Chapter 359 Slowly Closing the Net
"Third brother, who, who poisoned her?" Ziqi's eyes were red-rimmed as he looked around as if searching for a suspect, but in reality, he was hinting to the dancer assassin in the hall to kill Cai'er.
Chang Hao sensed the spiritual energy within his body and figured he should have some strength left. He raised his eyelids, suddenly drew the sword that always hung at his waist, and stabbed it into Zi Yan's heart. After releasing the sword, he snatched the wine pot from Bigan's hand, pried open Zi Qi's jaw, and poured the wine directly into Zi Qi's mouth.
The movements were executed smoothly and swiftly, and after completing the set of movements, Chang Hao collapsed to the ground 'softly'.
The last thing Zi Yan saw in this world was the chilling sword light that shone like the sun and moon in the sky.
"No... Qi'er, Yan'er..." Empress Dowager Jiang cried out in anguish, then fainted from exhaustion.
Ziqi knew that the wine might contain deadly poison, and in his panic, he kept gagging himself, making a complete fool of himself. However, due to drinking too much wine and without the help of the Grand Tutor, he spat out a mouthful of blood and breathed his last.
"Grand Tutor, Uncle Wang, I... do not know who intended to take my life, so I had to act hastily. If I am guilty, Uncle Wang may... be my... King..." Chang Hao's voice was faint, as if he had used up his last bit of strength and slowly fell asleep.
Wen Zhong was so anxious that his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He kept sending spiritual energy into the king's body, but the king's body seemed to have an inexhaustible capacity. No matter how much spiritual energy entered, it would disappear without a trace. Finally, Wen Zhong found that he could not send any more spiritual energy in. There was an invisible force resisting his spiritual energy.
Wen Zhong suddenly remembered the king's identity as the Human Emperor, and his heart sank.
"The young doctors have arrived." Quan Chang commanded the Imperial Guards to carry several young doctors, all with white hair and beards, into the Wanshou Palace.
"Quickly treat the king!" Bigan paced anxiously in circles.
"This, this, this... I am incompetent, Grand Tutor. Prepare, prepare for the worst, let the King depart with dignity." The young physician trembled all over. He couldn't save the King; should he be buried with him?
a bolt from the blue! ! !
Wen Zhong and Bi Gan were stunned on the spot, and then low sobs echoed from Wanshou Palace.
“The Second Prince clearly said it was a laxative…” Cai’er’s face turned pale. “I understand now, the First Prince lied to the Second Prince.”
"Your Majesty, it was this servant who harmed you. This servant will atone with my death." Cai'er suddenly rammed her head against a pillar in the Wanshou Palace. With a 'bang,' her brains splattered, and she died on the spot. However, Cai'er's words made everyone understand who the culprit was.
Empress Dowager Jiang was rescued by the young doctor and had just slowly regained consciousness. Just as she was about to burst into tears, she was immediately shocked by the sight of all that red and white. Empress Dowager Jiang, who had always lived a life of luxury, had never seen such a scene before. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted again.
Before anyone knew it, Wanshou Palace was surrounded by a dense array of Imperial Guards. News of the upheaval at Wanshou Palace seemed to have grown wings and flew out of the palace.
With Chang Hao feigning unconsciousness, all the backup plans he had laid out were put into action, intending to eradicate the restless forces in Chaoge. In Chaoge City, there could only be one voice, and that was the voice of Emperor Xin.
Wen Zhong gritted his teeth, took out the life-saving elixir given to him by his master, pressed his thumb against Chang Hao's chin, and quickly stuffed the elixir into Chang Hao's mouth. As soon as the elixir entered his mouth, it turned into a warm current and disappeared without a trace.
Chang Hao was suddenly startled, realizing that his cultivation level, which had been restored, was rising rapidly. He immediately stood up. Oh no! He had tricked the Grand Tutor into giving him a golden pill. What should he do?
"Grand Tutor..." Chang Hao was so ashamed that he could hardly speak, but Wen Zhong thought that Chang Hao was too moved to speak.
“Your Majesty need not say more. Since Your Majesty regards me as an elder, I will also presume to regard Your Majesty as a junior. As an elder, how can I stand by and watch my junior be in danger without offering a helping hand?” Wen Zhong raised his hand to stop Chang Hao from finishing his sentence.
