Chapter 147 Father and Son Betray
After the spies sent by Duke Cheng'en left, Du Qingtang drafted another secret letter and sent it to Xiajing at an expedited speed of 800 miles before going to Binxing Pavilion to entertain the guests.
After turning back, he found that Pei Yuchun was the only one in Binxing Pavilion, leisurely drinking tea, and the other four people were nowhere to be found.
Perhaps sensing Du Qingtang's inner thoughts, Pei Yuchun explained, "I have asked them to investigate the deserters from Da Qi."
Du Qingtang said calmly, "I haven't had time to thank General Pei for telling me yet."
After that, he bowed to Pei Yuchun, his words and actions measured and his etiquette impeccable. "I am grateful for General Pei's timely notification. Otherwise, I would have been in a passive position."
Du Qingtang knew that what she did in Shaoqing Mansion would be made public sooner or later, but definitely not now, and she must not let it become a handle for someone to try to control her.
"Master Du, there's no need to thank me. Those two men had ulterior motives and intended to harm you, Master Du. Naturally, I, Pei, must tell them the truth." Pei Yuchun changed the subject. "Da Qi launched an attack on Loushan Pass the day before the attack on Shaoqing Prefecture. Please forgive me for not being able to arrive in time to support them."
Du Qingtang sat across from Pei Yuchun, her black and white eyes staring straight at him: "If you abandon Loushan for me, I will look down on you."
Pei Yuchun paused for a moment, then slowly smiled.
This is her.
He clearly distinguishes between public and private affairs, and is rational to the point of being cold.
Pei Yuchun brought his palm down on his knee, his back straight as a pine tree. His voice was barely audible, but he was certain the person across from him could hear: "Ah Yu, earlier... I'm truly sorry. My willfulness and stubbornness nearly got you hurt."
After finding out the purpose of the two men's visit, the young general, who had fought on the battlefield since he was twelve years old and had never been afraid, was terrified and filled with fear.
If Du Qingtang had not stopped him from chasing, with the abilities of those two people, they would have been able to find out about their dealings.
If Cao Yuan knew about this, he would definitely use it as a threat, which would put Du Qingtang in a difficult position.
At the very least, she would compromise and become the fourth prince's concubine. At the worst, a big fuss would occur, causing an uproar in the court and becoming a reason for all officials to force Du Qingtang to quit officialdom.
By then, all her years of perseverance and hard work will be in vain.
"It's okay, just cut your losses in time." Du Qingtang seemed unaware of the young man's suddenly dimming eyes, his fingertips stroking the embroidery on his waist belt. "I treated you rather poorly that day, so let's call it even."
She hated her own indulgence and depravity, and inevitably took her anger out on Pei Yuchun, appearing harsh and cold.
Going back further, she never gave him a good look.
Du Qingtang lowered his eyes and changed the subject: "Have you found out who was behind the attack and harmed you?"
Pei Yuchun nodded: "I found out."
Du Qingtang didn't ask who it was, but only said, "General Pei shoulders the heavy responsibility of guarding Loushan Pass, so he needs to take good care of himself."
Pei Yuchun's green eyes flashed with light, and he said in a gentle voice: "Thank you for your concern, Lord Du. I will be more cautious and take care of myself."
After that, the two of them remained silent.
Pei Yuchun tightened his fingers for a moment, then stood up as if nothing had happened, and said with a bow, "I have military duties to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
Du Qingtang stood up to see them off and stood at the gate of the government office, watching the group of five people ride away on horseback.
After driving a short distance, Pei Yuchun looked back, but the crimson figure was no longer there.
A hint of sadness flashed across Pei Yuchun's eyes, and then he became determined again.
Over the past few months, he recalled Du Qingtang's words that day countless times, and was surprised to find that he had no objection to Du Qingtang's decision not to marry, not to have children, and to devote her life to fighting only for her career and the women of the world.
She is such an independent woman, with strong beliefs and extraordinary will, courage to face everything and persistence to never give up until she achieves her goal.
Anyone who has seen her will be obsessed with her.
What's more, a woman's value is not just in giving birth to children.
Just like men, they can also shine in their respective fields of expertise.
No matter what, he will keep waiting.
When the wind and waves subsided, Du Qingtangli was at the highest point, the top of the mountain. Perhaps for a moment, she thought of him and turned around to look at him.
Just one glance and he would run towards her without hesitation.
Even if they became lovers who could not be seen in public, even if no one knew of their relationship, even if a hundred years later, they were fortunate enough to be recorded in the history books, she was the civil servant Du Qingtang, and he was the military officer Pei Yuchun, the two of them were like two straight lines, clearly separated and without any intersection.
He also enjoyed it.
......
After Pei Yuchun left, Du Qingtang continued to ask questions.
Half a month passed in a flash, and the provincial examination arrived as scheduled.
As the chief examiner, Du Qingtang appeared at the Imperial Examination Hall at dawn that day.
The provincial examination lasted for three days, and Du Qingtang had to be present throughout.
During this period, Du Qingtang handed over all the official business of the government office to the four officials Zhou, Wu, Zheng and Wang.
Even the official documents that only the prefect had the authority to handle were stuffed by Du Qingtang into the hands of Zhou Tongzhi.
