Chapter 427 The Truth of What Happened Back Then, I Don't Believe It

Luo Heng slammed the teacup heavily on the table.

"The Luo family is a well-known merchant family in Jiangnan. The writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones made by the Luo family are designated as tributes to the palace."

My father, Luo Chao, was intelligent and gentle. He not only doubled the size of the Luo family business, but also obtained the qualification of a royal merchant, and would go to the capital every year to deliver tribute.

That year, my father developed the Plum Blossom Ink, which was highly sought after by the major families in the capital.

My father then opened Rongbaozhai in the capital to manage the business. One day, he went to the palace to visit my cousin.

But he never made it out of the palace alive.

A ferocious hatred appeared on Luo Heng's face.

“My father was beaten to death. He accidentally offended the sixth prince, who then ordered him to be beaten to death.”

A living, breathing human life was lost because my Luo family was powerless, insignificant, and powerless.

That's why my father ended up like this. When he was sent home, there wasn't a single intact part of his body.

Pei Yuan is so ruthless. Because of him, after my father was sent home, the clan elders, upon hearing that he had offended the royal family, were afraid of retaliation and refused to even give my father a proper funeral.

They said my father was ignorant and deserved his fate, and even forbade him to be buried in the ancestral graveyard.

They buried my father on the outskirts of the village with only a tattered mat, and then drove my mother and me out of the Luo family's estate that very night.

Recalling the hardships of his childhood, Luo Heng's eyes turned bloodshot.

"The Luo clan was afraid of retaliation, and they even forbade my mother and me from taking a single piece of clothing from the Luo family."

They abandoned my mother and me in a dilapidated village, where we were beaten and humiliated every day.

It wasn't until six months later, seeing no further movement in the capital, that they left us to fend for ourselves on the estate.

I survived because I was lucky. I am not reconciled, and I can endure it, but all of this was caused by Pei Yuan.

As a prince, does that mean I can take people's lives at will? If he hadn't killed my father, I would still be the young master of the Luo family, growing up in luxury.

How could he have endured such inhuman humiliation? Shouldn't I hate him?

Ah Chu, tell me, shouldn't I hate him? Shouldn't I kill him?

Shen Chu frowned as he looked at Luo Heng, who was roaring in a low voice. He suddenly remembered something that Pei Yuan had mentioned to him.

That time, she was in the imperial palace preparing to request the emperor's decree to thoroughly investigate the case of the Shen family.

Pei Yuan then told her about how he plotted to kill Consort Meng in order to avenge Consort Yu.

"Is your cousin's wife Consort Meng, the Emperor's concubine?"

Luo Heng was still immersed in overwhelming hatred and was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses.

"How do you know? Consort Meng is my father's cousin. She entered the palace through the imperial concubine selection. The Meng family and the Luo family are on good terms."

When my father was in the capital, he would often visit Consort Meng in the palace.

Shen Chu sighed inwardly, her gaze towards Luo Heng filled with complex emotions.

"Didn't you ever consider that there might be more to your father's death than meets the eye?"

Luo Heng frowned. "What do you mean? Didn't Pei Yuan order him to be killed?"

Shen Chu said, "I have heard people mention this matter before. Your father did indeed visit Consort Meng in the palace frequently."

However, this visit was not the same as the other visit. He had an affair with Consort Meng, and the Emperor himself caught them in bed together.

"It was His Majesty who ordered your father's execution, not your sixth brother."

She omitted the part about Pei Yuan's scheme to catch the emperor in the act of adultery.

Consort Meng's death was not innocent either; she was the one who poisoned Consort Yu, causing her to have a premature birth and hemorrhage, resulting in the deaths of both mother and child.

She looked intently at Luo Heng.

"Adultery with a concubine is a capital offense, and your father's death was not innocent."

Luo Heng's expression changed drastically.

"You're talking nonsense. How could my father have an affair with Consort Meng? They are just cousins."

