Chapter 171 King Huai Dies
Xin Jiancheng found Xiao Yi in a brothel.
Zuihualou in the capital is the largest brothel. Although it is not located in the most prosperous area, it is definitely the most lively place at night.
Zuihua Tower is tall and magnificent, with many red lanterns hanging around it.
Before reaching the door, you can see many women dressed up in fancy clothes soliciting customers.
Just as Xin Jiancheng was about to step in, he was surrounded by two women on the left and right.
"Oh, he's an official."
"Sir, do you have a lover?"
Xin Jiancheng is here... He has a girlfriend, but he is here to find Xiao Yi and has no time to deal with them.
"I'm here to see King Huai," he said.
The woman covered her mouth and laughed frivolously, "Where is there any King Huai in our Zuihualou? Here..."
"Only guests seeking pleasure."
Xin Jiancheng was surrounded by two people and entered Zuihualou.
The first thing is a spacious hall with misty gauze curtains and thick carpets.
There is a stage in the middle where some scantily clad women are performing.
There were many guests sitting around enjoying the singing and dancing performances, as well as fine wine and delicious food.
It was dinner time now. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, they would take the woman upstairs...
Xin Jiancheng looked around and did not see King Huai downstairs.
He turned and walked up the stairs.
"Hey, sir... let's watch some singing and dancing." The two women pulled Xin Jiancheng.
Xin Jiancheng shook them off and insisted on going upstairs.
The two women had no choice but to look at the thugs around them.
The thugs followed and said, "Stop, stop, this is Zuihualou, not a place you can trespass."
Xin Jiancheng was also a little annoyed. He wanted to find Xiao Yi as soon as possible so that he could return to the palace to report, but these people kept stopping him.
"I, the Commander, obey the Queen Mother's order and invite Prince Huai to the palace to discuss matters. If you try to stop me again, I will send you all to the authorities."
"Oh, sir, please don't scare us." The woman touched her chest.
Zuihualou can be opened in Beijing because it has a strong backer.
"What time is it now? The Queen Mother summoned Prince Huai... hehe..."
The crowd below laughed maliciously. There were many rumors about the Queen Mother...
Xin Jiancheng glanced over and saw that everyone didn't dare to laugh openly and could only hold it in.
He turned around and continued upstairs, kicking open the doors one by one.
The room was full of naked men and women, who screamed in fear when the door was kicked open.
Since it wasn't the person he was looking for, Xin Jiancheng didn't stay any longer and continued looking for someone.
Finally, in the innermost room, I saw Xiao Yi, who was drunk like a pulp.
It's just dinner time, and you're already drunk like this?
Xin Jiancheng couldn't hide the disgust in his eyes, and reluctantly stepped forward to drag Xiao Yi up.
"Prince Huai, the Queen Mother has ordered you to enter the palace."
Unexpectedly, when Xiao Yi heard the words "Empress Dowager's decree summoning him to the palace", he reacted violently and shook off Xin Jiancheng's arm.
"I won't go!" he roared loudly.
Xin Jiancheng lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, if you have anything to say, let's leave here first."
There are all kinds of people in brothels. If King Huai says something he shouldn't, it will spread throughout the capital by tomorrow.
For the sake of the Queen Mother and Prince Huai, Xin Jiancheng decided to take Xiao Yi out first.
But as soon as he exerted force, Xiao Yi resisted even more fiercely.
"My king, I won't leave!"
"This king will be in Zuihualou!"
"The girl from Zuihualou is beautiful!"
Outside the room, there were the sounds of women's giggling and men's teasing voices.
Xin Jiancheng was extremely angry, but the other party was King Huai, so he couldn't take action.
"You!" Xiao Yi pointed at Xin Jiancheng, "Go tell the Queen Mother."
"If I don't enter the palace, I will never commit myself to her."
"The one I love is Ling Chan, Ling Chan!"
The people outside the room were even more excited, as this was a huge secret.
When Xin Jiancheng saw Xiao Yi open his mouth, not knowing what he was going to say, he got anxious and chopped him down from behind the neck.
Xiao Yi fell down and was supported by Xin Jiancheng.
He opened the door and the people outside dispersed. Xin Jiancheng dragged Xiao Yi away.
As for the discussions behind him, he didn't care.
But Xin Jiancheng did not bring Xiao Yi into the palace, but took him back to Prince Huai's Mansion.
After handing Xiao Yi over to the servants of Prince Huai's Mansion, he went into the palace to see Zuo Dongrou.
"Empress Dowager, Prince Huai..." Xin Jiancheng told Zuo Dongrou what Xiao Yi said in Zuihualou with great embarrassment.
Zuo Dongrou was so angry that she trembled all over when she heard this, "This idiot!"
After saying that, she took a deep breath and said, "I am the fool!"
She actually thought of looking for him to discuss important matters. It was good enough that he didn't cause trouble for her.
