Chapter 331: Showdown, no more pretense
He comes with bad intentions!
Xie Yao realized instantly that it was probably not Xiao Ji's intention to let her enter the palace. And Li Zhong...
Xie Yao stopped where she was, her eyes slightly gloomy, "Where is His Highness?"
Zhu Qing and Lin Xia beside her also noticed something was wrong, and immediately stepped forward to protect Xie Yao.
Seeing this, Li Zhong simply withdrew his smile and said in a grim tone, "The Crown Prince is naturally waiting for you in the palace."
"Crown Princess, please don't make things difficult for me." Li Zhong's words clearly had a hidden meaning.
really.
As soon as Xie Yao tried to test him, Li Zhong revealed his true colors, but she had to submit no matter what.
Li Zhong took her directly to a remote palace in the palace. As soon as she entered, the palace was locked tightly.
"Crown Princess, you are a smart person. I think you should know what to do and what not to do."
"Think about the people you care about and don't make things difficult for me." Li Zhong said, sneered and turned away.
"Commander Li." Xie Yao called out to Li Zhong, "Where is His Highness?"
"This is not something the Crown Princess should worry about." Li Zhong's eyes swept over Lin Xia and Zhu Qing, and he waved his hand and said, "Take them away!"
Bang.
The door of the palace was quickly locked in front of Xie Yao, leaving Xie Yao alone in the empty palace.
Of course, Xie Yao was sure that there must be Jinwu Guards guarding outside.
It was already late autumn, and this palace, which had not been inhabited for a long time, was empty. There was nothing in it. As night fell, it was freezing cold.
Xie Yao didn't care whether it was cold or not.
She was just wondering what happened to His Highness...
Xie Yao waited in the hall for a while, and when she was sure that no one came to see her, she immediately headed towards the wall of the courtyard.
Perhaps because she was a woman, Li Zhong and others did not take her too seriously.
But Xie Yao swiftly climbed up the big tree in the courtyard and looked outside in the cover of night -
There were only two Jinwu guards at the palace gate.
Xie Yao did not dare to look at them for too long. After all, these people were all martial artists, and if she looked at them for too long, she would inevitably be noticed.
After checking the surrounding situation, she carefully climbed up the wall from the tree branches and tiptoed in the opposite direction.
Finally, he jumped off the wall from the other direction.
Then she walked towards the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation according to what she had just seen.
The emperor suddenly brought her into the palace and locked her up. He did it so blatantly that it was obvious that he didn't want to pretend anymore.
What about His Highness?
Your Highness and Si Nan are indeed skilled, but this is in the palace after all...
Xie Yao's heart was in her throat and she walked faster and faster. Of course, she did not forget to be alert at all times to avoid being bumped into by others.
There are footsteps!
Xie Yao suddenly stopped and hid in the shadow of the wall.
Listen to the footsteps... there is only one person.
While waiting for this person to pass by, Xie Yao's eyes flashed with a dark light, and she quickly stepped forward and hit the back of the palace maid's neck with a knife!
The palace maid instantly collapsed into Xie Yao's arms.
Xie Yao was still very confident about the move she had just made, as she had specially learned it from His Highness.
Xie Yao dragged the palace maid and hid in the shadows. Not long after, she changed her clothes and walked out of the shadows.
At the same time, in the Palace of Mental Cultivation.
Xiao Ji was indeed trapped. When he was about to leave the palace in the evening, he was directly invited to the main hall of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
Xiao Ji was indeed confident that he could break out of the palace, but he had some concerns, so he obediently went to the main hall.
The emperor was still "unconscious", and after he sat down, the eunuchs served tea to His Highness.
There was...drug in the tea.
It was nothing else but the medicine that could trigger the witchcraft poison in his body.
In just a moment, Xiao Ji understood that the emperor wanted him to die.
If he didn't use the tea and snacks, he would have to stay in the Yangxin Palace.
The witchcraft poison took effect very quickly. Once he drank it, nothing happened to him, but he could not leave the Yangxin Palace.
Xiao Ji was not in a hurry to move these things.
He was just thinking: How is Xie Yao?
The emperor took direct action against him, obviously he could no longer wait and tolerate him.
Then...what about Yaoyao?
What about the Prince’s Mansion?
