Chapter 177 Chapter 177 is the only genuine version...

ah?

Xie Jing was stunned.

His eyes were a little dazed. The alcohol in his head made his brain slow down significantly, and he didn't react for a while.

The surroundings were quiet, and countless eyes moved back and forth between Xie Yingchen and Xie Jing.

Despite Liang's defeat three years ago, the Liang Kingdom still possessed a formidable military force. The Emperor feared Liang more than the Northern Di and the Minzhou pirates. If the Third Prince married a Liang princess, perhaps Liang would support Xie Jing's bid for the throne, aligning their bloodlines and forging an everlasting bond.

After all, Xie Jing is the emperor's biological son.

The emperor was now forced to enthrone Xie Yingchen, but he was still addressed as the rather awkward "Crown Prince".

Sun is the grandson of the late emperor, what does he have to do with the emperor?

Marquis Jingyang's eyes flickered, and he said cheerfully, "Duke, you're wrong. Even if the Crown Prince marries a Crown Princess, he still has Consort Liang and Consort Liang..."

Xie Yingchen smiled and said, "This suggestion from Lord Cheng'en is excellent."

Everyone could hear that Marquis Jingyang wanted to persuade Xie Yingchen to leave a concubine for the Princess of Liang.

But everyone could see that Xie Yingchen deliberately interrupted him and didn't let him finish his words, leaving him some room for dignity.

Xie Yingchen said slowly, "Lord Cheng'en is Cousin Jing's uncle, so he's naturally thinking about Cousin Jing. Cousins ​​Zhuo and Lang have both been married and have wives, but Cousin Jing remains unengaged. The Emperor is gravely ill and can't take care of him. As his cousin, I naturally have to take care of him."

He looked at Xie Jing, his eyes smiling, his emotions unrecognizable: "Cousin Jing, what do you think?"

The Crown Prince meant that he really intended to let the Third Prince marry the Princess of Liang?!

Some people gasped, while others wondered what Xie Yingchen's real intention was.

Ji Nanke stood there, feeling extremely embarrassed.

Everyone clearly saw her there, but everyone pretended she didn't exist and talked about Xie Jing's marriage in front of her.

Ji Nanke trembled her fingers and quietly pulled Xie Jing's sleeve, trying to wait for him to say "Don't worry, my wife will only be you", but Xie Jing never said it.

He remained silent.

He seemed to be weighing things, or pondering.

Ji Nan Ke felt as if a basin of ice water was poured over her head. Her chest felt stuffy and achy.

Duke Cheng'en glared at Ji Nanke with disdain and urged, "Jing'er, what are you standing there for? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is asking you a question."

After that, he added with a flattering smile: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is deeply in love with Miss Gu, so he naturally looks down on the Princess of Liang."

Xie Yingchen made no effort to conceal his excitement: "Of course."

Xie Jing didn't want to agree at first, but when he met Xie Yingchen's determined gaze, the alcohol got to his head and a feeling of rebellion surged in his heart.

Thank you Yingchen!

Thank you Yingchen!

In front of Xie Yingchen, he always felt inferior.

In the past, when the late emperor was alive, it was.

Now that the late emperor is gone, it still is.

What did Xie Yingchen mean by this? Did he no longer want the Princess of Liang because he had Gu Zhizhuo? Was he doing this on purpose to show Gu Zhizhuo his deep affection?

Let Gu Zhizhuo be completely devoted to him!

Gu Zhizhuo was obviously supposed to be his fiancée. Xie Yingchen snatched his engagement away. How was that any different from my father forcibly seizing my wife?

Xie Jing shook off Ji Nanke's hand and walked towards Xie Yingchen.

Take one step, then another.

The strong liquor rushed straight to his head, sweeping away all his rationality.

"good."

Xie Jing agreed.

"I am willing to marry the princess of Liang as my consort for the sake of the Daqi peace alliance."

He wanted to make him regret it.

I regret pushing Liang Kingdom behind me!

Xie Yingchen looked at him and smiled slightly.

He brushed his sleeves and said, "In that case, I understand."

