"Brother, do you also have doubts about the old prince's rebellion?"
"This is illogical. A sixty-year-old man suddenly rebelling? And just six months ago, he was praising the new policies in his memorials, saying they were beneficial to the country and its people."
"Does Your Majesty suspect something is amiss?"
"The old prince suffered internal injuries on the battlefield when he was young, and in recent years he has relied on the 'Snow Ginseng Jade Dew Pills' specially made by the Imperial Medical Academy to prolong his life." Lu Nancheng took out an account book from a hidden compartment. "But since last December, this medicine has not been requisitioned from the Imperial Pharmacy."
Lu Jingze was taken aback: "The old Imperial Uncle has always been honest and kind, but this sudden rebellion... I also feel..."
"It's like being manipulated?" Lu Nancheng continued.
"Yes, so I checked the military procurement records of the three northern provinces for the past six months. Please review them, Your Majesty."
The numbers circled in vermilion were shocking. The emperor's fingertip paused on the three characters "Longchang Hao": "This trading company..."
"Located in Jiangnan, it specializes in doing business with the North. Even more coincidentally, it sends a camphor wood chest to the Imperial Preceptor's residence on the seventh day of every month."
A thunderclap boomed outside the hall, illuminating Lu Nancheng's suddenly somber face.
"The Imperial Advisor has been riding high these past few years..."
Lu Jingze opened a box, revealing an arrowhead wrapped in a handkerchief inside.
"Your Majesty, I had the imperial physician examine it. It's been treated with poison; it's 'Green Snake Saliva,' a poison reserved for the royal family of Dayong."
Lu Nancheng closed his eyes briefly. "Is this related to the Imperial Advisor?"
"The extraction process of green snake saliva is complicated. One of the raw materials required is called red worm grass, which matches the red marks in the box sent to the Imperial Preceptor's mansion."
"So the old imperial uncle stopped taking the imperial medicine and switched to taking the national teacher's pills..." Lu Nancheng gasped.
"The matter of Lizhou has always been shrouded in doubt. Your humble servant has investigated for many years without finding anything, but now the evidence is conclusive, which inevitably arouses suspicion."
“You’re right. I also couldn’t believe that the disaster in Lizhou was caused by my old uncle, which is why I sent him to Dali Temple for imprisonment. Jingze, you personally select a team of people to keep an eye on my old uncle.”
"Your subject understands!"
"Your Majesty, there are other matters that have not yet been investigated. I hope Your Majesty will carefully examine the items sent by the Imperial Preceptor."
"I understand. I know what I'm doing. You may go."
After Lu Jingze left, the atmosphere was no longer as tense as before. Lu Nancheng smiled and instructed Ning Daban to carefully check the items sent by the Imperial Preceptor.
Having served Lu Nancheng for many years, Ning Daban knew why the emperor was so happy, so he said, "Your Highness is truly different. In the past, I only cared about Your Majesty in secret, but today I feel so warm inside."
Lu Nancheng's smile deepened. "My younger brother has always been this aloof and unapproachable since he was little. But he still shows concern for me, his own brother, from time to time."
Ning Daban didn't want to expose him, so he just echoed "yes, yes" from the side.
——-
The night was deep, and the lights inside Dali Temple were dim.
Lu Jingze changed into a night suit and personally inspected the prison cells.
The old prince was imprisoned in the innermost cell, a cell for serious offenders, surrounded by iron walls, with only a narrow window high up letting in a little moonlight.
"Your Highness," the guard reported in a low voice, "Since being imprisoned, the old prince has kept his eyes closed and has not eaten or drunk a drop of water."
Lu Jingze frowned slightly and looked through the iron fence. He saw the old prince sitting cross-legged, his face withered and his eyes sunken. Where was the former majestic demeanor that once dominated the region?
Even more strangely, his fingers trembled slightly, and a faint dark red tinge peeked out from under his nails, like some kind of medicine stain.
Lu Jingze's gaze faltered slightly. "Go and check if anyone has visited the old prince in the past few days?"
The guard shook his head: "As you instructed, no outsiders are allowed to approach. Even the food delivery personnel are our people."
Lu Jingze's eyes darkened, and his doubts deepened.
Just then, the old prince suddenly opened his eyes, staring straight at Lu Jingze. His lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but then he abruptly closed them. Veins bulged on his forehead, as if he was trying his best to endure something.
