Chapter 138 You scared me
The emperor smiled bitterly and said, "Even the crown prince is not my biological son, what else can I not bear?"
"Just tell me what else you want to say. I'm mentally prepared and it's okay. Stand up and talk. Then we can both stop kneeling."
Eunuch Li stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the secret guards have also found out that the Heavenly Master...seems to have been the same person from beginning to end."
Seeing the emperor's puzzled look, Eunuch Li continued, "The secret guards have discovered that from the founding of the Great Zhou until now, the Heavenly Masters have not been in their infancy. Instead, the previous Heavenly Master gave the emperor a token instructing him to send someone to a designated location to retrieve the Heavenly Master upon his death. Furthermore, the Heavenly Masters are usually around 20 or 30 years old."
"The secret guards also said that they discovered that every Heavenly Master in the Great Zhou had the same habits. Even the places where they put things were exactly the same, and their personalities were not much different either."
"So they wondered if it was possible that the Heavenly Master had been the same person from the beginning... and had simply changed his skin and continued to live in this world."
The emperor looked at him in shock: "Why would you think so?"
Eunuch Li said, "One of the secret guards was raised by a Taoist priest. Later, when the Taoist priest passed away, he had nowhere to go. He was an orphan with good martial arts skills, so the leader of the secret guards took a fancy to him and brought him back to train him."
"The leader also said that they were able to escape danger several times because this secret guard saw something, so they brought him along when investigating the Heavenly Master this time. Although he is not as powerful as the Heavenly Master, he still noticed something unusual."
"Your Majesty, if the Heavenly Master is really as the secret guards say... then this is no small matter. This old servant suggests that we ask Princess Zhan to come and see. Let's not talk about the Crown Prince, just talk about the Heavenly Master."
After hearing what Eunuch Li said, the Emperor thought about it again and again and shook his head: "No, Prince Zhan and Princess Zhan hate me to death. How could they possibly help me? They just want me to die sooner."
"Besides, if Princess Zhan were to investigate the Heavenly Master, she might be able to find out the Crown Prince's background. By then, one crisis after another would arise. I cannot afford this risk."
"Since the Crown Prince is not my son, then I naturally cannot give him my kingdom, but the other princes..."
The emperor picked up the teacup but didn't drink from it. He just held it in his hand and felt the temperature, as if this could dispel the coldness in his heart.
After a long while, the emperor sighed, "The eldest prince is the son of Concubine Shun. Since childhood, he has always been a step behind the other princes in academics, horse riding, and archery. His brain seems to be both developed and not developed. He is like a decoration."
"Although he is a prince, his wife, Princess Wen, is more than worthy of him in terms of temperament and knowledge. No, it would be a waste for her to be with him!"
"But what about him? Not only did he raise the two children in a ridiculous way, but in the end he divorced Wen Shi for that seductive woman from the third branch of the Bu family."
"With his stupid brain, it's hard for him to even survive, so forget about inheriting the throne."
"The Third Prince, huh, he's been decently educated since he was little, a little better than his eldest brother, but not much. However, he's always loved teasing the palace maids, and later on, he even wanted to get himself on a woman."
"I heard that things have become even more absurd in recent years. He even has concubines in their fifties in his palace, but since he doesn't get involved in government affairs, no one has said anything."
"With his almost hollowed-out body now, he might even die before me."
The emperor rubbed his aching forehead and said, "The Sixth Prince has been intelligent since childhood, but his mother was framed and lost her virginity. Before I could investigate, she hanged herself in her own chamber with a white silk thread."
"So, he's hated the palace since he was little. After he tied his hair, he left the palace to travel. A few years ago, he even wrote me a letter saying he wanted to be an ordinary citizen from now on. Since then, there has been no news from him."
"There's only the Crown Prince... but he's not my biological son."
"Li Defu, do you think it's because I've committed too many sins that I can't even choose a successor to the throne?"
Eunuch Li thought to himself that Prince Zhan was actually the most suitable candidate. If the emperor had not used some tricks, the throne would have belonged to Prince Zhan. But he didn't dare to say this.
After a long time, the emperor's eyes lit up: "Oh, and Prince Su, how could I forget Prince Su? He is my brother from the same father and mother."
"However, if the Crown Prince is deposed and Prince Su succeeds him, there will definitely be a debate in the court, especially since the War Prince Party will never let go of such a good opportunity. Let me think about it carefully."
At this time, no one noticed that a young eunuch guarding the door of the imperial study pretended to have a stomachache and secretly walked towards the harem.
In Fengyi Palace, the Queen looked at the young eunuch kneeling on the ground with a terribly gloomy expression.
"Are you saying that the Emperor has already learned that the Crown Prince's biological father is the Heavenly Master, and has decided to depose the Crown Prince and have Prince Su succeed him in the future? Are you sure you heard correctly?"
The young eunuch nodded and said, "I have inner strength, and I guarantee I didn't hear it wrong. The Emperor did say that to Eunuch Li."
"Your Majesty, you saved my life. If you hadn't passed by that day, I would have been pushed into the well. Your Majesty, please make preparations early. If there is anything you need from me, I will do it for you even if it costs me my life."
"Since the Emperor is unkind, don't blame me for being unjust." The Empress had the maid beside her give the young eunuch a paper bag. "Find a way to put this in the Emperor's tea every day. Just a little at a time will do."
"Don't worry, the emperor will only get weaker day by day, and even the imperial physician won't be able to find out what's wrong. After this is done, the crown prince will take the throne, and then Li Defu's current position will be yours."
The young eunuch held the packet of poison in his hand as if it were his own future, and looked at the queen firmly: "Don't worry, your majesty, I will definitely handle this matter well. Just wait and listen to my words."
After sending the young eunuch away, the nanny beside the queen asked, "Your Majesty, do you really want to keep this young eunuch?"
The Queen lowered her head and gently stroked her armor: "Of course not. There is no need to wait for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne. As soon as the Emperor passes away, he will be dealt with immediately."
"How could we let a little eunuch hold our secret? I never thought the Emperor would be so heartless. Even though the Crown Prince isn't his biological son, he still raised him under his care."
"If the Crown Prince is deposed, then all his efforts over the years will be wasted. Besides the Crown Prince, he only has three sons left. As for those three sons... let's not talk about them."
"And Prince Su, Madam, have someone send a message to the Crown Prince. Prince Su...cannot be kept."
…
The next morning, Qian Luan came back and almost stepped on someone when he landed.
"Ah! Qian Luan! You scared me!"
Qian Luan steadied himself: "You scared me! Don't you have a yard of your own? Why are you lying in the yard of your little ancestor?"
"Luckily, I have good agility, otherwise I would have crushed you to death with that kick just now!"
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