Chapter 103 Chapter 103 is the only genuine version...
Sese's heavy makeup hid the expression on her face, but it couldn't hide the panic in her eyes.
His mission was to have the princess destroy Gong Hai with her own hands. However, now that the princess had been stabbed, what should he do...
"Princess!"
The guards rushed over with exclamations and pushed Sese aside.
Xie Jing, who was still on the second floor, also turned pale and rushed downstairs in a hurry. When he passed by Gu Zhizhuo, he paused for a moment, as if to say: Why are you here too?
But obviously he didn't have time to think about it and walked away quickly.
Ji Nan Ke also looked at Gu Zhizhuo, his gaze moved left and right, and stopped on Xie Yingchen.
Who is this person?
She had also caught a glimpse of him from afar last time at the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. At that time, she just thought he was a guest and didn't pay much attention to him.
Ji Nan Ke lived in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. Even though she rarely went out, she knew that the emperor had arranged another marriage for Gu Zhizhuo, and the person he chose was the former crown prince.
The two of them are very intimate, could he be Xie Yingchen?
This was completely different from what Ji Nan Ke had originally imagined.
He had been a hostage in Liang for many years, his health frail. Ji Nanke had expected his experience as a hostage to have made him sensitive, suspicious, and sullen. His frail body had left him looking emaciated, his face pale as a ghost. However, she had never expected him to be such an ethereal and handsome man, with a clear gaze and an extraordinary bearing. In comparison, Xie Jing had a touch of childishness, a naive innocence that came from someone who had been raised in a honeypot.
Ji Nanke's fingers curled up, and her fingertips turned slightly white. No wonder Gu Zhizhuo gave up his marriage with Xie Jing so readily.
So, it wasn't because Xie Jing fell in love with me. This was good too, as the last bit of debt I owed her was gone.
"Big sister!"
"Big Sister!!"
Xie Jing shouted loudly, his voice full of panic.
Ji Nan Ke quickened his pace and followed him down.
There was a dagger stuck in Zhaoyang's lower abdomen. The knife was stabbed very deep, and the entire dagger was inserted into her abdomen, leaving only the handle outside.
Blood kept oozing out. It didn't seem like much, but if I pulled the dagger out directly, the bleeding would definitely not stop. But if I didn't pull it out...
Zhaoyang was breathing hard, and his pupils gradually lost their luster.
"Miss Gu!"
Ji Nanke looked up and shouted, "I heard that you have medical skills. Please come and treat the eldest princess."
Everyone around looked over and saw a girl holding a tabby cat. She was standing in front of the railing on the second floor, looking down with a smile on her face.
"don't want."
"Even if you don't get along with the princess, you can't just stand by and watch someone die!"
"First ask His Royal Highness the Third Prince beside you if he dares to let me save him."
Ji Nanke looked back and realized that it was Xie Jing who told her that Gu Zhizhuo was proficient in medicine and saved Prime Minister Song at the Xiang Opera House.
Xie Jing hesitated again and again. He really wanted to say that he believed her.
But, since the eldest princess had bullied her so many times before, would she really do her best to save her? Even if she did, if something happened to the eldest princess, would she still blame her for not saving her and doubt her sincerity?
Thinking about it this way, for Gu Zhizhuo, saving people would only bring her harm and no benefit. With her current bad temper, if she dared to ask her to save her, she would let herself lie here like the eldest imperial sister.
Xie Jing was frightened when he saw her, and immediately said, "Go call the doctor."
"Your Highness?" Ji Nanke didn't understand. "Miss Gu is a doctor, why would she go to a distant place instead of one close by?"
"Ke'er, you don't understand. I'll explain it to you later." Xie Jing casually said to her perfunctorily, and then continued to order, "Go and call the imperial physician. I remember that Imperial Physician Liu is on leave today. His residence is close to here, so go directly to his house to find him. Quick!"
"Everyone else is not allowed to go out."
The guards rushed out of the theater one after another. This time, no one dared to delay any longer.
If the eldest princess survived the assassination, these personal guards would at most be beaten with a few sticks and fired from their jobs.
If they were gone, they would not be able to protect their master and would surely die, and even their families would be implicated.
The theater was in a mess. Ji Nanke frowned. Xie Jing was not young anymore, but he was still as impulsive as ever. Why keep people here at this time? Wouldn't that just cause more trouble?
Why is Gu Zhizhuo so calm and composed?
She was clearly impatient and stubborn, refusing to admit defeat. If it were in the past, what he had just said would have forced her to come down and rescue the princess.
She said that her body and soul were not one, so could it be that Gu Zhizhuo was also a person with a different body and soul?!
