There are many talented and learned people in this world, and quite a few who are honest and upright.
But the fact that they were able to come together, acknowledge the emotion of jealousy, and admit that they came to the Crown Prince's residence because of the prevailing trend already shows that they are top-notch and superior.
The imperial family has a good eye; Sun Xiaosheng is a capable person.
"Sun Qing, please rise." Chang Yan took the initiative to help him up. "I greatly admire your statement about the general trend. Being able to assess the situation is truly a rare kind of wisdom."
Or rather, this courage and openness already surpasses that of the vast majority of people.
Who doesn't want to choose a wise ruler? Who doesn't want to follow the trend of the times?
Only the weak condemn such opportunistic behavior, while the strong simply smile and wait for capable and extraordinary individuals to flock to them when the tide turns.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Sun Xiaosheng bowed and straightened up, his face radiant with a subtle glow.
He may never surpass Xu Mo in his lifetime, but he won't be left too far behind by Xu Mo.
Jealousy, if used properly, can become a driving force for progress.
Chang Yan waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue cleaning up the mess.
Five thousand city guards were no small number, and imprisoning them all was a problem. This made the old man, the Prefect of Fengtian, very anxious. Finally, he had a brilliant idea: send some of them to the Imperial City dungeon for trial in batches.
Treason is a serious crime. Even if one is not beheaded, one will be exiled. The most likely punishment is to send one to work as a laborer in a mining area and to separate them to different parts of the country to prevent them from rebelling.
I don't know if the five thousand soldiers guarding the city regret it, but having such support is enough to prove the Second Prince Zhu Changyu's ability.
Chang Yan stood at the gate of the imperial city, watching the entire street return to normal, with people tentatively opening doors and windows, gradually returning to the bustling and lively atmosphere of the past.
He smiled slightly, then summoned his personal guard and instructed the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to prepare more food. Just then, he saw the commander of the Imperial Guards rushing over.
As a trusted confidant of the imperial family, the man was always calm and decisive.
His ability to command thousands of imperial guards also demonstrates his competence and skill.
But at this moment, panic showed in his eyes. He barely managed to keep his steps and leaned closer to whisper, "Your Highness, Consort Ju has passed away."
The woman, who had been strong-willed her whole life, swayed on the roof beam for who knows how long before she was discovered by the palace maid who brought her water.
The guards who were originally responsible for protecting the area were all driven away and stood blankly on the outside.
If Zhu Changhong's death was an accident, then Consort Ju's death was more likely due to inadequate care and the dereliction of duty by the commander of the Imperial Guards.
No wonder they're panicking right now.
Chang Yan took a deep breath, his expression a mix of heaviness and emotion.
Bloodshed in the palace chaos was to be expected, but the departure of Consort Ju and her son was unexpected. The Emperor was already bedridden and coughing up blood; if he were to hear this news as well…
"Go take a look." He nodded to Xu Mo and rushed to Chengqian Palace as fast as he could.
Qianqing Palace, Chengqian Palace.
The name itself reveals the favor shown to the emperor, and historically it was often the residence of favored concubines.
But at this moment, the corpses of Ju Lianruo and her son Zhu Changhong lay across the main hall, with white silk hanging down and fluttering in the wind, bringing with them an indescribable chill.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, why did you leave us? Your Majesty, wake up and look at us!"
Several of the palace maids who were close to the emperor wept bitterly.
They were weeping for their former masters, but even more so for their own fate.
A new emperor brings a new court; a new master brings a new slave.
When Consort Ju was alive, they were high-ranking palace maids with countless eunuchs and maids fawning over them. After Consort Ju died, they were either reassigned to cleaning and sweeping, or even faced death.
Such is fate; what masters and servants share is never just wealth and glory, but also fluctuating power and a turbulent future.
"Ahem." Eunuch Wu stood on both sides and announced in a shrill voice, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
The palace maids immediately stopped crying, knelt obediently on the ground, and remained silent as if trembling in fear.
Chang Yan stepped forward, glanced at Consort Ju's bruised face, then lowered his eyelashes and ordered, "Prepare Consort Ju and the First Prince to tidy up their appearance."
"Yes." Eunuch Wu immediately ordered someone to tidy up.
The commander of the Imperial Guard stood to the side, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
The key is not to tidy up one's appearance, nor is it to take one last look. The key is how to tell the heavenly family, and the man who is bedridden with illness.
Your lover and your most beloved child are both dead.
He died in the palace turmoil, during the change of imperial power.
Will he regret it? Will he hate Changyan? Will he want revenge?
These are all unknown.
Regardless, he is the most powerful emperor at present, and he is not dead yet.
When the emperor is angry, millions will die.
Even the crown prince must avoid his sharp edge.
"It was with the Emperor's tacit approval that I brought Consort Ju into the Fengtian Hall," the Imperial Guard Commander said truthfully, not daring to conceal anything. "The Emperor knows Consort Ju's ambition, and this move was intended to make her give up completely, while also ordering me to protect Consort Ju..."
He did protect Consort Ju, but he couldn't protect the eldest prince.
Zhu Changhong's death directly led to Consort Ju's departure.
Now that both mother and child have died, it is truly difficult to explain.
Chang Yan's pupils twitched slightly, and he sighed softly.
There are now two options.
Either take advantage of the Emperor's illness to conceal the news of Consort Ju and her son's deaths, keeping it a secret for as long as possible, ideally until the Emperor breathes his last.
Alternatively, they could just say it directly, which would give the imperial family a chance to see Consort Ju, but it would also cause the imperial family to be overly saddened and even resentful.
The commander of the Imperial Guards spoke frankly, explaining that since he feared the emperor's resentment but dared not be so audacious as to conceal the truth, he had passed the question on to His Highness the Crown Prince.
Chang Yan stood expressionless for a long time before finally turning and heading towards the Qianqing Palace.
This means confronting the resentment head-on.
The Imperial Guards were on tenterhooks, following closely behind.
The two walked through the quiet corridor to the magnificent Qianqing Palace, and before they even entered, they could hear bursts of coughing.
Manager Wu was anxious and worried. When he saw the long banquet, he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but then he swallowed it back down.
He simply bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness. Has the matter from before been resolved?"
Chang Yan forced a smile and nodded.
"It's resolved, it's resolved." Steward Wu grumbled, "You don't know, it's clearly time for the Emperor to go to sleep, but he just wouldn't close his eyes, tossing and turning in worry. This cough should have been relieved by falling asleep, but he's been coughing ever since, and I don't know what's wrong with His Highness..."
Realizing he had misspoke, he quickly corrected himself, saying, "I wonder how far along His Highness the Crown Prince's investiture ceremony has progressed."
Indeed, the affection will not change, and the care will not diminish.
Changyan smiled and gestured for Steward Wu to open the door. He stood in front of the dragon bed amidst a fit of coughing.
The once vigorous man is now haggard, with sunken cheeks, dark circles under his eyes, and pale lips.
Noticing the footsteps, it took him a moment to slowly open his eyes, and he asked in a hoarse, rough voice, "You're here... How did it go... Was everything alright?"
Even though there is no subject, Changyan is able to determine with certainty who he is asking about.
A strange sense of tragic grandeur welled up within him, and without any attempt to conceal it, he uttered, "No, very bad."
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