"Your Highness." Seeing that Xiao Ji had no intention of touching the tea and snacks, Eunuch Cui stepped forward and said with a smile, "Please enjoy your meal."
The real purpose is revealed, there is no point in pretending.
Xiao Ji picked up the teacup on the table and stroked the wall of the cup with his fingertips...
The corners of Eunuch Cui's lips rose slightly, and suddenly, Xiao Ji's sharp eyes fell on Eunuch Cui, with a cold look.
Eunuch Cui subconsciously lowered his head slightly, not daring to look Xiao Ji in the face. Then he reacted and raised his head again, straightening his back a little, with a bluff of arrogance in his eyes.
What is he afraid of?
It's a done deal...
Bang.
Xiao Ji's grip loosened and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground, breaking into pieces and splashing tea everywhere.
Eunuch Cui's expression changed drastically, "You——"
He didn't expect the prince to be so rampant, but when he met Xiao Ji's eyes, his words were stuck in his throat again.
"Prince, this is a reward from His Majesty. Are you doing this because you are dissatisfied with His Majesty?!" Eunuch Cui's voice was shrill and his expression was a little ferocious.
As he finished speaking, the eyes of everyone else in the hall fell on Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji was not afraid of this at all. He looked sharp and asked, "Can you represent our father?"
Eunuch Cui snorted, "Your Highness, you are joking. I cannot represent Your Majesty, but this is what Your Majesty meant."
"The emperor is still in a coma and will not wake up until the end of the month. What exactly do you want to do by falsely conveying the emperor's orders?" Xiao Ji sat on the chair with his arms and legs spread, looking at Eunuch Cui with cold eyes.
Eunuch Cui was startled by the look on his face, but he was not panicked because he had confidence.
He looked at Xiao Ji coldly, "Your Highness, some things are meaningless if they are explained too clearly - ah! What do you want to do?!"
Eunuch Cui suddenly screamed and took a few steps back.
Xiao Ji: “…”
He did nothing.
He just stood up.
"Heh." Xiao Ji's chuckle could hardly conceal his mockery. Eunuch Cui immediately became angry and ordered the eunuchs around him, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and serve the prince tea!"
Several eunuchs heard the order and subconsciously wanted to step forward, but Xiao Ji glanced at them. Those he saw subconsciously stopped and lowered their heads.
Eunuch Cui's expression was distorted, what a useless thing!
Xiao Ji ignored him and walked directly towards the emperor's dragon bed. Eunuch Cui exclaimed and immediately stepped forward to stop him, "Prince! What do you want to do?!"
Could it be that the Crown Prince still wants to do something to His Majesty in front of so many people? !
Bang.
Xiao Ji did not answer Eunuch Cui's question, but kicked Eunuch Cui in the abdomen, causing Eunuch Cui to fall backwards.
He fell heavily to the ground, his face pale.
"You, you are so presumptuous!" Eunuch Cui no longer concealed his anger and looked at Xiao Ji with hatred in his eyes, "How dare you?!"
"This is the Yangxin Palace! His Majesty is still here! Even if you are the crown prince, you can't hit someone in public, right? Is the crown prince planning a rebellion?!"
Eunuch Cui spoke in a sharp voice and directly accused Xiao Ji of a crime.
Eunuch Cui was secretly delighted. Just as he was about to have these people capture Xiao Ji, he heard Xiao Ji's domineering voice, "Rebellion?"
"I think you are the one who wants to rebel!"
Xiao Ji stared at Eunuch Cui, "Father is still unconscious, yet you repeatedly act in his name! You are so bold!"
The aura of the two men was completely different. As soon as Xiao Ji spoke, Eunuch Cui felt that even his legs were trembling, and he didn't dare to look at Xiao Ji at all.
After all, one was a young eunuch who had just been promoted to a new position, and the other was a prince who held a high position.
When Eunuch Cui panicked, all the other eunuchs in the palace panicked as well.
Just as Xiao Ji was about to pass him and walk to the emperor's dragon bed, a voice came, "Your Highness, please stay!"
Li Zhong, wearing armor, strode into the room with his head held high. His sharp eyes fell on Xiao Ji. The person behind him was holding a tray with tea and snacks.
"Your Highness, this is a reward from His Majesty. Are you going to disobey His Majesty's order?"
At this point, Li Zhong had no intention of pretending anymore and was almost ready to speak out.
