In the Qionglin Courtyard, it was already night and the lights were just coming on.
A grand banquet is about to begin, where the newly-appointed scholars will drink with the king to celebrate the glorious moment of their names being on the list of successful candidates.
In the villa, Xianning County Lady Li Yunting, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, knelt in front of Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing and Emperor Li Longze like a sad and beautiful white flower.
Her tears fell like pearls from a broken string, sliding down her delicate yet sad face.
However, Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing just looked at her coldly, her eyes full of disdain and ridicule, and sneered at her hypocritical grief.
However, Li Yunting's similar eyebrows and eyes to his father, Prince An, made Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing's thoughts drift back to the distant past.
At that time, her son Li Longze was just a ten-year-old boy. She walked on thin ice every day, carefully guarding him, fearing that he would encounter an accident if she was not careful.
On the boat during the southern tour that year, Lu Fengqing always held her son's hand tightly, fearing that he might get into trouble.
However, just as they were about to step onto the shore, a wild dog suddenly appeared from nowhere and pounced on the mother and son.
In the chaos, Li Longze lost his grip on her hand and fell into the turbulent river. The ten-year-old child struggled in the water, and his cries of terror tore at her heart.
At this moment, Prince An Li Shikang jumped into the water without hesitation. His figure quickly approached Li Longze in the water and rescued him safely to the shore.
"Don't worry, little sister-in-law, the Sixth Prince is fine."
Prince An's voice seemed to still echo in his ears. At that time, Lu Fengqing was just an unfavored noblewoman. If she had not given birth to a son, she would have long been lost in the harem.
The name "Little Imperial Sister-in-law" was the warmest name she had ever heard in her life, and no one called her that again after that.
Although there have been rumors in the court that Prince An has rebellious intentions, saying that he covets the throne and is waiting for the death of the previous emperor to launch a mutiny and replace him.
But Lu Fengqing never believed it.
Because she was thinking of this favor, she always indulged Li Yunting and gave her small punishments and severe warnings, which finally led to a big disaster.
"You have a fiefdom in Xianyang, so you must go back today. You are not allowed to enter the capital without my order." Li Longze's voice suddenly sounded, interrupting Lu Fengqing's wandering thoughts.
She originally wanted to spare Li Yunting's life, but she was afraid that the emperor would be displeased, so she didn't speak out. Now that Li Longze had issued an order, she naturally went along with it.
"Why don't you thank me quickly?" Lu Fengqing's words revealed an unquestionable majesty.
Li Yunting looked pitiful just now, with tears in her eyes. When she heard that she was going to be sent back to her fiefdom, she immediately dropped all her disguise.
"Xianyang? How could my Royal Brother be so cruel as to send me back to such a desolate and remote place? Remember when I first came to the capital, my Royal Brother solemnly promised before our father's spirit that he would protect me for the rest of my life?"
As the emperor, Li Longze had never been questioned in person like this before, and he immediately looked displeased.
"Yunting, you should know that if it were any other royal family member who acted like you, they would have long been demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in the clan residence for life... I have shown you special mercy."
Li Yunting's eyes flashed with dissatisfaction, and she shouted fiercely, "If you want to expel me from the capital, I will carry my father's spirit tablet directly to his mausoleum and bang my head against the tombstone to die! Then, the historians will probably write a lot of beautiful words with their pens!"
"Come here!" Li Longze shouted angrily, his face livid. "Bring the Xianning County Lady under strict supervision!"
Lu Fengqing calmly gave a look to his personal eunuch Chang Bao.
Chang Bao understood what he meant and immediately waved his hand to signal the young eunuchs to come forward.
"Take her to the back hall first," Lu Fengqing ordered in a deep voice, "Keep her under strict guard. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!"
The young eunuchs responded immediately, holding Li Yunting tightly and retreating cautiously towards the back hall.
Although Li Yunting was unwilling, she had to swallow her anger temporarily and let them control her under the constraints of the crowd.
Li Longze looked at his cousin's back as she was taken away, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger, and turned to Lu Fengqing and said, "Mother, you are still needed to preside over tonight's Qionglin Banquet. I will go change my clothes first and come back to drink with you later."
Lu Fengqing nodded slightly, indicating that he could do as he pleased.
However, at this moment, the sound of hurried horse hooves broke the silence, and the newly-appointed scholars poured into the Qionglin Garden. The joy they had during the parade was gone from their faces, and was replaced by solemnity and anger.
"Your Majesty, we have important matters to report!" As the newly crowned top scholar, Jiang Lun was the first to kneel in front of the gate of the villa, his voice firm and powerful.
Li Longze, who had just walked out of the villa, saw the coffin and white banner behind the newly crowned top scholar and Jinshi, and he had already guessed something in his mind: "Jiang Lun, what do you want to report?"
Jiang Lun raised his head, looking firmly at Li Longze, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the cause of Lord Zhang Xianzhi's death is fraught with doubts. It is definitely not a simple accident. We, the students, implore Your Majesty to order the Ministry of Justice to preside over this case and to ascertain the truth to comfort Lord Zhang's spirit in heaven!"
"Your Majesty, Jiang Zhuangyuan is absolutely right! Please be discerning and give us, the world's students, a bright and clear world!"
Their voices combined into an irresistible force, echoing in the Qionglin Courtyard, demonstrating the scholars' firm determination to pursue truth and justice.
Li Longze frowned upon hearing this: "I already know what you said."
"As for the cause of Zhang Xianzhi's death, I will send the Ministry of Justice to investigate the case thoroughly!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" Jiang Lun and Xue Ji Yan said in unison, and then retreated with the other Jinshi.
Li Longze looked at their backs and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. This Qionglin Banquet was originally meant to celebrate the glorious moment of the newly-promoted Jinshi, but he didn't expect something like this to happen.
Hearing the noise outside, Lu Fengqing also walked out of the villa.
"Mother, it seems that tonight's Qionglin Banquet cannot be held as scheduled."
Upon hearing this, Lu Fengqing just nodded lightly, as if he had already anticipated this result.
"Your Majesty, the cause of Zhang Xianzhi's death is indeed suspicious, but the situation in the court cannot be ignored. You must handle it with caution."
"Don't worry, mother. I know what to do."
…
That night, after Chen Jin, the eunuch in charge of writing for the Imperial Household Department, went to the Ministry of Justice to convey the imperial edict, he returned to the inner palace. The sky was gradually getting dark.
As soon as he stepped into the palace gate, a subordinate quickly handed him a tightly wrapped roll of kraft paper.
Such secret letters would now be delivered to him as scheduled every four or five days. Before stepping into the study of the Qianqing Palace, Chen Jin skillfully unfolded the secret letter.
A line of eye-catching handwriting caught the eye: "Nurhadu, son of Zuo Xian Wang, has secretly entered the capital with the tribute delegation."
Chen Jin frowned slightly, and a hint of solemnity flashed in his eyes.
For him, this news means that the days ahead will not be peaceful.
Nurhadu, this name is not unfamiliar in the court. As the son of Zuo Xianwang, the regent of the Western Rong tribe, his arrival will undoubtedly cause a stir.
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