Although Zhou Tongzhi had some minor flaws, he was never confused about major issues, handled things fairly, and was able to win the support of the people.
Du Qingtang felt relieved after handing him the prefect's seal.
After the provincial examination, the examiners began to mark the papers in full swing.
Five days later, the results of the provincial examination were announced.
The Imperial Examination Hall is very close to the government office, and you can see the grand ceremony of the announcement of the imperial examination results just by standing at the door.
After the officials had checked in, they gathered in front of the government office before their shifts began, and watched the bustling scene in front of the Imperial Examination Hall from afar.
"This year's provincial examination essays are much more brilliant than last year's. Each has its own merits. I am completely dazzled and unable to distinguish which is better."
"The professors and instructors at the county school have made great contributions, but of course, this is also inseparable from the hard work of these candidates themselves."
"By the way, the results of the palace examination in Xiajing should be announced soon, right?"
"According to past traditions, the palace examination is usually held in mid-April, and the ceremony of announcing the results of the examination will be held in the next few days."
"It's been so many years, I can't even remember the grand ceremony anymore."
"Who isn't? I've been an official for over twenty years, and have been traveling all over the place. I rarely return to the capital, and I've almost forgotten what the Danbi in front of the Jiying Palace looks like."
"Alas, time is really unforgiving."
"...Suddenly I remembered, is the prefect about to leave office?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the discussion stopped abruptly.
You could hear a pin drop in front of the government office; it was so quiet that it was a little eerie.
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten."
"After the prefect left, I don't know what the new prefect will be like. If he's a good one, that's fine. Otherwise, all the prefect's three years of hard work will be wasted."
"Lord Wang is absolutely right. If the new prefect is a pedantic, conservative, and self-satisfied person, he will most likely order the cancellation of women's classes, and perhaps even prohibit the use of female workers."
"Although I am also a man, I have to admit that women are no worse than men in many cases. It's a pity that the world is like this..."
"I just hope the Ministry of Personnel will open their eyes and stop throwing all the dirty and smelly things into Shaoqing Prefecture like they did before, making it a smoky mess and making life miserable for the people."
Not only officials, but also the people realized the situation belatedly.
"Time flies! Three years have already passed in the blink of an eye. Now, when I think back, it seems like just yesterday when the prefect first arrived in Shaoqing Prefecture."
"I heard that the court would allow officials to stay in office because of their outstanding achievements. The current situation of Shaoqing Prefecture is entirely due to the prefect's contribution. Perhaps..."
"Ah! You know the prefect has made outstanding achievements. How could she not be valued by someone as capable as her? And how could His Majesty allow her to stay in this remote northwest region of ours?"
"You're right. Although we are reluctant to let the prefect go and wish she could stay in Shaoqing Prefecture forever, as the saying goes, people go to high places and water flows to low places. We should not be too selfish. If the prefect stays in Shaoqing Prefecture, she can only be a prefect in this life. But if she goes to other places, such as the provincial capital, such as Xiajing, she will definitely be promoted."
"When you like someone, you naturally hope they get better and better. The prefect's departure is almost certain. I just hope God blesses us and grants us another good position."
"But even if a good official comes, he won't treat everyone the same as the prefect, especially girls."
Everyone agreed with this.
They never thought in their lives that a girl could go to school with dignity, work in a factory, and receive a salary every month that was enough to provide food and clothing for the family.
"Tomorrow I'll go ask the old scholar next door. The prefect has ensured that my family has no worries about food and drink, so I have to show my appreciation."
"What does it mean?"
"How about a basket of eggs?"
"The prefect has been in Shaoqing Prefecture for three years and has never accepted a single needle or thread from us. He certainly won't accept your eggs."
"What should we do then?"
Everyone scratched their heads and fell into deep thought.
......
After finishing a day's official duties, Du Qingtang returned to the third hall.
Du Qingzhu sat in front of the stone table and waved the envelope in his hand towards her: "Xianyu, there's a letter from Xiaoba."
"Meow!"
Youyou stepped on the ground with its hind paws and dug at the arm of Owner No. 1 with its front paws, turning from a cat into a cat. Its pointed ears kept shaking, as if urging Owner No. 1 to open the letter quickly.
However, Du Qingzhu was hard-hearted and ignored Xiao Lihua's urging: "Xianyu, come here quickly, let's watch it together."
Du Qingtang responded and stepped forward.
In the letter, Du Qingju said that everything was fine with her, her colleagues at the Imperial Medical Service were very friendly, and the recruitment of female doctors was going smoothly.
"When I arrived in Xiajing, the results of the imperial examination were announced. I sent someone to inquire about the situation. The winner was from Shaoqing Prefecture, and there were 23 other people on the list."
Du Qingzhu touched his chin when he saw this, and smiled happily: "Oh my, the candidates from Shaoqing Prefecture are really impressive. This result must surprise many people!"
Du Qingtang remained noncommittal. After all, it had only been two or three years since Shaoqing Prefecture restarted the imperial examination. Who would have thought that a candidate from Shaoqing Prefecture would become a dark horse in the imperial examination?
