Speechless after being confronted by everyone, Xu Lingqing stood nervously beside Zhao Zhiyan and whispered, "Your Highness, the palace suddenly caught fire yesterday, and a group of assassins happened to arrive. It must have been planned in advance. Please don't be soft-hearted again."
Zhao Zhiyan frowned.
"What does the Eighth Princess Consort mean by this?" Yun Ke gritted his teeth, his eyes turning cold. He rushed forward, but was stopped by Zhao Zhiyan as soon as he raised his hand.
Yunke looked up.
Their eyes met; one was stunned, annoyed, and guilty, while the other was furious.
At this moment, Zhao Zhiyan was speechless, his voice choked with emotion as he said, "My brother entrusted you to me before his death. Over the years, I have taken good care of you. Before Lady Song, our relationship was harmonious. It is ultimately not right for a woman to be between us, uncle and nephew. Yunke, things have come to this..."
"Eighth Imperial Uncle!" Yun Ke's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "I have always respected you all these years. A Yue was the wife I brought into the house with great ceremony. What has she done wrong?"
Seeing Yun Ke so angry, Zhao Zhiyan couldn't help but get angry too: "Yun Ke, you used to be obedient and docile, and you would never disobey in public. For the sake of a woman, you're going to distance yourself from me? What kind of bewitching potion did Song Yue give you?"
Bang!
Yunke punched Zhao Zhiyan hard in the cheek.
Zhao Zhiyan was caught off guard and took a few steps back, rubbing his cheek as he looked up at Yun Ke. Xu Lingqing exclaimed anxiously, "Your Highness?"
"It's alright!" Zhao Zhiyan pushed Xu Lingqing away and said to Yun Ke, "As long as you can vent your anger and come to your senses in time, it's fine to throw a few more punches. Don't let a woman affect the relationship between you and me, uncle and nephew."
Yun Ke raised his longsword, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Xu Lingqing was furious: "Your Highness, how dare you disrespect the Eighth Prince! Guards, seize this thief at once!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a number of guards emerged from behind the Eighth Prince's residence.
At the same time, many guards emerged from outside the Eighth Prince's Mansion, each armed with a weapon.
Yun Ke stared intently at Zhao Zhiyan: "We are no longer uncle and nephew. All past favors are severed. From this day forward, I will fight you to the death!"
"Yunke!" Zhao Zhiyan's eyelids twitched.
The old prince stepped forward and helped Yunke up: "Child, you have been wronged. The Eighth Prince of today is no longer the Eighth Prince of the past. He has become confused and lost his senses for a woman. He has persecuted Princess Guangjia. There are witnesses and evidence. We elders will not sit idly by."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lingqing's pupils contracted sharply, and she nervously grabbed Zhao Zhiyan's sleeve, hiding most of her body behind him.
The old prince's gaze was like a sharp sword, radiating cold light as he stared intently at Xu Lingqing: "Debts must be repaid, and murderers must pay with their lives. Today, the Eighth Prince's Mansion will surely give an explanation!"
"The Eighth Prince's Mansion must give us an explanation!"
"Confess!"
Countless people outside the door were shouting at the top of their lungs, the sound deafening.
Zhao Zhiyan was startled. He looked at the common people and the guards, all of whom were staring at him with fury, as if he were an enemy!
"Your Highness," Xu Lingqing trembled and lowered her voice, "As long as you don't admit it, insist that the assassin set the fire and killed people, take the opportunity to capture Prince Guangjia, and seize back military power, who would dare to disrespect you!"
Zhao Zhiyan opened his mouth.
Suddenly, Yun Ke clutched his chest, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and swayed as he collapsed into the arms of the guard.
"Your Highness!" the guards exclaimed.
Seeing this, the old prince looked at Zhao Zhiyan with displeasure: "Eighth Prince, you are too ruthless to use any means to climb to the throne!"
Zhao Zhiyan frowned.
“Nonsense, clearly…” Xu Lingqing was about to say something more, but Zhao Zhiyan stopped her, letting the old prince and the others leave with Yunke.
The guards outside the door gradually dispersed.
When ordinary people passed by the Eighth Prince's Mansion, they couldn't help but look at it with disdain in their eyes.
Zhao Zhiyan stood on the steps, feeling a tightness in his chest.
"Your Highness, they must have entered the palace! You must enter the palace quickly and seize the opportunity!" Xu Lingqing said anxiously. "The Emperor is critically ill, and Prince Guangjia's body is in dire need of treatment. This is the best opportunity."
Zhao Zhiyan glanced back at the woman beside him, his expression meaningful: "Did you have anything to do with the assassin incident last night?"
Xu Lingqing stared wide-eyed, looking aggrieved: "Your Highness, what are you saying? How could I possibly plot against Song Yue?"
She did indeed intend to scheme against Song Yue, but she couldn't get even half a step closer and could only watch anxiously. Upon hearing that the person had died, she was undoubtedly overjoyed.
"Your Highness, only I will never betray you." Xu Lingqing tried to hold Zhao Zhiyan's hand, but he shook her off.
Xu Lingqing watched helplessly as Zhao Zhiyan shook off her hand. She was somewhat taken aback, not understanding what she had done wrong.
I just felt a little panicked.
...
Royal Palace
Council Hall
Countless officials and princes of different surnames entered the palace and knelt outside the Hall of State Affairs, forming a dense, dark mass. The old prince at the head of the group said to Eunuch Li, "I heard that the Emperor is showing signs of waking up. May I go in and take a look?"
Eunuch Li looked troubled.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"
A shrill voice rang out.
Empress Dowager Xu, supported by her palace maids, came in a grand procession, her face full of anger. She stood in front of the crowd and said, "I have heard about what happened at the Eighth Prince's residence. It is simply outrageous! The Eighth Prince has disregarded imperial authority and treated human life like dirt. That was the rightful Princess Consort of Guangjia. How dare he do that?"
The old prince sighed, "Prince Guangjia fainted in a fit of rage, and he probably won't be able to accept this fact for a while."
"I can understand why the newlyweds died under such mysterious circumstances," Empress Dowager Xu said, her eyes reddening and her voice choked with emotion.
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