Chapter 82 May everything go smoothly year after year…
Qin Ge was ordered to investigate Feng Yu's wife, and he has already found a clue.
It turns out that Madam Feng did not die of grief upon hearing the news of her husband's death. Instead, Feng Yu hid her in the back mountain of a Buddhist temple connected by an underground passage in the Lu mansion, and assigned four maids to guard her, where she lived a life of seclusion.
Even Emperor Chunming's search for people these past few days was overtaken by Qin Ge.
Lady Feng was brought before the Crown Prince and confessed to her husband's words and deeds without reservation.
It is true that Feng Yu betrayed the country and colluded with the enemy back then. The Crown Prince already has that Northern Wei general as a witness, but his motives are still questionable.
Madam Feng wept, saying, "Back then, I was seriously ill and incurable. He took me everywhere seeking medical help, but unfortunately, nothing could cure me. Later, we met Prince Rui, who is now the Emperor, at a medical clinic. He secretly introduced us to a sorcerer who used some unorthodox methods, and he actually cured my old ailment. Later, I learned that Feng Yu had begun secretly working for Prince Rui, even going so far as to rebel against the late Emperor, collude with the enemy, and secretly instigate the princes to rebel and kill each other, all to support Prince Rui's ascension to the throne..."
The crown prince's face was cold and solemn. "Is that the witch doctor who cast the curse on me?"
Lady Feng, not expecting that the Crown Prince had already discovered the matter of the Gu poison, revealed everything: "Yes, when His Highness was still an infant, I overheard them discussing how to torture His Highness to death with Gu poison, so that the throne would not have to be returned to you..."
She never expected that while her husband continued to travel and scheme all these years, the Crown Prince remained alive and well. At such a young age, he had fought his way out of a desperate situation and now, having uncovered everything, he was eager to take revenge and reclaim the supreme position that rightfully belonged to him.
The prince clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and asked in a deep voice, "Where is that witch doctor now?"
Madam Feng truthfully replied, "Twenty years ago, I recovered from a serious illness and never saw that person again. That person was an elderly woman in her seventies back then. Even if they hadn't silenced her, she would probably no longer be alive."
Therefore, Feng Yu was right. No one in the world can cure this Gu poison. The only solution now is to lure out the Gu worms and kill them completely.
The Crown Prince smiled sneer, but his tone was icy cold: "So, in order to repay his so-called savior, he did not hesitate to let 50,000 troops be surrounded, resulting in the annihilation of the entire army, the loss of the northern border, and the death of the late emperor from serious injuries. In recent years, he has committed all sorts of evil deeds, secretly killing all the loyal ministers and generals of the past, and he himself has become like a stray dog, changing his appearance... General Zhaoyong is truly a man of deep affection and righteousness."
Knowing her sins were grave, Madam Feng bowed her head and wept: "He also had nightmares every night, regretting his past actions. But one wrong step led to another. Afraid of being exposed and having his true identity discovered, he could only keep killing. No matter how much I tried to persuade him, it was useless. He said there was no turning back, and turning back would mean certain death..."
The crown prince stared coldly at her. "Is there anything else you're hiding from me?"
Madam Feng quickly shook her head: "This sinful woman has said everything she could, and dares not conceal anything from Your Highness..."
After saying this, something else suddenly came to her mind.
She overheard her husband's conversation with Prince Rui. Originally, Empress Huigong was able to give birth smoothly, but it was Princess Rui who deliberately sent someone to Kunning Palace to report the news that the late emperor had vomited blood and fallen into a coma, which caused Empress Huigong to have a miscarriage and premature birth.
In fact, the late emperor was not critically ill that day; it was merely a trick to deceive the empress. The empress had a premature birth, but the public claimed it was due to exhaustion...
The crown prince listened silently to her heartfelt words, his face extremely cold. It felt as if countless poisonous insects were gnawing at his veins and flesh inside his head, and blood vessels like fine spider webs instantly filled his eyes. Overwhelming hatred and intense pain almost consumed his reason.