This was the first time he used his own name today.

This one word made the distance between them seem like heaven and earth.

Xie Yingchen: "Mr. Cheng'en."

Duke Cheng'en replied happily, "Yes."

"I'll leave this task to you," Xie Yingchen said with a smile, "I'm sure you can handle it."

Duke Cheng'en readily agreed: "Leave it to me."

Ji Nanke: “…”

She couldn't control the shame and uneasiness in her heart, and finally couldn't help but say: "Xie Jing, what did you promise me?"

Her voice was slightly sharp and contained a questioning tone.

He had promised her that making her a concubine was only a temporary solution, and that he would make her his legal wife in the future, and that he would not marry another wife. Xie Jing suddenly realized what was happening, and secretly felt a little regretful.

"Ke'er..."

Ji Nanke smiled self-deprecatingly and ran out without looking back.

Xie Jing took a step forward to chase after him, but then stopped abruptly.

If I chase her out now, people will just talk about how ignorant Ke'er is. Well, I'll talk to her later.

Ji Nanke ran out of the flower hall, the cool breeze blowing on her face, and she finally calmed down. Perhaps because she ran too fast, she felt a dull pain in her chest. She walked forward slowly, wanting to wait for Xie Jing to catch up.

However, she was almost at the ceremonial gate, but Xie Jing still didn't show up.

Ji Nanke stopped and looked back, a hint of sadness in her eyes. But then, the sadness turned into anger and hatred, mixed with a strong sense of unease.

She seemed to have lost something.

Everything was out of her control.

Cough cough.

The pain in Ji Nanke's chest became more and more severe, and she couldn't stop coughing. She covered her throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Bright red blood splattered onto the lilac embroidery on the sleeve, making it blindingly red.

Ji Nanke's pupils suddenly shrank, and fear swept over her like a tide.

This is the second time.

She was so scared.

Ji Nan Ke hugged herself with both hands and slowly squatted down, with her back leaning against the railing of the water corridor.

Why was Gu Zhizhuo unwilling to let her go, and pushed her step by step to the point where she was in a dilemma and abandoned by everyone?

She gritted her teeth, feeling indignant, and poured all her fear and hatred into the name.

"Why are you trying to hurt me?"

It shouldn't be like this.

There was a voice in her heart telling her that if she continued, she would have nothing.

Everything she had gained due to good fortune would leave her.

Just like Xie Jing's feelings for her.

Seven or eight footsteps came from far away. Ji Nanke, who was squatting on the ground, slowly turned her head and saw a pair of black leather boots. She raised her eyes slightly and saw the corner of a bright red robe.

The corner of the robe flashed past her, and she saw the figure in the red Qilin robe, surrounded by a group of people, gradually walking away. The gold embroidery on the robe was dazzling in the sunlight.

Don't accept your fate!

"Master, please stay."

Ji Nanke shouted loudly, she climbed up, holding the railing behind her tightly with both hands.

"There's one thing I..."

As soon as she finished speaking, a sword was pressed against her neck.

The accompanying Jinyiwei had murderous intent in their fierce eyes.

Not everyone is worthy of speaking before the Governor. Anyone who speaks or acts rashly will be treated as an assassin.

Ji Nanke's neck subconsciously tilted back, and the sharp embroidered spring knife left a thin line of blood on her snow-white neck.

Shen Xu didn't even turn his head.

His arrival surprised everyone in the hall. The East Factory Supervisor was not a friendly person and was not polite to anyone. No one expected him to come in person to congratulate them.

Even if Shen Xu just drank a glass of wine and left.

Soon, to the surprise of all the civil and military officials, Xie Yingchen issued his first decree after taking the throne as the crown prince, ordering Shen Xu to go to Qingzhou and be in charge of all matters in Qingzhou, with the power to dismiss, appoint, and execute people immediately.

This decree caused an uproar in the court.

Some people secretly wondered if Xie Yingchen wanted to get rid of Shen Xu and take control of the Jinyiwei and Dongchang?

Absolutely!

