Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Imperial Order

The succession of the throne to a crown prince has always been a secret between father and son. If it is exposed like this, it will lead to a serious crime. How could Li Zhen dare to accept it so easily?

What's more, although he really wished Xie Yunzhou would die soon, he really didn't do anything.

Participating in the illegal salt scam was indeed a serious crime, and he was worried about it day and night, but there was still room for maneuver.

If it were just another imperial envoy involved in this case, he might have taken action. But that was Xie Yunzhou, and he was wary of him. Now, he had been wronged for no reason. Li Zhen felt incredibly upset. "Your Majesty, I'm truly wronged! I never plotted a murder, and I wouldn't even think of doing it!"

But the emperor ignored his excuses. His old eyes fixed on him, their gaze piercingly cold. "Don't waste your time on useless talk. I'll tell you plainly today... Since you've truly harbored such a cruel thought, don't blame me... and act like Shi Jilong of the previous dynasty."

It was like a thunder exploding overhead.

Who was Shi Jilong? He was the tyrant who ordered the massacre of hundreds of people in Shi Xuan's household because his second son, Shi Xuan, had plotted to murder his younger brother.

Li Zhen raised his head suddenly, and the blood on his forehead dripped down his chin, wetting the edge of his snow-white collar, making it glaringly bright red.

His initial panic had now completely transformed into grief and indignation. The fingertips hidden in his sleeves trembled uncontrollably. Li Zhen's eyes were red as he angrily said, "Daddy! Am I your son, or is Xie Yunzhou your son? From childhood to adulthood, whenever he and I had an argument, Daddy always favored him and scolded me... Daddy, he is your treasure, and I am just grass on the ground? How could Daddy know that this wasn't just a trick set up by Xie Yunzhou to frame me?!"

Li Zhen's anger grew stronger as he spoke, but his grievances only drew the emperor's fury. "How dare you quibble! Back then, the crown prince was instigated to commit treason, and how innocent were you in that? Do you really think I don't know?"

Li Zhen was startled and about to say something, but the veins on the emperor's forehead bulged, and he shouted angrily, "Come here, take this rebellious son to the annex of the Zongzheng Temple. He cannot be released without pardon, and he will be held for investigation by the Criminal Court!"

The imperial guards on duty outside the palace were ordered to go inside, their armor clattering as they surrounded the palace.

There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. Li Zhen secretly clenched his blood-stained cuffs, lowered his head calmly, hiding the layers of gloom in his eyes, and was escorted out of the Funing Palace by the imperial guards.

The sound faded away, and the hall became empty again. The emperor coughed violently, his face flushed. Huaizhong hurried forward to pat his back to help him breathe, and poured him a cup of warm tea, presenting it to him. "Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down. Take care of yourself, Your Majesty."

The emperor coughed for a long time before calming down. Trembling, he took a sip of the tea and asked in a hoarse voice, "Has the Princess's residence heard the news?"

Huaizhong replied, "According to the emperor's previous instructions, no news has been released yet."

After a long silence, the official slowly nodded, "Wait a few more days... until we find Mingqi's whereabouts, we should suppress the news for now, so as to prevent my sister from worrying in vain."

Huaizhong replied cautiously, "Yes."

After giving the order, the official fell silent again. After a long while, he slowly turned his head and stared at a hibiscus planted in a pot in front of the window.

The bamboo curtain is like a comb, hanging half-rolled up, filtering the dusk light into countless golden threads. The hibiscus in the pot has turned from white to red, and its petals and leaves appear a little decadent, like a beauty who has shed her remaining makeup, and whose bloom is about to end and turn to dust.

I don't know how much time passed before I heard the official sighing wearily. Then, as if mumbling to himself, he said bitterly, "I thought I'd let him accumulate some merit and prestige, but who would have thought... he hasn't even married yet... If something really happened to him, how could I face Rong Niang in my grave..."

Hearing those two words unexpectedly, Huaizhong was immediately startled. He forced himself to suppress his pounding heart and said to comfort him: "Your Majesty, please don't say such depressing words. The young prince is a lucky person. He will surely turn this misfortune into good fortune and return safely."

After hesitating for a moment, he glanced up at the official's expression and continued to persuade: "My lady...my lady is in heaven, and I believe she will bless the young prince to have a good fortune in his misfortune."

What the emperor wanted to hear were naturally auspicious words, but even so, both the master and the servant knew clearly in their hearts that this time the young prince was in great danger.

The Huai River was in flood season, and the water was surging. The thieves took advantage of the darkness of night to blow up the boat and assassinate the young prince. He was wounded and fell into the river. Hundreds of people from the garrison tried to fish for him for a whole day and night, but they couldn't find any trace of him. The wind was strong and the waves were high. Where would he be swept away by the river? It all depended on fate.

There was also the account book that the guard had brought back. He had taken a look at it. It was not only soaked with water stains, but also dotted with bloodstains...

This is simply stabbing a knife into the heart of the government.

"Will she?" After a long silence, the official turned to look at Huaizhong, his eyes slightly red, his voice hoarse, "I'm afraid she still holds a grudge against me and won't bless our child..."

The official is old. No matter how ruthless he was in the past, he can hardly show any vulnerability at this moment.

Huaizhong's heart ached slightly, and he replied repeatedly, "Of course I will. That's your and my wife's only child, how could I bear to give him up?"

The official seemed to believe his words, lowered his eyes, and after a long moment, nodded silently.