As soon as this thought came to his mind, Ji Nanke's eyes suddenly turned cold.
Gu Zhizhuo lowered his head and looked at the compass.
The Li hexagram enters the northwest, which means death. There will be accidents, bad luck in everything, and bloody disasters.
The change in Gong Hai's fate means that Xie Jing will lose his most important helper and thus lose the great opportunity to take charge of military and political affairs.
Without the support of the Zhenguogong Mansion's great fortune, Ji Nanke's own luck was gradually declining. It seemed that she, the woman destined for good fortune, could no longer bring much blessing to Xie Jing. Some things should be started, such as Ji Shi and Gu Yan...
The fate is determined.
There's nothing much to see.
"Sir, let's go eat. There's a delicious rose fish jerky there."
"Watch the cat, don't let it snatch it from me."
There was a sound of chaotic footsteps and panting from below.
"The doctor is here! The doctor is here."
There was a clinic on the street where the Xiang Opera House was located, and the guards brought a doctor soon.
The tragic scene in the lobby shocked the doctor, who quickly ran over with his medical kit.
He felt the patient's pulse left and right, sweating profusely, and wanted to say he couldn't save him. But hearing them calling him "Your Highness" and "Princess," he didn't want to use the words "Your Highness" and "Princess." He could only try his best to stop the bleeding and keep his life hanging on. Fortunately, the imperial physician arrived soon.
People on the street were looking around and whispering.
Even though Xie Jing ordered the people in the theater not to leave, he still couldn't stop the rumors. One impeachment letter after another flew before the emperor. He walked back and forth anxiously for a few times and simply left the palace in disguise.
Zhaoyang had been moved to the princess's mansion. Gong Hai was more seriously injured, so Xie Jing brought him to the princess's mansion as well, so that the imperial physician could stay with him all the time and would not have to run back and forth.
Upon hearing that the emperor had arrived, Xie Jing immediately went out to greet him.
"How is Zhaoyang?"
"Father, the imperial physician said that if he can survive tonight, he might still be alive. Lord Gong..." Xie Jing said with some difficulty, "Lord Gong's life is not in danger for now, but from now on... he will be no different from a palace eunuch."
The emperor rubbed his brows weakly: "What is going on?"
"Someone has impeached your eldest sister for abusing her power and being arrogant and extravagant. Is this true?!"
Xie Jing told the whole story in detail.
In the box, he listened to Ji Nanke's advice. Ke'er said that the eldest princess was his sister after all, and he couldn't help Gong Hai "bully" his sister. However, if he helped the eldest princess, he would completely offend Gong Hai. Even if Gong Hai was really dismissed, he had been in charge of the imperial guards for many years and had considerable prestige in the army. He was on good terms with many court officials and generals. Offending him for an actor would be detrimental to Xie Jing's future. Xie Jing thought about it and did not leave.
It’s too late to regret now.
He hesitated and said, "I think this matter is too embarrassing. If I go out again, whether I try to reconcile or separate them, the royal family will laugh at me. I originally thought they would just have a quarrel or two."
He carefully observed the emperor's expression and his voice gradually softened, "The eldest sister and Lord Gong once fought over that opera singer. Everyone in the capital knows about it."
"I didn't expect that the eldest princess would push Lord Gong down and even step on his...his..."
Xie Jing lowered his head and said guiltily, "It was I who was inappropriate in the situation."
"Where's the actor?"
"The actor...I didn't bring him with me."
In fact, it was the eldest princess who told him not to hand over Sese before she fell into a coma. He was quite afraid of his sister.
The emperor's face was gloomy and he said nothing.
He visited Zhaoyang and Gong Hai, waiting until the third watch. The imperial physician finally announced that Zhaoyang had survived, but the dagger had pierced her uterus, making her childless. Gong Hai's wounds were more severe. Most palace eunuchs were castrated at a young age, so their wounds healed relatively quickly. But Gong Hai, already in his fifties, had a recurring fever, even if his life wasn't in danger.
The emperor was extremely worried. Seeing that he was about to go to court, he still ordered Chen Xu to come.
The East Factory's spies were spread all over the capital, and the answers they got from Shen Xu were more accurate and detailed.
No matter how unwilling the emperor was to admit it, he finally became convinced that his daughter was really that stupid. For the sake of an actor, she blatantly smashed up the theater, as if she was afraid that others would not know.
"idiot."
No matter how foolish she was, she was still his daughter. His first child, though he regretted it was a girl when she was born, otherwise she would have been the eldest grandson of the late emperor. However, he had watched her grow up from a small child.