Lu Jingze's heart skipped a beat. He was about to step forward when he heard the old prince growl in a hoarse voice: "Go...go quickly!"
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood and began to convulse violently!
"Imperial Physician! Summon the Imperial Physician immediately!" Lu Jingze shouted sternly.
---
The next morning, Lu Nancheng was reviewing memorials in the imperial study when Ning Daban quietly entered and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor requests an audience."
Lu Nancheng's eyes flickered slightly. He put down the vermilion brush and said calmly, "Summon."
The Imperial Preceptor, dressed in a black Taoist robe and holding a whisk, slowly entered with a respectful smile on his face: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"What brings the Imperial Advisor to see me today?" Lu Nancheng asked calmly, revealing neither joy nor anger.
The Imperial Advisor smiled slightly: "I heard that there was a fire in the palace last night. I was worried about Your Majesty's safety, so I came to inquire after your well-being."
"Oh?" Lu Nancheng smiled faintly. "The Imperial Advisor is certainly well-informed."
The Imperial Advisor remained calm: "Last night, I observed the celestial phenomena and saw flames shooting into the sky from the direction of the Imperial Palace. That's when I realized what was happening."
"I see," Lu Nancheng tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, then suddenly changed the subject: "Has the Imperial Preceptor recently been refining any new formulas for pills?"
The Imperial Advisor's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled, "If Your Majesty is interested, I can offer you a few 'Mind-Clearing Pills' to help calm your mind."
"No need." Lu Nancheng waved his hand casually. "I have been sleeping well these days. However, the old prince of Dali Temple is in poor health. If the Imperial Preceptor has any good medicine, he might as well send it to Dali Temple."
The Imperial Advisor's expression stiffened for a moment, then returned to normal: "Your Majesty is kind and benevolent. The old prince committed a grave error, yet you still wish to pardon him. I truly admire you!"
After the Imperial Advisor left, Lu Nancheng's eyes turned cold, and he said to Ning Daban, "Go and investigate whether there was any unusual activity at the Imperial Advisor's residence today."
---
That night, in the backyard of the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
A dark figure scaled the wall and entered, navigating the corridor with practiced ease, before slipping into a secret room.
The flickering candlelight illuminated a sinister face—it was none other than Xiao Cheng, the newly emerged leader of the Dayong rebels!
"How did things go?"
Xiao Cheng chuckled: "Please rest assured, Imperial Advisor, the old prince has already taken the 'Heart-Eating Pill.' In three days, he will be completely turned into a puppet. At that time, no matter how strictly Lu Jingze guards him, he will not be able to stop him from 'committing suicide out of fear of punishment.'"
The Imperial Advisor nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. As long as the old prince dies, the imperial family in the court will be in chaos, and only then can our plan continue."
Xiao Hancheng narrowed his eyes: "However, Lu Jingze seems to have become suspicious. He went to Dali Temple in person last night."
The Imperial Advisor snorted coldly: "It's alright, he won't find anything out. It's the Emperor who tested me today; it seems he's become suspicious as well."
A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Cheng's eyes: "Should we..."
The Imperial Advisor raised his hand to stop him: "We must not act rashly. The Emperor is surrounded by many experts. Taking action rashly will only alert the enemy."
He paused, then gave a sinister smile: "Three days from now, once the old prince dies, all the relatives will be in danger. That will be the best time for us to make our move."
---
At the same time, Lu Jingze stood on the roof of Dali Temple, gazing at the lights of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion in the distance, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
The guard arrived quietly and whispered, "Your Highness, we've found out. There have indeed been people secretly entering and leaving the Imperial Preceptor's residence recently, and one of them is suspected to be Xiao Cheng, the leader of the Dayong rebels."
Lu Jingze sneered: "As expected, it was him."
He turned and leaped off the roof, mounted his horse, and headed straight for the palace.
Inside the imperial study, after listening to Lu Jingze's report, Lu Nancheng's eyes turned cold and sharp: "It seems that the Imperial Advisor is determined to disrupt the court."
Lu Jingze said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, should we arrest the Imperial Advisor immediately?"
Lu Nancheng pondered for a moment and asked, "Jingze, what do you think we should do?"
"In my opinion, we might as well wait a little longer."
"Alright, I'll listen to you. I also want to see just how many members of the royal family have been misled by them!"
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