Chapter 253 Assassin
Emperor Yongming stared in disbelief at the bloodstains in the bowl, which had already blended together, and his face instantly drained of color!
"Impossible!" he screamed, his voice filled with utter horror and absurdity. "This...how is this possible? This child...how could it be mine?"
Chu Jichen's expression was indifferent. He slowly raised his eyes, his deep phoenix eyes filled with complete calm and incomprehension: "Consort Shu has been in the palace for more than two years, and His Majesty has always favored her, often keeping her overnight. Why... can't Consort Shu conceive your child?"
"You!" Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming immediately raised his voice, about to blurt out without thinking, "You knew perfectly well! You were the one who had been..."
But before he could finish speaking, he met Chu Jichen's icy, piercing eyes!
Emperor Yongming's voice vanished instantly!
He had previously explained the reason to Consort Shu and the Prime Minister's wife—it was because Chu Jichen had been giving him contraceptives.
But Chu Jichen wasn't there at that time.
He was "in a coma" and "missing".
Regardless of whether his disappearance is true or false, he was not there at the time.
But now, in front of Chu Jichen, he... found himself speechless.
He could only mumble, "I...I have been taking contraceptives."
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen was filled with surprise: "Why would Your Majesty need to take contraceptive medicine?"
He seemed to have thought of something and slowly shook his head: "However, contraceptives can sometimes be ineffective."
Emperor Yongming gritted his teeth inwardly!
Why did he take contraceptives? Chu Jichen… doesn’t he know? Is he just pretending?
Shen Qingci was secretly overjoyed, but on the surface she looked extremely regretful.
“What a pity,” she sighed, her voice filled with just the right amount of sadness. “Such a beautiful child. If this child could have been born, it would have been… His Majesty’s first child.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming became even more furious!
Consort Shu was already devastated when she saw her lifeless child being taken out of her body for the so-called blood test.
Hearing their words again now was even more unbearable, and she immediately burst into hysterical sobs!
"My child...my child with His Majesty...why...why doesn't His Majesty believe me!"
Emperor Yongming's face was cold, and he remained silent.
Chu Jichen, however, let out a long sigh, his voice filled with reassurance: "Perhaps this child is simply not destined to be your son."
"We can have more children in the future."
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu suddenly raised her head, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Chu Jichen, her voice filled with deep-seated hatred: "It was clearly you! It was because you didn't want His Majesty to have a child! So... so you gave His Majesty a contraceptive potion! So you made His Majesty suspect that the child in my womb wasn't his!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen was extremely surprised: "Why would I give His Majesty a contraceptive potion?"
His gaze slowly swept over Emperor Yongming and Consort Shu, his voice filled with innocence and confusion: "Everyone knows that I injured my leg in my early years and have long been unable to have children of my own. It is impossible for me to have any more children."
"Of course, I hope that Your Majesty can give birth to a prince as soon as possible. Only in this way can the Chu family's empire have a successor."
"Why would I not want Your Majesty to give birth to a prince?"
Shen Qingci lowered her head and heard him say "inhuman" without changing his expression, which made her want to laugh.
She had been deceived by the matchmaker's words.
If he is impotent, then... who is it that tosses and turns her over every night, never getting enough of her?
Emperor Yongming's eyes suddenly flashed!
His brows furrowed tightly, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
Chu Jichen continued, "Although I don't know who spread such absurd rumors, I believe that the person who is trying to sow discord between me and His Majesty must have ulterior motives."
"Previously, although the concubines in the palace did not give birth safely, they were not without pregnancy."
"It's just that for some reason, the baby couldn't be saved and the miscarriage happened."
"If I had truly given His Majesty a contraceptive, how could any of the concubines have become pregnant?"
Emperor Yongming's eyes flashed suddenly! He abruptly turned his head to look at Chu Jichen. What Chu Jichen said seemed to make some sense.
Then... what about the contraceptive?
Emperor Yongming almost immediately began to suspect—it was Liu Wenyuan!
That's right! It must have been that old scoundrel Liu Wenyuan who did it!
A storm raged within him in an instant!
Chu Jichen is right! It's not that none of the concubines are pregnant!
But all those children were "accidentally" miscarried!
After each "accident," Liu Wenyuan would immediately step forward to comfort him, telling him that they could have children again.
He had always thought that Liu Wenyuan's actions were merely to consolidate his status as a maternal relative and to prevent other concubines from giving birth to princes, thus threatening Consort Shu's position.
But now it seems...
His intentions were far more malicious than he had imagined!
That old scoundrel clearly wanted to kill him off so that his own grandson could become the sole heir to the throne of the Great Zhou Dynasty!
Great! Excellent!
Just as Emperor Yongming was consumed by rage, the commander of the Imperial Guards strode in, knelt on one knee, and said in a solemn voice, "Your Majesty! This humble general has found a man under Consort Shu's bed!"
"He was dressed in the clothes of a eunuch, and he was unconscious!"
Emperor Yongming's attention was instantly diverted!
His heart skipped a beat!
It's most likely Liu Wenyuan!
But why is he unconscious?
He glanced instinctively at Chu Jichen beside him, but immediately ordered, "Bring the person up!"
A palace servant who was already bound hand and foot was quickly brought up.
Emperor Yongming gave a wink to his personal eunuch.
The eunuch immediately stepped forward and carefully examined the man's face repeatedly.
After a long while, he slowly stood up, shook his head at Emperor Yongming, and said, "Your Majesty, this person did not disguise himself."
Emperor Yongming's brows furrowed tightly!
Without disguising himself, he was under Consort Shu's bed...
Who is this person?
And... what about Liu Wenyuan?!
Just then, Chu Jichen suddenly spoke, his voice icy cold and filled with chilling killing intent: "An assassin has entered the palace!"
"They shouldn't have gone far!"
"Guards! Issue my decree! Immediately seal all palace gates! Search the place thoroughly! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find that traitor for me!"
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