Chapter 419 As long as Achu can be saved

The Longqing Emperor snorted and closed his eyes without saying a word.

Cai Chong lowered his eyes and quietly retreated.

As I reached the door, I heard the slightly weary voice of the Longqing Emperor behind me.

"Keep her locked up for now. Tell the people not to mistreat her and not to allow anyone to visit her. I'll think about the rest later."

"yes."

Cai Chong withdrew, and Emperor Longqing rubbed his temples in annoyance.

With Prince Heng leaving the palace, the cabinet took over the martial arts competition for tomorrow, and news spread that Prince Heng was confined to his quarters to reflect on his mistakes and that no one was allowed to visit Shen Chu.

At this moment, everyone gathered in Prince Rui's residence to discuss countermeasures.

Ling Ce had been holding back his anger in the palace, and now he couldn't hold back any longer. He jumped up and down, cursing loudly.

"A bunch of old pedantic, stubborn, and ignorant old fogies who have never seen the world."

"So what if Achu is a woman? She doesn't steal, rob, or rely on anyone. She's done so much for the court this past year."

When Achu's article won the praise of the Southern Vietnamese, everyone was so proud of themselves that they wanted to worship Achu.

Upon discovering that Achu was a woman, their expressions changed faster than turning the pages of a book. "If you hadn't stopped me, I would have beheaded them all in court today."

He grew angrier and angrier, even cursing the Longqing Emperor.

"That damned Prince Jing, I don't know why he's so determined to kill A-Chu, he keeps stirring things up."

"If it weren't for his instigation, how could Ah Chu have been thrown into death row? I'll go to the meeting hall tonight and stab him twice."

Han Feng was applying medicine to Pei Yuan when he heard this and looked up at him.

"It's fine to vent your anger with a few curses, but if you dare to cause any other trouble for A-Chu, I won't let you off the hook."

Ling Ce snorted, touched his nose, and remained silent with a dark expression.

If he hadn't been afraid of causing Ah Chu any further trouble, he wouldn't have remained silent in court today.

Han Feng said, "Now that things have come to this, let's discuss how to save A-Chu first. Your Highness, His Majesty doesn't really want to kill A-Chu, does he?"

Pei Yuan lay on the bed, silent for a moment, then couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"If I'm not mistaken, Father Emperor should have known about A-Chu's identity before, but because the Southern Yue delegation was here, he didn't take any action."

After all, Achu was the only remaining bloodline of the Marquis of Ning'an. Back then, hundreds of lives were lost in the entire Marquis of Ning'an's mansion and the three clans of the Shen family.

Now that A-Chu has just been exonerated, killing him would inevitably cause controversy among the people.

Furthermore, Ah Chu is carrying my child. Father Emperor originally didn't want Ah Chu dead; otherwise, even if the Southern Yue delegation were here, he could have secretly disposed of Ah Chu.

He paused, then continued, "But today, in front of the South Vietnamese delegation, Achu's identity was exposed."

In addition, Prince Jing deliberately stirred up trouble. My father was arrogant and extremely proud, and he would never allow any foreign powers to slander the Great Wei.

Therefore, I cannot guess what my father is thinking at this moment.

Ling Ce was furious. "In the end, it was that bastard Prince Jing who instigated this. Why on earth is he targeting A Chu?"

No one can answer this question.

Sun Yan came in from outside and reported: "Your Highness, there are rumors outside that Lord Shen is going to be beheaded."

Even the people outside the city have heard about it and are talking about it.

Pei Yuan's expression darkened slightly.

Less than two hours have passed since the incident occurred, yet the news has spread throughout the capital.

The fact that public opinion has escalated so quickly suggests that someone is manipulating this matter behind the scenes.

Han Feng said coldly, "They won't stop until they drive A-Chu to her death."

Pei Yuan closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze was cold and calm as she looked at Han Feng.

"Go and get me some painkillers, preferably so that I can't feel any pain at all."

Han Feng's expression changed slightly.

