Chapter 54

"How could they possibly wrongly accuse you? You've ruined a palace banquet like this. Yesterday, in front of so many people, I saved your face, but you're so unscrupulous! As soon as I left, you're acting recklessly again!"

When Yi Luoyao saw Yi Xuanxin getting angry, he immediately knelt on the ground.

"Father! You can't just listen to their one-sided story! I heard it from others, not intentionally spreading rumors. Besides, I was only worried about the royal family's reputation, so I took people to the side hall to investigate. Who knew it was all a misunderstanding? I have no ill intentions! I hope Father will understand!"

"Did you hear it from someone?" Gong Yuchen asked sternly.

"Your Majesty, you are at least a prince. At the very least, you might even be the crown prince in the future. Don't you even have the ability to distinguish right from wrong?"

Gong Yuchen's intention was to secretly point out that Yi Luoyao did not have the ability to become the crown prince.

"Gong Yuchen, if something like this happens, I don't believe you won't investigate!"

"I will go, but not in a grand manner like the virtuous king." Gong Yuchen said matter-of-factly.

"It's hard not to doubt your motives with what you do!"

Yi Luoyao was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but he had the upper hand in his hand, so it was not the time to turn against him.

"You can handle such a small matter like this. It really disappoints me." Yi Xuanxin looked at his useless son with disappointment.

"Father, what you are saying is your fault. I was inconsiderate."

Humph, don't think he doesn't know. Even if they come to complain today, the most they can charge him with is not knowing right from wrong. That palace maid is dead, so no matter what they say now, there will be no evidence to prove it.

"Gong Yuchen, tell me, who did the virtuous king hear this from? If there really is such a person, bring him here for questioning."

"Your Majesty, that was a palace maid who was sweeping the floor. She has committed suicide."

"Committed suicide?" It was just a message, why would he commit suicide?

"However, Imperial Physician Li discovered a scent in a side hall that could induce sexual intercourse between men and women. The drug is also extremely toxic, and those who are poisoned will die if they don't have sex."

"Investigate! Li Fei, conduct a thorough investigation. Who dares to commit such a despicable act in this palace?!"

"Yes. But the rumor has already spread outside the palace. If Your Majesty does not punish the rumormonger, I'm afraid it will be impossible to silence the people. How will Mingxue and I face the people of Yidu?"

Li Fei knelt down and begged Yi Xuanxin to punish her.

In his fury, Yi Xuanxin had already made up his mind. He knew Yi Luoyao had indeed spread rumors, and he was afraid that this matter might be related to him. However, if he punished him severely, after all, Yi Luoyao was his son, and it would also bring disgrace to the royal family.

Yixuanxin thought for a long time.

"Wise King, you fabricated rumors and slandered others, defaming the palace. The evidence is irrefutable, and you deserve severe punishment. However, considering your momentary confusion, I will fine you one year's salary and provide Gong Mingxue with ten additional beauties. In addition, I will issue an edict to dispel the rumors, prove the innocence of Li Fei and Gong Mingxue, and let everyone in the palace and the court know the truth of this matter."

"My dear ministers, do you think this is a good idea?"

Gong Che wanted to protest, but was stopped by Gong Yuchen. Gong Yuchen shook his head slightly, signaling him not to say anything more.

For Yi Luoyao, this punishment was undoubtedly a "small punishment but a big warning".

Although Gong Che was dissatisfied, he also knew that since His Majesty had spoken, further arguments would be futile. Moreover, there was no evidence of the Xianwang drugging the emperor, so even if he was punished, the harm to the Xianwang would be limited. Now that the rumors have been cleared up and his daughter and Li Fei's reputations have been preserved, it is a blessing in disguise and more than enough.

Yi Luoyao kowtowed hurriedly to express his gratitude.

"Your Majesty, I thank you very much. I will learn from this lesson and never make the same mistake again!"

"You should leave now."

"Yes, I will take my leave."

Yi Xuanxin looked at the other three people and his tone softened a little.

"I know you are dissatisfied, but the virtuous prince is my son after all. If I punish him harshly, it may cause more trouble. I will issue an edict to clarify the rumors and restore the innocence of Li Fei and Gong Aiqing's daughter. Let this matter end here."

The three of them bowed in unison.

"I obey the order."

"yes."

"Gong Yuchen, you stay. The two of you can leave first."

"Yes." Gong Che and Li Fei saluted and left the room.

"Gong Yuchen, tell me the truth, you don't think the virtuous king will become the crown prince, right?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not speak rashly, but the wise king cannot tolerate Luo Yue."

Alas, this is exactly what he is worried about.

"Gong Yuchen."

"His Majesty?"

"If you want to marry Yue'er, make preparations early."

"Your Highness, I have some clues about the matter you asked me to investigate." Liefeng reported respectfully.

"Speak." Gong Yuchen took a sip of the freshly picked chrysanthemum without raising his eyelashes. The faint chrysanthemum fragrance passed over the tip of his tongue, refreshing and soothing his throat.

"That maid entered the palace over a month ago. She likely has an elderly mother and two younger brothers at home. Her body was taken to the cemetery earlier today. I've searched her residence and found nothing suspicious. However, I've discovered that this maid was originally a servant at the Xianwang Villa."

"Have you checked to see if there's anything on her?"

"No."

Is it really going to be a death without any evidence?

