken. Zheng Jian looked at the thinly dressed Prince Jia, carrying a wooden box, and walked up. He immediately said, "The emperor has no order. Prince Jia cannot be allowed to enter the palace at this time!"
"We can't let Prince Jia into the palace!"
The sounds came one after another.
Wang Gong turned around and stood on the steps, watching His Royal Highness Prince Jia coming up with his clothes lifted up. He was barefoot and not wearing shoes or socks.
"As an adopted son, I just want to see my sick father."
Prince Jia loosened his clothes and stood in front of Wang Gong.
"The emperor has not yet woken up. Your Highness Prince Jia, please go back." Wang Gong gestured with his hand, and the young man next to him spoke.
Prince Jia stared at him calmly, "Wang Gong, what right do you have to stop me?"
Wang Gong said nothing and did not make any gestures with his hands.
Prince Jia walked around him and took two steps forward when the sound of swords being unsheathed was heard. He stopped and turned around, only to see that the people from the Palace Front Department and the Guards Cavalry Department were already on the verge of a fight.
Wang Gong raised his hand, and the young class looked at him, and said loudly, "Miao Jingzhen, the commander-in-chief orders you not to let anyone into the palace!"
In front of the palace gate, Miao Jingzhen gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, pursed his lips, and leaned forward.
Huang Zongyu couldn't help feeling anxious when he saw this situation, but seeing Meng Yunxian standing beside him and not saying anything, he didn't say anything either.
Prince Jia shifted his gaze towards the official on the terrace. Finally, his eyes fell on the face of Duke Lu. His pale lips suddenly twitched.
Duke Lu knew how cowardly and docile His Royal Highness Prince Jia was, but when he saw him suddenly smile, Duke Lu felt a little frightened for some reason.
Prince Jia did not say a word to him, as if he did not take Wang Gong's words to heart. He walked forward, and all the officials had to make way for him.
They looked at His Royal Highness Prince Jia, watching him walk step by step to the palace gate.
Miao Jingzhen and the imperial guards both bent down, not daring to draw their swords, but also not daring to give way. They were all from the Palace Front Department, and under the watchful eyes of the public, with the order of Wang Gong, the commander of the Palace Front Department, in front, even Miao Jingzhen could not give way.
"Wang Gong, if I go forward, will you kill me?"
Prince Jia did not look back, but just stared at the vermilion palace door.
"Your Highness, please don't embarrass us at this time." The young squad leader spoke on behalf of Wang Gong.
"Whether you are in trouble or not, what does it have to do with me?"
Prince Jia's voice was wrapped in cold wind and fell into everyone's ears, "Whoever wants to kill me, just come. Anyway, no matter what I do today, I will definitely be criticized."
"For Daddy's sake, I'll accept it all."
He moved forward and Miao Jingzhen could only retreat.
Retreat again and again.
"Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief..." Miao Jingzhen raised his head and looked at Wang Gong, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.
Do they really dare to attack Prince Jia? No, Wang Gong didn't dare. He had no choice but to order Miao Jingzhen not to retreat, and asked the young class around him to go to Prince Jia to persuade him: "Your Highness, please go back."
"If the official wants to see you, he will."
Upon seeing this, Miao Jingzhen strode up to Wang Gong and said in a low voice, "Sir, the emperor has suffered a stroke, and the imperial concubine almost poisoned the emperor. You..."
Wang Gong suddenly drew out a knife and put it against Miao Jingzhen's neck.
Miao Jingzhen's words stopped abruptly. He raised his head and met Wang Gong's scrutinizing gaze.
Duke Lu and others couldn't help showing some satisfaction when they saw this, but unexpectedly Meng Yunxian stepped forward at this moment, grabbed Wang Gong's knife with his bare hands, and the sharp blade cut his palm, and bright red blood flowed down.
Wang Gong looked shocked and did not dare to move the knife in his hand. He raised his head and met Meng Yunxian's cold gaze.
"Sir Wang, His Royal Highness Prince Jia is the emperor's adopted son, and was granted the title of prince when he was young. Now, he just wants to go to his father's bedside to take care of him. How dare you speculate on his filial piety?"
This statement is meant to praise Prince Jia's filial piety, but it is not.
Wang Gong looked at the blood on the blade and listened to Meng Yunxian's words. He understood everything.
Huang Zongyu came over on his crutches and said, "Sir Wang, didn't the Duke say that even though you had aphasia before you took office, the emperor still let you take this position? Even for the emperor, you must not insult His Royal Highness Prince Jia today."
These words frightened Wang Gong even more, and his eyelids almost trembled.
He was sure that
Huang Zongyu knew the reason for his aphasia.
Just as Wang Gong was stunned by this, he heard a cry of surprise from the palace gate: "Your Highness!"
Wang Gong looked up and saw that Prince Jia was holding the hand of a guard in front of the emperor, and the knife in the guard's hand had already pressed against Prince Jia's shoulder.
Wang Gong was terrified. He moved his lips slightly and grabbed Ban Zhi who was beside him. Ban Zhi immediately shouted, "Stop! Stop now!"
The bright red blood stained Prince Jia's robe. He was in so much pain that his back was covered in cold sweat, but he only half-opened his eyes, staring at the terrified Ban Zhi in front of him. As soon as he let go, Ban Zhi immediately lost his strength and fell to the ground.
"Lord Wang!"
When the Duke of Lu saw the vermilion palace door wide open, he hurriedly called for Wang Gong.
Everyone was looking at Wang Gong.
Wang Gong stood where he was, watching Prince Jia walk into the Qinghe Hall. He closed his eyes and removed the knife from Miao Jingzhen's neck.