The sound of water dripping from the copper kettle was heard, and the sky in the distance gradually darkened. When it was time to light the lamps, a row of palace servants entered silently, holding copper candlesticks with cranes holding branches in their hands, casting swaying shadows on the clay tiles.

The twinkling candlelight gradually lit up in the hall. The emperor suddenly asked, as if thinking of something, "Has Lu Chen returned to the capital?"

Huaizhong quickly raised his head and replied, "Yes, General Lu arrived in Beijing yesterday and submitted a petition to the Imperial Palace for reinstatement."

The official nodded and said, "Go, summon him to see me."

Huaizhong nodded in agreement, turned around and quietly left the Funing Palace.

Lu Chen stayed in Huai'an for a long time. Seeing that the situation in Beijing could not be delayed any longer, he could only arrange people to continue searching for people while returning to Beijing to deal with the aftermath.

Originally, Xie Yunzhou and he were going to return at the same time, but he didn't expect that as soon as he arrived in Beijing, he heard from the spy that something had happened to Xie Yunzhou. The whole thing was too coincidental and there was something wrong everywhere. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

Just after meeting Wen Xu and returning to the mansion, the young eunuch in the imperial court came to the door. Lu Chen had no choice but to change into his official uniform and follow the eunuch who came to deliver the message into the inner court.

Outside Funing Hall, the atmosphere was heavy and silent. The eunuch on duty saw Lu Chen approaching, bowed with his hips, and gently lifted the door curtain like a cat, inviting him in.

Lu Chen was led to the imperial court and bowed solemnly, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

The official looked up when he heard the voice, but was slightly startled by his appearance.

When entering the palace to meet the emperor, one naturally has to dress properly. Lu Chen was dressed in a neat official uniform, with a black belt with silver buckles, and his hair was tied up neatly in a jade crown.

But even though he was dressed in such fine clothes, he couldn't hide his haggard and silent look. It was as if he had a serious illness and was dying. He was so pale and thin that it was alarming.

The official raised his hand, motioning him to sit down without formalities, and asked with a frown, "What's the matter? Are you sick from traveling?"

Lu Chen thanked him and sat down without saying much, only simply replied, "I accidentally encountered some setbacks on the way."

The emperor was completely concerned about Xie Yunzhou and had no intention of asking about the private affairs of his subjects. A brief question to show his concern was enough. He just nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

"I've urgently summoned you to the Forbidden City for an important matter. You probably don't know that Mingqi encountered an assassin on the road. The person behind this may be after the incriminating account books in his possession.

I have already ordered Li Zhen to be confined to the Court of Justice, but after all, family scandals should not be aired publicly. You and Mingqi have a deep friendship, and he trusts you the most. I am thinking of combining the Lianghuai salt transport fraud and Mingqi's assassination case into one case and handing it over to you for a thorough investigation."

Lu Chen replied respectfully, but then acted as if he was completely unaware of the incident. He frowned and asked with concern, "Sir, may I ask if Mingqi is safe?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor sighed deeply, his expression darkening. "There's no news at the moment." He paused, then continued, "Mingqi's personal guards have already delivered all the account books to Shangjing and sealed them in the Court of Judicial Review. You can ask Zhou Xiao for details."

Lu Chen's expression paused slightly.

The official looked up at him and ordered, "I know you and Wang Zhonggan have an old grudge, but I only want you to investigate the salt transport and the assassin. Don't blame the past, don't involve the old and new party members. Investigate the salt transport openly and the assassination plot secretly. Do you understand?"

Lu Chen lowered his eyes.

The government did not want to overturn the old case, and he knew in his heart that if he tried to overturn the case for his father, it would be no different from exposing the government's face and throwing it to the ground and stepping on it.

There is no point in worrying about it any more. It is enough as long as this salt transport case can bring the Xu family to an end.

Lu Chen responded solemnly, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I understand the importance of this matter."

Hearing this, the official nodded and waved his hand wearily, "Go."

Lu Chen stood up and bowed.

After exiting the Funing Palace, Lu Chen's face was so gloomy that water seemed to drip out of it. He walked faster and faster along the narrow corridor, and his long boots stepped out of the Donghua Gate. The corners of his official robes formed a series of sharp arcs in the night.

Those strange coincidences were not his illusions.

Before boarding the ship that day, Xie Yunzhou looked back at him and smiled.

Then, they encountered danger mid-journey. A huge fire broke out on the boat, and even Xie Yunzhou, who was heavily guarded, fell into the river and disappeared. Despite this dire situation, all those numerous account books and evidence were intact, and even arrived in Shangjing in such a timely manner, without any obstacles along the way...

What a good way to escape.

After escaping, where would he go? Where else would he go besides looking for her?!

The scene of her and Xie Yunzhou talking and laughing intimately appeared in front of her eyes uncontrollably. What would they do together?

Perhaps all she had to do was smile and gently call out "Mingqi" and his bones would soften...

But she would no longer call him "Lu Bingyan" with a smile like that.

His heart seemed to be stabbed by something, and it contracted violently for a moment in severe pain. Lu Chen felt a fishy, ​​sweet and hot stream rushing up his throat. He tried his best to swallow it back, but he still couldn't suppress it and suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood.

Chang Xing, the imperial guard on duty outside Donghua Gate, was shocked when he saw this and hurried forward to support him, "General!"

"Nothing."

Lu Chen waved his hand and drove away the approaching soldiers.

Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, Lu Chen straightened up by leaning against the palace wall. He wiped away the blood with his fingertips and a sneer appeared at the corner of his lips.

Want to get away? Then he'll force him out.