Cao Yuanlu noticed that the Crown Prince's complexion was not right and guessed that his headache had flared up.
With Yun Kui not currently in the palace, the Gu poison would likely be difficult to suppress. Furthermore, His Highness was preparing to remove the Gu. After a moment's thought, Cao Yuanlu decided to immediately invite He Bailing to come and discuss the matter.
He Bailing has been staying at the East Palace for the past few days, ready to assist the Crown Prince in removing the curse at any time.
The prince sat on the couch, his fingertips pressed against his temples, the veins on his forehead almost bursting through the skin, each pulse accompanied by a bloodthirsty frenzy.
Upon seeing He Bailing approach, the Crown Prince did not hesitate for a moment, "Light the incense, and everyone, leave."
His overly restrained voice sounded extremely hoarse, like the low growl of a trapped beast.
The incense he mentioned was the same incense poison that Emperor Chunming had tried to use against him at the Prajna Temple.
After examining the incense burner, He Bailing discovered that it contained a large amount of Tibetan incense, which could easily trigger internal heat and aggravate mania. This Tibetan incense was similar in smell to the incense commonly used in Buddhist temples and was harmless to ordinary people, but it was a fatal blow to the prince who had a Gu worm implanted in his body.
He Bailing has already prepared the Tibetan incense, ready to activate the Gu worms in the prince's body at any time.
Cao Yuanlu was still worried, fearing that something might happen to his prince, and hesitated, saying, "Why don't we ask Miss Yun Kui to come back first? If the curse cannot be lifted, she can still help His Highness..."
The Crown Prince had made up his mind and knew that his headache was flaring up now, which was the best time to remove the curse. He had to resolve it completely. If he delayed any longer or summoned her back to the palace, everything would be in vain.
He ordered in a deep voice, "All of you, step back."
He Bailing had no choice but to obey. He added an appropriate amount of Tibetan incense to the burner, exchanged a glance with Cao Yuanlu, and the two of them withdrew together.
After settling Madam Feng in, Qin Ge, along with Luo Zhang and Zhao Yue, led troops to guard outside Chengguang Hall. During the Crown Prince's exorcism, no one was allowed to disturb him.
As the Tibetan incense was lit, wisps of white mist wafted out from the gilded openwork, seemingly gentle and harmless, yet it was as if it had triggered a mechanism in his body, causing him to go from pain to excruciating agony in an instant.
It felt as if countless steel needles were piercing his meridians simultaneously inside his skull. He gripped the knife hilt tightly, his fingers turning white, and the veins on the back of his hand bulging out.
In the past, when his headaches flared up, he could relieve the pain by cutting his skin with a blade. But not today. He had to force the Gu worms out completely, so he could only let the pain rage wildly inside his body.
The prince's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He had already vaguely sensed the movement of Gu worms inside his skull, but their location was unknown, so he could not act rashly and could only wait.
Wisps of smoke filled the entire bedchamber. He went from being agitated and repressed at the beginning, to the brink of collapse and madness, and now, his consciousness was almost dazed.
He saw his ailing grandmother lying on her deathbed, holding his hand tightly and saying that he must become strong and not let the country fall into the hands of others. But he was only three years old at the time, tormented by headaches, had no relatives or friends, and was in pain and despair. Just surviving was already difficult enough.
He recalled the portraits of his father and mother. He had only seen the portraits of the late emperor and empress during sacrificial rites. He hated them deeply and never addressed them as his father or mother. He also disliked his own name, "Qi An," which sounded extremely ironic.
I really want to ask them, since you gave birth to him, why did you abandon him and leave him, making him suffer endless torment every moment he lived in this world, never experiencing the warmth of human kindness?
Only now, with all the truth coming to light, does he realize that everything was orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. His loss of his parents, his loss of health, and his fall from grace were all part of a conspiracy by Emperor Chunming and his wife, along with Feng Yu!
