Chu Qingluan paused for a moment but did not respond.
Qi Che continued to talk to himself, "News came from the capital that the crown prince had murdered the princess, and the evidence is irrefutable. He has been deposed and imprisoned in the clan residence."
He spoke word by word, his eyes fixed on Chu Qingluan's expression, "His Majesty is ill, and he has issued an edict to confer the title of King Rui on the Third Prince, granting him Youzhou as his fiefdom. Calculating the time, the Third Prince should be back in a few days."
Chu Qingluan's pupils shrank slightly and her fingertips tightened.
What she was worried about was not the situation in the capital, but her father's health.
But he still didn't show it on his face, and just said lightly: "Really? Third brother is really good at it."
Qi Che stepped forward and said earnestly, "Your Highness, the situation has been determined. The Third Prince is kind and benevolent. If you can persuade His Majesty to abdicate as soon as possible, he will definitely not treat you badly in the future."
"Kind?" Chu Qingluan suddenly chuckled, with no warmth in her eyes, "Yun Yan, don't you think it's ridiculous to use this word to describe Chu Hong?"
If he was really kind-hearted, why would he have spent so many years gathering his strength in Youzhou City, turning it into an iron barrel, and yet pretending to be indifferent to fame and fortune and not to compete with the world?
If he was really kind, why would he go to so much trouble to return to the capital, plot against Chu Lang, and reap the benefits?
If he was kind, why would he allow her to be kidnapped and kept under house arrest?
Qi Che was silent for a moment, and only said: "At least, the Third Prince will be a wise ruler."
Chu Qingluan sneered and slowly stood up, her tone full of endless sarcasm: "A wise ruler who rose to power by framing his brother and imprisoning his own sister?"
Qi Che's eyes darkened, but he did not refute.
"Go back and tell Chu Hong." She turned her back to Qi Che and said in a voice as cold as ice, "If you want that position, come and get it yourself. Don't expect me to lobby for him."
Qi Che stared at her back for a long time before whispering, "Your Highness, why are you so stubborn? You should understand that you have no choice in the current situation."
Chu Qingluan didn't look back, but said calmly: "Back off."
Qi Che looked at her deeply, then finally turned and left.
——
At the same time, in the White Lotus Sect in the city.
The white marble steps lead directly to the triple-eaved hall, and the four characters "Compassion and Saving the World" on the gilded plaque sparkle in the sun.
Three years ago, the White Lotus Sect was nothing more than a dilapidated Taoist temple on the outskirts of the city, with mottled tiles and few incense offerings. There were only a few old Taoists looking after a few acres of thin land, and occasionally drawing talismans and exorcising evil spirits for nearby villagers, barely making a living.
All this changed until the arrival of the third prince Chu Hong.
In just three years, this humble Taoist temple has been transformed. It now has magnificent architecture and is very popular. On the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month, there is an endless stream of people coming to burn incense, and the gate is packed with people.
"The White Lotus descends to the world to save all living beings."
This is something that every citizen in the city knows.
The wealthy in the city donated money to build the temple, while the poor regarded the White Lotus's magic water as a life-saving remedy. Some people even swore that they had seen the White Lotus Saint perform a spell to pray for rain, which ended the drought in Youzhou for a year.
At that time, a maid holding a lacquer tray in her hand walked lightly across the corridor and stopped in front of a vermilion door.
She knocked on the door respectfully and whispered, "Saint Lady, a secret letter from the capital."
"Come in."
A lazy female voice came from inside the room. The voice was soft, but with a certain irresistible majesty.
The maid pushed the door open and saw a woman in white reclining barefoot on a soft couch, her face covered with a veil, revealing only a pair of enchanting eyes.
She held a string of white jade Buddhist beads between her fingertips, her posture was relaxed, but it couldn't hide her natural charm.
"Read." The woman raised her chin lazily.
The maid unfolded the letter and whispered, "His Highness the Third Prince has been canonized as the King of Rui and granted Youzhou as his fiefdom. He will arrive soon..."
"Oh?" The woman's eyes lit up, and she sat up straight unconsciously, with a smile on her red lips under her veil, "He's finally coming back."
But before she could be happy for long, the maid hesitated and said, "There is one more thing..."
"explain."
"The Third Prince seems to have a mistress in Langanju..."
The room suddenly became quiet.
The white-clothed woman's fingers holding the Buddhist beads suddenly tightened, her knuckles turned white, and her charming eyes instantly turned cold.
"Outer room?"
"Yes..." The maid knelt down immediately, her voice trembling: "It is said that it is a woman with a veil. The Third Prince attaches great importance to her and has sent Master Yun to guard her personally..."
“Bang!”
She slammed the white jade Buddhist beads to the ground, and the fine beads immediately scattered and shattered.
The woman slowly stood up, her veil fluttering without wind, her eyes filled with intense jealousy and hatred.
Why?
She has been following the Third Prince for so long, but she hasn't even been able to get a piece of his clothes. Now, a vixen is being treated so seriously and wants to get into his house?
If there were any familiar people here, they would recognize that this woman in white, who was called the Saint, was Gu Yanran who had disappeared in the ruined temple earlier.
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