Chapter 297 The Emperor Wants to Kill (Two Chapters in One)
Xiao Zhen smiled: "Your son and his friends are currently hunting in Shiji Mountain and are having a great time."
After Xiao Zhen said this, Changping Bo became even more worried.
Everyone knows that you "died" in Shiji Mountain back then.
Shijishan is not a good place.
Xiao Zhen died and the Fourth Prince became disabled. From then on, no good person would go to Shiji Mountain.
Good people don't go there, only naughty kids go there.
"Did you ask someone to lead them over there?" asked Changping Bo.
Xiao Zhen shook his head: "Uncle, you are wrongly accusing me. They went there on their own."
Perhaps others would not believe what Xiao Zhen said, but Earl Changping believed it. This was something Song Jing could do.
Thinking of his speculation about Xiao Yue's identity, the Earl of Changping took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Xiao Zhen, I am a rough man. I have been in the military camp since I was a teenager. I am still in the military camp after returning to the capital. I don't understand the intrigues in the court, and I have never thought about which team to stand on. I only abide by one principle, and that is loyalty to the emperor!
As long as they are descendants of Taizu, I will obey whoever becomes emperor."
Xiao Zhen secretly thought that what a sly old fox he was, he was trying to trick him.
"I think Master has already guessed Guanyue's background. He is the former Xiao Yue, but he also has another name, Zhao Yuan."
The boot finally dropped.
The Earl of Changping actually breathed a sigh of relief. He guessed right. Xiao Yue was Zhao Yuan, the only son of Emperor Xiaokang and the little grandson of the emperor who died at the age of three!
He is also the nephew of Princess Jiayi and the cousin of Xiao Zhen.
"Heaven has mercy on us. Emperor Xiaokang will have a successor!"
These words came from the heart. The Earl of Changping had a very good impression of Emperor Xiaokang. Once, he had a fight with someone on the street and blocked the Emperor Xiaokang's carriage. Emperor Xiaokang not only did not scold him, but also rewarded him with snacks and fruits, and told him to go home early and not let his grandmother worry about him.
When he was a child, few people showed him kindness except his grandmother. Therefore, he had a deep memory of that encounter. Later, when someone said that Emperor Xiaokang had a bad temper, he did not believe it.
He sighed and said to Xiao Zhen, "The current emperor has been on the throne for twelve years, and the world is peaceful. Moreover, the current throne was handed down by the retired emperor himself, so it is legitimate."
Voice-over: Even if Zhao Yuan were still alive, the throne would not be his. Firstly, Zhao Yuan was only the grandson of the emperor, not the crown prince. Even if Emperor Xiaokang was gone, the throne would not be his. Secondly, the emperor retired passed the throne to Emperor Yongjia. Emperor Yongjia had been on the throne for more than ten years, and the world was peaceful. He had no merits or faults. It would not be convincing to ask him to give up the throne to Zhao Yuan at this time.
Xiao Zhen looked at him with a piercing gaze: "But what if the current emperor's position was not legitimate, and the emperor is being held hostage by him?"
Changping Bo was startled. He shook his head and said, "This is the emperor's family affair. It has nothing to do with us."
Xiao Zhen smiled and suddenly said, "Empress Dowager Li is using a trick to confuse the royal bloodline."
Changping Bo widened his eyes and looked at Xiao Zhen in disbelief, his lips moving but unable to utter a word.
As everyone knows, Concubine Li has only one child, and that is the current emperor, Emperor Yongjia!
Xiao Zhen continued, "Back then, Concubine Li gave birth to a princess. She conspired with the Baoqing Marquisate to exchange the princess for a baby boy brought from outside the palace. There is both human and material evidence."
The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
After a long while, Changping Bo slowly said, "Xiao Zhen, are you serious about what you said?"
Xiao Zhen: "I swear by the loyalty and bravery of the Xiao family that what I say today is absolutely true."
Changping Bo took a few deep breaths to calm himself down: "I want to see the emperor."
Xiao Zhen said: "Okay, I'll take you there."
The two men did not ride horses, but a seemingly ordinary mule cart. The mule cart stopped in front of a courtyard that could not be more ordinary. Changping Bo looked around and said, "Isn't this Wuji Temple?"
Xiao Zhen said: "The emperor is here."
Changping Bo was stunned for a moment, then he thought, if it were him, he would also have three burrows. Who would have thought that there are people who cheat for money, people who cheat for sex, and even people who cheat for the throne.
A moment later, the Earl of Changping met the retired emperor.
"Your servant Song Guangming pays homage to the Retired Emperor. Long live the Retired Emperor!"
"I have abdicated for many years, so please spare me these empty formalities. Please take a seat!"
