Chapter 801 The Truth (First Update)
In the middle of the night, thunder suddenly resounded in the capital of Yan.
The young princess ate too many grapes before bed and woke up in the middle of the night needing to urinate.
She opened her eyes and said, "Granny, I need to pee."
No one responded to her.
She lingered in her little bed for a while longer, but she couldn't hold it in any longer, so she had to get up herself.
The little princess was a very shameful elder. She stopped wetting the bed when she was two years old and decided to go to the toilet by herself.
But with thunder and lightning outside, she was a little scared.
"Uncle, uncle."
She sat in the small mosquito net and called out twice, but still no one paid any attention to her.
I really, really can't hold it in anymore.
Her little face scrunched up as she tried to hold in her pee, then she scrambled off the bed and walked barefoot on the floor, calling out, "Grandpa Zhang..."
It seemed as if everyone in the bedchamber had run out, leaving her all alone in the hall, which was flickering with light from the lightning. Her small body stood blankly on the floor, looking just like a pitiful little rag doll.
Suddenly, a figure dressed in a dragon robe walked in through the door.
He stood against the moonlight, his face darkened by the sudden flash of lightning.
The little princess trembled in fear at the sight of her towering uncle, who was so imposing to her.
...I peed.
-
A thunderstorm occurred during the night, and the temperature was much cooler in the early morning.
Xiao Jingkong has not officially moved into the Duke's mansion; he only comes over occasionally to hang out. He didn't come last night.
As usual, Aunt and Gu Yan slept in late in their respective rooms, while Gu Xiaoshun and Master Lu got up early to practice woodworking. Gu Xiaoshun was incredibly talented, and Master Lu was no longer satisfied with teaching him simple craftsmanship; he began to slowly teach him various mechanical devices.
There were trustworthy servants in the courtyard, so Nan Shi Niang didn't need to cook. She went out early in the morning to gather herbs.
The Duke came over and had breakfast with Gu Jiao, Gu Xiaoshun, and Master Lu.
Recently, people have been asking the servants of the Duke's Mansion for information, and there are also unidentified people secretly monitoring and loitering at the entrance of the Duke's Mansion. It is likely that Mu Ruxin's side leaked the news, which aroused the vigilance of the Han family.
Manager Zheng was prepared. He had his men collect money from the Han family while spreading false information to them.
"The Duke kept several actors... who sang in the inner quarters all day long."
"I think our Duke is likely to ruin his reputation in his later years."
Duke Anguo knew nothing about this.
It was all thanks to Steward Zheng's opportunistic actions. Anyway, Duke Anguo said that as long as the Han family could be fooled, that was fine. As for how to fool them, you can do whatever you want.
After breakfast, Duke Anguo saw Gu Jiao to the door as usual, and of course, Gu Jiao pushed his wheelchair as well.
After Gu Jiao moved into the Duke's mansion, he intensified his rehabilitation efforts, and the flexibility of his arms and body improved significantly. Previously, he could only lift his wrists, but now he can lift his entire arm slightly.
My legs have regained some strength, and although I can't stand up, I can sway slightly while sitting or lying down.
In addition, his vocal cords were finally able to produce a little sound, although it was only one syllable, but it was a huge improvement.
The father and daughter arrived at the door.
Gu Jiao grabbed the reins from Black Wind King's back and said to Duke Anguo, "Godfather, I'm going to the military camp."
Duke Anguo: "Ah."
good.
Take care on your journey.
Gu Jiao mounted her horse and was about to gallop away when she saw a disheveled figure stumbling and falling towards her.
Several guards from the Duke's mansion quickly and warily stood in front of Gu Jiao and the Duke of Anguo.
"It's...it's me..."
The man was so exhausted that he lost his voice and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"Eunuch Zhang?" Gu Jiao recognized him, quickly dismounted, and knelt down in front of him, asking, "What happened to you?"
Zhang Dequan was disheveled, his clothes were in disarray, and he had even lost one of his shoes.
His strength was almost gone, but he held onto Gu Jiao's wrist with a stubborn determination: "Lord Xiao... quickly... quickly tell... the Third Princess... and His Highness the Grandson... His Majesty... has... encountered an accident..."