"Xin Jiancheng, send someone to...guard Prince Huai's mansion and don't allow this idiot to appear in public again."
Xin Jiancheng asked, "Doesn't the Queen Mother have something to discuss with Prince Huai?"
"Rely on him? Humph." Zuo Dongrou made no secret of her disdain for Xiao Yi.
This man is so cowardly and incompetent, why didn't he die!
Tomorrow...who knows what the people will say about her as the Queen Mother!
The next day, Ling Chan learned about this through surveillance.
The people were really bold. They just stood on the street and started discussing this matter.
Moreover, someone dug out the time Xiao Jin had stayed in the palace for nearly six months.
In just half a day, a storybook was produced, which vividly and insinuatedly described the romantic affair between Zuo Dongrou and Xiao Yi.
In the afternoon, I took the storybook to the teahouse...
And Xiao Yi said that he loved Ling Chan, but because there was not enough explosive points, he was forgotten by the people in Zuihualou...
Up to this point, the people were still making fun of this incident, but the next day, no one dared to mention it again.
The storytelling books disappeared and the storytellers in the teahouse also took a break.
because...
Xiao Yi actually died the night before...!
Ling Chan had never expected such a thing to happen, so she didn't pay attention to the situation in Prince Huai's Mansion.
It was not until the news reached Prince Rui's Mansion that she checked the surveillance footage of Prince Huai's Mansion.
When it was late at night and everyone was asleep, suddenly a dozen men in black broke into Prince Huai's mansion and headed straight for Huai Xiaoyi's yard.
After a while, they disappeared into the night.
"Who are these people?" Xiao Jin also watched the surveillance footage.
He didn't even have time to be shocked. Why could he still see what happened last night today?
Ling Chan stroked her chin and adjusted the surveillance footage. "These people's skills aren't very good."
"Where are the guards at Prince Huai's mansion?"
The guards at Prince Huai's mansion seemed to be away, otherwise why didn't they react when these people broke in?
"Where are the guards at Prince Huai's Mansion?" Zuo Dongrou also questioned Xin Jiancheng, "Didn't I ask you to send people to guard Prince Huai's Mansion?"
Xin Jiancheng lowered his head and said, "Look up, I'm going to send someone else the next day..."
After all, it was already evening yesterday... He felt there was no need to rush.
“I really didn’t expect…”
Zuo Dongrou angrily slammed the tea table beside her, "Where are the guards from Prince Huai's Mansion?"
Xin Jiancheng told Zuo Dongrou what he had found out, "Because Prince Huai has been staying in brothels all night recently, he might not return home for ten days or half a month."
"So the guards... relaxed."
“Often neglecting their duties…”
"Last night... the guards thought King Huai would not return home, so..."
So almost everyone was away from their posts, and naturally there was no one to protect Xiao Yi.
Zuo Dongrou rubbed her eyebrows helplessly. She wondered last night why Xiao Yi was not the one who died, but Xiao Yi died.
The key point is, Xiao Yi said those words at Zuihualou yesterday, and now that Xiao Yi is dead, she is simply unable to defend herself...
According to the people's thinking, everyone would definitely think that she killed people because of Xiao Yi's outspokenness.
Zuo Dongrou was right, and the people of the capital all thought so.
So no one dared to mention what Xiao Yi said in Zuihualou again.
No one wants to lose their life for no apparent reason, right?
Xiao Yi's father, the emperor, and mother, the queen, have passed away, and Xiao Heng has also passed away.
Among the brothers, Xiao Ping was the only one left.
But Xiao Ping was thousands of miles away and couldn't get back for a while.
Therefore, Xiao Yi's funeral was entirely arranged by the emperor.
Xiao Yi's body was kept in Prince Huai's Mansion for three days, and all officials came to pay their respects. Because Xiao Yi had no children, Zuo Dongrou arranged for Princesses Yongkang and Yongjia to come and keep vigil.
Ling Chan forced herself to go to Prince Huai's Mansion.
This was her first time in Prince Huai's Mansion, and she didn't expect this to happen.
Ling Chan came to pay her respects as Xiao Yi's sister-in-law, but her appearance suddenly reminded people of what Xiao Yi said in Zuihualou that day.
Xiao Yi loves Ling Chan?
Everyone can only sigh.
Think about it, wasn't it Ling Chan who was engaged to Xiao Yi?
Didn't he not want Ling Chan, but Ling Chan's sister?
As a result, Ling Chan turned around and married his younger brother, and he pretended to be affectionate.
Why...
After paying her respects, Ling Chan did not stay for a moment longer and returned to Prince Rui's Mansion on the pretext of feeling unwell.
Next comes the funeral and burial...
On the day of the burial, Ling Chan simply used the excuse of feeling unwell to avoid going.
That night, Xiao Ping and his family came to Prince Rui's Mansion.
