Ah Hui's younger sister was seriously injured. The doctor shook his head after examining her, saying he was powerless to help. Zhao Guizhi thought that since she had already saved her, she should see it through to the end. So she took Ah Hui's younger sister to several other clinics, but the doctors at each clinic said there was no hope.
“We swam in the sea for seven days and seven nights and finally managed to escape. How could we not hold on in the end?” Ahui was heartbroken, but no matter how many tears she shed, she couldn’t bring her sister back.
Zhao Guizhi stayed in the prefectural city for a few more days because of this, and even helped with the funeral of Ahui's sister. All of Ahui's family members were killed by Japanese pirates and government soldiers.
When Ahui first said this, Zhao Guizhi didn't understand. She thought Ahui was too sad and her words were incoherent.
"I'm telling the truth. The Japanese pirates colluded with the government troops in Anyang Prefecture to massacre the fishermen. I don't know if it was Prince Cheng or the prefect who colluded with the pirates, but they were all bad people. They also blocked the news, so people in other places don't know that many remote fishing villages have had their entire population slaughtered."
That day, I carried my younger sister and jumped into the sea under cover of darkness. We managed to hold on to a piece of driftwood until the very end. The Japanese pirates and the Jin dynasty's officials are in cahoots, jointly slaughtering the people of Anyang Prefecture. I fear they will wipe out the entire city's inhabitants.
Zhao Guizhi was shocked after hearing this. She didn't know whether to believe Ahui's words or not, but Ahui didn't seem to be lying. After thinking it over, Zhao Guizhi decided to write a letter to the capital and tell Xingxing about what happened in Anyang Prefecture.
Regardless of whether the matter is true or not, once the imperial court finds out, at least they will send people to investigate. If the local officials of Anyang Prefecture and Prince Cheng really colluded with the Japanese pirates, then the imperial court can deal with them sooner. If the matter is not true, that would be even better, otherwise countless innocent people in Anyang Prefecture would die.
Xingxing received the letter ten days later. Zhao Guizhi had specially added money to send the urgent letter. After reading the contents of the letter, Xingxing was very shocked. Last year, Prince Cheng had made great contributions and repelled the Japanese pirates.
How could he have colluded with the Japanese pirates right after the New Year? Is it really true that a leopard can't change its spots? Prince Cheng fought bravely against the Japanese pirates to obtain the antidote, but once he got it, his true colors were revealed?
No matter how hard she tried, Xingxing couldn't figure it out. She was angry, but she also felt that something was wrong. She had a feeling that something had gone wrong, but she couldn't see any clues in her mind, so she couldn't determine the truth of the matter.
However, this matter was of utmost importance, and she dared not be presumptuous. Since it concerned matters of state, she was determined to report it to the emperor. So she took the letter to see Emperor Taikang.
After reading the letter, the emperor was so enraged that he almost fainted. He slumped onto his dragon throne, heartbroken, and exclaimed, "How dare Prince Cheng! Such a treacherous and treacherous act of betrayal by a prince of the Great Jin Dynasty is unbecoming of my own son! How could such an unfaithful and unfilial person be my son?"
"Father, please calm down. I feel there's something fishy about this. Prince Cheng's behavior is too inconsistent. Perhaps there's some misunderstanding." Xingxing wasn't sure either, but she had a strong intuition that Prince Cheng hadn't done anything to betray the Great Jin Dynasty.
"Long'er, stop speaking up for that wicked son. I'll pretend I don't have a son like him. Guards, throw Consort Duan into the Cold Palace! The Zheng family, Imperial Censor Zheng..." In a fit of anger, the emperor wanted to immediately uproot Consort Duan and the Zheng family.
"Father, let's hold off on this matter for now. At least we need to send someone to investigate and prove that Prince Cheng did indeed collude with the Japanese pirates before we can convict him. It's too hasty to rely on just a letter," Xingxing interrupted the emperor's decree, offering gentle advice.
Upon hearing this, the emperor was stunned for a moment, but in that instant he seemed to recover and his mind became clearer. After thinking for a long time, he finally shook his head slowly and said, "Let's listen to Long'er. I'm a little tired and want to rest."
Emperor Taikang's physical health has been fine recently, but his mind seems to be malfunctioning. He is sometimes clear-headed and sometimes confused, and he cannot tolerate the slightest stimulation. Once stimulated, he will become enraged and suddenly become irritable and restless, just like he did just now.
"Father, don't worry. I will find out the truth about this. You should rest now. I'll have my fourth senior brother come to the palace to give you acupuncture. You'll get better soon." Xingxing was very sad, but she never showed it to Emperor Taikang, for fear of making the emperor anxious.
Emperor Taikang closed his eyes, waved his hand, and said in a low voice, "Long'er, don't worry about your father. Your father is just getting old and his mind isn't working so well, but he's not so confused that he can't think straight. It's a pity that none of my princes are capable."
Xingxing didn't reply. The emperor was an extremely responsible emperor. He was unwilling to hand over the country to an incompetent prince, even if it was his own son. However, in recent years, he had been experiencing either health problems or mental problems. If he didn't choose someone to inherit the throne soon, and something happened to him, the court and the country would be in chaos.
Emperor Taikang was well aware of the serious consequences, but he seemed to know that his time was not yet up and that he could live for a few more years, so he kept delaying the matter of establishing an heir.
After the emperor rested, Xingxing returned to her palace and discussed the situation along the coast of Anyang Prefecture with Zhu Lin.
“I want to go to Anyang Prefecture myself. For some reason, I feel uneasy. I feel like something is out of my control, but I can’t foresee it. I can’t feel at ease until I go there myself.” Xingxing told the boy her intuition.
“Although your precognitive abilities didn’t give any hints, your intuition is still reliable. Since you think you absolutely have to go, then go. I’ll go with you.” The boy always supported her unconditionally like this.
"I'm relieved to hear you say that. I'll discuss this with my father again and then we'll decide on the date to leave the capital," Xingxing said with a determined look in her eyes.
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