Chapter 250 Dark Clouds
"A Shuo, what do you think?"
Qi Shuo glanced at the setting sun in the sky and said calmly, "If Yang Zhe cooperated with the real murderer, what was his motive?"
What good would it be for a top scholar with a promising future and regarded as the prince's confidant to poison the prince?
Lin Hao shook his head: "It's just hard to understand."
As they were talking, the General's Mansion and Prince Jing's Mansion were already in sight.
Qi Shuo patted her shoulder gently: "Go home first, eat something and have a good rest. We have done what we should do in this matter, so we shouldn't get too involved."
"Yeah." Lin Hao said goodbye to Qi Shuo, walked into the general's mansion, thought for a while, and went directly to the old lady.
Lin was chatting and eating melon seeds with the old lady.
"I didn't expect Ah Hao to have the ability to make money. The fragrance-free flower dew shop is becoming more and more prosperous."
The old lady also smiled: "It's a good thing that you can manage things. When you become the Crown Prince's Consort in the future, you won't be so busy."
As he was speaking, Lin Hao came in.
When Mrs. Lin saw her daughter, she smiled and joked, "Come back for dinner."
Contrary to Lin's expectation that her daughter would be shy, Lin Hao pursed her lips and said with a serious expression: "Grandma, mother, something big has happened."
"What's the matter?" The old lady and Lin were stunned.
Based on their understanding of Lin Hao, they would only say this if it was a huge matter.
"The prince was poisoned to death in Wuweizhai."
As soon as these words were spoken, Mrs. Lin's eyes suddenly widened, and the teacup in the old lady's hand shook violently.
"Ahao, how are you and the prince?" Lin grabbed Lin Hao's arm and looked him up and down nervously.
The old lady suppressed her pounding heart and said, "Why are you so anxious? If something happened, Ah Hao wouldn't be here. Ah Hao, take your time."
Lin Hao explained the situation briefly.
"So, your brother-in-law is also in Jinlin Guard now?" Lin felt a little scared.
If Chan'er had not broken off her engagement with the Crown Prince at that time—
She knew it was inappropriate to think this way, but when something really happened, everyone had a sense of closeness and distance between them.
"No one dares to neglect such a major event as the Crown Prince's murder. My brother-in-law and the others have been taken away. But don't worry. According to the current investigation, only the top scholar Yang Zhe remains under suspicion. My brother-in-law and the others should be fine."
Having said that, the old lady and Mrs. Lin's expressions were visibly ugly.
Even if one is innocent, being involved in the death of the crown prince will lead to uncertain consequences under the emperor's wrath.
The old lady ordered the steward to go to the Shangshu Mansion to report the news.
At this time, Emperor Tai'an had already listened to the reports from Cheng Maoming and Minister Shen.
It had only been half a day since the Crown Prince's accident, so it was not easy to find out so much information, but it was not enough for Emperor Tai'an.
It is far from enough.
"Even if I have to dig three feet deep into the ground, I will find that person for me!" When saying this, Emperor Tai'an's face was covered with dark clouds, and his eyes were as if he wanted to devour someone.
"Yes." Cheng Maoming and Minister Shen said in unison.
"Also," Emperor Tai'an glanced at the two of them, "Until that person is found, no one in the restaurant can be allowed to leave."
"I obey your order."
Cheng Maoming hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, what about Prince Jing——"
When he reported just now, he naturally did not dare to conceal the fact that Prince Jing was allowed to return home. In order to prevent the emperor from questioning his attitude towards Prince Jing, he could not avoid mentioning it.
Emperor Tai'an rubbed his brows, his voice filled with sadness and fatigue: "Focus on searching for the suspect. Once we find him, let Prince Jing and Miss Lin confirm it."
As soon as Cheng Maoming heard this, he knew that the emperor had no suspicion of Prince Jing, and he quickly responded with a "yes".
After Cheng Maoming and Minister Shen left, Emperor Tai'an sat for a long time, then gave the order: "Announce the death."
The prince's body was quietly transported back to the palace for burial, and the mourning hall was quickly set up. The solemn and magnificent palace was soon bathed in white.
When Concubine Jing received the news of the prince's death, she fainted and did not wake up until dark.
"Silang--" Concubine Jing cried miserably and stumbled into the room where the prince's body was placed.
The prince, dressed in his shroud, lay on the bed. If you didn't see his pale face, you would have thought he was fast asleep.
The moment she saw her son, Concubine Jing completely collapsed: "Silang, Silang, open your eyes and look at your mother!"
Outside the door, Emperor Tai'an stood silently, feeling heartbroken as he listened to Concubine Jing's heart-wrenching cries.
The eldest son was immoral and incompetent, and the fourth son was killed just after becoming the crown prince. Is this the retribution for his seizure of power?
When he was still a prince, he had to cede land and pay compensation, cities were seized, and good generals were killed. Each piece of news ignited his anger and also ignited his ambition.
The empire that my father built was not meant to be ruined by my eldest brother.
Why should a weak and incompetent person, who can't maintain the ancestral foundation and can't protect the common people, occupy the throne?
Rather than waiting for that prodigal son to hand over the Zhou dynasty to the Qi people, it would be better for him to take the throne.
Over the years, Emperor Tai'an never regretted any of the difficult situations he faced, but at this moment he felt a little shaken.
"Your Majesty, how did Silang die? Please tell me, how did Silang die!" Concubine Jing rushed out and knelt at the feet of Emperor Tai'an.
The crying brought Emperor Tai'an back to his senses. His brief moment of weakness dissipated silently. He reached out and pulled Concubine Jing up, his voice firm: "I will punish those who harmed Silang. I promise."
In response to the emperor's promise, Concubine Jing cried out in grief.
This day is destined to be one of heavy sadness.
Upon receiving the official news of the death, all officials and nobles immediately stopped all banquets and entertainments and changed into plain clothes.
Unrest was like an omnipresent wind surging in every corner. Almost every government office secretly sent people out to inquire about the situation. The officials who could be seen everywhere on the streets made people feel that a storm was about to come.
Concubine Jing was born in a humble family and had long lost her family. Among all the palaces in the capital, the one that felt the most heartbroken was the Duke of Ying's Mansion.
Like Concubine Jing, upon hearing the news of the Crown Prince's death, Du Ying, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, rolled her eyes and fainted. After a period of chaos, she woke up to a series of calls.
"Mother, the prince is dead, what should I do?" She grabbed Du's mother's sleeve and asked crying.
Du's mother's eyes were red and she couldn't answer her daughter.
The man my daughter is betrothed to is not an ordinary official's son, but the prince, and he's even getting married soon. What else can I do except remain a widow?
Thinking of this, Du's mother felt dizzy and wanted to faint.
The capital city was in a state of heavy depression, and only in the Prince of Liang's mansion could be heard the sound of crazy laughter.
"Hahaha, good death, wonderful death, hahahahahahahahaha——" King Liang laughed loudly towards the sky, without any concealment.
The servant beside him turned pale with fear and hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "Your Highness, we should mourn the passing of the Crown Prince!"
"Get lost!" Prince Liang pushed the person who tried to dissuade him, a reckless smile on his face. "Old Four is dead, and I'm the only son my father has left. Why should I mourn? Hahahaha, God has eyes, what's mine is still mine, and no one can take it away from me!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com