Chapter 147 County Princess
This is on Qiu Yanling's body, which is her deceased second brother, the former chief envoy of the Privy Council.
It is also a unique family emblem of the Qiu family. Every member of the Qiu family has a similar jade pendant. Although they are all Vermilion Birds, there are still some differences if you look closely.
The emperor clearly knew where the jade pendant came from. His face darkened, and he turned to look at the terrified empress.
"What's going on? How did the Qiu family jade pendant end up on the assassin?!"
"Your Majesty, I have no idea. This is absolutely a frame-up. The Qiu family is loyal to the Celestial Dynasty and would never assassinate Your Majesty. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!"
The Empress knelt down with a thud, her eyes blurry with tears.
"I carefully examined the assassins and found that they had white powder hidden in their teeth. This is a poison that assassins usually use to commit suicide in order to maintain secrecy when they are captured."
Duan Gan spoke in a calm voice, but his words were enough to shatter the good impression the Qiu family had of the Emperor.
Upon hearing this, the emperor became even more enraged: "How dare your Qiu family raise assassins! Do you disregard me and the Celestial Empire? What are you trying to do? Could it be that you intend to..."
"Father! Your son kowtows to wish you a long and peaceful life."
As soon as Qi Heng stepped into the room, she heard the fabricated charge and immediately spoke up.
Duan Gan looked in the direction of the sound, then lowered his eyebrows and eyes, his expression inscrutable, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
"May you be blessed with good fortune and peace? How dare you say that!"
With a loud crack!
The emperor took the bowl from Gao Liangui's tray and threw it. It grazed Qi Heng's eyebrows and shattered into pieces on the ground, scattering fragments everywhere.
Qi Heng closed her eyes slightly, then knelt down with a thud, the shards penetrating her clothes and embedding themselves deep into her knees.
"Father, please calm your anger..."
"What a fine son you are! Where were you when I was unconscious?! I think you truly wished for my death so you could ascend the throne sooner, didn't you?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked, never expecting that the Emperor would pin such a treasonous charge on the Crown Prince.
"Your Majesty, Heng'er absolutely did not mean that. Heng'er is utterly loyal to you..."
The empress crawled forward on her knees, grabbing his arms with both hands and crying out, looking utterly disheveled.
"Guards, imprison the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace. Without my decree, he is not to leave, nor is anyone allowed to see him."
No matter how the emperor dealt with her, Qi Heng never offered any explanation.
As the Imperial Guards entered to take Qi Heng away, Duan Gan stepped forward and spoke.
"Your Majesty, Murong Tao, the adopted daughter of Prince Murong Huaishi of Yingzhou, is still in the Eastern Palace. Should we arrange for someone to send her out first? After all, she shielded Your Majesty from a sharp blade at the banquet, and I'm afraid she is still in critical condition."
"The Prince of Yingzhou? Murong Tao?"
"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case!"
He had been waiting outside with his ears perked up for Prince Murong Huai Shi of Yingzhou. When he heard his name, he immediately shouted it out and went straight in.
"Your Majesty, my beloved daughter has been taken away by His Highness the Crown Prince, and her fate is unknown. I beg Your Majesty to spare my daughter for the sake of Xiao Tao who saved you."
As soon as Murong Huai Shi entered, he knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, looking utterly pitiful.
Upon hearing this, Qi Heng looked up at Duan Gan, her gaze heavy and her expression somewhat unpleasant.
Suddenly, the Empress thought of something, her eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "Heng'er and Murong Tao became acquainted because she saw how a weak woman risked her life to save others."
"And coincidentally, this woman is the one Heng'er loves, which is why Heng'er lost her composure for a moment. Heng'er has finally met someone she loves, so please forgive the Crown Prince for the sake of Heng'er's feelings."
These words were like a thunderbolt, instantly turning the minds of everyone present upside down.
Duan Gan remained expressionless, but a hint of sinister intent flashed in his lowered eyes, and his hand unconsciously clenched at his side.
The most shocked person was Murong Huai Shi, who was kneeling beside Qi Heng. He had clearly only taken in a goddaughter, but it seemed that this goddaughter had an unusual relationship with the Crown Prince.
Judging from the Empress's words, she was intentionally trying to arrange a marriage between his adopted daughter and the Crown Prince.
Wouldn't that mean she might become the Crown Princess? At the very least, she could become a Liangdi (a concubine rank), after all, her adopted daughter saved the Emperor in public.
"Mother, your son and Xiaotao were just..."
"Shut up! Quickly apologize to your father!"
Qi Heng wanted to explain clearly, otherwise he was afraid it would affect Tao Tao's reputation, but he was scolded by the Empress as soon as he opened his mouth.
The Empress turned her head and gestured to him with her eyes, signaling him to quickly admit his mistake. Her expression showed concern for him and fear of the ruthless nature of imperial power that transcends the bond between father and son.
In her heart, as long as the Crown Prince is protected, what does it matter if he takes her as a concubine? If this woman can win back the Emperor's favor towards the Crown Prince, she can become the Crown Princess.
As long as she has any use to Heng'er.
Qi Heng frowned, and with no other choice, finally spoke up: "Father, I was wrong. Please calm down."
"Your subject should not have been so preoccupied with love that he neglected the safety of His Majesty."
The emperor looked at him and the empress with suspicion, then turned his gaze to the silent Duan Gan, as if seeking the right answer.
Duan Gan noticed the gaze fixed on him and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, why don't you let Eunuch Gao go and see how this woman is doing? She is just a young lady with such a kind heart, and she saved the true dragon of the Heavenly Dynasty. Surely Heaven will not let anything happen to her."
"For her meritorious service in saving the emperor, His Majesty may grant this woman some reward to demonstrate His Majesty's benevolence and kindness, so as not to disappoint others."
He nodded in agreement: "Minister Duan is right. In your opinion, what should be rewarded?"
"This woman is exceptionally intelligent and courageous. At the banquet, she dared to face the assassin's blade head-on, bravely standing in front of the emperor without regard for her own safety."
"With such loyalty and courage, why doesn't His Majesty bestow upon her the title of County Princess?"
Upon hearing this, the emperor burst into laughter and teased, "Minister Duan, I have never seen you praise anyone like this before. It seems this woman is quite to your liking."
"Anyone who is loyal to His Majesty can be praised by me. I naturally hope that there are more people like Murong Tao. This not only shows that His Majesty governs well and is benevolent, but also that more people will serve His Majesty and the Celestial Empire."
Duan Gan spoke these words earnestly and sincerely. For Murong Tao to be able to get this cold-hearted and ruthless minister to say so many good things about him, she must have some skill.
Everyone had this thought in their hearts, and even Murong Tao, whom they didn't know yet, couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
"In that case, Gao Liangui, you shall now take my decree to the Eastern Palace. Murong Tao is intelligent and brave, and has rendered meritorious service in saving the Emperor. She shall be immediately granted the title of Princess Huaimin, rewarded with a thousand gold pieces, and given a fiefdom with a thousand households."
"The fiefdom... Oh, right, I just remembered that Prince Murong's fiefdom, Yingzhou, will be returned to the court after a hundred years?"
Murong Huai Shi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, therefore the Celestial Dynasty has issued a law that a king of a different surname cannot pass on his title to his next son or daughter."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com