Chapter 332 The seeds have been planted, waiting to sprout
The mixed smell of ambergris and medicine filled the dim bedroom, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Ming Fei knelt beside the dragon bed, and gently massaged the emperor's temples with her slender fingers.
Her movements were gentle and her voice was as soft as a pool of spring water.
"Your Majesty has had a lot of headaches lately, but what are you worrying about?"
The emperor closed his eyes, frowned, and only let out a tired "hmm" from his throat.
Ming Fei lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes hid the brilliance in her eyes.
She sighed seemingly casually.
"I heard the palace ladies discussing privately that things have been bad in the palace recently. First, the Empress Dowager passed away, and then the Imperial Concubine Jing..."
"Now even the general's wife is involved. It's really a turbulent time."
The emperor's brows furrowed even deeper, and his breathing became heavier.
Ming Fei paused and lowered her voice even more, as if she was just talking to herself, but just loud enough for the emperor to hear clearly.
"I also heard that... when the Third Prince was born, a master predicted his fate and said... it would be a bad omen..."
She carefully observed the emperor's reaction.
She spoke the last two words very softly, as if they were just unintentional words.
The emperor suddenly opened his eyes.
A trace of ripples flashed in those eyes that were once sharp but now cloudy.
Punishment...
He remembered.
The old events of many years ago, like a dusty scroll, were wiped clean by these words.
The virtuous concubine's gentle smile.
The unwillingness in the queen's eyes when she passed away suddenly.
The frightened eyes of the third prince when he was young.
He always thought that it was the Queen's jealousy that harmed the virtuous Concubine, and as a result, she could not tolerate the Third Prince.
So after the queen died, he thought it was all because of the queen's jealousy and that all fate was fake.
But what if... what if that so-called fortune-telling is true?
What if the suffering the Third Prince had endured over the years was not due to the Queen’s persecution, but rather to… fate?
The emperor's mind was in chaos and his head was splitting.
He looked at Ming Fei's gentle and concerned face, and the suspicion in his heart about the Third Prince was instantly magnified countless times.
"Your Majesty?" Ming Fei called out worriedly.
The emperor waved his hand, signaling her not to say anything more.
He closed his eyes again, but his heaving chest showed his inner restlessness.
Seeing this, Concubine Ming stopped talking.
She knew the seed had been planted.
Just wait for germination.
The next day, early morning court.
The atmosphere in the Golden Throne Hall was solemn, with a sense of oppression as if a storm was about to come.
Civil and military officials stood with their heads bowed, their eyes meeting.
Concubine Jing died suddenly, the general's wife was imprisoned, and the general's mansion was surrounded.
This series of incidents made everyone smell danger.
An old minister walked out of the queue tremblingly and knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty!"
His voice echoed in the empty hall.
"A country cannot live without a ruler for a day, nor can it live without a crown prince for a day."
"Your Majesty is in poor health. For the sake of our country and our people, I implore Your Majesty to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible to reassure the people!"
As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of agreement was heard in the hall.
"I second this motion!"
"We implore Your Majesty to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible!" Voices rang out one after another.
Prince Su stood in the front row, his expression calm, even with a hint of just the right amount of sadness, as if he was still grieving over the death of Concubine Jing.
His eyes were downcast, showing no emotion.
Several generals who were on good terms with Gu Junze looked worried and wanted to speak out in opposition, but they were hesitant and ended up just clenching their fists and remaining silent.
The emperor was supported by eunuchs and sat on the dragon throne.
He looked pale and listless, but his eyes were unusually firm.
He slowly glanced at the ministers kneeling below, and his gaze finally fell on Prince Su.
"What you all said is very reasonable."
The emperor's voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable majesty.
"The foundation of a country is its very foundation and should be established early on."
He paused, as if considering, "Among the princes..."
His gaze swept across the ministers and finally stopped.
"Prince Su has a kind and honest character, is filial and benevolent, and has recently assisted me in handling state affairs and has made considerable achievements."
The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final verdict.
"I hereby appoint Prince Su Gu Chengyan as Crown Prince. He will enter the Eastern Palace immediately to learn the ways of governing the country."
The emperor's voice was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing thousands of waves.
The ministers were in an uproar.
Some were shocked, some were puzzled, some were secretly happy, and some looked ashen. Prince Su finally showed a hint of just the right amount of surprise on his face, and then he immediately knelt down to express his gratitude.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your grace!"
There was a barely perceptible hint of excitement in his voice.
"I will definitely fulfill my filial duties, study diligently, and live up to my father's high expectations!"
The emperor nodded wearily. "My Lords, do you have any objections?"
Who dares to object?
The voices of opposition have either been ignored or stifled.
In the hall, there was only thunderous cheers of congratulations.
"Congratulations, His Royal Highness!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Prince Su, no, now he should be called His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
He slowly stood up and accepted the worship of all the officials.
He had a gentle and humble smile on his face, but deep in his eyes, there was a cold sense of pride and calculation.
The throne of the Eastern Palace is already in the bag.
The next step is the supreme dragon throne.
And that woman he was thinking about all the time.
Beneath the dome of the Golden Palace, the Game of Thrones entered its most dangerous chapter. The General's Mansion was shrouded in a shadow of deathly silence.
Teams of imperial guards were stationed around the mansion like cold sculptures.
The swords and guns were shining with a cold light.
Gu Junze sat in the study, tapping the pearwood table with his fingertips in a slow and heavy rhythm.
There was a military book in front of him, but the words on it were blurred.
There is only Chu Ruohan's shadow in my mind.
How is she now.
Is he still in that dark cell?
Are you afraid? Is the baby in your belly safe?
A feeling of powerlessness came over me like a tide.
He was trapped here like a beast in a cage.
Unable to break through this invisible cage, to get to her side, to protect her.
There was a slight noise outside the door.
The imperial guards did not seem to stop them.
Immediately afterwards, the study door was pushed open.
A familiar figure appeared at the door.
The third prince was wearing simple and elegant casual clothes.
There was an elusive smile on his face.
Gu Junze raised his head, and the anxiety in his eyes instantly turned into a kind of exploration.
The third prince walked in slowly and glanced at the layout of the study.
It finally fell on Gu Junze.
"Jun Ze, it's quiet here." His voice was a little playful.
But there is not much real relief in the sound.
Gu Junze ignored his joke and asked directly, "Where is she?"
"How's Han'er?"
The Third Prince's smile faded a little, and he sat down on the chair opposite Gu Junze.
"My people have been to see it." He said in a low voice.
"There is no danger at the moment."
These words weighed on Gu Junze's heart like a stone.
temporary.
It means danger may occur at any time.
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