"Your Highness still wishes to participate in tomorrow's martial arts competition against Nan Yue? But you are still injured..."

Pei Yuan said in a deep voice, "This is the only way we can save A Chu now."

Han Feng and Ling Ce looked at each other in bewilderment.

Ling Ce couldn't help but say, "Why don't I go and fight Shangguan Yi? Although my martial arts are not as good as yours."

But you're injured right now, so I'm probably more confident than you, aren't I?

“No.” Pei Yuan shook his head. “We have three matches against Nan Yue. We need to win at least two of them to defeat Nan Yue.”

This time, Nan Yue has dispatched only top-notch experts, with Gao Jie, the commander of the Imperial Guard, in charge of one of the battles.

Gao Jie was facing a master from the Southern Yue family. With Gao Jie's martial arts skills, he only had a 20% to 30% chance of winning.

You are in the second match, and your opponent is also a martial arts master from South Vietnam. I have observed your martial arts style. Although your skills are high, you lack stamina.

If you fight Shangguan Yi, you have no hope of winning, but if you face that martial arts master, victory will be much easier.

You must win the second match. As for Shangguan Yi, leave him to me.

Pei Yuan pursed his lips, a determined glint in his eyes.

"I have carefully studied Shangguan Yi's martial arts style. Even though he is injured now, I still have at least a 30% chance of winning."

I need you to prepare a medicine for me that can not only relieve the pain but also unleash all my inner strength.

I need to increase that three-point chance to ten; I must defeat Shangguan Yi.

Han Feng hesitated.

"Forcibly stimulating your internal energy with medication will disrupt your breathing and cause great harm to your body."

Pei Yuan shook his head.

"At this point, we can't worry about anything else, as long as we can save Achu."

He looked at Han Feng and said, word by word, "Prepare the medicine for me."

Han Feng was silent for a moment, then agreed.

"good."

Pei Yuan curled his lips into a smile.

"As for A-Chu, I've already sent Li Chengxuan to the death row. With his status, he might be able to go in and see A-Chu and send her some things."

At the entrance to the death row.

Li Chengxuan carried a bundle and stuffed a purse into the hand of the clerk on duty.

"It's freezing cold today, and all the brothers have worked hard. Take this and buy some wine for them to warm up."

The clerk on duty dared not accept it, and pushed the purse back with a wry smile.

"Young Master, please don't make things difficult for me. There are instructions from above that no one is allowed to visit."

Normally it wouldn't matter, but today it was Steward Cai who came to give the instructions personally.

Even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare let anyone in.

Li Chengxuan pressed down on the purse and pushed it back, "Really not going to work?"

The clerk kept shaking his head, "It really won't do, I really don't dare."

Besides, if I let you in, what about the person behind you?

later?

Li Chengxuan turned his head to look.

Luo Heng, who was also carrying a bundle, was standing behind him at some point.

Li Chengxuan's eyes reddened with anger as he recalled what had happened in the palace.

He shoved the bundle into the clerk's hand and swung a punch at him hard.

"Luo Heng, how dare you come to see A-Chu? If it weren't for you, how could A-Chu have been locked up in death row?"

Luo Heng turned his face to the side and punched him squarely in the corner of the mouth.

Bright red blood instantly flowed down from the corner of his mouth.

Luo Heng glanced at Li Chengxuan expressionlessly, then wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Even if it wasn't me today, A-Chu's identity would have been revealed sooner or later."

"Pah, don't give me that nonsense." Li Chengxuan swung his fist and threw another punch.

Luo Heng also lost his temper, abandoned his baggage, and started fighting with Li Chengxuan.

One of them was a young nobleman, and the other, although a director in the Ministry of Revenue, was a man of Prince Heng.

The minor official was so caught up in the fight that he didn't know who to stop, so he had to call on the person on duty.

"What are you standing there for? Quickly pull them apart!"

Everyone rushed to break up the fight, but Li Chengxuan suddenly jumped up at that moment.