Du Qingzhu hugged Little Lihua into his arms, sniffing deeply, his tone unable to conceal his excitement: "In this way, Shaoqing Prefecture will most likely produce a top scholar."
Du Qingtang didn't say anything too confident, but only made a conservative estimate: "There will definitely be a place in the top three."
"Oh, Xianyu." Du Qingzhu put down the letter. "Didn't I have someone put up a notice last month about the resale of Shixiang Pavilion? Several buyers have come through the door in the past month or so, with varying prices. I'm not entirely sure, so I'd like you to help check them out."
Du Qingzhu was worried that the buyer would have bad character and ruin the Shixiang Pavilion that she had worked so hard to run.
Du Qingtang nodded in agreement: "I'll have someone check it out tomorrow. Go back to your room and change your clothes first."
After all, official robes are not as comfortable as casual clothes.
"Xianyu is the best." Du Qingzhu leaned over, pressed her cheek against the youngest, and said softly, "Go quickly, I've already prepared dinner, just waiting for you to come back and eat together."
Du Qingtang smiled, changed into comfortable casual clothes, and when he came out again, the food was already on the table.
The two sisters chatted while eating, and after dinner they wrote back to Du Qingju, talking about their situation in Shaoqing Prefecture and looking forward to their reunion in the near future. Then they read together for a while, and at midnight they went back to their respective rooms, turned off the lights and went to bed.
-
Xiajing, the grand ceremony of announcing the names of the successful candidates.
The official who announced the names of the candidates stood in front of the Jiying Hall and called out the names loudly: "First place in the first class, the one from Qingyang County, Shaoqing Prefecture, Zhou Jizhong."
After the announcer finished singing, several imperial guards took over.
The three members of the first class all sang three times in a row to ensure that the princes, officials and new candidates could hear it.
A resounding voice echoed in front of the Jiying Hall. Upon hearing the number one scholar's hometown, there was a slight commotion among the officials.
Everyone looked at the young man kneeling in front of the steps with extremely complicated feelings.
Is it...Shaoqing Prefecture?
After the ceremony of announcing the new scholars, they left to prepare for the horse-riding parade that would take place soon, while the princes and officials gathered in groups to discuss the matter.
"Shaoqing Prefecture again, but didn't Shaoqing Prefecture just resume the imperial examinations in the past two years?"
"I had the honor of reading the first-place article. Every word was brilliant and his insights were unique. He is a rare talent."
"Ever since Wen Anbo went to Shaoqing Prefecture, I don't seem to be surprised by any news about Shaoqing Prefecture."
"Once the news gets back, that woman will definitely start showing off again."
Not only was he the top scorer in the imperial examination, but the place where he worked also produced a top scorer.
——Whether it is tax revenue or the number one scholar in the imperial examination, it is all attributed to the prefect’s achievements.
"Damn, her luck is too good!!"
As the Fourth Prince listened to everyone's discussions, he became more determined to take Du Qingtang as his concubine.
This woman is very capable and must not fall into the hands of others.
Including my father.
The Fifth Prince walked beside the Fourth Prince and said in a low voice, "Grandfather's men have been away from the capital for two months. I wonder how they are progressing."
The Fourth Prince was also thinking about this.
Is Du Qingtang tempted by the position of Empress?
If she resisted the temptation, would she be able to find evidence against Du Qingtang?
For several hours thereafter, the Fourth Prince was still thinking about this matter, so after finishing his shift in the evening, he planned to go to Duke Cheng'en's Mansion.
After leaving the palace, the Fourth Prince was about to board the carriage when he heard the Fifth Prince's voice from behind him: "Fourth Brother, are you planning to go straight back home?"
The Fourth Prince said frankly, "No, I'm going to Duke Cheng'en's Mansion."
The Fifth Prince jumped onto the Fourth Prince's carriage without a second thought and begged with a playful smile, "Good Fourth Brother, let me join in the fun."
The Fourth Prince thought about the Fifth Prince's behavior these days. The other party did not become distant from him because he intended to take Du Qingtang as a concubine. He was as close to him as usual and put him first in everything. So the Fourth Prince readily agreed, and the two brothers took a carriage to the Cheng'en Mansion together.
After entering the mansion, the Fourth Prince asked about Cao Yuan, but was told by the housekeeper that he had not returned yet.
The Fourth Prince was a little puzzled. There had been no important matters in the court recently. It was already this late, why hadn't his grandfather returned yet?
"In that case, Your Highness will go back first..." The Fourth Prince turned and walked out, but before he could finish his words, he was stopped by the Fifth Prince. "Since we're here, why not wait for Grandfather to come back and find out what's going on before you leave?"
The Fourth Prince hesitated for a moment and said, "Well, as you say."
It would be best if there was news from Baoding Prefecture or Shaoqing Prefecture, so that the trip would not be in vain.
Seeing that the Fourth Prince had sat back down, the butler gave the Fifth Prince a look of gratitude and hurriedly asked the servants to serve tea.
Before Cao Yuan had finished his cup of tea, the person sent to Shaoqing Prefecture returned before him.
The fifth prince smiled and said, "Fourth brother, if you had left just now, you would have missed the first-hand information."
The Fourth Prince glanced at him and ordered, "Let him in."
