Chapter 341 Gu Junze, if you dare to lead troops into the palace, capture them all
At the same time, a strange rumor had spread through the streets and alleys of the capital.
"Have you heard? The current Prince Su is not real, but is imputed!" An old woman selling vegetables lowered her voice and said to the customer next to her.
"Nonsense! How dare you spread such words?" The woman buying vegetables looked around vigilantly and interrupted hurriedly.
However, such whispers spread rapidly among the people in the market like wildfire.
"My cousin's neighbor is a guard in the imperial palace. He said it himself that the real Prince Su is no longer alive!"
"I heard that the imposter is actually——"
"Hush! Keep your voice down! If this gets to the ears of the authorities, you'll be beheaded!"
In the teahouse, a group of scholars sat together, talking in low voices.
"Today is the day Prince Su is crowned Crown Prince. How coincidental this rumor spread."
"Yes, someone must have done it on purpose. I wonder what their intention is."
"You can't say that. If this is true, it's a crime of deceiving the emperor. Killing all nine generations of your family is not too much!"
A middle-aged man in a green shirt listened quietly to everyone's discussion and took a sip of tea.
"There's no smoke without fire. Who can really tell what's going on in this palace?"
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On the way to Taiji Hall, Gu Chengyan heard these rumors and his face turned pale.
"How dare you! How dare you spread rumors and mislead the people, disrupting the order of our government!" He shouted harshly, murderous intent surging in his eyes.
The commander of the guards beside him immediately bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. I will send someone to investigate right away!"
Gu Chengyan sneered and decided to fight violence with violence.
"Immediately dispatch troops into the marketplace and arrest anyone spreading these rumors! We'll deal with them after today's enthronement ceremony!"
"yes!"
Gu Chengyan's eyes were sinister and he sneered in his heart.
Gu Junze, is this your last resort? Spreading rumors and stirring up public opinion?
It's too late! With just this little ability, you think you can stop him from becoming the crown prince?
Gu Chengyan looked towards the Taiji Hall, where lights and decorations were already on, awaiting today's grand ceremony.
He sneered and walked forward.
Gu Junze, you are desperate, is this all you can do?
Inside the Taiji Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified, yet undercurrents surged.
Civil and military officials were dressed in court robes and lined up in neat rows. They appeared calm on the surface, but their eyes were filled with curiosity and anxiety.
Concubine Jing died suddenly, the general's wife was imprisoned and then escaped, and the general's mansion was surrounded.
Coupled with the sudden rumors today, officials with a keen sense of smell felt something unusual.
Following the eunuch's loud singing, Gu Chengyan, dressed in the prince's court robes, slowly stepped into the hall surrounded by a crowd.
He had a perfectly humble smile on his face, walked steadily, and glanced at the officials below, accepting their kneeling worship.
"Congratulations, His Royal Highness!"
Thunderous cheers of congratulations echoed in the hall.
Gu Chengyan nodded slightly, enjoying this moment of being the center of everyone's attention. Deep in his eyes was an unconcealable sense of pride and enthusiasm for success.
The enthronement ceremony proceeded step by step, with the enthronement document being read out and the seal being bestowed...
Everything seemed so natural, as if those rumors were just insignificant episodes.
Just when the ceremonial officer was about to announce the end of the ceremony.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Everyone was stunned and looked in the direction of the sound in disbelief.
The emperor walked out slowly, supported by several eunuchs. He looked pale but conscious.
Chu Ruohan and Gu Cheng'an followed behind him with solemn expressions.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" All the officials knelt down in unison, their voices loud and clear.
Gu Chengyan froze in place, his face turning pale. How could the emperor appear here?
It's clearly already...
Chu Ruohan is really capable. His men searched for her in and out of the city for a whole night, but they didn't expect that she was hiding in the palace.
And Gu Chengan insisted on standing against him...
Gu Chengyan suppressed his anger and quickly knelt down: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Father."
The emperor stared at Gu Chengyan with sharp eyes.
"No need to be polite."
All the officials stood up, their eyes full of confusion and surprise. Wasn't the emperor seriously ill in bed?
Why did it suddenly appear?
"Today is the day to enthrone the crown prince. It is a major national task, so of course I have to be here in person." The emperor walked slowly towards the dragon throne, his sharp eyes sweeping over everyone present.
Gu Chengyan's heart was filled with turmoil, but he remained calm and said respectfully, "Thank you, Father. I am deeply honored."
After the emperor sat down, he looked at Chu Ruohan and said, "Madam General, do you have anything to say?"
Chu Ruohan took a step forward and said loudly to all the officials, "My Lords, today I will expose a shocking conspiracy!"
She pointed at Gu Chengyan and said, "This Prince Su in front of you is not the real Prince Su, but an imposter!"
As soon as the words fell, there was an uproar in the hall.
Gu Chengyan stood up with a sneer, "Chu Ruohan, what do you mean by this? You broke into the palace, plotted to murder Concubine Jing, and now you're spreading rumors to confuse the public. What are you trying to do?"
"The real Prince Su is no longer alive. The one standing here now is Gu Chengyan in disguise!" Chu Ruohan said in a loud voice.
Gu Chengyan retorted loudly, "Ridiculous! Chu Ruohan, as the wife of a meritorious official, why are you spreading such absurd rumors?"
He turned to the emperor and said, "Father, Chu Ruohan's actions are clearly intended to disrupt the imperial court and hinder the crown prince's enthronement ceremony!"
"Your son suspects that she and her husband Gu Junze have ulterior motives!"
The emperor remained silent and just watched all this quietly.
Seeing this, Gu Chengyan gained confidence. The emperor had already been poisoned and lost his mind.
Now I trust him very much...
"Father, I have been raised by your side since I was little. Don't you recognize your own son?"
Chu Ruohan sneered: "If he is really Prince Su, he will not be afraid of proving his identity."
"In front of our ancestors, why not conduct a blood test right now to set the record straight!"
Gu Chengyan's face changed slightly, then he regained his composure.
"Ridiculous! Blood testing is just a rumor, without any basis! Chu Ruohan, don't even think about deceiving people with such a crude trick!"
He turned to the ministers and said, "My Lords, please understand that Chu Ruohan's actions are absolutely absurd!"
Just as the debate was going on in the hall, a burst of orderly footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
The palace door opened wide, and Gu Junze, dressed in military uniform, walked in proudly.
Behind him was a team of elite soldiers from the palace.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Gu Junze knelt on one knee and spoke in a loud voice.
The officials were once again in an uproar. Wasn't Gu Junze trapped in the palace by the imperial guards? How could he be here?
Gu Chengyan's face turned pale, and a trace of panic flashed in his eyes: "Gu Junze, you dare to lead troops into the palace?"
Gu Junze sneered: "Why, Gu Chengyan, are you surprised to see this general?"
Gu Chengyan's body trembled, but he quickly regained his composure.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I am Prince Su, Zhao Yunheng. You are being disrespectful to me!"
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