If the Crown Prince was really as kind and harmless as he appeared to be, he would have died in Liang State long ago. Even if he had managed to come back alive, there was no way he could have surpassed the Emperor's biological son and obtained the throne.

He is definitely a cruel and ruthless person!

Using Qingzhou as bait to divert Shen Xu, the most difficult person to control, away, he could take advantage of the opportunity to support his own people in the Imperial Household Department. The deposed crown prince had been the crown prince for so many years, and he must have loyal confidants among the eunuchs.

If he could take down the East Factory and control the inner court, Xie Yingchen could either force the emperor to abdicate and ascend the throne, or he could just serve as the crown prince and wait for the emperor's death.

"Jing'er, just wait and see." Lord Cheng'en confidently pointed out the situation, "Once Chen Xu leaves, Xie Yingchen will definitely move against the East Factory."

"Chen Xu is also a ruthless person. He will never let anyone push him around. Once they turn against us, we will have a chance."

Duke Cheng'en is different from other court officials.

He is a relative by marriage and the third prince's biological uncle. With this relationship, if it is not Xie Jing who ascends the throne, his status will plummet.

The title of Duke Cheng'en is not hereditary. Once he dies, his sons and grandsons will have nothing.

"If you marry the princess of Liang, Liang will definitely be happy for you to succeed the throne. Besides, there is the emperor! How could the emperor be willing to give up the throne to Xie Yingchen for nothing? Alas, he was forced into a corner."

"You ruined the Gu family's great marriage by yourself. Jing'er, this time, don't do anything stupid for the sake of beauty."

Xie Jing's heart was heavy as he thought about Gu Zhizhuo. After a while, he replied, "Yes."

He had made a mistake once and he wouldn't make it again.

Naturally, all the private discussions in the court could not be hidden from Chen Xu's ears.

He left Sheng Jiang, Wu Shang and a cat with him. On the day he left Beijing, Xie Yingchen personally sent him to Sanliting and even took his carriage.

Along the way, Xie Yingchen reminded everyone of everything that needed to be said.

"The affairs of Qingzhou will be handed over to the Governor."

"Clean up what needs to be cleaned up, kill what needs to be killed, and show no mercy."

"I'll take care of impeachment and everything."

Chen Xu leaned back on the pillow and sneered, "Do you even need to tell me that? I thought the Crown Prince didn't like to kill people and wanted to win people over with virtue."

Xie Yingchen smiled faintly and said, "In troubled times, we must use harsh punishments. Killing one person to save a hundred, or killing a hundred to save a city, I still understand which is more important."

After the earthquake, Xie Yingchen had dismissed many local officials in Qingzhou and dispatched the imperial guards to prevent banditry. However, the emperor was far away and by the time all the chaos came to his attention, they had already happened. No matter how quickly he dealt with it afterwards, it was not as good as preventing it beforehand.

This requires someone who is decisive and ruthless, and who can go to Qingzhou in person to take charge of the situation.

Chen Xu was playing with a white jade cup, listening intermittently.

"And the epidemic."

Xie Yingchen reminded him again: "You must be more careful."

Chen Xu raised his eyelids: "The sixth time."

From the moment he ran to his house early in the morning and insisted on seeing him off, until now, he has been talking about the epidemic over and over again.

Shen Xu was annoyed to death by what he heard.

Shen Xu was not a patient person. He put the teacup aside, put his hands on the small table, stared into his eyes and asked, "Don't be long-winded, just say it."

Xie Yingchen hadn't intended to hide it from him. He already knew the whole story anyway: "...this epidemic is related to Yaoyao's life and death."

Chen Xu touched the small jade token on his wrist and said only one word: "Okay."

"There's one more thing." Xie Yingchen stroked his sleeves as he prepared to dismount from the carriage, looking back. "The Yin family has been rehabilitated, but their misfortune was the fault of the imperial court. For over a decade, the Yin family has been accused of being bandits, and their entire family has been wiped out. I believe the imperial court should compensate them, and the Yin family's daughter should be granted the title of county lord."

After Xie Yingchen finished speaking, he looked at him and said, "Master, what do you think?"

