Chapter 276 The Cause of Mr. Chu's Death

"What did you say?" Mu Qing almost suspected that he had heard it wrong.

Chu Taibao said solemnly, "I say, let me deliver the memorial on your behalf! That way, even if the Crown Prince tracks you down, you won't be exposed."

Mu Qing was extremely surprised. He had originally thought that since Chu Taibao had been by the prince's side for so long, he would do his best to protect the prince's reputation and interests.

You must know that the Chu family is different from the Lu family. It is a humble family that was supported by Your Majesty. Everyone in the court and the country knows that Chu Taibao is loyal to Your Majesty and is the person appointed by Your Majesty to assist the prince.

The Chu family has a close relationship with the royal family, and the prince can almost be said to have grown up under the care of Chu Taibao.

His brows slowly furrowed, and he asked warily, "Why are you helping me?"

Chu Taibao grabbed his hand and said, "This is not the place to talk. Follow me!"

Considering that Chu Taibao had defended him many times before, Mu Qing did not resist.

Because both of them were once people from the Eastern Palace and had superb martial arts skills, they did not attract much attention when they were running in the palace.

About a quarter of an hour later, Chu Taibao finally stopped.

Mu Qing looked carefully and saw broken doors and old windows in front of him, and a thick layer of leaves piled on the green pond. Where else could it be but Qingliang Garden?

Thinking of the last time he was almost pushed into the pond here, he couldn't help but look wary.

Chu Taibao didn't pay attention to his expression, but seemed to be lost in some memories. After a long time, he exhaled a foul breath: "Lu Yunjue, do you know where this place is?"

Mu Qing's little finger curled slightly.

Where? Isn't this Qingliang Garden?

Why would Chu Taibao ask such a question? Could it be that the real Lu Yunjue had been here before?

When he thought of this possibility, his back was immediately wet with cold sweat.

Partly because he was worried about being exposed in front of Chu Taibao, and partly because he was worried that Chu Taibao was the prince's man, and brought him here just to set up an ambush more conveniently.

Seeing that he remained silent, Chu Taibao continued, "That's right. You were still young at that time and were relatively indifferent to the outside world. You probably don't remember so much."

Mu Qing asked doubtfully, "Chu Taibao, what is your purpose in bringing me here?"

Chu Taibao said directly: "To make you believe me, the two of us are common allies in dealing with the prince."

As expected of a military general, he spoke very frankly, and Mu Qing was almost shocked by his words.

Of course, he couldn't believe Chu Taibao just because of this sentence, so he asked with suspicion: "Oh? How do you want to prove it?"

Chu Taibao's eyes were heavy: "I know your concerns, but after listening to my experience, you will probably believe me."

Mu Qing looked as if he was listening attentively.

Chu Taibao looked at the green, stagnant water in the pond and said quietly, "A few years ago, Qingliang Garden was the Crown Prince's summer residence, home to countless rare flowers and plants. The reason it fell into disrepair was because two young men died here because of the Crown Prince, so the Crown Prince never dared to set foot here again..."

"What?" Mu Qing frowned. "It's said in the capital that the prince is kind and benevolent. No one has ever said that he has killed anyone."

Chu Taibao sneered: "Before my son died, I thought the same as you!"

"Your son?" Mu Qing was stunned. How come he had never heard that Chu Taibao had a son?

Chu Taibao seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled even more sadly: "Ever since that incident, they dare not even mention my son's name. They are even more secretive when mentioning related words. Only in the backyard can we hear a few women's sarcastic remarks occasionally!"

It turned out that Mrs. Chu and the Queen were both pregnant and gave birth to sons.

His Majesty was very pleased and issued a general amnesty. At the same time, rewards flowed into the Chu family like a flood.

His Majesty once said privately after drinking that Prince Chu was a general sent by God to assist the Crown Prince.

Therefore, when Prince Chu was six or seven years old, he was sent to the palace to serve as a companion to the prince.

The two are of similar age, have played together since childhood, and are as close as brothers.

When he was in his teens, someone in the palace began to teach him about human affairs.

There were several young palace maids who grew up with them. Among them was a maid named Caiyue. She was only fourteen or fifteen years old, but she was extremely beautiful and had a voice like an oriole.

At this point, Chu Taibao closed his eyes and said, "Thinking about it now, I shouldn't have let him into the palace."

Mu Qing had some vague guesses about what would happen between the two hot-blooded young men who were just beginning to understand the world and the beautiful and delicate young palace maid.

But he still said in disbelief, "Only fourteen or fifteen? Didn't His Majesty issue a decree that women can only marry after they turn seventeen?"

Chu Taibao sighed, "My son is a simple-minded man. He likes that little palace maid and told me that he wants me to propose marriage. I originally thought that if she is really suitable, I can take her into the palace and raise her until she is seventeen or eighteen years old."

However, not only were their statuses mismatched, but the little palace maid Caiyue was also wholeheartedly in love with the prince.

Master Chu inherited his father's martial arts champion genes and was born strong and masculine, but in the eyes of these little palace maids, he was ultimately no match for the royal family.

Caiyue maneuvers between the two of them and has a very close relationship with them.

If it were just this, it would be fine. Caiyue is at most a little girl who wants to curry favor with a rich and powerful man.

But the bad thing was that one night the prince got drunk and had physical contact with Caiyue.

And it was discovered by the emperor.

Mu Qing's frown deepened: "But doesn't the prince say he doesn't like women?"

If he really had an affair with the little girl, there was no reason not to take her as his concubine.

Chu Taibao cursed in a low voice with deep regret: "I was deceived by this little bastard. Otherwise, I would have taken my foolish son back even if it meant being exiled! After the Emperor found out, the Crown Prince actually..."

The prince was afraid that he would be punished by his father, so he lied and said that it was Master Chu who was with the palace maid.

Out of brotherly loyalty, Master Chu agreed to the deal without hesitation.

The crime of defiling the imperial palace was a serious one. If the crown prince committed a crime, the emperor might turn a blind eye and let it go.

But when Master Chu committed a crime, the emperor severely punished Grand Guardian Chu.

In order to thank Master Chu, the prince let him stay in the palace that night.

But the next day, Caiyue died.

Before her death, she left a suicide note saying that it was Master Chu who forced her to death.

This really angered the emperor. In his rage, the Taibao's son was given 30 beatings with the board and died of his injuries.

Mr. Chu's body was secretly sent to the Chu family that night.

The emperor comforted Chu Taibao in a good way. Chu Taibao was burdened with the grief of losing his son, but he could only force a smile.

He hated it! But he could do nothing about it.