He was filled with extreme hatred and rage, wishing he could immediately tear these people to pieces to offer as a sacrifice to the innocent soldiers who died in the Battle of Langshan, and to comfort the spirits of his father and mother in heaven.
Hatred fueled the venomous nature of the Gu worms. Veins bulged on his forehead, his temples were soaked with cold sweat and clung messily to his face. His whole body convulsed with pain, and in his dazed state, he saw that bright and beautiful little girl.
That pure and beautiful feeling—I loved holding him, snuggling close to him affectionately, calling him "husband" shyly and timidly, afraid he would die, relying on him for everything, and even before leaving, I would say in my heart, "Take good care of him..."
He had to support the country, avenge his family, and hold her firmly in his hands. How could he possibly die?
The worms slithered wildly beneath his skin. His crimson eyes suddenly sharpened, and he raised the dagger in his hand, swiftly slicing open the skin on the back of his neck. The blade drew out dark red blood, which pooled into a small, thick pool on the ground.
The black worms struggled a few times in the pool of blood, then could no longer move.
The prince was drenched in cold sweat and collapsed to the ground as if his bones had been pulled out.
It was as if a hand that had been gripping his neck had suddenly released its grip, and the pain slowly spread through his blood. A desolate smile appeared on his almost convulsing face.
Finally, finally...
The Sheng Mansion.
With nothing to do during the day, Yun Kui didn't dare to go out for a stroll. Instead, she took out the nightgown she had brought back from the palace and continued embroidering. As she sewed the needle and thread, she was finally not as rusty as before.
She was only halfway through embroidering when a sharp pain suddenly shot through her chest. Before she knew it, the needle pricked her finger, and she bit her lower lip in pain.
Sheng Yu stepped inside and saw the conspicuous bloodstains on the snow-white satin. He quickly stepped forward and found that the girl's face was deathly pale and there was a slight cold sweat on her forehead.
He asked anxiously, "Yun Kui, what's wrong?"
Yun Kui felt a dull, indescribable pain in her heart, and tears unconsciously streamed down her face. "Is His Highness in danger? I'm scared. I feel like he's in a lot of pain..."
Seeing the deep worry and anxiety in her eyes, Sheng Yu patted her shoulder and said, "I have already sent people to keep an eye on the palace. They will report back immediately if there is any news. His Highness the Crown Prince will be fine, don't worry."
Yun Kui clutched her nightgown tightly, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke again: "Could I... go to the palace to see him?"
Sheng Yu sighed. He could give his daughter anything she wanted, but he couldn't agree to anything involving her life or safety.
“The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is currently in the Eastern Palace, and several groups of assassins are trying to silence him. You are also His Highness the Crown Prince… As a palace maid serving him, entering the palace at this time will surely attract attention. If those assassins hiding in the shadows discover something amiss, they might use your life to threaten me and His Highness… Yun Kui, do you understand?”
Yun Kui lowered her eyes silently, holding back her tears as she nodded.
Sheng Yu sat down on the couch with her, looked at the clothes in her hands, and asked gently, "Is this nightgown made for His Highness?"
Yun Kui snapped out of her daze, put down her needlework, and whispered, "...Mm."
Sheng Yu was filled with mixed feelings. After hesitating for a long time, he tentatively asked, "You serve in the Eastern Palace. How does His Highness treat you?"
Yun Kui lowered her eyelashes and said, "Your Highness treats me very well."
Very good, how so?
The young lady has served in the Eastern Palace for half a year, treating the Crown Prince's headaches and serving him diligently in bed every night, yet she still has no official title. The girl is innocent and has no ambition, and she doesn't know what His Highness the Crown Prince is thinking.
How could Sheng Yu's daughter be made a slave or maid?
Sheng Yu tapped his knee with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "And what about you? What are your plans for the future?"
Yun Kui didn't know how to answer the question either.
She wanted to be with His Highness, to be his wife, and to be with him forever.