The steward was Cao Yuan's confidant, so he naturally responded without hesitation and went out to pass on the message.
But in a moment, two secret guards from Duke Cheng'en's mansion came in and greeted him.
The Fourth Prince had such sharp eyes that he could tell something was wrong with the two men at a glance. His gaze swept across their pale faces and finally landed on their bulging bellies. His expression was a little strange: "What's going on?"
The secret guard bowed his head respectfully, his tone slightly weak, "Your Highness, we accidentally drank dirty water on the way back to the capital. That night, we suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and the abdominal pain was unbearable. The next day, we became like this."
A glint flashed in the Fifth Prince's eyes, so quick that no one noticed. He raised his eyebrows with interest: "Oh? Have you seen a doctor?"
The secret guard replied: "I have seen it, but I can't tell what the problem is."
The Fourth Prince didn't care about their condition. They were just two secret guards. If they died, they died. He was more concerned about the results of the investigation in Shaoqing Mansion.
Or rather, Du Qingtang's attitude.
"What did you find out?"
"Your Highness, this subordinate... ugh!"
The secret guard was halfway through his words when he suddenly burped. His face turned visibly pale and he quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth: "Your Highness... vomit! Your Highness, please forgive me... vomit!"
The Fourth Prince: “…”
The Fourth Prince frowned, clearly displeased, and looked at another secret guard: "You speak."
"Yes." Another secret guard clasped his fists. "After arriving at Shaoqing Mansion, I followed the master's instructions and went to find... Ugh! I went to find Du Qingtang and promised her the position of Empress. But Du Qingtang... Ugh! She refused, saying that she... Ugh! She said she would never be a concubine... Ugh!"
The Fourth Prince: “…”
The Fifth Prince: “…”
The Fourth Prince has never been a good person, and especially in recent years when things have not gone well for him, he has become even more sinister and cruel.
Seeing the two secret guards burping non-stop, his patience ran out, and he raised his hand and threw the teacup, hitting one of them with blood all over his head: "If you can't speak, forget about your tongue."
The secret guard was horrified and immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Your Highness, please forgive me! Your Highness, please forgive me... Ugh!"
The Fourth Prince became annoyed when he heard this. He looked around and picked up the teapot, pretending to throw it away, but was stopped by the Fifth Prince.
"Fourth brother, calm down. These two have clearly contracted a strange disease. Why not call the court doctor to examine them so we can get to the bottom of it."
The Fourth Prince snorted coldly and glanced at the butler, who understood and quickly sent someone to call the palace physician over.
The court physician arrived quickly. Seeing the appearance of the secret guard, his expression changed slightly. After paying his respects to the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince, he took the pulse of each of them in turn.
After a while, the fifth prince sat on a walnut plate, his face full of curiosity: "How is it?"
The court doctor replied, "There's nothing abnormal in the pulse. Could you two describe the symptoms in detail?"
The secret guard, holding a glimmer of hope in his heart, told the truth: "At first, I had vomiting and diarrhea, unbearable abdominal pain, my stomach was getting bigger every day, accompanied by vomiting, back pain, and often unable to swallow..."
The more the court doctor listened, the more subtle his expression became, and he looked at the two of them, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
The Fourth Prince said coldly, "Speak."
The court doctor's eyelids twitched: "Judging from the symptoms, it seems like the reaction of early pregnancy, but they are boys..."
The Fifth Prince raised his eyebrows imperceptibly: "Could it be that dirty water can make a man pregnant?"
The Fourth Prince cast a cold glance at the secret guard who was kneeling and retching, and asked patiently, "Is there any treatment?"
The court doctor was somewhat embarrassed. After some hesitation, he decided to tell the truth: "I have never seen such symptoms before. I am afraid I am powerless to help."
The secret guard lowered his head, despair flashing in his eyes.
In fact, they did not tell the truth to the Fourth Prince.
They did not suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, or unbearable abdominal pain at all.
That day, they were force-fed a black pill. Within a few breaths, their stomachs swelled up at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a balloon. It was like a ball of flesh hanging in front of them, heavy and with a very obvious presence.
Not only do they experience a swollen abdomen, but they also develop symptoms such as retching, lower back pain, and urinary incontinence.
Du Qingtang threatened them: "As long as you complete my instructions honestly, the antidote will be delivered to you as soon as possible."
"If not, your stomachs will explode in a month."
They didn't want to die, so they had to agree to Du Qingtang's request. They endured all kinds of physical discomfort along the way and traveled day and night, fearing that they would return too late and lose their lives.
They also held out a glimmer of hope that the doctor could diagnose what poison they had been poisoned with and provide them with a detoxification.
In this way, they will not be constrained by poison, have to tie their heads to their belts, and do things they don't want to do.
Unexpectedly, even Xia Jing’s doctor couldn’t see what the problem was and said it was incurable.
"vomit--"
Perhaps because of excessive emotions, the secret guard's stomach churned again, and he vomited loudly without paying attention to the presence of the two princes.
An indescribable smell filled the flower hall. The Fourth Prince pulled out a handkerchief from the secret pocket of his wide sleeves, covered his mouth and nose with it in disgust, stood up with a grim face and walked out.
