Chapter 405: You will suffer for your own sins
Lin Xiaoqi's words not only made Yan Xiuyun freeze in place, but even Zhu Lan was stunned.
After she learned that Chu Xiuning committed suicide, she originally speculated that Emperor Liang had known from the beginning that Prince Qi was a fake prince, but through Chu Xiuning's death and Lin Xiaoqi by her side, he deliberately misled her to find the answer to the prince first and test the waters.
After that, he would find out the truth, force Prince Qi to rebel, and alienate the relationship between Prince Qi and Prince Zhenbei, so that Prince Zhenbei would turn against Prince Qi at the critical moment.
By getting rid of the fake prince Qi, there will be no more obstacles for the prince to ascend the throne.
But I didn't expect that... there is no such thing as a "prince"! ?
Thinking of this, Zhu Lan's expression changed slightly.
Gu Chaoyang had already brought Prince Qi's body into the city. Prince Qi died under his arrows. If Prince Qi was a fake prince and had committed treason, Emperor Liang might not have punished Gu Chaoyang.
But if Emperor Liang had known from the beginning that Prince Qi was his own flesh and blood, he would not have planned to let him die from the beginning...
How will Emperor Liang, who is now suffering from the pain of losing his son, deal with Gu Chaoyang?
Thinking of this, Zhu Lan could no longer sit still and suddenly stood up, but after a while he slowly sat back down.
At this moment, Gu Chaoyang had already carried Prince Qi's coffin into the palace. Apart from such a serious matter as the death of the prince, no one else could see Emperor Liang. He could not help at all now.
Now we can only take one step at a time. Once Emperor Liang's attitude is clear, he and his partners will be able to think of a way to protect Gu Chaoyang.
…
The Imperial Palace.
The black coffin was quietly placed in front of the Minghe Hall, with palace servants standing solemnly on both sides.
Gu Chaoyang, dressed in silver armor, tied himself up at the front of the queue and pleaded guilty to the emperor.
The coffin was quickly carried into the hall, and outside the hall only Gu Chaoyang was left kneeling silently.
Inside the hall, Emperor Liang, with his hair loose and without shoes, took one last calm look at his son's face and ordered his men to close the coffin and bury him with honor.
"Ahem... Concubine Liang... Where is Concubine Liang now?" Emperor Liang asked the eunuch who came behind him to support him.
"It is said that she is still in the Northern Frontier Camp, and the King of Zhenbei has sent people to guard her day and night." The eunuch said softly, "It is a serious crime for a concubine to escape from the palace privately. If Your Majesty wants to punish her, just issue an oral order to the King of Zhenbei to escort her back."
"Forget it." Emperor Liang's tone was extremely calm.
"Ahem...spread the news to the public and say that Concubine Liang died of illness in the palace, and Prince Qi also contracted the disease and died in Prince Qi's mansion."
The chief eunuch agreed and helped Emperor Liang walk towards the dragon bed, but he felt a little sad in his heart.
Since he had no sons, he could only adopt a godson from the young eunuchs in the palace. If some of his sons died in front of him, he would be very sad just thinking about it.
But Emperor Liang's reaction was calm without any ripples.
As expected, the imperial family is the most ruthless...
The eunuch had a sad face and was a little dazed. At this moment, he felt something warm dripping on the back of his hand. He hurriedly lowered his head to look, only to see a dark red spot!
It was blood, dark red blood, which began to flow out from the corners of Emperor Liang's mouth, staining the white clothes on his chest blood red.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" The chief eunuch only felt that the entire weight of Emperor Liang was pressing on him, but it was not very heavy.
"Your Majesty has vomited blood and fainted! Hurry and call the imperial physician—"
When Emperor Liang opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on the dragon couch with a crowd of people kneeling below him.
When the imperial physician saw Emperor Liang waking up, instead of showing any joy, he looked even more grief-stricken.
Emperor Liang was helped to sit up. Just as he was about to say something to the crowd, he glanced through the window and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the figure kneeling outside the palace.
The eunuch followed his gaze and reminded softly:
"Your Majesty, that guilty minister Gu Chaoyang is still kneeling outside the palace to plead guilty. This man is so audacious that he actually killed the prince and caused Your Majesty great distress. He deserves death!"
After a long while, Emperor Liang suppressed the bloody smell in his throat and spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Since he is asking for a crime, let someone ask him what crime he is asking for."
The eunuch immediately sent someone to ask.
After several years of military training, Gu Chaoyang's profile looked more resolute than when he was in the academy. Although he was kneeling, his upper body was straight.
"When the Third Prince was being escorted, an assassin came to rob him. One of my soldiers was killed and six were injured. I shot the arrow to save my comrade and kill the assassin. This was my duty and there was nothing wrong with it.
However, your majesty is ill, and at this moment, I bring you the sad news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Qi, which makes your majesty sad and heartbroken. This is the fault of General Gu Chaoyang. "
"How dare you!" The eunuch who came to question him shouted angrily in a low voice and glanced carefully into the hall.
"Your Majesty also asks you, if the Third Prince really escapes, would you still dare to shoot this arrow?"
Gu Chaoyang was silent.
The eunuch lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty has vomited blood due to anger just now. You must reply and sincerely repent. Your Majesty can't stand the stimulation at this moment..."
"Because I am worried about your majesty's health, I dare not reply."
After a while, the eunuch who asked the questions finally came back.
Emperor Liang raised his eyes from the dragon couch and asked, "What did he say?"
The eunuch was about to cry, and he knelt on the ground, "Your servant... Your servant dare not say..."
"explain."
"He said... he said that His Royal Highness Prince Qi was plotting a rebellion, which is a capital crime. Such a person totally disregards the lives of soldiers and civilians at the border, and even more so the stability of the country."
"Death...death is not a pity."
The young eunuch crawled on the ground trembling with fear, sweating profusely.
Emperor Liang remained silent for a long time after hearing this, and his gaze finally fell on Yan Changwen's coffin. He seemed to have aged dozens of years in an instant.
"You will suffer for the consequences if you do evil..."
"It is said that Gu Chaoyang accidentally killed the prince. Although it is a capital crime, it is excusable. His military merits are stripped and he is to serve in the Longyou garrison from today."
…
East Palace.
"I understand." Zhu Lan spoke slowly after listening to Lin Xiaoqi's words.
"The Uzi envoy who came to the East Palace to meet the Crown Prince earlier was also arranged by Your Majesty, right?"
"What!?" Yan Xiuyun's eyes widened slightly.
Lin Xiaoqi nodded slightly to Zhu Lan, with undisguised admiration in his eyes, and then looked at Yan Xiuyun.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cares about the country and the people. He is not tempted by profit even in desperate situations, and he has never revealed any court secrets before he could gain great benefits.
That night, His Highness's reprimand for the envoy was so impassioned that His Majesty and the Queen were very pleased.
The Crown Prince is kind and virtuous, and is the worthy heir to the throne of Daliang. Please accept my greetings."
Lin Xiaoqi bowed deeply to Yan Xiuyun.
"So that envoy... was actually my father testing me?" Yan Xiuyun muttered to himself.
He finally understood what his mother said in Fengyi Palace that day -
Just remember to repay the emperor's kindness, ensure the safety of the people, shoulder the responsibilities as the crown prince, and don't let the people down.
Then no one can shake his position.
Yan Xiuyun felt mixed emotions and couldn't tell what he was feeling.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
