Chapter 164 The Demonic Concubine Brings Ruin to the Country
A few more days passed in this tumultuous atmosphere. The inner palace remained unaware, but news gradually spread throughout the court that His Majesty had contracted a strange illness.
Several officials from the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial together, all saying that His Majesty's illness was related to a wicked concubine, which could bring disaster to the country and must be guarded against.
Inside the imperial study, Chu Mingheng threw memorials to the ground one after another, creating a terrifyingly silent atmosphere.
"You all say that the wicked concubine brought ruin to the country." Chu Mingheng threw down the memorial and looked at the ministers below. "I think you should be talking about Lady Wen, who was in the late emperor's harem."
"That would be a disaster."
His tone was calm, seemingly without anger, but the memorials thrown on the ground were a denial.
His Majesty must be furious at this moment.
“But, but Lady Wen has long since passed away—” A minister below couldn’t help but say, “Lady Wen has long since passed away, Your Majesty.”
Chu Mingheng glanced down casually and said, "But the Wen family still has bloodlines remaining in the world."
The crowd below was momentarily stunned, but immediately realized who His Majesty was referring to—the Prince of Wei!
It could only be that Prince Wei who intended to rebel!
The events at the New Year's Eve banquet had already spread, and King Wei was immediately sent to the imperial prison. Several families who were close to King Wei were investigated and punished without exception. Now, the private army that King Wei had raised has also been discovered, and there is only one possible outcome for him.
But the Prince of Wei is also a descendant of the late emperor. Does this mean that His Majesty does not intend to acknowledge the Prince of Wei's bloodline and intends to demote the Prince of Wei to a commoner before taking further action?
Everyone sighed inwardly, wondering if His Majesty really thought that way.
"What, are you all mute?" Seeing that they remained silent, Chu Mingheng coldly broke the deadlock, kicking aside the memorial on the ground. "You were eloquent when you submitted the memorial saying that the Consort was a wicked concubine who brought disaster to the country, but now you're mute in front of me."
"Or do you mean we have to offer you writing materials before you dare to speak?"
As soon as he spoke, a chorus of pleas for mercy erupted from below, with cries of "Your Majesty, please forgive us! Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
They didn't know if it was just their imagination, but they felt that His Majesty's aura was particularly heavy today, as if... as if he was about to chop off someone's head if they weren't careful.
They were also told to be extra careful, and to think carefully about what they said.
"Does Your Majesty mean to execute the Prince of Wei?"
One person spoke, and another immediately echoed, "King Wei has committed such a heinous crime of treason, an unforgivable offense—"
"That's how it should be, that's how it should be... but Prince Wei is, after all, the son of the late emperor."
Chu Mingheng knew their intentions perfectly well. After they had all finished speaking, he slowly said, "Prince Wei is a man of deep thoughts and has committed the heinous crime of treason. He should be executed. However, I am grateful that he is a descendant of the late emperor and originally intended to exile him to Linzhou."
Exiled to Linzhou?
Linzhou is bitterly cold and barren, with even people scarcely present. Even the Prince of Wei, who is of high status and wealth, would likely face certain death in Linzhou.
The ministers were thinking to themselves, and soon they heard His Majesty continue speaking.
"However, whenever I think of it, I suffer from headaches day and night. I suppose the late emperor also disdained me as his own flesh and blood, which is why he gave me this reminder."
“I have examined myself and do not wish to make things difficult for the late emperor, so I will take on the role of the villain myself.”
The ministers were caught off guard by the words, but the Emperor changed the subject and issued an edict: "Guards, convey my decree: The Prince of Wei conspired with the deceased Lady Wen to commit the heinous crime of treason. From this day forward, he shall be demoted to a commoner, given a cup of poisoned wine, and executed immediately."
Upon hearing this, Chen Kang'an, who was waiting nearby, immediately bowed and said yes, then withdrew.
"Your Majesty—" A minister below reacted and called out.
But when their gaze met the emperor's deep, unfathomable eyes, they couldn't help but shudder, and any words they wanted to say fell silent.
King Wei was demoted to a commoner and sentenced to death in the imperial prison, but aren't they here today for the matter of the wicked concubine bringing disaster to the country?
"According to Your Majesty's words, the Imperial Medical Academy says that Your Majesty's strange illness was caused by Prince Wei?"
Chu Mingheng said calmly, "The Prince of Wei is of the Wen clan bloodline. The so-called wicked concubine that you ministers mentioned is probably just the remnant bloodline of the Wen clan doing evil."
"As for my imperial concubine."
He glanced down coldly, his gaze sharp as a glint of cold light, said something but then stopped, clearly making the ministers below uneasy, trembling as they waited for his next words.
"My Imperial Consort is worried about my health. Knowing that I have contracted a strange illness, she specially requested to go to Changyong Mountain for three months to pray for my health and do her best for the dynasty." Chu Mingheng sneered, "A woman is more reasonable than you stupid ministers. In my opinion, you don't need to be officials. You should resign."
As soon as these words were spoken, the people below immediately erupted into a frenzy, begging for mercy.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me—this humble subject, this humble subject, absolutely did not mean such a thing, Your Majesty!"
Chu Mingheng listlessly closed his eyes and summoned men to take them away.
The hall fell silent.
After waiting for a while, footsteps sounded again, and light, quick steps approached him.
Chu Mingheng opened his eyes and pulled Lan Wu down to sit on him.
"What did you paint for me today?" He nuzzled Lan Wu's neck with his nose and asked softly.
Lan Wu looked quite pleased. She neatly laid the drawing paper on the table and even used a paperweight to press down the corners. She turned her head and said, "Your Majesty, guess."
Let him guess?
Chu Mingheng raised his eyes slightly and saw that the lotus flowers and leaves on the left and right sides of Lan Wu's painting were covering the water ripples in the center, and two ducks were swimming in the water.
Lan Wu excitedly asked him to guess, so maybe the drawing wasn't of a duck after all...
But it looks like a duck, or rather, two wild ducks squatting in dry land.
He remained silent for a long time, and Lan Wu grew anxious, her tone somewhat dejected: "Can't you guess? Isn't it easy to guess?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Mingheng grasped Lan Wu's hand and asked her, "Is it a painting of mandarin ducks?"
"Your Majesty, you're amazing—you guessed it all!" Lan Wu couldn't help but laugh when she heard the correct answer. After laughing, she pointed to the mandarin ducks in the water and said, "I thought Your Majesty would mistake them for ducks."
Chu Mingheng remained unfazed; he even suspected that Lan Wu had drawn the mandarin ducks based on the image of a duck.
It may be ugly, but it was still a painting by Lan Wu for him.
"I will put it away now, and I will look at it whenever I miss Awu."
He had just given the order that the guards going to Changyong Mountain would be ready in the next two days, but he was still a little worried about leaving Lan Wu alone.
"Awu, Yizhen will be with you on this trip to Changyong Mountain. I thought you would have no one to talk to on the road, so I let her come along. She is a bit too capricious, but you don't need to pay attention to her. If she offends you, just punish her directly. If you can't bring yourself to do it, just write to me and I will take care of it for you."
At this point, Chu Mingheng looked at Lan Wu deeply again, kissed her forehead, and emphasized, "If there's anything you're not used to, or if you're unhappy, or if you miss me, you must write to me, understand?"
"There are post stations along the way from the capital to Changyong Mountain. I will receive the letter soon, you know?"
Lan Wu wanted to smile and reassure him, but she couldn't manage a smile. She could only nod and say, "I'll miss you a lot. You have to come pick me up when I come back."
"I know, I agree."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com