The Fifth Prince sighed, covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and followed the Fourth Prince to the door, instructing the butler, "Ask him thoroughly, there's no need to stay any longer."
The housekeeper lowered his eyebrows and said: "Yes."
The pupils of the two secret guards contracted and they exchanged glances secretly. In just a moment, they reached a consensus. With a turn of their right wrists, the daggers hidden in their narrow sleeves slipped into their hands. At the same time, they suddenly jumped up and stabbed the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince respectively.
"Lord Du asked us to tell the two princes that if you dare to extend your hand to Shaoqing Mansion, don't blame her for being rude!"
"Your Highness!"
The secret guard and the butler spoke almost at the same time.
The Fourth Prince was caught off guard. By the time he caught a glimpse of a cold light approaching from the corner of his eye, it was already too late.
“Puff——”
The dagger pierced the flesh, and blood splattered everywhere.
"ah!"
The fourth prince screamed, his body swayed twice, and then fell to the ground with a bang.
Beside the Fourth Prince, a dark flash passed through the eyes of the Fifth Prince, which he concealed with his wide sleeves, and his figure swayed slightly.
The dagger pierced his abdomen and blood gushed out instantly.
With a light "bang", the walnut fell to the ground, stained with blood.
"Your Highness!"
This voice did not come from the housekeeper, but from Cao Yuan, who hurried over after returning home and learning that the fourth and fifth princes were in the flower hall.
Who knew that when he arrived at the flower hall, he happened to see the secret guards of Duke Cheng'en's mansion stabbing daggers into the bodies of the two princes.
Cao Yuan's eyes were bloodshot: "Come here, give me..."
Before he could finish his words, two secret guards discovered Cao Yuan and stabbed him with their swords again.
Cao Yuan was old and had slow reactions, and he had no secret guards with him. Although he retreated immediately, he was still cut on the cheek by the dagger.
"Master!" the butler exclaimed.
The secret guard missed his attack and was about to stab again when the guard came running over after hearing the noise. The two sides had a fierce fight. The former was defeated due to his big belly and was killed on the spot.
The two secret guards lay in a pool of blood, laughed three times towards the sky, and died.
In fact, Du Qingtang just asked them to warn Cao Yuan that if he extended his hand to Shaoqing Mansion again, don't blame her for being ruthless.
But Du Qingtang caused them to suffer so much pain, and the doctor here even concluded that her condition was incurable. How could they let her go?
Instead of running around after offending Cao Yuan and waiting for an antidote that may not be effective or even exist, it is better to drag Du Qingtang to hell with him.
Murdering the prince and assassinating the prime minister, these two crimes are enough for Du Qingtang to die a thousand or ten thousand times.
......
Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.
"His Highness the Fourth and Fifth Princes were assassinated in the Cheng'en Mansion. The Fourth Prince was seriously injured, having been stabbed in the kidney. The palace physician diagnosed that this might affect his offspring. The Fifth Prince only suffered minor injuries and will recover after a while."
"The assassin originally wanted to kill Lord Cheng'en, but the guards arrived just in time and killed him on the spot."
After the secret guard finished his report, he disappeared silently into the darkness.
Fury lowered his head tightly, his eyelids twitching wildly.
Isn’t Lord Du too bold?
It would have been fine if he had just assassinated Cao Yuan, but he actually dared to assassinate the fourth and fifth princes.
Murdering the prince is a serious crime. Doesn't she want to live?!
No!
wrong!
Lord Du is not a person who does not know the importance of things. He would never give his handle to others.
Thinking about what the two secret guards said, an incredible thought came to my mind.
Fu Rui's eyes widened, his heart pounding, and he swallowed his saliva: "Your Majesty, this..."
Emperor Qingyuan snorted with an ambiguous tone: "How dare you test me."
After that, he shook his head again: "No, it's not a test."
It's more like a counterattack than a test.
He tested her loyalty to the emperor, and she tested his willingness to establish a crown prince.
Fury: “?”
Fu Rui was stunned for a moment, not understanding what was going on.
Emperor Qingyuan was amused by Fu Rui's dull expression and didn't mind giving him a hint: "Lord Du, you are using a knife to kill someone."
Fury: “???”
Fu Rui still didn't quite understand. He scratched his head anxiously, holding his whisk and laughing dryly: "This servant is stupid. Please explain it to me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Qingyuan pointed at him twice and said: "You, you are getting more confused as you get older."
Fu Rui smiled unchanged and complimented, "I am not a very smart person to begin with. I am not as resourceful and as cunning as Your Majesty."
Emperor Qingyuan's gaze penetrated the glass window, reaching the towering red walls and the multi-story buildings. "Given the prudence of Du Aiqing, she would simply reject Cao Yuan's advances and send someone to warn him."
At least that's what it seems on the surface.
"But that secret guard has been turned into something neither human nor ghost by Lord Du, so he must be holding a grudge. There's no guarantee he won't take a risk and frame Lord Du."
This is a question of probability.
If those two secret guards were cowardly and afraid of death, they would not dare to frame others.
On the contrary, at the very least, Cao Yuan would be assassinated, and at the worst, the prince would be assassinated.