The cold wind was howling, and Duke Lu and others could only watch the palace door close.
"What did your highness mention?"
Liang Shenfu bent over and asked in the narrow corridor inside the temple gate.
"For the concubine."
Prince Jia said softly.
The partition was pushed open from the inside, and several imperial guards were standing in front of the imperial concubine with swords in hand. She woke up slowly, and the first thing she saw was the cold light of the sword reflected in the light.
She was startled and raised her head, just in time to see Prince Jia walking in.
The imperial concubine immediately shouted, "Your Highness, Your Highness, where is Ru'er? Hurry up and ask her to come, hurry up..."
"She's gone."
"Gone?"
The concubine's voice became a little sharp, "Where did she go?!"
At this moment, she seemed to come back to her senses, "Zhao Yi! Is it you? Is this what you did?"
Prince Jia walked up to her and put the wooden box in his hand on the ground. He looked at her crazy appearance, and after a while, he raised his leg and kicked the wooden box down.
The lid was opened, and a bloody head rolled to the hem of the imperial concubine's skirt. The cold blood soaked her clothes. The palace maids screamed and the eunuchs trembled.
The imperial concubine looked carefully and saw that the head under the gray and messy hair was the face of her father, Wu Dai.
"ah!"
She screamed loudly.
"Speak softly, your majesty. Don't disturb my father." Prince Jia laughed.
"Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi!"
The imperial concubine screamed at the top of her lungs and tried to pounce on him like a madman.
The imperial guards quickly held her down and stuffed her mouth with her shawl.
The curtain was lifted by the hunched eunuchs, and Prince Jia turned and walked into the inner hall. Perhaps it was the concubine's sharp cry just now that startled Emperor Zhengyuan on the couch.
He opened his eyes and suddenly saw Prince Jia approaching him with blood all over his body. The noise in his chest became heavier and he moved his lips with difficulty, "Liang Shenfu..."
Liang Shenfu was startled when he heard the hoarse voice. He hurried to the bedside, his eyelids soaked with tears, and knelt down, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am here..."
When Emperor Zhengyuan saw him kneeling down, his eyes immediately became even more bloodshot, "Even you, even you..."
Liang Shenfu fell to the ground, sobbing.
"Daddy, take the medicine."
Prince Jia looked around and brought over the bowl of medicine that had been placed on the table and had already gone cold, which had been looked at again and again by the doctors of the Imperial Medical Bureau. He sat down on the edge of the bed, completely ignoring the fact that his wounds were still bleeding.
"Your Highness, that medicine is not acceptable!"
Liang Shenfu was trembling all over.
Prince Jia turned a deaf ear to him. He scooped up a spoonful of medicine and said, "Father, even if you are the emperor, how can you not take medicine when you are sick? Your son Yonggeng is here to serve you."
He raised his eyes and saw Emperor Zhengyuan glaring at him, as if he thought he was a complete stranger. He put the spoon to Emperor Zhengyuan's lips and asked, "Daddy, why do you look at me like this? Do you think I'm not the adopted son you remember who didn't even dare to speak in front of you?"
Prince Jia pulled his lips together, "Yong Geng is where he is today, all thanks to Daddy."
"Do you know how scared I am every time you look at me? I'm afraid that if you're unhappy, I'll lose my life. I'm afraid that you'll look at this scar on my forehead and remember that I've disobeyed you twice."
"The more I fear you, the more you push me."
Prince Jia laughed bitterly, "I have been forced to such an extent that I don't even know myself now."
"I should have killed you earlier."
Emperor Zhengyuan spoke with difficulty.
Prince Jia took this opportunity to pour the medicine into his mouth, with the spoon against Emperor Zhengyuan's lips and teeth. His face was full of tears, but he coldly stared at the emperor who had given him half his life of fear. "Dad, you really make those people in the court fight for you. If they do the right thing, it's because you are wise, and if they do the wrong thing, it's because they are stupid. But you don't seem to realize that you will grow old too."
These words were like a needle piercing the heart of an emperor. Emperor Zhengyuan's lips trembled, and he was shocked and angry.
"When you are healthy, no one dares to disobey the emperor's orders. But when you are lying on this bed and can't even speak clearly, they will wonder, if you are not here, where will their retreat be?"
Prince Jia said mockingly, "Once they start thinking about their way out, you will no longer be important."
The self-esteem of an emperor was shattered by him at this moment.
The veins on Emperor Zhengyuan's neck bulged and his breathing became rapid.
Prince Jia put another spoonful of medicine into his mouth. The bitter taste of the medicine filled the air. His knuckles turned white as he held the spoon. "I heard that this golden elixir won't kill you instantly, but it will only make your illness worse."
He raised his hand and the medicine bowl fell to the ground with a bang.
Liang Shenfu fell to the ground, his body shaking constantly, but he didn't dare to look up.
Prince Jia leaned forward, his blood dripping onto the quilt, his eyes reddened with tears, he leaned close to Emperor Zhengyuan's ear and whispered, "This is fine, Daddy."
"I want you to see with your own eyes how I tear off your face, and how I tell the world that you are wrong. It is wrong for you to build a temple. It is wrong for you to be a king and father and not to put your people in your heart. It is even more wrong to execute my teacher. You have been in power for more than 20 years, and everything you do is wrong."
"The most important thing,"
The tears in Prince Jia's eyes fell, "I want to tell the world that General Xu Hexue, who died sixteen years ago, was wrongly accused."
"He didn't commit treason. He didn't let anyone down in Da Qi. It's you who let him down. It's Da Qi that let him down..."
"I, Zhao Yi, will never insult him again."
"I want to vindicate him. If you are unwilling to give him justice, I must give it to him."
"I want you to see me give him justice."