After walking out of the princess's mansion, the emperor was silent for a long time, and suddenly said: "A Xu, what do you think I should do?"
We have to punish, but we have to decide how to punish.
Gong Hai was injured more seriously, and was injured in that place. It was Zhaoyang who started the attack. If Gong Hai was arrested and imprisoned in the imperial prison, even the emperor would feel guilty.
In front of everyone, no matter how biased the emperor was, he could not put all the blame on Gong Hai.
If Zhaoyang chooses a remote place to act wild, I can still protect her.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of letting the eldest princess get married soon?"
Shen Xu spoke lightly, and the emperor's expression suddenly turned cold, and his cold eyes fell on his face.
"Your Majesty, the eldest princess was the first to injure someone. Are you willing to punish her?"
Chen Xu was not at all frightened. His long eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly continued, "Although Lord Gong injured the eldest princess, it is understandable. Your Majesty, can you punish him?"
"Lord Gong has been in the Imperial Guard for over a decade, and everyone in the Imperial Guard obeys his orders. If the Emperor were to forcefully accuse him, Lord Gong would surely harbor resentment."
The emperor sighed secretly, and his eyes became less stern.
He came out in disguise and did not use a dragon sedan chair.
After he got on the carriage, he said to Shen Xu, "You get in too." The carriage was spacious and comfortable, and could accommodate seven or eight people.
Chen Xu lifted the hem of his robe and walked forward.
After sitting down, he continued, "Master Gong has no children yet."
Gong Hai had married three wives, but they didn't even have a single child. Now Zhao Yang had crushed his offspring. Anyone would want to strangle that girl. Gong Hai couldn't punish her severely, or it might force him to rebel. Thinking of this, the emperor nodded silently.
Chen Xu's idea was truly the best. He wanted Zhao Yang to marry him sooner rather than later, and keep him locked up in the mansion to prevent the constant gossip. If the two could reconcile and live happily ever after, that would be fine. Having Gong Hai raise a child would also ensure the family line. If they continued to fight and kill each other, then...
The emperor made up his mind and gave him the gift as if he had lost his daughter.
Compared with the stability of the country, nothing else matters. At most, I can give Zhaoyang a few more guards as a dowry so that I won't suffer any losses in a war.
"Let them get married soon in the name of bringing good luck. The Princess's residence has bad feng shui, which is not conducive to the eldest princess's recovery. After the wedding, let the eldest princess live in the Gong Mansion."
"Gong Hai stabbed the princess, committing an insubordination. Considering his meritorious service, he may be spared the death penalty, but he will not be able to escape punishment for his crimes. Ah Xu, after the eldest princess marries, have the Imperial Guards seal off the Gong Mansion and imprison the two of them inside."
Ah Xu was absolutely right. Gong Hai had been at the Five Military Commandery for far too long, long enough to command the Imperial Guards to do his bidding. If he were imprisoned, even if he possessed extraordinary powers, his influence within the Imperial Guards would naturally fade over time.
I pardoned him from the crime of assassinating the princess and even gave him a princess as compensation. No one can accuse me of killing the donkey after it has served its purpose.
Li Deshun knelt silently beside him.
The Emperor has always been cold-hearted. No matter how much he doted on the eldest princess in the past, he would give her up at any time. Without the Emperor's support, and not allowing the eldest princess to return to the Princess Palace, she hurt Master Gong so badly. From now on..."
Li Deshun could easily imagine how "lively" the future days would be in the Gong Mansion.
The emperor rubbed his brows and said: "Now the position of Left Admiral of the Five Military Commandery is vacant. Who can take over?"
"Your Majesty, what do you think of Prince Jin?"
"Qiyun?"
Xie Qiyun has turned the prosperous Western Xinjiang into a mess. Now the people are in rebellion due to the pressure from the government. How can he be qualified to be the Left Admiral?
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly." Chen Xu's voice was gentle and alluring. "The Crown Prince is far away in the Western Frontier, and you have lost control over the Prince of Jin. For the past few years, the Prince of Jin has consistently refused to allow the Crown Prince to return to the capital. Now, with external threats and such a promising position open, the Prince of Jin will surely be tempted. You can control the Western Frontier. Furthermore, replacing the general can also quell the unrest. Killing three birds with one stone."
The emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the rings around his waist and murmured, "...I'll think about it."
Shen Xu knew the emperor very well, and what he said meant that he was moved.
Indeed, the emperor was tempted.
He kept thinking about this matter after he sat on the dragon throne in the Golden Palace.
The first matter of the court today was the impeachment of the Grand Princess and Gong Hai. The court officials were filled with righteous indignation and demanded severe punishment. However, when the emperor expressed his opinion, the whole court fell silent, as if they were stunned, and no one raised any objections.