As long as Du Aiqing is convicted of assassination, she will surely be put to death.
Du Aiqing took advantage of their revengeful mentality.
Fu Rui felt that his brain was almost not enough, secretly complaining that Master Du had more tricks than a sieve, and asked cautiously: "But the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince..."
Emperor Qingyuan glanced at Fu Rui and said nothing more.
If the person being assassinated was Cao Yuan, he would naturally be very pleased.
If the assassins were the fourth or fifth sons, would he be furious or would he let things slide?
He doesn't even care about the fourth and fifth legitimate princes, so who is his real chosen heir to the throne?
Emperor Qingyuan took off the jade ring and looked carefully at the dragon pattern on it in the light.
This finger ring was made by a master. The dragon pattern was engraved vividly, and the pair of dragon eyes seemed to come alive.
Brothers fought against each other for the throne.
In order to gain the throne, he murdered the prince.
In order to gain the throne, he poisoned his concubines.
And his preferred successor has never changed.
"Let Lan Shizhong go to the residence of the fourth and fifth brothers and check on their injuries for me."
Fu Rui took a deep breath and suppressed the mixed feelings in his heart: "Yes."
......
The Fourth Prince's Mansion.
The Fourth Prince was unconscious due to excessive blood loss. He slowly regained consciousness and learned that the dagger had pierced his kidney, which might affect his offspring. He was stunned at first, but after realizing what was happening, he pounded the bed and roared, "Du Qingtang! This prince will make sure you die a miserable death!"
"Come here, send someone to Shaoqing Mansion immediately to kill that stinky woman Du Qingtang for me. Cut her into pieces and feed her body to the dogs..."
Cao Yuan learned that the Fourth Prince had woken up and heard these words as he entered the room. He said solemnly, "Your Highness, this is forbidden!"
The Fourth Prince's eyes were filled with hatred, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "Why not? This Highness offered her the position of Empress, but she sternly refused. It would have been fine if she just said she didn't want to be a concubine, but she even instigated the people sent by your grandfather to rebel, harming this Highness..."
The wounds on his waist and abdomen ached slightly, constantly reminding the Fourth Prince of what he had lost.
"Grandfather, please don't stop me. I will kill her!" the Fourth Prince said gritting his teeth.
Seeing that the Fourth Prince was blinded by hatred, Cao Yuan sighed softly, "Your Highness, do you think Du Qingtang, given her cautiousness, would do such a foolish thing?"
The Fourth Prince was stunned.
Cao Yuan continued, "Even if she really dared to do this, with no evidence, how can you convict her? When His Majesty asks why Du Qingtang had you assassinated, will you tell him the reason?"
The Fourth Prince was speechless.
He can't.
No one can tolerate others poaching his people, let alone the Emperor Qingyuan who is the supreme ruler and treats him extremely cruelly?
Cao Yuan felt a wetness on the side of his face. He was scratched while talking and blood was oozing out.
He took out a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound.
The stinging pain sobered him up and made him think calmly about his next move.
After a while, Cao Yuan said, "The crimes of Cao Ba and Cao Jiu in assassination are true. I will send someone to investigate and find out who ordered them to assassinate the two princes."
The Fourth Prince's expression eased slightly, and just as he was about to speak, the eunuch announced, "His Majesty has sent Chief Lan to treat Your Highness."
The fourth prince was horrified: "You can't let your father know that I..."
A prince who has difficulty in having children is likely to have no chance of becoming an emperor in his lifetime.
Cao Yuan rubbed his brows, took off the handkerchief and put it back into the hidden pocket of his wide sleeve: "Your Highness, don't worry, I will take care of everything."
He went to see the head of the Lan Court and said, "Your Highness has not woken up yet. Lord Lan, please go back."
Lan Yuanshou was a little embarrassed: "But His Majesty..."
Cao Yuan's tone brooked no argument: "When Your Highness recovers, I will return to the palace to apologize to His Majesty."
Dean Lan knew that he would not be able to see the Fourth Prince today, so he had to say goodbye and go to the Fifth Prince's Mansion.
The fifth prince's injuries were relatively minor. Dean Lan took his pulse, gave him some advice, left him a bottle of medicine, and left.
The Fifth Prince leaned back on the soft pillow, his gaze fixed on the void. Suddenly, he smiled with an ambiguous meaning: "Two idiots."
......
Lan Yuanshou returned to the palace to report. When Emperor Qingyuan learned that the Fourth Prince had not yet woken up, he sighed deeply and looked worried: "It seems that the Fourth Prince is seriously injured."
Dean Lan was unaware of the Fourth Prince's condition, so he lowered his head and dared not say a word.
Fu Rui comforted him, "Your Highness is blessed by fate and is in the prime of life. I believe he will wake up soon."
"I have only five sons left, and the fourth is my legitimate son. If anything happens to him..."
Emperor Qingyuan had a worried look on his face, perfectly portraying the image of an old father who was worried about the injury of his legitimate son.
He thought for a moment and then made the decision, "Furui, take a team of imperial guards to the Fourth Prince's residence and escort him to the palace on the outskirts of the city. It's a quiet place, perfect for recuperation."
Fu Rui's eyes flickered: "Yes, I obey your command."