Last night, the king went to the Cold Palace to see Consort Han. It concerned the secret of Empress Xuanyuan. Zhang Dequan dared not listen too much and wisely stood guard outside the courtyard.
He didn't know what the two talked about. He just felt that the king had been inside for too long. Based on his understanding of the king, he knew that the king had no feelings for Consort Han. He should have come out after asking the questions.
What's going on?
He muttered to himself, glancing timidly inside.
That one glance saved his life!
He saw a man in black robes descend from the sky and knock the king unconscious with a single blow.
He was definitely not the kind of person who would desert his post if his master died, but to rush forward to be buried with someone he knew he was no match for was not loyalty, it was insane.
He took off running!
Perhaps it was fate that he was spared, for there happened to be a patrolling imperial guard nearby. The guard sensed the fluctuations in the master's internal energy and used his lightness skill to investigate the Cold Palace. The two were probably entangled in a fight, which gave him the opportunity to escape and ascend to heaven.
He had planned to escape back to the king's bedchamber and dispatch his best warriors, but was shocked to find that all the warriors in the palace had been killed.
He boldly speculated that someone had sneaked in and killed the king and Consort Han when the king went to the cold palace to see Consort Han.
After killing the king, the man went to the Cold Palace to report to Consort Han and then knocked the king unconscious.
He's never had any good luck in his life, but tonight he brushed shoulders with the King of Hell twice.
He realized the palace was no longer safe and fled there overnight.
The reason he didn't go to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall was that he was worried that if Consort Han found out he was gone, she would definitely guess that he had gone to see the Third Princess and the Crown Prince at the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.
He then remembered that Lord Xiao had moved into the Duke's mansion, so he decided to come and try his luck.
He fainted after saying that. Steward Zheng was completely bewildered: "Hey, Eunuch Zhang, please explain clearly what happened to His Majesty!"
Gu Jiao remained silent.
Could it be what she's thinking?
Manager Zheng asked Gu Jiao, "Young Master, what should we do about him?"
Gu Jiao took his pulse and said, "He's fine, he just fainted from exhaustion. Let's carry him into the mansion first, I'll go to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall."
“Ah,” An Guogong said openly.
Gu Jiao turned to look at Duke Anguo.
Duke Anguo wrote on the armrest: "It's better if I go. You go to the military camp as usual and pretend you never saw Eunuch Zhang. I will have someone contact you if anything comes up."
Gu Jiao thought for a moment and said, "That's fine."
Steward Zheng hurriedly ordered his men to carry the unconscious Eunuch Zhang into the mansion, and repeatedly instructed the guards: "No one is to spread this news!"
"Yes!" the guards replied.
Duke Anguo went to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall and secretly brought Xiao Heng into his carriage.
When Xiao Heng arrived at Fengyuan in the Duke of Anguo's mansion, Zhang Dequan had already been awakened by Nan Shi Niang using needles. Xiao Heng went to the side room to see him.
In the room next door, Gu Chengfeng's aunt, the old priest, and Gu Chengfeng and Gu Yan, who were eavesdropping, were sitting.
Mrs. Nan was drying herbs in the courtyard, and as she dried them, she got closer to the window of the side room.
Master Lu was making a crossbow, and as he was working, he came to the window.
The couple exchanged a glance: "..."
Zhang Dequan recounted the events of the previous night in detail, adding his own thoughts at the end: "...This servant felt it was inappropriate at the time, but His Majesty's temperament is surely understood by His Highness Changsun. Since it concerns Empress Xuanyuan, His Majesty cannot possibly refuse to go."
This is hindsight.
He never expected that the Han family would be so bold as to plot against the emperor in the palace.
"Did you hear what they were saying?" Xiao Heng asked.
"This servant didn't dare eavesdrop... so..." Zhang Dequan thought carefully for a moment, "There were a few words they said quite loudly, and this servant overheard them. Han said, 'Your Majesty, I didn't want things to come to this, Your Majesty, you forced me to!'"
Xiao Heng paused for a moment, then asked, "Is there anything else?"