Earl Changping sat down carefully, then looked up. The emperor was wearing a Taoist robe and sitting on the armchair. In addition to Zhao Guanyue, there were two young men of the same age as him in the room. One was dark and thin, and the other had a bookish look on his face and held a book in his hand. When they saw him coming, the two young men retreated.
Changping Bo remembered that when they were at the city gate, the two young men followed Zhao Guanyue. Even if they were not followers, they were friends who could get along well.
Thinking of this, Changping Bo couldn't help but think of Song Jing.
If he had not used tough measures back then, would Song Jing be among the young men following Zhao Guanyue now?
Forget it. He doesn't seek wealth and fame. His only expectation for Song Jing is safety and health. As for other things, he should not think too much about it.
"Ah Zhen said you wanted to see me?" The emperor said in a light tone.
"Yes, I haven't seen Your Majesty for many years and I miss you very much." The Earl of Changping said against his will.
The Emperor snorted coldly: "After spending so many years at the border, you have learned to call yourself a subject. It seems that you have forgotten that you are not only my subject, but also my nephew!"
The Earl of Changping quickly stood up, lifted his clothes and knelt down: "Your Majesty, your nephew dare not."
"Humph, I'm afraid you have some resentment towards me, resentment for sending you to the border, resentment for not letting you return to the capital."
"My nephew was a naughty child. If it weren't for your uncle's consideration for him, he would have been ruined long ago, not to mention everything that happened today."
The emperor's mood improved slightly. "You are right to think so. I am your uncle, how could I harm you? But you have also done your best. You have made many military achievements at the border over the years, which is very comforting to me."
"Uncle, you are too kind. Since I have already joined the army, it is my duty to defend my country. It is not worth mentioning."
"Well, now that you're here, I think Ah Zhen has already told you about that matter. Humph, if it weren't for the fact that you're my nephew, I wouldn't have let him look for you at all."
Earl Changping hurriedly said, "My nephew has told Xiao Zhen that I am a rough man and don't understand the twists and turns of the court. I will not take sides. I only follow the two words of loyalty to the emperor. As long as they are descendants of Taizu, whoever becomes emperor, I will be loyal to him, no matter how hard it takes."
The Emperor nodded: "Yes, he has grown up, matured, and can speak now."
Uncle Changping: "Nephew, just take it as a compliment from your uncle."
The Emperor pointed at Zhao Guanyue and said, "This child was saved by Empress Xiaokang and his mother at the cost of their lives. He is also my only grandson. I hand him over to you. You must respect him, be loyal to him, and protect him. Can you do that?"
Zhao Guanyue walked silently to the side of the retired emperor. He was a fifteen-year-old boy with a tall and graceful figure and a noble air between his eyebrows.
Changping Bo finally understood why Xiao Yue disappeared from the capital when he grew up.
The young man in front of him exudes nobility in his bones. No matter how you look at it, he can't be associated with a concubine's son or a concubine's son.
So when Xiao Yue was a child, he would stay in the capital, but when he grew up, he disappeared from people's sight.
"I have met the Crown Prince. He is in his prime, a man of noble character, and a true blessing to Dayong. I am willing to obey His Majesty's will. If the Crown Prince commands, I will not hesitate, even at the cost of my life!"
Zhao Guanyue walked forward and helped him up with both hands: "When Song Jing returns to the capital, let him come to see me."
Changping Bo smiled bitterly: "That kid is good for nothing except playing."
But in my heart I was thinking that if this thing succeeded, that boy's luck might even surpass that of his two brothers.
After seeing off the Earl of Changping, Xiao Zhen was about to leave. The Emperor frowned and asked, "Are you going back to the Princess's Mansion?"
Xiao Zhen: "I haven't visited my grandfather since I came back."
The Emperor: "I am your grandfather!"
Xiao Zhen: "I'm talking about Qingqing's grandfather."
The Emperor: "Do you want me to grant you a marriage?"
The corners of Xiao Zhen's mouth twitched. If he asked the retired emperor to grant the marriage without his consent, Zhen Wuduo would definitely not agree. Others would listen to the emperor, but Zhen Wuduo might not.
"Not yet. When it's settled, I'll tell you and you can grant the marriage then."
The retired emperor looked disgusted: "After all this talk, she still hasn't agreed to this marriage. Tsk, tsk, tsk, I thought you were so capable. Fortunately, that girl is now my goddaughter, and I can decide her marriage. Alas, thanks to me, otherwise you wouldn't even be able to marry a wife!"
Xiao Zhen was too lazy to pay attention to him. If you are capable, you can raise other people's sons. I really can't compare with you.
At this time, the third prince was seeking to see the emperor at Wuji Temple.
The person who was sitting cross-legged in meditation in Wuji Temple at this time was the substitute that the emperor had used for more than ten years.
