Chapter 308 Chaos
Father...has passed away?
The prince's head buzzed, feeling it all so unreal.
The father and his father, whom he revered and admired as a mountain in his childhood, are gone just like that.
Are you sad?
There are some, but not many.
Perhaps it was the hidden disappointment that arose as he grew older and realized that his father was far inferior to a wise ruler, but more likely it was the recent upheavals that had rapidly eroded their blood ties.
More than sadness, the feeling was one of relief and bewilderment at the sudden removal of the sword hanging over my head, and even a touch of relief.
Upon realizing his true feelings, the crown prince felt no shame. His near-death experience in the witchcraft scandal and the lingering fear of being forced to submit to the forged edict made him cherish his life even more and yearn to grasp what was rightfully his.
"Your Highness?"
The Crown Prince snapped out of his reverie and gave Xue Han a slight smile: "I'm fine. Lord Xue, how did Father Emperor get there?"
Xue Han told the Crown Prince what had happened at the Immortal Gathering Banquet.
After hearing this, the Crown Prince glanced at the officials who were being escorted away and said softly, "They arrived half an hour ago, so they acted around the time Father Emperor passed away."
"After His Majesty fell ill, Vice Minister Lü requested that a message be sent to His Highness. Chancellor Zhu insisted on first investigating the cause of His Majesty's death. After the imperial physician discovered that His Majesty had taken a potent drug, Prince Fu suggested examining the medicinal herbs..." Xue Han recounted the choices of several important officials so that the Crown Prince would have a clear understanding of the situation.
The Crown Prince immediately understood: "They're doing this to buy time by falsely conveying the imperial edict."
"This also shows that they are desperate. Your Highness, I will escort you to Changchun Garden first."
Emperor Jingping's death at the Immortal Gathering Banquet caught the forces behind Master Miaoqing completely off guard. Therefore, even knowing the elixir would be found to be problematic, they still proactively suggested an inspection, all to buy time and use a forged edict to trick the Crown Prince into committing murder.
With the Crown Prince dead, Emperor Jingping's death could be entirely pinned on Miaoqing Zhenren. Prince Fu, oh, and now it seems there should also be Prime Minister Zhu, two of the four regents chosen by Emperor Jingping—the objective would be achieved.
On the carriage heading to Changchun Garden, Xue Han slowly unfurled the bright yellow imperial edict.
"Lord Xue, please take a look at me."
Xue Han handed the imperial edict to the Crown Prince.
The crown prince gripped the edge of the imperial edict with both hands, his hands trembling slightly.
This imperial edict is genuine, both in terms of its material and the seal.
“Your Highness, the Emperor has neglected state affairs for some time now. It would not be difficult to draft a forged edict that is genuine in every way.”
After the Crown Prince's power to oversee the state was revoked, affairs of state were handled by Zhu Xiang and his three advisors. Forging an imperial edict was indeed not difficult.
“I know. I’m just wondering whether this imperial edict was prepared in advance to ensure everything goes smoothly, or whether it was hastily forged today, or even by Father Emperor—” the Crown Prince said in a low voice, his face pale but his eyes firm. “Lord Xue, those officials who delivered the edict must be kept in custody. Don’t mention this imperial edict for now.”
"Your Highness, rest assured, I know what is important."
With Emperor Jingping's sudden death and the Crown Prince yet to ascend the throne, this is the most chaotic time. At this juncture, dwelling on the alleged forgery of the imperial edict, and being incited by those with ulterior motives to claim that the edict is genuine and a testament left by Emperor Jingping out of disappointment with the Crown Prince, will undoubtedly increase the obstacles to the Crown Prince's succession.
At this point, the most important thing is for the crown prince to ascend the throne smoothly, and then settle scores later.
"Lord Xue, I am so grateful to you. I will remember you forever." The Crown Prince gripped Xue Han's hand tightly.
"Your Highness, please don't say that. I was just doing what I was supposed to do."
The Crown Prince didn't say anything more, but patted Xue Han on the shoulder.
The road from the Imperial City to Changchun Garden seemed exceptionally long, and every roll of the wheels felt like it was crushing the Crown Prince's heart.
In the main hall of Changchun Garden.
