Chapter 152 Cover Up
Emperor Tai'an looked at Cheng Maoming's expression and said calmly, "Mr. Cheng, do you know what to say to the General's Mansion?"
Cheng Maoming immediately bowed and said, "I know."
"That's good to know." Emperor Tai'an's tense face relaxed, revealing a hint of a smile. "Then go ahead and get busy. Handle this case as quickly as possible."
"I'll take my leave."
As soon as Cheng Maoming left, Emperor Tai'an's face immediately darkened. The smile that had just been hanging on the corner of his mouth disappeared like a wisp of wind, leaving no trace.
In the brightly lit hall, he remained silent for a long time, as the light could not penetrate his dark heart at all.
Liu Chuan didn't dare to disturb him and silently poured a cup of tea at a suitable temperature and placed it next to Emperor Tai'an.
After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Tai'an finally spoke: "Call the Crown Prince."
Compared with the emperor who controls the Jinlin Guard, the prince's news is much delayed. Until now, he only knows that Zhao Helin has failed in his work, but he does not know that he has been sent away by a cup of poisoned wine.
When the prince received the message from the eunuch, his heart began to beat fast.
My uncle sent a message saying that the Jinlin Guards have gone to the Xuanwu Camp. I wonder if the emperor knows about this?
The prince went to see Emperor Tai'an with trepidation.
"Your son pays his respects to the Emperor. I wonder why the Emperor wants me here?"
Emperor Tai'an looked at the prince with an indifferent expression, but his heart was in turmoil.
This is his eldest son, and has always been the undoubted heir. However, he did not expect that he would become more and more unreasonable as he grew older, and now he has even begun to waver.
But if it’s not the prince, then it must be the fourth son.
The round face of King Wei flashed through Emperor Tai'an's mind, and his mood became heavier.
Even more frustrating than discovering his heir was incompetent and lacking moral integrity, the choice between one and the other was even more frustrating for him. This passive state was even more difficult than when he first ascended the throne, plagued by internal and external troubles.
"Yuan'er, do you know what Father cares about most?"
The prince was stunned for a moment.
He thought his father called him here to scold him, but why did it sound like they were having a heart-to-heart talk?
After thinking for a moment, the prince said, "Father cares most about the stability of the Great Zhou and the happiness of the people."
Emperor Tai'an smiled and said, "As the ruler of a country, this is indeed what I care about most, but as a father, what I care about most is the deep brotherly love between you and the fourth brother, and your mutual support."
"I understand, son. I will take care of my fourth brother."
"Just remember what I said today and go back."
"Son, I'll take my leave." Although the prince was confused, he felt much more relieved.
I didn't expect it to be so easy to pass.
After the prince left, Emperor Tai'an remained motionless, holding the teacup, and looked as if he had aged several years.
Liu Chuan was worried and called out softly: "Your Majesty——"
Emperor Tai'an waved his hand: "Let me be quiet."
He also wanted to angrily ask the prince the purpose of doing this and give this rebellious son a good scolding, but he couldn't break the window paper before he made plans to change the heir.
He always had to leave a way out for the fourth child.
Depose the crown prince and enthrone the fourth prince?
Emperor Tai'an's first reaction was to shake his head.
Because he had never considered the fourth son, and because the fourth son had been obese since childhood, he had almost no expectations for this son and found it hard to believe that the fourth son had the ability to manage the country. In addition, he also disliked the fourth son's mother's humble background.
Emperor Tai'an rubbed his brows with a headache and suddenly thought of the late emperor.
If the emperor had had fewer sons, he wouldn't have to keep so many brothers in captivity in the capital and worry about keeping them under guard. But even though he had so many sons, he didn't choose the best one and instead passed the throne to his weak and incompetent eldest son.
If he had many sons—Emperor Tai'an sighed regretfully.
After all, he was not satisfied with this heir.
Very dissatisfied!
But what can I do if I'm not satisfied? There are only two ugly ones like this -
Emperor Tai'an controlled himself from thinking that and ordered Liu Chuan: "Summon the Prince of Wei to the palace."
The news of Zhao Helin's death will spread soon, and then the case will be closed by putting the blame on Zhao Helin. He has to appease the fourth brother.
Not long after, the King of Wei arrived.
"The son has met his father."
Emperor Tai'an looked carefully at his son who bowed.
The fourth brother is getting thinner day by day, which actually makes him look more handsome.
Emperor Tai'an's silence puzzled the King of Wei.
Wasn't it because Miss Lin was kidnapped that he was called here at this time? Why was the emperor staring at him?
"The mastermind behind the kidnapping of Miss Lin has been found."
"Who is it?" King Wei asked immediately.
"Zhao Helin, the co-commander of the Jinlin Guard."
The King of Wei was stunned: "Why did he do this?"
He had hardly any dealings with this Zhao Tongzhi.
Emperor Tai'an had a complicated expression: "According to him, he was dissatisfied with your choice of concubine."
"Ah?" King Wei thought he had heard wrongly.
What's the point of being dissatisfied with his choice of concubine?
"Father, isn't this reason too absurd? What is he dissatisfied with? Is he angry that his son didn't choose him?"
The corner of Emperor Tai'an's mouth twitched.
He said that the prince was a bastard and the fourth prince was also unreasonable.
"His daughter also attended the chrysanthemum viewing banquet. After returning, she couldn't stop thinking about you..."
The King of Wei pointed at himself, his mouth wide open: "You're still thinking about me..."
Isn't this ironic?
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" King Wei shook his head repeatedly.
He remembered the situation on that day clearly. Not to mention those noble ladies who could not hide their disgust, even the noble ladies who smiled at him for the sake of their status as princesses could be seen as fake at a glance, otherwise he would not have chosen Miss Lin.
If a noble lady fell in love with him, he would eat her eyes.
"This is the result of Jinlin Guard's careful investigation. How can it be impossible?"
"Father, my son was still fat during the chrysanthemum viewing banquet. Is his daughter blind?"
The King of Wei spoke casually, but Emperor Tai'an suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
This is his son, who looks down on himself because he has been obese since childhood.
And he has ignored the fourth brother a lot. Even now, he is still deceiving him in order to cover up for the prince.
Emperor Tai'an straightened his face with guilt. "How can you say that? You have your strengths. It's not surprising that someone admires you. Do all women only look at appearances?"
The King of Wei twitched his lips.
He doesn't believe it!
But this is his father, the emperor, so even if he doesn't believe it, he can only listen.
"Even so, Zhao Helin is going to kidnap Miss Lin? If he really kidnaps Miss Lin, his son will not choose his daughter."
"That may not be the case. What did you say when you chose Miss Lin? You said she saw you as a normal person. If you were willing to choose her, would you remain indifferent if Miss Zhao came and said she was attracted to you?" Emperor Tai'an became more and more confident as he spoke. "For the Zhao family, this is at least another opportunity."
"That's not necessarily true. My son is thinner now."
Recently, when he walked in the palace, the maids looked at him differently.
“So it’s even more worth the fight.”
The King of Wei shut up completely.
Emperor Tai'an appeased him and sent many treasures to the Prince of Wei's mansion. He then instructed Liu Chuan: "Keeping the prince's neighbor, Wang Gui, out of the way quietly."
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