Chapter 351 Whose Hypocrisy

The prince frowned slightly, his eyes stayed on Lu Jiangnian for a short while, then quickly moved to the emperor.

His slender fingers gently stroked the jade pendant on his waist, and his expression of wanting to say something but stopping himself was just right.

Lu Jiangnian understood and looked up at the emperor.

At this moment, Lu Jiangnian suddenly discovered that the emperor's white hair on his temples was particularly conspicuous, and his once sharp eyes now looked a little tired.

"You should leave first."

The emperor waved his hand, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty.

"I will take my leave."

Lu Jiangnian bowed and slowly walked out of the hall.

His black boots made a dull sound as they stepped on the shiny gold bricks.

The palace door slowly closed behind him, isolating the father and son of the royal family inside.

After passing through numerous palace gates, Lu Jiangnian finally walked out of the palace walls.

He stopped and looked back. The palace was majestic and solemn in the morning mist, and the beasts on the eaves cast long shadows in the morning sun.

This palace city that he had been familiar with since childhood now seemed so strange and cold.

In his memory, the late queen always had a gentle smile on her face and would tie his loosened belt with her own hands in the imperial garden.

Although the emperor at that time was majestic, he would still test the homework of his children in between reviewing memorials.

There used to be laughter and joy within the palace walls, instead of the current situation where there is so much calculation.

Lu Jiangnian withdrew his gaze, turned and walked towards the palace.

The leaves of the sycamore trees on the roadside rustled, as if telling the passing times.

He understood that when power became the only belief, even the closest father and son would drift apart.

The king on the dragon throne is getting older, but his suspicion is growing; the crown prince in the East Palace is getting more mature, but his forbearance is becoming deeper.

All this was within their expectations.

Lu Jiangnian knew exactly why the prince came to the palace today.

But when he thought of the father and son in the hall, he still felt a little melancholy.

After all, those days of chatting around the fire and appreciating paintings together will never come back.

At the end of the palace road, Xuanying had already prepared his horse and was waiting.

Lu Jiangnian took one last look at the palace wall, jumped on his horse, and galloped away.

-

The prince lowered his head slightly, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant on his waist, and his voice was low and clear: "Yesterday evening, I was on my way back to the palace from the Ministry of Rites. When I reached Zhuque Street, a man suddenly rushed out of the crowd and stopped my carriage."

The palace was filled with the scent of sandalwood and the emperor was leaning on the dragon throne with a calm expression.

But when the prince slowly uttered the name, the emperor's originally relaxed fingers suddenly tightened, and the celadon teacup made a slight "click" sound on the table.

"That man claimed to be... Tang Bo, the imperial physician who served my mother back then."

"impossible!"

The emperor slammed his palm on the table, causing the teacup to fall over, and the amber tea soup left a dark mark on the bright yellow brocade.

Veins popped out on his forehead, and a cold light flashed in his eyes: "Tang Bo was killed many years ago!"

The prince bowed quickly and said, "This subject's first reaction was the same."

"But if you look closely, that person does look 70% similar to Tang Bo, but he looks much older."

He raised his eyes, with just the right amount of confusion in his eyes, "Father, please understand. Imperial Doctor Tang often examined my son's pulse. I remember his appearance very clearly."

There was silence in the hall for a moment, only the chirping of birds could be heard outside the window.

The emperor slowly sat back on the throne, tapping his knuckles on the armrests: "Go on."

"That man not only revealed many secrets of the palace," the prince's voice gradually became lower, "he even knew about the trivial things like when I was six years old, I broke my mother's favorite glass cup because of playing around, and was punished to copy the "Book of Filial Piety" fifty times."

The emperor's brows furrowed more and more.

He suddenly sneered: "If it was really Tang Bo, since he had a lucky escape, why did he fall into the trap?"

The prince looked solemn: "This is exactly what I can't understand. That person claimed..."

He paused, as if considering his words, and said, "I claim that there was another hidden reason behind my mother's death."

"presumptuous!"

The emperor stood up suddenly, and with the sleeves of his dragon robe fluttering, he turned over the memorial on the table.

His chest heaved violently, and his eyes were filled with anger and suspicion.

It is an established fact that Tang Bo killed the late queen. Now this dead man suddenly shows up and speaks wildly, which is a blatant provocation to the imperial power.

The prince immediately knelt down and said, "I dare not speak nonsense, but report the truth. The man is now secretly detained in another courtyard by me, waiting for the emperor's decision."

The emperor stared at the prince, as if trying to see through his thoughts.

After a long while, he slowly exhaled: "What do you think? You should have not forgotten how much effort your father put into your mother's affairs."

"Do you think I will allow the person who murdered your mother to go unpunished?"

The prince said: "I dare not. I have never doubted my father's intentions towards my mother."

"Tang Bo said yesterday that this matter was related to Concubine Liang's mother, and I think it is nonsense."

"Over the years, Concubine Liang has been very attentive to me, your son. Who doesn't know that?"

"However, this matter is of great importance. After much thought, I still feel that this matter should be reported to the Emperor."

"I have no other intentions, please calm down, father."

Princess Liang?

The angry emperor will calm down.

Princess Liang, Murong Xiao.

Is Concubine Liang really unaware of what Murong Xiao has done?

If Concubine Liang was also an insider, then was there really another hidden story behind the Queen's death?

"What evidence does Tang Bo have to identify Concubine Liang?"

The prince shook his head and said, "After hearing this, I feel that this is extremely treasonous. I have had Tang Bo's mouth blocked and locked up."

"If Father feels that this man cannot be kept, I will execute him quietly when I return."

The emperor looked at the prince who was unaware of anything, and for some reason, his guard against the prince relaxed a little.

If what Tang Bo said was true, then wouldn't the prince have been treating a thief as his mother all these years?

How will the prince bear it when the truth is revealed?

The prince has always been filial, and Concubine Liang is so vicious to fool him like this!

"Okay, bring the person in quietly and hand him over to me. I will decide whether it is true or not."

Of course the prince agreed immediately, but when he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back to look at the emperor, as if he wanted to get a guarantee: "What Tang Bo said must not be true, right, father?"

The emperor's heart softened, "Well, he may not even be Tang Bo."

"Don't think too much. No matter what the result is, I will not hide it from you."

If it is true, then Concubine Liang, this woman, is so scheming!

He could never tolerate that everyone was being manipulated in the palm of his hand.

However, he was the one who personally decided the case back then. If he overturned the verdict, wouldn’t he be ridiculed by the world for being incompetent and being fooled?

In any case, he was relieved that the prince was able to see the big picture and not be blinded by hatred.

"Prince, I haven't had breakfast yet. Let's eat together later, father and son."

The prince was surprised, but immediately responded, "Okay."

He smiled particularly brightly, but his heart was already as calm as still water.

It has been many years since he had breakfast with his father, which is really strange. He is no longer the young man who was eager to be close to his father.

"Go back and have a good sleep after dinner. Father will feel sorry for you."

The prince nodded obediently, looking touched: "Father."

The emperor was extremely satisfied.