"When can you issue an order on behalf of your father?" Xiao Ji did not argue with him, but stared at Li Zhong and said, "Li Zhong, you are rebelling!"
Li Zhong smiled, "Your Highness, you are joking. How dare I rebel? Your Highness, this reward was personally ordered by His Majesty."
"Is the emperor awake?" Xiao Ji asked anxiously, "Where is the emperor? What did you do to him?"
Li Zhong sneered, "At this time, Your Highness, are you still playing dumb?"
"Well, since the prince insists on seeing Your Majesty, then please come in." Li Zhong stretched out his hand and made a "please" gesture.
Eunuch Cui wanted to say something, but Li Zhong looked at him and he dared not say anything more.
Eunuch Cui was only temporarily appointed, and Li Zhong was the emperor's real confidant, so he naturally did not dare to interfere.
The bead curtain sways.
Li Zhong took Xiao Ji into the inner room. He stared at Xiao Ji with a wary look in his eyes.
He naturally knew that the prince had some skills. If the prince wanted to do anything to His Majesty at this moment... he would take action to protect him at the first moment!
But no.
Xiao Ji seemed to know what Li Zhong was thinking. He stood in front of the dragon bed and kept a distance from the emperor.
"Father?" Xiao Ji called out first, then hurriedly said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
No response.
"Father?" Xiao Ji waited for a while, then raised his eyes tentatively.
The emperor was still lying on the bed, seemingly still in a coma.
"Li Zhong." Xiao Ji's cold voice sounded, "What on earth did your father do?"
Li Zhong had been staring at Xiao Ji, but now he felt something was wrong and glanced towards the dragon bed.
He bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
...still no response.
Li Zhong panicked, "Your Majesty? Your Majesty!"
"Imperial Physician!" In comparison, Xiao Ji was calmer, but after he finished speaking, no one in the entire Yangxin Palace moved.
But his words did remind Li Zhong.
Li Zhong was a martial artist, so he could tell that the emperor was still breathing, but he just couldn't wake him up...
"Imperial Physician, where is the Imperial Physician?!"
Li Zhong roared angrily, and immediately someone hurried out, apparently to call the imperial physician.
Li Zhong was very anxious. His Majesty was fine before, why is he now...
But His Majesty felt that he was already well, and as the situation today was special, he did not allow the imperial physician to serve him.
Suddenly, Li Zhong's eyes fell on Xiao Ji, his cold eyes full of defense. But before he could speak, Xiao Ji asked coldly: "Is this what you said, that the emperor personally ordered it?"
"Li Zhong, you are so brave!"
"It's you—" Li Zhong looked at Xiao Ji fiercely, "What did you do to His Majesty?!"
Although Li Zhong didn't know how the prince knew about His Majesty's situation, he was sure that His Majesty's current situation must be related to the prince!
Prince, you are so insidious!
Xiao Ji sneered, "Li Zhong, I should ask you this question!"
"The emperor is still unconscious, but you are acting under the emperor's orders. What do you want to do?!"
Li Zhong naturally had a clear conscience. He was only worried about the emperor's condition. In response to Xiao Ji's words, Li Zhong just stared at Xiao Ji and said, "Prince, you'd better pray that the emperor is okay."
A cold light flashed in Li Zhong's eyes, "Otherwise..."
Xiao Ji glanced at Li Zhong indifferently and was about to speak when he heard footsteps coming hurriedly. It was the imperial physician.
"Come over here immediately!" Li Zhong glanced over there, "See what's going on with His Majesty?"
"Yes, yes." The imperial physician wiped the sweat from his forehead and trotted to the dragon bed. Xiao Ji and Li Zhong were staring at him, and the imperial physician felt extremely pressured.
He squatted beside the dragon bed and carefully took the emperor's pulse.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" Li Zhong asked impatiently. He had already tightly grasped the hilt of the long sword at his waist, so that he could immediately draw the sword if the imperial physician said something wrong.
If the prince really harmed His Majesty... he would never give up! He would definitely avenge His Majesty and support the new emperor according to His Majesty's wishes.
"This..." The imperial physician considered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty...it's all right."
"Then why hasn't Your Majesty woken up?" Li Zhong's eyes were filled with murderous intent. Was this man teasing him?