The emperor breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately I listened to A Xu, otherwise there would have been a lot of quarrels today.
The emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare the wedding within three days and ensure that the eldest princess gets married as soon as possible.
The second thing is naturally for Xinjiang.
After just a few words, the court was in chaos again, and people demanded that the Prince of Jin commit suicide to appease the public anger.
The people are indignant and the western border is in turmoil.
For the sake of the country and the people, the Prince of Jin should atone his sins with death.
Prince Jin's face turned terribly pale. He kept looking at Shen Xu who was standing at the front. Finally, Shen Xu nodded to him in a gracious manner.
King Jin felt relieved.
"Prince Jin." The emperor called out.
"yes."
Prince Jin took a step into the hall. His eyes were dark, as if he had not closed them for a long time.
The emperor's eyes were filled with deep thought. Xie Qiyun was the Prince of Jin's only legitimate son. The Prince of Jin treated him with the same care he had for Jing'er, with high hopes for him. If he forced him to commit the Crown Prince's death as an apology, the Prince of Jin would undoubtedly bring up "that incident" again to threaten him in order to save the Crown Prince.
His indulgence has fostered the ambition of the Prince of Jin. Only by transferring the prince back to the capital and keeping the whole family under his watch can he control him.
The emperor raised his hand slightly, and after the hall had quieted down, he slowly said, "Xie Qiyun has been in Western Xinjiang for many years and has made great contributions. He should be transferred back to the capital to serve as the Left Admiral of the Five Armies Commandery."
Prince Jin was delighted. If he could show it too obviously, he would have wanted to go to Chen Xu and express his gratitude profusely.
He was almost forced into a desperate situation, but unexpectedly, he actually did it.
"Your Majesty, no!"
Someone immediately spoke out in opposition.
Crown Prince Xie Qiyun acted recklessly in the Western Frontier and aroused public anger. Not only did the emperor not punish him, he also allowed him to occupy such an important position after returning to Beijing. This is really unfair!
The emperor didn't need to say anything, all the voices of opposition were suppressed one after another by Prince Jin and his party.
The King of Jin was determined to win, and not only did he refute every word, he also brought up old accounts.
The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War objected.
He impeached the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War for being unfilial, allowing his stepmother to have no ice in summer and no charcoal in winter, and being abused by servants. After breaking her leg, she was bedridden with no one to take care of her and her body was covered with bedsores.
The Left Censor-in-Chief said no.
He scolded him for having an affair with his stepmother and for sharing a concubine with his father, which was against the will of heaven and against reason.
As expected. Xie Yingchen lowered his eyes. The Prince of Jin had given away many beauties to various officials over the years, and he also had access to many people's private affairs. It would be fine if he didn't move, but if he did, he could turn the court upside down.
Originally, Prince Jin was very cautious and would not easily touch these handles, but now he can no longer care about them for Xie Qiyun.
The voices of opposition gradually faded, and no one knew whether the King of Jin had any leverage over them.
Just as the Prime Minister was about to speak, Xie Yingchen shook his head. Prime Minister Song hesitated for a moment, then swallowed his words.
There was a strange silence, as frightened as a cicada.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, taking in the whole situation. He ordered the crown prince of Jin, Xie Qiyun, to return to the capital. As for the post of commander-in-chief of the Western Frontier…”
Prince Jin, still remembering what he had promised Chen Xu, quickly spoke, "Your Majesty, the garrison commander of Awul City, Jiang Youzheng, once served as a thousand-man commander in Balehai City in the 20th year of Taiyuan. When the Liang Kingdom invaded, he stubbornly defended the city gates and protected the people. With public outrage rising in the Western Frontier, and Jiang Youzheng deeply trusted by the people, it would be most appropriate for him to take over as general."
The emperor's eyes darkened and turned into one word: "Approved."
"Appoint Jiang Youzheng as the commander-in-chief of the Western Frontier. From now on, there will be no more military supervisors in the Western Frontier. Pass on my decree and have Jiang Youzheng lead the troops to wipe out the Liang people."
A series of decrees were issued one after another.
Prime Minister Song stepped out and reported the third thing: "Your Majesty, there will be an earthquake in Qingzhou in August..."
The emperor, with a stern face, rebuked him, "This is a lie that misleads the people. Do not mention it again."
Thunder in broad daylight, hail in summer, and now an earthquake in Qingzhou, all of these are just trying to say that the emperor is unkind and has caused displeasure from heaven!
"Your Majesty, this earthquake will endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of people..."
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