Chapter 184 Old Zhu is very angry
Zhu Chong's scalp went numb as he looked at Zhu Xiongying, who had a shocked expression but was silent.
He didn't know what kind of horrible things this child had experienced in his life that caused him to die in such a way.
What is even more unclear is how Zhu Biao was a father. Could it be that just because the former Crown Princess was gone, he no longer cared about his children?
Zhu Chong looked at Old Zhu, and when he stretched out his trembling fingers under Zhu Xiongying's nose, he suddenly felt a pang in his heart. He understood that Old Zhu was hoping for a miracle to happen. He thought Zhu Xiongying was not dead yet!
But the miracle obviously did not happen. Old Zhu's expression visibly restrained. When he straightened up and turned his head to look at the people behind him, Zhu Chong clearly saw that there was a cold look in Old Zhu's eyes.
"So, the prince doesn't know when Xiongying died. Then who was the first to discover that Xiongying was gone?"
Lao Zhu's tone was calm and no emotion could be heard in it, but no one dared to ignore his words.
A trembling palace maid came out on her knees, lowering her head and answering, "Your Majesty, I report, it was you who discovered it first..."
"Come here, beat him to death!" Old Zhu uttered these four words softly, his tone as calm as before, as if what he just said was not a big deal.
As soon as Old Zhu gave the order, the eunuchs in the palace came forward, grabbed the palace maid's arms on the left and right, and began to drag her out.
The maid didn't react at first, but when the eunuch began to drag her away, she finally realized what was happening and quickly struggled to beg for mercy, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please spare my life. I am not your servant, Your Majesty, please spare my life..."
The palace maid's shrill screams made everyone present shudder. Everyone knew that the palace maid was being taken out on by Zhu Yuanzhang, but no one dared to dissuade her. Dissuading Zhu Yuanzhang at this time would be tantamount to courting disaster.
Zhu Chong frowned and glanced at the Crown Prince. Crown Prince Zhu Biao was still a little hesitant, but when he noticed Zhu Chong's look, he gritted his teeth and stepped forward, "Father, please take back your order!"
"Hmm?" Old Zhu stared at Zhu Biao with a gloomy look.
Zhu Biao felt his scalp burning, but he still held on. "Father, Xiongying's death has not yet been investigated. Whether this matter is related to this palace maid has not yet been investigated. I still ask for your permission. I will make a decision after this matter is verified!"
"Stupid!" Zhu Yuanzhang glared. "At this moment, you still want to be a good guy, worried about killing the wrong person. But the person lying there is your son! My grandson!"
"Look at who you've arranged here. He's the grandson of the Ming emperor, a member of the royal family, and yet you're so neglectful. It's been ages since he died that you've reported him. For this reason alone, everyone who serves Xiong Ying in this hall deserves death!"
Old Zhu's voice was so deafening that everyone present changed color, especially the palace maids who served Zhu Xiongying, each of them had a look of despair in their eyes.
But no matter how angry Zhu Yuanzhang was, Zhu Biao refused to give in. He believed that the palace maids should be dealt with after the facts were verified, and that innocent people should not be killed indiscriminately, which made Zhu Yuanzhang very angry.
"Imperial Physician!" Zhu Chong stepped forward at this time and asked the imperial physician who had arrived earlier, changing the topic between Old Zhu and Zhu Biao.
"What exactly caused Xiongying's death? Does your Imperial Hospital have a conclusion?"
Upon hearing Zhu Chong's question, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao immediately looked at the imperial doctors. Seeing this, the imperial doctors present couldn't help but groan in their hearts, but they could only bite the bullet and step forward to report.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin, I have carefully examined His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and found no injuries. However, due to insufficient time, I dare not speculate on the exact cause of His Royal Highness's death."
The words of the imperial physician made Lao Zhu and others look even uglier. There were no casualties. How could this be considered?
Of course, the imperial physician was helpless. He really couldn't find anything wrong. The person was already dead and there were no wounds on the body. The only way was to perform an autopsy. But the problem was that there were no professional forensic doctors in the Ming Dynasty at that time, and they were not allowed to do so.
Therefore, the imperial physician can only tell the truth. Otherwise, if he hides anything, he will be in a worse situation when the reckoning comes!
Old Zhu must be dissatisfied. Zhu Xiongying is gone, and his death is still unclear. So many people in the Imperial Hospital can't find the cause of death. This is obviously a problem.
It is impossible that he died of a sudden illness. Zhu Xiongying was poisoned before and he was fine. How could he suddenly die of a sudden illness?
"Mao Xiang!" Old Zhu started to use his ultimate move. Everyone was shocked when they heard it, and Zhu Chong's scalp also went numb.
When Lao Zhu called out to people, it was like he had unleashed his ultimate move. Just guess what the damage would be!
As the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Mao Xiang was entrusted with the task of investigating the cause of Zhu Xiongying's death. The entire Yingtian Prefecture would likely be plunged into a bloody storm. No matter what the final outcome was, the death toll would only be high, not low!
But unexpectedly, Old Zhu pointed at Zhu Xiongying lying on the bed and shouted at Mao Xiang, "Go and see!"
"Yes, sir!" Upon hearing this, Mao Xiang quickly clasped his fists in agreement, then trotted to Zhu Xiongying's bed and began to carefully examine Zhu Xiongying's body.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Chong suddenly realized that Mao Xiang was probably more than just the commander of the Jinyiwei. He might have other unique skills! Otherwise, Zhu Yuanzhang would not let him do this in public.
However, after examining for a long time, Mao Xiang shook his head, thinking that sudden death was the most likely possibility. Then he kept saying that he was incompetent and begged Zhu to punish him, which completely angered Zhu.
"You all keep saying that Xiongying died suddenly. I am the first one who doesn't believe it. Yesterday I asked the Queen to see him, and the Queen told me that Xiongying was fine. How could he be gone today?" Old Zhu said shockingly.
"You're forcing me, thinking I don't know those dirty tricks, right? I'm telling you, I know everything. If you push me to the limit, I'd rather kill ten thousand by mistake than let one go!"
Zhu Chong's scalp went numb again. Old Zhu seldom called himself "I". Usually, when this happened, there was only one possibility, that is, Old Zhu was really angry and wanted to kill someone!
But the problem is that the current situation is strange. Zhu Xiongying was talking to Queen Ma yesterday, but he is gone today. It seems that he died suddenly or died of fright.
In ancient times, many children died from fright, but the question is how could Zhu Xiongying die of fright in his own palace? Who dared to frighten him?
Zhu Chong couldn't help but take a few quick steps forward and carefully look at Zhu Xiongying lying on the bed, but Old Zhu saw it all.
"Second brother, what did you see?" Zhu Yuanzhang was at his most sensitive period at this time and reacted immediately.
Zhu Chong frowned slightly and glanced around. He unexpectedly noticed a copper basin upside down under the bedside table. Judging from the water stains on the ground, it must have been overturned not long ago.
"Your Highness, may I ask what this copper basin is?" Zhu Chong pointed at the copper basin under the table. When Old Zhu saw it, he frowned and looked at the prince.
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