But it was not appropriate to say these things to Sheng Yu.
Your Highness is the ruler, and he is the subject, a loyal and capable minister. He cannot, out of personal desire, allow the ruler to disregard the fate of the country and the continuation of the imperial line, to marry only one person, not even her.
In her heart, she already regarded him as her father, so how could she have the nerve to say such affectionate words?
She pursed her lips and whispered, "I await Your Highness's arrangements."
Sheng Yu took a deep breath, slowly calming his breathing, "Do you... like His Highness?"
Yun Kui thought for a moment and finally nodded: "His Highness is very good to me, and I like him too. I want to stay by His Highness's side for the rest of my life."
Sheng Yu fell silent again.
The father and daughter sat like this for half a day. Yun Kui sat on the couch doing needlework, and Sheng Yu listened to her talk about her experiences after entering the palace.
In the evening, a servant came to report that Qin, the Crown Prince's personal guard, had come in person with important matters to report.
Yun Kui's heart tightened, and she quickly put down the embroidery basket in her hand and ran out. When she saw Qin Ge, she immediately asked, "Has something happened to His Highness?"
Qin Ge shook his head and said, "His Highness has cured the Gu poison and specially sent me to inform you, so please don't worry."
Yun Kui breathed a huge sigh of relief, "It's alright, it's alright..."
Qin Ge saw Sheng Yu come out of the house, bowed slightly to him, and said in a low voice, "His Majesty is secretly mobilizing troops and has also sent decrees to the families of concubines who are from military families, forcing them to support him. Your Highness's actions in the next two days will likely cause unrest in the capital, and the world could be turned upside down in an instant. Your Highness, please ask Lord Sheng to stay at the residence and protect the young lady's safety at all times."
Sheng Yu's expression turned slightly solemn, and he nodded in agreement.
Qin Ge continued to convey his prince's message, especially the prince's special instruction that some things should be said to the young lady in front of Lord Sheng.
"His Highness said that the jade ring is in your hand and can command the Eastern Palace guards. Please protect yourself. Once the matter is accomplished, His Highness will come to marry you and bring you back to the palace."
Yun Kui opened her mouth, wanting to stop her, but it was too late.
These few words had a profound impact on Sheng Yu, especially the last sentence... "to marry the girl and bring her back to the palace."
When emperors used the word "welcome" (迎娶), was it what they understood it to mean?
After Qin Ge left, Sheng Yu remained in a daze for a long time.
Yun Kui was also somewhat embarrassed; how could Guard Qin say such things in front of her father...
Sheng Yu looked at his daughter with a complicated expression, and after a long while, he finally asked, "What's the story behind that thumb ring?"
Yun Kui then took out the black jade thumb ring from the brocade box she had brought back and handed it to him, saying, "Your Highness gave this to me."
Sheng Yu recognized the item and was slightly surprised: "This is a relic of the late emperor."
The crown prince actually gave such an important thing to his daughter, and even said he would come to her door to marry her...
Could it be that his delay in assigning her a title is actually because he intends to... directly make her his empress?
His daughter, who had been separated from him for seventeen years, was about to be brought into the palace before he could even warm her heart.
Yun Kui felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and lowered her head, saying, "Do you think His Highness might be in danger?"
Sheng Yu was not worried about this. "A man who can repel 600,000 troops of Northern Wei has no doubt about his chances of winning in terms of military strength and strategy. Your Highness's subordinates are all strong soldiers and fierce generals. Especially now that the poison has been cured and Feng Yu has been captured, no one in the world can stop him."
...
Overnight, the city was thrown into chaos, filled with bloodshed and violence, and the world seemed to change color.
The sounds of battle, horses' hooves, and clashing weapons were deafening, wave after wave of attacks coming from outside the city and heading straight for the imperial city. The people stayed indoors, and the streets and alleys were filled with a grim and bloody atmosphere.