Over the years, every time the retired emperor went out for a stroll, he was able to hide it from Emperor Yongjia because he had a substitute in the Changshou Palace.
"Third Prince, the Emperor is still meditating. It will take at least a few hours. You should go back first."
The person who spoke was Wang Daban, who had been with the retired emperor for decades, and even Emperor Yongjia had to give him some face.
The third prince had no choice but to return home disappointed.
As soon as he arrived at the gate of the prince's mansion, he met the messenger from the palace.
"Third Prince, His Majesty has ordered you to enter the palace with our family."
The third prince's expression was startled. Why did his father suddenly summon him into the palace?
Without time to think, he followed the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict into the palace.
At this hour, Emperor Yongjia should have been reviewing memorials in the imperial study, but he had returned to his bedroom early.
He was in a bad mood because just now, Lu Gan finally found out something.
Some people say that Zhao Guanyue looks very similar to Xiao Yue, the concubine of Princess Jiayi!
It can only be said to be similar, but I can't be sure.
Because when Xiao Yue last appeared in public, he was only twelve years old.
Zhao Guanyue is now fifteen years old. Although there has only been three years, boys of this age will have changed a lot in terms of height, appearance and voice.
The person who provided the information to Lu Gan was not familiar with Xiao Yue and had only met him once or twice. No one cared about a child from a concubine. Unless there was an ulterior motive, no one would deliberately make friends with a child with an awkward identity.
But just being similar is already serious.
Lu Ganjiang reported the news immediately, and Emperor Yongjia felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart, making it hard to breathe.
If Zhao Guanyue is Xiao Yue, does the emperor know?
With Xiao Zhen around, the emperor would definitely know unless the two brothers deliberately concealed it.
But this will not be a secret forever. Xiao Zhen cannot hide it and it will be exposed sooner or later.
This is deceiving the emperor. If Xiao Zhen is not stupid, he will not hide it from the emperor.
Then the retired emperor must have known about it. Why would he let a son from a concubine inherit the throne for his own son?
The answer that even Prince Lianlu could think of was certainly also thought of by Emperor Yongjia.
Xiao Yue was not the son of Prince Consort Xiao at all, and he was certainly not the son of a concubine.
His father was Emperor Xiaokang Zhao Xian!
Emperor Yongjia clenched his fists. Was it because of the fourth prince?
The fourth son is too disappointing, which has disappointed the emperor, and also made him disappointed in my other sons.
Yes, now among my adult sons, only the third one is useful.
The Supreme Emperor believed that I had no successor, so he found Zhao Xian's son and wanted Zhao Xian's son to inherit my throne?
dream!
At this moment, a eunuch came in and said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is unwell. Please come over."
Emperor Yongjia was furious: "She is not feeling well, so why not call the imperial physician? I am not an imperial physician!"
The eunuch was startled and quickly retreated, repeating Emperor Yongjia's words word for word. The person who came to deliver the letter from Cining Palace had no choice but to go back to see Concubine Li.
Emperor Yongjia let out a long breath, Concubine Li will only cause more trouble!
The real reason why the Supreme Emperor did this may not be because of me or my son, but because of Concubine Li.
As a son, I have always known that the Supreme Emperor looks down on Concubine Li, otherwise he would not have refused to give her the title of Empress.
It's funny to hear that the son became the emperor but his biological mother was not the empress dowager.
If my mother was not Concubine Li, but Concubine Shu, or any other concubine, would today's events not have happened?
And there was Zhao Guanyue. Jiayi was so bold that she actually hid Zhao Xian's son in her own house.
Zhao Xian's son?
Zhao Xian has only one son, and that is Zhao Yuan!
Back then, I was indeed planning to wipe out the entire clan, but Zhao Yuan died before I could do anything.
It is normal for a two or three-year-old child to die, and I did not doubt it at the time.
But now thinking back, it is easy for a two or three year old child to die. Similarly, it is equally easy to make a two or three year old child fake his or her death.
So, Zhao Yuan faked his death back then!
Yes, if Xiao Zhen can fake his death, then of course Zhao Yuan can do it too.
What is this? Xiao Zhen lost his memory after being rescued and doesn't know his own identity. It's fine if you lie to others, but I won't believe it.
Xiao Zhen faked his death back then. He didn't dare return to the capital, so he ran to Changshou Palace to seek refuge with the retired emperor.
Emperor Yongjia felt that his guess was correct. He thought that Xiao Zhen had been with the retired emperor for the past two or three years, but he didn't know that except for the beginning, Xiao Zhen was in the capital most of the time, and even with several of his princes.
The third prince arrived at this time. When he saw Emperor Yongjia, he was shocked. Emperor Yongjia’s expression was so terrifying, as if he wanted to kill someone!
Seeing that an emperor is about to kill someone means that something big is about to happen.
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