The imperial physician looked at Li Zhong in astonishment, as if he had said something outrageous. "Your Majesty...it will take more than half a month for you to wake up."
Li Zhong's expression changed immediately.
He raised his hand to grab the doctor, "What do you mean? You clearly know that His Majesty--"
Li Zhong's hand was stopped by Xiao Ji, and Xiao Ji's eyes were full of coldness. "Commander Li, what are you going to do?"
Li Zhong looked at Xiao Ji, then looked at the imperial physician behind Xiao Ji. What else didn't he understand?
His eyes fell on the imperial physician as if he were looking at a dead person, and then he said to the outside world: "Call the other imperial physician!"
Someone immediately turned around and walked out, but just as he reached the entrance of the Yangxin Palace, he suddenly stopped and then stepped back...
"I told you to find the imperial physician..." Li Zhong's unpleasant voice suddenly stopped when he saw the situation at the entrance of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
There are more people at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The leader was none other than Si Nan, who was supposed to have been locked up. He was accompanied by civil and military officials from the court, with swords in their hands pointed at the young eunuch.
"Commander Li! You falsely conveyed the imperial edict and plotted to murder His Majesty and the Crown Prince. Why don't you surrender immediately?!" Si Nan shouted loudly and righteously.
Li Zhong's face was dark, murderous intent was surging in his eyes, and his chest was heaving violently because of anger. He thought he had a sure win, but he didn't expect that the prince had done so many things in secret!
Your Majesty is right, the Crown Prince is indeed a serious threat!
Li Zhong was very angry, but soon regained his senses. He took out a token from his waist and held it high.
"This is a gift from His Majesty. Seeing this token is like seeing His Majesty!" He waited for everyone to kneel down, and then announced that the prince was plotting to murder His Majesty.
But Si Nan just sneered, "Commander Li, stop pretending, you stole this from His Majesty while he was unconscious!"
"Your crimes are all seen by the adults. If you can put down your butcher knife, you may be given a lighter sentence!"
Seeing that none of the ministers had any intention of kneeling, Li Zhong tightened his grip on the token and glanced at the court officials around Si Nan, "Are you planning a rebellion?"
"Li Zhong, you are the one who is actually rebelling." Cheng Fengqi said.
Li Zhong met the eyes of these people, his heart sinking. He tightened his grip on the long knife, veins surging on the back of his hand. "Your Majesty is in a coma this time, the murderer behind it is the crown prince. The crown prince is plotting to murder your majesty, the evidence is irrefutable."
"Get it!"
Li Zhong gave an order and rushed directly towards Xiao Ji.
Before Xiao Ji could make a move, Si Nan rushed in and said, "Li Zhong, the leader of the Jinwu Guard, is rebelling. Capture him!"
Si Nan and Li Zhong started fighting, and naturally there were people from the Jinwu Guard to respond. For a while, there were soldiers both inside and outside the Yangxin Palace.
But soon, the situation turned to one side.
After all, the fact that Si Nan was able to bring people in meant that the Jinwu Guards outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation had been eliminated, and the only ones who still had the ability to resist were those inside the hall.
As the leader of the Jinwu Guard, Li Zhong is a martial arts expert, but he has been pampered for so many years...
In front of Si Nan, who is in his prime, he is still not strong enough.
Soon, Li Zhong fell into a disadvantage and found it difficult to defend himself.
"Crown Prince!" Li Zhong's eyes passed Si Nan and fell on Xiao Ji, "Are you really so stubborn? Don't you even think about the Crown Princess and the little princess and grandson?"
Li Zhong's voice was cold and the threat was obvious!
"I would like to thank Commander Li for still worrying about my safety at this time."
A voice came from outside the door.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
The person who walked in was not someone else but Xie Yao. However, at this moment, Xie Yao was wearing a palace maid's dress and looked a little embarrassed.
"Crown Princess." A hint of worry flashed across Xiao Ji's slightly twisted eyes. Why did his Yaoyao look so miserable?
The court officials, led by Cheng Fengqi, also bowed and saluted, "Greetings to the Crown Princess."
"No need to formally greet you, my lords." Xie Yao's voice was clear and smooth, and then she bowed to Xiao Ji, "Crown Prince."
"This evening, someone from the palace came to the Crown Prince's residence with a message, saying that His Highness summoned me to the palace."
