At this moment, outside the city gate, Xiao Ce led a group of guards to surround Qiao Ziming and Qiao Zixian, not because he was afraid they would run away, but to protect them.
Logically speaking, Qiao Xiuyuan would never allow these two to see the Emperor alive.
Therefore, they will definitely look for an opportunity to kill and silence witnesses.
Now that they've reached the palace gates, they'll soon be able to expose Qiao Xiuyuan's true colors, so no matter what, they must protect these two.
Qiao Ziming and Qiao Zixian had met before when they were at the Yong'an Prince's Mansion.
Qiao Ziming had never known about this younger sister before. If it were in the past, he would definitely have looked down on Qiao Zixian, this illegitimate daughter.
But now, after learning about Qiao Zixian's situation, he felt a pang of sympathy for his younger sister.
However, there wasn't much sympathy for him, because he wasn't much better off than Qiao Zixian. These two half-siblings were in the same boat.
They were also manipulated and played by their own fathers.
Now that he's no longer of any use, he'll be killed by his own father to silence him.
Having experienced so much, his state of mind has undergone a complete transformation.
I will no longer look down on others, nor will I be arrogant enough to think that I am better than others.
"Brother, do you think the Emperor will summon him for a face-to-face confrontation later?"
Qiao Zixian spoke softly, and Qiao Ziming knew exactly what she was thinking.
Because he didn't know how to face Qiao Xiuyuan later.
"He probably will, but you don't need to overthink it. Since he doesn't treat us like his own children, we don't need to treat him like our father either. When we meet the Emperor, we'll just say what we have to say."
"Um."
After waiting for a long time, the palace gates were finally opened from the inside, and a eunuch came out and shouted loudly, "His Majesty summons Qiao Ziming and Qiao Zixian to an audience!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce and his group slowly moved aside, making way for Qiao Ziming and Qiao Zixian.
They couldn't go into the palace with them, so this was all they could do to protect them. As for what would happen after they entered the palace, Qiao Xiuyuan couldn't possibly kill them all in a big way. As long as they were vigilant, they should be able to reach the Emperor safely.
After Qiao Ziming and Qiao Zixian entered the palace gates, they remained vigilant about their surroundings. However, even after entering the main hall and meeting the Emperor, no suspicious person appeared to take their lives.
This made them feel both fortunate and strange.
Ye Zeyu was also puzzled.
What exactly is Qiao Xiuyuan thinking?
So what exactly do they want to do?
Judging from Qiao Xiuyuan's calm and composed demeanor at the city gate, he couldn't possibly surrender so easily, so Qiao Xiuyuan must have a backup plan.
Qiao Ziming and Qiao Zixian began to tell Ye Jingchun everything they knew and had experienced, and time passed little by little as they talked.
Just as Qiao Ziming revealed that Qiao Xiuyuan had asked Chang Zhong to kill him because he had developed feelings for Su Muxi.
Ye Ziyu suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Father! Your son wishes to return to the palace!"
After saying that, without waiting for Ye Jingchun to speak, he turned to leave, but was stopped by the guards around him.
"Ye Ziyu! Did I say you could leave?!"
Ye Ziyu clenched his fists as he looked at the row of guards holding knives in front of him.
If he were to force his way in, these people in front of him would be no match for him.
But if he were to make a move, his good father would show no mercy, and the imperial guards outside would surely riddle him with holes.
Thinking of this, Ye Ziyu took a deep breath, turned around and knelt down again.
This time, however, he knelt down on both knees.
"Father, Qiao Xiuyuan is obsessed with Xi'er. I am afraid that Xi'er is in danger. I beg you to allow me to return to the manor to check on her. If Xi'er is alright, I will definitely come back immediately!"
Ye Jingchun snorted coldly: "Hmph! Are you trying to say that Qiao Xiuyuan has connections everywhere again? Even if Qiao Xiuyuan is powerful, can he destroy your royal palace?"
The guards in your Yong'an Prince's Mansion are all elite soldiers from the Xuanwu Army. Do you think I don't know that? I'm afraid your Yong'an Prince's Mansion is safer than my Imperial Palace.
As long as Su Muxi doesn't leave the Yong'an Prince's residence, how could anything happen to her?!
Upon hearing this, Qiao Ziming suddenly became nervous. "Your Majesty, Prince Yong'an has dispatched most of the guards from his residence to protect my sister and me..."
His words were also filled with deep concern.
But Ye Jingchun remained unconcerned.
"If Qiao Xiuyuan dares to storm into the Yong'an Prince's Mansion and kidnap people in such a high-profile manner, has he not thought about the consequences? Unless all the Imperial Guards in the capital are his men, he can forget about leaving the capital alive!"
That's true, but Ye Ziyu still had a bad feeling.
Qiao Xiuyuan is a man of deep thoughts; no one can fathom what he is truly thinking.
So he still wanted to go back to the mansion to take a look.
"Before I left the capital, I sent some guards to protect my second brother’s residence. But today, when I entered the city, I met Qiao Xiuyuan, who told me about my second brother’s death."
After I returned to my residence, I sent men to recall those secret guards, but none of them survived.
This is enough to show that Qiao Xiuyuan has his own influence in Beijing.
Father, I swear to Heaven that I have absolutely no intention of rebelling.
The reason I sent someone to protect my second brother is because he told me that Qiao Xiuyuan was good at imitating other people's handwriting, and that the letters that Yu Wangshu (the Prince of Yu) wrote about colluding with the enemy and plotting rebellion were all forged by Qiao Xiuyuan.
Regarding what my second brother said, I originally intended to investigate thoroughly before explaining it to Father Emperor, but I was delayed by the matter in Ganzhou, and my second brother has now died!
Ye Jingchun was unwilling to mention what happened nineteen years ago, and now that he heard that the letter accusing Prince Yu of treason was likely forged by Qiao Xiuyuan, he was even more unwilling to listen.
He quickly interrupted, "Enough! The person is dead now, and this is only your side of the story!"
All I know is that the Imperial Guards reported that a group of men in black went to the Second Prince's residence to assassinate Ye Zerui, but were all killed by the Imperial Guards. And those men in black were your secret guards!
"You were the one who ordered Ye Zerui's death, so why are you pretending to be innocent?!"
Then Ye Jingchun questioned, "And what about Consort Shu's miscarriage? Did you arrange that too?! Did you think that just because all my sons are dead, you can rightfully inherit the throne?!"
So, are you going to kill your third brother next, and then kill me?!
snort!
He claims to have no interest in the throne, but in reality, he's incredibly ambitious!
"Guards! Bring back Prince Yong'an..."
Just as Ye Jingchun was about to order Ye Zeyu to be arrested, Ye Zeming ignored the guards' attempts to stop him and rushed in.
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