"System, this emperor is too slow. He didn't even close the net on the Sima family, so why is he letting the Zhang family keep jumping around like this?"
Zhang Tingji is only a Vice Censor-in-Chief; what excuse can't be used to bring him down?
[Host, it's almost time. The Zhang family has in-laws everywhere. To avoid future troubles, we must kill them all without exception. The emperor needs to make a clear judgment before taking action.]
It is estimated that a number of officials in the capital will soon be dismissed or demoted, making room for the new Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) next year.
"Little Pearl, why is Zhang Tingji so agitated? Does the Fourth Prince have some connection with him?"
At this moment, Emperor Mingxi, supported by the Crown Prince, walked into the hall and said to the civil and military officials standing on both sides, "The court assembly is suspended."
He then turned to Yue Fuguang and said, "Fuguang, come with me to see the Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince."
He hadn't finished eating this melon yet; he also wanted to know what connection Zhang Tingji had with Lao Si, or rather, with the Southern Yue behind him.
"Your Majesty, the situation is unclear. It would be safer for us to accompany and protect you," several officials from Fengtang who were skilled in martial arts stepped forward and requested.
Huo Ying bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. The traitors are rampant. We are willing to serve Your Majesty."
Moonlight: If you stop trying to keep watching the drama unfold, then I'll believe in your loyalty to the emperor!
Emperor Mingxi thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement, "Let's go see the fourth prince first!"
The Ninth Prince is dead; whether you watch it sooner or later makes little difference.
However, Xie Laosi was injured and his life was uncertain. He was also his own son, even though he hated Consort Xin and the Southern Yue behind her.
He didn't have much affection for this son whom his two ancestors called a scourge, but he was still his own flesh and blood. Even if it was for the sake of showing the Southern Yue, he had to go see the fourth son first.
[Host, the Ninth Prince's 1800 points have been credited to your account. The Fourth Prince is definitely not dead yet; his contribution points are still zero.]
The system of one person unifying the country no longer consumes system energy; one can tell who is dead and who is still alive simply by looking at the points earned.
"System, forget about the points for now, please continue your performance."
【Master, the Zhang family has long had their eye on the Fourth Prince and planned to send one of their daughters to him as a concubine. After discussion, the Zhang family has chosen Zhang Tingji's youngest daughter.】
This is a normal reaction from a future father-in-law upon learning that his future son-in-law has been assassinated.
A son-in-law is like half a son. Although the marriage isn't finalized yet, Zhang Tingji has already assumed the role of father-in-law, so isn't he just as excited as a biological father?
"If Xie Laosi had died earlier, wouldn't Miss Zhang have escaped a disaster?"
【Master, in the original timeline, Xie Laosi was also assassinated. He was not only seriously injured but also poisoned.】
Zhang Tingji then suggested a marriage of convenience to Emperor Mingxi, and even volunteered, with a show of loyalty to the emperor, to recommend his own daughter.
However, since it was a marriage to ward off bad luck, and the fourth prince was unsure of his fate, he temporarily changed the choice from the youngest legitimate daughter to the third illegitimate daughter of similar age.
However, judging by the timeline, this should have happened three years later, and it was still the Ninth Prince's men who took action.
"You mean, Zhang Tingji is very likely to propose another marriage to ward off bad luck this time?"
Yes, for the sake of power, he might very well sacrifice that third concubine's daughter again. Master, will you save the fourth prince later?
"Little Bead, everyone knows he's a menace. I don't personally get rid of him because I don't want to get my hands dirty."
"You want me to save him willingly? That's impossible!"
What if the emperor, unaware of the truth, asks you for medicine?
Emperor Mingxi's heart stirred; he was also eager to know if the Junior Tutor would grant it.
"Of course I'll give it to you!"
【Why?】
Emperor Mingxi and his ministers shared the same question.
The Junior Tutor is not someone to be trifled with. If she really doesn't want to, even His Majesty can't force her in the slightest.
She said she wouldn't save him earlier, but now she's saying she'll give him the medicine if His Majesty asks for it. What's she up to?
Emperor Mingxi also wanted to know what Yue Fuguang was thinking. For some reason, he always felt that what followed was not a good thing!
It can only be said that Emperor Mingxi understood Yue Fuguang's temperament all too well. Just as he was thinking this, he heard someone say in his ear, "What else could it be? The emperor is asking for medicine. It can only be said that Xie Laosi's life was not meant to end. If Heaven wanted to destroy his Dayan, I would naturally grant his wish!"
Emperor Mingxi's face darkened. "When did you start giving Heaven such face? You just go along with it if it wants to destroy the Great Yan?"
Why can't he believe it?
[Master, Xie Laosi's destructive power is indeed great, but not enough to truly destroy Dayan. It was the result of the combined efforts of many parties!]
The result of many efforts? Xie Zhiyan, who was supporting the emperor, twitched at the corner of his mouth. Even after studying for so long, the divine artifact still used such dramatic words!
Emperor Mingxi: Then do you two dare to name all those who have made efforts? He guarantees to kill them all, leaving no one alive!
"However, since Xie Laosi survived being stabbed and seriously injured in the original timeline, he might not die this time even without our help."
[Master, the swords used to assassinate Xie Laosi were coated with deadly poison, so he was not only wounded but also poisoned.]
"Poisoning? Isn't that the area of expertise of his mother, Consort Xin, and his master, Yue Ying? How could Du Zhongxian's grand-disciple die from poisoning?"
Emperor Mingxi and his ministers also felt that, apart from the Crown Prince and his wife who received medicine from the Junior Tutor, only Xie Laosi was not afraid of being poisoned.
Who among those who manufacture poisons for a long time doesn't have an antidote?
[Master, this time is different. Xie Laosi has been poisoned by 'The Other Shore Flower,' a rare poison newly developed by Li Sanming. As the name suggests, those poisoned by this will most likely have to make a trip to the River of Oblivion.]
"Li Sanming's latest work? Who has such power that Xie Laosi is already using the drug that was just manufactured?"
[It was done by Tianxinglou, and the mastermind behind it is naturally Beili.]
"Why did Beili suddenly turn its attention to Xie Laosi? He is neither favored nor has any real power. Moreover, he is being assassinated by members of powerful families. The people of Beili can simply sit back and watch the two tigers fight, and reap the benefits."
It was precisely because of these assassinations that those who remained by the Ninth Prince's side saw the Fourth Prince's strength and realized that he, like the Ninth Prince, was a pawn of Nan Yue, except that he was the Emperor's own son.
Tianxinglou's poisoning of the Fourth Prince was also carried out in the midst of an attack by the aristocratic families alliance.
Even if the emperor investigates, he won't find them.
"Bei Li is in a hurry to get rid of Xie Lao Si because Xie Lao Jiu and Xie Lao Si have similar character settings?"
Why is it that the people of Beili have figured out Xie Laosi's background, while the emperor seems completely unaware?
Because they're stupid?
Emperor Mingxi was almost brought to his breaking point by the word "stupid," and he no longer needed to pretend to be sad. He actually staggered and became unsteady on his feet.
"Father, Fourth Brother will be alright, don't worry too much!"
The Crown Prince helped Emperor Mingxi up and offered a timely and seemingly comforting reminder.
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