"But when I entered the palace, I didn't see His Highness. Instead, Commander Li personally brought me into the palace..." Xie Yao's eyes turned cold, "Commander Li took me to an abandoned palace, locked me up, and threatened me with the safety of His Highness."
"After Commander Li left, I quietly climbed up the wall along the tree and climbed over the wall to remind His Highness." Xie Yao's words were more for the ministers to hear than for Xiao Ji.
Let them know how bad Li Zhong’s actions are!
"Your Highness, my personal maids Zhu Qing and Lin Xia were taken away and locked up by Commander Li's men. Please save them, Your Highness!"
"Of course." Xiao Ji said to Xie Yao hurriedly, "The Crown Princess has suffered."
Xie Yao's arrival was obviously beyond Li Zhong's expectations.
Although Li Zhong was at a disadvantage just now, he always felt that he still had a trump card in his hand. Based on the feelings that the Crown Prince had for the Crown Princess, he was not afraid as long as the Crown Princess was in his hands!
But...the Crown Princess actually ran out!
With this distraction, Li Zhong, who was originally being suppressed by Si Nan, fell into Si Nan's hands!
Li Zhong was kicked to the ground, Si Nan stepped on his chest and held the sword against Li Zhong's neck.
Si Nan was not a pushover, and the murderous intent in his eyes was not concealed at all. If Li Zhong dared to move again, he would not mind crippling Li Zhong with a single sword strike.
Li Zhong also noticed it keenly, so he didn't dare to move, but his eyes were still full of unwillingness.
Lost...
He and His Majesty... lost!
"Take him away." Xiao Ji gave an order.
"Prince." Li Zhong's eyes flickered and his voice was weak. "I have one last question."
"What on earth have you done to His Majesty?"
It was clear that he had met His Majesty this evening, and His Majesty had just learned the news that something had happened to the Second Prince, so he hastily made plans to take action against the Crown Prince today.
But...it's all a loss!
After Li Zhong asked, his eyes fell on the imperial physician again.
This imperial physician is clearly someone your Majesty can trust, and he saw your Majesty waking up with his own eyes, but now he is lying with his eyes open...
"Take him away." Xiao Ji did not answer Li Zhong's words at all. It was impossible for him to answer such words.
As soon as Li Zhong was taken away, Xiao Ji's eyes turned and fell on Eunuch Cui again.
Eunuch Cui was originally trying his best to reduce his presence, his legs were so weak that he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
But I didn't expect that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would find out...
Eunuch Cui was about to cry, "Your Highness, Your Highness the Crown Prince..."
His knees softened and he knelt on the ground, his voice tearful, "It was all Li Zhong who threatened me. Your Highness, please forgive me. Please forgive me..."
Eunuch Cui really didn't expect that Li Zhong would lose so soon!
A man of insight is a wise man. He has always been able to adapt to changing circumstances. Now that the prince has been born, why is he still resisting?
Just sell Li Zhong out directly!
Eunuch Cui's words naturally confirmed Li Zhong's "rebellion". The court officials who had originally come with Si Nan still had doubts in their hearts, but they no longer had any doubts after hearing this.
Li Zhong...deserves to die!
When Xiao Ji heard what Eunuch Cui said, the murderous intent in his eyes subsided a little. He looked at Eunuch Cui and asked, "You said Li Zhong forced you... What did he force you to do?"
Eunuch Cui immediately understood that this was his chance!
Whether he could save his life or not depended entirely on his performance at the moment. Eunuch Cui did not even think twice and immediately said, "Li Zhong forced me to invite His Royal Highness the Crown Prince here on His Majesty's orders, and forced me to poison His Royal Highness's tea..."
"I was forced to do this..." When Eunuch Cui saw Xiao Ji's expression, he knew that the prince was not completely satisfied with what he said.
Eunuch Cui's mind worked quickly, and he added, "Li Zhong, he also forged the imperial edict, forged the imperial edict to restore the second prince's status, and forced the servant to testify."
"Li Zhong said all this just to make the Second Prince compete with the Crown Prince for power. He also said that he would support the Fifth Prince and use the new emperor to control the world in the future..."
Eunuch Cui didn't care about anything else. He said whatever he thought of, wishing to put all the blame on Li Zhong.
As long as he can live!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com