Chapter 269 Don’t want to be the crown prince?
Kawatani nodded.
"People in the Duke's Mansion said that Madam Shen committed suicide and set the fire after being hit hard."
Gu Qingning still didn't want to believe it.
In fact, she has always believed that Shen Ruoying is best at judging the situation, cares the most about herself, and is arrogant.
He is the kind of person who would rather kill himself than commit suicide.
Even if I commit suicide, I have to take a group of people with me. How can I die alone?
Gu Qingning: "Is anyone else injured?"
Kawagu: "It is said that two of Madam Shen's servants were burned to death, and the entire Cuiwei Pavilion was destroyed."
"But the Second Young Master is fine, he just choked on his lungs. And the Second Young Master's wife had a miscarriage, but fortunately both the adult and the child are fine."
"Aunt Yue was frightened, but she was unharmed."
Gu Qingning: "What about Lu Ming?"
Chuan Gu: "It happened that the Duke wanted to see Young Master Ming that day, so he had someone carry Young Master Ming out of Cuiwei Pavilion, and he just happened to escape the disaster."
Gu Qingning was in deep thought.
Looking at it this way, who did it?
Also, did Shen Ruoying really die just like that?
Although the two mansions have no connection now, Gu Qingning still asked Chuan Gu to go and ask for the sake of Duke Qin.
Where do you need help?
Chuan Gu shook his head. "Mrs. Zhao is in charge now. She flatly refused. She doesn't need our help."
Gu Qingning: "Zhao Jing?"
Kawatani nodded.
Gu Qingning sighed. This Zhao Jing really knows how to take advantage of every opportunity.
There will still be a lot of excitement for Duke Qin in the future.
Putting aside the matters of Duke Qin's Mansion, Gu Qingning thought about Wei Shuhe, who had said goodbye to Su Yue today.
He also thought about Princess Jiamin who fell ill because of missing Ouyang Rui.
She looked out the window at the sunset.
It's so late and Lu Jingyu hasn't come back yet. Could it be that the Jiangnan smuggling salt case is very difficult?
Lu Jingyu couldn't go back tonight, so he asked someone to send a message back first, worried that Gu Qingning would be worried.
Gu Qingning asked Zhufeng to bring back the news about the fire in Duke Qin's mansion.
Lu Jingyu: "What are the casualties?"
Zhu Feng: "Cuiwei Pavilion burned down, Aunt Shen and her servants were burned to death, but the Second Young Master and his wife are fine."
Lu Jingyu hummed, "What else did Madam say?"
Zhu Feng: "Madam said that if Lord Ouyang is with you, let him go see Princess Jiamin after he finishes his official duties."
Ouyang Rui, who was sitting next to Lu Jingyu, raised his head.
As soon as he came back, he went to the palace to tell His Majesty about the illegal salt case in Jiangnan, and he had not even returned home yet.
He lost a lot of weight and looked very miserable.
His hair had grown long and he hadn't had time to shave his beard.
But at this moment, Ouyang Rui's eyes were filled with worry, "What happened to the princess?"
Zhu Feng: "Madam said that when Lord Ouyang goes there, he will know."
Ouyang Rui: “…”
It’s better not to say this.
Lu Jingyu ignored him and asked Zhufeng, "Did Madam say anything else?"
Zhufeng shook his head innocently.
Lu Jingyu felt a little disappointed.
Qing Ning had several messages delivered, but none of them had anything to do with him.
At this moment, Emperor Minghe summoned them in again.
They both stood up and walked inside together.
Lu Jingyu looked at Ouyang Rui, who looked haggard.
"Are you alright? If you can't bear it any longer, go and rest. I will talk to His Majesty."
Ouyang Rui looked at him speechlessly, "You want to go back home early to accompany Princess Zhaoning, right?"
Lu Jingyu: "Don't you want to meet Princess Jiamin? Since Qing Ning mentioned it, something must have happened to her."
"You are the one who got into trouble!" Ouyang Rui's mouth twitched, "Why did your mouth become more vicious after you became a prince?"
Lu Jingyu: "Your illusion."
Although the two bickered, they both knew that the more important thing was the bigger picture.
When they entered the Imperial Study, Emperor Minghe had just finished reading the memorials. He said:
"I have already looked at the list. If all of them need to be dealt with, then the imperial examination should be reopened next year."
Simply put, there are not enough people.
But now that things have come to this point, they must be dealt with.
There was no need for Lu Jingyu and Ouyang Rui to advise on this point.
Emperor Minghe said again: "I have already annotated the treatment methods on the list, you can all take a look and see if they are appropriate."
Emperor Minghe was a monarch who was willing to listen to advice.
In fact, he was also setting an example for Lu Jingyu to see.
Lu Jingyu and Ouyang Rui nodded immediately and stepped forward to start looking at the annotations on the list.
Some people would be beheaded and their property confiscated, some would be exiled, and some would be given a light punishment as a warning to others.
Plus the third prince’s previous rebellion.
In other words, in the next six months, the entire Da Chu will definitely be in a state of panic.
The king and his two ministers stayed up late to check whether there were any mistakes.
Because Ouyang Rui found a way to get rid of the Sixth Prince and Cen Jue and came back first.
What they are fighting for is time.
The sun gradually set and the imperial study was brightly lit by candles.
Eunuch Shun stood by with a worried look on his face, and from time to time he asked the masters if they needed anything.
Although Ouyang Rui is young, he has been running around for days and is injured and has not yet recovered.
