Song Anxin knew what she was thinking, of course. She said with a stern face, "What, are you afraid I'll run away? Aren't there guards at the door? If you're really worried, just ask her to come in and keep an eye on me."
I'm hungry and tired, and I can't make what your master wants. Are you even capable of taking responsibility? Hurry up and go!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhang dared not delay and immediately said with a smile, "Yes, yes, please don't be angry, Lady Hui. This old servant will go right now."
Her expression changed, and she said to the guards standing at the door, "I'm going to the kitchen for a while. You go in and keep an eye on Consort Hui."
The guard replied, "Yes!"
As soon as Granny Zhang left, Song Anxin and the guard exchanged a glance, went into the room, and closed the door.
"My lady, I am Qingyun. It is my incompetence that has caused you suffering."
Qingyun knelt down and said.
Hearing the familiar voice, Song Anxin was so excited that she almost cried. However, the guard's appearance did not resemble Qingyun at all, so she quickly helped him up.
"You also know how to disguise yourself?" Song Anxin asked.
Qingyun nodded: "I used to be a spy for the Yan family, so I learned the skills. The information that Shuren revealed has already been found out by Third Master. However, these people are too cautious. We followed them several times but lost them. Later, I found an opportunity to disguise myself as a coachman and finally found this place."
He pulled out something resembling a face from his sleeve: "Shuren, I'll help you disguise yourself now. You'll come with me later as that old woman."
Song Anxin shook her head and said with a calm expression, "Qingyun, you saw it all when you came here, right? The Second Prince is forging weapons and making explosives. He is plotting a rebellion."
"I understand. Once we escape, I will inform General Yan and Third Master," Qingyun said.
“If I disappear, the Second Prince will immediately become alert, and he might even rebel in desperation.” Song Anxin frowned as she analyzed, “The Second Prince has produced an astonishing amount of explosives. If he rebels, it will cause countless deaths and injuries among the people and soldiers of the capital. He has been plotting for a long time and is determined to seize the throne. We must not let him rebel. These explosives must be buried here.”
"What does Your Excellency mean?" Qingyun asked.
Song Anxin's eyes sharpened: "Draw from under the cauldron, and wipe them out in one fell swoop!"
She told Qingyun her general ideas, including the matter of Consort Liang conspiring with the Crown Prince to poison him. She believed that Feng He, General Yan, and the Crown Prince would be better able to plan this matter.
The night was dark. In the palace, the Crown Prince hurried to the Imperial Study. He was dressed in the Crown Prince's robes and crown and had a solemn expression.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
The emperor, seated on the throne, looked up from the memorials on the table, his eyes slightly furrowed, and said, "What brings you here to me in such grand style so late at night?"
The crown prince raised his eyes and looked at his father. It seemed like he hadn't looked at his father like this in a long time. His father's wings had turned much whiter, there were deep lines between his eyebrows, his complexion was very bad, and his eyes were much cloudy.
He remembered that when he was very young, his father would let him and his two older brothers ride on his shoulders and pretend to ride horses. He would also play football with the three of them and teach them knowledge.
But at some point, his eldest brother changed, and his second brother changed too. They both wanted his position as crown prince. Gradually, his father's face became less and less amiable. His father also changed, becoming strict and suspicious of him, fearing that he was eager to take his throne.
"Your Highness, why are you looking at me like that? Where has your sense of propriety gone?" the emperor said displeasedly.
The crown prince did not reply. He raised his hand to remove the crown from his head, then loosened his belt and took off his crown robe.
"Crown Prince! What are you doing?" The Emperor roared in anger, then erupted in a violent coughing fit: "Cough cough cough! Cough cough..."
Eunuch Qi immediately stepped forward to pat the emperor's chest and offered him a teacup.
The crown prince's eyes showed worry, and he stopped in his tracks, then knelt down with a thud.
"Father, if I cannot earn your trust, I would rather not have the position of Crown Prince. I only wish for your long life and good health."
The emperor took a sip of tea and calmed down considerably. His face showed surprise and disbelief: "You knew all along?!"
The Crown Prince nodded, looking at his father, the Emperor: "Father, I know you doubt me, fearing I might have inappropriate thoughts, but I have never coveted the throne." He closed his eyes slightly, his expression somewhat self-deprecating: "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you, Father, that I have been the Crown Prince since birth. Everyone says I am the future monarch, but has anyone ever asked me if I want to be the Crown Prince?"
Brothers are no longer brothers, fathers and sons are no longer fathers and sons; suspicion, jealousy, and framing abound... Even Your Majesty's serious illness was concealed from me. I don't know what the point of being the Crown Prince is anymore. I would rather have been born into an ordinary family, at least then I could have fulfilled my filial duty and served my father when he was ill. Unlike this, this imperial family is truly devoid of affection.
As he spoke, grief welled up on the Crown Prince's face. He covered his eyes with his hands, tears streaming through his fingers: "Clearly, clearly Father Emperor used to smile at me, cared about me, how, how could it have turned out like this... I, I don't want to lose Father Emperor..."
The emperor's cloudy eyes slowly reddened. He leaned back, closed his eyes, sighed softly, and his lips twitched: "Sheng'er is still the kind-hearted and filial Sheng'er. How can your father bear to let you face all this alone..."
The prince lowered his hand, his moist eyes filled with doubt and surprise.
Eunuch Qi had been secretly wiping away tears. He couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, His Majesty, His Majesty has never doubted you. His Majesty had no choice but to do this. Your Highness is kind and benevolent. His Majesty said that only in this way can you be tempered and be able to sit firmly on the throne in the future."
The prince froze, then suddenly realized what was happening, and a mix of complex emotions welled up inside him.
"Father!..."
He cried out in grief, sobbing uncontrollably, crying like a wronged child.
The emperor raised his hand. "Alright, I'm not dead yet, I can still protect you."
The Crown Prince slowly stopped crying, then raised his eyes, which were resolute and sharp. "Father, I have grown up. This time I am here to protect you. I hope that you will remain calm and take care of your health in the future."
The Crown Prince and the Emperor talked for a long time in the Imperial Study. From time to time, a violent cough could be heard from the Imperial Study. The Crown Prince did not come out of the Imperial Study until the third watch of the night.
After the crown prince left, the emperor became dejected, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
"Sheng'er is truly different now. Before, I was always worried. I thought everything was under control. But I'm getting old, I'm getting old... cough cough..."
Eunuch Qi carefully served him from the side: "Your Majesty, leave everything to these young people. His Highness the Crown Prince will certainly not disappoint you."
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