How could the Imperial Guards withstand the elite troops under the Crown Prince who had truly experienced battlefield combat? Even though the families of the concubines in the harem were threatened openly and covertly by Emperor Chunming, they were able to see the situation clearly and did not put up futile resistance. Most of them surrendered to the Crown Prince.
The Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Chunming wore a twelve-tassel crown and a dragon robe, and lit all the Tibetan incense in the Boshan censer.
He stood under the bright yellow candlelight, quietly waiting for the prince's arrival.
As for the close-combat forces, Lu Qi was captured, leaving the Embroidered Uniform Guard leaderless. As for the distant troops, Lin Cheng's home was ransacked and he was beheaded. The entire Pingzhou Prefecture was purged. These days, he is overwhelmed with problems and has yet to find a suitable replacement.
How could the imperial guards in the capital possibly withstand the Crown Prince's fierce advance?
The only problem is that he values his reputation too much and wants to ascend the throne legitimately. Over the years, he has not dared to openly confront the Crown Prince, but only dares to sabotage him in secret, hoping that the Crown Prince will die on the battlefield, be assassinated by rebels, or die from incurable poisoning, thus proving that he is the emperor destined by heaven.
But as he waited and waited, he didn't receive news of the Crown Prince's death. Instead, he saw his trusted and supported ministers fall one by one, Lu Qi's identity be exposed, the Crown Prince discover the truth of what happened back then, and today, the army besieged the city and forced the palace, and the Imperial Guards suffered a crushing defeat... Only then did he realize that all his years of forbearance had been nothing but a joke!
If he had known this would happen, he should have left no room for mercy and killed the culprit to eliminate the threat forever!
Despite the fierce resistance of the Imperial Guards, they could not stop the Crown Prince's powerful offensive.
As the sounds of battle drew closer outside, Emperor Chunming slowly rose from his dragon throne and watched as the man in armor, covered in blood, stepped into the palace.
The crown prince stared at him coldly, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty chill and fierce hatred.
Holding a long sword, he walked to the emperor's side and said in a deep voice, "Feng Yu, also known as Lu Qi, has confessed everything. Back then, you and he secretly plotted to betray the country and collude with the enemy. In the Battle of Langshan, you used the lives of 50,000 soldiers as a stepping stone to your rise to power. Later, you instigated the princes to rebel and reaped the benefits. Have I said anything wrong?"
Emperor Chunming chuckled, glancing at the rising incense smoke in the hall, and said softly, "I never expected you to uncover the truth of what happened twenty years ago. But we are, after all, uncle and nephew. I have treated you well for so many years, so in the end I will show you mercy and let you die knowing the truth. Yes, I did these things, but so what? Since I was able to sit on this dragon throne above all others through my own abilities, it proves that I am ordained by Heaven and am more suitable to sit on this supreme position than your father or you!"
He deliberately delayed, but he didn't see anything unusual on the prince's face. Surrounded by the strong incense poison, he was even less affected than he had been at the Prajna Temple...
Emperor Chunming harbored some doubts, but then he saw the Crown Prince sneer and raise his hand to signal. Immediately, someone threw in a woman whose hairpins and jewelry were disheveled and whose face was pale.
It was the Empress!
The Crown Prince raised his cold sword and pressed it against the Empress's neck. "Back then, it was you who sent the news of the late Emperor's critical illness to Kunning Palace, causing my mother to die in premature labor, wasn't it?"
The Empress's face was deathly pale, and her lips trembled as she said, "I...I didn't. I was just blinded by wealth and power..."
She never expected that when the late emperor was seriously injured and on his deathbed, several vassal kings rebelled and eventually killed each other. The empress had not yet given birth and did not know whether it was a boy or a girl. The one with the best chance of ascending the throne was actually her usually quiet husband!
If he ascends the throne, wouldn't I become the empress?
With a restless heart and a hint from Prince Rui, she began to feign a relationship with Empress Huigong, taking care of her during her pregnancy. Finally, on the day when Empress Huigong was exhausted from worrying about court affairs while heavily pregnant, she sent someone to deliver a false message to her that the late emperor was critically ill. Before Empress Huigong could verify the truth, she had already fainted...