An hour later, the Fourth Prince slowly woke up and was told that Fu Rui had brought a hundred imperial guards to take him to the palace to recuperate.
The Fourth Prince was dumbfounded: "Your Highness will not go to any palace!"
After a moment's thought, the Fourth Prince immediately understood that Emperor Qingyuan probably wanted to take this opportunity to expel him from the court and prevent him from getting involved in state affairs.
The Fourth Prince pounded the bed and said angrily, "Grandfather has already handed over the Tiger Talisman and has repeatedly retreated. Why does Father still want to kill me?"
Cao Yuan hadn't expected Xia Ming to be so shameless. He rolled his eyes and said, "Why don't you go to the palace and ask His Majesty for help? Perhaps His Majesty will revoke his order because you're injured."
"Yes! Your Highness must enter the palace and beg the Emperor to revoke his order!" The Fourth Prince clutched his wound and climbed to his feet. He ordered the palace maid to change his clothes, muttering to himself, "It took a year before I could return to the capital last time. Life is short, how many more years can I waste?"
The fourth prince relied on facial recognition to enter the imperial study smoothly without any obstruction.
"Your Majesty, I don't want to go to the palace to recuperate. Please take back your order!" The Fourth Prince's face was as pale as paper and he knelt down to beg.
Emperor Qingyuan raised his head from the memorial with a faint smile on his face: "Why not?"
The Fourth Prince had already prepared a speech beforehand, and he said with great emotion, "Your Majesty, your son's heart is with you. I do not want to leave Xiajing. Otherwise, I will not be able to fulfill my filial duties to you."
Emperor Qingyuan stared at him and asked, "What if I insist on you going to the palace?"
The Fourth Prince suddenly looked up and met a pair of cold and ruthless eyes.
Emperor Qingyuan had a smile on his face, but his eyes showed no trace of smile as he looked at him coldly.
That look was as real as a blade, cutting through his clothes, piercing his flesh, and piercing deep into his heart.
The Fourth Prince's breath caught in his throat, and he felt a buzzing in his head. He muttered, "Father, why do you treat me like this?"
Emperor Qingyuan narrowed his eyes imperceptibly and said, "Tell me, how did I treat you?"
The Fourth Prince suddenly laughed when he heard his question.
"Don't you know how you treat me, your son?"
"I have grown up to the age of thirty. When I was young, you never held me in your arms once. Even when I fell in front of you, you only ordered the palace maids to help me up."
"I listened carefully and memorized the text diligently. To earn your praise, I even slept only two hours a day for a while, just to memorize the entire Mencius."
"I recited it to you with great anticipation, but you only responded indifferently and left, citing your busy state affairs as an excuse."
"Later, when I grew up, I was able to enter the court and participate in government affairs."
"I have tried my best to complete every task, hoping to gain your approval."
"But what about you? You've never praised me once. Instead, you've promoted the second and third sons, letting them compete with me."
"Father, I am your legitimate son! How could you allow those two bastards to climb over me?"
“That’s not enough!”
"You also suppress me, my grandfather, and my uncle. You will suppress all officials of the Cao family and those who are friendly with the Cao family. You will either execute them or banish them to other places and let them sit on the bench."
"Two years ago, for a mere few hundred thousand taels of disaster relief silver and grain, you killed my cousin and exiled me to the imperial mausoleum."
"If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's plea, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to return until now."
"Why? Are you going to do it again?"
The Fourth Prince felt more and more ironic as he spoke, and he threw his head back and laughed heartily.
He laughed so hard that he fell backwards and his wounds split open, and blood soaked his clothes, spreading a glaring red.
"Since ancient times, the throne has always been bestowed upon the legitimate heir, the eldest son, or the most virtuous. I am your legitimate son, yet you would rather use the eldest, sixth, and seventh sons, those illegitimate offspring, and repeatedly ignore the court ministers' requests for a crown prince, rather than appoint me as the heir."
"I really don't understand what I and my grandfather have done wrong to make you go to such great lengths to deal with us."
"Have you forgotten that if your grandfather had not asked the emperor for permission to grant you a marriage, how could you, an unfavored prince, have married the eldest daughter of the Cao family?"
"Without your grandfather's unwavering support, how could you sit on the dragon throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and rule over the vast land of Great Xia?"
The air in the imperial study suddenly became stagnant. Even the sound of grinding ink disappeared, and the room fell into a terrifying silence.
Fury's eyes widened, nearly popping out of their sockets.
Does the Fourth Prince know what he is talking about?
Is he crazy? How dare he speak to His Majesty like that?!
Fu Rui's head was buzzing, and he subconsciously held his breath. He quietly put down the ink stick, knelt beside the imperial desk, and reduced his presence to a minimum.
At this moment, the look in Emperor Qingyuan's eyes when he looked at the Fourth Prince could no longer be described as indifferent. It was as if he was looking at a dead object. "Are you saying that I only hold the throne because of Cao Yuan?"
At this point, after saying those words just now, the Fourth Prince is no longer afraid of anything.
He had wanted to say and do this a long time ago, but he still hoped that Emperor Qingyuan would take the father-son relationship into consideration.