"Then thank you very much, Grand Tutor." Chang Hao stood up with Quan Chang's hand on his arm. Now that he owed the Grand Tutor a golden pill, he had to think about how to help the Grand Tutor escape death should he lose.
Wen Zhong sighed, "Your Majesty, please deal with the immediate matters first." The sudden death of two princes is no small matter, and he also needs to find time to return to his sect to apologize for feeding the Human Emperor's Golden Elixir.
"Quan Chang, escort the Grand Tutor and the Prince out of the palace." Chang Hao handed the token to Quan Chang. At this time, the palace was under martial law, and no one was allowed to move around in the palace without his token.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Quan Chang took the token, his palms sweating. Today had truly been a terrifying moment.
The city gates of Chaoge remained closed for three days. During these three days, Chang Hao thoroughly cleaned up Chaoge again and again. Knowing that their king had almost lost his life, the people cooperated with the Imperial Guards without complaint to capture the traitors who dared to assassinate the king.
When E Chongyu, Chong Houhu, and Ji Chang arrived in Chaoge on the same day, the city had already returned to its former tranquility. The stench of blood had dissipated, the nobles were behaving themselves, and everyone displayed gentlemanly conduct. The city was filled with peace and tranquility.
“Chaoge is different from what it was ten years ago,” Chong Houhu remarked. “It seems that the King is indeed a benevolent ruler.”
“That’s right,” E Chongyu echoed, having nothing to hide and naturally pleased to see the Shang Dynasty thriving.
However, Ji Chang felt very uncomfortable, and even more so, a sense of despair.
Every generation of the Marquis of Xiqi harbored a secret ambition: to overthrow the Shang dynasty and replace it. To this end, they carefully cultivated their reputation in Xiqi, turning it into their personal fiefdom. In Xiqi, even the king's decree was less effective than the Marquis's word.
How old is he this year? Could it be that he is going to die with regrets?
"The morning court session has already ended. Let's present our petition to His Majesty first. As for pleading for the Marquis of Dongbo, we can contact a minister after we leave the palace, reach an agreement, and then bring it up at tomorrow morning's court session," Ji Chang suggested.
“Very well.” E Chongyu and Chong Houhu had no objections; the Marquis of Xibo had already considered everything very thoroughly.
………………
"minister……"
"Marquis E Chongyu of the South,"
"Marquis Chonghou Hu of the North,"
"Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo..."
"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty enjoy good health and longevity..."
"My dear minister, there's no need for such formalities." Chang Hao privately received the Marquis of the South, the Marquis of the West, and the Marquis of the North in Qiankun Palace, and secretly gave Quan Sheng a look. Everyone was present; after all, it was Chaoge City where one could enter but not leave.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." E Chongyu, Chong Houhu, and Ji Chang then stood up and looked at the king behind the imperial desk. They were quite surprised. They knew the king was young, but they did not expect him to be so young.
A glint of light flashed in Ji Chang's eyes. The king was still young, so he figured the government was probably in the hands of Grand Tutor Wen, Bigan, and Shang Rong.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Empress Dowager is threatening to commit suicide..."
"What?" Chang Hao was startled. He couldn't care less that he was meeting with the Marquis of the South, the Marquis of the West, and the Marquis of the North, and hurriedly ran to the Wanshou Palace.
Ji Chang stood there and secretly cast a divination in his mind. The divination indicated that great calamity was imminent. His eyelids twitched, and without thinking, he chased after the king. He had cast a divination before seeing the king, and the divination was normal. How could it have changed so quickly? It must be related to what the palace official had just shouted. He had to find a way to break the deadly divination.
Seeing that Ji Chang had gone with him, E Chongyu and Chong Houhu had no choice but to follow him to Wanshou Palace as well.
On the bustling palace road, Empress Dowager Jiang, with disheveled hair and a dagger to her neck, said unreasonably, "Your Majesty, then let E Chongyu, Chong Houhu, and Ji Chang stay in Chaoge together."
Ji Chang stood there dumbfounded, as if he had fallen into an abyss.
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