By the second half of the night, I couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed on the table.
Lu Jingyu wanted to call him, but Emperor Minghe shook his head.
He waved to Lu Jingyu and whispered, "Come out with me to get some fresh air."
Lu Jingyu nodded.
The palace was too quiet late at night.
The young eunuch who was on duty with a lantern in his hand knelt down immediately when he saw Emperor Minghe.
Emperor Minghe waved his hand and asked them to leave.
He walked aimlessly with Lu Jingyu, and finally arrived in front of Luoyan Pagoda.
Lu Jingyu: "Are you missing the late queen again?"
Emperor Minghe nodded.
"Whenever I miss her so much, I come here. She is the smartest, most amazing and determined person I have ever met."
Lu Jingyu didn't say anything.
He had never met the late queen.
He also didn't want to praise any woman other than Qing Ning.
Except Xiao Xiyao.
Emperor Minghe, who did not wait for anyone to agree, looked at him speechlessly.
"Jing Yu, how can Qing Ning stand your boring personality?"
Lu Jingyu: "Qing Ning likes me very much."
Emperor Minghe was speechless for a while, "By the way, last time I talked about the matter of being the crown prince, what do you think about it?"
Lu Jingyu: “Still thinking about it.”
Emperor Minghe: "...Did you do this on purpose? How much do you really not want to be the crown prince?"
Lu Jingyu: "Father, you are still in your prime. How much do you really not want to continue being the emperor?"
Emperor Minghe: "Old Six is coming back."
"I can warn your ninth uncle not to have any extravagant ambitions for the throne."
"But it won't hinder Lao Liu's ideas."
"If he insists on competing with you for the throne, I have no choice."
Lu Jingyu: "I understand. What you mean is that if I can't even win against the Sixth Prince, then I am even less worthy of being the Crown Prince."
"In that case, please don't make me your target."
Emperor Minghe was stunned for a moment.
"Jing Yu, you actually know all this..."
Lu Jingyu nodded, "Yes, I know everything. In your heart, although the late queen is important, your son is important, but the country of Chu is the most important."
"You doted on Qin Xuanye so much in the beginning, but didn't you still test him many times? You were always worried about handing over the country to him, right?"
"Now, he in your heart has become me."
Lu Jingyu spoke in a very casual tone about his biological father's test of him.
And if the result of this temptation is not good, he will also abandon it.
This is the naked indifference of the royal family.
Lu Jingyu sighed: "It is said that if you sit on the dragon throne, you will become a lonely person."
"Father, I really sympathize with you."
Emperor Minghe was scolded by his own son for a long time before he finally came to his senses.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You have such a bad temper, ah."
Civil officials with deep minds are not to be feared, and military generals with high martial arts skills and charisma are not to be feared either.
But Lu Jingyu happened to have both of them.
Emperor Minghe finally said: "Okay, I am not in a hurry to appoint a crown prince. It's up to you."
Lu Jingyu: "Thank you, Father."
It's not even June yet, and the night breeze is still chilly.
Worried that Emperor Minghe might catch a cold, Lu Jingyu forcefully helped him back to the imperial study.
It happened that Ouyang Rui woke up at this time, and the king and his ministers continued to conduct a final check on the handling of the Jiangnan smuggling salt case.
Because it will be implemented early tomorrow morning.
After working for a whole night and reaching agreement on everything, Emperor Minghe sent his men out and allowed Lu Jingyu and Ouyang Rui to return home.
The two of them were riding in a carriage. When they passed by Princess Anhua's mansion, Lu Jingyu took the initiative to say:
"Do you want to get off the car now and go see Princess Jiamin?"
Ouyang Rui pursed his lips and said, "No, I'll go back home first."
Looking at his dead look, Lu Jingyu knew that he attached great importance to etiquette.
And some damn reserve.
Lu Jingyu reminded: "Qing Ning would specifically remind you, something must have happened to Princess Jiamin."
"If you waste time going back to dress up and pack, and thus delay anything, don't blame us for not reminding you."
Ouyang Rui's pupils suddenly narrowed.
He remembered that he had just asked His Majesty, and His Majesty said that he had not seen Jiamin for a long time.
Could it be that something really happened to Jiamin?
Ouyang Rui: “Stop the car!”
Seeing Ouyang Rui picking up his robe and getting off the carriage, Lu Jingyu chuckled.
"You're so stubborn."
After Lu Jingyu returned home, he looked at Qing Ning who came out to greet him, and all his sleepiness instantly disappeared.
Gu Qingning helped him wash his face and change his clothes.
"You don't have to go to the palace to attend court today, right?"
"No need, His Majesty has granted leave for both me and Ouyang Rui."
Lu Jingyu opened his arms and obediently let Gu Qingning help him change into casual clothes.
Gu Qingning: "Did Zhufeng bring the words I asked him to bring?"
Lu Jingyu: "Yes, he brought it. Ouyang Rui went to visit Princess Jiamin halfway."
Gu Qingning nodded. "Jia Min is really stubborn. She is actually very worried about Ouyang Rui, but she didn't say anything and made herself sick."
Lu Jingyu was shocked: "Princess Jiamin can actually get sick?"
Gu Qingning: "..."
This is somewhat rude.
At the same time, Ouyang Rui had knocked on the door of Princess Anhua's mansion.
When the door was opened, the man stretched his neck to look and it took him a long time to recognize it.
"Are you Lord Ouyang?"
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