Zhang Dequan scratched his head and said, "And...and His Majesty said, 'It's you?' and 'I'm going to kill you!' That's all."
It sounds like the king had a dispute with the Han family.
"What does Auntie think?" Xiao Heng went next door.
Empress Dowager Zhuang, holding a jar of candied fruit, snorted and said, "Love that cannot be obtained breeds jealousy and hatred."
She's another Consort Jing, but even more ruthless than Consort Jing.
Consort Jing also loved the late emperor but could not have him. Unfortunately, she did not dare to touch the late emperor and could only keep making things difficult for the late emperor's women and children.
It's commonly known as picking on the easy target, but she didn't expect that Empress Dowager Zhuang was not an easy target, but a cactus.
Empress Dowager Zhuang ate a candied fruit with a slurping sound: "Hmm, this is how you should deal with a scumbag."
Xiao Heng: "..."
Auntie, which side are you on?
Gu Chengfeng asked, "Since Han has such a powerful expert by her side, why didn't she act sooner? Why did she wait until she and her son were both deposed by the king before taking drastic measures?"
As a straight man, Gu Chengfeng couldn't understand Han's behavior.
As a woman who had been in and out of the palace for many years, Empress Dowager Zhuang could understand Han's feelings to some extent.
Han had long possessed a powerful tool to deal with the king, but the reason she hesitated to act was not only due to the risks involved, but also because she still harbored feelings for the king.
She both hated the king and longed for him to make her empress, so that she could rule the world and be a true couple who would grow old together.
Unfortunately, the king's repeated actions chilled the hearts of the Han family.
Her initial intention in summoning the king to the cold palace was probably to give him one last chance. If the king showed even a little affection for her, she could wait a little longer.
Unfortunately, she was disappointed.
She never had a place in the king's heart.
The most formidable women are those who are serious about their careers; the King of Great Yan is in for a rough time now.
Meanwhile, Steward Zheng, who had gone to the palace to gather information, also returned.
He reported the information he had gathered to Duke Anguo and his entourage: "...His Majesty went to court and I haven't heard of anything happening. But Eunuch Zhang...I heard that he was having an affair with a palace maid named Yue and was discovered. Fearing punishment, he fled the palace overnight."
Zhang Dequan, who had just reached the door, heard this: "...!!"
Zhang Dequan: "His Majesty already knew about my affair with Qiuyue! I had done it openly! His Majesty would not punish me! And I would never flee because of this!"
Everyone's lips twitched: "..."
You actually have a romantic relationship with someone.
This matter was kept very secret; apart from the king, Zhang Dequan did not let any other outsiders know about it.
Zhang Dequan was so shocked that he forgot to be surprised when he saw so many people in the room, including two patients he had met at the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.
He asked anxiously, "Oh no, Qiuyue has fallen into their hands! Qiuyue is in danger!"
Everyone looked at him with pity.
Zhang Dequan asked, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
The old chief priest pushed the cup forward: "Have a cup of green tea."
Xiao Heng handed the plate of snacks to him: "Have a piece of mung bean cake."
Gu Yan opened his palm: "I'll give you a jade bottle."
Zhang Dequan: "..."
-
The king was knocked unconscious by Consort Han during the night, but in the morning Consort Han let him go to court. Something seemed wrong.
Judging from the affair between Qiuyue and Zhang Dequan, the harem should be under the control of the Han family.
However, according to the information Zheng, the steward, Han was not released from the Cold Palace.
In short, all of this was done by the Han family through the king.
Why would the ruler obey the Han family?
Has the Han family gotten hold of something on him? Or... has he been controlled by the Han family?
Xiao Heng said, "My mother has gone to the palace to meet the Emperor. Let's wait for her to return and hear what she has to say."
After more than half a month of "recuperation", Shangguan Yan had recovered enough to stand and walk, but in order to show her weakness, she still chose to enter the palace in a wheelchair.
She went to the king's bedchamber to wait.
Strangely, however, the palace servants did not allow her to enter.
She was the legitimate third princess, a precious daughter who could still sleep in the king's bedchamber even after being deposed. How dare they stop her from entering?