"However, I have found out that the maid's mother's family is also from the Qin clan, and they are also from the Southern Yi. I just don't know if they have any relationship with the third-rank maid surnamed Qin."

“I’ll leave this matter to you to investigate thoroughly, and send someone to keep an eye on the safety of this family to see if Yi Luoyao has any moves.

"Yes." Liefeng agreed after hearing this.

"Gong Yuxian has been very close to a man named Yun Qing recently."

"Yun Qing?" He repeated the name. Did this name seem familiar?

"Have you checked it out?"

"Yes." Liefeng nodded, adding a bit of certainty in his voice.

"The last time His Highness went out, he instructed me to keep an eye on Gong Yuxian. In the past two weeks, Gong Yuxian has had three interactions with Yun Qing. I also asked Liu Wen to check his household registration. He was originally from the Western Yi region and served as a guard under Crown Prince Zhou ten years ago. However, he disappeared the year Crown Prince Zhou was in trouble. The reason for his disappearance is unknown, and we don't know when he became involved with Gong Yuxian."

After hearing the last few words, the air in the room suddenly froze. Gong Yuchen raised his eyes abruptly. His eyes, which were usually cold, now looked like an ice-hardened blade, cold and sharp.

"You mean, Gong Yuxian has close ties with someone who used to follow the emperor?"

"Yes." Liefeng didn't dare to look him in the eye. He lowered his eyes and stared at the tip of his shoes.

"I also found out that Yun Qing is not only good at horse breeding, but also at taming animals."

“Beast Taming!!”

Gong Yuchen suddenly pressed the teacup onto the table. The bottom of the cup collided with the mahogany tabletop with a crisp sound, and the cup cracked and the tea splashed out.

"Good, very good." He chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in his laughter. Instead, it made the temperature around him drop a few degrees.

"I knew that my brother's death was not that simple." That year, my brother was hunting in the hunting ground, and a group of wolves ran into him for no reason. There were obviously four guards in the hunting ground besides my brother, but those wolves pounced on my brother and bit him.

Gong Yuxian was already fourteen years old ten years ago, but it was impossible for him to have that kind of strength. The person controlling him from behind must be his father, his own uncle.

"Send the news back to Xiyi."

"yes."

"Do you know what they talked about when they met?"

"Every time they met, they were locked in a private room in the teahouse, and no one was allowed to approach. But one time, Gong Yuxian drank too much and spoke a little loudly. The spy in the adjacent room vaguely heard the words 'Imperial Horse', 'Nan Yao Manor', and 'Grain and Grass', but they were quite far away and couldn't hear them all."

"Oh! Do you know his relationship with Gong Yuxian? How long has he been in Yidu? Is he in contact with Yi Luoyao?" Gong Yuchen's gaze fell on Liefeng, and his eyes were so sharp that they seemed to want to peel off a person's flesh.

Liefeng took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"This Yun Qing has been in Yidu for at least three years. I don't know his exact address, but he comes to Yidu once every three months. We haven't found out who he's been in contact with yet, but judging by his attire, he seems to be living a good life. This time when Gong Yuxian came to Yidu, he immediately looked for Yun Qing. They met when we went to the Imperial Garden, the second time was the day after we returned from the Imperial Garden, and the third time was the night after the poetry gathering. It seems they've known each other for a long time."

"A guard of the former prince of Xiyi, who had been away from Xiyi for so long, got together with Gong Yuxian as soon as he arrived in Yidu, and even talked to him in secret. How could it be such a coincidence?" Gong Yuchen sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

"I'm afraid they've already made an appointment! They're waiting for Gong Yuxian to come and plan something, right?"

The emperor's brother's death must be closely related to Yun Qing. An old subordinate of the emperor's brother, he came to Yidu after his brother's death and was skilled in horse breeding and animal training.

Wait! Horse breeding, could he be related to the imperial horses that were replaced in the imperial garden? Then he must also be related to Yi Luoyao! "

"Do you know how good Yun Qing is at breeding horses?"

"I heard it's very powerful." Liefeng stopped talking here and moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare to.

Gong Yuchen stared at him, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Just say what you want to say. Why are you hesitating so much?"

Liefeng glanced at Gong Yuchen.

"Before becoming Crown Prince Zhou's guard, Yun Qing was a horse breeder at the Shouwang Mansion, which is also the horse breeder at the residence of His Highness's uncle."

These words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. Gong Yuchen's expression froze, and he stared at Liefeng as if he was meeting him for the first time.

"What did you say?"

"I suspect this person was involved in the attack on Crown Prince Zhou."

After a long time, Gong Yuchen slowly spoke, his voice sounding a little tired but also a little calm.

"You did a great job on this matter. Keep an eye on Yun Qing and make sure you find out his and Gong Yuxian's true purpose in Yidu. Also, go find Liu Wen and ask him to help you investigate Yun Qing's whereabouts over the past few years. Find out what he's been doing and who he's been in contact with."

"Yes, I'll do it right away."

Looking at Liefeng who was leaving, Gong Yuchen had a complicated look in his eyes. He remembered the last time he saw his royal brother, who patted him on the shoulder and said to him.

"Next year, my brother will personally take you hunting in the hunting grounds." But that promise ultimately became his eternal regret. He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain at all.

"I will definitely get to the bottom of what happened back then. No matter who it is, I will make him be buried with my royal brother!" He said softly with a hoarse voice.