"Miss." Hongdou, Gonglan and Gongyu personally escorted Xiao Ping's family here.
There are not many people in Xiao Ping's family, just four people: Concubine Hui, Xiao Ping, Princess Cheng Kuang Qingxin, and Princess Anhe Xiao Wan.
"Sister Wanyue." Xiao Wan ran to Ling Chan, but was stopped by Kuang Qingxin.
"Wan'er, you should call me aunt."
"Aunt..." Xiao Wan changed her words.
Kuang Qingxin reminded her, "Aunt is pregnant, Wan'er, you should be careful."
"It's okay." Ling Chan held Xiao Wan's hand. There was nothing wrong with her body and she was very healthy.
The child is even healthier and more lively, and now he starts kicking her.
Because of traveling for several days, Xiao Wan was too tired and fell asleep leaning on Kuang Qingxin after a while. Kuang Qingxin had no choice but to take her back to the yard to rest.
Xi Lingyue and Concubine Hui, two sisters who had not seen each other for a long time, held hands and expressed their longing for each other.
Xiao Ping sat aside and watched them.
Hongdou was reporting the situation to Lingchan, "Miss, you are truly as foresighted as a god. When we arrived at Prince Cheng's mansion, we saw a group of people arriving."
"They say that Prince Cheng sealed the city in order to rebel."
"The people were deceived into believing it... and the city gates were opened."
Hongdou sighed, "Ah, these people..."
Concubine Hui just happened to hear her words when she looked up and said, "Miss Hongdou."
"You can't blame the people."
She looked kind and had a personality very similar to Xi Lingyue's.
She walked over and said, "How can the common people tell the difference? Treason is a serious crime. They just want to live a good life."
What Concubine Hui said was true. What the common people least wanted was war.
War means death, separation, and escape, and the farmlands and houses on which they depend for survival will be destroyed.
Even though Xiao Ping managed his fiefdom well, everyone was still afraid of war.
"Ah..." Concubine Hui and the others didn't know that Xiao Jin was faking his death, "It's a pity that Jin'er..."
"Wanyue, what's going on? Who killed Jin'er and wants to kill Ping'er?"
"And when we entered the capital, we heard that King Huai also..."
Ling Chan nodded, "Yes, King Huai was also murdered a few days ago."
Concubine Hui was so shocked that she couldn't help but tremble, "So, the royal family is left with only the emperor and Ping'er..."
"Who is it? What do you want to do?"
Ling Chan held her hand and said, "Don't be nervous, Concubine Dowager. Now it has been announced to the outside world that Prince Cheng is dead."
"The emperor's four uncles are all gone."
"People in the dark can't help it."
Ling Chan looked at Xiao Ping, "Besides, Ajin, like Prince Cheng, also faked his death."
"Really?" Xiao Ping and Concubine Hui looked up in surprise. "Then where is he?"
"Isn't he right here?" Ling Chan said, looking at the man who had been standing at the door.
He wore a human skin mask today and disguised himself as a servant.
Xiao Ping and Concubine Hui looked over and saw the servant walk in, taking off the mask on his face as he walked.
"Empress Dowager Hui, Brother Emperor Cheng." Xiao Jin saluted the two of them.
"That's great." Xiao Ping held his hand, "I'm glad that Brother Rui is okay."
After hearing the news about Prince Rui's accident from Hongdou and the others, he was sad for a long time.
Xiao Jin is the youngest among the brothers and has the best temper.
Concubine Hui was so excited that she burst into tears. "That's great, I hope you two brothers are okay."
"It's a pity for King Huai..."
Xi Lingyue frowned and said nothing.
If we talk about pity, among the several children of the late emperor who died, perhaps Prince Duan Xiao Yan was the most regrettable.
Prince Duan has a whole family, unlike Prince Cheng, Prince Rui, and Prince Huai, who only have a few people.
Prince Duan was 33 years old when he died. He had one Princess Duan, two concubines, and two concubines.
Princess Duan has an eldest daughter, Princess Anping Xiao Lingqiu, and a son, Xiao Wenyu, who is only four or five years old. The two concubines also have a son and a daughter. The concubines have three daughters and one son in total. It is said that one of the concubines is pregnant.
And Concubine Xian...
A total of eighteen lives, not counting the servants, guards and soldiers of Prince Duan’s Mansion.
Because of a false accusation...
Concubine Hui saw what Xi Lingyue was thinking. She placed her hand on the back of Xi Lingyue's hand and said, "Sister, no matter what, Prince Huai is the late emperor's child."
"We in our fiefdom have also heard about his dissolute behavior in the capital."
"But we can't just blame the child. The late Empress Dowager..."
"She has a particularly heavy responsibility."
"But she's dead."
Concubine Hui took a deep breath and said, "Allow me to say something extremely treasonous."
"The royal family can die, the Xiao royal family can die, but Daqi cannot die."
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