Chapter 341 Suspicion Arose
He looked puzzled and cried as he asked his mother, "I want my father and mother."
The Empress Dowager's eyes reddened. She shook her head at him, grabbed his arm, and pulled him so hard that he staggered and fell to his knees on the ground.
"Ah Cong, be good. Your father is no longer here. From now on, your elder brother will be the emperor."
"Acong, don't be afraid. Be a good boy and listen to your brother. Your brother will take good care of you from now on."
Shen Cong knelt on the ground, looking up at his elder brother, who was dressed in bright yellow robes.
This is the first time in my life I've ever knelt down to look at my elder brother like this.
His elder brother looked down at him, his dark eyes unlike their usual gentle affection, instead holding a hint of something he couldn't understand, and a touch of indifference.
He was puzzled and wanted to take a closer look, but his elder brother bent down and helped him up, his face returning to its usual expression.
It was as if that moment just now was all his imagination.
His elder brother gently stroked his head with his warm palm and whispered, "Acong, go and kowtow to your father."
"Has Your Highness considered something?"
Wang Youxiang's words brought Shen Cong back to his senses.
His eyes flickered slightly, and he shook his head. "Go on."
Wang Youxiang said, "The sudden death of Prime Minister Lü and the eunuch on duty that night filled this old minister with extreme fear, but I was summoned there at the last minute that night."
No one knew that I had participated in drafting the imperial edict, and that Chancellor Lü had also concealed this information from me.
That's why the old minister was spared death, and he resolved to keep this matter a secret from everyone.
Shen Cong stared at Wang Youxiang for a long time.
"Since you decided to keep it to yourself, why is the Right Chancellor bringing it up again now?"
Wang Youxiang spoke frankly to him.
"If it weren't for the matter of the Imperial Concubine, this old minister would have kept this secret to his grave, but now the Imperial Concubine is gone."
She must have discovered some secret to have had to feign madness. After much thought, I believe the biggest secret in His Majesty's heart is that imperial edict!
At this point, Prime Minister Wang frowned even more deeply.
"This matter is very strange. Back then, the Empress Dowager clearly took that imperial edict from Chancellor Lü, so why didn't she give it to His Majesty?"
Shen Cong's heart stirred slightly.
"Are you sure my brother didn't find that imperial edict?"
Wang Youxiang nodded.
"Over the years, this old minister has been keeping a close eye on things. Your Majesty has been searching for and investigating officials or eunuchs who were highly valued by the late Emperor."
According to this old minister's judgment, His Majesty should not have found the imperial edict! But the Empress Dowager clearly supported His Majesty's ascension to the throne; otherwise, why would she have taken the edict from Chancellor Lü?
Wang Youxiang muttered a few words to himself, and then continued, "This old minister is informing Your Highness of this old matter in the hope of cooperating with Your Highness."
Let's investigate in this direction together; perhaps we can uncover the true cause of the Consort's death.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Right Chancellor touched the ground with his forehead again and kowtowed deeply.
"Your Highness, please give my daughter, Lady Wang, justice!"
Shen Cong pursed his lips, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Why does the Right Chancellor trust me so much? Aren't you afraid that I will relay what you just said to my elder brother, the Emperor?"
"Your Highness, you wouldn't do that!"
"Oh? You trust me that much?"
Wang Youxiang nodded emphatically.
"The fact that Your Highness was able to bring people to examine the body tonight proves that Your Highness also harbors suspicions about His Majesty, doesn't it?"
Shen Cong's pupils contracted slightly, his fingers tightened slightly, and his thumb gently pinched his index finger, but he still could not suppress the surging emotions in his heart.
Yes, he also became suspicious of his elder brother!
When Li Nanke first mentioned that the emperor was suspicious, he found it hard to accept and couldn't imagine it, and even argued with Li Nanke.
But now, he has to face reality.
A bitter look appeared in Shen Cong's eyes as he murmured softly.
"The Right Chancellor has good eyesight; I... have indeed become suspicious."
Wang Youxiang shook his head, "But this is not the main reason why this old minister chose Your Highness. More importantly, Your Highness is very much like the late Emperor!"
The late emperor was resolute and upright, intolerant of any wrongdoing. This old minister believes that Your Highness is the same, and will not stand idly by while wicked people destroy the foundation of the Great Chu.”
Shen Cong's heart trembled, and his emotions surged even more violently.
After a long silence, he said, "The Right Chancellor should go back first. This matter needs to be discussed in detail. Let me think about it some more."
Wang Youxiang bowed and paid his respects.
"This old minister takes his leave. In the future, Your Highness may send someone to find this old minister if there are any demolitions or relocations to be carried out."
After Wang Youxiang left, Shen Cong sat quietly alone for a long time.
Erfeng came in twice to remind him that it was late and he should rest early, but he seemed not to hear.
He didn't lie down and sleep for a while until the sky began to lighten. Then he got up early again and went to pay respects to Consort Wang with the high monks of Xiangguo Temple.
Erfeng came in and whispered in his ear.
"His Majesty vomited blood and fell into a coma. Before he fell into a coma, he ordered all the nannies, maids, and eunuchs serving in the Consort's palace to be beaten to death!"
"all?"
Shen Cong frowned.
Erfeng nodded, "Everyone says that His Majesty had deep feelings for Consort Gui. His Majesty was extremely grieved by Consort Gui's passing, which is why he ordered the servants who served Consort Gui to be beaten to death."
He paused, then lowered his voice considerably.
"But I always felt that this move was a bit too ruthless and heartless, and even had a hint of concealment."
Shen Cong lowered his eyes, concealing the complex emotions within them.
"Let's go back to the palace."
Back in the palace, the emperor was still unconscious, but before he fell into a coma, he left an edict instructing the Left Chancellor, the Right Chancellor, and Shen Cong to handle state affairs together with Shen Xu.
Shen Cong and Shen Xu do not have time to study at Jingxing Academy for the time being.
Li Nanke saw Shen Cong again half a month later.
The first snow fell, the weather was cold, and the morning court session was cancelled in the palace.
Early in the morning, Li Nanke received a message from Huang Sheng brought back from Yunqi Tower, and took Nangong Qiang to the Xuanwang Mansion.
Shen Cong was reading memorials in his room.
Outside, the wind howled, and inside, it was like an icebox.
As soon as Li Nanke entered the room, he couldn't help but wrap his large fur cloak around himself even tighter.
I couldn't help but shiver.
Achoo!
Shen Cong sat on the blanket, put down the memorial in his hand, and gave instructions to Er Feng.
"Go move a brazier over here."
Li Nanke quickly stopped him.
"No need, I have a hand warmer."
As she spoke, she smiled and shook the hand warmer in her hand, which was covered with a pink cotton cover.
The blood curse on Shen Cong's body prevents him from being exposed to warm environments, so even when it was very cold, there was no brazier lit in Shen Cong's room.
Erfeng looked at Chen Cong.
Shen Cong's gaze swept over Li Nanke's bright red nose, and his brows furrowed slightly.
They insisted that Erfeng bring in the brazier.
"Just place it next to her."
Li Nanke felt a warmth in her heart and stopped arguing, only moving back a little.
"Then I'll sit further away from you."
I put down the hand warmer, put my hands over the brazier to warm them, and felt the heat travel from my palms to my body, which gradually warmed me up.
"Ninth Brother, about the Imperial Concubine's autopsy..."
Shen Cong recounted the autopsy results.
When Li Nanke heard that Consort Wang had been disemboweled and her child removed before the fire started, he gasped.
"Ninth Brother, have you found any trace of that child?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
