Dongning City, Prince Xin's Mansion.
"Mu'er, come here to Daddy!"
Li Xin squatted on the ground, looking at his toddler son Li Mu, opened his broad arms, and said with a smile.
The little one is already seven or eight months old, and with the help of the maid, he can walk slowly and unsteadily.
Seeing his father's call, the little one struggled to walk over.
After a short distance, she skipped and jumped into Li Xin's arms, her walking posture making everyone laugh.
"Hahaha……"
Looking at the little one in his arms, Li Xin picked him up. "Little one, you're learning to walk pretty fast!"
"Your Highness,"
The maidservant smiled and chimed in, "It's not completely warm yet. Once the young master takes off his cotton-padded coat, he'll be able to walk more steadily."
"Mmm, almost there, almost there..."
Li Xin laughed, holding the little one, a bright smile on his face.
At this moment, Zhao Bingzhang strode in, looking hurried.
Upon seeing Zhao Bingzhang's expression, Li Xin's heart skipped a beat, realizing that something seemed amiss.
He then handed the baby in his arms to the maid, walked to Zhao Bingzhang's side, and asked, "Mr. Zhao, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
Zhao Bingzhang handed a slip of paper to Li Xin and said, "News has just come back from the capital: the emperor has passed away."
"What?"
Upon hearing this news, Li Xin's expression changed drastically.
He took the note and carefully read its contents.
The message was very short, consisting of only a few words: "On the night of March 23, Emperor Tongxu passed away."
The message was very short and didn't even specify the reason.
"Your Highness,"
Zhao Bingzhang took a deep breath and said, "This matter has been very rushed, and the news from the capital is somewhat unreliable."
However, since they came from the capital, it should already be confirmed.
But why so suddenly?
Last year in the capital, His Majesty was full of energy and showed no signs of illness.
"yes!"
Li Xin nodded as well.
Last year in the capital, I saw my father many times, and he showed absolutely no signs of illness.
But why so suddenly?
Li Xin narrowed his eyes as he looked at Zhao Bingzhang in front of him.
Zhao Bingzhang glanced around and said, "Your Highness, there are too many people in the courtyard, let's go to the study instead."
Immediately, Li Xin and Zhao Bingzhang went to the study.
After closing the door, Zhao Bingzhang said softly, "Your Highness, do you think there might be someone behind this...?"
You mean the Crown Prince?
Li Xin's eyes widened, and he said coldly, "The Crown Prince isn't that cruel!"
Why not?
Zhao Bingzhang immediately retorted: "The Crown Prince died suddenly more than ten years ago, it's still fresh in my mind."
Did he really die suddenly from an illness?
"Um?"
Li Xin was stunned.
In fact, Li Xin had always been puzzled and confused about the death of his elder brother, suspecting that someone had done something to it.
Especially the information Liu Jingxuan found out when Zhao Bingzhang first arrived.
Zhao Bingzhang was suddenly convicted and exiled to Dongning Province after his elder brother, the emperor, died suddenly from an illness.
At that time, Li Xin suspected that there was some connection between the two.
Hearing Zhao Bingzhang say this now, there must really be another hidden story!
Li Xin stared at Zhao Bingzhang and asked, "Mr. Zhao, do you know anything?"
"Your Highness,"
Zhao Bingzhang took a deep breath and said, "As you probably know, I, Zhao Bingzhang, was originally an official in the Eastern Palace and served by the Crown Prince's side for many years."
Unfortunately, one day more than ten years ago, the crown prince suddenly fell ill and died. When Zhao entered the palace to investigate, he discovered some clues.
At the time, Zhao was young and unaware of the complexities involved, so he reported the suspicious points to His Majesty without question.
"I hope Your Majesty will investigate why His Highness the Crown Prince died suddenly from his illness."
"Did you tell Father Emperor?"
Li Xin was taken aback and asked, "Did Father investigate in the end?"
"Investigate? Ha!"
Zhao Bingzhang gave a self-deprecating laugh and said helplessly, "I'm afraid the news was switched before it even reached His Majesty's desk!"
At the time, Zhao was young and unaware of the reasons behind it.
After a long time, there was still no sign of His Majesty's approval. Instead, news came that Li Ming had been appointed Crown Prince.
After Li Ming moved into the Eastern Palace, his subordinates made things difficult for me at every turn. Later in the autumn, the Ministry of Justice framed me, and I was arrested, imprisoned, and exiled to Dongning.
Looking back on those events over the past ten years, I finally understand.
It is likely that Li Ming was involved in the Crown Prince's sudden death!
After arriving in the capital last summer, I secretly inquired about Your Highness's attack in Dongning.
In summary, Li Ming was behind it all!
Now, the emperor has suddenly fallen ill and died; the timing is too abnormal!
Since the establishment of the Embroidered Uniform Guard last year, news has been blocked in Dongning, making it very difficult for various messages to get out.
Especially in winter, heavy snow blocks mountains and roads, making it impossible for any news to get out.
During this very period, the strength of our Dongning Prince's Guard has greatly improved. Not only has the number of troops increased to 20,000, but they are also being equipped with Dongning flintlock muskets.
It was probably only after the beginning of spring, when this news reached Li Ming's ears, that such a change occurred in the capital!
Hearing Zhao Bingzhang's guess, Li Xin's eyes widened in shock.
Although it's just speculation, there are clues to follow!
Zhao Bingzhang did indeed discover some clues regarding the death of his eldest brother.
Unfortunately, the trail eventually went cold, and he himself was exiled to Dongning.
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