Chapter 14 There's something interesting happening downstairs
"After reading the secret letter, the late emperor ordered the general to secretly leave the city and lead the Bu family army outside the pass to rescue the War King."
"After the general left, the late emperor immediately issued an edict that the military power of the 50,000 soldiers of the Bu family army would no longer be taken back and would become the general's personal property. Therefore, these 50,000 Bu family soldiers are almost equivalent to the Bu family's private army."
"The general once said that this was the last bit of confidence the late emperor left for the War King, and it was for..."
"As the general's deputy, I naturally had to go with him. When we arrived, the War King had disappeared, leaving only his personal guards to tell us that someone in the Great Zhou was collaborating with the enemy and treasonous, and wanted to kill the War King."
Bi'er stood aside: "Is it... the current emperor?"
Zhang Tiancheng shook his head: "I don't know, but it's probably true."
"Our general led the Bu family army to repel Beining while searching for the War King. He finally found him under a cliff."
"That war was won in the end, but it was extremely difficult because some people collaborated with the enemy."
"The day before the war ended and the army was about to return to the capital, a letter arrived from the palace saying that the late emperor had passed away and that he had passed the throne to the third prince, Xiao Heze, who is now the current emperor."
"The late queen was heartbroken over the late emperor's passing and died by hurling herself at his spirit."
"The War King traveled day and night to see the late emperor and empress off for the final time, but he encountered ambushes repeatedly along the way, and in the end... he was unable to catch up."
"From then on, Prince Zhan asked to leave the capital and went to a villa near the imperial mausoleum, saying he wanted to keep vigil for the late emperor and empress and no longer interfere in court affairs. He only returned to Kyoto three months ago."
"Our general knew the late emperor's intentions and was willing to help Prince Zhan, but unfortunately, the Third Prince had already ascended the throne. If he did... he would have had no choice but to rebel. This is why the late emperor gave the general military power."
"The general later went to the villa to visit the War King. He came back sighing but didn't explain why."
"After the War King left, the current emperor was wary of the Bu family army and wanted to take back the military power. However, the military power was given by the previous emperor, so he couldn't go too far. Moreover, there are constant wars on the border. If the Bu family rebels, the Great Zhou will be in danger."
"So, young lady, I've always had a suspicion in my mind. The general, his wife, and the two young masters died in battle. Could it be that, just like the war between the War King and Beining, someone wants..."
Bu Ruo lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking. After a while, he stood up and said, "Okay, today's gossip ends here. I'm going to go see my ancestors."
Over the past few months, everyone has become accustomed to Bu Ruo going to the ancestral hall when he is in a bad mood. They just feel that... the ancestors are quite pitiful.
…
A few days later, in Yanzhi Building, Bu Ruo sat in a separate room.
"How's the matter you were asked to investigate going? Do you have any clues?"
Mo Bao, the owner of Yanzhilou, stood aside, not daring to raise his head in respect. "Master, not yet. After all, it's been a while, and some clues have been lost. It will take some time."
"But there's news about the War King. When the late emperor passed away, the War King didn't go to the other manor to keep vigil out of grief, but because... he was poisoned."
"Over the years, the War King has sent his trusted aides to search for the antidote everywhere. If it weren't for Doctor Du, we probably wouldn't have been able to find out about this. So, the War King's critical illness this time is probably true."
Bu Ruo played with the teacup in her hand: "Are you saying that even Doctor Du can't cure the War King's poison?"
"Yes, there is an unknown strange poison in the body of the War King. It cannot be detected even by tests. It is not unique to the Great Zhou Dynasty. Moreover, the poisoning has lasted for too long and has penetrated deep into the bone marrow. Unless a god descends to the world, there is no medicine or stone to cure it."
"The War King has been able to hold on until now because he used his internal energy to force the poison into his legs and regularly performed acupuncture and bloodletting. Otherwise... the Great Zhou would have been wiped out by the War King long ago."
"So, Master, you must not marry the War King."
Bu Ruo's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes: "I..."
Before he could finish his words, Jin Congcong's loud shouting came from outside the door.
"Ruo'er, Ruo'er is here to watch the fun~ Oh, please get out of the way quickly, or else you'll waste time. Once the fun is over, your master will definitely skin you alive."
Bu Ruo's forehead twitched slightly: "Let him in."
Just as he finished speaking, Jin Congcong pushed the door open and walked in: "Ruo'er, come on, there's something interesting going on downstairs."
"What's the show?"
"It's a good show for the wife to beat the white lotus. And you know this white lotus. Do you want to watch it?"
know?
When Bu Ruo heard this, she quickly stood up and said, "Let's go and call Bi'er. She's next door picking out jewelry for me."
The three of them stood at the railing on the third floor and looked down. They saw two maids pulling a woman's hair and pressing her to the ground, beating and kicking her. A woman in gorgeous clothes stood by and looked at them with resentment on her face.
"You shameless bitch, you actually dared to seduce Prince Yongning and spread the word that the prince wanted to divorce our princess and marry you. Bah! Don't you see what kind of person you are?"
"You bastard, now that you don't have the backing of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, you really think you're something. You Bu family bullied an orphan girl like that, you're not good people at all."
"Didn't you say that the prince loves you the most? The princess has already sent someone to invite the prince over. Let's see if the prince will divorce our princess for a vixen like you."
Mo Bao came up behind them and glanced downstairs. He said, "There's no need to introduce the subordinate who was beaten. The woman in gorgeous clothes next to him is Princess Wen of Yongning, Wen Xue."
"The current emperor has four sons. Prince Yongning is the eldest, born to Concubine Shun. From birth, he has always been slower than others in academics, horseback riding, and archery."
"Shun Fei knew her son's character and never coveted the throne. She only wanted him to be a leisurely prince, so the emperor and the prince were extremely tolerant of them."
Bu Ruo nodded and suddenly asked, "The late emperor had nine sons. How many are left now?"
"Besides the current emperor, there are two left. One is the War Prince, and the other is the Su Prince, who asked to leave the capital for his fiefdom after the emperor ascended the throne and will never return to the capital."
Jin Congcong was surprised: "The late emperor had nine princes, and besides the emperor, there are only two left?"
Mo Bao nodded: "This is because Prince Su and the current emperor are born of the same mother, and Prince Zhan... even if he is poisoned, he is still someone he cannot touch."
"How old is the War King now?"
"My Lord, Prince Zhan is twenty-three this year, five years younger than the Emperor's eldest son, Prince Yongning."
Jin Congcong's eyes widened in disbelief: "How... is this possible?"
Mo Bao knew that Jin Congcong's brain was not very good, so he explained: "The current emperor was born to Concubine Xian when the late emperor was 18 years old, and Prince Zhan was born to the empress when the late emperor was 42 years old. He is the youngest one, and the age difference between the two is 24 years."
"The current emperor's eldest son, Prince Yongning, was born when the emperor was nineteen. When Prince Yongning was born, Prince Zhan hadn't even existed yet..."
Jin Congcong thought for a long time and just said... he is still strong even though he is old.
Bu Ruo glanced at him and suddenly laughed: "Bao'er, you know so many things. How do you remember them all? I always thought that your best feature was your face."
Mo Bao: ...
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