Chapter 87 Past Events
Lu Cao also clearly had his own explanation prepared beforehand: "It was just a coincidence. She was on her way to deliver food and clothing to Xishan, and happened to run into us hiding in Zhilantai."
Through this answer, Mu Xi finally learned the whereabouts of Cao Pan'er's previous unexplained disappearance, but there were obvious loopholes in Lu Cao's explanation.
Gao Quan was no fool: "Hmph, how could it be such a coincidence? By the way, why does she always bring you food and clothing? No matter how hard life is in Xishan, do you think all the other slaves starved or froze to death? You are clearly using this as an opportunity to pass on messages."
Lu Cao said with a self-deprecating smile, "We haven't all frozen or starved to death, but we're close. If we sinful slaves didn't get a day off every month and have family and friends to send us some food, clothing, and medicine, we would have all died long ago."
Gao Quan neither believed nor cared, and just kept arguing: "Hehe, you're not going to say that this is why you sinful slaves deliberately sabotaged the royal tomb and Zhilan Terrace, are you? Tell me... are you colluding with the remnants and former subordinates of the previous dynasty, plotting something sinister?"
Lu Cao, undaunted, reiterated: "I do not know why the royal mausoleum was deliberately damaged, but the collapse of Zhilan Terrace was caused by the main beam used in the construction of the royal mausoleum being stolen from Zhilan Terrace. I implore Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly."
Gao Quan denied it before Yu Wang could even respond: "Nonsense. The collapse of Zhilan Terrace coincided with the time my Imperial Guards arrested you and your group. Cao Pan'er was present at the time, and she was carrying a token from the Jin Fangjun Mansion. With the Jin Fangjun Mansion's token, one could enter and exit Moyang City without being subject to routine checks. It's quite possible that these people moved the stolen 'former king's remains' into Moyang City."
It turned out that Cao Pan'er really did steal the token, and Pei Dong, the lame steward, only realized it later.
However, judging from the timeline, Cao Pan'er disappeared after the late emperor's remains were stolen, so it's impossible for her to be related to this incident.
Gao Quan was clearly making baseless accusations, and Mu Xi was about to retort.
Mu Zhen spoke up: "Grand Marshal, you've been talking for so long, do you have any evidence?"
Gao Quan declared, "Lu Cao and the other criminal slaves are undoubtedly connected to the remnants of the previous dynasty. When they were arrested, Cao Pan'er was also caught red-handed. She also has your family's token on her. Doesn't that prove something?"
"What does that prove?" Mu Zhen's face was pale, and it was clear that he was barely managing to stay composed.
Although Gao Quan didn't get a seat, he could look down at Mu Zhen from his elevated position: "What does that prove? Isn't it obvious enough?"
Mu Zhen was once a brave general who fought on the battlefield: "In front of the king, the Grand Marshal should make his point clear."
Gao Quan's wolf-like eyes swept around: "The theft of the late king's remains, the destruction of the royal tomb, and the collapse of the Zhilan Terrace all point to the remnants of the previous dynasty. Among them, the leader is Lu Cao, the apprentice and adopted son of Cao Ren, the former chief craftsman of the Yan Dynasty's Bureau of Works. For many years, Lu Cao has had close ties with Cao Ren and his mother, and Cao Ren's wife and daughter have been hiding in the Jin Fangjun Mansion..."
Mu Zhen's face darkened, and before he could finish speaking, he said, "Cao Ren is long dead, and his apprentices have become slaves. The matter is long over. Besides, what do you mean by 'hiding'? It is true that Cao Ren's wife and daughters are slaves in my household, but they were assigned by the public treasury back then. Doesn't Lord Gao's household also have any former officials' relatives who were assigned there?"
"How can they be the same? Cao Ren's wife, Cao Qinshi, and daughter, Cao Pan'er, those two caused quite a stir at the Court of Justice recently. Cao Qinshi killed my sister's wet nurse, and Cao Pan'er stole and is pregnant with an illegitimate child of unknown father." Gao Quan was very familiar with the affairs of the Jun family, and then changed the subject, "Moreover, this mother and daughter are clearly still colluding with the remnants of the previous dynasty..."
