Chapter 222 Clash between Uncle and Nephew
Shen Qingci sternly ordered the already stunned Imperial Guard commander, "What are you all standing there for?! Immediately send the Prince back to the Regent's Palace! Summon Imperial Physician Li!"
The Imperial Guards dared not be negligent in the slightest. They immediately and hurriedly carried the extremely weak Chu Jichen out of the secret chamber and escorted him all the way back to the Regent's Palace.
Soon, someone from the palace came to summon him.
Shen Qingci directly blocked the person outside the main courtyard.
"Please return, sir." Her voice was filled with an unyielding weariness and resolve. "The Prince is in no condition to enter the palace for an audience. I, the Princess Consort, am also afraid that something might happen to him again, and I absolutely do not wish to leave his side for even a moment longer!"
The people in the palace had no choice but to return empty-handed.
But not long after, someone rushed in to report: "Your Highness! His Majesty... His Majesty has arrived!"
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Yongming hurriedly walked in.
As soon as he entered, he went straight to the bedroom, his voice filled with just the right amount of concern: "How is Uncle?"
Shen Qingci bowed gracefully to him, and then repeated her previous words to him verbatim.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming's expression grew even more solemn.
He walked to the bedside, carefully examining Chu Jichen's pale face, and tentatively asked, "Is Uncle alright?"
On the bed, Chu Jichen slowly opened his deep phoenix eyes.
"I won't die," he said in a hoarse voice.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming immediately pressed for an answer: "Was it really true that the Imperial Uncle was kidnapped and imprisoned by that traitor Liu Wenyuan?"
Chu Jichen lifted his eyelids, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes: "Anyway, only Liu Wenyuan came to pay his respects to this king."
“And,” his voice was full of disdain, “he also…inquired of me about the location of the founding imperial seal.”
"He said that he had already prepared everything, including the money, troops, weapons, and even the dragon robe for the rebellion. He also asked me if I wanted to join him in the rebellion."
“After I refused,” a cold glint flashed in Chu Jichen’s eyes, “he became enraged and attacked me viciously.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming's eyes flashed with a terrifying light!
He stared intently at Chu Jichen, his voice filled with probing and confusion: "Then why doesn't the Imperial Uncle join forces with him?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen sneered, his laughter filled with endless mockery and contempt.
"I already said that before."
"The Great Zhou Dynasty of my Chu family must belong to the Chu family!"
"We must not let it fall into the hands of thieves!"
"At least it cannot fall into the hands of thieves while it is in my possession."
Chu Jichen appeared as if he had just been rescued and was completely unaware of the changing circumstances outside.
He leaned against the headboard, his breath shallow, but his eyes revealed a just-right mix of confusion and urgency. He looked at Emperor Yongming and asked in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, what has happened in the court during my imprisonment?"
Then, as if remembering something, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes: "Your Majesty doesn't believe it, does he? Doesn't believe that traitor Liu Wenyuan would dare to use such cruel torture on me!"
"But Your Majesty has always been close to him. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may immediately arrest him and bring him here for a face-to-face confrontation!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming displayed a very strange expression.
He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice filled with an indescribable complexity: "Uncle, you are unaware of this."
"Shortly after you fell into a coma, Liu Wenyuan... also fell into a coma."
Chu Jichen shook his head. "I know about this. The princess told me, but hasn't he come to see me several times?"
Emperor Yongming glanced at Shen Qingci: "Up until shortly before the Imperial Uncle was discovered and rescued, he claimed to be unconscious."
"A couple of days ago, a house in the capital suddenly caught fire, and a bunch of horrifying things were found inside. It was later discovered that those things were all kept by Liu Wenyuan."
"I personally led men to investigate the Prime Minister's residence, only to discover that the Liu Wenyuan lying in bed was a stand-in! The real Liu Wenyuan had already vanished without a trace!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Jichen's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
He frowned deeply, his voice filled with seriousness: "Then why doesn't Your Majesty immediately dispatch men to search the entire city and bring that traitor to justice?"
“We are looking for him.” Emperor Yongming sighed, his face showing unprecedented “sincerity” and “reliance”. “But Liu Wenyuan is cunning and treacherous. He has already paved countless escape routes for himself. My men… have not yet found any trace of him.”
“Therefore,” he looked at Chu Jichen, his voice earnest, “I have come here today to… ask my royal uncle to use his power to help me… search for it together.”
Chu Jichen nodded, his voice weak but filled with unwavering determination: "Of course."
Seeing that he had agreed, Emperor Yongming immediately pressed his advantage and said, "And that fire too."
"I have a feeling that the fire started too suspiciously. Could you please arrange for someone to investigate where it started and who started it?"
“There is indeed something strange about this,” Chu Jichen replied. “I will arrange for someone to investigate.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongming finally let out a long sigh of relief. Looking at his uncle, who was now "severely injured," he smiled broadly and said, "Now that my uncle has been rescued and the misunderstanding has been cleared up, the affairs of the court... naturally should still be under my uncle's control."
But to everyone's surprise, Chu Jichen slowly shook his head upon hearing this.
"No need."
He looked at Emperor Yongming, his deep phoenix eyes filled with unprecedented weariness and boredom. "After this experience, I've come to understand. Power is the root of all troubles."
"I am but a cripple, destined never to truly become emperor. Why then should I use this regency power to cover up my true intentions?"
His gaze slowly shifted to Shen Qingci, who had been standing quietly to the side the whole time, her eyes filled with worry. In an instant, his cold gaze transformed into tender affection.
"Now that I have a wife, I only wish to spend the rest of my life with her, peacefully and safely, to live out the rest of my days."
“However,” he changed the subject, a chilling glint rekindling in his eyes, “before that, I only request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Shen family matter again.”
"This is Qingqing's obsession, and it is also mine."
"When Liu Wenyuan interrogated me, he mentioned the Shen family several times."
"He said he suspected that the Shen family had a private army. If that private army could be used by him, then the country would be as easy as taking candy from a baby."
"I suspect that the Shen family's affairs... are inextricably linked to Liu Wenyuan!"
“Only when this matter is clarified can Qingqing be at ease. I,” he looked at her, his voice filled with an undeniable promise, “can also be at ease.”
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