"Imperial Physicians, is there any problem with the elixir?" asked Lü Zhongcheng.
The two imperial physicians exchanged a glance, both seeing fear and frustration in each other's eyes.
Why did it have to be their turn to be on duty? They're really in trouble.
"Two imperial physicians?"
So many gazes silently urged him on, and one of the imperial physicians steeled himself and spoke up: "This elixir... is truly a potent and dangerous medicine..."
Gasps of breath rose and fell.
"A potent medicine? So, the Emperor was killed by this evil Taoist priest?" Privy Councilor Tao pointed at Master Miaoqing and said sternly.
The mask of calm that Master Miaoqing had been maintaining suddenly shattered, and she staggered back a step.
"You evil Taoist, how dare you plot against His Majesty!" A cold shout rang out, a flash of cold light, and the head of Master Miaoqing flew high into the air, landing right at the feet of the Lady of Jiayi County.
"Jiayi, don't be afraid." Qiuheng reached out and covered Jiayi County Princess's eyes, looking at the person who had killed Miaoqing Zhenren.
Yang Zhen, Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard.
At this grand banquet, no one was allowed to carry weapons when entering the hall. Yang Zhen was in charge of guarding outside the hall and only entered after Emperor Jingping's incident.
"Yang Zhen, what are you doing?" Zhu Qiang, the commander of the palace guards, asked angrily.
Yang Zhen gripped his blood-stained longsword, his face filled with indignation: "This evil Taoist priest plotted against the Emperor; his crime is unforgivable!"
Lü Zhongcheng sneered: "The heretic is guilty, and the Dali Temple and other government offices will handle the case. Deputy Commander Yang, what are you really thinking? Are you trying to silence him?"
"What murder to silence him? I have never had any dealings with this evil Taoist. I was just so angry when I heard that he was plotting against His Majesty that I impulsively eliminated this evil Taoist for His Majesty's sake. Don't you gentlemen want to tear this evil Taoist to pieces?"
When the atmosphere became tense, Zhu Xiang spoke up: "Although Deputy Commander Yang was impulsive, he was wholeheartedly for the sake of His Majesty. The evil Taoist priest does indeed deserve to die."
"To my shame, I too was deceived by this sorcerer. He was well-versed in profound mysteries, and those who heard him forgot their own intentions. I truly regarded him as a highly accomplished master of the Dao."
After the Prince of Fu said this, many people looked at each other in bewilderment.
Not to mention the Prince of Fu, they also treated the sorcerer as an enlightened master and honored him as a guest of honor.
It's better that Master Miaoqing died like this, so that people won't use it as an excuse to implicate her.
With this in mind, some people no longer felt disgusted by Yang Zhen's actions.
Yang Zhen slightly curled the corners of his lips, maintaining a composed and unyielding demeanor: "Instead of accusing me of angrily beheading the sorcerer who killed the current emperor, Vice Minister Lü, you should ask those closely associated with the sorcerer whether they were deceived by him or were of one mind with him..."
Who is most closely associated with the demonic Taoist?
Aside from the Taoist priests of Lingwei Temple, who else could it be—all the ministers looked at Ling Yun.
Among all the officials and nobles, the one who was closest to Master Miaoqing was none other than the Prince Kang's son, who had been accepted as a disciple.
I've heard that during this period, the Prince of Kang's heir has been going to the palace almost every day to accompany the Immortal Miaoqing and the Emperor in discussing the Dao and the path to immortality.
Under everyone's gaze, Ling Yun, his face full of shame, said, "I have been weak since childhood, and in recent years my old ailments have frequently recurred. After taking the so-called elixir, I felt that my health had improved, but I was deceived by the evil Taoist..."
Ling Yun spat out a mouthful of blood and swayed.
"Big brother!" Princess Jiayi rushed over and supported Lingyun's arm.
Prince Kang also stepped forward, coldly looking at Vice Minister Lü and the others: "The sorcerer's tongue is full of mysteries, and many have been deceived by him. Why do you gentlemen keep targeting my son? He has taken many harmful elixirs and is also a victim. As for Eunuch Xue Quan, I heard that he was the one who introduced the sorcerer to the Emperor."
Xue Quan, whose name was called, closed his eyes.
The moment has finally arrived.
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