Shen Xu's long eyelashes trembled, and his peach blossom eyes first contained a bit of sharpness, but soon they became like ripples, and all the hostility disappeared.

Xie Yingchen specifically mentioned this after explaining the Qingzhou matter. He wasn't trying to use it as a condition to get him to be devoted, nor was he trying to bribe him. He told himself it was just to avoid having other plans for his sister's placement.

This person...

It is indeed completely different from the emperor.

He said awkwardly, "It's up to you."

Xie Yingchen smiled slightly and got off the carriage.

After watching Chen Xu's carriage go away, Xie Yingchen did not return to Beijing, but took Chongjiu and Xiangyang and went directly to Taiqing Temple.

Even after the sunset glow faded, the Taiqing Temple was still very popular. When Xie Yingchen arrived, pilgrims came and went in an endless stream, and the incense smoke in front of the Sanqing Hall lingered for a long time.

Xie Yingchen turned to the back mountain as if he was familiar with the route. Along the way, the pilgrims excitedly discussed the strange glow of the sunset, as if each of them had seen it with their own eyes.

Hearing them say "The sunset glow casts a fairy's dress on Miss Gu's body, which is incredibly beautiful", Xie Yingchen curled up the corners of his lips slightly and became more and more impatient.

He pushed open the door of the small courtyard. Gu Zhizhuo, who was sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun, turned around when he heard the voice.

Seeing that it was Xie Yingchen, she happily shouted, "Sir!"

She was obviously in better spirits, her beautiful eyes sparkled, her cheeks had a bit more color, and her sickly look was gone.

Xie Yingchen finally let go of his worries and walked towards her quickly. He half-knelt on the ground and held Gu Zhizhuo, who was sitting on the recliner, tightly in his arms, feeling her familiar breath and fragrance.

"very nice."

Gu Zhizhuo leaned against him and said yes.

Her hands were warm, and her body was warm too, not as cold as it had been a few days ago, which had frightened him.

Except for the day of the engagement, he had to stay outside the capital. Xie Yingchen would come to Taiqing Temple every day, and he was terrified to see her growing weaker and more decrepit day by day.

It was as if what he had experienced six years ago would happen again, as if as soon as he opened his eyes, he would be left with nothing again.

Xie Yingchen rested his head on her neck and held her tightly with his arms, not daring to let go.

"Sir, I'm fine. Really."

Gu Zhizhuo pulled his hand to touch his cheek.

After being in the sun for a long time, her skin felt a little hot.

"Look, is it healed?"

Gu Zhizhuo's smiling face was so beautiful that it was beyond words.

Xie Yingchen used his fingertips to push her loose hair behind her ears: "I don't believe it."

"What!"

"You are good at coaxing me." He said, smiling at Wuweizi, "Master, don't you agree?"

Wuweizi was grinding cinnabar by himself. Upon hearing this, he said seriously, "Chen'er is right."

"Master, you are partial to him."

Wuweizi glared at her: "Who told you to be disobedient? If you don't obey, Master won't be partial to you."

Speaking of this, Gu Zhizhuo felt a little guilty and his eyes were wandering.

Xie Yingchen finally let her go, stood up, saluted Wuweizi, and asked, "Is Yaoyao okay?"

Yesterday in the capital, he only received news from the Zhenbei Palace, which told him some of the events, but he did not hear what Wuweizi said in person, so he still felt a little uneasy.

Just as Wuweizi was about to speak, a little Taoist boy came to the door.

"Master, the Prince of Jin is here. Please arrange a marriage for the Crown Prince. He is coming this way."

Marriage compatibility?

Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyebrows and asked, "Who got married?"

"Cheng'en Duke's Mansion.

"Sun Nian?"

The two families fought so fiercely that day that Gu Zhizhuo thought the marriage would not go through.

She sneered, "My uncle, Lord Cheng'en, has really made a lot of sacrifices."

"Master, the King of Jin has brought the Crown Prince with him. The abbot said that the King of Jin wants to coax you into appearing so that you can rescue the Crown Prince. You'd better stay away for now."