Mu Zhen raised his hand again to stop him: "Lord Gao, you can take medicine indiscriminately, but you can't say things carelessly. How could they, mother and daughter, be colluding with the former dynasty? Even if Cao Ren's wife and daughter have sent food and clothing to Lu Cao over the years, that doesn't prove anything. At most, it's just out of old friendship. If the residences of the former dynasty's remnants are suspected of colluding with the remnants of the former dynasty, then I suppose Lord Gao's residence has quite a few as well."
“This is different.” Gao Quan narrowed his wolf eyes and glanced at the Prince Yu Muji who was ascending the throne. “If we’re talking about who was closest to the former officials of the previous dynasty, then it would have to be you, my lord.”
Mu Zhen seemed to have been touched on a sore spot, his eyes visibly darting around in confusion: "Ahem... If you're going to talk about it this way, Grand Marshal Gao, who wasn't a former official of the previous dynasty? Aren't you one too? Even His Majesty... His Majesty..."
Mu Zhen was so out of breath that she rolled her eyes.
Mu Xun quickly stepped aside to support him.
Mu Xi, unsure whether it was true or false, quickly seized the opportunity to shout, "Oh, Your Majesty! My father fought bravely on the battlefield, sacrificing his life for the country, which is why he is in this state. What are Grand Marshal Gao's intentions in wrongly accusing my father like this? Are you trying to drive him to his death?"
"Uh..." As he was speaking, Mu Zhen fainted.
Mu Ji couldn't help but stand up from his seat: "Quickly, summon the physician! Summon the physician..."
Gao Quan had brought a physician with him when he issued the summons, and the process was quick; with a wave of his hand, a physician entered the hall.
The physician immediately pinched the philtrum upon arrival.
Mu Xi refused to let the opportunity slip by: "Lord Gao, you've been prepared all along. You're determined to make sure the people of my Jin Fangjun Mansion are lying here before you'll stop."
At this moment, Gao Quan still managed to find a flaw: "Hmph, this physician was originally prepared for the young master, but now the young master's voice is booming, not like someone who is seriously injured and weak and unable to see the emperor."
"Does Lord Gao have absolutely no discernment?" Mu Xi pointed to her own nose. "I'm so angry that my face is completely pale. Is this what you call good health?"
"Ahem... At this time, both of you should be careful with your words." Mu Ji stood aside watching the physician administer acupuncture to Mu Zhen, unable to bear the silence any longer.
Mu Xi then realized that at this moment, she should show concern as a son. Just as she was about to turn around to express her concern, Mu Zhen slowly woke up.
Mu Zhen slowly opened his eyes.
Mu Ji then said, "Brother, there's no need to bring up the past. I'm not here today to dredge up old matters."
Mu Zhen opened his mouth, then uttered a single word with difficulty: "Yes..."
"Since that's the case, why don't you rest in the side hall for a while? I still have a few questions to ask the young master. After I've asked them, I'll send you back." Even at this point, Mu Ji still had questions to ask.
How could Mu Zhen be at ease? "Your Majesty, please ask your younger brother if you have any questions. My son is ignorant; what does he know?"
"Haha, don't you understand?" Mu Ji suddenly chuckled twice, turned around, and climbed back up the steps to sit on the throne.
Upon hearing this, Gao Quan seemed to receive a signal and turned his attention to Mu Xi: "Your Majesty, even if this matter has nothing to do with Jin Fangjun, it is still related to the Crown Prince. It is said that before Cao Pan'er was arrested, she was very close to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince repeatedly protected Cao Pan'er and her mother in many unreasonable matters. I wonder if the Crown Prince was also involved in the theft of the royal tomb and the loss of so many funerary treasures, as well as the collapse of Zhilan Terrace?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