My father always loved my mother and me very much. He and my mother were a loving and respectful couple. How could he possibly have an affair with another woman?

Who told you this? Was it Pei Yuan? He must be lying to you.

I don't believe it, I don't believe a single word of it.

In Luo Heng's heart, his father was like the heavens, and within that heaven were him and his mother.

Now Shen Chu is telling him that there are other women in his life.

How could he believe it?

"How can you believe Pei Yuan's words so easily? He can say anything to cover up his own ugliness."

Shen Chu believed that Pei Yuan would not lie to him.

"This matter was, after all, a scandalous affair of the palace. His Majesty deliberately covered it up, and almost everyone who knew about it back then is now dead."

But I believe that if we investigate, we can definitely find some clues.

You can investigate, or you can ask your mother if your father has another woman in his heart. I think your mother will definitely have some idea.

Luo Heng recalled that after his father's death, his mother's expression was always sorrowful and complicated whenever his father was mentioned.

His heart sank, and he shook his head in a flustered manner.

"No, that's impossible. I don't believe it. I don't believe a single word of it."

He angrily swept the teacups off the table, jumped up, and stormed off.

In his rage, he forgot to close the door.

The cold wind swept in, carrying snowflakes, and made the door rattle loudly.

It's snowing again.

Shen Chu got up to close the gate. Watching Luo Heng's figure disappear at the gate, the old woman guarding the gate immediately locked the gate with her neck hunched over.

She calculated her chances of escaping.

Wanqiu's figure appeared at the door.

“Miss Shen, it’s getting late. You should rest early. Although the manor is remote, there are guards outside. You can rest assured and relax.”

This is telling her that even if she runs out of the courtyard, she can't leave the village.

Shen Chu's face darkened, and she slammed the door shut.

She had to find a way to leave or spread the news that she was still alive.

I wonder how Sixth Brother and his two senior brothers are doing now.

Pei Yuan is still unconscious.

Jinbao reported his poisoning to the Longqing Emperor.

After his fury subsided, the Longqing Emperor immediately summoned Prince Jing and Shangguan Yi to the palace.

The imperial physician carefully examined Shangguan Yi's sword and confirmed that there was indeed poison residue on it.

Shangguan Yi was completely bewildered, then flew into a rage.

"I didn't poison my sword, so who do you think I'm looking down on? When I, Shangguan Yi, fight, I either win or I lose."

I would never resort to such underhanded tactics.

The Longqing Emperor frowned. "It really wasn't you who applied the poison?"

"No, it's not."

Emperor Longqing's mind was slightly troubled, and the imperial physicians were all helpless in dealing with the poison that Pei Yuan had been given.

The most urgent task is to find the person who actually poisoned the poison so that there can be an antidote.

King Jing raised an eyebrow and looked at Shangguan Yi.

Who has handled your sword?

“My sword has always been with me, it has never left... no, it has never left.”

Shangguan Yi's expression changed slightly. "When we entered the palace, your country said that it was not allowed to bring weapons into the palace without permission, and that they would be checked before we were allowed to enter."

"At that time, members of the Imperial Guard had contact with my sword."

The Longqing Emperor immediately ordered Cai Chong to investigate.

Cai Chong returned quickly. "The Imperial Guard who was in charge of checking weapons this morning is dead. He also died of poisoning."

The imperial physician examined him and confirmed that the poison he had was the same as that in Prince Rui.

The trail went cold.

Emperor Longqing's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

King Jing stood up, a sneer on his face.

"It seems this is a struggle among your own people in the Great Wei, and has nothing to do with our Southern Yue. Your Majesty, please allow me to leave first."

Although the Longqing Emperor felt embarrassed, he could not retaliate.

As King Jing walked to the door, he suddenly turned around and asked, "I heard that Lady Shen, who was disguised as a man, was burned to death?"

When will the burial take place? I intend to attend the funeral in person.