Now it seems that he is just an idiot.
The royal family is inherently heartless, let alone Emperor Qingyuan, the supreme ruler?
"Isn't it?"
"You are just a prince who is not favored by the Emperor's grandfather, and the Emperor's grandmother is just an unloved concubine. Your brothers and their mother's families are all powerful in their own ways, and your mother's family has long since died out. Without your grandfather, you are now at most a prince."
Although the words were clearly full of insults, Emperor Qingyuan slowly smiled.
This is his legitimate son.
A legitimate son with Cao's blood flowing in his body.
"This world belongs to the Xia family, not the Cao family."
Emperor Qingyuan smiled and tapped the imperial desk with his fingers: "I thought you could understand this truth, but you have lived for more than 30 years and still put the Cao family first in everything."
"I have given you many chances, but you have always sided with the Cao family."
“Every time!”
"I never thought that I would be so unbearable in your eyes. In that case—"
Emperor Qingyuan said coldly, "Furui, draft the decree."
Fu Rui came forward on his knees: "The servant is here."
"From now on, Xia Qikun's status as a prince will be stripped and he will be demoted to a commoner."
"Also, change your surname from Xia to Cao, and never set foot in Xiajing again in your lifetime!"
The Fourth Prince looked as if struck by lightning, his face turning pale.
He didn't expect his father to be so heartless. Not only did he deprive him of his status as a prince, he also changed his surname.
"Xia" is the royal surname, which means supreme glory.
Previously, the second son committed the crime of treason and treason, but his father only deprived him of his status as a prince, but he still retained the imperial surname.
This also includes the third son who was adopted by a prince of the royal family.
Only him.
There is only him, Xia Qikun.
He is probably the only one in thousands of years who had to change his surname after being stripped of his status as a prince.
If this gets out, I'm afraid it will be laughed at for thousands of years.
Until this moment, the Fourth Prince finally felt afraid.
He collapsed on the ground like a pile of mud, tears streaming down his face and trembling. He no longer had the courage he once had: "Father..."
Emperor Qingyuan interrupted calmly: "I am not your father."
The Fourth Prince's lips trembled, and the words of begging for mercy were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back.
He laughed heartily and pointed at Emperor Qingyuan: "Xia Ming, you cold-blooded monster!"
Fu Rui was horrified and shouted, "Come here, drag Cao Qikun out!"
The imperial guards entered and acted according to orders.
Cao Qikun struggled hard, twisting and turning like a maggot.
"Xia Ming, you monster!"
"I really want all my brothers and sisters to come and see how their good father punishes his legitimate son."
"Xia Ming, you have no heart!"
"I'm waiting for the day when you'll be deserted by everyone and die a miserable death!"
Cao Qikun's curse faded away, and Fu Rui knelt on the ground, lowered his head and dared not breathe.
After a long moment, Fu Rui raised his head tremblingly: "Your Majesty, what is the reason?"
Emperor Qingyuan lowered his eyes, making it impossible to discern his true expression. “Write as you wish.”
Fu Rui understood and was about to respond when he heard Emperor Qingyuan say, "One more charge: plotting to murder the prince."
Murdering the prince?
Fu Rui was stunned for a moment, and reacted slowly. The "prince" His Majesty was referring to should be the second prince.
Fu Rui shuddered inwardly and nodded in agreement.
-
At the end of April, Zhou Tongzhi came to Du Qingtang with a booklet.
"Sir, I am planning to build a house, but I am unsure of the materials and furnishings. I would like to ask for your advice."
Du Qingtang raised his head from the official documents, put down the wolf-hair brush and raised his hand. Zhou Tongzhi was delighted and hurriedly handed him the album.
"Thank you, sir."
Du Qingtang hummed softly and opened the album, which contained various materials and drawings.
At a glance, you can see that the materials are of high quality and the designs are very exquisite.
Du Qingtang selected a few and saw Zhou Tongzhi quickly write them down. He casually asked, "Are they for the younger generation in your family?"
Zhou Tongzhi was stunned for a moment, shaking his head like a rattle, his eyes darting around, not daring to meet the prefect's gaze. "No, no, no, it's not a young one in my family. It's... a person... Actually, that person is about the same age as you, sir. That's why I've dared to come and seek your opinion."
Seeing him like this, Du Qingtang frowned slightly, feeling a little puzzled, but did not ask any more questions. After all, it was his private matter. After selecting for a while, he returned the album.
Zhou Tongzhi took it with both hands and said: "Thank you, sir. Please continue with your work. I will take my leave."
Not long after, someone knocked on the door again.
Du Qingtang said without even raising his head: "Come in."
The man pushed the door open and walked in, his tone respectful but mixed with a hint of complex emotions: "Sir, a man claiming to be the next prefect of Shaoqing Prefecture has come to the government office with the appointment documents. Sir Wu has already taken him to Binxing Hall. Please see..."
Du Qingtang immediately put down his pen, strode towards Binxing Hall, stopped at the door of the main hall, and coughed lightly.
In the main hall, a young man in an indigo round-necked robe had a smile on his face and handsome features, as if he was a nobleman who had walked out of a painting.
He just bowed his hands and said in a clear voice: "Uncle Master."
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