The crown prince heard these thoughts and his face darkened considerably.
Emperor Chunming watched the Crown Prince's reaction closely. From his initial ease to his current extreme anxiety and restlessness, the Crown Prince could no longer stand and was eager to confirm something.
The Crown Prince's lips curled into a cold smile: "What is Your Majesty waiting for?"
Emperor Chunming stared intently at him.
The Crown Prince said casually, "I forgot to tell Your Majesty that the poison in my body has been cured. No matter how much incense poison there is in the Qianqing Palace, it will have no effect on me."
Emperor Chunming's pupils constricted sharply. Those words felt as if they had ripped the spine from his back, and he slumped uncontrollably into a seated position, muttering, "How could this be? You... Lu Qi told you? How could he tell you..."
Even if Lu Qi confesses everything, there is no need to completely cut off his escape route. The poison is his last chance of winning. As long as the Crown Prince loses control and dies violently in the Qianqing Palace, there is still room for maneuver.
He burned a large amount of incense in the palace today, several times more than at the Prajna Temple. Once the Crown Prince steps into the Qianqing Palace, there is absolutely no chance of him leaving alive!
But to his utter surprise, he had actually removed the curse ahead of schedule...
The Crown Prince chuckled: "Uncle is merciful and wants me to die knowing the truth, but I am quite the opposite. What Your Majesty cannot understand, let him ponder slowly on the road to the Yellow Springs. I just wonder if the souls of those tens of thousands of soldiers in the underworld will forgive Uncle."
The empress knelt on the ground, wailing and begging for his life.
Emperor Chunming's face turned deathly pale, and he was drenched in cold sweat. His lips trembled as he said, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. Just give me a quick death."
The Crown Prince said coldly, "I lost both my parents when I was young and have been tormented by illness for more than twenty years. I have not yet avenged my great grudge. Your Majesty's desire for a quick death is far too easy."
His face was solemn, and he put away the last trace of his smile, saying each word clearly: "I want you two to be slowly sliced to death, one cut at a time, until the last drop of blood is drained."
Overnight, imperial power changed hands.
The country has finally returned to its true masters. Everything is in need of rebuilding, and all those involved are awaiting their due punishment.
The morning light pierced through the heavy haze, illuminating the bloodshed and decay of the city, and also the gleaming glazed tiles atop the Forbidden City.
Yun Kui lay on the couch, listening to the thrilling sounds of battle all night. When the outside quieted down in the morning and she heard the good news from her attendant, she finally managed to doze off for a while.
She dreamt that His Highness killed his enemy, dressed in a dragon robe, while the crowd below shouted "Long live the Emperor!" The surging sound was like the sound of vibrating drums, soaring into the sky and constantly assaulting her eardrums.
She also dreamed that His Highness came to find her. He was wearing a dark blue robe, the poison had been cured, the violence in his eyes had faded, and his gaze was clear and bright, as if all the dust had settled.
Still immersed in the joy of her dream, a light tap on the forehead suddenly startled her awake.
Before me was a face I knew all too well, but upon closer inspection, it was still somewhat different.
Just like in her dream, her eyes and brows were clear and bright, like a mountain spring, without a trace of gloom.
She exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness? Has everything been resolved?"
He arrived so quickly.
Xiao Qi'an said, "Yes, it's all resolved."
Yun Kui was about to speak when she paused, then cautiously asked, "Should I... address you as Your Majesty?"
Xiao Qi'an pinched her cheek, "What should I call you? Do I have to remind you?"
Yun Kui pursed her lips, her eyes brimming with joy.
This is her Majesty, her husband.
He lifted her up, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear again and again, "Husband, husband, husband..."
Those harsh winds and bloody battles finally faded away, and the nation began a new chapter.
From then on, she and her husband lived a life of peace and prosperity year after year.
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