Chapter 74 Trap

Song Luoning thought for a moment, her face somber. After a long silence, she said, "Things are probably not that simple. Since they killed Xiao Chengze and deliberately let us know, it's very likely that they were targeting us. With Xiao Chengze dead, who will be the first person they suspect?"

After being pointed at by Song Luoning, Xiao Yu immediately tried to react.

Damn it, they're clearly targeting me?

If we're talking about who hates the male lead the most, I'd say everyone in the world would say it's her.

In the imperial court, she disregarded the objections of the court officials and insisted on sending Xiao Chengze to guard the imperial tombs. He was killed on the way, and everyone would suspect her.

What did she do to deserve this? Who is it that wants to harm her like this?

When she was fighting the male lead before, at least she knew who the enemy was. Now, however, the enemy is in the shadows while she is in the open, putting her on the defensive and being led by the nose.

However, one thing is certain: the original owner had never offended any powerful figures, and neither had I. Since there was no enmity between us, why would someone want to harm me? Therefore, it is highly likely that they were after the throne.

Who else is eyeing the throne?

Aside from the male protagonist, none of these things were mentioned in the original work, and after the male protagonist ascended the throne, no one appeared to compete with him for the throne.

Could it be that because she transmigrated here and stole the male lead's luck, causing a butterfly effect, the male lead is now dead, and all the royal princes in the capital have been killed by him? Could there be another royal prince hiding in the capital?

Of course, these are all just her guesses.

The most important thing now is to find out who the culprit is hiding behind this.

At this moment, a palace servant rushed in and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Song is outside requesting an audience."

Xiao Yu was taken aback.

At this moment, my father-in-law suddenly arrived, presumably already knowing.

The murder of Xiao Chengze was no small matter. Xiao Yu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Have Prime Minister Song wait in the Imperial Study. I will be there soon."

"Yes, this servant will go immediately." The palace servant bowed and withdrew.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense. Xiao Yu rubbed his forehead, picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, stood up, took a deep breath, and knew he had to face this sooner or later.

“Your Majesty…” Song Luoning pursed her lips, gazing at her, hesitant to speak.

Xiao Yu looked at her, his eyes flickering slightly. Knowing her worries, he smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, my wife. It's good to have your father-in-law's help. I'll be right back." As he spoke, he squeezed her hand, his youthful warmth like spring.

How could she not worry? Song Luoning said nothing, just nodded and watched her leave.

Xiao Yu hurriedly stepped into the Imperial Study. Song Yunzhou was about to kneel down to pay his respects when she stopped him, saying, "We are family, Prime Minister Song, there is no need for such formalities."

"Yes, this old minister has something to report," said Prime Minister Song.

Xiao Yu walked to the dragon throne and sat down. Her personal eunuch, Fu Shun, immediately poured her tea and stepped back to stand sideways.

"Why is Prime Minister Song in such a hurry?" Xiao Yu asked.

The imperial study fell silent. After a moment, Song Yunzhou knelt on the ground and said urgently, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The heir of the Prince of Chang was killed on his way to the imperial mausoleum. This matter may be detrimental to Your Majesty..."

As expected, it was about this matter. Xiao Yu sighed slightly and did not hide anything, saying truthfully, "I have already sent the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to jointly investigate this case, and I will definitely give the people of the world an explanation. However, does Prime Minister Song have any good ideas?"

"Your Majesty, a subordinate official just reported that the case of the murder you committed is causing a great stir among the people, and some scholars are even criticizing you in writing..."

"What?" Write an article to denounce her?

Xiao Yu bit her lip and laughed in anger. These self-proclaimed scholars dared to incite public sentiment without knowing the truth of the matter; it was truly despicable.

Her face darkened: "Have you found out who spread the rumors?"

Song Xiang: "I have already sent people to investigate."

"That's good. I'll leave this matter to Prime Minister Song."

"This is my duty, how can you say it's troublesome?"

Xiao Yu looked up.

"This old minister shall take his leave now."

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment, then nodded.

As soon as the person left, Xiao Yu immediately asked Fu Shun to invite Liang Chengqiu over.

It's more reliable to have your own people investigate some things, but Fu Shun brought her bad news upon her return. It turned out that Liang Chengqiu received a letter from the Linyang County government after she returned to the palace and went straight back to Linyang County without delay.

How could things be so coincidental?

Returning at this crucial moment, Xiao Yu exhaled a sigh of relief, placed his hands on the table, and said, "Go again and bring my mother and the others into the palace."

After Liang Chengqiu left, she was really worried about leaving her stepmother and the others outside. It would be better to bring them to her side so that she could take care of them.

"Your servant obeys the decree."

"Wait a minute," Xiao Yu called out to him, "Make sure everyone is taken care of."

"Yes." Fu Shun bowed and left the hall.

Xiao Yu sighed, leaning back on the dragon throne. Who exactly was targeting him, and those scholars...?

She pinched the bridge of her nose; the rumors were very likely spread by the murderer.

She's been so busy lately that she's completely forgotten about that case, forgotten to clear her name. She remembers her father-in-law saying that the case files in Linyang County had been destroyed. Wasn't it the male lead who did it? Did she guess wrong from the beginning?

Was the murderer already plotting against him from that time? Or was Chen Ziyi the murderer?

He led him step by step to the capital, and then put him in this position...

My thoughts are terrifying.

Xiao Yu suddenly opened her eyes, her mind filled with deep thoughts.

But what benefit would he gain from scheming against himself?

What does he want to get out of himself?

Is it really just about the throne? Why didn't he just seize it directly? Why wait until he became emperor before taking it from himself?

Or does he have some reason why he cannot take it directly?

Xiao Yu was completely baffled.

The sweltering heat of June was unbearable. Although the sun was nearing the western mountains and ice had been placed in the imperial study, Xiao Yu's nose was covered with a fine layer of sweat.

He summoned a palace maid to order a bowl of cooling soup to relieve the heat. The soup with ice was the best way to cool down. A layer of water droplets seeped around the white jade bowl. He felt a little better after taking two sips.

Xiao Yu paused for a moment, then instructed, "Send a bowl to the Empress as well."

The palace servants were already used to their emperor's affection for the empress. The fact that the emperor and empress lived in the same palace was unprecedented, not to mention the emperor's usual thoughtfulness towards the empress.

That's truly enviable.

The palace maid secretly smiled and withdrew.

The entire imperial study fell silent again. Xiao Yu sat quietly for a while before getting up and returning to Funing Palace.

The palace maids were all kneeling in the courtyard, but Xiao Yu didn't even look at them and went straight into the bedchamber.

Upon seeing her return, Song Luoning rose to greet her, straightened her clothes, and asked with concern, "Did Father say anything?"

Xiao Yu glanced at the palace servants in the hall and said, "There is no need for service here. You may all leave. No one is allowed to enter and disturb us without my decree."

Before the palace servants could respond, he pulled Song Luoning into the inner hall, sat her down on the dragon throne, looked at the young lady, and hesitated before saying, "My father-in-law said that the previous case has been brought up again, which has caused some scholars to have a lot of opinions about me."

Song Luoning could tell at a glance that her words about being conservative were not so simple.

“My wife, I suspect that the murderer who killed Chen Ziyi is in cahoots with the people who killed Xiao Chengze.”

Song Luoning frowned: "How do you know?"

Xiao Yu held Song Luo Ning's hand, a half-finished bowl of cold soup still on the table, and sighed softly.