"What's your name? I've never seen you before," Shangguan Yan asked the young eunuch in front of her, sitting in her wheelchair.
The young eunuch smiled and said, "My name is Huanxi, and I was just transferred here."
"Where is Zhang Dequan?" Shangguan Yan asked.
He smiled and said, "Eunuch Zhang was caught having an affair with a palace maid and fled overnight. Now, Chief Eunuch Yu is serving His Majesty."
Shangguan Yan frowned and asked, "Which Steward Yu?"
Huanxi said, "It is Steward Yu Changpo."
I seem to have some recollection of it; I used to serve in front of the emperor, but I wasn't particularly favored.
How did you promote him?
"Where's Xiao Zhao?" she asked again.
Huanxi sighed, "Xiao Zhao was on good terms with Zhang Gonggong, but he was implicated and punished, and transferred to the laundry room."
Shangguan Yan asked several palace servants who were usually favored by the emperor, but they were all gone, for the same reason as Xiao Zhao—being implicated and punished.
This phenomenon was not unusual in the imperial harem, but the fact that she was blocked from entering made it all the more unusual.
After all, whether they are new or old, they should have heard that she has been very favored recently.
Shangguan Yan said indifferently, "Aren't you afraid that my father will blame you when he returns, since you're keeping me outside?"
Huanxi knelt down and reported, "This is His Majesty's order. No one is allowed to enter without permission. This servant is only acting on imperial orders. Please forgive me, Your Excellencies."
Shangguan Yan never got to see the king. She went to the Zhonghe Hall to find the king after court, but was turned away.
Shangguan Yan was completely bewildered: "What is the old man up to? Did Consort Wang and the others betray me? No, I'm not afraid of death, but they are."
Shangguan Yan left the palace with doubts.
Meanwhile, Gu Jiao finished her official duties at the military camp and rode Black Wind King back to the Duke's mansion.
Xiao Heng went to pick up Xiao Jingkong.
The story was relayed by Gu Chengfeng and Gu Yan.
When Gu Jiao heard that the king had met with misfortune in the cold palace, she knew that what was bound to happen had finally arrived.
In the dream, the king was also betrayed by Consort Han in the cold palace; the one who did it was Dark Soul. Under the manipulation of Consort Han and her family, the Great Yan Dynasty fell into an internal strife even more terrible than fifteen years ago.
The states of Jin and Liang took the opportunity to wage war against the Great Yan.
Beset by internal and external troubles, the Great Yan suffered a devastating blow, losing not only twelve cities but also countless outstanding young men from noble families.
Mu Qingchen died in battle!
Master Qingfeng died in battle!
The Seven Sons of Xuanyuan died in battle!
...
The Xuanyuan Army, already exhausted by the three-year civil war, was unable to turn the tide and was ultimately annihilated!
In the dream, Consort Han's imprisonment of the king was supposed to happen six years later, but it happened so much earlier than I expected.
Gu Jiao stared intently at Xiao Heng: "The king is no longer the king he once was."
Xiao Heng's expression turned serious: "What do you mean by that?"
Gu Jiao didn't say how she knew, but only recounted everything from her dream: "He was replaced."
The person who replaced the king was carefully selected by the Han family through An Hun. Not only did he look very similar to the king, but he also deliberately imitated the king's voice and habits.
This is Han's biggest trump card besides Dark Soul.
The day Dark Soul went to the outer city, he must have been going to see this person.
Xiao Heng didn't ask Gu Jiao where she got the information. He trusted her completely and wouldn't press her for details she didn't want to reveal.
"I never expected Consort Han to have such a move in mind," he said gravely. "Then the King..."
Gu Jiao said, "The real monarch is not dead."
The Han family ultimately couldn't bear to kill the king, but instead imprisoned him.
At this time, Han had no idea that three months later, the king would die of illness in a dark, sunless cellar.
She lost him in the end.
This was the beginning of a nightmare. Without the king to stabilize the Han family, the Han family and clan completely launched an internal strife.
"We must seize the king," Gu Jiao said.
(End of this chapter)
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